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Prologue
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To My Readers:

It is quite well known that I am not much of a fighter. I prefer to ponder,
explore, think… though often times I'm not too good at that either. On rare
occasions something grabs hold of me and I am moved to take myself to one of
the uninhabited areas of the Basin and spend some time there, immersing myself
directly in the environment. During these trips I keep my senses, and my
journal, open. I absorb the works of Mother Nature - terrain, flora, and fauna
- and I write what I see and how I feel. As you may have guessed, this is one
of those trips, and whatever moves me sent me to the Toronada River in the
north-central portion of the Basin. This five day journey showed me not only
how the elements come together, albeit it obviously has a focus on water in
this case, but also how life adapts to changes and how the mortal element
factors into the equation. It is my hopes to share all of that with you. The
following chapters are transcribed word-for-word from my personal journal so
that you may accompany me as I perpetually take the trip in this tome. While it
was written many years ago, I recently re-visited this area and found, much to
my pleasure, it to be much the same as it were then, so that this account is
still accurate. I find myself constantly in awe of the variety of things nature
can come up with, and that is what drives my pursuits and exploration. I hope
that sometime you, my cherished readers, will take the time and the opportunity
to plunge headfirst into a part of nature and see where it will take you. You
may be surprised and pleased with what you find, much the way I felt exploring
The Toronada: A River of Life.

-Marzolan, The Flowing Quill

P.S.: Yes, I realize I switch tense occasionally. Please keep in mind that
these were actually journal entries. At some points I am writing as it occurs,
and at other points I am writing what occurred while I had the journal put up.
I have not attempted to streamline the tense issues because I feel they add a
bit more character to the story and aid in drawing the reader in alongside me.

===============
Vestian 22, 128
===============

It has been a long day... but in the end I think it shall be worth it. Oh, for
those that may end up reading this account, my name is Marzolan, of the
Aquamancers. I have come here to do an in depth study on the Toronada River, in
the hopes that it will further knowledge in the realms. Who knows? It may be a
valued resource one day. Ah, I'm getting ahead of myself... The place I have
reached is the source of the Toronada River. It has been a long climb through
the Northern Range, a trip that has not been without its trials as any mountain
climber knows. I am thankful however that the Gods were kind to me and held off
the rain long enough for me to reach this point. As a Merian, Earth is not my
prime element, and I don't fancy being buried under it in a rain-induced
landslide. It is late now, so I will make camp here for the night, send my
thanks to the Gods, and head out in the morning. Hopefully the river will not
be too swollen from its fresh feast of new rainfall...

===============
Vestian 23, 128
===============

I have awoken early this morning and a heavy fog infuses the area. Last night's
rain has become this morning's light snowfall. The air is chilled and fresh, and
seems to be filled with a life force of its own. Breathing it in is a truly
cleansing experience. I find myself loving this altitude, this merger of water
and earth. The snowflakes tickle my skin as they make contact, as if trying to
play a game with me. I would love to remain here through the day, but as I have
come here on a scholastic mission, and because these storms always pose a threat
of blizzard, I must move quickly to pack my few possessions.

During this routine task, my mind and eyes begin to wander. After noting the
useful arnica plant flourishing here, and saying a bit of thanks for the many
bones it has helped repair in me, I quickly pounce (granted not a typical
Merian trait) on this energy and focus it on the Toronada's source. Before me a
vast, glistening, frozen waterfall lies in wait, as if it were posing in
nature's beauty pageant. Its surface is like spun glass from which a network of
bright, cold flames seems to shine. The top level shows no signs or wants of
melting, but water flow can be heard at this location. As I open my senses and
allow them to expand to fill the area, I can detect a faint cracking noise far
below as the ice begins to melt and feed into the river. My belongings are
packed, and I prepare to put this journal up. I give one last look around, and
smile, having made my decision on how to get down to the river. I step to the
edge of the ice floe. I must place my beloved journal into my pack for fear of
dropping it in the fall.

...

