An Elf's Research

[shadou]

In the War Wizard's tower of Espar, a certain red-haired well dressed elf can lately usually be found reading through the books available. Any books on enchanting are read and reread to exhaustion, as she seems to be looking for some information in particular. Old everbright enchanting books are not ignored, as she leaves no stone unturned in her research. Sometimes she may use her key to enter the facilities and test some theory or another at the enchanting table, only to return to the library when such experimentation fails.

[shadou]

Excerpt from Milna's journal:

My research into the enchantment of my bow has yielded unexpected good results from discussions with the artificer at the Academy, Luys. With his help, I believe I have come up with a ritual that may work to provide an enchantment to my personal bow, and transform it into a powerful tool to serve The People.

First, I must find some Sunstone. Three sunstones of quality should be fashioned into the bow, one into each end of the shaft, and one into the arrow rest. Additionally, the bow needs to be refashioned with a silver string. Once the bow has been properly refashioned, the whole thing must be soaked in the holy water produced by the Holy Grail of Corellon, and finally, the blessing of Sehenine Moonbow must be channeled into the sunstones at a place sacred to her, while the full moon hangs directly above.

With this ritual, the bow would become a powerful tool against the undead, and made to serve The People. For now, I will have to start seeking sunstones of sufficient quality. Perhaps I would be able to find some deep within the mines of either Espar or Skull Crag... A supply of silver would also be necessary for the string, and I will need to find a kin craftsman of skill to refashion the bow. Obtaining the grail from the guardian of the Temple of the Protector will need to be finally achieved. And finally, I would need to find a priest or priestess of Sehenine that could provide the blessing, and a suitable location for the ritual.

It will be a long and difficult quest to fashion such a bow, but I believe having such a bow to hand would be well worth the struggle.

[shadou]

The elven wizard returns to the Stormhaven House library, with a seemingly different research subject. Any books on gems are read through, with taking note of where feldspar gems can be found in general, and sunstones in particular. Her research also seems to include local geography, trying to pinpoint likely sites where such gems may be found.

[shadou]

Excerpt from Milna's journal:

The information on where sunstones may be formed or found seems to be genuine. My research had indicated that Sunstones may be found near lava flows, as the lava may form sunstones upon cooling given the right conditions. Rumors also indicated that the Azers, fire dwarves, had found some sunstone near their settlement, which also turned out to be genuine. A journey along with Shaerlyn to the Azer settlement proved fruitful. I now have one of the three Sunstones I need to refashion the bow into one that can bear Sehanine's blessing, found along the way to the camp.

Getting the other two seems to require additional steps. The Azers are harvesting the sunstone for use in pretty jewelry. I have to admit it is a beautiful gem, and denizens of the below, bereft of the sun, would likely have no idea of the Sunstone's other properties that make it valuable here on the surface. But harvesting enough to meet demand has hit an unfortunate roadblock; the fire giants have taken to kidnapping the Azer miners. The miner I spoke to has promised me one more on return if I can bring at least one of their miners home. Otherwise, they say it will take at least two months for me to receive any sunstone, in my place on the waiting list. Additionally, having more miners available would speed the harvest of sunstone and have my sunstone ready at an earlier time.

I did not need the promise of sunstones to do the good deed of rescuing the Azer miners, but I will not turn down the promised reward. I told the miners that I would do what I can, and now seek to bring together enough strong companions to perform the rescue mission. I will provide rewards to those that help me out of my own purse if necessary. The Azers should not live enslaved. No thinking being should labor under the yoke of another. The Azers will have their miners rescued, I will have at least one more of my sunstones, and justice will be dealt to the fire giants.

It may yet be worth checking the depths of the Skull Crag mines for any wild Sunstones. Perhaps one should be found in some of the crystal formations near the lava flows, where Smelter guards. I should check soon.

[shadou]

Excerpt from Milna's journal:

I have finally done it. After months of effort, cleansing the Temple of The Protector from the taint of the orcs that defile it, and many times approaching the Baelnorn only to be turned away empty handed, the Baelnorn has finally bestowed on me the relic it guarded. The Holy Grail of Corellon. I am relieved to finally be able to take the artifact to a safer place. It would have been tragic if the orcs had managed to overcome the Baelnorn guardian of the Temple of the Protector, and made away with one of the holiest relics of the Seldarine.

I shall be keeping this artifact with me, until I can find a safe place to have it enshrined. Away from the orcs that defile our holy place. I do not think it even entirely safe to leave it in the safekeeping of the Settlement, considering the dangers that surround it. The Hullack is not a safe place. Perhaps I shall be the new guardian, to pass it down to another when the time comes. My own apprentice, maybe? A thought. Only if I can find one who would be worthy.

In the meantime, holy water poured from the holiest of cups will be needed to purify the bow as the last step before having it blessed. This represents another step towards completing the bow. I still need to find two of the sunstones, and someone able to refashion the bow. Perhaps I should make a study of weaponcrafting myself. I suppose it would be more appropriate if I were to craft the entire bow from scratch, by my own hand, rather than refashioning a bow for the purpose. ...I suppose this would mean I need to find some darkwood, and learn how to craft with it.

My journey grows ever longer.

[shadou]

Excerpt from Milna's journal:

The recent journey to free the Azers from the Fire Giant oppression was met with success. We freed the miners, among whom we found the Azer prince imprisoned, and went on to... persuade the Fire Giant King to leave the Azers alone for a while. I hope that whoever is next in their line of succession will remember this during his upcoming reign. As a reward, the princess of the azers bestowed one of the needed sunstones on me as a reward. I am still on their waiting list for the final piece, but they say it shall be a month before it is ready.

I have also investigated the depths of the Skull Crag mines where Smelter guards. Sure enough, there was a sunstone there too, out of reach on the far side of the pool of magma. Those of us there could find no way to retrieve it, and so had to leave it there. Perhaps another day, I can return there, better prepared to retrieve the stone.

I have also met with a few clergy of Sehanine, and spoken with them about the blessing to be infused in the bow. The priestess Ayla has suggested that the sacred springs in the settlement might be a suitable location to perform the ritual. As she is the expert in the ways of her goddess, I will leave the details of the ritual to her, while I pursue the last sunstone I need. There are still several steps unaccomplished before the crafting of this bow can be realized. I need the last sunstone, I need some Darkwood or another suitable magical material to craft the bow from, and the actual crafting must be done by the hand of one of The People.

I have not been able to find any bowcrafters of skill among the people since both Q'ora and my mentor, Entori, have both gone missing. Perhaps I shall have to take it into my own hands, and learn bowcrafting so that I myself may craft the bow. I believe I shall approach master crafter Thorbald and ask him to teach me.