Atreus's page

Harvester 3, 595 CY. Part 2

Mother,

My apologies for interrupting this missive earlier. I shall resume where I had stopped previously, for your convenience. While traveling to the Whispering Cairn, we stopped at a site close by. It was an old mine and estate, long since played out and abandoned. The mining office was decrepit, but despite being run down and damaged in places would still be a better shelter then being outside with nothing. Perhaps you know of the place? It is from there, actually, that I write this letter to you now as our venture for the day has us taking shelter for the night in this dilapidated wreck before heading back into the Cairn again come daybreak.

We found the Cairn itself with no real difficulty. After clearing the brush at the entrance aside, we ventured in, but encountered a small pack of hungry wolves that had taken shelter. Barl must have reminded them of other game of similar stature like rabbits, so they focused on him in preference but were no match for bared steel and they fell quickly.

We found several unusual things. Relics, Ruins, Remnants, I'm not sure what is most fitting to describe them most accurately at this point. My companions were also not full of answers regarding them but perhaps later on I will know more to relay. A partially destroyed curved arch of stone covered with runic markings. A painting of a crypt lit up with the colors of the rainbow. Lanterns similarly colored. A movable sarcophagus that seems to trigger things when turned specific ways. All strange and not what I expected. Perhaps I should focus more on the unexpected instead.

We ran into another person shortly after we finished with the wolves before. At first I thought he could be one of Them, and was very suspicious. Alas, the truth was worse than even that. This man was a servant of Heironeous the Weak. Could he be working with Them? I am still unsure on this point. All I can say is that he bullied his way into acceptance from the others by blinding them with 'blessings' from his patron, and like bees to honey the others acquiesced, allowing him into the party as a whole. You would no doubt have slain him on the spot for trying such a ploy in your presence. I know as well, you don't even need to tell me, that it is only a matter of time before he turns on us. I shall keep an eye on him until that day, and when it happens I shall finish it.

We saw no sign of the Them during our explorations. Aside from the possibility of the Heironian, of course. We did however, encounter a magical summons ward, and a variety of vermin. Either this location is not being used by the Them, or they have cleverly hidden themselves and we have not yet discovered the route to reach Them. The presence of the ward does give me hope still however, and we will continue our explorations on the morrow.

Another interesting and amusing discovery, Mother. It would seem that Morwel is a Tiefling. I spoke to her briefly concerning some discrepancies in behavior, and while she did puff herself up and try to cow me with threats and bluster and declarations of persecution, she did reveal that much. To be honest, this discovery sets me a bit more at ease, for if I wished to see it from certain ways it could explain a bit of her behavior. I am still unsure if she would (or could ever) meet your approval Mother, but there does appear to be a bit more steel in her then I at first believed.

We found the remains of another one of those Creepers inside the Cairn. Well, to be frank, it was rags and a knife, but it was eerily similar to what was left after I slew the one I mentioned in my first letter. I am not sure why it was in the Cairn in the first place, nor what relation it has to events going on in relation to the town. I shall however, not forget their involvement so as to not be taken by surprise when I believe they shall inevitably reappear.

Lastly Mother, your son almost died this day. The details are unimportant really, but I felt you would wish to know. My injuries were greater then any I have felt before, as was the pain. You would be proud to know that neither prevented me from performing my duty. Yet, strangely, even now after the fact I don't find myself fearing it happening again. Also, I find myself more calm in thoughts and emotion after the incident;and I am unsure why. Perhaps this is the Tempering you often spoke of, like the transformation of the raw iron into razor sharp steel. Is that what it is, Mother? Of course you cannot answer.

I shall say farewell for now, Mother. I hope receiving my letters has pleased you.

Strength in Victory, Mother.

Your loving son, Atreus.

Harvester 3, 595 CY.

Mother,

I hope Scourgehold has recieved you with open arms and that you feel at home there.

I apologise for the abrupt arrival of my first missive. Events have proceeded apace this day. I met with the others in our 'party' this morn, at the Rusty Bucket. Yes, it has not changed much in the years since you last saw it and Gansworth has kept it respectable in decor. I think you would find it more tolerable then the other establishments still. I continue to remember that it was your favourite here.

The Elf was adressing us over the morning meal. I believe his name is Curunir but that is of no real import. What matters is that he was telling us of a cult he was hunting down; he was insisting it existed in the area and apparantly inside this town itself. He called it the Ebon Triad. Yes Mother, he said They were here in town. I remember that you mentioned Them before; You thought that They would be more of a
danger to us then the Church itself could be.

