24. September 12, 2015

We depart Sylarith, travel south to their southern port, which is a hidden cavern that is used by smuggler-type ships. We travel on a fast ship that travels incognito, changing sail colors to match the sky or water. It takes us to Valkir City.

Aerin's agent left us a note about a month ago (we arrived a month later than we said we would). The note says there's a shadow civil war in Esthharran with behind-the-scenes poisonings and assassinations. And they have kicked out all the non-elves. (So Aerin and Baern might be gone.)

Vethandra is going to travel to the pure Elven city, Elvolin, to do research on our mother and to make elven friends. We drop her off north of port, in the forest, to travel on foot to Elvolin. Shock goes with Vethandra, to guide her and help her identify her full sister if she lives, and to keep Vethandra safe. We part from both Shock and Vethandra tearfully.

We travel across Kelson and enter Evangier. There's a wall along the river border...lots of tension between Evangier and the surrounding duchies of Kelson and Kirenweld and the crazy elven civil war. The Evangier militia is VERY alert. Before allowing us into the country, the interrogate us about our intentions in their country. Our cover story is that we are scholars who want to see the dwarven ruins to further our knowledge. They don't really believe us, but they say we can enter their country if we agree to be “branded” as “untrusted visitors” by locking a metal collar around our necks that states this. We agree, and they lock the collars on us.