4412
Life Saving Grace by Tend'el
Cloudheart
I have just started to pen this. I believe it's the 21st of Malin's Welcome, 1322? So much just went awry. Should I start from a few days ago? :: ::I saw a man, on my way to Oren. I had just woken from a sickness or sleep, I know not which. Just before Alras I saw a man who appeared to be Cataris. Naturally I flung myself before him. He laughed in my face, and he and his cohort tore me asunder, could I trust no one? Not even my memory? Needless to say, I was wrong, it wasn't Cataris. My things were stolen, and my life saved by the Cloud Temple's Monks. :: ::A day or so later, I foolishly arose and went after my attackers. I was bare, not a possessions but what bread I just bought with my few minas. They even stole my life journal and note to Murmillo. I raged toward them, my enemies gone. I was angry, but decided to continue onward. :: ::I had begun my quest in an attempt to find Slayer. I had forgotten so much, and the Druid were , of course, no help. With no possessions, I blindly stumbled, as lost as a sheep without shephard. I came upon the rangers outpost and traveled across an icy lake. :: ::At this point, my worst fear began to come true. I was alone, and starving. In a matter of minutes I would die. I ripped logs down, in an attempt to fashion a sword. To no avail, though, there was no animal in sight. I staggered, upon deaths door, to the abandoned city just outside the tower. I could no longer run. I was forced, in the dangers of night, to walk to the tower. :: ::It was there in the throes of starvation, I was petrified to find the hidden entrance missing. My mind raced. I was going to die. I... I'm still confused at how I managed. With the last seconds I had I fashioned a pickaxe out of a log I stole from a tree behind the tower. And with this pickaxe and my last remaining push I tore a hole into the magically strengthened tower , at this point my vision blurred. I could almost not stand. There was nothing in the foyer, and I couldn't reach the branches to check for apples. I fell down the stairs. I screamed, "HELP!". I screamed, "HELP!". On my third, final shout, a miracle occured. I found the cakes in the lounge. :: ::I am still quite amazed at how it all turned out. It was such a miracle for me. I truly believed I would die, and my last words would be the scream of "Help!". :: ::At any rate, I started coming to, and calming down. I was amazed to find the enchantments on the storage rooms mysteriously gone. Perhaps the tower responded to my need? As of writing this particular line, it is Tolta, 17th of The Second Seed, 1323. I have prepared myself against any attackers, should the tower truly be disenchanted. I have also done a bit of exploration as I've grown comfortably relaxed in the tower. It appears a quite troubling addition has been made to the tower. A map room. This is not just any map room, I fear it gives us military advantage over all the kingdoms of Aegis. The room is a scaled replica of Aegis, providing warp portals to any town desired. I trust Slayer's judgement, for the most part, but this power may be too tempting! I worry he, or some other military leader, will find out about its powers and move on the tower, to deploy troops where they please! :: ::Apart from this discovery, I have been pleasantly provided for. No sight of Slayer. I will write when I next see him. :: ::I have discovered more secrets than I believe it is right for me to know. I am so confused Bell. My amnesia isn't helping any. There are secret passages all throughout the tower. I knew this. I never knew how to open one though! From what little I can see, I can't even tell if I can come back. What if I am trapped down there longer than in the wilderness? :: ::No. I have made my resolution. I will gather some food, and venture down. If the tower is revealing its secrets to me I cannot hesitate. I must learn these secrets. I need the power to heal, to stop this wave of death and undeath! :: ::Into the depths of this secret, I plunge! Oh what an amicable little secret. If I could laugh in a book I would! I thank the tower for one of its secrets. I take back my words in jest. I am quite trapped here. :: ::While down here I have had two rather vivid dreams. In the first, I walked and I believe found the solution to a problem that occured. In the second, I saw these great black things, from the depths of a nightmare. They were tall, slender built, and stared with hateful eyes. The dreams were so real I could swear them to be astral walks, as if. I think I've found a solution, at any rate. I dreamt again. I don't think they are dreams. The tower must be showing me the danger of exploring secrets without being prompted. This is a rather dangerous secret. Perhaps I should use it as the trial? Or would that be too reckless? :: ::Today is Tolta, 10th of Snows Maiden, 1323. I have decided I will attempt to use the map room. This will be my second attempt to activate its abilities. My test was a failure. It seems I am still kept from the rooms purpose. If it is not for the expedience of travel, then what is the room's purpose? :: ::I have tired of waiting. I fear Slayer may never return. I have decided to leave the tower for now. I will return when I believe Slayer or the magic has, whichever comes first. There is a rather large town hidden on the hill just outside of the tower. How have I not noticed this? A rather large monument of a sword stands at the town's entrance gates. I see from a construction sign that the town is not yet open to the public. It is called New Alstion, a project likely under the command of King Edmund . :: ::Perhaps I shall check in on the Wilder Farm and return to Murmillo's Keep? I have found the hideout of Goblin, the famed Orc-creature. A rather luxurious keep has been built here. It seems they have cut a chasm straight though a mountain. I also see a keep with an engorged trench right next to, or part of, Goblin's hideout. These outposts are far too close to the Tower. Do they push for it? It is Fort Alstion, Est. 931. There has been even more expansion to the North! What foolish bravery of Edmund's! Another town, Crimson Vale. All of Oren has entered a deep chill. I dislike it. I must hurry to the grove to find the Arch Druid. I will take a shortcut from the Dwarve's home nation to Moonlamp Mountain. I hear a fearful thunder. One I have heard many times before. I am not so surprised to see the Dwarven town changed. I can see Wilder Farms. I shall cease writing in this book and return to my journal when I re-enter Aeriel's Crown. No one is in the mansion. plans have changed. Dwarves under attack. Undead Menace. I must help :: ::I was tortured and burned. Made captive by the Necromancers. They threw my body aside, into a corpse pile. Luckily I was nigh death, but not dead. I awoke a long while after, to be healed by the Crypt Monks. They have seen me more than my own family! I would laugh, but I ache. Their leader asked me one question though. He expected a correct answer, and should I be correct, if I did not die from burning, I would live. The question? "Is this statement a lie?" I hear them! At my inn!