Just Be There Blog

working page

January 2, 2015 @ 12:13 pm (10:13 am MST)

.[Note:...Malyn is writing in her journal, therefore, she is showing me (and others) how she sees herself. She is writing in broken "common language" . "Common" is her secondary language used to communicate with traders coming through her village and not much practiced, otherwise. Her native language, Vosian (visualize a Russian accent), is not spoken in the Southwestern lands and in order for her wishes that her journal be sent to her family in the village of Sandorev in the Northeastern country of Rzhlev in the event of her death, she finds herself writing in the unfamiliar common language of the traders. This work is in an editing process as I am changing the original text from the author's translation of her words into how her words would actually appear from an in character reader's viewpoint.] Edited text is in hunter green. addendum note: 245 word excerpt used for Symposium #30 topic in blue


Malyn's Accounting to Verloren

...Barlen, 14th Erntenir, 1524

Tonight, this person, Malyn Armina Drud of the Clan Drud, writing from Dhoesone capital, famous city, Sonnelind.

This record tell events experienced so far away from Motherland. If record found and this spirit having crossed veil of death, please have accounting sent to this person's family in small village Sandorev, in country Rzhlev. Deliver to Clan Drud in Sandorev village. This record of Drud daughter's journey.

This person ride as mercenary guard for Caspar and Son's Trader train leaving village Sandorev, going to Port City Rzhlev, in motherland. On Taelen 24th of Anarire of Anuirean Calendar, Caspar and Son's keeping as mercenary guard, and making room aboard ship Eisgrafin, or Ice Maiden in common speech, bound for Dhoesone. Bidding farewells to cousins, Bohan and Yasha near docks of city Rzhlev, cousins return home with sad face.

Caspar, patron and Feroz, younger son, ask if this person accompany them. They say, much value talents for guard and trusting. Many stories about foreign lands Feroz travel incense curiosity. Feroz say, many half-elves and woman half-elf rules as Queen in country Dhoesone. Being alone half-elf in village of childhood wanting much to see others so afflicted. So, this person agree, go as merc-guard for traders. Soon discover liking two Brecht traders. Traders laugh much more than used to and finding taking much unpracticed patience to realize verbal banter no insult requiring blood price... [(Note): This 245 word excerpt submitted to Symposium topic #30--12-31-14][this section since edited to subdue the repetitions of the phrase "this person" which is used in the place of the proverbs I, my and me. Unfortunately, not edited soon enough for the judging of the Special Symposium topic...]

Journey by sea proved, beyond doubting, that this Drud daughter rather walk or ride by horseback or wagon through most wild territory, than ever again find self surrounded by nothing but water and sky.

At first all fine. Big adventure, seeing places new, heard about but no dream would walk these roads. Brecht on annual trade run around Krakennauricht Bay. During 49 day journey, Eisgrafen stop in Northern port, Brechlen (Muden also called), largest city in Brechtlands and by far grandest city this person ever see in lifetime. After that, still travelling westerly within bay, ship come to Aulbrunn, in Wierech, strong-fortified city seeming at first quiet and empty. Eisgrafen make docking and Aulbrunn turn alive liking stirring ant hill. Eisgrafin leave, head more north and west, stop only in small trading town Kopingdal in Rjurik domain Hjolvar to buy furs before heading to open sea. Kopingdal first time remembering of home. This person realize sad longing for return to familiar wild, motherlands.

That where first backward look to Sandorev happen. Sudden memory of family and wonder how Clan Drud fare. Wondered if Clan Drud think about absent Drud daughter. So write short Letter to Uncle Feliks before leaving Kopingdal's port. Letter paid delivery to Feroz's cousin heading next trader train south and east going to home village. Possible, Uncle read letter many weeks ago.

[ January 2, 2015 at 12:50 pm] last edit to here.

After Kopingdal, much weeks before this person again able to walk on solid dirt. Eisgrafin never stop until reaching small city of Aaldvika, about the same size as Rzhlev city and houses made of wood. From Aaldvika, Caspars continued south; round the southernmost point of Siren's domain. Soon after, Eisgrafin caught in most terrible storm, and only barely make next port, one Nolien in Dhoesone.

