World's Over Journal Jane's Heart

       Dear Charles, the whole world changed seemingly right before our eyes. One moment, that seems a distant memory clouded by a thick low lying for - which I have no desire to alleviate - we were stumbling on the brink of a final world war; huddled together in the Bahamut quadruped crab tank with the rest of the family members, whose names I can no longer recall. Neither Priscilla or I can remember the name of her... Well, I am her mother now, but we'll get to that.

Where the rest of our tank unit ended up, who knows, I'm sure they had their chance to survive in flight and peace or to perpetuate the battle scene we were speeding towards, a land of ruin. I don't want to remember the stone towers that lay fallen, the ash that covers the dead from our own weapons, a destruction we conceived nearly brought all the earth into eternal silent mourning.

A month we've walked this beautiful earth. My darling Charles, have you seen with your brilliant green eyes the way this majestic forest lives? From the smallest insects stammering about in the underbrush and dust to the Trolls who've fashioned a city out of the mountain side, everyone is at peace. There are several tribes of Immortal Races in the valley, from elves and angels to trolls, goblin and daemons, all attempting to fashion what the human race could not, harmony.

Where once my heart cared only of our day to day survival on our homestead of reasonable comfort and stability of life, I've discovered that my soul longs to attach itself to this majestic and mysterious this world and the peoples who live within it. No hiding or running away, Freya, Toki, Kensori they are our friends, all of whom Priscilla has taken a fast friendship with, going so far as to even learn a great majority of their language, even in such a short time as a few days. Shall we tear down our bubble, our tree house, I think not. But the prejudice of the old world, illegitimate perceptions of the unknown, we must break down and set ourselves free of. Priscilla deserves a world where harmony reigns, by choice it will exist; Lived by those who stand vigilant in virtue.

I want us to make a vow, provided you agree,  before the Troll Tribe that we will care for Priscilla as our own, that she is to be our daughter until the end of all things or time itself. I know you haven't spent much time with Priscilla, but I sense that your heart is changing as well. Though we are apart and there is no end in sight of our departure adventures, I know we shall see one another again. That you are a stronger and wiser man than ever, please don't forget our future is here and now. The past is not ours to hold onto, though we are in part responsible for the travesties, remember today and hold not onto yesterday.

I love you! Shall write again when I have time, Priscilla, Toki and I are heading with the royal court to the fountain before the gates, apparently late last night a small band of undead warriors arrived and wait patiently in the vale for the Trolls to send an envoy. Priscilla is rather excited to meet a lich for the first time. I just hope that my being creeped out doesn't show on my face and in my mannerisms around them. I must learn to give everyone of any race their own chance, for the Trolls have been lovely hosts! We shall see what types this band of undead warriors are.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
       Without you...

Charles & Ravice

I meandered slowly back through the labyrinth of shoji screens several moments later, only after pondering over the words of the young mouse. She had spoken with such a bitter passion, contempt and rage in her eyes mingled with pain and remorse.  Could it be that  Jane and I had been destined to cause some unfathomable ill fortune, bringing on a  tale of woe fated news, that we were unaware of?

I admit that when I fired the laser to fell the tree that would be our home, I had not thought for a moment of the world outside of Bahamut's Tomb. The plan was to obtain freedom and a new home in a freshly fallen tree, a stump to carve and call our own.  It had never crossed my mind that there world be thousands of sentient mouselings could have lost their lives when I pulled the trigger. I pulled the trigger...

My head swam in a torrent of doubt as awe overcame me. 'Had my actions caused the deaths of so many,' the though riddled itself over in my mind, the depths of its sorrow hit my soul hard and I staggered. Opening my eyes a moment later, I found myself leaning against the a wooden beam between two shoji screens. How long I stood there silent in the deepest sense of awe, trapped in the immense imagery of inescapable woes, I knew not.

When at long last I looked up, Ravice's eyes were upon me. Gazing down from her perch on Allyndran's shoulder, in the kitchen, as they were preparing something near the stove. A fiery rage emanated from Ravice as her eyes pierced the depths of me, as I stood there, a weak and frail man hugging the wall for fear I should falling, overcome with the grief of truth, aftermath of a caused calamity. Was it remorse for the dead or merely sympathy for my own plight in the moment I recognized a terrible mistake? Even at such a young age, the mouseling knew it was the later.

I closed my eyes to avert her gaze, desiring a moment of reprieve. It seemed but a moments blink, but when I opened them again Ravice stood before me in the door frame of the kitchen at the end of the hall, the fire still blazing in her eyes.

'Arise from the ashes of regret, shame and sorrow,' the black rodent seethed, the fur on the back of her neck, forearms and feet was standing on end, 'from a tomb you escaped but how many did you create in your first endeavour in our world? Can you tell me, man from a distant age of war, greed and pride? You made an escape without venturing forth from the beast's womb to see the world you had awoken into. An utter disregard for life, just like all the others from your era, selfish.' As she finished she turned on her heels, stomped one foot down hard and leapt in a great bounds from the kitchen. When she had made the door, Ravice stopped to gaze over her shoulders at me. After pulling her cloak's red cowl over her head she crossed her arms underneath its crimson sleeves.

Whatever I had done, Ravice's dispute with me and subsequently Allyndrans neglect to acknowledge it, had made me aware the scars I had created. For Allyndran stood silent and forlorn throughout the interaction between the mouse and I. I found it a struggle to speak, to find the words to say in the aftermath...For how can anyone reconscile the unimaginable, the horror of a holocaust.

'I can't imag...' I began though my voice was faint with weakness, but Ravice would not tolerate a response from me, she turn her gaze to the town beyond the threshold wherein she stood, as if I were a foul smelling corpse. 'I'm sorry' the words came out as a faint whisper taken in the wind towards the mouseling who had stood a valiant heroine ignoring her defeated foe. 'How many lost their lives because of me,' the question was directed at no one in particular, a riddle sent into the open air. There was no response from Ravice who took a great bounding leap down the pathway through the garden that lead into the village. There she stopped once more and stood silent. 'Ask Ally, if she can forgive you,' Ravice said with stern wisdom beyond her years, 'If she can then maybe I can as well. For her pain is greatest of all.'

With that she escaped my view beyond a bush of blue roses, venturing down the pathway and into the bustling town. With that I was left alone with Allyndran, where Edgarory was I knew not. I had many questions and had no the strength of will to beseech Allyndran of the woe I had caused her. She was silent and still as a statue, solitude clung  to the air like a low lying fog, it felt as if I were utterly alone with Death, in a room that swam before my eyes as tears unsought swam down my face... Tears of sorrow.

In all hopes of returning,
                                Charles with Edgarory

World's Over Journal XXVIII Magic Water

That evening, after Priscilla had gone to bed, Toki and I remained up late talking before the hearth. The topic which had been eating away at my mind ever since Priscilla had mentioned going to investigate the road hadn't left my thoughts. I turned to Toki and asked about magic.

'Regular magic, cannot be taught, nor is it within the blood,' Toki began in the stern stoic tone which was her way, emotion was only betrayed in glistening shimmers behind her eyes and a minute smile which might be seen dancing at the edges of her lips. 'It is discovered from small manifestations of the will and then harnessed. It takes time, discipline, a good mentor and a wand, of sorts, to make a good wizard, witch or warlock... Though even then things can go wrong as greed, fear and hatred creep in, if the wrong type of magic is mixed in with that type of magician, a necromancer is born; though they are few and rarely survive the transformation from living to undead.'

