Arelith

And so it begins. My head hunted in my own lands for gold, like a common criminal no less, merely for acts of innocent association. They still do not understand, they fear that I am somehow involved in the 'withering' of their lands, but the answer to that riddle lies in deeper more terrifying truths I fear.

So there it is, now I flee these lands, my beloved home for the better part of my many years,  and further, I shall hence fourth be known as Blain Kross. Like my home, who I was, to be left behind, for all time.

I hope only that those that seek to accost me for acts that I am innocent of, lack the knowledge, conviction and magics to once again locate me.
Time will tell.

This vessel bound from Port Llast to the most distant and remote island on the map I could find, Sklyard, has been enroute a day now as she goes. The Osprey that were accompanying us, hoping that we were a fishing vessel, have now abandoned us for the most part as we venture further accross the seas.
We have been blessed with fine weather though the winds bite now with their cold as we venture ever closer to the frozen isle.

I find myself curious as to what gauge of folk I shall find on that remote snowswept isle. I have travelled little throughout all my many years, and now, I begin to wonder why, as the sea spray flashes a cold invigorating sensation over my weathered old face and I gaze out with squinted eyes at the glassy sea and setting sun, mirrored upon her waters as the convergence of the two heralds the ending of another day. A beautifull vision to be sure.
Soon it will be dark and dinner time, a meagre allotment of rashions and a friendly non negotiable order to head below for the night.
I chose this vessel whoms name escapes me at the moment for good reason, for she was not the largest or grandest of vessels, her crew though cordial to the passengers of which I am one of, address each in a harsh beligerent manner which indicates a deeper demeaner of perhaps questionable ethics and background. Still, it is with such a vessel that cares little for documents or identities, just gold, that I shall make my escape from the mainland most effectively I would wager.

The Osprey

A sea bird of impressive size that appears to feed mainly upon fish.
Wings are brown in colour, on the underparts and head, predominantly grey. Powerfull beak and body similar to that of a hawk indicates that she is predominantly a predator.
A wingspan roughly the height of an average man.
If enraged, a well grown specimen of this bird could inflict some grievous wounds to the unwary.

Using shades of grey, A rough but decently sketched rendition of an Osprey in flight takes up the next full page, drawn clutching a large fish in its talons

What a cold and forboding place I find myself in. My previous vocation as a herbalist all but useless here in Skalyard.
This, is a harsh and unforgiving place I have discovered, where my options for gainfull employment are limited to say the least. The little gold I have to sustain myself continues to dwindle as I struggle to find work that does not involve violence.
Here, there is little to do but beat back the ever encrouching snow, wild beasts and monsters to generate some coin. I fear that to sustain myself, I shall have to once again take up arms, something i've not done for decades, and join the ranks of the so called adventurers that flock to this place.

They call this place a town, but, a rag tag garrison of lawless adventuring folk all seeking their fortune by the either the blade or the weave would be a closer account. The place is outright dangerous. I must of been devoid of all my senses to actually choose this place to escape to. One could use the analogy, out of the frying pan and into the fire to accurately describe my current predicament.

If I am to survive here, I must join the ranks of the adventuring folk it has become clear to me. Thankfully, not all of my skills at arms have left me so I beleive. At least one saving grace, if I can survive here, I should be safe for a time, and perhaps eventually forgotten. For soon the winter ice will bar all passage by sea for many a month, making any attempt to retreive me nigh on impossible.

With what little gold I had left I aquired an old suit of bronze plate armour and a sword. I'd forgotten more then I thought I realised, but eventually, the boon from my first few successfull jobs were impressive enough to keep me at it. More work, more gold, more gold, more gear, more gear, more better paying work, and such this cycle of my life here continued on.

........
It was a strange occurance to be sure. I was at the cookpot one afternoon, busy preparing my meal on one of the snow covered cliff ledges in Skalyard. I had been here just shy of three weeks when I sensed something. I'd felt the spirits prodding and passing before, but this was different, like an invisible eye staring at me, then, I heard my name, my true name, whispered on the wind.
Unlike the wandering spirits I usually blocked, I concentrated on it, letting it in. I focused and drew my mind toward the voice and the eye. What was it? I had to know.
Then, a disproportioniately large etheral face gradually materialised above me as though distorted through a rounded glass. It was, a womans face, youngish and comly, no doubt a sorceress.
"Who are you?" I demanded, staring up into her shimmering eyes. Her eyes grew wide as she realised I could see her. She seemed perplexed as
I reached up to the empty air clutching at the vision as I demanded again.
"Who..are..you?"
I could feel her trying to break the connection. Had I been a normal man, she would of surely done so, ending the scry on me easily. But nobody it seemed had warned her that I was also gifted in divination, as was she. Whether this assisted me or not in holding the connection or if it was just pure coincidence, I have no idea.

