Tashariel or Tasha as most call her, is uncertain of where exactly she hails from. As a young girl she was sold into servitude to a man who was not at all what one would consider fatherly. He used her for many things, none of which were good. He took advantage of her ability to slip into small places and had her steal from those around them. When she started to "bloom" he snuck into her room and took advantage of her. He told her she belonged to him and must do as he said. This went on for about 1 month before she had had enough. The last time he snuck into her room, she offered him a glass of spirits, which she had managed to drug. He drank it down willingly and was soon completely incapacitated. While he lay there, unable to move but completely aware of all that was happening, she told him of all that she was going to do to him. She relished the fear she saw in his eyes and the pleas for mercy he at first sobbed and later screamed for. She made him pay dearly for all he had done to her. Some would call it the death of a thousand cuts. She called it glorious. As the blood flowed slowly through every cut she gave him, she felt a happiness she could not explain. She was at last free to do as she chose. She would never be ruled by anyone again.

She packed up her meager belongins and all the money she could find in the small hovel she lived in. She then set the house on fire and walked away never looking back. She found her way to Tanamerah to start her new life.

Ah, the feel of a large city and all the opportunities that come with it. This is what I have been craving. Well, almost. Who would have thought that getting my way here and purchasing the equipment and clothes I required would cost so much. I find I am in desperate need of money. To acquire it, I am wandering around in this purtid sewer killing rats and gathering there pelts for money. Ugh, the stench is almost too much to bare. I have found a small group of kobolds who have taken up residency in the eastern section of the sewers. Of course, being kobolds, they were not to difficult to take out. Upon looking in the chests they had, I found only 4 measely gold pieces. At this rate, I will be old and grey before I have enough money to live on.

After taking the pelts to the bounty office, I can now buy some decent bandages and a little more food. At least I will not starve and can bandage the bites I received from those disgusting rats. Unfortunately, I did not receive enough and must make my way back into the sewers tomorrow. I found a door down there as well. Maybe tomorrow I will enter and investigate this area. It has got to be better than the rats. At least one can hope.

*sigh* Another day in the sewers. This time however, I have met two men who have offered to let me join them. They seem nice enough and one of them, Mordyn, is so old he could not catch me to do me harm so I am not worried about him at all. The other, Huna, I find myself confused about. In my mind, I know I should be wary of him for he is a man in his prime, but in my heart, I feel some sort of connection. I cannot explain this and must spend more time contemplating this feeling.

We decided to go through the door I discovered yesterday. It seems they also found it and were curious. Well, not rats but skeletons. They are many but they fall relatively easily before us. Upon checking the chests we found a few more gold pieces and some equipment I have no use at all for. I am hopeful I can get a good price for my cut of the spoils. There is another door, or more appropriately a portculis, which leads down into a lower level. After a brief discussion, we decided to forgo this door for another day. When we returned to the surface, I took my leave and went to find the merchant. Maybe tomorrow I will find out what is behind that portculis.

I have decided to go down to the ancient city, that is what I have found it is called, in the sewers again. My companions of yesterday are not to be found but I do so need the money. I found very few rats on the way to the city door, which should have clued me in that someone else was down here. *shakes head* I must be more observant of my surroundings or I will not live long. Anyway, I make it to the city door and enter to find only one skeleton. NOW, I am aware that someone is or has been down here. I of course check the chests but find them empty. Now is the time to see what is below. Before I decend however, I practice my dance with the shadows. This should, I hope, help me to not be noticed if indeed there are people down here. I open the portculis and decend...

The first few rooms are empty. As are the chests held within them but I here the sounds of battle ahead. I approach as stealthily as possible and find the battle has ended by the time I get there. Now I know why I could find Huna or Mordyn, they are down here. They have a new man with them however and he does not take to me very well. When he saw me he yelled assassin and aimed his crossbow at me. I thought I was going to have to disappear again and kill him but Huna and Mordyn both told him to stop. He reluctantly lowered his crossbow and allowed the introductions to be made. His name is Nicky and he, I think is a monk.

We made our way further and had a very hard time of it. It seems I found them near the back of the city. All that was left was the final room which was inhabited by all manner of undead. I found myself barely holding on to my control and actually had to run at one point. During the battle, Mordyn and Nicky were cut down. Huna stayed with them and I went topside to find them help. I was tempted to leave them, but they are the only friends I have and I do not with to spoil that. I also would like more time to figure out this .... whatever..... between me and Huna. I have a feeling if I were to leave them to the rats, I would never have the chance to figure this out. Luckily, I was able to find someone to assist them. We checked out the chests and split up the spoils and headed out.

For some reason I cannot explain, Huna has decided to call me "dear" all of a sudden. He also told me he likes the way I walk. Again, in my mind, I should smack him for thinking he has the right yet I cannot. The man confuses me. Nicky, however, is like an innocent little boy with a crush. He is forevery letting his eyes wander and blushes the prettiest shade of pink when I ask him if he likes what he sees. This is not what I am used to from men. The ones I know are very forward about what they want and did not care to find out if I want it too. I much prefer the ones I can predict. I am not sure how to handle these two, they are so different from all I have known.

