forest even in defense of myself and my comrades. I shall have to meditate on this. Perhaps the Blessed Silvanus will provide some guidance.

I think, also, that my tattoo is changing. It seems clearer somehow. It's always been something of a jumble, but now it seems less so ... or maybe not. This past week has not been without stress. Maybe my eyes just need a rest ...

Midsummer, Shieldmeet, 1372
Riatavin

I am so sore I can hardly breath without pain. I guess that's what I get for thinking that I was more of a horseman than I am. In my defense, however, the horses at this competition were quite a bit larger than the desert ponies that I am used to.

We are now in Riativin, east of the Wealdath, enjoying the celebration of Shieldmeet. On a lark, Monjhi, myself, Ariana, Kaldes, and Conor entered some of the competitions that are going on around the city as part of the celebration.

Monjhi entered an unarmed combat competition and lost in the first round. Not to be outdone I entered a test of mounted combat skills and was found wanting as I was embarrassingly unhorsed in the initial round ... on the first pass.

The rest of the group didn't fare quite so poorly. Ariana and Kaldes both made it to the final rounds of archery and sparring contests (respectively), and Conor, for which I'm sure we will never hear the end of it, made it all the way to the finals in a bardic competition finally placing third.

Aside from all the Shieldmeet festivities some other strange

Page 16

Next