From the Diary of Tamsen Larkspur

Dear Diary,

If only my father could see me now. Jarrow's Jewel? Yeah, right.

So much has happened since I last wrote in this diary, though it's only been a few days. Most recently I was shot several times by goblins atop a keep we thought was unoccupied. I've never been shot before. Corellan, it hurts! It's also sort of exciting though if you know it won't kill you.

Abdominal muscles aside, Pavel is a real pain! He completely ditched us and left us to invade this keep alone. I wonder where he is, what he's doing, what he's thinking, and if he's thinking of me. I hate that I like him, but I hate him as much as I like him too. It's very confusing. Especially since I kind of like Eugenium too. He's any annoying nerd, but a very, very sweet one.

Gah! I have a crush on every boy!

Illander Illrune is starting to recede further and further from my memory, which is totally depressing.

I'm getting more and more powerful, which is like totally amazing. If only those jealous skanks in Upper Valon could see me conjure a crown of stars or make goblins vomit fire. They'd never say a disparaging word about me again! Eugenium and Chyp are both getting really powerful too. It's funny how adventuring forces the best out of you.

Anyways. To Do:

-Replace that cranky old wizard's components

1. saphire dust

2. dire spider's legs

-Find 12 keys (or something? These dreams are super vague!) We think the first one is in this keep we ran away from because goblins were shooting at us. The enchanted pond (Corellan, this all sounds crazy when you write it down) might be the useful. Note to self: figure this out.

-Rescue the chosen ones.

-Marry Illander Illrune and be the most popular, powerful adults in Upper Valon.

Hearts,

Tamsen Larkspur

The So-Called "Jarrow's Jewel"

The ARCANOMICON of Eugenium Knott-Oberholt, WIZARD

Entry 461. The fire in this cottager's hearth is just a glimmer now. I am in a strange place, far from my experiments and little sister and Nanu. It's not a very nice hut, not far from a not-very-nice bog, but it seems warmer and nicer right here by the fire, my new friends all sleeping around me, than it does in my residence in Upper Valon. Perhaps the arcane properties of Valonian ice have a chilling effect on things besides ice? Or perhaps the absence of arcane properties in a place like this makes it seem more--*real*, like they said last night? I don't know. All I know is that I feel kind of--happy?

Entry 462. Somehow I thought that being a powerful wizard, a Chosen One, or a chosen one of a Chosen One, would be easier. But it's hard to avoid dire spiders when they drop from trees on your head! I am deeply embarrassed by the failure of my spells, especially because Tamsen's seem to have been much more effective. Everyone was so busy fighting, though, that they hardly noticed. Pavel sure does know his way around a riposte strike. Anyway, I should remind myself that an arcanomicon is not a place for idle speculations as to emotional states, but a place for serious reflection on my craft and arcanoscientific observations. Let us consider, therefore, the dire spider leg:

It is 56 qubits in length when fully extended, but considerably less when its segments are allowed to fold in, as they naturally tend to do. It is covered in coarse hairs that become finer on the posterior of the leg (facing what would have been the spider's body) and that become coarser closer to the bottom, almost horn-like, even, probably so that the spider can climb (and pounce from trees on unsuspecting wizards) more easily. It is surprisingly strong, despite a rather delicate appearance, has no discernible smell, and (I did it when no one was looking) a very disagreeable taste, contrary to the culinary opinion we heard in the nearby town.

The DAILY ARCANOMICON of Eugenium Knott-Oberholt, WIZARD

Entry 460. My experiments with Valonian ice will have to wait. Something--perhaps my blood tie to cousin Ashleigh, but more likely my extensive knowledge of the arcane arts--has caused either the vestiges or souls of the Chosen Ones to make contact with me. They have also made contact with Tamsen, Pavel, and Chyp. We have taken our news to the Council and are currently waiting to hear what they think we should do. Until then I ponder with deep interest the fabric of these dream visions. The Chosen Ones have made clear to us that they are not dead, so they are not undead manifestations of spirit energy. Are they arcane sendings? Astral projections? Simulated simulacra? I should bring up this subject with Tamsen--I am sure she would be interested in it as well. Also: I cast Lepidus' Subzero Projectile (vulgar name: Ray of Frost) on a living target today with quite satisfying results. The victim was some human ruffian who was robbing Tamsen and may be involved in a scheme to collect, with nefarious arcane purpose, no doubt, the hair of adolescents.

