Post by Ariana S. Verthas on Aug 10, 2013 10:05:09 GMT -5
The following entry is written in a compact and simple looking leatherbound book. Amongst various scraps of notes and other paperworks stuffed inbetween. The handwriting a neat and methodical scrawl.
Sunday, fourth of the eigth month, Duskwood
My head is still throbbing and making it nearly impossible for me to think clear. I can't say I'm much in favour of that handicap as my mind is my strength and my weapon. If something were to happen right now with the Lord then I would be practically useless. As much as I can endure physical pain to an extend, headaches of this magnitude are something entirelly else and messing with my ability to stay focussed.
There could be worse fates, that much is true. If we had chosen today to return to that place of Darkness, who knows in what state we might have returned.
Two nights ago we tracked down the creatures, wait no. See this is what happens when I can't think straight. We went to the tree in which the creatures disappeared that the Retinue had battled a week ago. I wasn't present at that time as I was tasked in patrolling another route. We went through a portal that was kept open by Lord Bayerleyn himself. A man of such strong Faith that he was capable of ensuring us passage AND create a beacon for our safety so that we could always return safely to our own world. My admiration seems to grow the more I am revealed of his abilities and strength as our leader.
I remember falling and being trapped in utter darkness before we hit the water. Water that stretched everywhere and had no end. Leaving us to swim around in the dark while little tadpoles started to gather. Did they gather straight away? I can't recall properly. Such dark and depressing place, it is hard to keep yourself from losing your mind in all fairness. Because how were we meant to proceed? Where were we meant to go? What if something would attack us right here? Melee can't find footing in water, and ranged couldn't see far enough to take any proper aim. What if our spells would fail because this place is not our own world?
As far as I can tell nobody was really comfortable there, our reactions slow and chaotic at best. Yet once again I have to praise Deliverance for her ability to always stay alert and straight forward. Somehow the woman manages to not be phased by anything, something that surely will benefit us all in everything that is yet to come. Perhaps I ought to express such to Master himself, credit where credit is due.
And those tadpoles, as if being in a dark and unending place isn't unnerving enough they had to crawl up our skirts and attach themselves to whatever skin they could find. Not trusting much of the enviroment overall it just felt like a constant looming threat that could turn against us at any given moment. Yet one we were virtually powerless against.
Same went for the boat that appeared with the hooded figure gliding it along upon those dark waters. Oddly enough I stayed afloat easily enough and didn't feel any form of fatigue, yet another proof of the bizarre world we had entered. I am far from a strong swimmer, not like I had many chances to indulge in such activity while growing up. Yet still I managed for those endless hours to swim and not struggle. But yes, the boat.
My mind isn't cooperating tonight, that cursed herb.
We were demanded a payment to be granted transport upon the boat. A herb that I couldn't recall that grew upon the bottom of the lake we were all floating aimlessly within. It was Vicenzo that got tasked with the dive as our strongest swimmer currently present but as time went by he didn't return. Before I could even think of ways in which we could possibly find someone in this place it was however my turn to find the herb. Our mission had to continue, and I had to follow orders. It doesn't matter what I think, I can offer suggestions but in the end I am simply tasked to comply and obey. My superiours ought to know best and I have to trust them, that's what I shall do.
Perhaps I should wait in writing all this down but I feel that some of the events are already slipping from my mind, like some bad dream that fades over time. I suppose that is the effect such darkness can hold over you.
My dive, submerging in water where there is nothing to see. Thankfully the realm we were in did not twarth my abilities too badly and I could rely on a spell that allowed me to see more than just that endless shadow around me. The first thing that I noticed was the lack of effort that the swim took of me. Not even burdened by my soaked uniform or even my cloak that I thought would drag me down, the seocnd thing however. Breathing, I could breathe under water and didn't feel my lungs strain in order to fuel oxygen to my brain.
In hindsight I am still not sure how I always manage to stay so calm and collected despite everything, sometimes it worries me that I stay strangely unaffected by what happens and would send others into despair and worry. But that's possibly not something I should dwell on right now while trying to write down what the Retinue and I have been through.
I didn't find the herb when I left the others in my search for it, instead I found a hole in ice that was at the bottom of the lake. Yet oddly enough the hole led to another surface, a village. As if the lake had no bottom but only two sides of a world. There was no option to take a risk, the others were above me and I couldn't simply step onto this side of cold and frost on my own without warning them. Hoping that Vicenzo had also found this and had not been smart enough to return first.
No time was wasted, somehow the group that had stayed behind felt that there was an urgent reason to follow me and leave the water as it was. The tadpoles that had been so persistant in clinging onto us had vanished and triggered an effect of impending doom upon everyone. That and not having the herb for the boat I can assume that everyone was as eager to find a way out of the lake as I was.
