Letters past life

[ExperienceWithStyle]

Blessed Greda,

You have only rested beyond this realm for six suns, and already now, I don’t know if I’m ever going to see your stone of remembrance again,

As you don’t know I had to leave Liken shortly after your last rite. Not with sorrow since you were all that I really cared for, and if I look deep in my soul, the only one that really cared for me. Not a nod or farewell followed me, when I left over the fields where seeds just had been laid, only eyes of fear and head shaking. I still do not know what happened. Ice created from my fingers, aye, even I am scared. I am no wizard neither a worshipper of the deities, but I do believe, when a marble rolls it rolls only to it stop and where it stops, the explanation for where it was going is known. So I will walk, and keep on walking until I know.

May the winds bring you peace.

Calthar

Even before the ink is dry, he looks one more time over the words he just created with a feather, before clinching the letter into a ball. Repeating his last sentence “May the winds bring you peace”, before throwing the ball of paper into the fire that keeps him warm from the night’s cold hand. The fire puts it’s teeth in the paper and quickly turns it into ashes. A northern wind breathes into the fire, lifting the sparks into the air, where they fly around as fireflies for just a moment, before dying out. Calthar leans back and down on the grass covered ground.

[ExperienceWithStyle]

Blessed Greda

You have only rested beyond this realm for eight suns and already now I believe I have got my skin into more trouble than I believe I have wisdom and skills to handle.

It all started as something I can only describe as a dream, but with the knowledge that it was not. The night I had shelter in the crowns of an oak, offering me small protection from the lurkers of the dark. I closed my eyes to renew my body and mind for the upcoming day, when I found myself far from the old tree.

In a forest unlike others I have wandered in. The light that penetrated the tops of the trees, was bathing in a color of the yellow metal. I had only time to draw a few breaths when a huge shadow covered the illumination. A creature of legends, a dragon spoke to me. Its words were that I had been summoned to be part of a war I do not know of against an enemy I had never met. Bloodstone it was said. I had to walk a path in the realm of dreams. And so I did. Other dwellers I met on the road, but passing them led me to a statue with tongue, and it spoke. Before I knew of it, I thought I woke up from a strange dream, but I did not find myself in the crown of the oak no more. I was awake in a town I had never visited before. The town of Hlint. Before I had time to gather my senses and I must admit my nerves, I was wield into other matters. Matters that could reveal more about the symbol I have carried since I washed up close to your warm home.

But it is late now. Words from me will be made tomorrow.

The print of the following words is slightly another color.

The symbol of Mist. I know the goddess, but not why I wear it. I know it somehow has connection to the survival of the high sea I crossed without a boat. And therefore the heighten debate of a gathering in this remote town, draw my attention when words of Mist was spoken. Some said, that she was behind troubles of this area. Some said, that other options should have to be investigated first. I found it right at that time, to shelter my symbol until I knew more about this doing.

Even when the debate seems to go high, in the end they all decided to proceed to a temple of Mist. I did not find it my right, neither in good matters to force myself into such things, and also found it unwise to walk with strangers, both for my protection and perhaps also theirs. I did not know when the ray of ice would take it’s own mind again, so I walked away.

But not many paces, before a young lady, Yashilla, approached me. She seemingly must have notice me ear dropping and I apologized. But she did not seem concern about such bad etiquette. Aye, instead she asked me to join them. How could I resist, when answers about Mist could be before me, so I did.

Remember that much have been seen and learnt in these days, and much have not yet found rest in my memory and can perhaps be only the half truth.

Our boots took many steps and I saw much new land while we wandered north, until the destination was reached. A town of stone and cobbles, named Leilon. But the troubles of this group, where I was mere a fly on the wall in, had not ended. Only begun. The temple of Mist was guarded by the town’s milits, for protection of both the temple and the town. Troubles if I understood right, were about undeads that raids. On a nearby dock, Yashilla approached a kin of yours. A high priestess of Mist I assume, because within long she seemed to call strong winds and lightning to the port. A lightning hit the dock I was present on, and knocked me to the ground, almost making me enter the dark realm of lost conscience, but I did get a glare of something that fill me with fear even as I write this. A creature made of the lightning, breathing shocking hands of that element on the guards that only did their duties, killing them as quick as the start of a thunder. A wind wielding up cobbles from the street, griped the creature and the high priestess, bringing them far away.