I focused and raised both my arms, clutching at her vision. Angrily, I yelled once more.
"WHO..ARE..YOU?" She shreiked deafeningly through my head and I collapsed to my knees clutching my ears and wincing in pain as a flash of light blinded me and the area undulated and distorted momentarily with wild magics, then a loud crack and silence.

The vision vanished from my mind and I slowly opened my eyes and looked up soberly, trying to take account of what I had just witnessed. To my shocked surprise, my cookpot was thrown aside, the fire heating it blown out, and the woman from the vision, was standing before me, a nearby hound barking at here excitedly.

She wore a dark mages robe and held a nobbled staff. She was quite visibly agitated, looking about fearfully as she wrapped her meagre robe around herself tightly to fend off the biting cold.

It was evident she was unable to recognise the place though she tried, finally fixing her gaze upon me as I slowly rose to my feet. She spoke quite calmly, recomposing herself despite the situation.
"You call yourself Blane Kross, but you are in fact ______, the one I was commisioned to seek out. Are you not?"
"It would be pointless to attempt to deceive a diviner such as yourself, so yes, that is indeed who I am." I replied cordially.
She looked around and sighed.
"The weave can be, unpredictable at times. Sometimes, unintended effects can result" she explained about her unintended teleportation to me.
"Well Sojourner, from the snow, I take it, it's going to be a long walk back for me?."
"Yes, about that."

"I do not wish to bring any harm upon you my Lady Diviner" I announced with raised hands, "But I cannot allow you to return to those seeking me, to alert them to my location. Surely you can appreciate this."
A half smirk drifted accross the womans otherwise emotionless expression as her smokey dark eyes stared into mine sourly.
"Do you actually believe you could stop me?" She retorted darkly.
"Well, thankfully, I will not need to, for the winter snows have set in and the sea path is frozen over. You cannot return for many months untill the ice melts and vessels can once again make the journey. Welcome to the island of Skalyard!" I responded triumphantly.
She was quiet for a moment as she digested this information.
"Skalyard island? How quaint. I've never heard of it. We must be far from the mainland?"
"Aye that we are, and as previously explained, iced in for the winter I'm afraid" I announced through a victorious grin. The Diviner leveled her eyes at mine and stared with a deadpan expression on her face as she produced and displayed a portal lense in her delicate palm.
As I looked at it, realising the ramifications of what it meant, I furrowed my brow in thought as I thought fast.
"I see." I finally managed.
"Indeed you do it appears."
"You wouldn't?"
"I would, and will!"
"They want to kill me."
"None of my business."
"Are you at least not curious as to why?"
"Not really, but it must be serious for the city guard to be employing 'my' aid to locate you."
"I did nothing wrong."
"Im sure."
"Dont twist that portal, I implore you."
The Diviner surveyed me with a raised brow a moment, then sighed.
"Listen, they will know where you are momentarily upon my return, though the weather and distance may prevent them from reaching you for some time. That should give you ample a head start if you mean to continue running."
"I am a diviner like yourself, under suspicion of serious deeds that I had no part in. Please hear me out, I beg of you."
She looked at me a moment, then the portal in her hand. She sighed and nodded as she put the Lense away.
"Very well. I will hear you out since I am here, perhaps fate meant it so, perhaps not. Does that tavern over there serve meals?"
"It does."
"Then buy me a meal and I will listen to what you have to say." She said looking around with narrowed suspicious eyes. "...For your own sake and this towns, do not try anything foolish. You have no idea of the devastation I am capable of, and you do not want to find out. I warn you."
"Understood my lady, right this way."
........

