A Scribe's Investigation
by
Simion Astera
I am Simion Astera, second scribe to High Mage Tyrinter. It is he who set this task before me, to record the events leading up to, and of the morning of the fifth day of Morus, the Season of Eligian, 2503 years after the Great Sundering.
High Mage Tyrinter had become aware of this man, this enigma, a few weeks before, and has attempted to discern his origins through scrying and other magical means, all of which showed him nothing. Exhausting all the information gathering methods that he knows, he came to me and instructed me to get the information he wants about his man, the old-fashioned way...ask him.
I began my investigation of this man by asking around the town of Semanri about the stranger. Over the course of the next few days I encountered many that have had contact with him, and many others I believe, were protecting him by lying to me. One Rurowlian I encountered said that the man was the best tasting human he had ever met! Another man, a gnome mage, snickered when I asked about the man and said, "Mys notters knowws whur hees bees, himmers gone huntwingers widds somebodies annds notters commes backks yets." And if I spoke a bit of gnomish, I might have a clue if he gave me any useful information or not. Out of all the people I talked to, only two pieces of solid information came out, the mans name is Trenmarc, and he has taken up the profession of Ranger.
I started to think over what I knew of Rangers. Most that choose the profession have suffered a hurt that has driven them from society. They keep their friends few in number and loyal to the extreme. I have always heard they were dangerous people that tend to be loners. They consider themselves to be protectors. Rangers believe in honor, but unlike the Paladin, they feel honor is getting the job done, in any way possible, even if it means shooting an enemy in the back from the shadows. They rely on nature for almost all their needs. Rangers are often the first line of defense in a battle, since they are the ones who spot the enemy before they come in contact with an organized restisance. Most, I have heard, are willing to sacrifice their own lives so that others may live. With this knowledge, I decided to continue my search more caustously, because if this man feels that he is being hunted, he might consider me to be someone who is aiding his hunter.
I had no idea where to go in my investigation, so I walked to the Lake in Semanri, with the intention of sitting in seclusion while I thought. As I entered the clearing, I noticed a man sitting cross-legged against a tree, apparently in a trance. I glanced to the left and saw an adult wolf sitting about ten feet from him, watching my every move. The man was dressed entirely in gray with raven feather accents. Across his legs was a loaded crossbow and beside him lay his unsheathed longsword. I suddenly became very uncomfortable with the situation and started to back out of the clearing. The wolf stood up and eyed me carefully and the man said, without opening his eyes, "Easy, Raizor, I have been expecting this one, he has been asking about me all over town'. The wolf sat back down but still kept his eyes on me as the man continued, 'I am Trenmarc, of the Clan Faleen, the Clan of the Raven, former knight of the Order of the Golden Scale, holding the rank of Seeker. Please be seated and we shall discuss what you seek of me.'
My quarry was found! I did as he asked and sat nearby on the grass. Now!! If I can get the information I was sent to get, and keep my life too!! "The High Mage Tyrinter sent me to gain information on you, milord. It seems that your existance is a conundrum to him." At that Trenmarc smiled slightly and replied, "I am a riddle to him because I am not from here." He then proceeded to tell me about his past, what is now recorded below, are his words.
I come from a land we called the ClanLands. There were six clans in all and each had its own totem, animal spirit. Faleen was the Raven, Snar was the Wolf, Xaran the Serpent, Trask the Hawk, Palintra was the Panther and Macote was the Bear. Those animal spirits lead our clans to the ClanLands over six centuries ago. The Clans for the most part got along, but often they squabbled over little things.
One hundred years ago a dragon we called the Benefactor arrived and brought total peace to the ClanLands. It was a long lasting peace that even brought trade and exchange with races that normally harassed my peoples, like the orc and goblins. Then the Blue One awoke, another dragon of the most evil intent. He saw what the Benefactor had accomplished and was filled with rage. He lived for chaos and strife. He set in motion a plan to destroy the ClanLands. He gained control of some orcish and trollish tribes and convinced them that he was the path to their future glory. He also stirred discontent among certain factions of my clan, Faleen. Before long Clan Faleen was in civil war, and the orcs and trolls were also raiding and pillaging villages.