'That brings us to unliving magic,' continued Toki 'the unholy powers were born of a single entity at the dawn of time. Her will and the magic within went unchecked for an age of the earth, until she fashioned herslf a wand. It was during this time that many creatures and beings began coming back to life, as undead. There are varrying degrees of magic inside the unliving, but what we do know for certain, is that they all share a united memory. Every life that dies brings into the legion's history it's own memories, up until the point of death.

'Do you mean that Priscilla is undead,' I asked Toki my eyes starting to swell with tears as unchecked sorrow began to overcome my thoughts. 'She is just a girl... Was just a girl,' I corrected 'I know she is aging differently than other humans, and that there is something odd about her dragon tattoo, but she didn't die in her hybernation. It was but a deep sleep.'

'Jane, do not fret,' Toki said calmly, seeing my panic, 'It is common for humans to be found in the deep slumber of the final war's magic. No, one truly knows all the magic that moves about the earth, and there is new magic that has begun to stir in the past age, ever since the wand of the Vampire Queen was shattered and the Necromancer was born. What I can tell you is, that as far Kensori and I can tell, she is not one of the undead. Rest your heart and do not fret.'

My nerves calmed and I became less tense, 'well my friend,' I said to Toki in a weary voice as I stared into the fire, 'I must be off to bed as I am ever so tired.'

'Sleep well my friend,' Toki replied, 'tomorrow will be another long day.'

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles

World's Over Journal XXVII Troll History

That afternoon we found ourselves on the top terrace of the Troll Stone Citadel, through out our wonderings Toki told us of how the citadel came to be. That several tribes of Troll had come together ages ago after the war had ended. Priscilla and Toki had been discussing the undead road that passed through the valley again, it was a matter of extreme importance becuase it was the legion had spread the word to all the troll villages as they made their way into the Frozen North. Unification seemed like a good plan at the time, since the Human, yet Immortal Emperor had been gathering and enslaving as many immortal beings as the politicians of the free cities of the northern rainlands would allow without another war.

The three of us stopped for lunch in one of the markets on the third tier from the top, it was only a small square with about eight shops in total. We ate roasted peppers, onions and nuts mixed with garlic and something like humus on the side with a piece of bread. Marggette the shop keeper whose table we sat at told us more about the history.

As the tribes gathered, coming out of the north and a few from the South the village in the depths of the magically protected vale became too small. Thus the need for a citadel, which grew out of a large cave at the end of the village, deep in the vale. A vast and thriving underground city; with lush crop fields in giant halls deep under the earth, guard towers upon terraces stagged in tiers in protection of the city, upon which also vast gardens and beautiful flower beds.

Toki picked up the story where Marggette left off as we continued on our way. She spoke of how the mighty hill trolls had lead the charge into the cave, digging furiously behind them were came the various trolls who had lived in the valley of a time out of mind, it was their desire to show their hearts were with the unification of the tribes. A king for each tribe there had always been, but there too was an emperor and he was from the valley tribe. There had been no squabling or political woes, they were united as they had been in the dark ages of the earth, hidden deep underneath the mountains hidden from humanity.

When Toki had neared the end of the Troll history if the valley we found ourselves back at her dwelling. It seems that we were so occupied with her story and the people we had met and what they added to the story that we had lost our bearings.

'Jane,' Priscilla began as we neared the entrance, 'the next time we are near the road, well I suppose it will be your first time,' she said with a smirk, 'there are two statues which we need to investigate. I wish to see if these memories, that haunt me in nightmares by night and speak to me in day dreams as I walk in the waking world, are really true.'

I remember making a special note at the point, to ask Toki at a later point about the unholy magic that had touched Priscilla as we lay sleeping entombed within Bahamut. In fact, I should make it a point to ask about all types of magic in this strange new world.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles

Charles & Ravice Calamity Relived

The young black mouse in red and brown had fallen silent, Her head remaining lowered for several moments in the door way beside her mother after a strike of her walking stick, as if overcome by shame or fear; I knew at once it was not from pain for no tears formed in the corner of her eyes. How could a mouse, a child of Freya who was one a strong and wise warrior, who had never yet laid eyes upon me before, fear me.

'Charles,' Ravice began slowly, still staring at the floor, 'You may have never seen me before, but I have laid eyes upon you and Jane. The day you both first came out from your silent tomb.' Still her eyes would not surrender from their intense gaze upon the floor, she was concentrating all her will just to be able to speak to me. 'You remember, the day you fired the laser and the tree fell,' I nodded letting out a barely audible yes. She must not have heard me, or maybe she was lost in the memory of the calamity that errupted the forest into chaos that day.

On that particular morning as the light of dawn penetrated the skies amidst the haze, illuminating the world below in a deep shade of purple, as if twilight had come early, the gigantic steel crab which had rested dormant suddenly woke up. The Behemoth groaned as the ancient gears began to rotate every so slowly, it stopped when its right claw was open and aiming maliciously towards the tree. A beam of living liquid fire poured out from the claw and severed the giganitc Redwood from its roots. Then the menacing steel crab began to raise itself up, pushing hard against the tree, as it did so a wire shot out and a sharp hook on the end sank deep into one of the larger branches just above the Gallant farm, another shot out and sank its single tooth into the mightiest branch of a neighbouring Giant Sequoia and with one great pull of the wires the mouse kingdom began to plummet towards the earth.

The steel beast had calculated the beam and subsequent push to pull measurements perfectly. As the tree fell it collided with no other tree, that is until it hit the mighty branch it was being pulled towards, which did not crack or break under the weight for just as before the collision the crab shot another several wires out sinking deep into the boughs of the falling tree and the steel behemoth pulled hard and the branch acted as a leaver. Hundreds of branches exploded as the falling tree was pulled over the other side of its neighbours mighty branch. As the mangled tree began to roll over the other side it creaked and groaned the sound filled the valley as it began its second descent towards the forest floor, still far below. Most of the Boughs were gone, shattered in the explosion which sent pieces of branches in every direction, mingled in the fall amidst tiny wood chips, pulp and shredded green flakes, which were once leaves, were tears of red rain, blood. The leaf and splinter storm was blinding, much like a mid-winter blizzard amongst the chaos fell the terror frozen, the wounded and the dead.

The tree began its second descended, like a carrot being thrust back into the earth in reverse order, top first. With a tremendous thwomp, which resounded throughout the valley, the Redwood struck the Arbutus labyrinth upon the shallow slope and began to slide down towards the ravine. The labyrinth carried the weight of the gigantic Redwood as it slid, sparing the forest floor from the chaos. The savaged Sequoia quickly found the ravine, it went over the side and began a 3rd, albeit shorter, descent towards the lower side of the valley beyond. It smashed into the forests smoting down deep into the Arbutus labyrinth. The tree became one with the labyrinth upon the far side, and the forest fell silence once again.
Raising her gaze to meet mine, she continued, 'the tragic events of that day were only narrowly avoided, but by the dream of a dear friend. It is her, not you, that I am here to see this day,' with that she bounded off between my legs and down the hall.

In all hopes of returning,
Charles & Ravice

Charles & Ravice

The next morning we awoke to a rapping upon the solid oak frame of the front sliding door. At first I did not rise, expecting to hear Allyndran's cloven hooves upon the the floor as she passed, but she didn't and Edgarory had gone into the undercity last night after dinner. Blinking under the duress of dawn's radiant orange light, I slowly open my eyes. Putting on my pants, tunic and socks I rise, stretching before I turn to the door and walk over to open it.