In the tavern, I ordered some warm food and procured for myself an ale. She had asked for a tea to drink so I aquired one for her, as well as surreptitiously organising a few things and adding a little extra something to her tea.
I sat down handing her the tea innocently as I began my tale.
"Many years ago I was a soldier, turned mercenary..."
The Diviner took a sip of her tea as she listened then furrowed her brow and looked at her tea as I continued.
"I have spent most of my recent life in the wilds..."
"One question vexes me" she interjected suddenly, putting her tea down.
"Oh? What is that I asked?"
"Specifically, Why can I taste nightshade in my tea?" She inquired with a suspicious expression.
I looked at her with feigned innocent shock as she continued.
"Yes, I know what deadly nightshade tastes like. My sisters and I experimented with many poisons when we were young. I am warded against poisons if you have not yet realised." She explained, her anger clearly growing. My face grew red as I struggled to recover the situation.
"Well, this is somewhat embarrasing I must declare, for I did not believe we would still be speaking at this point."
She eyed me with a piercing glare.
"The only reason I do not kill you right here and now is because I know my client has...plans for you." She growled with fire in her eyes.
I raised a finger, " In my defense, I have thus far treated you with nothing but the utmost respect."
"Is that so?, does this respect include the two halforc thugs waiting for me by the outhouse to strike at me whilst I was weakened by the nightshade and spewing fourth the contents of my guts?"
I raised my hands defeatedly. "Well as they say, one cannot be too carefull."
She glared at me with a shrewd look. "Indeed, which is why I learned to lip read a long time ago."
"A long time ago you say? But you appear so young and comly, how old are you?"
She scowled at me before replying defiantly.
"Despite my looks, we were probably born under the same moon if you truly must pry, though I declare, the nightshade and the thugs I could deal with, but asking a lady her age!, that is beyond reproach, you despicable fiend!.
I put my hand on my heart. "You wound me deeply with your barbed words my lady as I sit here in awe of your beauty and prescence. If I have offended you, I most sincerely apologise, for it is only because you have bewitched me and relieved me of my rational thinking."
She flicked her hair back then stood up as she replied loftily. "I do tend to have that affect on those around me I declare, so perhaps I may of been overly hasty in berrating you over such an indiscretion."
"I am eternally gratefull for your forgiveness my lady and pray only that one day we may find ourselves in a ballroom complete with all the pomp and elaborate gowns any tailor could possibly muster, for a single dance with you would be the culmination of my wretched wayward life."
The Diviner looked sidewards at me whilst taking a standoffish posture with a hand on her hip. Disbelief in her eyes at my silvered words but clearly, she appeared to relish them. Perhaps I had stumbled upon a rare thirst she had, that I had unknowingly satiated her ego. I did not know but incredibly, she played along with my words.
"Am I to understand that you have just tried to kill me, and now you are propositioning me?
In what twisted plane of existance do you think we exist in for me, to consider your desheveled self as a suitor of any interest to me?"
She concluded harshly, staring at me with raised eyebrows beckoningly for a response. I cleared my throat and chose my words carefully.
"Though I currently wear ragged furs, am unshaven, unwashed, stained with blood and exude odours which no doubt belong in th Bogs of maul..."
"Don't forget you also tried to kill me!" She interjected,
"Err indeed, I assure you that I am a man of impeccable breeding, good standing among my peers, and graced with gentlemanly manners and a chivalrous upbringing. I have unmatched skill in the arts of dance and combat at arms."
She looked down her nose at me unconvinced.
"I find your declarations dubious at best and difficult to believe, given what I have seen of you thus far."
"Then allow me the honour of proving it to you, my lady." I replied eloquently with a grin and a respectful bow in closing.
She looked at me with a crooked smile as I smiled back her in wait.
"Hah!" She grinned, checkmate!
"Hah!" I replied back, awaiting her reply.
We looked at each other, astonishment gripping us both as we recounted the snooty verbal fencing match we had just undertaken off the cuff.
I had not enjoyed such noble banter for a long time, and it was clear to me now that neither had she. I gave her a disarming smile and she reciprocated, with the slightest of a warm smile in recognition before her softened expression again turned hard. She spoke flatly as she returned to the business at hand.
"I will not share with them your new name, for they did not ask. But as for your location, at least the ice should buy you some time, sojourner. It is time for you to move on."
And at that she twisted a portal lense, and in a instant was gone in flash of magical glyphs.

I stood with my hands on my hips, realising the ramifications of this latest development as I glanced around the tavern.
"Confound it!, I let her get away."
A nearby drunken barfly having overheard, looked at me with sullen eyes and nodded knowingly in support.
"You too huh?"

