May 6th

        Home to Britannia at last! Oh glorious day! So long have I yearned for your soft touch. So long have I lusted
after your lands! These past 2 years without you, my fair Britannia, has been hell. In a new world I suffered such a lack
of meaning as I have never known! No adventure! No disasters to be averted! And so little peril that life was as drab as
the robes I now wear!
        But for no longer. Now I have returned to you! Home! Home again!
        I find myself within a dark temple. I seem to recall that this is where I met my end the last time, and sent me
tumbling into the void. Around me skeletons clatter their own bones. A ghoul of sorts moans its sorrow as it floats,
aimlessly around these ancient walls.
       The name of this place eludes me, for I do not think I ever knew it. I happened upon this place by chance 2 years
ago when I chanced upon a dark cave. Expecting to find all manner of gold within, I got lost and wandered around for
days. Constant attacks from Harpies, giant rats, corpsers and slime kept me without sleep for so long. But I survived the
long trek, and finally emerged victorious within a valley on the other side.
        The temple itself was quiet. Not a sound could be heard. I ventured in to its depths, and eventually down into its
dungeons. It was here I met with a tragic, yet somewhat expected, fate. Two great dragons set upon me for fear I would
steal their treasure. And no doubt I would have had I survived.
        But rather than leave me a wandering spirit, my death sent me tumbling into unknown lands. I will not include
this tale within my journal, but perhaps in a future I will put quill to parchment and record those events, and my return to
Britannia.
        2 years on. Still dead, but strangely happy and content to be dead in my own world for a change, I ventured out
of the temple. I found my way back to the cave with the tunnel, and again got completely lost. It was only thanks to a
wandering mage that I regained my life, and was given directions.
        So, here I am. Alone, alive and hungry outside this cave. I shall remember its location for future reference.
Perhaps I shall return one day with a band of mighty warriors. K.C.Jones would no doubt love the idea of the lost
temple. Though I feel he may have already ventured there on one of his many quests.
        For now though, first thing is first. I must locate a town and get some food inside me. Luckily, my robes shall suit
me fine from here on in. Though perhaps I shall die them black. No point in buying armour…so far it has been wasted
money



May 7th

        Daylight returned as I entered Minoe. This is not a place I know well, though I seem to remember it has links
with mining. Perhaps from here I can get directions back home to Vesper. Any adventurers looking for the temple
should here note that Minoe is South from the cave entrance.
        Great! It seems Minoe is very close to Vesper. Just a short walk in fact.
        By mid day I was in Vesper again. Filled with Joy at seeing these unchanged streets and buildings again, I
couldn't help but shout out loud. I first visited the bank to make sure things were still in order. I had very little gold left,
but I did find an old pair of ringmail leggings and a dagger. These would do for now. A dagger is not really much help,
but this one didn't cost me anything and no doubt I would be dead again shortly.




May 9
        After a day of rest I decided to continue with my travels. As much as I miss Vesper when I am away, I miss
everywhere else when I am here. A strange feeling I know, but one I have lived by. After a short hunt through my
belongings in the bank, I found my map. Perhaps a trip to Trinsic would do me some good. I once had friends there;
perhaps I can find them again.
        Not wishing to waste any time I decided to use a Moongate. This would be safer, not that I mind adventure. But
in my current state of funding, and lack of armour and weapons, I would be hard pushed to kill a mongbat, let alone the
orcs and trolls I would be likely to encounter on the path. Although not keen on the realm, I decided to visit Trinsic in
Tremmel. I prefer not to be in Tremmel if I can help it, it does not seem to sit well with me. But as my old friends used to
prefer this realm I had no other choice.

        Sadness :(
        The homes of my friends are nothing but ruins. I knew I had been gone for a long time, but I had hoped things
would remain similar. I looked through the rouble, for want of something better to be doing, and eventually came across
a plaque. I blew the dust from its worn surface, and traces my fingers across its letters in the hope to better make them
out:
        The house of Delilah
        It was not unknown for people to disappear from Britannia. I am certain that the void I fell into lead to the same
world as they would encounter. I hoped I was wrong. That world was no fate for a warrior such as Delilah. Perhaps she
simply moved on and forgot about her house.
    …part of me wished the rest of me believed that.




May 10

        I spent the night drinking. Up until now I had been fooling myself. Britannia has changed a great deal in my
absence. It is almost like another world entirely. Now that I am aware of it, I can see it all around me. It is in the towns,
the people, even the damn ale has changed.