The hallway is empty as is the rest of the house. There is a knock on the door frame again, though it seems quieter than the first few times and close to the ground. Looking around slowly, scratching my head I walk towards the door. Sliding the thin white screen door open slowly, I find that no one there.

A moment later the knock is there again, but this time it is beside me, on the frame near my left foot. I turn, suddenly completely awake, yet again no one is there. Then there is a rapping upon the frame to my right, I turn but no one is there, yet this time I hear a the giggling between my firmly planted feet of what can only be a mouse. Near the screen door there is another more jovial whole hearted laugh, there before me stood Freya, a wide grin upon her face.

'My friend, I know you are not as fast as once you were,' I said with a sly wink, 'then who stands giggling between my legs?' Freya's bright smiling face quickly turned to stern stone, though I her wink, which was not directed at me.

'Ah that is right,' Freya began with a smirk, 'you didn't meet any of my family during the chaotic season, the aftermath of the falling tree.' A small mouse dressed in a red, brown and orange tunic with a deep gray cloak walked out from beneath my feet to stand beside Freya. 'This is my youngest, my daughter Ravice.' As she finished Ravice gave a deep bow, though earnestly respectful, she had not finished giggling, and so took a rap upon her head from her mother's cane.

In all hopes of returning,
Charles

World's Over Journal XXVI Terrace Tale

The next morning I woke up to the pitter patter of bare feet upon the stone tile floor amidst the chatter of my two friends cooking. I could almost taste the air, as it was filled with the most intoxicating smell drifting up from down stairs to fill my the room. Quickly I dressed and fled the bed, flying my way down the stairs onto the main floor.

Side by side my two friends stood before a hearth built into the wall, which was in the side of the mountain. Atop the heated clay counter there were several eggs, some flat bread and a mix of various vegetables. 'Please have a seat over there at the table,' Toki said over her shoulder as I entered the room.

'Toki and I have just been discussing the passing of a legion through the valley nearly a hundred years ago,' Priscilla said, 'shall I bring you up to speed on the history Jane?' It was in that moment that I began to realize the little girl was not the same girl who had stolen away with us aboard the Bahamut, she was much, much more.

Nodding my consent I wandered into the next room nearest to the entrance to wait, there I sat down at a table and stared through the front window out into the garden. Near the cliff's edge of each terrace there was a tower surrounded by beautiful gardens. The one before me was built of thick stone bricks, it was almost seventy feet round, with many windows. The garden on Toki's terrace lay under the shadow of a canopy, there were avocado and mango trees amongst the willows. About the trees there were countless flowers, mostly the same blue, or purple roses which we grew in the forest far below. There were also many vegetable plants and berry bushes. In the distance, somewhere in the garden, babbled a brook. Priscilla walked up beside me and sat down, laying a plate on the table in between us.

'There is but one road in the valley,' Priscilla began, ' it was made by the hands of the last legion who past through on their way into the frozen Noth. When the peace treaty had been signed between Emporer and the Vampire Queen the legion along with their General, whose name is Akeldaen, had been set free from slavery in the Iron Cascade Citadel in far off in the South. The legion had crafted the road with their bare hands, they tore through the shrubs and carved their way through trees. Along the road now stood remnants of the legion, those whose souls had left them on their long passage, some were overcome with sorrow at the loss of so many of their kin in the centuries of slavery to the human king, others simply hid inside of themselves, forever silent. Several had awoken over the centuries, only one had remained in the valley, living with the Elves in the North Eastern villages, his name was Rojun.'

'General Akeldaen had sent scouts into the valley, ahead of the legion as to map the straightest road into the North. When they had at last made it to the boarders of the valley, a plan was already laid for their passage. A straight line they carved, day and night, endlessly their skinless skeletal hands worked. Where they had to fall Redwood trees the roots too were pulled up. The wood was cut into timber by the Elves and trolls, who had accepted the legions plan, though they really didn't have a choice, war with the legion or a road and wood. Akeldaen had been grateful for the help.'

As Priscilla told the story, it seemed to me that she had lived it, she was there for the whole endeavour. As the road was build, the trees clawed down with bony fists, steel claws and skeletal talons. For a moment I was scared by the intellectual strength of a little girl, whom every day seemed less so.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane, Toki and Priscilla

Charles & Edgarory Allyndran

When the three of us were finally sitting upon pillows around a low table in a room just next to the kitchen Allyndran began the tale of how she had arrived at the village. She was one of the first Demon to be accepted into the village, for her had existed only as fairy tale until she had showed up upon the road near the Southern boarder along of the mountains which encompassed the valley, where Edgarory's father Sevan had discovered her.

The first Demon were reported to the counsel of the three houses more than three thousand years ago by the warriors that manned the garrison before the Obsidian Gate, which was built to hold the evils of Lucifer and his Elvish followers behind it. From the walls of the Black Citadel the elves had witnessed the demons first hand, though nothing after that report ever came to the counsel, save for the week after the first, when a dead Demon had been brought North to the counsel as proof of Lucifer's twisted evils, for it was said that they were once elves.

Sevan had been a hunter, along with most of his friends, tracking a mountain sabre cat through an open glade near the road when they saw a young girl running towards them. When Edgarory had been appointed the next Red Marshes City's Travel Warrior his father had taken it upon himself to gain any news about the world outside the valley as to counsel his son. It was on just such a trip that Sevan along with his friends found themselves beyond the valley's Southern mountains. She was being pursued by three men on horseback and several on foot who lagged behind. Though they could not catch her, she was faster than their tired horses and knew how to elude the clutches of any enemy, for she had often been the prey of dangerous creatures who lurked in the darkness world below the earth.

As Allyndran had come within bow shot of the hunters, Sevan beckoned her to his side, she disappeared behind his great frame, hidden from the eyes of her captors. What transpired next was a great marvel to me, but it showed the bonds of love between the Elves and their Kin, the Demon. Sevan and his hunting party had challenged the right of ownership that the warriors had claimed, even though they were out numbered and knew nothing about the ragged looking, nearly naked red Demon which hid behind them, as a helpless peasant behind an impenetrable wall.

The lead warrior, a knight in shining mail with a white tabard over top bearing the crest of their city, an iron hammer in front of a water fall inside a silver shiled, in his hand was as shield and a javelin, the other held the reigns of his horse, at his side a double edged sword. The rest of his mean were equally prepared for warfare. 'Our claim to the Demon is true, all her kin are now under the service of our great city,' the knight said gruffly and half out of breath in the common tongue, which was English, 'release her to us and you won't be harmed elf.' As he finished two things happened, a flash of malice crossed the man's face which Sevan perceived clearly as hatred for his kind, and the warriors who had fallen behind the horses began to fall in about their leader. They were equally geared for battle, though tired from the long chase, behind them came a carriage, all about the slave wagon were Demons cramped in cages too tiny for their majestic frames.

Sevan put his hands behind his back to make it look like he was pondering over the words of the knight, but what he was really doing, was untying his bow and quiver filled with arrows and handing them to Allyndran. She took them, quickly tying the quiver to her belt, which was set about her tattered and dusty grey tunic, the Demon had never shied away from battle, save when it would spill the blood of any of their kin. Allyndran had been there when the war between the True Demon Udhere, birthed of magic from the lava pools deep under the earth, when the city of Twilight and Shadow was still Lucifer's. She had survived the battle at the Obsidian Gate, from the high walls she had shot arrows tirelessly even after fleeing for many days through the darkness, pursued by Udhere.

'I will give you this girl if you give me all the others whom you now hold captive there in the wagon,' Sevan began boldly 'Do you agree that any blood shed today is unnecessary, make true the deal and let us be done here.'

The Knight was not prepared for such a bold and intriguing request, for several moments he sat upon his war horse pondering, 'I know you will not give up the girl,' the Knight began, 'You have no choice but to kill us all, for if you let any of us leave this place alive, we will surely pursue your kind to enslave you just as we have done the thousand Demon who came crawling out of the darkness.' There were several Obsidian doors, magical gates, into the world underneath the earth. Men rarely ventured into the depths, just as rare was the coming forth of a so great a host of any immortal race. The Demon had come out of necessity, for the time had come for them to leave the darkness and the ever searching eyes of the counsel.

'We have the advantage, we are hunters who have the high ground, while your men are tired from their long, indeed you are not even sure of our number,' Sevan said bodly, yet there was regret in his voice 'Even if I die here, the Demons will go free.' With those words he stepped forward launching a Javelin in the direction of the wagon, he did not wait as it sailed through the air Sevan was already nearing the wall of shields as it came to rest deeply embed in the chest of the lead knight.

In that same moment arrows were fired from both sides, the hunters, whose number were nine stood their ground until their quivers were empty. Their aim was to kill the soldiers about the cages, so that if the tides turned against the men, they could not kill those trapped therein. The three elves firing from the woods were nearly invisible, for they stood naked in the forest, allowing their skin to shift with the sunlight and swaying of the forest undergrowth in the wind firing arrows freely. They were outnumbered ten to one, though almost ten men had fallen or were incapable of fighting by the time Sevan along side his best friend Jarkol meet the oncoming warriors. Sevan threw his sword at the foremost soldier, he ducked but the archer behind him took the blade full on in the face as Sevan sprang forward underneath the guard of the line of warriors coming at them, as he dove below the shield. Coming up from his role he pulled his sword from the dead man's body and spun taking off the head of the warrior he had past, pulling the sword from his mouth. Four men turned to face him, but he ran on towards the cross bow men near the wagon, protected only by three pikemen behind five men who formed a shield wall.

Of the four who had turned to give chase to Sevan, three were hit by arrows in the back, two by Allyndran. The another four of the thirteen men remaining in the charge of the archers standing in the dusty open glade, were doing battle with Jarkol who didn't even try to kill them. His attacks were merely parries ment to open up spots for Yirs to take down, who stood invisible in the forest behind him. Spinning and slicing the clumsy warriors quickly fell back as two of their comrades fell. Quickly they were dispatched, Jarkol turned to Allyndran, terror caught his eyes for a moment two warriors were stumbling towards her, as he had turned he had registered that all his friends were busy and could not come to her aid. The warrior closest to her stumbled more deeply than if he was overcome by weariness, as he collapsed Jarkol could make out the arrow protruding from his hip. The second warrior swung his shield down upon the young Demon with all his might, Allyndran leapt up and kicked the shield with equal force, her cloven hoof dented the shield and shattered the arm of behind it. The man fell doubled over in pain, in that moment terror seized him for he was not standing in front of a red horned little girl with a tail, but a powerful Demon. Allyndran closed in on him, standing above him as he knelt there helpless, she took his head off with one clean kick of her cloven hoof. She winked at Jarkol who turned back to the fight.

Nearly all the men were dead, Sevan had been wounded, two bolts through the abdomen as he had leapt over the shield wall and the pikemen, whose bodies he now stood over. They had immediately released twelve Demon who were held captive in the cages. One of the Demon, named Lirah who was a dear friend of Allyndran, was a healer who quickly looked after the wounds which Sevan had recieved, a fire was started, a bottle of rum was found and the arrows were broken off near the end of the shafts. In the end, Sevan would live, but Pireor lay dead pierced by many bolts near the edge of the glade, Yris had lost his left arm mid bicep which had been cauterized first while Jenon lay mortally wounded, she would not survive. A mound of dead warriors lay atop Drogna who had died holding the men captive in his grasp as Yris and the other archers had sent arrows into their backs.

That night they ate a deer which they had killed earlier that day, while Allyndran slept the remaining hunters and demon discussed their next course of action. The following morning Sevan, Yris, Jenon a wounded male Demon named Pelagor and Lirah went South along the road upon the horses they had freed from the warriors. They had guised themselves as knights of the Iron Hammer Cascade Shield, taking whatever weaponry suited them. The dead elves were laid to rest by the Demon and the men were burned in the usual manner a victor offered to the victims who lay dead.

Sevan and the others were never seen again, though more than a hundred and fifty Demon had made their way up the road and into the valley, for more than twenty years they had lived with their Kin in the City of the Red Marshes. The tale of the hunters who went beyond the road to rescue those being enslaved never faded into legend, it was always on their lips.

In all hopes of returning,
Charles with Edgarory

World's Over Journal XXV Majestic Hall

When I reached the top of the steps Priscilla was sitting upon her knees beside the large male troll whose spear was upon the ground as he too sat comfortably, cross legged under the shadows of evening's twilight. They were discussing historical events after the Last War as I approached. Toki saw the perplexed look upon my face, turning to me she touched my shoulder and with a fang filled smile said 'all will be explained in due time.'

Only after Toki had finished speaking did Priscilla become aware the two of us standing so near by. Maybe I had imagined this, but it seemed to me that Priscilla was deeply aware of everything around her, in ways I didn't yet understand, had she waited to acknowledge us until after she had finished her conversation, out of respect for the troll sitting beside her? 'Have any pleasant dreams Jane,' she asked with a brilliant smile and a kind wink, 'can you smell the feast, the sent is seeping through the citadel's front door and the windows above.' With that she got up and the four of us started off towards the main gates.

As we neared the gate Toki ran ahead of us the last few feet and put her four fingered hand upon the etched stone, after speaking softly the gates began to open. I looked away as the firelight from inside streamed out, the citadel doors were built into the site of the mountain, they were set upon a large flat stone courtyard which lay at the top of the dual crescent stair case. Beautiful and terrifying how large the citadel truly was, for I couldn't see how high up the last of the hundred terraces was, upon which was set a tower of stone surrounded by amazing gardens.

I turned my gaze from the twilight which had engulfed the vale towards the citadel doors, slowly my eyes adjusted to the fire light within. I was the last to enter through the threshold into the troll city. Inside the gate we stood amidst several pillars of stone in a shallow hall at either end was a crescent stair case which lead into the hall beyond. Beyond the pillars in front of us the firelight streamed set within a massive inner hall. We stepped forward together and slowly began to realize how large the hall was. The crescent stairs wound their way along the outer walls of the great hall as they grew larger and wider as they rose. There were several levels to the great hall which the stairs gave access to. Along each layer were many doors, some larger led into homes, storage spaces, armouries while other much larger doors lead you down passages to the upper terraces.

The lowest level of the great hall, beyond the pillars in front of us, was a large rectangular courtyard, filled with gardens of twisted grey trees with white flowers instead of leaves, a multitude of mushrooms and odd vegetables surrounded them amidst blue rose and black berry bushes. There was a pathway down the centre of the garden and one on either side along the walls wherein was set many hearths from which the fire light poured out from, lighting the courtyard. At the far end of the hall there was a large table upon a raised dais, there sat a very large and ancient troll upon a throne, he raised his hands and beckoned us forward.

As we walked through the majestic gardens, tiny fire bugs began to stream around us like a flying river of flame. They were pouring out from the hearths along the walls, which were now dark, they insects had been the fires we had seen. The stream of fire circled around us as they ascended on their way towards the table before the throne. When we finally reached the steps all the hall behind us was dark and empty, as if the moon had been availed by a tide of obsidian clouds passes over a sleepy beach.

There were three large tables atop the dais above which the fire flies circled, set in a triangle before the throne, each could seat more than a hundred people on each side; though no one sat there, the tables were set for a magnificent feast. The ancient troll sat there alone, silent in his tall stone chair, his hair was white and long, braided much like Toki's was. His lower tusks protruded out from his green skinned face, his yellow cat like eyes searched me for a moment until found Priscilla, they lingered upon her as a look of intrigue came over his face. Wrapped about him was a long brown robe over which was a red and white vest and matching kilt. He wore no jewelry or crown, nothing that would let you know he was any different from the rest of his kin, who had begun pouring out from doors on either side of the hall.

Battle maidens and blacksmiths came streaming into the hall, with them the young came as well, each of them bearing plates of pastries filled with fruit and meat or bowls of sauces, some spicy others salty, some were sweet. The colour pallet of food set out before us was astonishing, for the hall showed no sign of colour beyond the tan stone, grey tree trunks and wooden doors. The trolls were so unique from one another that it was hard for me to take in their individual features, for I was famished, and anyone that knows me, knows that once I cave in to the cravings of my stomach the world about me gets lost. It was a magnificent evening, I could not remember the last time I had ever seen so many smiles or heard so much laughter. Priscilla and Toki sat to my left, while Kensori who we met as the troll statue, sat upon my right.

After dinner we were ushered down many corridors and up several flights of stairs to a garden terrace. Toki's home was at the end of the terrace, built into the side of the mountain. Her simple two story stone home had two bedrooms upstairs and a kitchen on the main floor. Priscilla and I snuggled in to bed and fell fast asleep.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles

Charles & Edgarory Dinner with a Demon

     Allyndran, who was standing with her back to us over a hearth, upon which sat two boiling pots and a simmering pan which I could see vegetables upon. Upon first glance it struck me that Edgarory must have a different use of the word kin than I did, for she looked nothing like him, apart from being red.

The kitchen in which she was cooking was at the far end of the house, down a hall along which had several doors on either side. A faint light, as from a single candle, shown from each one of the rooms through the screens. All the walls were like the doors, merely thin white sliding screens. The frame was built of eight large beams of red Arbutus or giant Manzanita timber, four were pillars used to hold up the four beams upon which sat the roof of black shingles. The house was indeed a work of art much like the rest of the village.

Beside the hearth where Allyndran was cooking over a sliding door was open and I could see out into a garden as the twilight sun shafts faded with the end of the work day in the village. Beyond the garden's farthest gate was lane of black and grey cobble stone, though this one was larger than the one I had come into the town upon, perhaps it was the main road? Along the lane went a steady numbers elves and a their kin, as Edgarory called them, they were coming up from the lower terrace where the blacksmith and other shops were.

My attention came back into the house as Allyndran addressed Edgarory over  her shoulder. 'You're both just in time, Edgar please set the table with the dishes on the counter there,' her voice was fair, almost young though she was immortal, cheerful and modest of tone, yet she had spoken with an enchanting authority. She had short auburn hair which didn't even fall below her ears, I couldn't make out her face in the firelight as it shown off her neck and arms. She wore a black tunic and a long thick kilt, much like the hakama some of the other villagers wore. Edgarory entered the kitchen picked up the chop sticks and plates which were upon the counter next to the hearth and disappeared out of sight into the next room.

As soon as Edgarory had left Allyndran turned to address me, though what exactly she said was lost to my ears for I was spell bound by what stood before me, for surely she was no elf, but an obsidian demon, whose skin flashed with shades of deep eggplant purple; why hadn't I noticed her form before, had I been blind, truly under some spell or had her features been hidden by the red hearth. What I had originally thought to be ears protruding high above her head upon second glance I could now see were horns. While her ears rose about four inches above her head her horns rose another four, they began their accent not from her forehead, but just in front of her ears upon the top of her head. They were sleek and rose at a slight angle leaning out just as her ears. Her face was beautiful, eternally young, cheerful and wise, she looked much like an elf, fair and noble. Her face was thin, much like her slender body though not overly so, which made her high cheek bones all the more a dominant feature, she had thin pouty lips set magnificently underneath the most radiant eyes I had ever seen. They were not so unlike a human eye save that they no true pupil. The iris was no single shade of at a time, they changed from various shades of grey to almost white as the light reflected upon them.

I was woken out of the spell of Allyndran's mesmerizing beauty of her voice, 'It is your first time seeing a demon,' she asked. Looking down in shame  I noticed her tail then, which hung loosely up against her Hakama pants, which looked much like a long dress, but was more like a kilt, yet they were pants. As my eyes followed down to the end of her tail I noticed that her calves were like those of a ram and her feet were black cloven hooves.

'Yes, mam,' I said shyly for I could not recall how long I had been staring at her, 'though I would not call you a demon.' Though I had said that at the time, she was surely a demon, as men of old called them. She was red, had a tail, the legs of a ram, horns, long ears, fangs hidden behind her lips only half seen as she spoke. I realized then, that all the knowledge of the immortals I once held from the days I could not longer remember must fade away, perception was key and mine was jaded by a time out of mind.


In all hopes of returning,
                                Charles with Edgarory

World's Over Journal XXIV Toki

Our long trek through the forest ended at the bottom of the broad stone steps which lead up to the citadel gates, there we stopped for a drink of water at the most majestic carved stone and bronze pool of water, this well, if you could call it that for there was no guess as to where the water came from, seeing how it was a rather shallow pool. In the center was a very large statue of a troll on a pedestal of iron and bronze, though I could not tell what the statue was made of. The silent troll whom stood there looked not unlike Toki, a warrior, surely he was not a king for he wore no jewelry to indicate status nor did a crown adorn his head. Now that it came to me, I could not recollect if the statue had been in the centre of the staircase when we walked up, it may have been availed by an enchantment of invisibility, for any such magical thing I deemed to be accessible on this new age of earth.

The troll was only slightly taller and thicker of muscle than Toki, he wore no shoes about his double hinged pale white, cat like feet. He wore no pants or tunic to cover up the multitude of scares which he seemed to wear with a great amount of pride, only about his waist did he wear a type grey of kilt, though it was longer than those the Scott's once wore, for it hung below his knees, to his double hinged mid calf. His right hand was upon a dagger's hilt still sheathed which was stuffed into the top of his kilt, his left hand had a firm grasp on a great javelin, much like a spear save that the one held by the troll was obviously only meant to be launched at an enemy at a distance, not to be thrust or held overly long when an attacker was closing in. The blade was thin, long and there were two of them fused together to make a cross, it reminded me of an arrow, and not a spear at all. The shaft was short, only half as tall as the troll holding it, at the bottom end of the javelin were four feathers which were all the same, from the tip they were black which faded into brown, then orange and finally white. His upper body was defined by thick muscles and many scars, many tusks protruded out from his closed mouth. Two large tusks which were the size my index finger, sped up from his lower jaw up towards his defined cheek bones, three smaller ones just inside of the twins protruded as well, though they were but half or less as in size, the upper tusks set in the upper jaw were the same size as these. His eyes were enthralling, just as Toki's were, the iris was orange or yellow, I could not tell though maybe it was both at once, the pupil was slit like a cats, though with a closer glance the iris' were dotted with small black dots. His hair was long, though it was pulled back in one great braid that hung half way down his back.

