1. Journals

R02 - Juniper Grove

Session

Father’s Day; 3rd of Muvay, 1024 (cont.)

Oris felt he wanted to have tea. Even after we ate and I had two cups on his behalf. I wanted to voice my dissent but my voice was caught in my throat. So I just followed along.

He insisted on introductions. I passed on it. Everyone was eager and earnest in telling everyone else about themselves. I would rather not. Nothing against it. Bonds are important. I just...

I can’t do that.

Christopher seems to have some kind of problem with me. I asked him and he said “plenty but let’s not get into that”. Sounds like he doesn’t have a real reason. Whatever. Not worth my time. It went back to me. I told them as little as I could get away with.

During this talk Leopoldas Rumbutis sent me a letter saying that I won’t be needed to guard at night. I can still stay and get my pay. Vacation, I suppose.

We talked for a while and during which Christopher’s tea suddenly vanished. Sett pressed him on it. Christopher instead of answering danced around the question and used the opportunity to put him down. I got frustrated. So tired of people trying to put others down. I snapped. He apologized for our introduction.

I can’t really press him further on his dodging the question. I would be the ass. I guess we’ll not know. Did he freeze time? Did he move faster than I could see? Did it just... boil away? It would be good to know what we’re dealing with, no matter friend or ally.

With the rain it was decided seeing the fireflies. We’re returning the letter of Patrick Singalong to Lady Trudgeon for the day and then we’ll go tomorrow instead. It feels like there are constant barbs between everyone for no reason that I can discern. I was told that wasn’t the case. I’m not that socially inept, though. Their tones betray them.

There she asked us for another task. Juniper Grove, get a shipment of venison. Half a day’s ride, she’ll lend us the horses. I took Oris with me but his chattering at the horse was irritating to my exhausted state. I did bring Kuro with me who perched on the horn of the saddle for some. Flew above us other times. Good to know he’s still healthy and fine.

 We asked two on the way in. By we I mean Oris - chatty as ever. They had no idea what he was talking about. We went to the inn, and we’re getting two rooms. For some reason the split was Aggma and Christopher in one room, Oris, Sett and I in the other. I don’t get it and frankly I’m a little uncomfortable sharing a room with the two lads. I’ll get my own or sleep in the stables.

We went to investigate the disappearance of the delivery person, Zachary Parsons. I investigated the cart but found no clues to indicate how, where, or really anything about his vanishing. Some weird man popped out of the hay. I decided to get my own room, just for some privacy.

During the night I had a dream. Iagan Crannach said he was south, in the forest, where he would be there with a gift. I can’t... shake the feeling there’s something to it. Even though I don’t want to see Iagan. I don’t want anything from him. I know this. Consciously, I know it with all thoughts and logic. But my thoughts and feelings aren’t aligned.

Monday; 4th of Muvay, 1024

Aggma told the others she had a similar dream. Old friend of hers, Refos, had the same offer for her. Hearing that I knew there was something wrong about all this. Oris spoke to a bat, apparently. He said he would lead us to where he saw Zachary. Following a bat in the day seems a little foolish. They’re not known to be active.

Along the way some hoofprints caught my eye. The bat led us into a circle and I decided to follow the tracks instead. It was tough to follow, sometimes losing the trail altogether but they were straight enough to predict. The horse was walking, no tracks beside. Toward the end we were hit with the stench of death.

Horse was dead. Tied to the tree already rotting. Partially eaten.

Footprints - human this time - were headed into the cave. This place resembles the one in my dream. I heard steps inside when Aggma asked me to check. I don’t have a good feeling. The voice whispered into my mind. A very bad feeling. As I strung my bow Christopher decided caution was for the birds.

I asked him to let me look ahead first, scout. As is my expertise. He felt my brief listen was more than enough and didn’t wait. He really does remind me of the old commander. I don’t have much a choice unless I want to let him rush into danger alone. We all followed behind him as we walked into, he mouth of the cave to the sound of chimes softly ringing in the air.

Lights danced in the air, as Zachary - dehydrated and tired - doing the same around the corpse of a woman. The voices invited us to dance, laced with magic.