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--- arsmagica:twilight-saga:lore:aelflaeds_diary [2009/09/13 15:56] – external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ arsmagica:twilight-saga:lore:aelflaeds_diary [2012/10/25 10:48] (current) – sam
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 ====== Diary of Aelflaed ======
-It is the year of their lord, 1167. I am Aelflaed, world
+It is the year of their lord, 1167. I am Aelflaed, world weary traveller finally come home to her birthland.
-weary traveller finally come home to her birthland.
+Though it is winter, it is good to be back in England once again. The cool winds and cold rain are much in preference to the blistering heat of the southern deserts. Even in my younger years I doubt I could have stood the brightness there. Hypatia is much more suited to such weather than I, though I fear she already hates the weather here.
+Little has changed here since I left. A new King sits on the throne, but the people and places are much the same. It is strange, that I could never call the bright deserts of the Arabic lands home, that I always felt that I was but a visitor, merely passing through.
-Though it is winter, it is good to be back in England once
+The place we now call home is a small keep standing lost and alone in the great forests of southern England. There is a small village nearby, but we believe that if we leave well alone, then they will do the same. We can hunt in lands far from here, where we shall not bother the locals. I've made the mistake of being lazy about such conventions only once, and I don't intend to repeat that mistake.
-again. The cool winds and cold rain are much in preference
-to the blistering heat of the southern deserts. Even in my
-younger years I doubt I could have stood the brightness
-there. Hypatia is much more suited to such weather than I,
-though I fear she already hates the weather here.
+...
+It would seem that the peasants here name this place after one they call Adamus. If you believed half
-Little has changed here since I left. A new King sits on
+the tales they tell, you would think Adamus was evil incarnate. The term they use is //vampire//, though that
-the throne, but the people and places are much the same.
+can mean so many things it is an almost meaningless label. He and his kind were accused with the deaths
-It is strange, that I could never call the bright deserts
+of several villagers in the local area, and they now hold a superstitious dread of this place. Such suits
-of the Arabic lands home, that I always felt that I was
+us well, though those we meet look on us with immediate suspicion. We must tread carefully here, and be doubly
-but a visitor, merely passing through.
+careful to only take what we need for sustenance and no more. Hypatia needs to be watched. She dislikes
+those that follow the Silent God, and not without reason! Her dislike may bring her to take maybe less
-The place we now call home is a small keep standing lost
-and alone in the great forests of southern England. There
-is a small village nearby, but we believe that if we
-leave well alone, then they will do the same. We can hunt
-in lands far from here, where we shall not bother the
-locals. I've made the mistake of being lazy about such
-conventions only once, and I don't intend to repeat that
-mistake.
-It would seem that the peasants here name this
-place after one they call Adamus. If you believed half
-the tales they tell, you would think Adamus was evil
-incarnate. The term they use is //vampire//, though that
-can mean so many things it is an almost meaningless
-label. He and his kind were accused with the deaths
-of several villagers in the local area, and they now
-hold a superstitious dread of this place. Such suits
-us well, though those we meet look on us with immediate
-suspicion. We must tread carefully here, and be doubly
-careful to only take what we need for sustenance and
-no more. Hypatia needs to be watched. She dislikes
-those that follow the Silent God, and not without
-reason! Her dislike may bring her to take maybe less
 care than she should.
+Summer is always a problem, though at least we get some respite from the burning sun for much of the year.
+The nights are always too short, the days too long. I wish I had Hypatia's tolerance of His glare.
+I have found some crypts beneath our tower which house the bodies of many men. One holds the sword Blodgewyrd,
-Summer is always a problem, though at least we get
+which I know belonged to one of my son's warriors. My memory is strange - I remember some things from long
-some respite from the burning sun for much of the year.
+ago, such as the markings, the shape, of that sword, almost perfectly. But the name of the man who held it,
-The nights are always too short, the days too long. I
-wish I had Hypatia's tolerance of His glare.
-I have found some crypts beneath our tower which house
-the bodies of many men. One holds the sword Blodgewyrd,
-which I know belonged to one of my son's warriors.
-My memory is strange - I remember some things from long
-ago, such as the markings, the shape, of that sword,
-almost perfectly. But the name of the man who held it,
 or even his face, is forever gone.
