Augustus’s Letter to his Mother
By Arthur Winks
Dear Mum,
I hope you are well and that your rheumatism is not too bad. I am sorry I have not sent you a letter in some time. I’ve been locked in a cage for a while and have not been able to write (before you panic, it was a very nice cage and our captors treated us very well). It was actually a nice break from our normal chores around the outpost. Captain Darby’s not bad for an officer, but camp life gets a bit boring.
Things have certainly gotten much more eventful at our little outpost since my last letter. It all really started when my squad mate Jenson disappeared a while back. Remember I told you about him? The one who is always making inappropriate comments to the women in the unit? I told him what you told me to, that ladies like a gentleman, but he just laughed and told me to mind my own business. Then he told me he was going to “try his luck with the locals.” I told him it was a bad idea. The last marine who went off-base without permission spent 3 months on latrine duty.
Anyway, shortly after he left, a group of the island locals turned up and started accusing us of all sorts of horrible things. I thought maybe I should mention Jenson leaving, but I didn’t want to be a snitch, so I kept my mouth shut. Besides, Jenson can be a bit of a bully, but I couldn’t believe he’d do the things they said. Fortunately, it all turned out to be a big misunderstanding, and after a few days of locking us up and asking questions, the locals let us go after a bunch of Silver Knights turned up and apparently sorted things out. Jenson even turned up again, although the tell-tale apparently told the Captain that I knew he’d left camp, so I foresee a lot of latrine scrubbing in my future.
Not that we’ll have much time for cleaning toilets, as the Captain’s got us working flat out getting the ship ready for some big secret mission with these Silver Knights, which I’m going to be going on! How exciting! This is the sort of thing I joined up for, not sitting around camp polishing weapons and listening to Jenson talk about his “exploits.”
And these Silver Knights are certainly the strangest group of people I’ve ever seen. There are more Elves than I have ever seen in one place before, and they seem quite different from the few we have back home in Hoffstead. There’s even one with black skin! There’s also a dwarf, although dwarves are not quite what I expected. I thought there would be more beer-drinking and less glowering at people. He sounds really weird as well, although maybe that’s just how dwarves sound. The humans are just as strange. There is a human lady that looks a bit like Old Madge from the village who does the tea leaves.
I need to get back to work. Give my love to the rest of the family. I have enclosed some seashells I found on the island here for your collection. I will try and write again soon, although it may be some time before you receive anything as I’m not sure when we will next be in a proper port.
Your devoted son,
Augie
Journal Entry of Marcus Muddywater
By James Scotland
Journal entry: 94
After I had solved all of the hardest puzzles in the water temple for the group and opened the stone coffers, we took stock of all of our newly obtained magical items. Vallen carefully analyzed each one, which took some time. Two items were of interest to me: a diamond amulet which increased one’s ability to navigate as well as one’s intelligence, and an amulet which helped one to better regulate one’s emotions. I thought about it for a second, then suggested that Adoril take the diamond necklace. Adoril’s magical ability was somewhat lacking and we are going to need his magic if we are to survive this ordeal. Giving Adoril the diamond necklace wasn’t the best choice for me, but it was the best choice for the group. If we are to survive the Revenarum, the needs of the group must come before the needs of the individual. I put on the pendent of serenity, and a wave of calmness washed over me. To my surprise, the other members of the group did not squabble over the remaining items. They are making progress. We headed back to where we left Lorelai and Jenson.
Once we got back to Lorelai and to Jenson at the entrance of the cave system, I remembered the dwarf taking an interest in Lorelai’s physical appearance. I suggested to the dwarf that he show Lorelai our new hot-tub. To his loss, the dwarf ignored the suggestion. Instead, he jumped into the water and swam back to the cutter in order to update the crew. About 40 minutes later, the dwarf reappeared. He suggested that we get into the chest and he swim to back to the cutter and then release us. I didn’t want to wait hours for the tide to recede so I agreed and got into the chest.
It was dark and cramped inside the chest. Below me was Lorelai; above me was Elre. The conditions in the chest were very cramped. It felt what I imagined a mass grave to feel like. I needed to lighten the mood of the group. “That’s not my sword” I joked to Elre. I expected the elf to laugh; instead he freaked out. Elre started kicking, screaming, and crying. I could feel his cold sweat dripping onto my face. This elf has no sense of humor I thought to myself as his panicked body writhed on top of me. Then, light stared to replace the darkness. Thankfully, someone had opened the lid of the chest. Elre jumped out of the chest immediately. I looked up and saw blue sky, the walls of a familiar house, and the face of a familiar butler. We were back in Lady Dace’s house in Casperia. Eager to stretch my legs, I followed the screaming Elre out of the chest.
It’s usually a nice experience conversing with Ulene. Usually, she helps us out, giving us gold, information and the occasional magical shield. I went to find her and update her about our progress so far. Hopefully, I would get something in return. Her butler and one of her maids both said that Lady Dace wasn’t home. Usually, I am good at detecting lies but not this time. Believing the servants, I went to find Elre. The elf was I the courtyard pacing up and down, and still crying. After his reaction to my previous joke, I tried to calm him down by appealing to his sense of duty. He did not respond pleasantly to my words. In fact, he said some very mean and hurtful things. I would have to use my superior intelligence. I went into the kitchen and found some wine. I poured a sleeping potion into the wine and went back to the courtyard. Elre seemed calmer. I gave him the glass of wine and told him that he needed to calm down. “To the end of the Revenarum,” we toasted. Five minutes later, I was carefully putting the unconsciousness, but humorless, elf back into the chest. I really did think that elves were smarter.