It's a funny thing this existance we measure with our lives. Though I was no stranger to the sword and death in my youth, I have always since prefered life and the cultivation of it, in its many and a varied form. I found peace and harmony in nature for many years after my spirit was awakened, but this world of late sours my pallet for life.

It seems that it is the taking of life and all the associated brutalities therin that brings one true fame and fortune in this blighted world.
These past few months I have learned to kill with frightening precision. And I have done so, drawing power from the spirit realm and growing in knowledge and skill. The part that most saddens me is in doing so, I have seen more gold in the past few months then I had previously in my ifetime.

This abominable blade I carry with me. I made you with such meticulous care and ferver, combining the rarest of ingredients to forge a boon of unstoppable destruction within you, and now, it is with lamentation that I ask, What have you made of me in return?

Killing, war and violence for so many years was foreign to me, a distant ugly thing I kept at arms lengh. Now, these falacies have become as second nature. I shudder as I reflect upon the satisfaction my work brings me, I always turned away from violence, denounced it. Has my true soul been revealed? Am I a harbinger of desth? The destruction, the killing, my will to survive, the power of the spirits growing within me, urging me to reach ever higher with each fatal blow I strike. Is this what I truly am?

I can now call down devastating wrath from the skies themselves, using the magics gifted me by the spirit realm. I kill things for a living that are nothing short of the stuff of nightmares. I share stories as a peer with some of the most powerfull warriors and castors that ever walked the lands. How could this be so? What have I become? Is this who I always was?
As a sculptor once remarked to me many years ago when I applauded him for his incredible work.
He humbly responded thusly.
"The statue was always there within the stone, I merely cleared away the unnecessary parts."

I now walk the wilds of this island Arelith, keeping to myself mostly, for I have little to talk about now save that of death. The wonder and beauty of nature still brings my troubled soul respite but I wonder how long I can go on like this, an instrument of death for those who are truly alive.
I fled capture many moons ago to escape certain death, and yet, in all this that I have become, I fear that I have died anyway.

As time marched onward, days had become weeks, weeks now months. I had retired mostly from the writwork that had eaten at my soul. Having made a handsome fortune, I bought a humble shop which kept me busy. I spent most of my days foraging for rare plants and trying new recipes with mixed results.

In my Grotto cave, I was at work cooking up a most special recipe, an extremely delicate process requiring ingredients from quite rare foliage. If it turned out right, this particular brew once coated over my blade would be most devastating to the bodily functions of my enemies.

It was then that I heard a distinct tapping at the stone counterbalanced door of my cave.
As if to ensure that it was not my imagination, the tapping sounded again, 3 rapid raps in succesion.
I looked at the brew sighing, removed my gloves and goggles, and made for the door as the tapping sounded again. Putting my hand on my weapon I called out.
"Who is it!?"
"A visitor!" returned a womans voice.
I scowled.  "A visitor who seems compelled to state the inexplicably obvious. I repeat, who is it that raps on my door?"
"Just open the door you silly old goat." The woman demanded with a modicum of frustration. I was taken aback by this. Whoever this person was, they knew more of me then I knew of them thus far.
Quietly drawing my blade and whilst coating it with my most potent nerve poison, I inquired cordially. "May I ask what this is about?"
"Its about you!"
"Oh, I see. In that case just one moment please whilst I conjure up every magical buff, ward and shield I can muster and summon fourth some minions of the deep before opening the door. I'm sure you understand."
Some muttering was heard through the door before a pointed request.
"Ye gods Elliot McBride, just open the door!"

I stopped a moment in shock. My eyes narrowed. My name, that was my true name. This could only mean one thing I realised as I completed my final incantation and sword ready, opened the door.
To my disbeleif, it was the lady diviner I had met when I resided in Skalyard. But why was she here? My eyes narrowed as I glanced about for her guard, she seemed alone.
"Its just me. There is nothing to fear." she announced disarmingly. Suspicious, I quizzed her with my sword at the ready.
"Alright. Why are you here?"
"Are you not going to invite me in?" I eyed her a moment with a sagging brow before forcing a thinly veiled smile.
"Indeed!, where are my manners. Please, come in." She entered and I stuck my head out the door looking around for an ambush before abruptly closing and locking it. I focused on her with a forced smile, watching her silently with my sword still at the ready.
"Lady diviner, what a lovely surprise." I began, weapon ready and an obvious lack of sincerity in my cautious demeaner.
"I have come to give you some favourable news." She interjected.
"Oh?"
"You are no longer a wanted man." She announced, looking around at my quarter, putting herself at ease. She focused on my cookpot and sniffed at it as she continued.

