My little journal is beginning to get rather full. I admit, I did not expect to write so often, yet when we have occasions of rest I find myself quietly writing and reflecting on the day. Today... I am not sure where to begin. So much has occurred. We have had loss, but also triumph. I expect it all began with that box...

We left the Green Tower Residence in good spirits. As we set out upon the road, we saw a cart trundling along with a rather sickly looking donkey pulling it at the front. Consistent to form, J showed great concern for the creature and began fussing over it. I did not care much for the exchange between J and the donkey or Dorian and the other donkey (I believe he went by the name Jeremiah but "donkey" does just as well). What I did hear was that this cart was also heading to Shoreline Manor. Without a moment of hesitation, I alighted onto the cart and sat down, claiming the best seat before the others also had the same revelation as I. That is when I saw the box. It flexed and growled... so naturally I kicked it. 

That cursed box ended up being a mimic and snapped it jaws around my foot. I began cursing at it in Elvish and kicking at it hard with my free heel but the damned thing was latched on tight. Vani made it worse by throwing a dagger which caused it to regurgitate acid up over me. Somewhere in-between swearing at both the box and now Vani, Bird Girl swooped in and pried the box open with her very capable talons. I immediately retaliated and blasted at it, but my injuries dulled my powers and had no effect. Ildan rushed in to guard me, however he gracelessly hit his foot on the edge of the cart, missed pulling out his sword and toppled on top of the box. As angry neighs echoed down from the front of the cart, most other members of the TIP also began rushing in. Ren was the tipping point. The whole cart began bucking wildly with all of us inside and upturned. Mysteriously, we all landed on our feet and began a much more coordinated assault on the thrashing box. Fire, dagger, bear claws, flight... last one was a mistake. Swallowed Bird Girl whole while up in the air. Steel, anchor, crowbar, bear hug, dagger. Finally, it melted into a pool of gelatinous goo, which I first punched before stabilizing Bird Girl. We continue on as before, Bird Girl and I in the cart, licking our wounds so to speak and healing up with magical pomegranate seeds. That bird can be quite endearing... sometimes.

At the manor, there was some fuss about who should enter first. Vani somehow came out of a crack in the door before we are let in by Jeremiah. She is sneaky that one. Inside, the woman appeared at the top of the stairs and... I dislike her immensely. All glamorous while the place around her is in ruins. It would have been laughable except... well... Dorian's charms somehow backfired and... she ashed Iskandar. "Oh, was he the one with the deed?", she mocked. I felt magical energy infuse me, my eyes radiated energy and my voice boomed out around the room, "You are going to regret that". I felt cold, detached and deadly. With that, our fight for the manor began.

Vani began with a well-aimed dagger in her shoulder, which glowed a magical green light. I threw a beam at her, which she deflected and retorted, "It's grown-up time now". To use common terms such as Ildan uses... this really pissed me off. Ren and Ildan rushed in to fight her, but she hit them instead with a wave of thunder that punched them right through the railing and back onto the floor. The boom cracked the air and everyone tried in vain to cover their ears and protect their hearing. As J ran in to heal Ildan, Bird Girl, in all her winged fury, burst down through a sky light in the roof and shot an arrow right into the red-haired woman's throat. Her throat glowed green as she slowly pulled out the arrow. Even with this small moment of triumph, the battle turned as three creatures appeared in the foyer. We all became involved in our separate fights. However, I could not be deterred from that sorceress and even as the clanking armour attacked me, I raised my shield to parry the blow and then ran off after her up the stairs. With all my conviction I yelled at her, "You think you can channel thunder? You do not have the might of the Gods behind you!". I saw J roll her eyes, but my belief and devotion were strong. I cried out to my God, "Nurzhan, aid me now and strike this elg'caress down!". My God used me... I am her vessel... the power she granted me is all-encompassing. The power burst from me as a gigantic wave of thunder that assaulted her body and pushed her off the railing onto the main floor. The second loud boom affected everyone's hearing again (some even looking annoyed and incredulous about having their ears blasted a second time). With that woman on the ground, Ildan took the advantage and finished her off with a stab from his sword. He seemed somewhat disappointed at not having her put up more of a fight and so ran off to play with (and possibly measure) the armour. I believe Ren and Vani were busy with some little bitey thing while this was all going on. J then managed to lasso the harpy fighting with Bird Girl in the air and hauled it downwards. I jumped off the balcony, perhaps not accidentally landing on the sorceress' body and crushing her under my heal before sending another blast of thunder out towards the harpy. With the harpy weakened, Bird Girl let loose a deadly arrow that decapitated the thing brutally. Dorian, Ren and Ildan were still locked in battle with the armour. Dorian was looking quite pale and worse for wear, but Ren finished it off by shattering it into tiny pieces. Ildan seemed miffed and said something like, "Ren, you knew I wanted that!". 

Everything settled. I looked around. Bird Girl was still frenzied, acting quite queer and slashing at the dead harpy's face. Dorian looked ready to faint, saying "I suggest I rest...". The others looked quite worn out and Ildan looked sad, as though he had lost a prize. J slowly moved to those most injured, lending a healing hand to those in need. The foyer, in complete shambles and also quite coated in ash from all the thunder blasts blowing it around. In the relative silence, both Vani and I hear a sound out front. We look at each other, briefly acknowledging, and then race off to the door. She slid through a hole as I booted it open with my heel. The donkey was out front. Oh, and the cursed donkey was there as well. I yelled "halt" and rushed after him as Dorian shuffled into the doorway behind us. Even with all we have been through, Dorian regained his charm and began asking the man about the manor. It is revealed that we have a lot of work ahead of us.

It seems monsters and other discoveries are awaiting in our manor. It will take a lot of work to turn this place into something inhabitable. It truly is a "fixed upper" as Iskandar said. Shame about him being turned to ash. Yet, his death lent me the focus I needed for this fight. Never have I felt such strong conviction and devotion to my God, so perhaps his death was a gift. Yes, thank you bull-man for this insight you have granted me. I shall use it in the many tasks that must lie ahead of us. The first one will be to sweep up your ashes and find some kind of decorative vessel for your remains.

Narcel'Uss Tanorthal