The Journal of Inata Adeleiv

((Another noninteractive storyline post from the makers of Ansaari interupted, funded by Peanut the horsie :P This will be Inata's view on events, thoughts back ground things you might want to know OOC but not yet learned IC etc.))

<A small journal locked, and heavily warded sits upon a bedside table, a daedric summon standing guard over it.>

Second Seed 8th day
It is time for me to leave. Mother and the elders, they welcome me, beg me to stay, that the Green will do as it wishes despite my curse! I cannot stay though. Even with the healers Endil's father will be unable to hunt for nearly a season. I cannot see my loved ones hurt by my mere presence any longer. I will leave in the night, so that I do not have to see anyone, so that no one can ask me to stay and drain me of my resolve with their looks, especially mother.<a few small water stains appear upon the page, perhaps from fallen tears>

Second Seed 11th day
I have finally left. It took longer to get supplies together then I planned, and even those i took were scant. I could not deprive the village, and too much gone would have raised suspicions. I think mother knew anyhow but she said nothing. I found extra coins in my pack that weren't there before. I am finally on my own, and there is a certain thrill to it. I am travelling off the typical paths and taking little food as I go, this can no longer be my lands to hunt in.

Second Seed 12th day
<More spots appear from fallen tears, the writing appears shaky and hesitant> I am now some distance away from the village, as I am traveling fast and light. I had to leave, I could not let the others be hurt by the darkness in my veins. I hope mother understands. I do not regret this decision, but I am all alone.

Second Seed 20th day
I have found a new village, Galvin, it is larger than I am used to but the people seem welcoming. They say they always have need of a new hunter and tracker.

Second Seed 24th day
I had to leave Galvin. They started looking at me with suspicion and dislike. They don't know why strange happenings are occurring, why fresh food in the morning is spoiled by the time it reaches the supper table, why accidents happen that would never have before. They are putting things together though and began suspecting me. I think the Elder's newly grown house burning to the ground with him in it was the final straw. I am alone again.

Second Seed 30th day
Several Glavin hunters gave chase, I think they wanted to kill me. I was able to avoid them, I am the better hunter. But now I am lost. Not physically. I know I am only a few days away from a city called Woodhearth. But what do I do? I have no one. I am alone again with no idea where to go. I could continue in to the city, maybe get lost among the crowd. How long will that last though before they are out for my curse blood as well? I wish mother were here to ask. Or Llwen were here to ask.

Mid Year 2nd day
I entered Woodhearth. Not out of choice, but lack of options. I needed a place to get supplies I could not find in the woods, mostly the need to hear other people speaking. I may have found something promising, rumors. The are rumors abound that some less than reputable Khajiit clan has moved into the city. I have never seen Khajiit before, except at a distance when my hunting back home took me close to a trade road. Anyhow, this clan could be my chance. If what the rumors say are true then these are not truely the people I would prefer to remain with, but with them I would have a place to stay, some companionship, and if even half of what I hear is true, then I can think of none better to be on the receiving end of the misfortune my curse brings. Perhaps if i am very lucky, the innocents of the city will attribute any misfortune my presence causes to the deeds of this group.

Mid Year 8th day
I have finally managed to locate these Sugar-claws and have begun to watch them. Their leader is a small black Khajiit, I have not yet discovered his name, rumor has it as Risa, or Risar, something like that. He seems to be quite wicked, and extremely driven. Perhaps he has blood similar to mine and has chosen to embrace it? Would I be like this creature if I ever gave in to the calling? No matter, I will not fall into the darkness, and if anyone deserves the misfortune I bring it is he.

