updated 04/21/2026
a page from the journal of Gendin,
son of Arissa and Temone
of the dwarven Clan Gilderlo
Author’s note: Continents such as Trivana are considered “worlds” by their inhabitants, while the entire world is referred to simply as GeKeb. The point of view of Gendin is limited by his people’s concept of the term “world”, and his understanding of what GeKeb is.
Galafid, Part 2
October, 1501 AWR
In my previous journal entries, I started each with a firm idea regarding the purpose, and completed each as the logical conclusion of that purpose. Conversely, this entry ended far from the expected end. If anything, I have more questions now than I did before I started.
I interviewed Jake, David, and Bisonbit, as all knew that last Galafid. Following the interview with Jake, I believed I had a solid understanding who that Galafid was. After reviewing my notes from all three interviews, I realize I know less now than prior to starting.
Note: It will help to read my previous journal entry regarding Galafid, as many details will not be repeated here.
Numerous Galafid’s
As I stated at the end of my previous journal entry, Jake believes that the Galafid he knew is the man who was the advisor to Teroip Stemtarp, the last senior Lord of Rendelshod prior to and during the First War of Rendelshod.
Although I did not doubt Jake’s research, the last time I was in Kerr I visited Demeter’s temple, and Kensha, the Cleric-First, was kind enough to allow me access to their library. I found the records of the previous Cleric-Firsts, and the records state that a man named Galafid was the Cleric-First in Kerr thirteen times. With the exception of the last one:
- Each Galafid reigned for exactly forty-two years.
- Approximately four hundred years elapsed between the death of one Galafid and the reign of the next.
Discussions with Jake, David, Bisonbit, Kensha, and others at Demeter’s temple produced no insight into the reason behind the timings. Nor why the thirteenth Galafid was the last, or why his reign was seventy-one years.
Insight Into the Future
The discussions identified certain oddities.
Bisonbit as tutor
Jake’s grandparents Marissa and Trajan took Jake to the temple after he turned age six. The temple had recently taken in an orphan, David (also aged six), and Bisonbit (age eleven) was assigned as his tutor. As is done now, novice clerics are assigned as tutors to younger children. Marissa and Trajan insisted that Bisonbit be Jake’s tutor as well. Bisonbit didn’t hear this from them or Galafid, but two of the adult clerics commented that the grandparents absolutely insisted that Bisonbit must be Jake’s tutor as well as David’s.
Bisonbit opened the Sharriffen safe
When the last Galafid supposedly died, it was discovered that he had not granted access to anyone to the Sharriffen safe in his office. A Sharriffen safe is the most secure enchanted safe known. They are unbroachable and access to a safe can only be granted by one who already has access. Such granting cannot be forced by mundane or magical means.
So the safe in the Cleric-First’s office had been unopened for centuries. Kensha mentioned this to Bisonbit, who surprised her by opening the safe. Galafid had granted him access prior to Jake, David, and Bisonbit joining the Kerrean army when Jake and David turned seventeen.
While this could be unconnected with anything else, it is odd given the letter to Jake that was in the safe.
Letter to Jake from his father
The safe contained a letter written by Jake’s father in his later years. The letter apologized to Jake for his treatment as a child – the father was abusive enough that Jake lived most of his life in Kerr with his grandparents. It stated that his will had been changed, so that instead of Hallan & Sons (the largest merchant firm in Kerr) being divided between Jake’s four sisters, Jake was given his share. The will was registered with the city and numerous temples, including Demeter’s.
Note: Jake’s father was named Etjar at birth, after his grandparents’ best friend, who died fighting a bereaver. As an adult he renamed himself Hallan, but in the years before his death he resumed his birth name.
The letter stated that Galafid had told Etjar that Jake would return to Kerr in the distant future, long after the Etjar was passed on. How Galafid knew this was not explained.
The most strange this is how the letter was addressed. It was in a wrapper addressed to Kensha, Cleric-First of Demeter in Kerr.
How could Galafid know who would be the Cleric-First seven hundred years in the future? Wizards and clerics can scry the future, but the results are never certain. Gods have better success, but scrying a century in the future is a very uncertain thing, even for them.
The letter itself was addressed to: Jake, grandson of Marissa and Trajan, of the dwarven Clan Gilderlo.
How could Etjar, and presumably Galafid, know that Jake would be adopted by the Clan Gilderlo seven centuries in the future?
More Questions Than Answers
As I said initially, after the interviews were complete, I knew less than when I started. The above points make it clear that the last Galafid knew things that should be impossible for him to know, and that Jake’s grandparents also knew more than is possible.
There may be a Part 3 to this saga, or there may not be. It will depend upon me finding any insight into how Galafid knew the future.