We sailed, one ship out of six, all going south as a group to deter pirate attack. But the only threat to the cooperative flotilla were the storms that indeed sank two of the six ships to the bottom of the deep waters. I could not guard against the anger of the seas, and was all but useless during the storms adding to the foul bile below decks. The seasoned seafarers laughed at my incapacity stating that these summer storms are nothing. "You should sail through a winter storm. Now that is an experience to survive. Hahahaaahaaa." All I could do was turn and puke the water I'd just drank some moments before. But our ship reached the southern port city of Nolien all in one piece, barely. Caspar and Son's trading goods from the north was also all intact and in reasonably good condition. I found myself wearing heavy wool and furs in a land where lighter clothing is better suited. Though it is autumn, it feels like midsummer to me.

And land, everywhere, GREEN! Everywhere see different shades of green only occur high summer in Motherlands. Odors overwhelm, intense in southern heat. Smell of hot dust, heavy scent of clay mud after quick rain, even odor of the cooking fires, pungent and unfamiliar. This person truly as far away from birth home and family as ever been or ever will be. Even if travelling further miles, can never feel same intense alien ness again. Nothing seen is familiar; as if seeing everything with eyes of one who has had their eyes opened for first time in all lifetime. Much exciting. Everything strange and new. All senses heightened and open, taking everything inside to bursting.

Yesterday, Feroz laughed and asked, "How can you look from one thing to another and another so quickly and not get dizzy?" I shrugged and said, "I just can," and continued to take in as many of the sights, sounds, and odors as possible.

The stories of the numerous half-elves of this land are true. I have seen with my own eyes. At first it was strange to see the slender boned face of the short people in Nolien. I found my rude stare met with a disdain for my obvious uncivilized manner. But after a full day of seeing as many slender boned faces and curved ears such as my own I found the newness had worn away. I am taller than many of the half-Elven peoples of this land. That too is strange to me. All my life always smaller than those same age and when coming of age, only children shorter. Finding in this land, elders looking up to me and finding self uncomfortable with obvious disrespect when standing in elder's presence.

Is now 14th of Erntenir of the year 1524 HC , and having fulfilled contract with Caspar and Son's traders. Caspar has drafted for me writ of reference to present to future employer wishing services, and 160 empire gold in belt pouch. No need of the letter, for today I was hired as a guard and investigator for a keep to the north, in a place called the Giantdowns. Caspar told me that it was a wild place, but one full of danger, mystery and opportunity. After some minor purchases, I plan to join the settlers of Veloren Keep and add my fighting spirit to their defense against this White Witch's threat I have heard talk about.

Before leaving the employ of Caspar, I will entrust him with a letter to be delivered to My Uncle Feliks when next the trader caravan is that far North again. It reads:

Honorable Uncle,
I have arrived safely and fullfilled my contract to the satisfaction of my employers. I will be travelling to a land called the Giantdowns. There is some kind of trouble brewing there and the local settler's have been recruiting everyone they can find to fight in the defense of their lands and their lives.
Tell everyone, all of you are in my thoughts often. I will write again once I've arrived at Veloren Keep in the Giantdowns.
In all Honor,
Malyn


Relen 18th Erntenir 1524 HC

I rushed past an important story. Let me retrace steps back and tell about how I am now working for my new employer, the Dwarf Akos Sotencrag.

To recount last 4 days events since I've written last.... Things have happened quickly since coming to Sonelind. The first day, Caspar and Son's set up in Market with no problems at all. I helped where I could and stood watch over area most of day, running errands during part of day. Early in day was when I first saw Dwarf Akos. He spoke to Caspar and looked over some of trade goods from Aulbrunn. Later at night when trade had ended, Dwarf Akos returned and shared evening meal. It was at this time Caspar introduced me to this fellow as Akos Sotencrag, formerly of KhurinAzur. I remember that this place borders Wierech where Aulbrunn is located. I think to myself, 'This Dwarf is long way from his beginnings,' and wonder about his story. What brings him here same time I come here? He speaks to Caspar in Brecht for most of night and I catch come familiar words but much of what is said I do not understand. At one point during dinner, Feroz tells Akos I may be someone to talk to, I may be help to him. He looked me over more thoroughly than when we were first introduced and I felt he agreed with Feroz, I might be of some help to whatever he talked so intently about to Caspar. He invited me to meet with him at Sleeping Oak Inn on the morrow if I am interested in some exciting and meaningful work.

