10 Days, 9 Creatures, 1 Cave (Crystal Forest)

Given that we will be spending substantial time here, I think it is best to structure my time to ensure my time is used wisely. (I'm sure Roscoe will think I am losing it for making a table.)

Time	Activity	Notes
Morning	Meditate Attempt enchantment	Tara may have insight here; also Fern/Duraz could surprise me with enchantment knowledge
Midday	Physical fitness Socialize/free time	Emphasize agility and balance
Afternoon	Archery fitness Socialize/free time	If Tara allows, use the unbreakable arrow and actually strike the wall somewhere
Evening	Study Socialize/free time Meditate	Figure out specific research questions for next HoK opportunity

27 Navara
I stuck to the routine, and it worked out. Tara seemed very interested in my clumsy attempts at enchanting, and she seems more fascinated by my low-level magic than I would have expected. She's going to help me try to enchant an arrow, though. She also was more engaged in my workout than anyone ought to be, but she showed me hers, which will add variety.
 
28 Navara
Yesterday I was able to transfer the mirror to target Selma, and she told me five times more story than I ever expected. Tantras has been under attack; the Bell of Galen Attricus was not repaired in order to help fight off a necromancer's horde. Any person who falls in the battle is decapitated and burned to ensure their souls may continue on and their bodies do not become the necromancer's tools. Garrick and Selena's house has thus far been safe from the undead (unlike their neighbors) and both Mipp and Selma are in the library, researching solutions and being supported with supplies from Garrick. Of course, the city's leadership are holed up and safe, but the rest of the town is clearly not. All things considered, Selma appears in good condition and relatively high spirits, but fuck, what's the right thing to do? These eggs need to get to Duraz's mountain, but...
 
29 Navara
Oghma spoke to me, but more in that wordless-and-a-bit-vague way gods are wont to do. I know why we're maintaining distance, but I don't like it.
 
Fern also informed me today that Rue and half of Force Grey are heading to Eiswald because of Jarlaxle and his trial. She wasn't clear on some of the details, but she clammed up a bit about it when she realized that she was telling me something Rue hadn't already told me. I need to remember to tease him for this when we next speak.
 
30 Navara
I've been studying that calendar/tally that Tara has, and I've copied it in its entirety to study later. This is essentially an almanac of the forest, and I doubt one has every been complied so effectively before. It also made me sad, because I realized as I studied it that Tara has been here around 10 years. Any time it has come up, she seems unsure how long she has been here.
 
31 Navara
I finally wrote to Percy after a week or so of no correspondence. I wanted his advice on what to do with the forest knowledge I was amassing, plus I have both an academic and practical research question for him. Based on our messages back and forth, I'll need to talk to him to get the ball really rolling. I might try to pop over to HoZ tomorrow to grab some new information and talk to him. Fern seemed like something happened today, and I had an inkling of what, but she surprised me with double the information that I expected. Rue had already mentioned to me that his parents were talking about "retiring" to Veldorn, but I guess I hadn't fully thought through what that would mean for the responsibilities Ash and Lilly currently hold. Fern seems understandably overwhelmed and afraid, and I really need to work on being comforting. The "tough love and shoulder pat" method that worked in Eolas isn't quite the right approach here. Now it feels like I have somehow become "senior Chosen" and have to live up to things I don't even understand myself.
 
32 Navara
I reached the end of what I could do without new information, and so I snuck away to Hoz. I was only there a day and a half in Veldorn time, so under two minutes back on the prime material plane, but Tara was pretty worked up upon my return. She impressed upon me multiple times that planeshifting and teleportation are not predictable here, and while I will heed her, I am unsure if whatever I am doing is subject to the same risks. I would ask Oghma, but that's trickier now. Apparently Tara was trying to scry on me (the amulet would have blocked me, and probably HoZ, too) and she sent creatures out to look for me outside the cave, thinking I had ventured out. I... didn't want to make a big deal out of it, and I only went to grab new information from the library, but clearly that was ill advised. I'll try not to go again while we are in the forest.
 
33 Navara
I've been mulling over whether or not I can use a natural focus like the druids do, and I will talk to Duraz about it... soon. Today seems too early. I need to come up with more rock metaphors before I approach this conversation. Seksgar also woke up ADAMANT that we drop the dragon eggs off before going to Tantras, which was a relief to me, because I had been worried the group was starting to drift toward wanting to dash off there and try to help. We need to be rid of these eggs, because they're a liability. I'm also not convinced we have any meaningful aid to offer Tantras at the moment.
 
34 Navara
The arrow is coming along nicely, and I think Tara has mastered the spell! My conversation with Duraz was... well, I don't know why I would expect anything other than what it was. This is clearly going to be a work in progress. Also, may the strength of all the gods keep this reality together, because Big Pauly and Little Pauly plus Sef screaming through the same pot Maurice was using to talk to Fern while Saxon hopped in from the background was too much chaos for one interaction. I hope we have a boat and/or tavern left at all when we next step foot in Waterdeep.
 
35 Navara
Tajna, Loucura, and Lolth apparently have the power to force me into an actual dream that I can't wake up from. Tara, who seems oddly attuned to dreams and the travels our consciousnesses take when sleeping, told me the only reason I could wake from the dream was because she was there to help me. I woke up to her holding me and crying, so I'm inclined to believe her. She and Duraz fashioned a weird crown out of crystals and wire that is supposed to help shield me. I think Duraz was muttering under his breath about locking me up still. I don't... know what to do. I shouldn't go back to HoZ, but all I feel like there is to do now is study, learn, figure out how to get a step ahead. It's infuriating.
 
In happier news, Keenor and I have been running all kinds of drills for him to warn me of things, express his desires, and to make fun of people. He still seems fond of saying "fucking awesome," and while he has proven he can do it in his own voice, half the time he opts to use Rue's instead. This bird is too much. He also seems to be amused by screeching "REGAL" when people are about to fall asleep, which is also hilarious. I am happiest that he has mastered saying "Duraz," "Seksgar," "Roscoe," and "Blackthorne" in an exasperated tone. I don't even have to do it myself, now.
 
36 Navara
I spoke to Rue again today, and it's like everything in the world has been rotated 90 degrees and nothing lines up anymore. Is this how it's going to be from now on? Also everyone made fun of me for how long I spoke to him. It's like they willfully only notice things they can tease me for, and no one has noted the fact that I didn't speak to him for over a week. We will need to work on their overall awareness skills. He also called Fern over and the spoke for a bit. I can see the guilt and concern in his face, even through the small mirror. I still don't understand the suddenness of their parents' decision.