+I sense something else here in the Chapel, though I'm not sure what. It feels like the Goddess, though it is
+very faint, as if there was something here once which was holy, but has since been removed. A strange feeling
-I sense something else here in the Chapel, though I'm
-not sure what. It feels like the Goddess, though it is
-very faint, as if there was something here once which
-was holy, but has since been removed. A strange feeling
 for a place that should be a centre for the Dominion.
+...
+It is the middle of Autumn, and Godrun and Beorfloed have found a suitable place in Guildsford to which we
+could find refuge if things go against us here. Hypatia has instructed them to leave the inhabitants of that
+town untouched, for we must be able to take up residence there without suspicion.
-It is the middle of Autumn, and Godrun and Beorfloed
+Hypatia herself will be leaving soon for Ireland, to make contact with some old acquaintances of ours. Hopefully they will have some knowledge of the artifact which has been in our possession since Paris, carrying as it does the symbols of the Children of Dana. If the sorcerers of that Isle do not know, then there are few to whom we can turn.
-have found a suitable place in Guildsford to which we
-could find refuge if things go against us here. Hypatia
-has instructed them to leave the inhabitants of that
-town untouched, for we must be able to take up residence
-there without suspicion.
-Hypatia herself will be leaving soon for Ireland, to make
-contact with some old acquaintances of ours. Hopefully they
-will have some knowledge of the artifact which has been in
-our possession since Paris, carrying as it does the symbols
-of the Children of Dana. If the sorcerers of that Isle do
-not know, then there are few to whom we can turn.
-The winter was a short one, and though it is barely spring,
-the peasants are preparing their fields for this year's
-crops. Such makes it easier for us, for there are many
-people about outside the villages, and individuals are
-easier to come by. I am glad that I only have need of
-drink barely more than once a week, else despite the
-freedom with which people walk about, it would become
-difficult to keep our feeding habits secret. It is easy to
-see why many of our Family prefer the bustle of large
-cities, such as Rome and Constantinople, for there are so
-many people there that none know what happens to their
-neighbours, and a night of carelessness can be easily
-hidden.
-As I sit here at my window, the sight of the moonlight on
-the snow covered forest is enough to remind me of my early
-winters, when I was still mortal. The Family had not
-claimed me at that point, though my heredity had not been
-in question since before my birth. I sat then, as I sit
-now, watching men haul stones up into Peterborough for the
-monastery. Of course, it was daylight then, but the snow on
-the woods was the same as it is now, but shone with gold
-rather than silver. That was the day before my mother died,
-before I took to the streets for none gave me sanctuary
-fearing that I would be a curse to them. It was Malach who
-found me and took me in. He was not a man who could be
-trusted, but what choice did I have? He offered food and
-shelter, and brought me ever so carefully into the Family
-fold, from which I may never escape. Whether my new life
-is a curse, or some blessing, is difficult to say. My
-memory has faded so much over the centuries that I can
-recall little of my previous life. That which was before
-Malach, before the house on Watling Street. What I
-remember, I try to write here, to aid my future memory.
-But so far little more than glimpses of scenes, snatches
-of conversation, or even smells of my mother's cooking
-come to mind.
-Then there's the blood and fear of the years following
+...
-the invasions from the North Way. Those I remember well,
-though sometimes I wish I couldn't. Taking what I needed
-was harder then, for people were too scared to venture far
-from their homes, but everyone was mistrusted, and refugees
-on the road were a common sight, such that I was no more
-suspicious than any other soul.
+The winter was a short one, and though it is barely spring, the peasants are preparing their fields for this year's crops. Such makes it easier for us, for there are many people about outside the villages, and individuals are easier to come by. I am glad that I only have need of drink barely more than once a week, else despite the freedom with which people walk about, it would become difficult to keep our feeding habits secret. It is easy to see why many of our Family prefer the bustle of large cities, such as Rome and Constantinople, for there are so many people there that none know what happens to their neighbours, and a night of carelessness can be easily hidden.
+As I sit here at my window, the sight of the moonlight on the snow covered forest is enough to remind me of my early winters, when I was still mortal. The Family had not claimed me at that point, though my heredity had not been in question since before my birth. I sat then, as I sit now, watching men haul stones up into Peterborough for the monastery. Of course, it was daylight then, but the snow on the woods was the same as it is now, but shone with gold rather than silver. That was the day before my mother died, before I took to the streets for none gave me sanctuary fearing that I would be a curse to them. It was Malach who found me and took me in. He was not a man who could be trusted, but what choice did I have? He offered food and shelter, and brought me ever so carefully into the Family fold, from which I may never escape. Whether my new life is a curse, or some blessing, is difficult to say. My memory has faded so much over the centuries that I can recall little of my previous life. That which was before Malach, before the house on Watling Street. What I remember, I try to write here, to aid my future memory. But so far little more than glimpses of scenes, snatches of conversation, or even smells of my mother's cooking come to mind.
