O
of Dirt
Guest
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Dear Diary,
I apologize for the huge gap in writing, for I have not the time ever since...well. It has been exactly one year since the terrible accident, in which we have found ourselves upon this place. Although we have successfully colonized some of this new found land, it has been strictly by the skin of our teeth, and we are still trying to maintain it to this day. Ever since colonization has begun, we have dealt with frequent attacks, among other problems, which only seem to get worse by the day.
I reside in the eastern colony, which is within a wasteland several miles away from the main city, generally consisting of dwarves. The people of this colony focus primarily upon the creation of weaponry and tools as well as buildings in order to benefit the rest of us. They have helped build the walls that surround and protect the main city. Each colony contributes to our survival in some way. Quite often, we receive attacks from strange creatures, which we believe are being summoned by a more powerful being. We know this because those capable of detecting the presence of magic detect it the most during the hours before an attack. I also often hear chanting in a different language. Although we know nothing of this summoner, we know that he must be killed as soon as possible if we ever hope to have peace. However, I fear he may just be toying with us at the moment. We may just be too weak for him.
The western colony resides in a lush forest, two miles away from the main city. The people of this colony generally consist of elves and are responsible for the medicines and other potions that benefit the sick or the weak. Unfortunately, we haven't received any of these potions in many moons due to their own problems. Deeper within the unexplored depths of the forest, there is some sort of force draining away at the life of the trees and other plant life, or any life, for that matter. However, it doesn't always simply kill the plant life, it can also choose to corrupt it instead. In which case, we had rather it dead. A corrupt fruit or anything sort of plant life cannot be detected. If one were to enter the system of another being, they too become corrupt. This corruption drives them mad, but they are only aware of it at sundown. It is at sundown that they are attacked by those within their own ranks, friends even. Though the spread of corruption is slow, it is difficult to detect and we haven't found a way to negate it. It is truly horrific to think about, and I am simply glad my brother isn't other there.
My brother resides in the northern colony, directly in front of the main city and within a large grassy plain. This colony generally consists of humans. It is surrounded by a natural river, with flows through the other colonies as well, serving as a quick way to get supplies to each other. These people are primarily focused upon gathering food and water for the main city. As of late, they are to do so for the western colony as well, due to their unreliable resources. This colony has experienced assaults from a bear-like species, from the forest across the river. Although they have only attacked when we enter to gather fish from the river, it is their potential that intimidates us most, and if the northern colony falls to them, they can easily continue to the main city. My brother and I have once traveled into the forest and watched the bears without being noticed. They are extremely intelligent, capable of speaking, and have created their own language amongst themselves. In terms of numbers, they overwhelm us. As to why they haven't completely run us out is beyond me, but a certain amount of troops are always kept there at all times in case of an attack.
It is the northern colony in which I primarily am supposed to reside, but I have volunteered to assist the east in their defense as a soldier, for they have lowered in numbers severely. Although our problems remain separate and different, I fear that they may be more connected than we may think and that this may only be the beginning. At night, I have heard whispers in the wind, conversations of plots against us. Most are in different languages, of which I have yet to completely comprehend, but it would seem that there may be a higher and much more powerful being behind some, if not all, of these assaults. There are also conversations that I hear within our own ranks-- plots of betrayal. This place remains unexplored, for the most part. There will always be some power hungry individual who will intend to rise up and take land for his or herself. I just hope that greed does not separate us.
We may have been here for a year and colonized this place, but the journey still holds difficult, in terms of making this our home.
Sincerely,
Lucia Empamore.
@Reason
@of Dirt
Dear Lucia Empamore,
As you know, over the past year, the northern colony has had several skirmishes with the creatures north of the river in our runs for food and other supplies. Although many have been wounded, we luckily have not suffered any casualties yet and would not like to start. They're dangerous and have the power to completely wipe us out. The northern colony is the city's last defense. We cannot risk angering them any further, but we need the fish from the river and the elves need the plant life on the other side for their people. I've been authorized to lead a small team to represent the colonies to make a deal with the creatures and make peace. We have no intention of fighting, but you must come prepared in case things turn for the worse. Your scouting abilities will prove useful, as they always have. An elf adept at healing and archery will accompany us. I've also requested for the dwarven blacksmith, Yolkiir Mirthas, for his wisdom and expertise. I presume you two will travel together. Bring your fastest horses, toughest armor and sharpest blades. Hopefully we won't need them. We begin our mission at sunrise. Be safe.
Sincerely, Lucian Empamore.
Lucia re-read the short letter she had gotten hours ago. It was clear why the expedition needed to be done, but it still felt a little crazy and risky. This was also the first time she had read a letter from her brother that wasn't personal, but an official notice and an order. The northern colony's commander's signature was beneath Lucian's, and as a soldier of that colony her participation in the mission was mandatory, unlike the elf and the dwarf. For them their help was a humble request that they could respectfully decline, though it would be unlikely given the colonies all worked together and needed each other in some way. Lucia herself had been fighting for the eastern colony for several months now, fighting off the dog-like demons that attack every so often. Her ability to hone in on distant sounds allowed her to know when an attack would be coming in advance. In the time she has been there, the attacks have become more predictable and less of a problem. Now the northern colony needed a favor.
When Lucia left the northern colony many months ago, her brother was no more than a soldier like her. The fact that he was leading an expedition, as small as it was, meant that things may have changed in her absence. She recalled that the idea to strike a deal with the creatures wasn't a new one. Lucian had been trying to convince their commander for quite some time now. Perhaps he's letting Lucian do all the work because he wants to have no responsibility if things go wrong. Either way, she was glad progress was being made, despite the danger she may be walking into.
She set the letter down on a table in her little hut and began to gather the things she would need to bring for the journey. She put on a black, leather tunic and burgundy, cloth pants to wear on the way and packed her chainmail armor to be worn for the mission. With her bow, quiver, daggers and broad sword, to those who didn't know her very well, she looked as though she were a jack of all trades, but wasn't extremely skilled with any of her weapons. During target practice, she was a good shot with the bow, but in the heat of battle and with moving targets, she seldom hit the mark. She didn't have the brute strength most men did with the broadsword. She was good with her daggers, but didn't like getting too close to her foes. Her interest in wanting to be a fighter was clear, but she was never sure what kind of fighter suited her best. The fact that she was more valued as a scout than as a fighter often bothered her.
It was midafternoon and often took a couple of hours (by horse) to reach the northern colony. Leaving soon meant getting there by sundown to get a good night's rest. Lucia mounted her horse and rode casually toward where she thought Yolkiir might be. Being that the dwarf has repaired her sword on more than on occasion and made her chainmail, they were far from strangers, but every colonist lived a very busy life. There was little room for free time and idle conversation. She hoped the ride together would fix that.
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