That is where my story really starts. My family lived in a small, isolated village. My brother and I were fur trappers and traders and worked our lines together. The day of my brothers wedding arrived, so I went out to check the lines alone, while he was getting his final preparations set for the wedding. I remember that most of the traps were empty that day, but a few of them had been broken apart and whatever had been in them had been taken away.
Around high sun it was time to go back, and that was when I saw the smoke billowing from the direction of the village. I rushed back to the village to find it burning and all the people I knew, slaughtered. From what I could see the villagers put up little fight, only a few bodies of the attackers were around and those were of orcs. It took an hour or so, but I found the bodies of all of my family. There was nothing I could do! Everything I knew was destroyed! Everyone I loved was dead!
The next morning a small group of knights from the Order of the Golden Scale, loyal to the Benefactor, arrived. They were very agitated when they saw the destruction. It seems that they had been following the orcish raiders for days, and this was the fourth village they had found destroyed.
They assisted me in burying all the bodies and then insisted that I travel with them southwards. They had been called to the Benefactors Capital. I had nothing to tie me to the village anymore, so I went with them, eventually becoming a squire to one of them. I learned swordwork and other combat techniques. I learned to ride like the best of knights, and track like the scouts. Vengeance was all that I lived for! I rose through the ranks and became a full knight in record time.
It was becoming evident that the war that had started as a civil war in Clan Faleen, was growing and that the Blue One was behind it. The war went on for over ten years. Each year the Benefactor's forces were losing more ground. The Benefactor herself had started to take the battlefield, agains the advice of her generals. In one battle she insisted on being part of the main thrust, and the Blue One saw her and challenged her to single combat. He killed her and her forces scattered.
From that day on the Order was fighting a delaying action only. Allowing as many as they could, to escape before the enemy forces arrived. Finally we had fallen back to the Capital itself and the commanding officer announced that we were making the final stand here. She also ordered that fifty knights, who were to be chosen by lot, were to escape, whether it be by ship or griffon back if they were bonded to one. They were ordered to find any remnants of the Clans that had already left and to keep them organized in the event that the Blue One should try to extend his reach. To these knights she gave the rank of Seeker. Yes, I was one of these chosen Seekers, the few denied the right to die for our cause.
Well, in time I did find a remnant of Clan Snar. The leader of which, didn't agree with my suggestions to make his clan ready. Some of the clansmen understood what I was saying and agreed that it was the proper way. They chose me to lead them as a new Clan Faleen. I didn't wish to be a leader, but now I was one. I lead them the best that I could and had a very capable assistant.
Then the box arrived, unmarked, but the courier insisted that it was for me. I opened it and inside was a ring with a blue sapphire. Not thinking, I tried it on and immediately realized my mistake, for I could feel the Blue Ones eyes on me. I couldn't remove the ring and I could feel that the Blue One was attempting to take over my body and use it for his purposes. In one of those rare times that I felt free of his presence, I found a powerful mage who said that for a price he would remove the ring, and make me a portal to elsewhere. Desperate to protect those I now called family, I paid the price and with the help of one Clansman, I faked my death. Only he ever 'saw' the body, but with the items he brought back to the Clan they believed that I was dead of suicide.
When I passed through the portal the mage had made for me, I arrived in this land. The friends I have made here are close, and probably the reason you had trouble tracking me down. Many I feel would give their lives to protect me, and I would give mine to protect them. I have accepted one great friend as my Clan Sister, and another has accepted my ring and become my intended. I won't name names, for then they could be used against me, if your master or another has ill will toward me. And that sir, is my story.
I thanked this man, Trenmarc, for his time, and his story. As it satisfied my purposes, I quietly departed for the High Mage Tyrinter's tower and gave him my report. Most of the story seemed to bore my master, but he was quite interested in the portal that had brought Trenmarc to our land, and how it was possible to make it. I believe my master has found a new area to study. Hopefully, he won't use me as an investigator in this one.
Signed and sealed by my hand,
Simion Astera
Second Scribe to High Mage Tyrinter
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