Well, I have heard of a man by the name of Cuts. He sounds very intriguing to me. I think, if all I hear is correct, that he could teach me much. I am on my way now to see if I can find him. It is said he enjoys pitting his skills against the lizardmen.

As I approach the cave I have heard the lizardmen live in, I find the carcass of many. I am hopefull that this a Cuts' trail. I follow the trail of bodies north and find a man has made camp near the river. It is Cuts. He offers me meat and the opportunity to use his tent, which I gladly accept. After, we talked a little of his past. It seems he has a game he used to play in the sewers. He called it hide and go seek. I think the women who played it with him probably called it their worst nightmare. When he told me how he enjoyed the screams echoing off the walls and the blood as it spattered, I knew precisely what he meant. I felt the same as I watched and listened that fat, slobbering beast die by my hand. It is a very ..... exhilerating... thing to experience. Knowing you hold their life in your hands and knowing they know the outcome.

Well, I digress. After our chat, Snowflake and her ditz of a sister Icy showed up. How that girl has survived life as long as she has is totally beyond me. If I had my choice, she would not have. Anyway, we continued on to a new area Cuts had found where some more Lizardmen had set up housekeeping so to speak. Watching that man work is such a pleasure. The way he dances the shadows and the efficiency with which he kills is amazing. I have much to learn from him. After he decimated the entire group of lizardmen he asked me if I like to drink the blood. Hmmm, must give this some thought. Is it good I wonder? We left the area and ran into one of those vicious cats that seem to pop up everywhere. While fighting it, I received a wound on my arm. Before bandaging it, I licked off the blood to see what it was like. It has a salty metalic taste that is not all that bad really. Maybe Cuts is on to something. Next time, if I am not with my "good" friends Huna, Nicky or Mordyn, I will have to try the blood. We will see.

I have been gone for quite some time. I needed time to sift through all that has happened to me. I felt as if I was being pulled in varying directions. I have two groups of friends that are complete opposites. I enjoy my time with my "good" friends but at the same time, I enjoy so much the thrill of the hunt while with my others friends. Maybe after taking this time to search my soul as it were, I can finally decide how to proceed with my life.

I have returned to sad news. First is the news of Mordyn. No one is sure where he has gone. He seems to have disappeared from the tower of the Grimalkins. I don't know why, but I am sure I will never see him again. He was so like a grampa to me. I will always remember him with that gleam of discovery he would get in his eyes when he'd find a new circle of stones to study. I will be unable to eat another mushroom without thinking of him and his fondness for them either. I hope you are at peace, grampa Mordyn.

The second bit of news I received I found very hard to accept. Its seems Cuts is dead. I would not have believed had someone not seen the body before they burned it and scattered the ashes. *sighs* He was such a skilled stalker, I still find it hard to believe he is gone. I was so looking forward to sharing a hunt with him and showing him all I have learned since last we saw each other. It is because of him and Morgrim Scarlet that I learned to dance the shadows. I would have liked to thank him for what he taught me. I would say rest in peace for Cuts as well, but I think he would prefer to stalk his lovely ladies in their nightmares instead of resting in peace.

Wonderful news, Cuts is alive! He does not look the same as I remember but I guess he is in disguise so no one will recognize him. When I first saw him, I mistook him for a Scarlet. *chuckles* That's what happens when you let your mind tell your eyes what you're seeing instead of the other way around. I had been talking to Radia and a fellow by the name of Danuthal at the Traveler's Rest. It appears Danuthal is looking for the Scarlets for some crime they committed and I mentioned it was odd for him to hunt them when I had heard the Scarlets wanted him dead. It was only logical, when someone stepped out of the shadows and attacked him and faded back out, that I assume it was a Scarlet. Danuthal said he was a Scarlet too but Radia was adament that it was Cuts. After Danuthal went up to a room to recover, Radia and I were discussing the identity of the attacker. Cuts varified it for me. He appeared and said something in his very distinct way of speaking and ran the flat of his sword across my hip before fading into the shadows again. The sword was not needed, *grins* I would know that pattern of speach anywhere.

We found Danuthal in the square a bit later and he was saying something about how Salara must be very talented indeed and how she must have taken Cuts' soul and tranferred it to another body. I think the man is a little paranoid if you ask me. *hmmph* Imagine, transferring someones soul, it's crazy talk. Anyway, I went in search of Cuts so I could speak with him and Radia followed me. She left soon enough when it became apparent she wanted nothing to do with our hunting expedition. That and Cuts telling her she should learn to hide better or something like that. *chuckles* It seems Cuts has tried to kill her once and she was not too comfortable around him. *shakes her head slightly and sighs* People just need to remember, when dealing with Cuts, you do not offend him... he REALLY does not like it. She says she didn't do anything but you never know.

Anyway, I am so glad Cuts is not dead after all. I am hoping to find him again and do some more hunting. Maybe I can find Morgrim as well and presuade him to join us on a hunt. *smiles to herself and closes her journal*