Without the guards, the group I walked with, decided to enter the temple for answers. I did not follow as my senses said no, but my curiosity eventually pushed me through the holy doors. And as I should had expected these doors slammed behind us, not to be open, not even by the one that seemed to be skilled in locks and how to enter other forbidden places. One of my kin, even when I do not see much resembles, Talen, started to discuss with Yashilla about how Mist had trapped them, and he proved his point when water penetrated the ceilings and filling the chamber. I do not know why, but I found, that the symbol of Mist had once saved me from danger of this kind and it would again. I was relaxed, even when I could no longer touch the fine floor. The others seemed to panic, except Yashilla. Perhaps she felt the same. That this was not to be our doom, more a sign or perhaps even a warning. She was praying while the surface of the water rose closer to the ceilings. I was looking around on the desperate faces of the others, decide I could not stand; more likely swim, without helping. And so I did. Praying together with Yashilla to a god I hardly knew. And it helped. Of course it makes more sense that Yashilla was the one with divine strength and she stopped what could have been our end, but I can not help myself, to believe my prayers also was heard, perhaps for the second time. So many more question flow through my head, while the water quickly left the chamber. Had I chosen Mist or had she chosen me? I only knew that when I called she answered. I’m debt and I will pay it back.

I will ask Yashilla, when the blood in our veins is not rushing this fast. She must know more.

I wish you were here to guide me.

May the winds bring you peace.

Calthar

[ExperienceWithStyle]

Blessed Greda

You have only rested beyond this realm for sixteen suns and I have already now seen more than in the last decade.

I had separated with the group I had traveled along to the temple of Mist. Not of wanting, but of need. Each person seemed to have other doing to attend too. And so did I. I need to draw much air down in my lungs, to swallow this change for me, so I walked the dirt road alone, in hope to find the town of Hlint by myself.

A more reasonable mind would have known that it would take many more walks before one could find the path himself. I didn’t. And I walked around for days. Passing cities and castles, rivers and plains, until I found the mountains I knew lay not far from the town of my seeking.

On this journey by myself, I learnt a lesson about the people of these surroundings. They all seemed to need help in one form or another. Some of ease, some of trouble, others even made me hide a grin, such as the wizard that wanted me to find the essence of a Will o’wisp. An open people I must say, such to utter what lay in their heart, to a stranger, such as I still am. And who am I, to remove their hope and give a bow of no, to accept their wish and quest. So I didn’t. The many peoples need, I said I would look into, but I dared not to promise. I still can not see the map of my path. Much can happened and I will not give false visions to people in need. If I find a way to help either of them, so I will do.

I hope, I bring you happiness instead of sorrow.

May the winds bring you peace.

Calthar

[ExperienceWithStyle]

Blessed Greda

You have only rested beyond this realm for eighteen suns and I have already been part of blood spill that I wish I could undo.

Remember how the habitants of these surroundings need help? I took upon me, together with four other travelers, to help a council member of Hlint. She had lost some tax papers, and she believed they were to be found in the sewers of this town. So we walked the path of bad odor and slimy walls and floors to find these papers. I was a little concerned, as she had told us, that it was a man-rat, an intelligent creature in the form of a rat, could be the ones that had stolen these papers. I had already asked myself, what a lurker of the sewers could use such for, but nevertheless, I decided to find them.

The sewers were plagued with rats, aggressive rats we had to deal with, some larger than the town cat. My aim helped in many tight situations, but I would have ended my days as rat food, if it had not been for the swordplay of the other adventures.

In the lower level of the sewers we suddenly found ourselves, looking face to face with this rat creature. Certainly a beast, but in my heart I found mercy for the creature, for it must certainly had been a curse. But we let us weapon doing the work, until the rat start pleading. Telling us, that it had not taken any papers, and that this councilwoman, only had foul mind for him. I did not know what was true, and I would not want to find out by coloring the sewer floor red of blood. But it was not my choice alone. The other four were fast to draw weapon and blood, storming this creature, for thereafter to find out whatever it told the truth or not. I hold my arrow tight on the string, while trying to calm them down. But with no succeed. The rat creature growled and rats came from every small hole and crack in the sewers, attacking us from all angles. At that time I had no choice, or at least that is what I try to convince myself of, and had to jump into the fight.

The rat creature fought more furiously than I had ever seen any do before. It swung its claws precisely and we all got pretty badly wounded either by him or the swarming rats. Than ice started to fly from my hand again, freezing the breath out of many vermin, while the other four dealt swiftly with the cursed man-rat. And they were right. They found the tax-papers on the creature, but I couldn’t help to feel sorry for this result. We never found out whatever we could help the creature or not.

The others were quick to cheering and leave to get their reward. Alone I prayed for a better world for the creature, but the answer from the gods was not one I liked. Rats had in the dark surrounded me, ready to shred me piece by piece. I let my arrows fly as quickly as I could, fell one, fell two, even three, but they were too many. As I closed my eyes, ready to accept my doom, my skinning knife, flew from its shelter in my boot, with its own mind and control, wielding itself around my body, protecting me from the rats and doing more harm than I could expect from such a knife. It gave me a path out. And I ran, only to find the rest of the group in the same troubles. We had to fight many rats for every step we took, dispatching many rats for every swing or fly or arrow. But we got out, dirty, hurt and tired.

I need rest now, good Greda. Not only in body, but also mind. A flying knife? Celestial or Demonic? I can not think clear now. I need rest.

May the winds bring you peace.

Calthar

[ExperienceWithStyle]

The scribbling in this letter seems to be from another writer or it’s the same writer with a very shaken hand.

