The following is a record of an investigation conducted by Marina Elysera concerning the events of Druidale’s rumored cave-in.
Begin record:
Rumors have swept through the village of Druidale about the disappearances and deaths of Jacob Pulin, Arlin Cane, Thillian Cane, Brenda Orthiel, Tyras Brimsen, Harry Bolas, Deyr Calur, and Loric Rhustar. The following is an accurate account of all of their deaths.
Harry Bolas: believed to be killed by wolves was killed by wolves; Throat gnawed apart.
Deyr Calur: believed to be killed by wolves was killed by an undetermined assailant; Head bludgeoned.
Jacob Pulin: believed to be missing was killed by Marina Elysera and Loric Rhustar; rocks fell.
Arlin Cane: believed to be missing was killed by Marina Elysera and Loric Rhustar; rocks fell.
Thillian Cane: believed to be missing was killed by Marina Elysera and Loric Rhustar; rocks fell.
Brenda Orthiel: believed to be missing was killed by Marina Elysera and Loric Rhustar; rocks fell.
Loric Rhustar: believed to be killed by a cave-in was killed by Tyras Brimsen; Murdered via a thrown ax.
Tyras Brimsen: believed to be missing was killed by Sugma Dikk; Throat lacerated.
End record.
ARC ALI 2001.172-1412:R1:VK
Sincerely, Marina Elysera
Addendum.
I have made a mistake. I threw away my own values, because I was scared. This won’t be covered up anymore. Classification update to TK. The world should know the truth.
ARC ALI 2003.002-2140:R2:TK
Sincerely, Marina Elysera
Night settled on Druidale. The streets seemed all the more still after hours. After our journey below Lake Silver, Veronica and Gerald offered for me to stay with them for the night.
Scrunched up on their couch, I shuffled through a few of the documents I took from the hidden study for some midnight reading. One of them kept me awake. I read over it several times, top to bottom, front to, well there was only a front, but as the night dragged on I finally drifted off to sleep.
When dawn broke I was still sound asleep. This was me after all. It wasn’t until a few hours later that I said my goodbyes to Gerald and Veronica and ventured out to the village’s eastern gate.
Piercing the Veil
ᛈ+4 | +2(ᛗ,ᚾ) | ᚨ
ᚨ . 2:i2(ᛈ,ᛗ) . 6:i2(ᛈ,ᚾ)
A gift to the people of these realms.
“Imagine the last time you were at the place you wish to return to. Move through the space as if you were a formless spirit unable to interact with anything around you.”
Founded by Roal Elwyn
4-7 Winter’s End Year 3: Age of Fracture
The world shifted and turned around me. Bright lights rushed past, streaked across a swirling cloud of unimaginable colors. Cobblestone clicked under my feet. I stood on Twin street in the southeast corner of the Merchant’s District in Eyngard.
Dazed, but coming too, a shine like sunlight striking gold caught my eye. Anticipation of loose change dropped when it turned out to be a man jogging toward me. He had a square face, beige skin that cut white in a scar down his left eye, and buzzed brown hair. Layers of white plated armor covered him. The lion crest of Alindra brazenly painted on his breast.
I stepped out of his way and traced the path ahead of him with my eyes. When I looked back he stopped in front of me.
“Marina Elysera.”
Bleh- it never turns out fun when someone uses my full name.
“By order of the court and on the authority of the Knights of Alindra, Captain Reistrong wishes to see you.”
“Ehehe-. I don’t suppose we can take a rain check, can we?”
The Knight pivoted toward the direction he marched from.
Oodada~ that was easy.
He threw his arm back, wrapping it around my waist. Hoisted up and carried at his hip, my legs dangled in front of him as he marched.
I’m doomed.
I threw on the cutesiest voice I could muster, but it probably came off more childish than anything.
“Wow, you are very strong.”
The Knight’s focus remained locked to the road, the clank of his armor offering his only response.
…
“You’re not much of a talker are ya.”
Shut up. Shut up. I’m making it worse.
A voice I recognized came from in front of us and matched the Knight’s stride.
“Heya Marina, just hanging out?”
A man peeked around the Knight. Draped over a suit of white plated armor, he wore a white trench coat embroidered with red and gold lion heads at the tail. His skin was deep brown, but not nearly as deep as his wavy, black hair. The lines on his face told a story that was underlined by his inviting smile.
“Lieutenant? Yeah, Chika’s going to scold me about flying straight out of the capital.”
The Lieutenant laughed from his belly. “Wow, what a prude.”
“I know right?”
The icy personality of the man that carried me cracked.
“Lieutenant- sir-”
“Lighten up Tarien, it’s all in good fun.”
“Yeah Tarien, lighten up and ah- could you put me down please?”
“Not a chance.”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Lieutenaaant.”
“Sorry Marina, even I think you’ll bolt once you get the chance.”
I kicked my legs one at a time.
“I mean. You’re not wrong.”
“Besides, I’m sure Corporal Weiss enjoys this.”
“I take no pleasure in this.”
Carried across the mountain, the depth of the symphonies of steam that whistled and metal that clanged in the Dwarven District rivaled only the thickness carried to our lungs. Senses overloaded. We passed rustic buildings forged from iron alloys coated in weathered greens, blues, and browns. Despite its hold-over name from years gone by, people of all shapes and sizes wandered its streets.
The air thinned when we approached our destination. Tucked away in the district’s south-east corner, we crossed onto the stretching ivory bridge of Castle Eyngard.
“Alright Corporal, I think she’s had enough. She won’t be able to go anywhere.”
The Corporal relaxed his arm and I fell face first into the brick paving.
“Eeechh-h-h - ow.”