This invitation turns out to have come at very good time as, Feroz told me that the Caspar's will probably be stranded in Sonelind until winter passes. They wait for Ship Eisgrafen to be repaired after recent storms. Feroz and I talk late into night and he tells me this place the Dwarf goes to, this Giantdowns, 'is a wild and dangerous land to the Northeast of Dhosone, full of hidden treasures and terrible monsters.' I see the wisdom of Feroz's words that I go and listen to Akos' and see what it is he proposes. After all, I do not make a very reliable sailor and I live better with land under my feet. So I go next day, it being 14th of Erntenir, and I find Sleeping Oak Inn and talk with Akos and hear his proposition. As Dwarf Akos talks I feel rightness inside my gut that I follow this man to this wild country he try to tame. He explain that he looks for specific kind of person and asks me many questions, some I feel uncomfortable to answer but it feel right to answer as honest and complete as I can. After all is said about personal stories, Akos invites me to dinner next night to meet ones he has chosen to travel to Verloren Keep he has claimed. I look inside myself and at choice of being sailor trader or scout warrior I am used to being and I accept in joining his cause and I go to his dinner next evening.

Feroz says to me that I chose right. He says I would feel like caged animal stuck here with them. I frowned at his choice of words and told him, "I no animal." And he laughed at me and said I would not be happy stuck here. I laughed seeing truth behind his words. I slept good sleep that night. No dreams disturbed my slumber and I felt good next day as I took stock of my possessions and prepared for change of journey.

I went to dinner, it being night of 15th and met who have agreed to be chosen to follow Akos. It is strange combination of fellows Akos has selected. We are all young and fairly of equal experience in each thing that we are good at.

I am from the Far Northeast and a warrior, and Cayen of dark skinned people I've only heard of in stories, is from South deserts and he smells of magic and musk. Then there are two fellows that are from lands in between; one is warrior priest and he appears untried as yet; the other is a man of earth magics, Druid kind that know mysteries of herbs. This druid carries himself with air of ageless wisdom yet he appears younger than myself.

I am 17 summers in years. But maybe the Rjurik Druid is older and it is his whiteness of skin and hair that makes me think otherwise?

That dinner tells more than what Akos mentioned previous day. He tells how he is wounded and that it is of a mysterious force that drained his close friend of his youth and aged the dwarf's hand into feebleness and changing his hair to white. The dwarf says his friend was of Elven people and he died of old age in matter of minutes? I feel uncomfortable about running to fight magic and spirits, but I cannot see myself doing anything else. I go because my destiny calls me to go. I have never felt so strongly about what to do as I did that night at dinner at Sleepy Oak. I cannot explain conviction that took hold of me that night. It is something I have felt before, yet not so strongly as that night. Eloell was guiding me. I felt her touch. That is as close to explaining how I felt as I can get.

The first day, being 16th, we meet in front of the Sleepy Oak early, and met other's who have joined Akos. These seven people are craftsmen and their families and three guards, two I met earlier when I saw Akos and heard his proposition, third I not seen before.

We are group of 16 in all and we are questioned by city guards as we leave going to the south. Akos speaks with them and we leave Sonelind, Caspars, and any connection to my old life, behind. I think it strange that we go South, but realizing during part of time Akos spoke to everyone as group, I was so busy looking around at everyone, I did not hear everything that was said. So I rode on one of new ponies Akos supplied for travel and followed along side Akos in second wagon.

First day passes with no worry. I recognize fellow on the road south who I saw in Sleepy Oak on 14th, but when I approached him he ignored me and kept riding. I think this strange and I imprint his appearance to memory. But maybe he had no interest since he was not hired by Akos and he has other things to think about..