After retrieving my consciousness from a trance the magical statue held over me, for how long I did not know. Toki was laying in the tall grass just off the path while Priscilla was sitting on the stone wall of the well washing her feet off with water which he was using from her canteen. I threw myself along side Toki disappearing amidst the grass, losing myself once again to no particular thought at all as I stared up through the gap in the Sequoia canopy to the haze high above, the sun would be set soon and twilight would be upon them.

After short period I began to sit up, for my body ached from the long days trek, as my eyes grew level with the grass I saw up Priscilla standing face to face with Toki on top of the right set of stairs. Steadily I began to stand, bracing myself upon my bow, I turned to face the path which he had come into the vale upon while I unstrapped by cloak from its tied bundle about the bow, which I held between my neck and shoulder as I slung the cloak over my shoulders and sealed it with a bronze broach, which used to be the knocker upon the door to Freya's home. As I turned back I noticed Toki's feet in the grass beside me, quickly filled with panic and fear I looked up to the stone platform before the gates. Priscilla was now sitting upon her knees before...

The statue, it was gone, Priscilla was sitting before the troll that had been the statue! As the fear of a trap set in, the troll turned and as he did so too did Priscilla, a smile drew across her face and she waved at me. Toki was on her feet in a flash, staring at me, eyes wide with shock, it was almost a horrid sight, her pale white skin face which defied the mind's ancient, long past, societal view to redefine beauty, reflected my fear in a most terrifying way.

Her fascinating teal eyes were wide, overly so, so that the white beyond the iris could be seen. A terrifying sight her eyes set amidst her face of hideous features as her skin was pulled back tight against her jaw and cheek bones with tension, this made her lower jaw twin tusks seem more menacing, a threat, to me even! While her fangs seemed as the talons of an eagle. Then all at once the face of terror faded and the Toki was beautiful again. Then she began to chuckle, not in a malicious way, but as if an inside joke had just been had that I was very much oblivious too. Over Toki's shoulder Priscilla and the male troll were laughing as well. As if Toki had sensed my thoughts and fears which she was reflecting externally with her face just to mock my failure to perceive and react to the real scenario about me and not my fears.

'You are in a new world now Jane,' said a calm voice very close to me, but I did not at first register it's personification, 'to be able to adapt is key to surviving for you; not only your body to the situation but also your perception. If you think and take in the world as you once did, so long ago in the age of man which has long since faded from this valley at least, then you will surely fade from think world. Sinking back into old memories, provided that your memory does come back that is. If you are able to find enough of them, then there you will reside in comfort, much like watching yourself in a one way mirror upon the wall. Reliving those memories until you can no longer live in this world, being filled with sorrow you'll eventually simple keel over and be dead. Charles would soon follow you during an unending season of mourning.'

The voice faded off and I was able to register reality as it was before my five senses once again. Toki was looked over her shoulder at Priscilla and the troll whom sat beside them. The voice started again, though this time it seemed more distant, 'Priscilla is two fold lucky you know,' the voice paused as Toki turned back to face me, 'Long ago, before she fell into the bonds of the endless sleep in the steel crab she had been introduced to the pure water. Which changed her through the hundreds of years of slumber, if not longer, Priscilla is no longer a child, her soul is old, even more so than my own. I may be several hundred years old, but she...' the voice trailed off once again, but only for a moment. 'Priscilla has witnessed the entire soul frame of the undead, which we will discuss, you and I, in greater detail after a hearty meal at the tables in the great hall of my city.'

So it was that I came to realize that in this age of the earth I, a human, was an outcast from a long forgotten era and that the Troll, who had been my companion at my side for several days, was not daft or primitive as I had presumed. That Toki had been reserved on purpose, getting to know me without me detecting it, that I had been naive to believe I was somehow superior simply because I was human, and came from a history of technology, thoughts of sophistication were merely selfish justifications of a past I no longer wanted to be associated with. The pale beautiful face which held features both delicate and powerful behind which was a soul imbued with precision awareness and intellect which I didn't even attempted to understand, was standing before me, a troll no less ( I chuckled at the thought of muted species ism, which I knew should be suppressed forever), was more worthy of friendship and trust than I had ever guessed.

'Come along dear, you can discover more magic beyond this small revelation inside,' a voice called out, beautifully soft and comforting to hear, yet twisted with a harsh raspiness which was compensated for by being spoken in a whisper, though it carried clearly to present itself to my ears, though I was more than fifty feet away. It was then that I noticed that I had dropped my bow, I picked it up and the quiver of arrows, which I slung over my back, and walked with great speed to meet my friends before the gates of the great Troll city.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles

Charles & Edgarory A Village in the Mist

It was late in the eve as I entered the village, Edgarory had informed me that we were to dine before an elder was to visit before we retired for the evening. Behind us the sun was setting a deep shade of red as we stepped out from underneath the archway a most enchanting sight before me held my eyes, I was transfixed by what I saw as I stood the Elves moved past me, back to their various tasks before dinner.

The village was nestled in the middle of a Manzanita grove and even at first appearance was much larger than I ever guessed. The labyrinth of twisted branches in the manzanita canopy which was no more than twenty or so feet above our heads kept the village dry, save for where the leaves and branches channeled water down in natural culverts to the gardens below. Much like the forest which surrounded the marsh the canopy kept the village in a constant state of twilight and shadow, the sun only creeping through as tiny shafts of light which seemed to dissolve into darkness before they touched the soil.

Before me the path of red stone went out until it split to encompass the grove in a large rectangle. About the trunk of each of the twelve trees that grew just off set from being side by side, were gardens of vegetables akin to the ones I ate in the past, those being carrots, turnips, peas, tomatoes, cucumber and so on. Whilst in other gardens there were the purple and blue flowers which grew in vines which wrapped themselves about the tree. Still there was a third type of garden which held various berry bushes, from a golden type of raspberry to gigantic strawberries.

The path on either side of the lower terrace grove, for I could see where the pathway lead up to another tier, was a black stone wall about knee high, which also encompassed the gardens around the tree trunks. The wall housed in all the yards of the individual dwellings, each one had a beautiful wood carved archway over the entrance to their personal gardens about their homes. None of the houses looked similar, some were made of the same red stone as the pathway, the same dark wood used on the archways comprised the doors, window frames and roofs of those types of homes, most of which where a single story, small and square while others were two stories tall and crafted from foundation to roof of fallen logs. Others were completely open, built in the fashion of the archway, thin sliding sheets of wood or possibly it was paper, sealed the house off when it was time for silence for sleep.

Edgarory lead me onward down the path, we went right where it split as it made its way around the rectangle of homes and gardens underneath the Manzanita canopy. At the far end of the terrace we made our way up a very large set of red stone stairs, above which was a very intricate and beautiful archway of carved dark wood, to the second tier terrace. In the middle of the staircase I stopped for something far off to my left caught my eye, there upon another tier, a lower terrace, was a blacksmith's shop. As I regarded the black stone building with wooden roof, a fire raging just inside the door in a hearth below the bellows, I heard a hammer beating upon an anvil. Beyond that I saw an old lumber mill which looked to be now used as a barn, that seemed to be where most of the Elves had gone off to as I stopped to take in the villages beauty. Edgarory had told me that there were indeed several farms down on the lower terrace to the East, and the lower terrace in the West were the battlements and a second smithery, to the south was the great hall, which was revered much like a temple, save there was nothing to be worshipped. There everything looked much the same, though this was no rectangle but a very large circle, at the centre of which was a very beautiful well. Above the well two of the same intricate archways had been linked together, under this hung a large pale from a rope which was used only during the dry seasons, which were now getting more rare as the marshes expanded into the desert beyond.

