From Bippin's journal

[Noa]

 bippinfv
Elfhugging Halfling
Posts: 9
(2/26/02 11:28 am)
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From Bippin's journal
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Today I have received a letter from home. I have been dreading this moment for some time now. I have turned 19 but recently and will be choosing a name for myseld on my next birthday. This is the time in a halfling's life called coming of age.
I have seen before what happens at such times. First Tuppen, then Elsbet, have all been told of their families' terrible secrets and histories at this point in their lives. It is but traditional. Bristlebane, how I was hoping to pass this season without going home, without receiving this dreaded letter.
Life has been treating me well, having gotten over my curse, and finding new and old friends to run and hunt with, traveling all over Norrath and even to the moon, Luclin, on occasion. And doing it all with my adopted family, Starspun.
I visited the folks not so long ago, while residing in Highpass hold. They have told me nothing. I was getting my hopes up - maybe our family is the one halfling family without a secret, without a troubled past. This is not an option any longer. I have got the letter.

All it said was:
Bipp honey,

Please come home at your earliest convenience, we have something we need to talk to you about.

Love,
Mom and Pop

So simple, yet so devastating. I have a bad feeling about this...
But go I must. I will pack my gear, get off this Island, and go home to face my past, and my future.

Bippin
Halfling Rogue of the 19th blade

[Noa]

 bippinfv
Elfhugging Halfling
Posts: 10
(2/26/02 11:30 am)
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Re: From Bippin's journal
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I have been avoiding this for as long as I could but the time has come.
I must return to Rivervale and face my family and its secrets. There is no point in putting this off any longer, as it will not get any easier. And maybe, just maybe, it will all end up well. Maybe there is no secret. Maybe they just miss me. I have not been home for so long after all.
Bippin smiles to himself bitterly
yeah, right. We will be the only halfling family without a secret. Fat chance indeed. At least I will get to see Bridh. Maybe hunt with her a bit.
and he lifts his pack, and makes his way to Rivervale

***

It was a mistake. I should never have come back. It would have been better to forget all about where I came from and stay away from this cursed vale. No, it's not the vale that is to blame. I love the vale, and Misty Thicket. It's him, and it's her.
How could she do this to me? How could she kept this from me all these years.
"I wanted to wait until you came of age" she said. I laughed in her face. My own mother. I could not believe it. I still can't.
By Bristlebane, I should have slain her there and then. No. What am I thinking. She's my mother. She loves me. It was all done in love, she didn't want me hurt that's all.
oh, but it hurts so. It hurts so much I cannot handle it. I'm losing my mind. I'm sure I am. To tell me now, that my father is not my real father. To tell me now that I'm the son of a traitor. To tell me now that my real father, the one who sired me, sold his own people out to be made slaves, and food.
To be killed, and tortured, and enslaved. I cannot live with myself. I will take my own life.
No. I will find HIM. And I will take his. It will only be fitting -
marking me like this. And to think that all this time I knew that name, I cursed that name, not knowing it is my own. No I will not bear it. I will never bear it, not while he's alive. And maybe not even after. I will pick my own, and hide under it in shame. But I will not be marked as the son of the traitor of Kithicor. No, I will not. Let me see, what was it they all called me in school? Ah yes, it was after that time I stepped on that Misty Acorn *smiles bitterly*. Clumsy me, I could not walk for a week without limping. Tenderfoot, yes that's what it was, Bippin the Tenderfoot. Well, from now on that will be my name. I will not bear that other one, I will not. And I will seek him out and pay him back - it is my destiny, he is my father and my responsibility.
Now just to see how to get into Neriak...

and Bippin makes his way into Runnyeye, to see Bridh, and Elsbet, and
to clear his mind, fill it with the killing rage. Maybe killing those
Goblins will allow him a moment of rest, a moment of forgetfullness



Bippin Tenderfoot
Halfling Rogue of the 24th blade
An officer of <Starspun>
Safehouse Ring Warden of Firiona Vie



Edited by: bippinfv at: 2/26/02 4:30:53 pm

[Noa]

 bippinfv
Elfhugging Halfling
Posts: 11
(2/26/02 11:30 am)
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How I left Rivervale - Part I: Preparations
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Bippin sits by the lake, fishing. And he remembers another time...