This news got my attention. As the Elf had not a single lead as to who or where in town They could be located, I supported searching a suspected location for them outside the town. The Whispering Cairn; That was its name. I remember now in hindsight that the local children used to dare each other as a test of courage to sleep a night inside its entrance because the sounds of ghosts could be heard.

It surprises me that trivial details from years ago can rear up and suddenly become important. I wonder what subtle nuances of yours i have forgotten Mother, and what answers they would give me. The Elf's news regarding the cult placed their arrival shortly after your departure. Were the two connected in some way? I was determined to find this out.

I shall continue this letter shortly, Mother. It is time for dinner and I am expected; though I confess I do not have much of an appetite. Perhaps I am too distracted by recent events; but I have had to remind myself to eat for the past two days now.

Strength in Victory, Mother.

Your loving son, Atreus.

Harvester 2, 595 CY.

Mother,

This is my first letter to you since your departure. I trust that you are as well as can be expected. Until last eve things had been fairly typical of our years spent in what you liked to call "this pathetic backwater dump of trash and human waste." You always did have a gift for words.

I killed someone tonight. Though you always told me it was an important detail to remember for a First, I'm afraid I am not sure of their species. While appearing to be perhaps a halfling or a gnome initially, they exploded into blinding light when my dagger found their heart. I performed the rite you taught me before i wrote this. You would be proud that i remembered each step even now, years later. Your lashings at my earlier failures were the excellent learning motivator that you thought they would be.

The act itself was not what I expected it to be. I didn't feel panic, fear, exhilaration, nor excitement, all of which are used to describe the act in the telling of stories. In truth it was more of a cold logic. The realization of the opening, the moment of the decision to strike. Even now i can't say that i even feel remorse, regret, or the opposite, satisfaction. This concerns me somewhat, as it is not the only thing strange to happen to me since you left.

Midwinter's Day, 589 CY. That would be when it started. Despite the light snow I was in the hills outside of town, going through the forms you had taught me. Yes, I practice them to this day, do not worry. I was attacked by a wolf. It was a young one, and clearly starving so chose me for its meal. It was faster then I was, and was upon me in a flash. It savaged my leg and took me off my feet. I struggled upright and struck back at it, your lessons to always have a weapon at hand serving me well as you swore it would with such conviction. Two strikes slew the animal; in its condition it didn't have the energy for a long battle. It was only afterwards, when I examined my leg and the shredded leggings that I realized there was no pain, nor blood. Somehow its teeth closed on but did not break my skin.

What do all of these things mean, Mother? Is this tied into why you always said I was Special? I wish you were here to answer my questions. Is this connected to my father perhaps? You never spoke of him either, and turned away every question I had regarding him. I have so many questions. So many things I don't know because you left. And now... I feel restless. Like something is stirring inside me, I find myself wishing to act. To Do. Yet to do what, I simply don't know.

I find myself throwing myself into whatever I choose to do. Osgood has remarked on this more then once. He even joked that I needed to find a woman to get myself married off and settled down, but I don't think he realizes that no woman in this town could hope to meet your standards, Mother. I have made a friend since you left. His name is Barl, and I know you would not approve of him. He is rude, loud, disrespectful, and uncouth. All of which would do nothing to endear him to you. Yet he is steadfast in his desire to leave this town, and strongly believes that there is something greater in store for him out there. In this we are kindred, and for that reason I will accept your displeasure and continue my association.

I have seen more strangers. New arrivals in town, they come here for different reasons. Morwel; a beautiful woman who stays with the elven overseer. Curunir; an elven veteran who is searching for a missing friend. Dalrack; a wizard who is following the trail of some type of vermin. Izraphel; searching for the missing daughter of a friend of his. I wonder what has brought them here for such different reasons, yet at the same time. The stirring I feel is strongest when they are near. I believe that when I see what my future holds one or more of them will be involved.

I bid you farewell for now, Mother. Dawn is almost here and the new day comes. Worry not however, for I shall write to you again soon.

Strength in Victory, Mother.

Your loving son, Atreus.

Yasha wrote:

And so it soon begins!

Crap! I got my time zones mixed up! Are we still going?

you suck sir!

but glad you're here!

Gray wrote:

What is the creature illustrated on page 92 for next month's preview? A jabberwock? A catoblepas?

That is indeed a jabberwock! ** spoiler omitted **

I was wondering when one of those weapons would make it into one of the AP ends. Ship volume 6 soon please!

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