The teeth of the bridge’s railing opened to a fortified wall crowned with Knights on patrol. Devouring the castle’s lower half, it lined the perimeter of a floating island. The island’s edge dropped to a point, with magical suspension, aimed directly at the chasm. My neck strained following several towers tipped with red brick into the sky. A palace turned prison ready to swallow me whole, at least that was my interpretation at the time.
I sprang up and pouted at the Corporal with my brow adequately furled. His eyes refused to relinquish any hostility. Through shuffled feet, I hid behind the Lieutenant to keep up the playful charade and shelter my brain from what lay ahead.
“Eeh- he reminds me of Chika.”
“I would think so, he’s become something of her right-hand-man.”
I clapped my hands together in a meaningless gesture of prayer.
“Ah, you poor soul, you have my condolences, may whatever god you pray to grant you comfort in these trying times you are facing.”
I stuck my tongue out and winked at the Corporal. His scowl nearly had an audible, chilling whistle to accompany his groan. I let out a breath of resignation and we continued into the courtyard of Castle Eyngard.
It was livelier than I expected. I recognized a few of the Knights we passed and said my hellos before we ascended the castle to my doom.
Hey, so, future Marina here. I just walked over to the mirror I have in my bedroom and winked to see what it looks like. I wish for death. Anyway, we walked up some stairs.
I thought about how most of the Knights were actually pretty friendly like the Lieutenant. Those like the Captain weren’t bad either. At least they were honest. It’s the Guard that were the ones I really didn’t like.
Callous, corrupt, cancerous, conniving, criminal-
“Cowards. Ah-”
“Woah now Marina, we’re just doing our civic duty.”
“Agh- sorry Lieutenant. I was thinking about something else.”
“That’s alright, but you might want to be a little more careful now.”
We stopped in front of a door with the lettering:
Ministry of Civil Defense
Chika Reistrong
Captain
“Well, the Corporal and I wish you luck.”
“Huhh? You’re not going in with me?”
“Not a chance, it’d totally ruin my day if I got yelled at by her.”
Leaving me stranded, the Lieutenant's laugh echoed from down the hall.
Wauuh.
I cracked the door a smidge and stuck my head in, hoping for the miracle that she wasn’t there. In front of a lancet window, but behind the bulk of a brown desk, a faded green hand scratched scribbles against pieces of paper. Her hair cut three shades of green from mohawk to bangs that were slanted to one side. The tips of her ears sliced red from her swampy skin and a, by now familiar, set of armor weighed down on her shoulders.
“Ahaha - Captain- how uh.”
“Marina. Sit.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Through a gentle push my nerves tensed up and the door flung out of my hand. I reached to reclaim it in vain. Thud.
Kill me.
I crept deeper into her office. Wooden drawers and dressers carved up by blades recessed along the walls. One corner of her red rug that stretched half the length of the room was folded in on itself. I kicked the rug’s corner straight when I passed and sat in one of the two chairs in front of her desk that reeked of tacky leather and fear.
“You’ve got some balls to show up here after the stunt you pulled.”
“I- guess you could just call me BD.”
“BD? What?”
“It uh - it stands for balls deep.”
…
“I - thought you could use a joke- since, you know, you’re so serious all the time.”
The Captain leaned forward and bellowed a condescending, monotone laugh from the back of her throat. “Marina!”
”Yes!”
“Start talking before I lose what little patience I have left.”
She has patience to begin with?
“Eh heh heh. The blind spots?”
“Blind spots.”
I sighed a sigh that skipped several beats and inhaled.
“There’s one right past that gemstone store called Diamond in the Russ in the Merchant’s District, it’s- uh, sorry, I don’t know the building numbers - but he’s on the third floor from 9pm to midnight. It’s in that little fountain area between it and where The Art of Ificer is.”
I took a deep breath and continued.
huff~
“There’s a house with a green roof and a little talisman shop called Have it in a Jaffe with these really pretty purple and blue plants outside on Kayler Street in the First District; both of them have their right sides unprotected. There’s also right in front of my new house, but it was still being renovated, so you probably already knew about that one since they probably have a permit, oh- I know that address, it’s number 5 Pumpkin Drive in the Gardens. And there’s-”
Bleh- I’m gonna be here all day.
“And?”
“-and there’s all I know. I think that’s everything.”
The Captain’s eyes narrowed with one eyebrow raised. “That’s all of them?”
I shut my eyes and nodded vigorously.
“Mhmm. mhmm.”
“Thank you for your cooperation. If you find any more please bring them to my attention and do not under any circumstance abuse them. The safety of thousands of people within this city are at stake. I’ve already cleared it with the court to settle on a fine of 4 runic coins.”
So dramatic. 4rc?!
“Ehhh?! That’s my entire payment I just got from my last ques- job. What happened to due process? Where is my day in court?”
“If you would rather take it up with the lower courts you’re facing the potential of a steeper fine with the possibility of jail time, since this isn’t the first time this has happened.”
Why didn’t anyone tell me it could get that bad.
“Ah- no, that doesn’t sound fun. Thanks Chika.”
“It’s Captain. You can go. Lord Weiss has thrown enough on my plate with his plans to retire in a few months.”
Wauh- I’m being scammed- why me?
With a sunk head, I stumbled toward the door.
“And Marina.”
Oh no.
“Try your best to stay out of trouble. I can’t watch out for you your whole life.”
Heh? This is looking out for me?
“Yes Captain. Thank you.”
I slinked out of her office and closed the door behind me. Leaning against it, I slid to the floor.
It really was all for nothing.
My stomach rose into my throat. I sucked in a breath through my teeth and held myself still until the nausea passed.