Entry 16: Keralon

Dear diary,
 
Even this close to Keralon, within the comforting embrace of an inn, our night wasn’t as peaceful as we had hoped. In the early hours of the morning, we were stirred from our sleep by a commotion on the landing. The sharp scent of smoke filled my nostrils, and I rushed out to investigate.
 
Alistan had already found the source. In the room adjacent to theirs, someone had scrawled "Death to the usurper king" into the wall, the letters charred from fire. Alistan shared that the room belonged to the men we had noticed at dinner. They had been loud and disruptive earlier in the night, and Alistan had asked them to keep quiet. In retaliation, they must have burnt the message and fled.
 
The message puzzled us. Alistan explained that the kings had always come from one single lineage. Yet another mystery, but one we couldn't afford to dwell on now.
 
We alerted Brok, the innkeeper, of the damage, then went back to bed, hoping for a more restful end to the night.
 
Over breakfast, the discussion about what to do with our magic items heated up again. Liliana and Gael were keen on heading back to Caern Fussil to store their items there, even though that would cost us another day. Luke suggested hiding them somewhere, but that didn’t seem practical to me. Instead, I proposed asking Brok, the innkeeper, to keep them safe for us. Liliana approached him, and soon our items were stowed away safely in a box of potatoes.
 
With that settled, we finally set off for the gates of Keralon. I slipped my dagger into a small bag and handed it to Fiachna, who could fly it over the wall undetected while we walked through the gate.
 
The enormity of Keralon became apparent as we waited in line to enter through the main gate. Hillfield had seemed large, but compared to Keralon, it felt like a small hamlet. The sheer scale and noise of the city were overwhelming, and we barely noticed as the guards waved us through the gates.
 
Alistan spoke briefly with the guards, though they seemed rather annoyed by his questions. Meanwhile, Luke examined one of the buildings near the gate, and I found my gaze drawn to the sea of wagons and caravans gathered inside. In that short time, Liliana managed to get swept away by the crowd, but Dadroz and Alistan quickly found her.
 
With our group looking lost, a young street urchin approached us, offering to guide us through the city in exchange for a fee. Given our need for direction, Liliana paid her a silver coin, and we followed the girl into the city.
As we walked, taking in the sights and marveling at the city's grandeur, Liliana and I noticed that the girl was leading us deeper into the winding alleys of Canalside. It seemed like she might have had ill intentions, possibly leading us into an ambush. When we confronted her, she attempted to flee, but I anticipated her move and quickly cast a spell to put her to sleep.
 
Alistan lifted the girl and gently roused her from her sleep. As she remained tight-lipped and hesitant to guide us safely, I cast another spell to compel her to lead us directly to the nearest guardhouse. With no choice but to obey, she led us along the canal in silence, and soon we stood before the guard barracks.
 
Seeing no need for all of us to crowd inside, I crossed the street to the bustling market. My intention was to explore the stalls and discover something exotic to eat while my companions dealt with the guards and informed them about the situation in Lorewood.
 
Once the meeting concluded and we gathered outside the barracks, it was time for the first round of goodbyes. Elsa and Edward gave us heartfelt hugs and handshakes, and I noticed a hint of sadness in my brother’s eyes as he bid Elsa farewell, as though he feared it might be the last time.
 
Next came Dorr, who announced his plan to find a place to stay and seek work in the city. As I embraced him, I encouraged him to stay in touch and keep us updated on his adventures. I feel I have grown quite fond of him.
 
We watched as our friends made their separate ways toward their new paths in life, leaving us to press on toward the temple district. As we approached, two massive structures caught our attention. On one side, the colossal cathedral of Belanos loomed majestically, its towering spires piercing the sky and outshining every other building in the city. On the other side, a dark and somber district beckoned, watched over by two guards dressed differently from the city watch. Liliana's quick inquiry revealed this as the mausoleum district, where the dead found their final rest.
 
Our aim in visiting the temple was to seek the restoration of our last companion's memories, but our efforts proved fruitless. The priest we spoke with could not offer the answers we sought, affirming what I had long suspected: neither a curse nor magic had caused his amnesia. Perhaps it was simply the trauma from the brutal attack he endured.
 
Nonetheless, he needed a name, and when we offered suggestions, Alistan suggested the name "Feyrin." Grateful for the help we'd provided him and with his new name in hand, Feyrin embraced this fresh start. He thanked us and accepted the priest's offer to guide him toward a new purpose and occupation.
 
With our previous tasks complete, we made our way toward the De La Roost mansion, with Alistan brimming with anticipation to show us his family's town house. As we approached, we spotted a light flickering through the windows, which struck me as odd. I expected a servant or a distant relative to be inside, but the reality was far different.
 
Upon entering, a woman with a bread knife and a wary dog met us, her eyes alight with suspicion. She demanded to know who we were and why we were intruding in her home. Liliana and Alistan's confusion deepened, and as we wished to avoid conflict, the guards and an administrator intervened.
 
After a lengthy explanation, it became clear that another noble family had petitioned the king for an exchange—trading their smaller home for the grand De La Roost mansion. There was little we could do about it, and Alistan seemed content to accept the situation as it was, even if it meant losing his family’s ancestral home.
 
With the keys exchanged, we made our way to the new address we'd been given. The rest of the day was spent tidying up our new residence and setting up the furniture, but at least we now had a base from which to start our next adventure. Though not the mansion Alistan had hoped for, it was a home nonetheless, and a place to forge a new future.
 
15th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree