Entry from Kilkarak’s Expedition Journal: Day 8

We are in Histra. Dashyl and I are sequestered in our room at the Vaygr’s Breath Inn while Jarax is out procuring supplies. He is also on the lookout for those who might help us leave Histra undetected. We timed our entrance into town when the streets would be bustling, the markets active and the inns busy.  Once within the city’s walls, we tried to lose ourselves in the crowded streets and ducked into a different inn. There we donned disguises and made our way in shadows and through back alleys to our true destination.

The Vaygr’s Breath occupies a little corner of the city that is secluded from the main thoroughfares, but is still near the gates where we will make our exit.  We will most likely leave at night. Jarax has hatched a plan, but we need the help of another young boy. He is gathering the supplies I would normally stock up on before heading into the Tanglefern Thicket. I hope he is successful finding everything and everyone we need so we may leave as soon as possible.

In the meantime, Jarax, knowing I would be bored stuck in this room all day, brought me a book on the history of Histra. Some of its history I could discern before even entering its gates. The walls of this city were not designed or built in any style you would find in a sarion-built city. Most notably absent are the tall pillars and arches the Legion architects are so fond of utilizing. Once inside the walls, one notices the architecture to be more brutish and blocky than anything else in the Legion lands. The foundations and many of the buildings are much older than anything I’ve seen before, too.

The reason for this, as recorded by Hornblath Capspenduer, official Legion historian for Histra at some point, is that Histra was originally a sidrani city. But the Legion have conquered and destroyed sidrani cities in the past, why is this different, you may ask. Because, Histra fell to the Legion, not through warfare, but by economics. As the Legion expanded its reach into the southeast of Veratar, they discovered Histra was run by sidrani merchants who built the city to fortify their markets when this area was a wild, untamed land before the sarion settlement. Sarion merchants moved in and proved to have a better business acumen than their sidrani competitors and soon controlled the markets, therefore taking control of the city without any bloodshed. Since these sarion merchants were not officially representing or affiliated with the Legion government, Histra has since stayed independent of the Legion, profiting from the relaxed rules and regulations that sarion could enjoy here instead of more restrictive ones in other Legion cities. To this day, the fringes of Legion society find a home in Histra. Dark Traders often make their way up to Histra from Trader’s Haunt, selling their rare goods that they would not be allowed to sell in anywhere else in the Legion lands.

Interestingly, beer has an important place in the lore of Histra. Before arriving in Histra, the sarion did not have any knowledge of brewing beer. The sidrani, however, had been brewing for generations and had advanced the craft to a form of art. The first sarion merchants to settle in Histra were drawn to this art form that was unfamiliar to them, but produced such tantalizing liquids. Beuiw Feuiw was the first sarion ever to be named a brewmaster after rising through the ranks at the Histran Brewery. Instead of staying in the city, Feuiw took his knowledge and talents to as many cities in the Legion lands that he could, spreading the art of brewing and gifting the enjoyment of beer to practically every sarion in Veratar.

I, myself, have never had a beer. Maybe I should since I am here in the birthplace of sarion brewing mastery. Slipping down to the tavern couldn’t hurt. Dashyl and I could wear our disguises, have one beer each, and we’re back before Jarax even notices we’re gone. 

Dashyl's Quest

It was clear that Dashyl and Fretly were not going to make Anchorwatch by the end of the day. Traveling through the brush on the other side of the river from the road took much longer than they had expected. They would often find their way blocked by vegetation or rocks and would have to go out of their way to get around each obstacle.

“Let’s make camp soon,” Dashyl said to Fretly, “We’re not going to make the city before night, but there’s still a good amount of light left.”

“We don’t need that much light to make camp,” Fretly replied. “You just want to read more of your father’s journal. I saw you reading it this morning. Anything good?”

“It’s mostly stuff I remember about the journey. No big secrets yet,” Dashyl admitted. “It would be nice to rest some. I’m bushed from all this bushwhacking.”

“Ha, you’re funny,” Fretly chuckled. “Okay, let’s make camp at the next spot we find. We can relax some tonight.”

The two walked on, smashing their way through the brush. Their hands and clothes smelled of green sap, everything about them was sticky. Fretly constantly rubbed his hands together to get them clean. “Hey Dash, “ he said clapping his hands together and pretending they were stuck together, “I’ve been wondering.”

“What?”

“What’s waiting for you back home,” Fretly asked, peeling his hands apart and pushing more branches out of the way.

“I dunno. Just home, I guess,” Dashyl answered after thinking about it some.

“Yeah, I mean, you don’t have your mom or your dad, no other family there, right?”

“No. Nobody. Once my father was exiled, I lost all of my friends, too.”

“Well, Dash, I think you should come with me to Fairewood. There are many kids like you there.”

“Kids like me,” Dashyl asked.

“Yeah, kids like you with no mom or dad. But they do have a family; it’s called the Urchyn’s Clan. I’m part of that family.”

“Urchyn’s Clan? Sounds fishy.”