Mid Year 9th day
The Sugar-claw leader, whom I have finally learned is named Ri'sari, has several lieutenants, all Khajiit. The two I have noted most are the one that merchants talk of as Kazzah. He seems to be conniving, and perhaps has some motives counter to his leader's. He is both sneaky and manipulative, but also plays toady to Ri'sari quite well. He seems to me to be one that claws with every ounce of energy for power, even while attempting to not look like it is so. The second, and far more intriguing and dangerous, is another black Khajiit. This one's name is not whispered anywhere that I have been able to hear it, though the word "Stalker". He stands in the back and watches, eyes always moving. He would make a great hunter and tracker, I believe, and presents me the most danger. It is a wonder he has not yet noticed my interests in this clan he serves. I think he also gives me my best way into the clan. If I can get into his good graces it would allow me to work in the clan while staying in the shadows.

Mid Year 14th day
I have been watching this clan. And the Stalker lieutenant is definitely my way in. They seem to have a female Khajiit called a "clan mother" as hostage to hold a second faction at bay, called "Broken bottles" or some such. The groups dynamics seems to completely revolve around Ri'sari, with member coming and going. Some of these members are a puzzle to me. The woman in charge of their prisoner seems at once blood thirsty towards this clan mother, but almost caring when it comes to this insane Khajiit that comes around asking for cookies, or to play, or whatever reason she has in her head at the time for showing up. She gave a talking to the insane one about not accepting anything from strangers out of worry of poison or drugs, and yet I would wager at least some of what she gives to others is drugged. The Stalker leader is still another mystery, he watches, and works with Ri'sari, but I get the distinct impression he is doing so for his own reasons, rather than for any goal the clan leader has planned.

Mid Year 17th day
I got careless! I was saved though by the skin of my teeth, and a false bravado that seems to have impressed the Stalker leader, Sylvaswift. I let my guard grow too lax and one of his agents, Sumar, found me watching the clan. Left with no option I presented myself to Sylva and pretty well demanded to join his number. Where he attempted to dismiss me as tiresome I stood my ground. By the Green, but he is a tall and intimidating creature when he wishes to be. I was given a task, and test, to discover something for him that he does not already know. And also ordered all my findings go to him, not direct to the clan leader. I believe this confirms my suspicion that he works towards his own goals, not necessarily those of Ri'sari. To this end, and since I am a new and unknown face I intend to get close to some of the people in this "Broken" merchant's guild and see what I can discover.

Mid Year 19th day
The captive clan mother was dragged to a meeting of some sort in a run down and abandoned tower. I stayed in the distance, watching what I could through the doorless arch into the tower. No one saw me I am sure, and from my vantage I saw the Argonian leader of the merchants stab the clan mother! The gathered members of both clan and commune seemed convinced the Old Khajiit was dead and soon dispersed. I decided to remain and watch those that did not leave, including the murderous lizard. I swear the dead clan mother arose and stepped through a portal, but I cannot be completely sure due to my limited view through the door, and distance. I have not yet decided if I should bring this information to Sylva, since I have no proof of this. I also hesitate because the Old Khajiit has suffered enough, if Sylva were to pass this on to Ri'sari the poor woman might be recaptured.

Mid Year 21st day
They held a funeral for the apparently deceased clan mother. I still have not revealed to anyone that she may yet live, nor will I. She has escaped pain and torture, I see no need to add to that pain by risking her recapture. Sylva left the funeral at one point to spy on the Broken Bottle merchants, something concerning the gold received by way of agreement being fake. I am guessing he told me so that I could make an excuse for his absence if noticed? Thankfully it did not come to that, and little else of importance occurred at the funeral. Sylva returned some time after he left looking to me as if he found something in his searching. If this is true then the peace that was only just won may be lost. Meanwhile, the clan leader, Ri'sari, seems to be planning something. He eyes the new clan mother with disdain whenever she is around. If not for the guards she keeps with her I would fear he might take her hostage as he did the old one.

Mid Year 25th day

Ri'sari attempted to rally his clan, and was interupted by the arrival of a Khajiit named as his son. The Anger filled Khajiit actually shed tears. However, in this same time frame others rallied around the young clan mother, offering her cuttings of their hair for some reason? These cat people have strange rituals indeed. Most of those that rallied seem to be fed off a hatred for Ri'sari that, even with what I have watched, I cannot understand. Perhaps it is merely my outside perspective that lets me see so clearly?

