Winter 12th, 544

A new year, full of new possibilities. Mystics always celebrate the new year, for us it is a time of rejoicing, as it marks the return of the Sun.

I have been busy of late attempting to conduct an Ethereal Survey of Puddleby. Ether is present everywhere, but the concentrations can be too high, or too low. Tenebrion and Umbrion have requested that we perform surveys to determine aberrant Ethereal activity. For more information on this, see Babajaga's Diary.

I have made several maps of my Ethereal readings, but I am growing somewhat discouraged, the Amulets are very unreliable. To date I have detected 11 separate reading, ranging from dangerously high, to dangerously low. However, Ethereal activity seems to fluctuate so rapidly that an area which reads as dangerously high one moment, might read as normal or even slightly below normal the next. Variance I have seen thus far can be as much as 6 points on the scale of readings. So, in effect, the amulets are capable of approximately 3 vague readings: High, medium, and low.

The possibilities are many, Ethereal activity may just be that fluid. However, I cannot help but wonder if more precise readings would be possible were I better trained. Leladar offers only limited training in the subject, does Umbrion know more than he has allowed Leladar to teach us? Or are there perhaps better tools available for understanding the Ether than have yet been offered to us? Perhaps both?

It would be helpful if we could speak to Umbrion on the subject. Or even Tenebrion, though I gather this is more Umbrion's field of knowledge than Tenebrions. If any reader has the chance to speak to any of the brothers on this subject and could remember to ask I would appreciate it. I doubt that Umbrion will respond favorably, and it would be best not to antagonize him unnecessarily. However, if presented politely with actual data he might we willing to be of some assistance.

On the more positive side, my surveying has given me reason to join many expeditions to varied portions of the lands which I might not normally frequent. To the right is a sketch of an expedition to the Tree Giant Breeding Ground, a fairly normal hunting ground, but honestly not a place I go often. My skills with the Rod of Akea, while modest in my own estimate, were nonetheless sufficient as to allow Kiriel and Mario to take down the Willow Giants blocking our way. Willows still pack quite a punch however, and with out Tater, Nyika and Allanon to absorb the damage, this one still would have been difficult to defeat.

My travels while surveying have taken me over a wide area thus far, I have made an extensive survey of the North Forest, the Tangle Wood, the Snaggle Wood, the South Forest, The East Forest, and the environs around town. Though as I've mentioned, I'm more than a little skeptical of how useful these will be. I think the greatest use my results thus far might be put to, is to convince Umbrion that we are seriously interested.

On my trip to the East Forest, Elise, Zyzyz and I stopped by the site of Sir West's grave. The Order of True and Gentle Knights maintains a strong presence in the lands, and there are many fine Knights among them. But of them all, it is Sir West I think of, he was the finest of them all. Even today, though he is dead these many years, I miss him still.

His exploits were many, his kindness and loyalty were legendary. But he was poisoned by Sendorian. The power of the Lok'Grotton Islands prevents most deaths, but not Sir West's, and we are all the poorer for it.

The other Knight I miss is of course Ser Zwei, who has returned to the mainland, or perhaps.. has sailed west, following the last known sightings of Znt, beloved of Zwei, and one of the greatest story tellers Puddleby has ever known.

In other news I have joined the Order of the Mini (suitably attired naturally). The Order of the Mini has languished in recent years, and only a handful of Mini's still walk the lands. The most notable of these is Elise, who has been making some efforts to revive the clan. The primary problem that she and recent recruit Zyzyz were having was lack of access to the clan accounts. The clan Treasurer, Barbie Girl was one of the inactive members.

Feeling that the active members of the clan should control the clans accounts, I joined in order to provide the quorum necessary to assume control. Elise and Zyzyz have made strong entreaties for me to stay in the clan, but I am unsure if I will remain. I appreciate their kindness, and I am glad to have had a chance to help the Mini's. They remind me of my friends, Maquiladora, who is gone from the lands, and of Solome. Solome still walks the lands, but she is now a member of the Red Quill and is seldom out of the library at the same time as I am, so I never see her. The Mini's to me, were always cheerful, outgoing, and funny, and I am more of the serious and reserved type.

The only other active Mini I know of is Ruby, an Apprentice of my own Guild. Sparrow, one of the founders, still walks the lands as well, but she no longer wears the clan emblem, and presumably does not wish to.

I would direct you to the scrolls of the Mini's, outdated though they might be. However, they were maintained by Maquiladora, and are no longer available. History lost, alas.

All contained herein, are the works of Callia the Mystic,
who is a character in the game Clan Lord by Delta Tao Software