A Land Far Away

I awoke in darkness, the smell of freshly dug dirt and pine needles all around me. Sitting up in the darkness, I could hear the moan of the wind, the endless rustle of the needles and leaves in the trees of the hills, the screams..........screams? Nocking an arrow, taking a quick view of the area outside of the ruined outpost that is my home on the North Roads....

There, from the east. Faint screams, and wordless voices mixed in........coming from the Estate.....one large hill, a few cliffs away from a full view of the ruins of that cursed building.

I climb the hills quickly, mindful of the white furred creatures and goblins that I had shot at earlier........there! The ruins are in view now, and the screams are gone.......but the ground is marred. Nothing a commoner or merchant-prince from Selgaunt would notice, but to a Scout........bent blades of grass on the edges, larger patches trampled........sneaks and thugs, out for a looting......or mabye some of the witless 'adventurers' who stay inside the city........hypocrites......

Mabye they're in trouble.......the dead walk inside that house. I would know......I showed it to those inside the city.....those who forgot of the world outside their walls.......mabye they'll pay for a rescue? I need the funds......need to leave these hills.....follow Shandakul's gift to me.......the ever winding road.....

Keeping my string bent.......there, inside the house......god I hate the feeling of this place. Darkness......not an enjoyable darkness.....this is vile.....an ink stain on a sheat of dirty paper.....what was that? Footsteps, and chatter......through this door here......No! Back back, before they see me!

Ghosts.........ghosts eating transparent foods at the broken table.......I need to find the fools that wandered in here, get out as soon as I can.......

There, they unlocked the other door. I know some of them........The Bardess, her lovely pet, The Soldier..........The Employer.......freind almost.........three of the Stout Ones, one of them I've never seen before......and The Dark One..........he laughs as the spirits drain him......

Fighting.......just stay out of the way, let them deal with it.......I'm just a Scout, nothing useful in a building like this.......

We're out........dead people climbing from the garden soil........I yell to run, to use banditry tactics.......fool, now they'll suspect me........we're out now, back to my ruined outpost.....

He said to lead them home........no pay, but I don't mind........everything pays in the end......

To be continued....

i like it.

" You are a Leaf in the wind. It guides you along its fickle path. Will you hold faith until you reach your destination?"

You have a path set out for you. Stick on it and you will be fine. If you loose sight, then all will be lost, and so will your soul."

~ The White Lady of Stormweather, Sembia, to Ashkot Diliman upon their first meeting.


(The Scout looks out over his newest site of exploration)

Strange, that it would be my path that was set in stone..........I've always wanted nothing more than to roam the lands..........let the wind carry me where it would.......

And here I am, after a little over a month of exploration......probably one of the few in Selgaunt that has been here........here, in the elven wood......no elves in sight.....but it's a large wood.......I'll find them eventually.......

And then what? I almost fear what is to come from my discoveries........I was taken in and given a purpose in the city.........The Employer........he wants the elves found.......but to what purpose? To what purpose?!

Will he learn from them? No, certainly not.........
Live with them? I doubt that as well........
Kill them?................................
Possibly...........the most likely outcome........

What do I do, Shandakul? By your tenets, I wish to see these elves, to learn from them in archery and woodland lore........to see the beauties of these woods. But from my heart, I know that I owe him many times over...........

What do I do, now that the woods are found?

To be continued.......