On the other surface we found cold and ice, as I had suspected. Something I could remedy due to my abilities with fire as an element but others weren't as fortunate. Riversong was the one suffering the most from the cold but if we were to face a situation of combat I had to preserve my own powers and couldn't offer her help, or anybody for that matter. I couldn't predict how long I'd last in a realm so unfamiliar to me that already had been messing with our priestesses and their abilities.
It's not my place to question Vicenzo's move in not returning to us, for he was there in the village and was found by our scouting duo that surveyed the area for possible threat. Running and shouting I could hardly decypher what was being said as the mass charged upon us. Tribal men of the darkest skin I have ever witnessed, their eyes white as the snow beneath my feet and their spears were held high to endgage us in conflict.
And we had to protect Ironarm, our beacon and lifeline to our world. Our safetyguard so thoughtfully given to us by our Master who was in a trancelike slumber just outside, while we battled these foreign men. It is good that we were ordered to retreat, half of us couldn't draw their weapons due to the sheer cold that had frozen them into their scabbards and made them useless. We were too outnumbered and our one comrade in plate was the one we were meant to protect. Riversong being tormented by the cold took one of our healers already out of comission at that rate.
We all made it out alive, returned to our safe world, or realm. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly we travelled into and it surely has left confusion behind for me. Since I can barely recall how we got back, we followed Ironarm but that's where it ends for me in remembering. It's a good thing we had two days to recover of the events that we went through before continuing in our Witch hunt.
By now I'm more that determined to bring this entire ordeal to a succesfull end. We've been to hell and back in order to sniff out tracks of this Witch. Only to find out she is very much after our Lord. And I think I can speak for every single Greencoat within the Retinue: “Over my dead body”
That's what happens if you pledge loyalty and devotion, you protect the ones you serve. Because they will lead you to places where you'll fight in order to protect the bigger picture. As much as the Alliance and every regiment or order out there needs capable soldiers. It is the capable leaders that need to assemble them to guide them towards success and victory. I'm getting sidetracked again, and this headache hasn't even gone down one bit yet.
We were given the option to return to that place tonight, something nobody was all too fond of. Or smoke the pipe that we had brought back, a pipe that never stopped burning. All of us opted for the latter and I believe I was the most nervous for this than I have been for everything before.
Whatever was in that pipe was about to alter my thoughts and invade my mind, my strongest weapon.
Six of us smoked together and as we entered that haze of halucination or vision, whatever it was. We saw eachother, we could talk, see, smell, hear. But not move. Moving was for the women that were before us. Naked as the day they had been born, as black as the men in that village on Friday. Their eyes just as white and their heads devoid of any hair. I've never seen any alike this, the sensuality in which they paraded themselves before us and lewdly tried to grab our attention in most uncomfortable ways.
I felt terribly uneasy, not only have I vowed loyalty with heart and soul to our Master, these were women. Ancestors sake, what had we gotten into? Lacking the ability to move, think and infact even defend myself because all this was happening inside my mind likely made me one of the most useless people of the evening.
How it all happened, I won't question. What that herb was, what the purpose was of its effects. Communication with the Witch -if that is indeed her identity- I would assume. Because the women merged into a single one, which then turned from an ebon skinned beauty of allure into a wrinkled old hag.
From what I can assume she is holding the women of these dark man captive and mistook us for being the tribe that we discovered at the bottom of the lake (Or should I say second surface?) For the freedom of these women they have to obey her wishes, of which one is hunting our very Lord. Trap his soul in the dagger she delivered to Von Kova after the latter had skillfully woven a web of deceit and bluff.
Remarkable quick wit and thinking to step up and pretend to be our leader, even when called out for being a woman she managed to deceive the Witch and convince her otherwise. Striking the deal that led up to obtaining the dagger AND a location where to meet. Now it's up to us to forge a plan, set up a way in finding this place and the Witch without being discovered. And hopefully without bringing our Lord's life in danger, or any of ours.
I'll have to sleep off this headache, I have tried my herbs that didn't bring any comfort. And not even Master's Light that is so powerful could even take a way a shred of this pain. I am grateful that he tried but the herb must have properties that are foreign to Azeroth if a man of such unfaltering Faith cannot erase the effects that now linger.
Once again I'm reminded that my decisions have proven to be the best I've made in years. Here with the Retinue I've found a place where I feel respected, and in turn I respect each that I serve alongside with. Their prowess, their skill,, wit and humour. It is a good place to be. And perhaps soon I can say I have finally found a place to call home again. This is where I belong, this life is what I know best and where I thrive in.