"The curse on that vile keep and its surrounding lands which has been the bane of your recent existance has been dispelled. it took much doing, but those lands are now cleansed."
My eyes widened. She continued as I processed what she was saying.
"That of course now being the case, means you have by extension ceased to be of import to all that desired that resolution, meaning you are no longer wanted, the bounty on your head summarily withdrawn and posters of your unflattering likeness removed."
I furrowed my brow in disbeleif and shook my head.
"But...how? who did this?."
She gave me a deadpan look. It took me a moment to realise.
"You? You cleansed those lands?" I asked in shock. She dipped her finger in my cookpot and I raised my hand in a halting motion whilst wincing as she put her dipped finger in her mouth, sampling the poison I was concocting.

To my surprise, despite the strengh of the deadly brew she remained unscathed.
"This requires more arsenic." she declared as I stared at her with a dropped jaw.

She looked at my reaction and rolled her eyes,
"Come now Elliot, you should know from our last meeting that I have an immunity to poisons.
As for the cleansing, upon our last meeting I decided to look into just why a bumbling botanist such as yourself was of such interest to my lofty clients."
"Bumbling botanist? I take offense at your unfounded assesment." I raged. She ignored that and continued.
"Its not something I normally do by a longshot, but needless to say, after some investigation, I was able to first identify and then dispel the curse on the keep and its lands. It was quite deeprooted and nasty I would have you know, I had to engage my sisters to assist me, and even then it was a close thing. Its not something I normally do, and after doing it, I am reminded why."
I shook my head and raised my hands.
"This act that you took upon yourself to undertake in itself astounds me, but further, and moreover, the burning question whoms answer escapes me is, WHY?, why would you do this?"
She looked me up and down a moment.
"Do you remember when we last met?"
"You mean, when I tried to poison you?" I asked unsurely. She rolled her eyes again.
"No, after that."
"I'm confused" I shrugged as I thought a moment. Then it hit me, though I struggled to beleive it. "Oh. Oh." Was all I could manage, my eyes widening as I realised the situation.

"You mean, about the courting?" I asked delicately. She nodded, the seriousness of her expression unmistakable.
"Did you mean what you said? Did you mean it?"
She inquired sharply. I looked at her with sombre eyes, choosing my words carefully as I lowered my sword.
"In all truth of the matter, when I made clear of my desire to court you, I was trying to save my skin, but despite this, the answer is still yes, I did infact mean what I said. It was something about your disposition, I simply felt as though we were kindred spirits."
She stared silently at me a moment, her eyes intense, assessing my sincerity. What I had said to her was no ruse but simply the truth, and she saw it for what it was.
As I watched and waited, she finally appeared satisfied. Keeping her gaze on me, she slowly removed her jewelled necklace and put it on my table beside her. As she did so, I was startled to see her visibly age, possibly a decade. She proceeded, now removing a ring, wrinkles began to form around her eyes as she put the ring down beside the necklace and then began removing another on her other hand.

"What are you doing?" I asked as she removed her cloak, not answering. Yet more wrinkles grew as the magic items influence on her comliness waned and ceased.

She uttered a final incantation, dispelling herself of all magics and looked at me soberly.
I gazed upon her true form. With all magics removed, this youngish beautiful sorceress was now a much older woman, still quite comly and shapely despite her years, but the glow of youth and posture of confidence all but gone from her.

She looked at me matter of factly, now an open book, vulnerable, but still far from fragile or worn out. She truly did match me in years as she had remarked back on the isle of Skalyard and many things about our strange connection seemed to fall into place.

"And what about now Elliot? Do you still stand behind what you said? Do you still seek to be my suitor after what you now see before you?" She inquired in a mature voice.
I looked at her in stark astonishment, moved by her courage and confronting honesty. I reflected momentarily on my empty, lonely existance, realising just how lucky I was to be here in this moment.
"What about Now you ask? What about now?, Absolutely, unequivocally and resoundingly, YES!"