After Elre was safely secured in the chest, I had a free five minutes. I decided to have a quick look around Lady Dace’s house. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that a key that was previously in a bedroom door was missing. I never learned know how to pick locks, so I opened it the old-fashioned way; I kicked in the door an entered the bedroom. Only several days later did I learn what had transpired.
I woke up on the cutter. Feeling the sea breeze upon my face, I inhaled deeply. At this point in time, my memory was not fully restored. I looked across the deck and saw that Elre was still sleeping. Hoping to lighten the mood of the group, I took the ink from my backpack and drew upon his upper lip a fine mustache. I thought this would lighten him up. As the elf’s fine ink mustache dried in the fine sea breeze, we sailed back to the Silver Order outpost. Once back at the outpost, we departed from the cutter. Everyone stared in wonder at Elre. He seemed bemused.
Once back on dry land, Lorelai and Jensen quickly recovered. In order to free our crew, we needed to find out what had happened to Lorelai and Jensen. After questioning them, we learned that the beast that we had vanquished in the caves was responsible for everything. Lorelai seemed to have responded well to Adoril’s questioning. Jenson seemed to have not responded well to Adoril’s questioning. A part of me secretly wished that it was Jenson who had responded well to Adoril’s questioning. Perhaps, even the elf would have laughed. We headed back to the village to free our crew.
After a spending a couple of hours in the village, the women agreed to release our men. Much to my surprise, as soon as our men had been released Adoril started to verbally abuse the woman who was the head of the village. I quickly stepped in between them and shepherded Adoril away. The sooner we leave this island, the better I thought to myself.
On the way back to our outpost, I suggested that Elre try out his new magical horse. He did. At Elre’s beckoning, an airy steed suddenly appeared. The steed had the appearance of a creature that could move swiftly. How swiftly? I wondered to myself. I used my aerokinesis ability to send a jolt of air towards the rear of the steed. Unfortunately, the steed did not bolt swiftly away. Instead, it took a small amount of damage. Elre looked at me sternly. His fading ink mustache still prominent upon his upper lip. This elf has no sense of humor I thought to myself. We all went back to the outpost.
Bardolf, the captain of the ship, said that he would need two weeks to get the ship ready. Bardolf looks competent. Our ship, The Young Lady, is not from Hauther. I know this because of her design. This ship has a history.
Much to everyone surprise, Lorelai made a reappearance. She spent some time with Adoril. When Lorelai had departed, Adoril produced a gift that Lorelai had given to him. Adoril was now the proud owner of a small magical tortoise shell boat. When a person steps onto the small boat, that person becomes miniaturized. The boat is a welcome addition to the group’s inventory.
I spent the next few days trying to remember what had transpired back in the bedroom in Lady Dace’s house. Restoring my memory was not an easy thing to accomplish. I sought assistance from Barnabus, but he was too busy with Marie. Marie looked absolutely terrible. I do not think that she is going to last much longer. I think that Vallen ought to take a look at her before we leave. I must remember to tell Vallen to do this. I hope that Marie does not become troublesome. After leaving Barnabus, I sought assistance from Vallen. With every passing day, Vallen becomes increasingly volatile. I hope that Vallen does not become troublesome. After a few minutes with Vallen, he tells me that I have had several spells cast upon me. Still anxious to know what had happened back in the bedroom in Casperia, I discuss the matter with Kai. Kai suggests shooting me with an arrow of negation. This seems like a great idea. The more time that I spend with Kai, the more impressed I am. Kai and I find a suitable place and I reveal my handsome right buttock. Kai nocks and arrow and shoots; finally, my memory returns.
In the bedroom in Casperian, I saw Giovanni. His dead body was lying in the bed. This is potentially very problematic as we burned him on a funeral pyre in the courtyard of Lady Dace’s house. Hauther is really messed up; I might never make it out of here. Then seconds after seeing Giovanni’s body, Lady Dace cast several spells upon me. One of which, caused me to forget what I had seen. As of this moment, I am not impressed with Ulene. We must proceed cautiously. I tell the others of what I saw.
Thankfully, Kai’s assistance with my memory removed the spells that were cast upon me; however, Kai’s assistance also triggered the gauntlet portal. All the group members bravely took up the call to arms and jumped into the portal. We land on what feels like a stone floor. We are in shin deep water and complete darkness surrounds us. Someone makes light and we proceed through a series of stone corridors. Adoril leads the way. Without warning, Adoril suddenly disappears. He had fallen into a hole which has been obscured by water. The dwarf dived in after Adoril and proceeded to recover him. Unsurprisingly, Adoril then suggested that the dwarf lead the way. As I am towards the rear of the group, I don’t see what happens next. However, I hear a loud metallic sounding ‘snap’, and the dwarf screaming in pain. I then hear Elre tell the dwarf to hold still whist he provides assistance. A few seconds later, I hear several ‘clicks’, and the dwarf is screaming again. I smile to myself. Maybe Elre does have a sense of humor after all.