Blessed Greda

You have only rested beyond this realm for twenty-five suns and I seem to be the fallen piece in a game of war, demonic orders and trickery.

I don’t know where to begin; my thoughts won’t let me rest. My hands have not stopped shaking for two nights and days, and what my eyes see is not the now, but the recent past. I can’t force the pictures out.

It all started peacefully and in an interest of knowledge for the people and this area. A small group of adventures offered me to come with them on a small journey to an Isle of Dragons, of course the word dragon was only a name given based on the past, and I expected this to be a trip of learning. I was wrong. Very wrong.

The group seemed highly skilled, I would even dare to say, that they are some of the best heroes on Mistone. A birdman named Plen, a druid woman and Plen’s follower of heart, Brisbane, and a dwarf with the rite-name, Gulnyr. A half-giant, was also in our company, but not further than just past the gate of Hlint, where he seem to find himself to be lost. At the time I found that as luck, and I regret that. His strength could have been the weight that would have swung the balance in our direction. I lack so much in wisdom.

We had no traveled for longer than a half movement of the sun, when we reached a place of dark. A tower of Darkness is all I can describe for you, simple because I don’t know more and it was not on the table of this game. But something was moving in this forest. Shifter they called it. I did not see it, but the group seemed rather upset and followed what they had seen, only to stumble into another of their friends, a halfling, her named lost for me at this time, because that was when things started to move in collision course with what I could accept and my mind handle.

The shifter was gone, but Plen the birdman, disappeared too. Flight we though,t brought by his own wings. But that was not so. He had been brought away by his own people, to view a sight that omen troubles for all. An army was gathering, an army that was far from the light. When he came back and told us, literally chaos opens for us. First blood on the ground, summoned by nothing a hand could touch. The sky changed to show the sign of a scorpion rising, and before I could make the mind of that, ogres came jumping with war cries over a steam charging us to end our breath, perhaps I think, that would have been better. The group had no problem hitting the raiding ogres hard and swiftly. I had not used much air, before leafs of the ground was red of the blood of the cursed giants.

I was of course not the only one seeing the sign on the sky, but I was the only one not to react, hard to move the muscles when the thoughts are far from your body. But the others did. They had in no time decided what was boiling in the pot of death, and decided to stop it, before the steam from it, would spread. I just followed.

And we ran and ran. Others were met, and quickly joined up. I did not count the heads. We found ourselves on a boat, and that was the first time for half a day, I had time to breath and think. To meditate and relax, by lead with Mist’s hand. I was getting prepared, or so I thought. No one else was talking on the boat, all seemed to have troubled minds.

I don’t even know the name of the isle we arrived to, or the town of cobbles we ran past. All I know was, that what we tried to do, had to be done fast.

We walk deep in on the island and what we met I don’t want to meet again in a long time; Scorpions larger than any house in Liken. Air demons that could send me to the dark plane, just by looking at me, which I the pen seem to fall down on the letter, leaving a line which can not be erase. But the author continues, believe I tried. A member of the group brought me back to life. I just had to wander now. Hoping that I soon would wake up. And I did. a wet spot is left on the letter here I know we had wandered in between, that more fight had been done, but I can’t remember. I somehow think a creature of greater divine nature had approached us, and even made the most powerful in our group worried and standing back.

All I can remember is, that I somehow got kicked out of the fog, by screams of people that have walked with us. Screams of fear and pain. Of despair and doom. A cloud covered the sun, or such I thought, until I looked up and saw a dragon, with an elf in between its spear long teeth, ripping his limp of, to just let him fall to the ground and bleed to death. With its front leg it stomped on another, all while the rest of the group tried to defend themselves and friends, desperate and hopeless. And the dragon was taken out from the most malevolence mind. It had no scales or flesh. No eyes in its socket. Only bones, as it had just been summoned from its ancient grave. I dropped my bow to no use. But my body started fighting. Ice flew from my fingers; my skinning dagger was brought back to life, all out of my control, and this time, all of no use. Almost all of the heroes in this group were felt. I could only accept my time to come too. But it didn’t. It seemed that this devil dragon had got enough, or perhaps just proved its point. I don’t know. But it decided to leave, and I can almost swear, that I heard it laughing.

The few others that had survived, was people close to the gods. The brought the spirits back in the others that was believed to be gone. Even missing pieces of limps returned. They all had this face, showing that the world had come to its end. And I believe we are getting close. We are getting close.

I know much is missing, but I can’t find it in the maze of my mind, Greda. I know even the most important detail of it all, is something I did not see. I know that what I missed is even more frightful than what I have written here. I will have to hear the stories from the bards’ tongues, and I know I will. Even when my body is shaken, I know I have now seen some of Layonara’s greatest heroes. Even if they failed, they stood were other would have run or as me, done nothing.

Oh Greda, I need your help or just your touch on my warm forehead. I need strength. I need courage. I need to know………  
       
May the winds bring us all peace.

Calthar