I am Radrafdin, of House n'Kylbar, and have begun this journal to help note down my newly received task set forth by my parents. Growing up amidst five siblings, and lost amidst the middle of the sequence of births, exhibiting no truly impressive skill or political mind, i've never been viewed as more than dead weight. I somewhat glad I was given this task, but at the same time I believe it is just a 'solution' of having found some way to make use of me, for such is the life of nobel houses in Magnagora.

After much anticipation and worry, I have finally received my letter of acceptance into the Geomancer's guild. Nil knows what would have become of me if I was denied..., having matured to the 18th of my name day; I highly doubt mother and father would have accepted me 'lounging' about any longer. My elder brother and sister have taken the eye of my parents, and they have put much faith in them bringing us up in status. Upon receiving my letter, they visited me and stated, or should I say insisted, I must bring honor to the family and not to mess this up, for important political workings in the city are in play, and the high seat of the house would not accept any mishaps. Im sure it will be fine, if anything, House n'Kylbar is famous for their political machinations.

The letter of acceptance was quite unusual. Where I had assumed some golden embroidery on parchment with a welcoming message...I received but a grey scrappy letter, within it but a piece of black marble and a note stating "come". My parents nodded approvingly, and stated that was a good sign. I pack my belongings and prepare to depart to the guild tower on the morrow.

------

4th of Tzarin, 64

The tower was not much what I had imagined. From the glory and honor the Geomancers hold in the city, you'd expect exquisite architecture and holdings...yet before me stood a slate grey spire, uninteresting and without any ornaments. Upon entering, I met with a dark hooded figure standing near the doorway. He stretched out a near skeletal hand, opened palm, and said nothing. I attempted to greet him but he would not reply. Sensing a need for urgency, I walked forth and presented the piece of black marble, the figure nodded. He pointed to a stairway on the eastern side of the tower, which I immediately assumed I should climb. Looking back down as I did so, I saw the figure clench a fist around the black marble piece, and it suddenly turned into a fine dust, whisked away by a breeze in this cold place. I hurried along to the assigned dormitory.

------

11th of Tzarin, 64

I've been here for around a week now, and I still have yet to get used to the strange customs. There is hard studying and practice by us acolytes no doubt..but every few days we are called by the Archmage to undergo a 'purifying' ritual, wherein we bleed ourselves out while consuming mud. They state that it is a way of removing the imperfection within as we consume the earth and become one with it, for the earth is pure and untouched by the corruptions of water as we are. I admit I have yet to get a taste for it..

I do my best to keep up with classes and study the material, but some things I just cannot grasp. In one class, we simply sit at stone desks and watch several types of rocks before us. Not a peep is made...and for good reason, for if the moderator notices you unfocused...you will walk out with quite the bruising.

Sigh..I find myself feeling lonely and empty here and missing my old home, even the cold glares of my parents. I wonder if coming here was the right choice..

------

17th of Tzarin, 34

Classes continue as usual here and there hasnt been much change. The purifying rituals are beginning to take their toll on me; I seem so much thinner and gaunt now. We're beginning to further develop into the geomantic arts, after finishing basic lessons in elemental control. I find my free time becoming smaller and smaller, and can barely spare a minute away to myself.

------

8th of Klangiary, 34

Im exhausted...

We've been taken to a trip on the elemental plane of Earth, and it is nothing but mountains and caverns as far as the eye can see. My feet feel like they are going to fall off. The instructors with us seemed almost...enraptured by being on the plane; I wish I knew what it was they were feeling.

We were guided through a cave, some 20 acolytes, and then told to journey through the mountains until we can find a Citadel. Making us novices journey alone..what are they thinking. I wish it was as easy as a climb...but we encountered forces blocking us at near every turn. Hideous gargoyles that would claw at us and these revolting stone-like creatures that would stare and chuckle at us before lunging to bite. The very land seemed to fight us, with earthquakes and rockslides tumbling all around, splitting us up. I continued the journey myself at one point, using what magical talent I had to shield and avoid the creatures inhabiting this plane. The landscape made no sense...going up would lead back two steps down, and going north would have me back south...no wonder they call these the mountains of madness.

After what seemed like a day, I finally got to the accursed citadel, where I found my previous group there, or what remained of their number. The instructors looked at me in surprise, I assume they thought I wouldnt be able to survive on my own. Im sad to say that the 4 others split from the group didnt..

------

10th of Klangary, 34

The classes seem to be picking up lately, with some interesting happenings to change the boring stalemate. The class of geomancy has had some significant strides, with us able to summon forth boulders to blast one another with. We acolytes have come to start a game between ourselves of whom can summon the biggest boulder and throw it the furthest, we call it Boulder-toss. The class of the rock watching has taken on a new side-effect. While watching the many different types of rock...I swear I could hear something from the basalt stone...just for a second..a whisper or some sort of soft sigh.., perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me from the boredom, but others told me they also thought they heard something during one of their sessions.

One of the 'Crafter of Cliffs', some fancy title for a higher up assistance to the triumvirate, approached us in the dormitories and informed us that a select few will have the honor of accompanying a troupe of the guild in a coming task. I wonder what it could be..or how we will be chosen. He told us to make sure we stand out in the coming days. I must get chosen for this task, to show mother and father that I can bring honor to our House as well as any of my siblings could. I will show them.