Savage Tide: ECL 3 Lavinia Vanderboren human aristocrat 2, swashbuckler 1: Journal Entry 1

I hardly know what to add to today's journal. My only hope was to travel to Farshore, to pick up where my parents had left off. Perhaps it was arrogance of youth that deceived me into believing everything in the world was harmless, more or less. What could be so hard about this voyage? After all, mother and father had made this journey themselves and come back to Sasserine sharing their stories of adventure and wonder.

I've called for a temporary lieu in our schedule while we hold a service for Oaken and Ichigoya. No more than a week. It will also give me time to consider whether or not to continue our voyage to Farshore, or to return to the safety of Sasserine. Father Feres has agreed to perform a funeral service on shore. He said he may know a few things appropriate to druids, and perform a druidic rite of death, of sorts, although he will make many mistakes, he assured me. But I pressured him. Oaken was not a follower of Osprem or any of our gods that we follow in the city. Besides, I want to remember him on the land in a natural place. Surrounded by the nature that he so adored.

No one will be reading this but me, or I would not add what I am about to add here. His rough exterior that he showed to the world, it was not so rough. His touch was kind and gentle, comforting. Perhaps I only used him. Used him to find something pleasurable after the death of mother and father. But perhaps I found more than I intended to find as well. I had daydreamed of us one day marrying in a ceremonial life bond or whatever the druids call it. Of him moving into my room at the manor. Of him coming home after working so hard and having his way with.....

Bah, why did you go ashore, Oaken? Damn you, why? Why did I permit Urol his fantasy of exploring the old ruins? I will not forgive him for this. It's Urol's fault that Oaken is gone. And I shall not forgive him. How can I? He best stay out of my way for the rest of this voyage, or he may find himself gnome-overboard during the night with no one to save him.

Rest in peace, Oaken. Shipmaster, friend, and occasional lover.

--Lavinia Vanderboran