“No, no. Well, you become slippery as a fish.” Fretly explained, “You see, the Urchyn’s Clan gives you a home, a family and a living. People come to Fairewood from all over Veratar for entertainment. Those people are wealthy and they come to lose that wealth in Fairewood. Whether they lose it by paying for tickets or meals or art or it is lifted from their person, any way you slice it, they don’t take it home with them. The Urchyn Clan is a tight group who live free, but live for each other and for the good of the Clan. You would be welcome to join.”

“Maybe,” was all Dashyl could say.

“It’s an exciting life,” Fretly persuaded. “Maybe not the life of a chemist, but every day can be an adventure in Fairewood,”

“If it’s so great, why did you leave?”

“Ah, well, there comes a time when you get too old to be part of the Urchyn’s Clan. Most people take various jobs at Fairewood, acrobats, radia jugglers, pirolyns; or they leave. I left to seek wealth and glory. I heard about the tournament from an Ithilian who was visiting Fairewood. He offered me a fair share of the prize if I would join his team and help him win. So, I joined his team with my friend Farley and we left Fairewood for Trader’s Haunt.”

They had come to the crest of a small hill. Fretly stopped walking and turned to look southwest towards the Tournament Plains where Farley had died. He drew a deep breath and his voice cracked when he spoke again. “I didn’t think I would be returning to Fairewood so soon...or alone.”

Dashyl clapped Fretly on the back. “Well, it sounds like a fun place, Fairewood, you’ll have to tell me more after nightfall. It looks like there’s a clearing up ahead where we can make camp and I can read more of my father’s journal.”

Fretly nodded silently, staring off into the distance. Dashyl smashed his way through the last bit of foliage as he trotted down the hill into the clearing. “Come on,” he called to Fretly, “let’s go.”

Entry from Kilkarak’s Expedition Journal: Day 7

We shall arrive in Histra tomorrow. The three of us have made good time, the trip has been uneventful. Until tonight. Jarax whispered to me when we made our campfire for the night, the logs popping and cracking covered his voice. He told me he noticed someone following us. He did not know if we had been followed all the way from Katena, but whoever it is, is doing a good job at not being seen. I haven’t noticed anything, but I trust Jarax, his hearing is better than mine.

We will try not to alert our pursuer that we are aware of their presence. We will make our way into Histra as normal, but once there, we will attempt to make our trail disappear. I am looking forward to visiting Histra, a place I have never been. On expeditions past, I have traveled from Katena to Kerak before entering the Tanglefern Thicket. Kerak is the main Legion outpost in southeastern Veratar. It’s size makes it the best place to stock up on supplies in the area. It's ties to the Legion government are strong and in the past, I never had trouble finding those who would cooperate with me and assist me in reaching my goals. Histra's connection to the Legion government is not as strong and it attracts a more unsavory element, including many sarion resistant to Legion rule and law. Despite these facts, or because of these facts, Histra is our destination.  

Exploring Histra will expand my knowledge of the Legion lands and perhaps I will see parts of the thicket that I have missed before, but the main reason I have chosen to go to Histra this time is because I wish for this expedition to be known to as few sarion as possible. Being followed does not bode well for my wishes to come out that way. The appearance of one on our trail could mean my enemies in the Catalyst Foundation are keeping tabs on me in addition to exiling me. We shall see, perhaps I am being paranoid and buying into the overactive imagination of Jarax. Still, we must be careful. I will not alert Dashyl to the situation until we have obfuscated our path in Histra and are on the next leg of our journey.

Dashyl's Quest

Dashyl handed the varyl-smeared bread to Fretly as his friend returned to their little camp. “Well, what did you see,” he asked.

“Sap sandwiches again? My favorite,” Fretly joked as he bit into his meal, ignoring Dashyl’s question.

“Until we get where we’re going, this sap and bread is all we have. I don’t think it’s so bad,” Dashyl said, licking his fingers clean.

“Ugh. You can have my share of sap, next time,” Fretly said, swallowing the last dry lump of his breakfast. “The road to Anchorwatch is not far off. It joins up with the Cerulean up ahead and follows it north along the east bank.”

“We’re not taking the road, are we?” Dashyl interrupted.

“Shush and let me finish.” Fretly admonished. “No, we’re not taking the road, we’ll find a place to cross the river and make our way along the west bank. Just far enough into the trees to be hidden from other travelers. Also, we can keep watch over the road to see if someone is chasing us.”

“Is someone chasing us? And how would we know it?” Dashyl’s voice carried a mock-panic tone. “Oh look, a big, bad group of curics is marching down the road with clubs and spears in their hands calling out our names.”

“Shut it, Dash. Seeing a curic certainly would alert us that something is going on, why would they have reason to come to Anchorwatch?”

“Who knows? What makes you so sure that you’re right, Fretly? So far, nothing seems to be how you say it is.”

“I know, but I’d rather be off the road, just in case. There could be other threats waiting for us apart from whatever is going on with the curics. It doesn’t seem to be well traveled. Come on,” Fretly implored, “once we get to Anchorwatch we can join a caravan and cross the plains to Trader’s Haunt. Once we get to the city, we can get lost easier, but until then, let’s keep our guard up.”