The DAILY ARCANOMICON of Eugenium Knott-Oberholt, WIZARD

Entry 458. My etiquette test is tomorrow, which means I do not have time this evening for pleasure reading, i.e., Quirinus's A History of Arcano-Naval Stratagems or, even better, Travels on the Planes: Throgmorton's Picturesque Diary of a Year in the Elemental Chaos. My alchemical experiments with Avalonian ice will also have to wait, though I am very excited by last week's finding that it melts at the same rate as mundane ice when exposed to magical fire subsisting on a 6:3:1 ratio of sulphur, brimstone, and residuum. I wonder if I could devise an infernal compound that undoes fey-based enchantment. Maybe I should talk to Tamsen about it? I wish she would show me her powers. Her warlock powers, of course.

Entry 459. It is lucky that I carry my daily arcanomicon with me wherever I go, because I am at Tamsen's party and writing in it is the only thing I can think to do until the ritual starts. Ritual, you ask? Why yes; it's an almost certain-to-fail, cobbled-together rudimentary composite of a sending and a speak-with-dead ritual, the components of which I had to help procure by breaking into Iliaebor's tower with Pavel and Tamsen. The good part is that now Pavel really thinks I'm cool and smart, Chyp, who is a really good friend, thinks I'm even cooler than he did before--and, well, Tamsen and I were alone together for a second beneath a fruit tree. I think she might be a little intimidated by me. And the wizard Illiaebor was impressed by my knowledge and, additionally, my tactful use of etiquette (I of course passed my test).

One more thing: last night I had a realistic dream vision of a warrior-like Viridistanian in my laboratory. I think it was Sadush Seaborn, the one who disappeared with cousin Ashley.

From the Diary of Tamsen Larkspur

Ugh.

I was just returning some stolen garments to my walk-in when I decided to shut the door, take a load off, and write in you, dear diary. (Corellan, I forgot I had you! The last entry is from, like, three years ago and about something shitty Ashleigh Oberholt did to Eugenium after Enthusiasm Squad.) Anyway, I don't have long before people will miss me. Yes, there's another party here in the Chalet! My parents will flip, but I really didn't mean to let this happen again.

These past two weeks have been totally nuts. I took the eldritch pact two weeks ago and my life will never be the same. In a way, it's good. The boring life my parents laid out for me is no longer possible. I'll never be somebody's demure little wife, running an estate and barking orders at servants. On the other hand, and just between you and me, I think my pact was with something evil and not with the fey like I thought. I should have known that when the ritual called for me to eat the raw brains from a goats head that meant it wasn't a feywild pact.

Ugh! Peer pressure!

Now I can feel all this power surging throughout my body. It's very... disturbing. And a little exciting? Also, the chalet is haunted because of my pact (we think.) I had a dream that the missing girl named Laird was here and the same night Chip, who was sleeping over, saw ASHLEIGH OBERHOLT IN MY KITCHEN!!!! This is getting so scary and everybody is talking about me behind my back.

Anyway, Chip and I went to L.V. to see the Smokin' Crystals. They were so awesome!!! I wish I was as tough and cool as those two women. Maybe I will be now that I'm a warlock. I can't wait to get out of school and adventure and shed the shackles of privilege. I'm off track again...

The party happening outside my closet door is for that girl Jara, who wants to take the eldritch pact. FUCK. HER. Ugh! I told her it was dangerous, but she just wants to be cool. Well, trying to be cool is what killed Yew Tosscobble and that first year boy whose name I can't remember. Chip and I bought some elixer to use during her "pact." We're going to make her get undressed and have Jana and Jacqueline rub it on her so they'll all sprout hair.

The bigger news, however, is that Jara has a spell that (hopefully) will let us contact Illander Illrune beyond the grave. Correlan, I miss him so! I guess some people are too beautiful for this world. We didn't have the proper componenets (saphire dust and a dire spider leg) so me and Eugenium and Pavel broke into my neighbor Illyabore's (sp?) tower and convinced him to give it to us. Ugh! He finally did after cutting off a lock of my hair and making us promise to replace the ingrediants within two days with a note from my parents. Ugh! How is that even possible? (I have some of the elixer on my head right now. Grow, bangs, grow!)

When i got back to the chalet there were about a billion people here. (I forgot to mention that the Smokin' Crystals are playing AT MY HOUSE! Chip is, like, dying.) Some bitches were trying to steal my clothes so I threatened to curse them. It's funny, I didn't realize until just now writing it that I ACTUALLY CAN CURSE PEOPLE.

Anyway, we're about to try the spell so I should go. I few thoughts.

1. Having power is scary.

2. I can make boys do just about anything.

3. I'm really lucky to have Chip for a friend.

4. Pavel wasn't wearing a shirt and he has a smoking body! OMG a totally have a girl boner for his abs.

5. I spent all my gold. Corellan, that means I have to ask my parents for me.

6. I think Eugenium disapproves of my power. I'm not totally sure if that matters to me? I just feel this weird connection to him because his cousin was my best friend for years and years and years.

7. I failed my Etiquette test. UGH!

Hearts,
Tamsen Larkspur