This Week's Theme:
"a letter arrives from an old circus performer who has found an undiscovered island"
Week: Zero
Due Date: January 5, 2009
Letter From Aramor
Alan Wolfe
Cedrick, I’m writing you with the last of the ink and a quill I made from a feather in a fashion that the natives here showed me. This land is a wondrous place, and we have been learning how the natives have been able to remain elusive to the great sweeping hand of the dark legion for so long.
When you and I smashed the blockades at Stormgard and became separated, I was unable to sneak back into land so we were forced to turn to the sea and search for our ancient brethren in Avalon. My ship wandered the open sea for what must have been months. We survived how we could, supplementing our food rations with kelp and fish and using the sun to distill clean water from the sea.
Old Merrick showed us how to do those things and since them I am glad you insisted he come along. Having quarters as cramped as they are already, I wondered about the wisdom of bringing a mountain fairing ranger into a sea battle but he proved himself a worthy fighter despite his age, and on the long trek into the open sea, he proved himself invaluable for his survival skills.
I can only hope our mission was a success, perhaps it will give the legion something to be scared of! If they realize we can still make real resistance against them, they may be more cautious, giving us even more time to mount a proper defense.
This is why I write you now Cedrick, I’m not sure if we have found what remains of ancient Avalon, or if these people truly are descendants of our ancient ancestors, but I have seen enough strange things to think this may be true.
The people here are simple, peaceful folk and very primitive. They worship animal gods and wear armor made of slats of wood and animal bone, but they also possess odd relics such as stones that conjure fire from nothing, and staves that hurl lightning bolts. They tell strange tales of their ancient heroes as well that very closely resemble the stories our clergymen talk about of the last Great War centuries ago.
There is a strange and ancient power protecting this land Cedric. In our scouting expeditions we have found numerous ships of the legion smashed against the rocks. We have found entire crews dead within ships for no apparent reason, still manning their posts as if they all died at once in one great terrible flash. It’s eerie and a little frightening, but if there is a power like that here, perhaps we can harness it and use it to our advantage.
Merrick, having strong relationships with the primitive people of our own lands has again proven himself invaluable during negotiations with these tribes. He communicated our plight to some of the elders and the have pledged to aid us back home.
Forty young warriors have been selected to join us on the return trip, and while that doesn’t sound like much of a force, from what we have seen of their tribal talismans and mysterious weapons, trust me when I say they should prove themselves extremely useful in our resistance.
These warriors are currently undergoing some sort of spiritual ceremony to prepare them for the battle to come by fasting, dancing around fires and eating strange plants to have spiritual visions. I know time is not on our side against the legion but I dare not rush things and risk offending our hosts or making them think we are ungrateful for their help.
In one months time the ceremony will be finished, and immediately after we will return with these forty men and their strange ways. Believe me when I tell you that with their help, we can turn the tide against this ghastly force once and for all.
-- Letter from Aramor to Cedrick, third year of the 2nd Great War