“Okay. I’m ready to go. I’m anxious to see Anchorwatch. I haven’t been to any cities outside the Legion lands,” Dashyl admitted.

“Ha. I’ve never been to any cities inside the Legion lands. Nor have I been to Anchorwatch. Let’s get going so we don’t have to be anxious about getting there any longer.”

“Agreed,” Dashyl answered as his companion slapped him on the back. The two slid on their backpacks and walked through the thick grass at the river’s edge.

The going was rough. The road proved farther away than Fretly made it seem. The river was narrower through this stretch but also became a rushing ribbon of whitewater as the land sloped downstream to the south. Eventually, they reached a plateau of sorts where the river widened out and the current slowed.

“I think we can cross here, Dash. It looks shallow and slow enough that we can walk,” Fretly called out.

“Right. Lead the way,” Dashyl called back.

The travelers held their packs above their heads as they made their way carefully across the slippery, rocky river bottom. Neither fell, miraculously, and the two collapsed once they reached the other side. They were cold, wet and tired.

Fretly was the first to speak. “Let’s make a camp in those tress over there and eat. Night is coming soon. We’ll get a good sleep and in the morning start out again. We might make Anchorwatch by the end of tomorrow.”

Dashyl's Quest

The next morning, Dashyl woke up and didn’t know where he was. It took him a second to realize he was outside, curled up in a sleeping sack. Fretly was still asleep. The sound of birds filled the air and the sun had just barely cracked the horizon. His head spun as he thought of the events of the past two days. With such turbulence in his head and uncertainty, the boy couldn't fall back asleep, so he pulled out his father’s journal and read the second entry.

Dashyl remembered everything his father had written about that day, especially his time with Jarax. He had learned songs from Jarax, some serious ones and some funnier ones. That seemed like ages ago to Dashyl. That time was another world where he had a sense of his future. Now there was nothing, no plan, nothing he was supposed to do but get back home. And then what? Dashyl had no answer for himself.

Despite the cacophony of birds chirping in the trees above them and in the grasses around them, Fretly slept soundly and still. Dashyl sang those songs Jarax had taught him softly to himself as he had so often done when being tended to by the curics. He began to miss his old bed there, not having to worry about food. His stomach grumbled at that thought.

Why had he listened to Fretly? A stranger, no stranger than the curics to me, though, he thought. He looked over at his companion sleeping. Fretly had left boyhood not all that long ago, what did he know of the way things worked in the world? But, he is my friend, which is more than I can say for any of the curics, he surmised.

Fretly stirred finally, sat up and blinked at Dashyl. “I’m hungry,” the young man said after smacking his lips a few times.

“Good morning to you, too. I’ll dig some things out to eat. You start figuring out where we go from here because I have no idea,” Dashyl admitted.

“Don’t worry, Dash,” Fretly said as he stretched and yawned, “I’ll have a masquer-proof plan thought up before we finish eating.”

“Can’t wait to hear it,” Dashyl sighed as rummaged through their stash of food.

Entry from Kilkarak’s Expedition Journal Day 2

Day 2. Today, we left Katena through the main arched gateway, not in disgrace, but certainly not with any fanfare. If my fellow Katenians only knew the changes in their lives this expedition could bring, they would be applauding me at my exit and awaiting my triumphant return with bated breath. No, today, only my friend Jarax accompanied us. Dashyl and I followed narrow streets and back allies and met him at the arches in the city’s outer wall. I wanted to leave without anyone knowing. Let them discover that I’ve begun my exile fifteen days early.

I have chosen to leave at the start of the Turning Days as the Varune cycle ends and the Meduna cycle begins, signaling the start of the Blossoming phase. The athids that I seek to collect will be emerging from the eggs where they have been pupating during the cycles of the Withering phase. The larvae will emerge to feast on the tremendous growth of plant life during the Blossoming phase, preparing for swarming, mating and depositing eggs during the Reaping phase. If we can travel to the heart of the Tanglefern Thicket by the next Turning Days, in four cycles when the Reaping begins, and catch the athids swarming, the collection numbers would surely be more than satisfactory and the expedition will be a great success.

Jarax will accompany us to the smaller town of Histra where we will part ways. While we head south from Histra into the Tanglefern Thicket, Jarax will be heading east, back to his birth home of Agrigane. A masquer by trade, he is auditioning to join the masquer troupe in Agrigane. He told me he misses the sea and the life of a coastal town. Katena’s weather benefits from its proximity to the coast, but Agirgane is situated right on the shores of Moonlight Bay, and Katena is a ten day’s journey to the sea. Agrigane has an open air theater where Jarax is dying to perform. I’m sure he will impress the head masquer; he has the charisma and the talent.

We will reach Histra in time to watch the changing of the fires from indigo to blue green as the phases turn. I am glad Jarax is with us, he keeps Dashyl entertained by cracking jokes, singing songs, making funny voices. Dashyl is a natural and joins in right along with my old friend, no matter if he doesn’t know the lyrics, he sings gibberish. Ah, let this jovial attitude remain with me and my son for the duration. Our journey begins on a high note. I feel optimistic about this.