We came to the first house on our left in the circle and went under the archway, through the garden and up to the sliding door. 'This is the house of my kin, Jenovian's,' said Edgarory very softly as if attempting not to heard by her before he had a chance to knock, 'she will have us for dinner and a short period after for cleaning ourselves.' It was at this point that I noticed that Freya was not upon his shoulder...

In all hopes of returning,
Charles with Edgarory

World's Over Journal XXIII Sun Pathways

Today, urged by Priscilla, the three of us ventured forth to Toki's village in the North, along the mountains in a small vale. Our journey started from the open glade where the sun shown the haze a bright green, which was almost yellow, making the dust particles seem like stars as they slowly fell from high up in the trees down upon us a most beautiful scene amidst the purple and lavender flowers upon the edge of the glade. In the centre of the meadow, of course, was the Obsidian Golem Rock which was warm to the touch as it had been sitting in the sun since it rose above the Western edge of the Ravine. The sun often penetrated deep down into the depths underneath the Redwood canopy and below that the Manzanita labyrinth to touch the forest floor.

In such a magical manner did the sun regularly find elusive path ways to brighten the depths of the valley, it made the days pass amidst a magical glow. Wherever we walked in the forest the sun seemed to follow us or be just ahead of us, yet never upon us directly. On the northern edge of the glade amidst the purple flowers we found a small firm trail of dirt, along each side around, about and above, grew the manzanita labyrinth. We travelled along the pathway for a few hours, we came across two more glades, though naked of a rock at their center, but the trail pushed us around the meadow, never through it.

At the north end of the last meadow we started down a slope, from the top of it we could see a small Brook off in the distance. The underbrush was thicker here than it ever was, down and around the bend we came to the stream. A knotted labyrinth of the magnificent Manzanita tree had formed a bridge for those who wished to pass over the brook. As we passed over the bridge we paused for a moment to look into the stream, the water was clear we could see to the bottom only a few feet below the surface. Amidst the rocks and green plants waving in the current we saw schools of, what looked to be, Trout, and below them, in hiding, were red exoskeleton creatures moving about, much like a lobster. It was odd that we had yet to see any critters upon our journey, though Toki was a hunter and we were none too quiet as we travelled, for we held no desire for secrecy. A beautiful forest in a magical valley, hard to believe this place was once the earth our concrete cities once held our minds captive in.

On the other side of the brook the labyrinth faded away and we began to go up hill again, in the distance we could see the mountain walls, we were getting close. The sun was setting as the forest opened up into a very large meadow before us, and there before us was the mountain hall of the Trolls. Their village is not as you would think, nothing like the native tribes pushed out of existence from our Continent so long ago. No, this was no mere village as Priscilla had translated from Toki, though I only ever heard her whisper into Priscilla's ears.

Before us, more than double an arrow shot from a long bow over an open meadow stood a mighty fortress, built into the side of the mountain. Near to the mountain the path split into two which lead up to the fortress' entrance points. On both sides the stone had been carved into a great round staircase which circled their way in a half crescent up to the main gates. The threshold held a great stone door which was beautiful to behold, for it was covered in the most intricate symbols. before the stone was a heavy set of bars which were covered in tiny spikes.

Above the gate were many windows, all of them black, no light exited out from the citadel of stone. All about the mountain side were spires which made up a great deal of the fortress' defences, all of them had multiple port holes to fire out from. Underneath these and strewn about the mountain side were terraces, which bore houses of timber and brick, built out of the side of the mountain. Before them in the terrace, I was told, were ponds and gardens, which I greatly desired to see.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane, Priscilla and Toki
Without Charles

Charles & Freya Amidst Angels & Demons

Under the Grey Troll Statue, beyond which still lay the vale of mist, yet it dwindled before my eyes as I stepped between the statues lets to find myself behind the statue. There at my feet a path of large red stones began. The coral red stone stood out like stars in the dark as the island which was home to Edgarory's village was one massive black stone. There I waited for several minutes until villagers started to gather at the top of the pathway under a beautiful auburn archway of carved wood. Despite the landscape being entirely compromised of obsidian rock, as far as I could see along the shoreline of the island to my left and right, there grew a vast labyrinth of Manzanita Trees, though not as tall as those on the mainlands, most of which looked ancient, but there were many which were saplings to be sure. They made the island look much like one great thorn bush. There was little to no shrubbery save for two odd plants; one was a deep sea green which grew no taller than my shins and it had tiny golden and red berries the other was much like a rose save that the flowers were a deep purple and they grew more as a single large bush than a single flower.

From along the ridge of obsidian stone, under the archway and from perches in the labyrinth of trees branches, a dozen or more villagers looked down upon me. Not a single one of them looked alike, apart from being of Elvish descent, having long pointed ears, which stuck out sometimes six inches or more above the tops of their heads. Some were tall and red with white markings while others were shorter, almost young looking as if they were but children, with black skin and red or white markings, though I could not begin to fathom the age of any of them. The landscape of their faces held no signs of age, only their ever changing markings which swam like the tide about their bodies, sometimes only stopping so long as to formulate a new design, which could be as small as thin lines strung together like Japanese Kanji or a scenes taken from the landscape about them as to blend in.

Not even their eyes betrayed their age for those who I deemed to be in their youth had a stern gaze, filled with wisdom and patience; as if waiting for a moment to take up the defence of their village and end me. While those whom were taller which seemed to be of an older generation, at first glance alone, held mirth and joy within the complexion of their face, even in their eyes. Some were golden and much like a cat's, others were shades of green and sideways iris slit like a frog's while others were pitch black, grey or white and often hidden behind their hair, which for the most part was shoulder length or longer. Most of them kept their locks up in a tale or bun, though some let their bangs flow down beside their faces to fall over their eyes at will.

All of them were muscular and each bore a weapon, though their swords were sheathed, while their javelin, pole arms and bows leaned against their sides. For the most part they all wore a long very baggy style of pants, in navy blue, black, white, gray or red, much like a skirt or kilt, the Japanese called them Hakama. Their torso were covered by a light tunic, if by anything at all. Because they were so muscular and their frames held very little body fat it was hard to tell the women and men apart at times, save for those whose masculine or feminine features stood out, nor not all of the women had hips nor did they have very large breasts, even shirtless it was hard to tell at a distance the two sexes apart.

Under the gaze of Angels whom were Elves and Demons whose lineage were known as Daemons I remained silent for several minutes before I heard Edgarory ask those under the archway to part so he could get through. He came forth, but only far enough so that I could hear his voice call out, and so I followed him amongst a throng of his kin, into the village.

In all hopes of returning,
Charles & Freya

World's Over Journal XXII A Day With the Sun

The garden is coming along fantastically, Toki brought many seedling along with bulbs from the stores at her village, which Priscilla informed me, Toki had obtained permission from the elders to take and that before the week was out the three of us were to go visit the village personally.

A small orchard of sickly looking fruit trees with moss for leaves, which we planted just the other day, are now standing just above my head and beginning to produce the oddest, but most tastie, multi coloured apples. Inside the fence there are several vegetables which now comprise our daily nutrients, they range from two different types of bean, karrots, tomatoes, cabbage and the ugliest looking sweet potatoes you ever saw.

The oddest part of the whole garden experience is that Priscilla takes the most care of the new life growing there, each morning she is up with the dawn and dressed to be out in the yard tending to the garden's daily needs. That may sound normal, but what is odd is that despite being so young she has taken no instruction from either Toki or myself on how to care for the various plants and their needs. She simply knew, somehow, though I have not asked nor do I feel that I need to. She is very respectful, always helping with the chores without question, whether that's preparing a meal or doing the dishes. She has even taken to massaging the sore spots on my weary body at the end of the day as we sit upon the porch together, the three of us.