Ancestors watch over us.
Sunday, fourth of the eigth month, Duskwood
My head is still throbbing and making it nearly impossible for me to think clear. I can't say I'm much in favour of that handicap as my mind is my strength and my weapon. If something were to happen right now with the Lord then I would be practically useless. As much as I can endure physical pain to an extend, headaches of this magnitude are something entirelly else and messing with my ability to stay focussed.
There could be worse fates, that much is true. If we had chosen today to return to that place of Darkness, who knows in what state we might have returned.
Two nights ago we tracked down the creatures, wait no. See this is what happens when I can't think straight. We went to the tree in which the creatures disappeared that the Retinue had battled a week ago. I wasn't present at that time as I was tasked in patrolling another route. We went through a portal that was kept open by Lord Bayerleyn himself. A man of such strong Faith that he was capable of ensuring us passage AND create a beacon for our safety so that we could always return safely to our own world. My admiration seems to grow the more I am revealed of his abilities and strength as our leader.
I remember falling and being trapped in utter darkness before we hit the water. Water that stretched everywhere and had no end. Leaving us to swim around in the dark while little tadpoles started to gather. Did they gather straight away? I can't recall properly. Such dark and depressing place, it is hard to keep yourself from losing your mind in all fairness. Because how were we meant to proceed? Where were we meant to go? What if something would attack us right here? Melee can't find footing in water, and ranged couldn't see far enough to take any proper aim. What if our spells would fail because this place is not our own world?
As far as I can tell nobody was really comfortable there, our reactions slow and chaotic at best. Yet once again I have to praise Deliverance for her ability to always stay alert and straight forward. Somehow the woman manages to not be phased by anything, something that surely will benefit us all in everything that is yet to come. Perhaps I ought to express such to Master himself, credit where credit is due.
And those tadpoles, as if being in a dark and unending place isn't unnerving enough they had to crawl up our skirts and attach themselves to whatever skin they could find. Not trusting much of the enviroment overall it just felt like a constant looming threat that could turn against us at any given moment. Yet one we were virtually powerless against.
Same went for the boat that appeared with the hooded figure gliding it along upon those dark waters. Oddly enough I stayed afloat easily enough and didn't feel any form of fatigue, yet another proof of the bizarre world we had entered. I am far from a strong swimmer, not like I had many chances to indulge in such activity while growing up. Yet still I managed for those endless hours to swim and not struggle. But yes, the boat.
My mind isn't cooperating tonight, that cursed herb.
We were demanded a payment to be granted transport upon the boat. A herb that I couldn't recall that grew upon the bottom of the lake we were all floating aimlessly within. It was Vicenzo that got tasked with the dive as our strongest swimmer currently present but as time went by he didn't return. Before I could even think of ways in which we could possibly find someone in this place it was however my turn to find the herb. Our mission had to continue, and I had to follow orders. It doesn't matter what I think, I can offer suggestions but in the end I am simply tasked to comply and obey. My superiours ought to know best and I have to trust them, that's what I shall do.
Perhaps I should wait in writing all this down but I feel that some of the events are already slipping from my mind, like some bad dream that fades over time. I suppose that is the effect such darkness can hold over you.
My dive, submerging in water where there is nothing to see. Thankfully the realm we were in did not twarth my abilities too badly and I could rely on a spell that allowed me to see more than just that endless shadow around me. The first thing that I noticed was the lack of effort that the swim took of me. Not even burdened by my soaked uniform or even my cloak that I thought would drag me down, the seocnd thing however. Breathing, I could breathe under water and didn't feel my lungs strain in order to fuel oxygen to my brain.
In hindsight I am still not sure how I always manage to stay so calm and collected despite everything, sometimes it worries me that I stay strangely unaffected by what happens and would send others into despair and worry. But that's possibly not something I should dwell on right now while trying to write down what the Retinue and I have been through.
I didn't find the herb when I left the others in my search for it, instead I found a hole in ice that was at the bottom of the lake. Yet oddly enough the hole led to another surface, a village. As if the lake had no bottom but only two sides of a world. There was no option to take a risk, the others were above me and I couldn't simply step onto this side of cold and frost on my own without warning them. Hoping that Vicenzo had also found this and had not been smart enough to return first.
No time was wasted, somehow the group that had stayed behind felt that there was an urgent reason to follow me and leave the water as it was. The tadpoles that had been so persistant in clinging onto us had vanished and triggered an effect of impending doom upon everyone. That and not having the herb for the boat I can assume that everyone was as eager to find a way out of the lake as I was.
