'Simple' Clockwork

[ManyAsOne]

Below is the writings found in a small, black leather-bound book. An image of a brass gear on the front is in place of a title and is the sole distinguishing characteristic of the book's outward appearance. The handwriting decorating the pages of the tome is messy at best, but it appears to be a journal of sorts. Each entry ends with the messy signature, 'Newt', followed by an image of a gear, much like the one decorating the cover.

[ManyAsOne]

Well, I can safely say it has been a draining day. Certainly not a bad one by any stretch of the imagination, but a long and active one. I met many interesting people, some more noteworthy than others, and had very little calamity befall me, thank Gond.

I started the day off with eggs and a bit of leftover roast mutton the Regal Griffon's cook, Sam, had prepared the night before. I continually pestered the innkeep for a cup of strong black tea, but the concept seemed a bit lost on him, so I drank milk instead. I still fail to see what is so complicated about tea.

Boil water. Take ground tea leaf and let it soak in the water. Serve. Done.

Simple.

After breakfast, I milled about town in my usual fashion. I stopped by the smithy and bought some select bits of 'scrap' metal. I'm not sure what I'll use them for, but I'm sure they'll find a loving home in some device or another. The smithy was kind enough, though he still refuses my requests to use his shop for a day to tinker about in.

After that, I made some notes on my plans to improve Shriver's smoke powder mixture. I have plenty of it left for the pistol, so I am free to experiment in moderation. In place of his favored source of saltpetre, his distasteful use of his own urine, I'm going to try a bit of bat leavings I found on the floor of a cave to Isinhold's east. If I mix it in the right amount with the sulphur and the charcoal, I hope to make a more potent version of his mixture that will hold a bit more strength to it for less expenditure per ounce. So far the tests have resulted in small brush fires, singed hair, and a bruised ego.

As I was making notes, a group of people inquired about my timepiece. It never ends to amaze me that people here are so dependant on magic and natural means for things. When I explained how a timepiece might better keep accurate time and help accommodate those with busy schedules, they offered "why not look at the sun" as a rebuttle. The sun! Truely it is amazing the 'weave' hasn't eaten them alive or worse. Magic is unreliable.

My timepiece actually broke today. A gear had somehow developed a hairline fracture in it and the resulting shange in shape caused the thing to stop. As I was fixing it, the whole mess fell apart, forcing me to start from scratch. It took two or so hours, but I finally fixed it, and in the process awoke some old nostalgia. I miss home sometimes.

I met a woman named Sharita and a gentleman named Alnon. Both seemed nice enough, though I was a bit put off when Alnon thrust a dead fish in my face and told me it was blessed. While I do not doubt the blessing, I can't help but ask "who would bless a dead fish?". To each his own. The woman was pleasant. She was kind and interested in my timepiece and the idea of Lantanese and Gnomish clockwork. She nodded at my explinations and humored me with questions. I felt a bit more comfortable around town afterwards.

I saw that elf again. Her name is Ehver. I can't help but find myself a bit drawn to her. She's very free in spirit and doesn't seem to give much thought to what others may think of her. While I think that is an admirable quality, I do not know how well I could take to it. I seize up at the idea of confrontation. She has a sweet smile and a kind way about her. It takes some getting use to her jesting, but once familiar with it, its catching.

Anyways, I had seen her about town a few times and finally worked up the courage, Gond knows how, to ask her to join me for lunch, in a less-than-articulate fashion. I was pleasantly surprised when she agreed. We ate a decent meal and discussed things. Mostly about me, which I can't fathom why. I was far more interested in getting her to speak at length about herself. Ah, well. Do not look a gift horse in the mouth, right? Not to equate her to a horse, naturally. Or any sort of animal. She's really quite lovely. Well, for someone I just met. I -

*The remainder of this paragraph has been blotted out with ink*

Don't worry about offending yourself. Or anyone else for that matter. You are the only one reading this and you know what you meant by your remarks. You need to stop doing that.

Anyways, after our meal, we went to the campfire behind the general store. I showed her the pistol I fashioned after Shriver's plans. I didn't tell her I had never fired it before. I'm fortunate that it didn't blow up in my face. Still, I must admit I was very shocked at the raw force of it. The noise alone would stop most anything in its tracks and force it to reconsider. After I determined it was safe for use, I let her have a shot with it. Teaching her to use it was almost the highlight of my day. I think it was, actually.

Without realizing it, I asked her to have another meal with me later during this tenday. I hadn't caught the question until I let it slip and I felt a fool for asking. But she, to my surprise, agreed. Only Gond knows what that will bring.

At the end of the day, I made my way up the the hill across from the town's local antiquities dealer. Pleasant woman, though almost as dusty as her merchandise. The sun was setting when I reached the top of the hill. It was a brilliant view. I took out my timepiece. The tinking of it reminding me of home. Anyways, I checked it and right on the dot, it was. After closing it and puting it away, I watched the sun set.

I couldn't help but feel this was a good day.

[ManyAsOne]

What a grand wondrous thing it is to wake up after a long refreshing sleep. Wish it were me...

I awoke a tenday ago. I was lying in a bed that wasn't my own... in a place I'd never been... looking up into the face of an old woman I've never seen. The woman was, as I later found out, a cleric of Ilmater who resides in Waymoot which is where I currently am. Seems the Lady of Misfortune has had her eye on me. I awoke heavily bandaged on several parts of my body and was wearing a splint on my left arm. I could see the healing remains of what were some rather serious burns.

I had come here to Waymoot researching a species of bats native to a nearby cave, hoping their leavings would prove a better source of saltpetre for the smokepowder improvements I've been working on. Unfortunately, it turned out I was correct in my hopes. While terribly inefficient in the amount needed, it proved to be far more volatile than the standard smokepowder mixture my mentor used. While experimenting with a new mixture in a small wood cabin I had rented out I ignited an ounce of it. The explosion resulted in some rather serious injuries and the collapse of the roof of the cabin. The experiment itself was a bust. The mixture required too much of the Waymoot bat-leaving saltpetre. Not that it matters, my notes were lost in the explosion.

The splint was removed a few days ago and, while my penmanship has suffered a bit, my arm feels well enough. I'm terribly sore from the burns, but the cleric has assured me she's administered a salve to prevent any permanent scarring. Unfortunately, half of my head was singed free of hair and she has no salve for that.

Seems I'm a bit of an oddity to these folk here in the woods. Its a very charming settlement with pleasant people. For the most part they're very kind and humor me with questions and remarks about this and that. A few of the local children have taken to some of the minor clockwork devices in my notebooks. I'm constantly asked about Lantan and the wondrous things therein. And, of course, there are those that don't like me. I tried to head to the local pub to 'mingle' only to get laughed out.

A well-aimed tankard almost took my head off as it crashed against the door frame as I left.

Still, its a lovely settlement. Despite its charm and allure, however, I'll have to leave soon. Most of the bandages are off now and, while I'd like to think of an excuse to stay, I want to get back to my studies somewhere more familiar. I may wait long enough for my hair to grow back, though.

I'll likely write something down again before I leave. Perhaps something more about the townsfolk. I'm due to go finish a tale of Lantan I started last night for a few of the local children.