With a splash into very frigid water, I arrive safely at the bottom of the
waterfall. Here, the frozen fall softens into a pool of thawing ice. This fresh
thaw flows softly past me and onwards to the river, where I am sure it will pick
up much momentum as it is pulled along by the forces in this world. Though I
would assume this to be a sterile environment, I am overwhelmingly surprised at
the abundance of life. Several rainbow trout swim around in the ice water,
playfully darting at my feet once in a while. Their shiny scales hold me in
awe, light dancing in a rainbow of colors from a living prism. Another creature
has caught my eye... almost literally as it startled me by darting out from what
seemed like nowhere. This fiery colored lizard-like creature seems quite at home
here. Upon looking around I notice that many of them lie in wait on leaves, the
shoreline, and just as often in the water. These salamanders’ colors seem to
warn potential predators of something, but I lack the skills to theorize upon
what it might be... Perhaps the slime that gives them their glistening sheen
makes them hard to chew, or possibly even contains a poison of some kind. My
eye also caught what appeared to be a deformed otter before it darted out of
sight... perhaps I shall see it further down the river. Though the sun shines
bright upon me here, the water chills me through. I must move down river if I
wish to avoid becoming part of the partially frozen landscape.

As I move, I find the ice grows less and less prevalent. In the current area,
small chunks float by, pressing hard into me sometimes. A layer of slush also
suffuses this portion of the river, making a crossing possible, albeit
dangerous. There is nothing of note on either side however, and no visible
footprints; therefore, this area is obviously not crossed often. Trout and
salamanders still dart playfully about in great numbers, yet I find no sign of
my deformed otter. I must move on and hope to catch him further down, as the
water here is still very cold. I quickly find myself in a turn in the river
where Mother Nature seems to take full force. The water is still full of chunks
of ice, but it moves very swiftly. I summon up my skills in aquamancy and
survival and fight the current long enough to look around. I notice that a
small collection of ice has formed in the corner of the bend causing the water
to accelerate past it. There is also an abundance of trout and salamanders
still. As I prepared to let the water take me further down, the corner of my
eye caught a bit of movement. I held still and watched. Lo and behold my
"deformed otter" was swimming about. Well what do you know? It isn't an otter
at all, but a duck-billed platypus. The odd creature followed the same general
law of play that permeates these parts, darting back and forth, diving and
splashing, taking life as it come. It has no ears to speak of, only two small
holes on the sides of its head, it's eyes seem like tide pools, and it's
delicate but powerful claws are set upon webbed fingers which make his swimming
easier, similar to my own webbings. I smile as the creature sees me and darts
away; I stop my fighting and let myself flow on, chasing passively after him.

Soon I must begin to be more careful. Small rocks begin to distort the flow of
the water and push it on ever faster. As I enter the rapids I must be on full
alert at all times, less I catch myself on a sharp protrusion. I need not worry
about being caught under the water, for I am a Merian. I could still breathe.
However, the sounds from further down the river and other subtle clues in the
pull of the water tell me there are quite possibly larger and more dangerous
rapids ahead. The life in this portion seems to be a bit thinner; though it may
just be my imagination sense my platypus friend is not here. I attribute it to
the cold, but I have noticed no algae growth in these waters, nor any other
plant for that matter. I will stow my journal for now as I float on down
through the rapids.

...

I have reached the ends of the rapids, though not without a full trial on my
skills. Were it not for a natural instinct about water and the enhancement of
being an Aquamancer, I doubt I would have made it through quite as easily... if
at all. A warning to any future adventurers, watch out for that pointy rock in
the center... if it doesn't stab you it'll send you flying through the air on
the other side. But I digress. Here at the end of the rapids, the water has
returned to its peaceful, slow flow. The air is crisp and fresh, if warmer than
that at the river's source, and it carries with it the clean and slightly fishy
scent of the river. The forestry is more visible here and a soft fragrance
drifts and mingles with that of the river. The life here however seems stifled.
The playful trout still pop up occasionally, but the salamanders have not
followed me down river. I will miss my slimy companions, but there are sure to
be more creatures down further. I can see fairly far into the distance at this
point. The water flows gently straight to the south. In the distance a small
raft and beach can be seen. As it is getting late, I shall make my camp there
for the night. A fire will be needed to knock the ice out of my skin, but as to
cause no misgivings with the Serenwilders, I shall use only wood that has
already fallen from the trees. I'll shall thank the Gods for their protection
again tonight, have a small supper of some rations I brought with me, and then
sleep. I shall wake early again tomorrow to continue my journey.