On the other surface we found cold and ice, as I had suspected. Something I could remedy due to my abilities with fire as an element but others weren't as fortunate. Riversong was the one suffering the most from the cold but if we were to face a situation of combat I had to preserve my own powers and couldn't offer her help, or anybody for that matter. I couldn't predict how long I'd last in a realm so unfamiliar to me that already had been messing with our priestesses and their abilities.
It's not my place to question Vicenzo's move in not returning to us, for he was there in the village and was found by our scouting duo that surveyed the area for possible threat. Running and shouting I could hardly decypher what was being said as the mass charged upon us. Tribal men of the darkest skin I have ever witnessed, their eyes white as the snow beneath my feet and their spears were held high to endgage us in conflict.
And we had to protect Ironarm, our beacon and lifeline to our world. Our safetyguard so thoughtfully given to us by our Master who was in a trancelike slumber just outside, while we battled these foreign men. It is good that we were ordered to retreat, half of us couldn't draw their weapons due to the sheer cold that had frozen them into their scabbards and made them useless. We were too outnumbered and our one comrade in plate was the one we were meant to protect. Riversong being tormented by the cold took one of our healers already out of comission at that rate.
We all made it out alive, returned to our safe world, or realm. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly we travelled into and it surely has left confusion behind for me. Since I can barely recall how we got back, we followed Ironarm but that's where it ends for me in remembering. It's a good thing we had two days to recover of the events that we went through before continuing in our Witch hunt.
By now I'm more that determined to bring this entire ordeal to a succesfull end. We've been to hell and back in order to sniff out tracks of this Witch. Only to find out she is very much after our Lord. And I think I can speak for every single Greencoat within the Retinue: “Over my dead body”
That's what happens if you pledge loyalty and devotion, you protect the ones you serve. Because they will lead you to places where you'll fight in order to protect the bigger picture. As much as the Alliance and every regiment or order out there needs capable soldiers. It is the capable leaders that need to assemble them to guide them towards success and victory. I'm getting sidetracked again, and this headache hasn't even gone down one bit yet.
We were given the option to return to that place tonight, something nobody was all too fond of. Or smoke the pipe that we had brought back, a pipe that never stopped burning. All of us opted for the latter and I believe I was the most nervous for this than I have been for everything before.
Whatever was in that pipe was about to alter my thoughts and invade my mind, my strongest weapon.
Six of us smoked together and as we entered that haze of halucination or vision, whatever it was. We saw eachother, we could talk, see, smell, hear. But not move. Moving was for the women that were before us. Naked as the day they had been born, as black as the men in that village on Friday. Their eyes just as white and their heads devoid of any hair. I've never seen any alike this, the sensuality in which they paraded themselves before us and lewdly tried to grab our attention in most uncomfortable ways.
I felt terribly uneasy, not only have I vowed loyalty with heart and soul to our Master, these were women. Ancestors sake, what had we gotten into? Lacking the ability to move, think and infact even defend myself because all this was happening inside my mind likely made me one of the most useless people of the evening.
How it all happened, I won't question. What that herb was, what the purpose was of its effects. Communication with the Witch -if that is indeed her identity- I would assume. Because the women merged into a single one, which then turned from an ebon skinned beauty of allure into a wrinkled old hag.
From what I can assume she is holding the women of these dark man captive and mistook us for being the tribe that we discovered at the bottom of the lake (Or should I say second surface?) For the freedom of these women they have to obey her wishes, of which one is hunting our very Lord. Trap his soul in the dagger she delivered to Von Kova after the latter had skillfully woven a web of deceit and bluff.
Remarkable quick wit and thinking to step up and pretend to be our leader, even when called out for being a woman she managed to deceive the Witch and convince her otherwise. Striking the deal that led up to obtaining the dagger AND a location where to meet. Now it's up to us to forge a plan, set up a way in finding this place and the Witch without being discovered. And hopefully without bringing our Lord's life in danger, or any of ours.
I'll have to sleep off this headache, I have tried my herbs that didn't bring any comfort. And not even Master's Light that is so powerful could even take a way a shred of this pain. I am grateful that he tried but the herb must have properties that are foreign to Azeroth if a man of such unfaltering Faith cannot erase the effects that now linger.
Once again I'm reminded that my decisions have proven to be the best I've made in years. Here with the Retinue I've found a place where I feel respected, and in turn I respect each that I serve alongside with. Their prowess, their skill,, wit and humour. It is a good place to be. And perhaps soon I can say I have finally found a place to call home again. This is where I belong, this life is what I know best and where I thrive in.
Ancestors watch over us.