Mid Year 27th day

I spent the day hunting, stalking some apparently overly aggressive predators the locals worry will attack over-land traders? Either way I could not refuse the task as my coin purse was low. All I found were some tigers, but the authorities accepted them as their feared predators. The coin was decent enough, and I made more with the sale of the hides and carcasses, I even kept enough for myself to have a few meals. I should be able to at least continue to afford lodging for now. There was a strange announcement at the docks when I arrived back from the hunt. Some Thalmor Lord has turned his eyes upon Woodhearth. While the news does not affect me directly, it raised great concern from the merchants that were present. Ri'sari was not present for the announcement, and I fear what his response will be, even while I wonder at what it might be as well. Since I work for Sylva, his lieutenant, his response could be very troublesome for me. It is good that I keep supplies ready for an emergency hunting trip, in case I find myself with the need to flee. I hope it does not come to that, though, as I quite enjoy this city of Woodhearth. It is a big city, the first I have seen, but is part of the Valenwood enough to feel welcoming to me.

Sun's Height day 6

So much has happened that I have not had time to chronicle the events as I usually would. I have been hunting often, or moving small, harmless items past Thalmor scrutiny via land routes. Mainly I have been avoiding Thalmor entanglements and watching the clan's actions. Ri'sari has been scarce, and the others have been abuzz with activity. We, as a clan, will be leaving soon from this city, and I find myself both excited to see distant lands, and terrified at leaving the homelands I have known all my life. Will distant forests welcome me as Valenwood has?

I watched from safety as the Clan met in an old tower to plan. The Thalmor of course showed to spoil the meeting. We are to repair a boat the goblin purchased somehow and sail away to safety. It is a sound plan assuming the Thalmor do not catch everyone during repairs, and assuming they do not have a boat waiting outside the harbor to catch us. I am nervous of the big ship and open ocean. I have been on small boats in lakes around the Valenwood, and know I can stomach such small waves, I do not know how I will handle the heaving rolling open waters of the sea though.

Mid Year

I was left behind. I was out hunting, getting a last bit of coin when the Thalmor attacked and the clan fled on the goblin's ship. Worse, and somewhat amusing, I saw the goblin, he was left as well. Disturbingly, the Thalmor have taken him it seems. Perhaps it is for the best, Valenwood is my home, perhaps I should just remain here.


*the next entry is written hastily but not dated*

The Thalmor are preparing to mobilize. The goblin must have told them where the clan went. I am already several days out from Woodhearth, travelling to this "S'ren-ja" to warn the clan. I should be able to travel faster then the Thalmor, and give them enough warning, I hope.

*The next entry is dated but in a scrawl that is not legible.*

I made it to S'ren-ja, but not far in front of the Thalmor. The clan was thankfully already warned. The delay that allowed the Thalmor to catch up was a detour i was forced to make to avoid the village. Mother would have asked me to stay, and I don't think I would have been able to tell her no. I miss the village, my family. But this is still for the best.

*The next entry, while legible, is written hastily, as if the writer is panicked, or shaking.*

Mid Year 22nd day

Something is wrong. I feel as if my mind is torn in two. I am being watched but no one is there to do the watching. I feel fevered but not warm. It began after I left the Valenwood. Now I find myself entering a place, then find myself in another with no memory of the transition.

Mid Year 24th day

It has become worse. Could it have been a mistake leaving home? Where they shielding me from something? I was sitting last eve with some of the guild, and I suddenly became uncontrollably angry, I nearly stabbed a Mer attempting to help me, I barely redirected my dagger into the nearby table instead. I could have killed him ... And then it got worse. I went to try sleeping some when a Khajiit named Kazzah attempted to wake me for some sort of ceremony. I punched him in the face. If my dagger had not still been embedded in the table down the stairs I think I would have attempted to stab him. What is happening to me? Could my father's blood be doing this to me somehow?