Dear Diary,
I am writing to you now by dim candle light from inside the halls of the Norben Brotherhood. I am in a small sleeping room. Beside me, to the left, lies August. To the right lay two strangers. Kral has been kind enough to let us stay the night. Let me tell you a bit of our travels to this most magnificent of places, they story is really quite interesting.
It started off as any other journey does. August and I left the group and Gales Cloud. It was strange being alone with him, that is of course not to say that I did not like it. It was a bit awkward. I didn't know what to say to him at first but after a while our conversation became not so stressed and we began enjoying ourselves. He is an interesting fellow. I wish that I could somehow relieve his pain. He seems to be quite bothered by an event that happened while he was still at home. He too has lost a loved one. I wanted so much to open up to him and tell him of my father, of Lordes, and of the reason I was on this journey. But I did not...I don't know why...I suppose that it is partly because I do not want to burden him with my problems and that it is partly because I feel that it will somehow push him away. I know in my heart that he would listen, but I am still to afraid.
We continued on for some time until we came to an odd patch in the grass. We were going to stop for a while to rest but the depression in the ground was also marked by a foul stench so we decided to move on.
Soon after, we came across a river and we stopped there to have lunch. It was beautiful. I felt so relaxed traveling with him. It has been a long time since I have not been running from something...or someone. That feeling has since passed me however and even now in these halls I do not feel safe. My own body is a grim reminder of why I fled this land and why I had never wanted to return. But again...I digress.
We crossed the river and again headed out on our journey. We soon came across a curious old man. We startled him as much as he startled us. He must have been a sleep in the grass and we didn't see each other until we were almost on top of him. We introduced ourselves and said our normal greetings. August seemed extremely suspicious of the man but I on the other hand felt the opposite. We decided to stay the night with the little man, he kept good company. His waited to introduce himself for some time but finally he told us that he was called Caligor He spoke of nature and he sang a little tune that seemed to be accompanied by our surroundings. The trees and the animals themselves seemed to be accompying him. August thought that in his speech he was being cryptic, but I thought that his love for the natural world was romantic.
The night passed without a hitch and we began to travel again. Caligor decided to come with us so I helped him onto my horse and we rode on. He was a curious fellow indeed. He had this staff that he carried but I swore that when we rode that he did not have it. He also did not have any pouches or wineskins. Where he kept his possessions I do not know...but then again I suppose that a man so in touch with nature does not need any possessions.
We came upon a forest that had been desecrated by the local humans. Many of the trees had been chopped down and most of the others were marked to be cut. Caligor was deeply disturbed by this. We entered the forest and he seemed to grow weaker, even older if you will. He rubbed his hand along a stump and began to cry. Again he began to sing and so did the world around us.
He then suggested that we move on and he pointed the way. As we turned I realized that the forest did not look the same. I thought at first that we had perhaps taken a wrong turn but then I realized that we were in an entirely different forest. I know that is hard to believe but I speak the truth. Caligor then pointed us to a nearby ferry...we were already at the Norben Island after only two days! We said our thanks and goodbyes to him but they seemed to fall on deaf ears, he was gone in a flash. I hope someday that we can repay him. I have always treated nature with respect but I think now that I will try to right the wrongs that have been illed upon it. He has opened my eyes to a whole new side of the world, one that I wish to preserve.
We took the fairy across the water. The men were very nice. They welcomed August and I but I don't think they liked the fact that I do not have the traditional Norben Brotherhood tattoo. Kral himself gave me permission to wear only the symbol on a necklace that I wear. I explained to him why I did not want another tattoo and he graciously accepted my proposal for the necklace. We received a note from him that he was waiting to see us and we hurried to the hall. We noticed however that the trees did not look so healthy. They all seemed dry and there were no new growths. When we met Kral he told us of the Lunar trees sad state. We mentioned to him Caligor and he was surprised that August and I could hear the song of nature, as he called it. He says that only a few can still hear it and perhaps we can help to save the Lunar trees. I'm not so sure that I am the hero that he wants me to be but I will do what I can. The Lunar trees are so important to the land and the people of Thardferr, I can only imagine the perils we would face without them
The Norben Brotherhood is amazing. It is so beautiful here. There is artwork everywhere and everything, even the most simplest and most trivial of items has been made beautiful by elaborate carvings and coral ornaments. The craftsmen here are to be envied. I have seen no other works that compare to their magnificent creations.
Tomorrow is a big day for us. August and I are receiving our Lunar bows. I am surprised that with the current state of the trees they are letting us have them. Finlin Ganwar, the man who makes the bows, said that he cannot make new bows because the wood is to dry and brittle to be bent. I must say that I am a bit nervous about receiving a bow of such importance. There are only eight in existence. I still can't believe that I will be fighting with a Lunar tree in my hands, it just amazes me, I know that’s silly...but it does.
Well I should rest, I hope I haven’t kept the others awake. Until tomorrow!
Your humble servant,
Vitriol
Dear Diary,
Today August and I woke up early. We met Kral and we headed downstairs to receive our Lunar bows. I cannot express the pride I feel now. To think, Kral thinks me worthy to carry this beautiful bow. It is truly extraordinary. August and I were in tears when we were handed our bows for the first time. They are of a most elegant construction. The bow is carved to look like a lunar tree. At the bottom of the bow are the roots and at the top are the leaves. My name is caved on the side of the bow
*The writing trails off here, there is a slight scratch mark from her pen lining the page and a small dot of ink*
Forgive me, I have lost my train of thought. I am sitting here in the dark and I was startled by a noise in the bushes. August and I have left the Norben Brotherhood now. This is our second day of travel since then. It is beautiful here in this land, I wish that we did not have to leave. I miss my home so and I long to be there again. I know however that if I would return, things would not be the same and I would be putting my friends in great danger. I know that if my father were still alive I could not stay away from home...just think, if I had not taken his hand things would be different... My father would be alive and I would still be living my life. I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was the beginning of fall and the leaves were turning red. I was walking home and I grew tired so I stopped to rest. I put down all of the packages I was carrying and I sat down on an old log. I saw a man approaching in the distance. As her grew nearer I could see that he was a handsome man who must have led a good life because he was dressed in very fancy clothes...well at least it was fancy to the town I lived in. He stopped and we chatted for a while...just everyday things really nothing out of the ordinary. I mentioned where I was headed and he too said that he was going in that direction. He put out his hand and asked if he could walk with me. I took it, and he helped me up. He walked me home carrying my packages and speaking to me in his fine elegant voice. I can't remember what he spoke of that day, to be honest I don't remember much about our time together, it seems all like a dream to me now...no a nightmare. If I only had not taken his hand.
*The entry ends here, there is no closing offered*
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