Mizugami/SessionTwelve

5th Day of Resplendent Water, RY 769

J'hana has changed her mind again. Now she wishes to join House Peleps. She was worried that we had committed her to something with House Cathak, though, and wanted my assistance in decommitting. I let her know that unless she'd been working on this without me, she hadn't committed to anything in my presence.

As to why, I think it finally occurred to her that nobody starts out as a General, whereas plenty of people start out as Captains. So I loaned her my Principles of Navigation and Basic Seamanship collections and started her taking lessons with Emerald Dancer.

I know she was a successful athlete and even led a team of athletes, but I just don't see her as a leader. She seems only to want to be in charge because she doesn't like to take orders. Granted, I guess that doesn't make her any different from a lot of so-called leaders, but she doesn't seem to have devoted herself to much of anything besides the idea of being in charge. Ah well; if I have anything to say about it, she'll at least be a basic seaman.

18th Day of Resplendent Water, RY 769

Most curious. Cynis Yorake has invited me (and the rest of my class) to a party down on the waterfront. The invitation says it's to thank us for returning his property from the lizardmen last year. I wonder what the real story is and what cover we'll be providing him? I'll have to keep an eye on Kazuki and try to keep an eye on Judas.

21st Day of Resplendent Water, RY 769

Why can't we have a simple party? Why can't we have a simple anything? I feel like I've been doing well this last year and a half but things aren't slowing down at all. On the contrary, I'm busier than ever. I'm beginning to wonder if my whole life will be like this. I need help, but trustworthy help is always so hard to find. Maybe I can convince my parents to provide some. At least then I'd have a good idea of where their loyalties lie.

At Yorake's party tonight a gang fight broke out just down the road. I was watching the giant serpent fight in the harbor, so I missed whatever started it, but in short order there were 50 or 75 people doing their level best to kill each other in front of a warehouse just down the way. I'm not sure what the story was, but it looked like some mercenaries were guarding a warehouse and a gang of teenagers using first pulse style martial arts attacked them. That blasted style is everywhere now, especially amongst mortals.

We broke up the fight before too many of the fools could get killed, but they still did a lot of damage. The warehouse the mercenaries were guarding looked like it had been housing slaves (we checked it out when it caught fire to make sure no one was trapped inside). It struck me as an awful lot of mercenaries to just be guarding slaves, but those capable of fleeing when we broke up the fight fled and those that were incapable weren't much for talking. I'm just glad we broke it up without too many casualties and that we stopped the fire before it could spread or demolish the warehouse entirely.

22nd Day of Resplendent Water, RY 769

Upon reflection, I find yesterday's entry unbecoming of a Dragon-Blood. The problems I griped about are the responsibility of myself and my brethren and the burden we must bear. Whining about it solves nothing and shows ingratitude for the great blessings bestowed upon me. I do believe I shall write to my parents for some support, though.

15th Day of Descending Earth, RY 769

Kira's asked us to help her investigate the Nevloni Shrine tomorrow. It's rumored to be haunted so she sent a geomancer associate of hers to check it out. That was 2 days ago and he hasn't reported back to her. I haven't heard of this shrine before, but that's not too surprising. There are shrines all over the city and this one's in the Glittering Smoke District (not exactly my regular stomping grounds).

17th Day of Descending Earth, RY 769

One more spawn of evil destroyed. Anyone who questions why the Dragon-Blooded are in charge should see that... thing's... lair. A dozen corpses, maybe more, and no telling how many it had killed and consumed beyond that. The forces that wish to kill every living thing or destroy Creation are out there and they are legion. We are all that stands in the way.

The thing's name, according to its earth elemental thrall, was Saddok. It killed Kira's geomancer for sure; we found his remains strewn around the interior of the shrine. We're not entirely sure what it was up to, but it seems clear that it was trying to corrupt and pervert the place. Nevloni Shrine, it turns out, is part of the First Age network that powers the city. Saddok may have been hoping to cause a massive explosion or simply disable much of the city's First Age technology.

Thankfully, Abbot Takgana and Ferem Lasha believe they can undo the damage. We summoned the Abbot after discovering the Leviathan and the giant chains binding it. He enlisted Lasha to help with the cleanup and purification while we hunted down the creature responsible. Kira tracked it into the Undercity not far from the shrine and after a short, but vicious, fight, it was dead.

A search of the lair produced what turned out to be a manual of Underworld Thaumaturgy. Virtuous Cloud identified it for us and we upset Abbot Takgana yet again by not bringing it to him. I wish I'd remembered. The next evil book we find needs to go to him for the sake of good relations.

7th Day of Ascending Wood, RY 769

We officially chose Whitewall as the school trip destination at today's Deliberative session. Haining was absent, so after the meeting adjourned, we had an argument about why some of us don't want him in any First Age library. Judas, as usual, didn't understand why and in his particular way decided to go have a chat with him.

I don't know how that went, but Ranka took Judas to talk to Virtuous Cloud about it, too. Her concern is that Haining, in his lust for power, will seek out forces beyond his control and become lost to them. She also had a spectacular suggestion for how to deal with it: Get Haining invited someplace else, like a visit to House Mnemon on the Blessed Isle. Given their legendary sorcerous power and sorcery libraries, he's sure to accept an invitation to visit. What she left unsaid is that House Mnemon won't let him get into any trouble that they don't want him in. Kira and I are going to work out the invitation in the near future.

28th Day of Ascending Wood, RY 769

Months of planning have come to fruition today. I don't wish to jinx things, but it's out of my hands now. The Cheraki Navy sailed today for the Western Isles. If all goes to plan, they will rendezvous with the Roseblack, destroy the Abalone Island pirates, and return to Cherak with both legions. I've invested all of the political capital I could gather and as much of my economic capital as I can afford to pull this off.

I began the work about 6 months ago and it's been my near total occupation since. All I can do now is monitor the political situation to deal with any attempts to circumvent the plan and pray for favorable winds. House Ragara is bound to look for revenge. I believe I've isolated my House and the satrapy from their ire, but I am almost certainly exposed. To that end I've been diversifying and amassing the largest economic interest I can gather.

I'm not going to lay out my entire hand here (I'm as concerned as ever about this journal being read), but as Rector Danic quite publicly argued my case in the Greater Deliberative, I don't mind mentioning her. How I wish I could have witnessed her work there! She's been a remarkable ally and I truly believe she has the best interests of the Realm at heart. Perhaps the next time I have a matter for the Deliberative, I'll be able to make the presentation myself.

I know that the work has really only begun, but just seeing the navy sail is like a massive weight off my shoulders. Hopefully my parents will respond favorably to this month's letter and I can get some more trustworthy help.