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Sam was created to join the alchemy guild. That was pretty much it. A medicine man barbarian that could mix herbs and do archaeology. She ended up being a little bit more and less at the same time.

She came from a small farming village somewhere in the lost rings, she couldn't recall which one exactly, if she ever knew. She missed the simple days before the ring wall but found she had an affinity for fighting with her hammer. Her hammer would end up being her prized possession. She succeeded in being a fly on the wall and would ferry rumors and tidbits of info she heard back to Gers, thinking she was helping keep a friend safe and innocent that he was doing any wrong. She became an active member of the alchemists guild and was even managed to get to voiced status.

I had more fun playing Sam and barbarian than I expected I would and will miss playing her.  I'd post screenshots but have no clue how to on this new forum page

To Mr. Gers,

We had spoken at the Soulk briefly about herbalism and you said you would be able to help me learn where to acquire ingredients for the craft.  I would still like to speak with you more at length about these matters and learn how to craft herbs with the ingredients of the desert. Unfortunately it seems that our paths haven't crossed since then.  Please write me back to let me know when an ideal time to meet with you would be.

Toodles,
Sam

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Dear Magdalena,

There is a young man who has caught my eye for his assertiveness, combat prowess, and his scientific mind, and yet I do not know if he sees me, or anyone that way.  I am of course talking of Gers Geiger.  He seems to see things as a series of business transactions and I am not sure he has ever taken time for love. He needs someone to help him see its benefit in life.   

Help is appreciated,
Kali
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Hiziran 27, IY 7787

A storm unlike any that has been seen has come to the Well. Usually they only last a few hours but this one has lasted nearly a day. During the first hour there was doubt that the Shade, a magical barrier put up by the Astronomers to keep the storm out of the Well would hold, and it ended up failing. Melek warriors and strange bugs breached the Well at both gates. We held the gates but three were mortally wounded by the attack, including my friend Durwin. Two of the three awoke shortly after the fighting concluded but the third was still unconscious when the Janisaries told us all to return into the Well. I left the man called Dai in the care of a friend, Donan in the hopes he would revise. An emergency assembly was called as it was suspected that the shade feel due to sabotage.  Many fingers were pointed, accusations raised with even the Legates being accused. Legate John Syter was murdered with another legate missing.

Seems the shade holds now though, with even the passage of refugees coming through to seek shelter or the restless sneaking out not causing it to fall. I went out exploring the storm with Brandy and Durwin. The storm blew many artifacts up to the surface, but it also awoken ash revenants and zephyrs of ash. We found that if we kept running we could out run them...mostly anyways. There were some close calls with the zephyrs. And we couldn't-stop-running, for anything. In a storm like this, you stop running, you die, either from the revenants catching up to you, scavenging lions, or the sand around your legs becoming so thick you can't move. The worst are the screaming revenants that can call forth pillars of sand on you. The storm though strong does have limits. We went to the wild machine and that area of the desert was clear.  It seems to be isolated to the the near desert, but it is still thick. Visibility is lowered, movement is hampered and the dangers are great. It is not a trick that the astronomer's told all to stay inside. It think without the sabotage the shade would have held even if people did pass through, but telling people that passing through will weaken it is a good way to keep the unprepared from venturing out and getting themselves killed. Our small band of explorers barely made it back in one piece. At one point the sand actually blinded me temporarily and Durwin and Brandy had to physically guide me through the sands. If they were not there I would have lost myself in the sands.

Hziran 20th, IY 7787

The second moot the the Ancient Order of the Archaz was today.  They are an order of dwarves determined to reclaim Mt. Kulkund from the warring clans that currently roam the mountain side.  I pledged myself and my skills as a scholar to them.  Probably seems a bit odd, an elf helping dwarves, sometimes feels a bit odd, that is to say I sometimes feel a bit out of place and perhaps a bit like an intruder.  Most of them are welcoming to me, and I have been learning much about the mountain. The old dwarven hall in the mountain is still blocked off to us, but I am starting to get a good sense for the types of items that were being produced on the mountain. There is much debris from more recent adventurers and from the ringfall that have to be sifted through so it is not an easy task.  I have also made strives to decipher the many texts and glyphs of the mountain with some success. There are some that are too complex for me at this time.   

Few notes I've managed to gather on the history of the mountain from oral histories:
Dwarves disagree to the causes that led to the causes leading up to the loss of Mt. Kulkund, but they agree that at some point pacts with creatures of abysmal nature and with orcs were made leading to a three way war.  Based off the words of the Elder of the Tablet it would seem that The order is not the first group to try to reclaim the mountain and that the other groups were unsuccessful. 

If we could learn what caused the other groups to fail we could perhaps take such things into account and try to avoid making the same mistakes. I will perhaps bring this up to the Order. I think it would be a good idea to see what the Elder knows of past groups.

Dear members of the order,

I have cleaned up my notes from the second moot.  Notes on the history of  Mt. Kulkund still in process. If at any time you wish to see my current notes let me know.