-Mary has taken a lover in one of the villages to the West.
+Then there's the blood and fear of the years following the invasions from the North Way. Those I remember well,
-She does not know her true nature, though she has of course
+though sometimes I wish I couldn't. Taking what I needed was harder then, for people were too scared to venture far from their homes, but everyone was mistrusted, and refugees on the road were a common sight, such that I was no more suspicious than any other soul.
-been feeding from her since winter. No one can fault her
-choice of mortals, and at least she doesn't run the risk of
-bearing a child. Until it would be old enough to be brought
-into our ways, it would be too much of a burden to care for.
+...
+Mary has taken a lover in one of the villages to the West. She does not know her true nature, though she has of course been feeding from her since winter. No one can fault her choice of mortals, and at least she doesn't run the risk of bearing a child. Until it would be old enough to be brought into our ways, it would be too much of a burden to care for.
-We have persuaded some of the local villagers to begin
+...
-construction of a small cottage down in the woods. It
-always helps to have other places to live, and these stone
-towers remind me too much of what I'd like to forget.
+We have persuaded some of the local villagers to begin construction of a small cottage down in the woods. It
+always helps to have other places to live, and these stone towers remind me too much of what I'd like to forget.
+...
 It is autumn, almost winter, and I guess 1170. Two
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 inefficient way to feed, but pleasurable beyond
 description.
 We have heard nothing about the deaths of the villagers.
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 suspect us.
+...
 The Covenant of Britdaeg has sent us a visitor this
@@ Line 204: / Line 99: @@
 if he becomes trouble, though I do not let on that I am
 anything much more than barely out of apprenticeship.
 By the middle of summer, the cottage is finished, after
 some annoying delays. I have moved there for now.
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 hasn't already, but scandal of that sort is better than
 rumours of another.
 It is true what they say, that once part of the
@@ Line 232: / Line 122: @@
 enough magical knowledge to keep him from prying
 in on our conversations.
 Adamus left yesterday, hoping to reach London
@@ Line 239: / Line 127: @@
 Rachael with him.
+...
 Hypatia has returned from Ireland, with much
@@ Line 247: / Line 135: @@
 it may not be wise to let a member of the Order know
 much about it.
 Barely a month has passed, and Hypatia and Galron had
@@ Line 260: / Line 146: @@
 tasted before. It could be almost addictive - I must
 be careful.
 I believe the date is 14th March, 1174. Yesterday
@@ Line 275: / Line 159: @@
 like to get involved with the family any more than
 necessary, but we may not have a choice.
 Britdaeg has spent the last few months trying to stir
@@ Line 288: / Line 170: @@
 against god. It is nice to know that even the clergy
 can be bought.
 This winter involved some difficult decisions. Several
@@ Line 302: / Line 182: @@
 drag suspicion out longer. We are finding new sources
 of blood.
 Sometime last week, the vicar of Goodford passed away
@@ Line 313: / Line 191: @@
 asking many questions of the villagers, and she
 already fears him.
 Within a few months of his arrival, Father Cynric is
@@ Line 332: / Line 208: @@
 powers and seeking to perform evil rituals to bring
 about the suffering of mortals.
 We are not evil, no more so than a wolf or a lion. We
@@ Line 346: / Line 220: @@
 considered evil? How can we possibly be in league with
 a devil we barely believe in, let alone follow.
@@ Line 354: / Line 227: @@
 Archbishop Cyril's mob did to her in Alexandria.
+...
+Since Autumn when I last wrote, the people here about have begun to get restless. Last night, a group of
-Since Autumn when I last wrote, the people here about
+half a dozen knights arrived at the Church of Goodsford. We can sense that the people are fearful, though it is mixed with other emotions which are difficult to make out. Tommorrow we shall decide whether to leave or try and stay. We may not have much time.
-have begun to get restless. Last night, a group of
-half a dozen knights arrived at the Church of
-Goodsford. We can sense that the people are fearful,
-though it is mixed with other emotions which are
-difficult to make out. Tommorrow we shall decide
-whether to leave or try and stay. We may not have much
-time.