===============
Vestian 24, 128
===============

As planned, I have awoken early this morning after a much needed and very deep
sleep. The gentle rolling waves were my lullaby, the cool breeze and the sand
it picked up were mother's touch, and the gentle glow of the stars was my
protector. I should do things like this more often. I have prepared a small
breakfast this morning of trout cooked over the open flame. I am sorry to have
killed those beautiful creatures, but none shall go to waste; what I cannot eat
shall be given back to nature. I hope my friends will still accompany on down
the river. A glance towards the south reveals a bridge to be in sight, I assume
part of the Alabaster Road, as I am in that area if my calculations prove true.
My body has warmed, and I am up for a nice swim. I continue my endeavor, though
it saddens me to leave this lovely shore.

As I continue along, I paused under the bridge long enough to pay due respect
to the fantastic architecture and simple beauty it bears. As I continue on, the
calm water begins to darken, mixing with loose soil, or silt. The river takes a
turn to the southwest here, and to my disappointment I have encountered no new
life. The silt deposits however begin to accrue, and I suppose my journey has
taken me into the delta. I pause a moment for reflection. I cannot decide if I
should explore the waters first in the imminent divisions of the water flow,
explore the land first, or take both as I come to them. I guess trial by fire
shall be the deciding force. The water has slowed further and become more
shallow, but still I swim along, happy in this element. In a bit of a surprise
I come to an area where the deep bottom but narrow sides force the water on
more swiftly allowing me to float instead of swimming and still move on. I am
delighted that the water seems to be steering me, and I decide to yield and see
where fate takes me, though I know my ultimate destination to be the Inner Sea.
It isn’t long until my waterway reaches a split. As I try to decide which way
to go first, I feel the current pulling me stronger to the southeast. After a
moment of debate, and a bit of studying about the split, I decide to go to the
southwest first, as it would be the easiest to swim back up. I catch a glimpse
of water's power as I begin to slip down the southwest passage through the
delta. The water seemed to pound in fury at the dividing sand, angry that I had
chosen to control my own destiny. But in life people must make choices, and this
is mine.

The channel I chose moves very slow and is wide. In that tranquility I
encounter the first plant life; some small reed-like plants have sprouted here.
The plants and the flowing water seem to be in a slow-paced, gentle, timeless
battle for control over the channel. Truly fascinating to witness nature go
through war just as people do. Further down I encounter a truly breathtaking
sight. The water seems to dance and come even more alive as several tiny
blossoms add flares of color throughout. Were I an artist, this would be the
inspiration for a great painting. Perhaps a reader of this journal will come
here one day and capture this beauty. I would certainly buy such a work of art.
A small turn directs me further south.

The current tugs gently at me as I flow through this aquatic flower field.
Eventually, I come to another split in the waterways, though this one shows no
major danger as the water is still moving slowly. I can see the Inner Sea far
to the south across some sandy portions of the delta. The water widens as I opt
to continue to the southwest. Plants are still common here, even though the area
they must fight for is larger. I quickly find myself having to dodge lilies and
other greenery, and I begin to wonder if I should abandon the river and take to
the shore. What better way to learn of the water though, than to follow through
its hurdles to its destination? I shall remain in the darkening waters. I
continue flowing down, eventually to the point where moss begins to cover the
half-silt, half-water shoreline. I am rapidly approaching the Inner Sea. I
reach a large sandbar, and over it I can easily see the salty destination of
the Toronada. I decide it is time to turn around and head back to that second
split and take the other path. However, night is drawing near and I am growing
weary. I decide to make camp on the sandbar for now and continue my journey in
the morning.

===============
Vestian 25, 128
===============

This morning I woke up earlier than expected to the shrill sound of gulls in
the air. It startled me a bit since I didn't recognize it at first, but that
bit of fear passed quickly. As I packed up my camp after a small breakfast, I
noticed a creature I had yet to encounter. It had a mottled brown shell and was
somewhat plain looking, but did well to help it blend in to the environment
around it. As I noticed the gold tint running over its shell, I determined it
had to be a box turtle - a less beautiful but by no means less valuable member
of the turtle family in line with the dragon turtles of the Inner Sea. I
finished stuffing my possessions into my pack, took a deep breath - an odd mix
of salt and fresh water scents - and made my way back up the fork to continue
my expedition.

...

I have reached the third channel, and I must say that while it still carries
the quaint beauty I have seen elsewhere, I'm a bit disappointed. I guess my
romanticizing mind had summoned up great things that this middle channel might
hold and thus set me up for the fall. Nevertheless I shall press on, swimming
thought the silt and the lilies. I soon reach a really dark area of the river.
The water here is as thick as soup and in the center, on a sandbar, is what
remains of a tree whose life force has long since faded. It is always saddening
to see something that has been snuffed out, and yet this tree still carries some
sort of beauty. It resonates pride, power, and prestige. It must truly have been
something in life.