*Flashback*

It was in my early days. I was hunting in Misty Thicket, and stumbled a
couple of times into Runnyeye. But I didn't think I will ever get any
further.
I kept hearing tales from visitors and travelers of far and beautiful
places, exotic and dangerous. The West Commonlands, the plains of
Karana, even something of a land called Faydark, home of the elves.
But, in order to get there, I had to cross the dreaded Kithicor forest.
And the stories on this forest, chilled my blood. Tales of dark elves in
shiny armor salying all who approach. Tales of undead horrors stalking
the travelers, plucking the flesh from their bones, and gnawing on the
remains.
And on the other side of the vale, Runnyeye citadel with its killer
goblins. And even if miraculously I could get through it, then the
gorge, with huge minotaurs and hypnotic evil eyes awaited.
I could not imagine going out there. I was scared.

My life was about to change, and I had no idea. And it all started with
the hunting of scarabs, and managing to get off one of them its carapace
in pristine condition. Good, I thought, maybe I'll get a few gold pieces
for this one.
But when I came back from the hunt into town, and made my way to the
bank, I ran into two halflings chatting.
"So you have the pristine carapace" said Dondi. I knew Dondi in passing,
I saw him several times in town and in Misty. Even exchanged hails a few
times. I knew him to be a druid, and of a much higher level than I.
"Yes I do have one" said the other halfling, whose name I was later to
learn was Gearrin.
"Good so we can go on the quest".
"hmmm, what quest is that? I also have a pristine carapace" I said.
"Good so you can come too" said Dondi. "I have a few arrangements to
make before we go, so get your shells, and meet me near the entrance to
Kithicor".
"errr, I'm not sure where that is" I said.
"Ok, then meet me here and I'll show you the way"

Well, I ran in to see the banker, and Marshal Ghubber for the last time,
and after completing my preparations went back outside to meet Dondi.
Gearrin was already there with Dondi chatting. "Let's go" said Dondi,
and led us through the town to an obscure corner with a tunnel leading
out.
"Here, this is the way to Kithicor, but we cannot go now. It is already
night time, and the forest is teeming with undead. We must wait for
morning and daylight before attempting this."
Gearrin and me nodded, unknowing the real meaning behind this, and
unaware of the history of Bloody Kithicor.
Dondi led us to the Rivervale pond, took out his fishing pole, hooked a
bait, and proceeded to cast his line.
"Go on guys, take out your poles and let's fish all night long" he said.
We all sat there and tried to snare some fish from the pond. I had
barely tried this before, and kept getting rusty daggers entangled in my
line.

It was during this fishing session that Dondi suggested I will join him
in the Order of The Oaken. I was young and naive, and had I been the
wiser, I would have noted the alarm signals. First he mentioned that
most members were ok, and only one or two were so bad he had to /ignore
them. When I asked him about the guild charter, he said he didn't really
know, maybe something like treat each other with respect.
I didn't make up my mind yet, as I was dreaming of the Starspun lass I
saw running aournd the vale (yes Mixxi, that would be you) but every
time I managed to see somone from Starspun, they would seem so much more
experienced than me, I was to shy to approach.

Anyway, some 4 daggers and 8 hours later, it was morning, and time to
move.



Bippin Tenderfoot
Redeemed Rogue of the 31st blade
An officer of <Starspun>
Safehouse Ring Warden of Firiona Vie

[Noa]

 bippinfv
Elfhugging Halfling
Posts: 608
(5/16/02 4:50 pm)
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Soultouching - my first ressurection
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*** Dug up from the Starspun archives ***

Alora, the best Cleric in Norrath !
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To the greatest cleric alive...( I heard there might be another one, getting her Epic or something, but nah...you're much better).

Just wanted to express my appreciation. I got my first revival last night after dying horribly in the hands of the Orcs in Crystal Caverns.