Kali Qingwyn

[Attached to the letter is lengthy parchment of notes from the meeting]

[A page with a rough sketch of  a slightly raised three sided platform with a bowl on one corner and a block above it.  One each side there are numbers corresponding to inscriptions. The inscriptions are carefully transcribed and translated]

II have been examining this platform for some time now. The inscriptions were hard to translate at first with a few of the parts completely evading me. I think I finally have it.

Dear Jamileh Attar,

I have received your letter, sorry it took a while for me to respond, there was some confusion with the clerk as I'm not currently residing at the Krak.
I have heard of your organization but have yet to really have a proper conversation with anyone to learn what you study or if my skills could be of aide. I would be open to speaking to you to learn more, but perhaps the coffee house by the Gate of Coins would be a better venue to have a proper discussion as the Krak can get quite crowded.

I do have a published work but it was written for an application to the astronomers (before I knew of their pure mage only stance) and is more of a technical description than a proper thesis that I am proud of. You may read it if you wish but I feel it  is a weak example of my scholarly process.  I am not currently affiliated with any organizations in the Well though in the name of full disclosure I have reached out to Arterian Lunesco after his call for research assistants.  I would like to speak to you both before making any final decisions about my allegiances and employment

If you are still interested in speaking with me name a time or call for me when I am around and I shall meet with you.

Best,

Kali Qingwyn

Dear Arterian Lunesco,

I read about your need for research assistants. I am a licensed archaeologist with expert treasure finding skills and trained archaeology skill.  I am proficient in identifying and reading several ancient languages as well.  Other skills include bow proficiency, ability to identify and use magic scrolls and devices.  Willing to toss water should the venture become dangerous.  Please let me know if you wish to meet. I would off course like to know what you are studying before I sign any agreements.

I thank you for your consideration,

Kali Qingwyn

The intricate designs seen here on the door to the College of Sands are an example of Celtic knot work. The most famous example is the Book of Kells. Currently residing at Trinity College Dublin, the book is an medieval manuscript of the four Gospels of the New Testament in Latin, written around 800 CE/AD.  The center of the door features a spiral of interlocking birds that appears in the book of Kells. The original image is 5/8ths of an inch according to George Bain's Celtic Art. While the book of Kells is gorgeous to look at cannot spend all night pouring over the 680 pages to find a single tiny spiral unfortunately. Perhaps if I do track it down I will add the original image later.

The top and bottom zoomorphic spirals of a dog seemingly biting itself is a common image in Celtic art, seen in several manuscripts, including the Book of Kells, Book of Durrow, and on other examples of Celtic art like the Tara Brooch

Hziran 1st, IY 7787

I have been in the city of Ephia's Well since Iyar 14 7787.  Long enough that it is a new month, but I know not how long a month is here. Months and dates and years still seem an odd concept to me.  I don't know how long I was stumbling in the ruins of the fallen rings before coming here, but I am finding it is a land rich in history to study.  It has had its own unique history completely separate from that of the once, and now vanished outer rings. It would seem all history of the rings has vanished almost as if it never was. 

While the surface sand here is always moving and shifting, one does not have to go far before it becomes compact and impossible to penetrate.  As such the paltry artifact finds I've managed to get thus far are completely by the whim of the winds and if they choose to uncover anything that day or hour.   

But in ruins the land is rich.  One only has to go a few feet in any direction before finding a cairn, ancient statue, petroglyph, or ancient inscription. Perhaps most mysterious is the carved needles. The site is a ghost town, an ancient settlement, but it guards its secrets close.  Who lived there? Why did they abandon it?  What did they do? Who did they worship?  The buildings themselves offer few clues on the surface. Perhaps in time and with careful examination I might find answers.

Perhaps I need only read the right book.... Knowledge here is greatly respected, but it is also closely guarded, so learning more via books and talking to scholars is a slow path, but I am hopeful it will be rewarding in time, and my patience will lead to greater finds.

Dear Paris,

I would be happy to accept your aide. I will be studying over drinks in the Krak for a time if you wish to meet up and speak in person.


Live and drink,

Kali

[the pages of the journal are pages of notes, and sketches, mostly of the various ruins of the desert]

Dear Aji,

I have seen your notices seeking others for an expedition. I am not sure I have exactly the skill you seek but I am interested for sure.  My main skill is in archaeology. I have trained long and hard to be able to notice things in the dust that most would miss. I am also proficient in ancient languages, and an archer.   I am a licensed archaeologist from the scribes as well.   

Feel free to meet with me or call for me should you go out for an expedition again. 

Archaeologist  Kali Qingwyn

Flyers start to go up around the Well in prominent locations

ARCHAEOLOGIST SEEKING LIKE MINDED FOLKS
I seek to find others who wish to explore this strange land,
find lost and ancient knowledge and relics,
and to share the spoils and stories of adventures with good folk.

I have highly trained and keen elven eyes, and am proficient at several ancient languages.

If you similarly wish to uncover the mysteries of this place,
feel that knowledge should be freely available to all who seek it and not guarded behind walls of academia,
or are just looking for good company to travel with
send for or write Kali Qingwyn