I move away from the tree and find what might have caused its death. Here the
waters widen and move slow, and there is no greenery. The water smells weekly
of salt, which I am sure is caused by the encroaching Inner Sea. Mother nature
is not always kind it appears, but she can take care of herself nonetheless.
The waters begin to clear as I drift further along, and I can feel the current
picking up strength and pulling me towards the sea. The pull lasts only shortly
however as the waters make the transition into the calm parts of the Inner Sea
and the salt becomes very evident. I decide to swim on a little further for
good measure, and then begin the long swim back up to reach the first split I
encountered, this time to take the swift path.

...

I have reached the easternmost branch through the delta. It is noticeably more
swift and wide. The plant life here has not made very much of a foothold in the
quicker waters, and while silt is still deposited on the banks, the water
remains only slightly murky. The river takes a slight turn to the south and
then to the southeast, and I can see decent patches of shrubbery on the banks
here. Beyond the turn the shrubbery grows even thicker and tiny dots of color
lie in blossoms all along them. I soon find the waters to be teeming with
leaves and fallen blossoms, so much so that I can't even see the water as I
move along pushing the plants aside only to have them reconvene behind me. I
find myself laughing as I try to write because a hidden trout mistook my toe
for food. Ah well, if he bites too hard I just might bite back. The sounds of
the water are still very clear, even as the colors of the petals distract me.
It almost seems as if they are babbling instead of the water beneath them. The
fresh water plants soon lose their hold and I have begun to see more Kelp and
algae. I must be nearing the Inner Sea again for these and other salt-water
plants are trying to take over. I decide to leave the water and camp on a
sandbar as I notice the water deepening and the smell of salt increasing
drastically. I shall rest here for the night before exploring the silt lands
and tide pools of the delta tomorrow.

===============
Avechary 1, 128
===============

This morning I awake to begin the exploration of the sands and tide pools
around the Toronada River. As I looked around this morning I accelerated my
packing. What I couldn't tell last night was that I had camped at a popular
spot for sunbathing and coastal parties. Trash lies in small pieces along the
ground and lobster and crab traps hang in the water, holding their catches to
be devoured later. Yes, I should quickly move on and return to the true nature
of this area. As I moved on however, I grew downtrodden that the devastation
about this southeastern part of the delta was so vast... I shall move to the
western portion and hope for better luck.

...

Much better. The western portions of the delta are still untouched. Here there
are trees and frogs abundant. The bushes and flowers I saw from within the
river seem to be truly alive and moving on their own. They dance and frolic as
the wind blows gently across them. Every once in a while I stumble across a few
bottles under a palm, remnants of some long past picnic... but for the most part
the area remains clean. I liked the river better though, and the pollution I
find on the beaches saddens me. However even in that disrupted environment it
pleases me to catch glimpses of some creatures here, a few very noble members
struggling to make a life in their disrupted homeland. I'm going to give the
tide pools a quick look... but if I find the same pollution, I shall call this
survey to a rest. Documenting nature is the purpose of this, not documenting
its destruction.

...

Oh I am glad I did not retire so soon, the tide pools have truly revived me.
Right away a starfish caught my eye. The gravel-like appearance of its five
orange limbs being so untainted was a beautiful sight. I watched as the
starfish moved quietly along and then used its powerful suction cups and
muscles to pry apart a clam and devour it. This is another instance of tragic
beauty in nature. The pebbles and shells that line the area are also gorgeous,
adding shimmers of color on the still water of each little pool. Small crabs
scuttle about underfoot, and I quickly find myself trying not to step on them.
Seagulls fly overhead, their calls raking lightly across my senses. As I
watched the birds fly overhead and a box turtle creep along, a stray dog came
bounding through, barking and disrupting the peace briefly before moving along.
Mussels cling to rocks, waiting for waves to wash bits of food to them. Small
Jellyfish wait for the same in the tide pools themselves. I witnessed another
crab as I walked along crushing a minnow with its powerful pincers, and also
some larger fish picking on the crabs, sometimes successfully eating one. My
day grows short, and I would love to stay longer. My supplies are growing low
unfortunately, and though I enjoy this river, my heart also longs to return to
Celest and my home. But I’ll be back. The life here, in all its natural
beauty, is truly a marvel and something to be appreciated and taken care of.