It was the most amazing experience in the world. There I was, standing on the pier in Iceclad, naked and shivering in the cold, contemplating the long and dangerous run accross Iceclad and the Eastern Wastes, planning how to sneak my way into the Ry'Gorr Orc fortress. All of a sudden this warm feeling surrounds me, and the sweetest voice is heard in my head. "inc" says the voice, which I now recognize as Alora's. Before I know it, I feel some dizziness, and when it clears, I see a bunch of people around me, and I'm in some underground location. Not knowing those people I turn around, trying to understand what happened and where I am. Turning, I suddenly behold this magnificent vision: Alora, standing there in her new robes, beaming a smile at me like a sun showing out from behind the clouds on a late winter day, after having been hidden for the whole winter.
"Loot up" I hear the voice of Xesh, tearing me away from this vision of beauty.
I look around some more, finding it hard to move - I'm weak and clumsy, still shivering. I look down and see my corpse lying there. I bend down and pick my equipment up, and when I arise, she is gone - returned to her party of adventurers, helping others survive the cold harsh existence in the Crystal Caverns.
I load my packs, and slowly follow Xesh to meet the others...

Alora, this really was an amazing experience for me and I am forever in your debt. And it is not only the Revival itself (being as incredible as that may be) - it's your bedside manner too - healing me afterwards, checking up on me to see how I'm coming along.... You are my new god and subject of worship (Sorry Jade, you're alone on the Fuvi cult now).
/kneel
/worship Alora
To make things crystal clear, no I do not say that to all the Clerics

If there's anything I can ever do for you (not that I dare imagine that I can) I will cross the length and breadth of Norrath if needed. And if I owe you something for the treatment (no idea if this consumes any valuables...) just bill me

And if your lap is still available, I have some fond memories from the Lake of Ill Omen...


Bippin Tenderfoot
Halfling Rogue of the 24th blade
An officer of <Starspun>
Safehouse Ring Warden of Firiona Vie


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Oh Bippin,

Thank you so much for your kind words. You are one of the special ones that feel the clerics touch in your soul.

I'll tell you a secret, Bippin. When I am fortunate enough to be able to help someone return their soul to the body, a miracle happens. For one brief and glorious second I can see the soul of the lost one.

Some souls I meet glow with goodness,and a few souls I needed to scurry away from the evil within. But, Bippin, sometimes I get to see a soul that shines.

Oh Bippin! How your soul shines! I sit here and try to describe it, but alas, I lack the skills of the bard. I will do my best to try. First there is a gentle warmth that seeps into me when I first make contact with you. Just to feel that makes me happy inside. Then, in a blazing warmth the colors appear. Golden yellows, meadow greens, heavenly blues, reds, purples, and all the other colors that be swirling together to suddenly solidify into you. Oh, the joy!

Thank you for allowing me that glimpse.

Thank you for the joy of your friendship.

Thank you for keeping my lap warm.

Alora

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the halfling just stands there, powerless to move, swallows hard, and his eyes suddenly look shinier, as if some moisture is covering them
he swallows hard again, against the lump in his throat

Alora,

You have touched my soul again, this time with your words. I know not what to say but that I will send every bard I meet to you, so they can learn and become better at their art.

Now there are actual tears in his eyes, and he sniffles a bit
I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I can talk any more.
He smiles at her, blinking away the tears. He swallows again
I will try though. The first time I laid eyes on you, near that lake in Kunark, my heart filled with joy, I knew not why, thinking it was just the pleasure of seeing someone new to the family, someone I have heard a lot about but never met berfore.
Every time I felt your healing magic, something inside me was overwhelmed with joy, and I thought it was just the magic, that everyone healed gets that feeling.

But now after hearing you, I think it is something in the soul. Something my soul felt of yours, as if you can feel mine, I have no doubt that at the same time, though unconcious, I can feel yours.

I will always be your friend, and will always keep you lap warm if I can find it, and you. And as for the glimpse, seeing life in Norrath as it is, I suspect (and hope) you will get many more of those. As I will get more chances to feel your healing touch, your delicate soul fingers clasping mine, and pulling me back from the doors of death.

I think now I not only worship you, I love you as well.





Bippin Tenderfoot
Halfling Rogue of the 24th blade
An officer of <Starspun>
Safehouse Ring Warden of Firiona Vie


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Ah, Bippin, you really know how to sweet talk a cleric.

Alora
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...just a reminder that this humble worshipper is waiting for your return...
Who will you have to worship you otherwise?
(well, probably me too, but never mind that now )


Bippin Tenderfoot
Halfling Rogue of the 24th blade
An officer of <Starspun>
Safehouse Ring Warden of Firiona Vie