Lance here. While I'm stuck in time I decided I will write in the Journal I packed along, just in case. So far, I seem to have quite the amount of food, wine, and water. Now, today I decided to explore the Monastery. It was quite expansive, quite a lot of ground to cover. Most of the Monastery was exactly as you'd expect. A few living areas, a garden, and quite the expansive courtyard! However, the most interesting thing I had found was another building off the off by the side of the main Monastery. It said on a small sign: "Dojo". Looking inside the new building was an array of wooden weapons and training dummies. Some of these weapons I had never seen before! I had to come back here soon, it was getting dark, so I headed back. Peeking into the dining room, I saw everybody in the same position they were in. Even the monks in the funny positions I left them in. But for now, I'm getting a little sleepy. As I write this on the end table, the large red silk bed looks more and more inviting. Well, the time has come for me to put this away. Until tomorrow, that is. Until next time,

Lance here. Another day passed, and I'm still in our little predicament. I decided today I would try out this, "Dojo". There were several weapons I wanted to try out. The first of which was a strange looking knife attached to a strange stretchy rope. It was almost like a whip, but I couldn't wrap my head around how to use it. Maybe once time unfreezes I'll have one of the monks teach me. The second was a hand sickle attached to a chain with a small weight at the end. The hand Sickle I recognized. It was called a Kama in Ebberon, but weren't seen to often. They were mostly display weapons. This chain sickle thing was a lot of fun. I couldn't use it very well, but I could definitely see its usefulness. The third and final weapon I found was a pair of wooden sticks attached to a chain. I had seen these a couple of times in Ebberon, but never got a chance to try them out. They seemed simple enough to wield, but I get the feeling I'm missing something. There were more odd weapons I wanted to try out, but I had spent most of the day trying out the weapons, eating and walking around. I certainly worked up a sweat today! But that's enough for today, the bed is calling me once more. Until next time,

Lance here. More Dojo training today. I practiced with more familiar weapons today, including Longswords, an Axe, and I also brought out my own lance. I did however get a chance to try out some archery today as well. I hope I don't go crazy from the lack of communication. But again, today wasn't very eventful. Taking one last peek into the dining room, everything was the same. Until next time,

Lance here. Another day, another... something. Anyways, today I decided not to go to the dojo, and instead partake in some of the activities around the Monastery. The first room I went to had a large circle made of call in it, with candles on the edges, as well as pots filled with strange colored sticks. There were some around the room that looked burnt, but these didn't look like candles. Taking a green one out, I put the tip of it into a candle flame. The stick began to emit a strange odor, but it smelled, kind of like tea. It felt relaxing. That's when it hit me: this was one of those meditation chambers I read about on the way here. Supossedly, these would help clear your mind and put you into a sort of ttance. So I decided, why not give it a shot? Grabbing my newfound green stick, I set it in a small container in the center of the circle. I then sat down, mirroring the position of a stray monk in the room, and closed my eyes. I felt myself exploring my own mind, thinking back to times I didn't even remember. After a while, I decided it was time to get up. Looking out the window, I saw that is was already getting dark. I still find it a little hard to believe I spent the whole day here, but I digress. After having a quick meal in the dining room and messing with the monks' positioning, I decided to retire to the bed. Despite meditating all day, I still feel tired. Oh well, what can you do? Until next time,

Lance here. Today I decided to thoroughly explore the Monastery. Needed to get that checked off anyways. Most of the rooms I had already been to, but then I noticed a staircase leading up, and one leading down. Taking the stairs leading down, it was exactly as I predicted. It was just a larder. I also noticed that the temperature dropped significantly. Alm9st enough to make me shiver. The expansive room opened to reveal Barrels, shelves and boxes were stacked everywhere, filled with, presumably, oats, wheat, and likely other things like Corn. There were also various meats hung up around the room as well. Jerky, solid slabs, venison, and various cuts of beef and pork could be found as well. Were these guys preparing for the apocalypse or something? Not only that, but I found what looked to be a wine maker, nearly filled to the brim with grapes. Stepping out and back up the stairs, it felt good to be in the warmth of the morning sun. Taking the stiars up, it lead to another open space, filed with widows and openings in the wood. It was fairly open, and there was a walkway outside around it. Not much to say. The room was fairly empty, except for a few chairs and tables. Not to metion the occasional monk. The walkway was also empty, not even a monk. I really didn't know what to do with the rest of the day, so I decided to go try out that meditation thing again. This time however, I picked up a fuchsia colored stick and lit it instead of a green one. It smelled of lilacs and roses, and... some other scent. Likely another flower. Or it could be some poisonous fumes. Who knows? I sat down once more and the day flew by. Stopping by the dining room once more, I had a small meal, and retired to my new room. Until next time,

Lance here. Today I made a most profound discovery. A caravan wagon passed by the Mountain path today. That means that time is still flowing at least somewhere. I decided to venture out, to see what I can find. Although the nearest town is about a day's travel by horse, two by my own legs I suppose, so there's that problem. But that doesn't stop me from exploring the nearby forests and whatnot. Grabbing a few rations from the larder, in the form of jerky and two loaves of bread, I decided to take a small trip. Walking down the mountain's steps seemed to take ages, even longer than when I went up it. The closest forest was fairly empty, yet the sounds of birds and insects could be heard everywhere. Time still seemed to be flow around here. Everything was alive, the trees, the dandelions, the tiny little animals, everything. The day flew by, running after the occasional doe, catching insects, and even bird watching. I daresay I might have even gotten a bit of a tan! But, the sun was setting, and I had to return to the Monastery. This time, the stairs seemed far shorter, just like the first time. The power of optimism. Perhaps I should do this more often? Until next time,

Lance here. It's official been one week since time stopped in the Monastery. This all so strange. The Monastery is frozen, but nothing else is. Today I decided to conduct a few tests of sorts. I went back down to the forest, going down those godsforsaken steps again, and grabbed the biggest leaf I could find. Finally picking one about as big as my torso, I ran to the out of the forest and stood in the road. Holding the leaf up, it would flap wildly in the wind occasionally. Good. This would work. Slowly walking back towards the steps, I kept a close eye on the leaf. The leaf never stopped waving. I went about halfway up the steps, and the leaf kept going. Then I got to the top. Still waving. Good to now the wind works around the monastery. Next I got a bowl from the dining room, and I filled it up with wine. Tipping the bowl, wine slowly spilled out. I was at a loss. Then I had an idea. Dumping out the wine, or rather, chugging it, I ran down the stairs again, almost tripping several times. I ran over into the forest, and found a few fruits hanging from nearby trees. Squeezing as much juice as I could into the bowl, I began to run back up the steps. Reaching the top, I noticed that much of the juice had already spilled out. Looking behind me I noticed a steady stream of fruit juice going down the steps. Now for the final test. I threw the bowl upwards and watched the remaining juice fly out and onto the grass. So far what I gathered is: The wind still worked all around the mountain, things inside the Monastery were still victim to time, (Except the people, of course) and and things brought from outside the Monastery to the Monastery were effected by time. These were strange results, and I didn't know what to yhink. Still don't. After climbing up and down the mountain all day, I was exausted. I'm heading off to bed early tonight. Until next time,

Lance here. Today was a bit strange. For starters, I didn't wake until sunset. Next, there were a few glowing lights by the forest, like eyes. Hold on. They seem to be coming up the steps. I'm going to go check it out. Thank Dol Dorn I brought my lance. I've more experience fighting people, but I've fought off my fair share of animals. Here's hoping it all goes well. Until next time,