A letter to Salion:
An ill wind is blowing. War perhaps. Something momentous for sure. Nothing less could explain the return of the Gods after all this time.
I feel Chislev, both beside me and in my heart. Proof enough to feel her presence, even without the amazing gifts she has bestowed upon me.
- Mayhap 'gifts' is too strong a word for I fear now that they come with responsibilities as well. I for one wish only to return to the forest, away from the clashes of good and evil. Back to the brutal simplicity of nature. Unfortunately, that is no longer an option.
Meeting so many of Ispin's friends has given me pause. They are a good bunch and spoke so highly of Ispin that I can tell each of them truly cares. I have enjoyed our short travels together, even with the trouble from the dragon men, and knowing that we were all on our way to say goodbye. However, there is no denying the trouble on the wind. It stinks of imbalance and destruction. In the back of my mind I had a fantasy of convincing Cudgel and maybe a couple of the elves to run with me. Find a deep place in the forest and wait out whatever trouble is brewing. Thirty, maybe forty years and I expect everything would be settled.
But then...sigh...why did I have to speak to the animals last night? To learn that these dragon men hunt and kill indiscriminately. Leaving the bodies of the animals to rot and despoiling the land just because they can. Chislev will not let me walk away from that. I will not let myself stand by while the animals are killed and the world burns. Fuck... do I have the strength to fight? Only Chislev knows.
The funeral was nice, by the way. At least as far as these things go. I prefer a pyre over a boat trip for myself but Ispin always was an odd one. Cudgel's words at the wake were a shock. She had never spoken of her relationship with Ispin to me. I am glad she found happiness, even if temporary. Ispin was a good man. Still, I'm happy my own feelings run more to elves than to one of the short lived races. Not that I will see you again any time soon, dear Salion, but it is comforting to know that a few decades apart is of little importance to the likes of us.
I fold the letter and put it back into my pouch as we ready to join the mock battle. I'll find a ship to send it South to one of our usual locations before I leave. There is a bit of room left on the page so I may be able to jot down the story of Katt's amazing fishing skills. Who would have thought a Kender could do something like that? Amazing odd little creatures. Though somewhat lost in musings, I still keep a careful watch on the forest as we march forwards in case the dragon men come this way and attack. Unlikely with our group so large, but years alone have made me paranoid.
Focusing back on our converging groups, I see the other half of my new friends rowdily cheering and readying makeshift, blunted weapons. Up ahead, the well ordered ranks of the mercenary group that Cudgel is leading begin to spread out. They look tough and eager. I'm glad I handed out Goodberries earlier. Should help with any accidental bumps and bruises. Almost as if sensing my look, Cudgel looks back and me and gives a reassuring nod. Then looks confused as she sees panic streak across my face.
I see it coming but have no time to cry out a warning as the blow lands and Cudgel crumples to the ground. As a group, the mercenaries turn and begin cutting into the town folk. I hear a horrible scream. Then realize it is coming from my own throat. My vision dims for a second in shock, but my legs are already jumping towards Cudgel. Please don't be dead, please don't be dead, please...