May 11

        I awoke on the ground outside the tavern. It was still dark, and I can only guess at the time. No hangover,
which was nice. Probably managed to sleep that off while I was unconscious.
        Someone had put coins in my tankard.
        I became aware of some commotion across the bridge to the island. Raised voices and metal on metal. My
natural curiosity overwhelmed me and I decided to go take a look. I crept carefully through the darkness, something I
have become good at over the years. Across the bridge I spied a band of warriors fending off bandits. Several were
dead already. Had I my spell book I may have resurrected them. A spirit stood and egged the other warriors on, before
running to the top of the island. Perhaps there was a healer up there…I decided this may be the safest place to be when
in the presence of bandits.
        I continued to creep slowly towards the top of the island. There were no healers here, but more bandits. I watched
from behind a tree while I thought about my options. This would probably be a good idea to go back to the town. It
would be senseless to fight with only my dagger to protect me.
        Then again…bandits would most likely have gold. And I could use some gold.
        I decided to take a closer look, to see if there were any obvious chests about. As my eyes grew more and more
accustomed to the darkness, I noticed why these bandits had not joined their comrades to fight. Between them, chained
to a tree, was a woman. She looked wealthy. The rags she was now wearing were the tattered remains of an expensive
gown. Her hair, though messy and full of weeds, had been died almost pure white previously. Though it was now hard
to tell due to the dirt.
        Curse my soul. As a tear streamed down her face and she cried in agony from the chains, I found myself unable
to abandon her for sake of safety. The warriors drew closer, and the bandits grew nervous. I waited until they were
watching the battle grow closer and quietly moved towards the woman.
        It did not take too long to remove the chains that bound her. For a moment I considered picking the lock on the
chest just behind me. But common sense told me this would be pushing my luck. With my hand over the woman's mouth
to keep her from screaming in fear, I made my way back to the cover of the trees. As we left the bandit camp, we could
hear the angry voices of realisation. She had escaped, and they were not happy.
        The bandits both begin to search for her, and had a twig not snapped under my foot, they may have continued
looking for some time.
        "Run!" I yelled to the woman. Adrenaline quelling the fear, she took off. A bandit got too close, and received a scar
from my dagger for his trouble. I did not stay to finish him off, as his comrade grew closer. Besides, it is a battle I would
surely have lost.
        A guard of Trinsic had also heard the rabble. Weapon to hand he watched us draw closer. The light cannot
have been too great, as he seemed to be preparing to attack me!
        Luckily, as we drew closer he became aware of the chasing bandits. A grin flashed across his lips as he advanced
upon them.
        I almost feel sorry for the bastards. They never stood a chance.

        I took the woman to the tavern, where she paid me quite a large sum as a reward. How she managed to keep the
gold hidden from the bandits, ill never know. And perhaps I don't want to.
        The gold would buy me some decent clothes, and a weapon. But for now it would buy ale.



May 12

        "Hey! You!"
        The sudden yell startled me from my dreams. I had fallen asleep where I had been drinking. I looked up to see the
huge, lumbering bulk or a warrior. His friends followed behind him, trying to make themselves look equally impressive,
as thugs in all universes have a tendency towards.
        "You owe me some gold." Said the warrior. "The innkeeper says you arrived with Lady Emery last night. That
would be the woman we were about to save!"
        "Hey, It aint my fault your too slow." I replied. "Well, I have places I need to be. People to see. You know how it is."
        I stood up and began to head for the door. The thugs surrounded me and put their hands on their swords. I looked
down at my dagger tucked neatly into my belt.
        Some situations are better than coffee for sobriety.
        "Hand it over. All of it!" Demanded the warrior. "And we may be tempted to let you live."
        "I'm not afraid to die." I retorted, and regretted the words immediately. If I died now, they would take the gold.
        "Well well well." Said one of the thugs behind me. "What a coincidence. Cos were not afraid to kill you!"
        Panicking slightly at my inevitable death, I glanced around the room for the guards. They had left.
        "Awww…crap…"
        Having nothing better to do, I took my dagger to hand and waited for the onslaught. As the thugs advanced I
noticed some movement behind them. A "Swish" of metal, and one of the thugs dropped to his knees. The end of a katana
stuck through the front of his chest. The circle of thugs widened as they moved to see this new threat, not that they had
considered me a threat at all.
        "For 100gp I will help you with this fight." Came a butch, female voice from under the iron helm of the figure.
"Another 100gp and there's a sword in it for you."
        Absent mindedly, I threw my dagger to the side. It buried its blade deep into one of the thug's foreheads.
        2 Down, 5 to go.
        I ran over to the woman and faced our now mutual enemy.
        "What's your name?" I asked as she handed over a magic broadsword.
        "Don't Hurt Me" she replied.
        "I'm not going to hur….."
        "No! My parents were morons and thought it would keep me out of trouble. My Name is Don't Hurt Me!"
        "DHM ok? Its takes less time to say."
        "As you wish."
        The thugs, and their obvious leader, began to look less threatened. This is always a bad sign in combat. Your
enemy should always be afraid of you. This way they make mistakes.
        "Are you a fighter?" She asked.
        "I have my skills. What about you?"
        "I am able."
        Saying this she leapt forward and began expertly swinging her blade and parrying the attacks. I stood and watched
for a short while as my ally for hire fended off all 5 at once.
        "Are you going to stand and stare, or are you planning to help me at all?" She enquired casually.
        With the same casual manner I strolled up and removed a head.
        4 left.
        This did not sit well with the larger warrior. He turned to me and raised his sword into the air. Which each of his
mighty swings I felt as though my arm would shatter. What this one lacked in brainpower, he more than made up for in
strength.
        Each of my attempts to harm him were easily blocked. And although I was keeping him from directly slicing my
head off, the power of his blows was enough to get his blade close enough to cut through my flesh.
        The warrior backed me into a corner like a rat. I held my sword in front of me and tried to look at least a little bit
threatening.
        The warrior merely smiled and raised his sword. This blow I would have no hope of blocking.
        Well, death is not unknown to me. Sure it tends to hurt, and the first few times it can be a little disorienting to see
your body lying in whatever crumpled position it had seen when you last left it. But I was used to that now. Death had
become a mere inconvenience…or in some cases a useful tool of exploration.
        Deciding to die in dignity I rejected my fear and stared the brute in the eye. My sword pointed more towards him in
defiance than any use as deflection.
        "Would you get on with it?" DHM asked as she ran towards me. Expertly she kicked the my sword, and sent it
easily into the thugs throat. My hands were still clutching at it as blood trickled down the blade.
        "OK. You owe me 100gp for my protection, and another 100 for the sword."
        This time I gladly gave payment. Why wouldn't I when the thug's money pouch was so easily removed?
        "You fight with a lot of skill" I told her. "Taking on so many would surely have gotten me killed."
        "Taking on one looked like it would have gotten you killed." She laughed.
        "Perhaps."
        She turned away to hide her new wealth. I took the opportunity to use an old skill. One of my first. 
        By the time she had turned back, I had vanished.