Last night Toki made the mistake of issuing a small gasp as she stretched her neck while we sat upon the porch. Priscilla was quick to leave her cross legged position in Toki's lap to stand behind her. At first Toki cringed at Priscilla's touch, as if the mere thought of another being touching her disgusted her, but soon she relaxed as Priscilla's magical little fingers worked their magic, which not only soothed the pain in the moment but also relieved the muscles tension for long term benefit! It was rather cute to watch, a little girl in a purple dress, which was her night gown, make a six and a half foot tall troll battle maiden cringe.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles

Charles & Freya Into the Red Marsh

It was quite a marvel to begin learning about the great history of the earth which was hidden from man for so many an age of our history, almost twelve thousand years of occupation by man upon the soil of the earth and all we had to show for it was a polluted atmosphere, countless graveyards and water which was lethal.

The time had come to continue our journey, Edgarory had the notion that I should meet with the tribes angelic leaders and become known amongst the villagers that a friendship might be born. He truly was a very pleasant being, stern of face yet surprisingly swift to smile, especially at Freya who knew his buttons well. She sat upon his shoulder as they looked out into the mist which clung to the marshes like icing upon your favourite cake, as I finished up packing up from breafkast our remaining provisions.

Edgarory lead me, as Freya continued to sit upon his shoulder, down a long fallen log, which was odd it seemed to me though I knew not why at the time, but as recall it now, the tree was like an oak! Not a Redwood or Manzanita tree at all. Down along it's firmly unplanted structure we went out into the mist.

We travelled together in the fog for nearly an hour, for the most part over fallen logs which had been laid down, or so it appeared to me, upon small piles of rocks. Edgarory pointed out that the rocks were set upon the firmest areas of the bog, he also said that agile and nimble people could walk across the bog's unsteady turf with ease. He proved this quiet easily as he leapt off the log out into the tall grass and bounded off into the distance until I could no longer see him.

Since I was no longer staring at Edgarory's back my eyes began to dart this way and that about the marsh as I followed down the thick logs which were barkless and had no moss about them. Here and there where the bog turf was solid enough there were small groves of what appeared to be fruit trees, they were not much taller than I. They were pale and the white bark looked sickly, moss did hang from the trees in the groves instead of leaves under which grew the tall dark bog grass. This place must once have been an lush orchard, but of course no fruit actually grew under the vale of mist.

I stopped and looked back when I got to the end of my latest log, nothing but mist could be seen over my shoulder upon our left, no glimpse of the shoreline, for Edgar described the bog much like a lake, only mist and deep shadow drifted over the bog; though it could be guessed at that at least some of the shadows were the small fruitless trees, while other shadows belong to large creatures. Over my right shoulder it was more obvious that the shadows mingled here and there about the mist were groves of trees, this was mostly true because that is where the majority of the groves had been seen, in fact, now that I recall I hadn't seen a grove to our left this whole journey. With that thought I carried on, stepping onto the next log and off into the shadows.

After a short while I caught up to Edgarory sitting cross legged under a large rock statue made in the likeness of a most foul looking troll, a warrior to be exact for he had many tusks borne forth, armour adorned his thick hide and in his right hand he held a spear aloft over his head in readiness for to launch the dart, in his left hand was a great shield made of skulls, the bottom skull of the triangle was still attacked to a corpse, which dangled there under the rest of the shield.

I stepped off the log and ventured up the slope to great him, as I reached them Edgarory handed me, what he called, an apple. It was divided into thirds, each of a different hue and flavour. The first was violet and tasted much like a blueberry while the second was a fiery orange and tasted much like honey-do and lastly there was a bright green which, much to my surprise, tasted just like an apple. When you mixed the flavours together in a single bite, no matter which two, you achieved a most delightful explosion of excitement within your mouth which lasted quite some time, so long in fact that it makes you want to eat the apple ever so slowly.

Here I was bid to wait by Edgarory, he explained that we had come to the very edge of his village and that before I should be allowed entry, permission would have to be granted by the town's Angelic Counsel. So here I sit, back against the leg of a mighty stone warrior, awaiting the return of my friends.

In all hopes of returning,
Charles & Freya, with Edgarory

World's Over Journal XXI Letter to Charles

Everything is going well back here at the tree house, I've made a few friends that I think you should know about. One of them is Priscilla, whom you know, though something has changed within her, sadly she is no longer the innocent young girl whom stole away aboard Bahumat with her mother, there is a history of years behind her eyes.

She can recall a time upon the earth unknown to man, through the eyes of multiple beings, she has felt their sorrow, pains and what little there ever was of their joys. Upon her back is the most beautiful and intricate tattoo of red dragon like wings, a red tail tattoo there is also too which begins at the base of her spine wrapping its intricate beauty down her left leg to end upon the top of her foot. They are absolutely stunning to look upon, very intricate works beautiful and crafted in the likeness of a dragon. It is most peculiar, but I shall not question it too much at present, but mostly because Priscilla doesn't seem to acknowledge they exist and I wish not to cause her any more emotional distress.

The other friend I've made is a most beautiful pale white troll, her name is Toki. Priscilla seems to be able to speak with her, and I have a feeling she understands me as well, though I have yet hear her talk. She is stern and yet a smile is quick to dance across her face, illuminating her golden eyes while her gorgeous lips bear forth her four tusks and a myriad of fangs. I adore them both! They get along most splendidly, as if they had known one another for an age of the earth. This letter was sent upon the wings of a falcon bidden by Toki and Priscilla, I hope it finds you safe, and you as well Freya!


In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles

Charles & Freya Red Blooded History

After my intruduction to Edgarory the three of us sat down around the fire as close friends to eat a small meal, Edgar upon the stump with Freya in perched upon his knee. While we ate Freya told me how there used to be several tribes of elves in the valley and that long ago they had begun departing and heading into the north. Some spoke of a hidden valley of the angels where the elves and their daemon kin may live unhindered as they had done before the coming of man upon the earth.

Out of the seven tribes only two remained though there were a few other villages of other immortal races. In the north along the mountain in a vast cave lay a tribe of beautiful white trolls, who were very closely related to the angels or demons, one of which sat before me. Edgarory was the chosen elf of this century to adventure forth out into the wide world beyond the valley to gather information which would aid the counsel of the most ancient angels of his village in plotting out a future for their tribe. Though his time had not yet come for his adventure to begin, he could often be found out and about the valley, usually with one of the trolls at his side, a good friend of his and an excellent warrior maiden she was, her name was Toki.

The other tribe of angels were high elven, which were pale of skin and looked much like the white trolls, save for the trolls triple hing joint lower legs, much like a ram or cat. This feature the was common amongst trolls, though there were tribes where the gene pool had not been mixed with that of the demons, which I shall describe soon enough, and so their traits were closer linked to the elves, save for their tusks and the jagged bone which stuck out as weapons from under their skin. Trolls as well could be found in various sizes, up to double that of their once elvin kin.

The daemon's closest relatives was the great house of the Edgarory's tribe, they were forever known as blood elves, even though many of them were black or white of skin with opposing transcient moving markings. The daemon were cursed by Michael and Raphael at their departure, behind their backs no doubt, under muted breath. They were but a remnant of evles who had followed Lucifer into the great underdark after the tale of Lilith's death and burial upon the mountain side overlooking Eden on the day of man's first dawn.

In all hopes of returning,
Charles & Freya