Old Drunky

“There are more coming over the hill!”

Sunashe turned away from the blockade overlooking the valley on one side of the town and ran to join the others going up the road over the hill.  The valley below had been partially cleared, but more were coming up from the south.

“Hurry!”

He looked up to where the voices came from.  Elves moved more makeshift barricades out to block the road.  Some were even moving tables and couches out of homes to the path of the approaching undead army.  There was more yelling up ahead, then he saw them just over the crest of the hill.  There were only a few at first, but more kept coming, and then more.  Sunashe took cover behind one of the tables that had been flipped onto its side in the path of the oncoming Scourge, and readied his bow.  He stood up behind his cover, and drew his bowstring back as he faced the undead army.  They had already poured over the first few barricades at the top of the hill.  Sunashe paused only a moment as his eyes first beheld the horrors in front of him before letting loose his bowstring.  Aim for the neck, he thought to himself as he nocked another arrow.  Though he hit his marks, there were more coming.  He saw the friends he worked with fall in front of him.  He glanced backwards to see that others still stood and fought behind him.  Maybe it would be enough to divert them from the town.  He nocked another arrow as something grabbed his leg.  His bow fell from his hands as he fell to the ground.  He grabbed his dagger from his belt, and started slashing at any Scourge that came close, but was soon overwhelmed.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed.  He heard crying nearby, a whimpering pathetic cry.  It was followed by groans of pain.  He opened his eyes.

Pale moonlight filled the men’s quarters of the ranger building.  It had only been a dream.  That dream.  Again.  He rolled over in his bed and adjusted his pillow before placing his head on it and closing his eyes.  It would be a while yet before dawn, and it would be best if he could get back to sleep.  He closed his eyes, then he heard it again.  It was the same whimpering groan that he had heard in his dream.  He sat up, and looked in the direction it had come from.

While it was dark, there was still enough moonlight that Sunashe could see.  It helped that the source of the sound had chosen a bed near the window.  The new guy, an older man who had quit drinking just before joining, slept fitfully there.  He had tossed and turned on his bed so much tonight that his blanket and pillow rested on the floor.

“Old Drunky,”  Sunashe frowned as he got out of bed, strapping his foot on his leg before standing.  He walked over and bent down to pick up the pillow and blanket.  “You’ll get through this.  Things will be better in a few days.  You’ll see.”  He placed the pillow near the man’s head and put the blanket over him.  While he hadn’t meant to touch the man, his hand came in contact with his shoulder as he placed the blanket, and he paused.  The man felt warm, and he was sweating.

“You’re deep in withdrawal now, aren’t you, Old Drunky.  We’ll get you through this.”

The man mumbled something that Sunashe didn’t understand, as Sunashe looked around at the other beds.  Their youngest member was the only other one who had woken.  His glowing green eyes giving away the fact that he was awake.  “Perothis, it’s okay.  Go back to sleep.”  If Tylenthis or Gaelardrim were awake, he couldn’t tell.  He turned his attention back to Old Drunky.  He put his hand on his forehead.  The man turned his head, and mumbled again as he batted his hand away.  He definitely had a fever.

“Hey, Old Drunky.  Wake up.”  Sunashe said quietly, giving the man a shake. He pulled back as the man swung at him in his sleep.

“What’s going on?”  Perothis had ignored Sunashe’s instructions to go back to sleep, and now stood at the foot of Old Drunky’s bed.

Sunashe sighed, “He has a fever, probably from withdrawal.  We need to get him somewhere to lower it.  Maybe a cool bath.”

“Would giving him a drink help? It could take off the edge.”

Sunashe shook his head as he got up and walked to the bathroom.  He started filling the tub.  “No, that’s the worst thing we could give him right now.  He needs to come through this without a drink.  He’s in the most difficult part right now.  I’ve seen this before.  I’ve seen people fail from this.  I won’t stand around and watch Old Drunky fail.  No alcohol.  He might need some water after we get him awake.”  He started back towards the bed, still speaking in a hushed tone as to not wake the others, “Isn’t that right, Old Drunky?  I’ll have to find something else to call you after you get through this.”

Perothis raised a brow as he followed Sunashe back to the bed, “You could always call him by his name.”

The old man did have a name.  Arancon.  Sunashe shrugged, and changed the subject back to the task at hand, “Help me get him to the bath.”

Arancon mumbled again as Sunashe tried to wake him once more.  This time, his words were slightly more intelligible.  “I won’t go back.” he said as Sunashe tried to get him to sit up, “You can’t make me.”

“Good. Good. No one wants to make you go back.  We just want you to go to the bath to lower your fever.  Come on now.”

Arancon offered little resistance after being told he wouldn’t have to go back.  To where, Sunashe didn’t know, nor did he care, as long as Old Drunky’s fever was lowered. Perothis, who had stayed back out of the way, now joined Sunashe, and helped Arancon to the bath.  Sunashe knew he’d have to get the priestess in town to see the older man in the morning, and that he might have to stay at the clinic in town while his body worked out the withdrawal, but he would do what he could tonight.

Cyannah’s Diary

I’ve finally wrote home.  Mother is right.  I’m not getting any younger.  She and father have been taking turns writing me weekly to remind me.  As if I’ve forgotten!  I’ve agreed to let them arrange something for me.  I keep coming close to finding someone on my own, but nothing has worked out.  First there was that new guy who started working in the library.  Of course, he fell for Tywae over me.  He even cancelled our date to go have drinks just because she asked him somewhere instead.  Then she ditched him a month later, and he still thought he had a chance with me.  Like really? Then there was that blood knight captain.  Luckily, I found out he was married before anything happened.  He was very good at flirting.  Then a few months after that was when I met the fire mage, whose friend was actually his boyfriend.

That last one was a big mistake.  I don’t know why I have to be so desperate.  I didn’t know about the boyfriend.  They didn’t tell me.  Was I supposed to guess?  Of course, then he comes into the library, alone and goes upstairs to one of the rooms up there.  I followed him up, thinking I actually had a chance.  Things happened.  Then he told me about the boyfriend.

I was drinking that tea at the time, even though he was the first man I’ve been with in a few years.  It doesn’t taste bad, and it’s just easy to drink it every morning.  I was in the habit of having it.  I guess my body has gotten used to it or something.  At least I noticed early enough that it had no effect on the things it was supposed to be preventing.  The clinic in the lower city was able to give me some nasty tasting potion to take care of that.  I’m still cramping from it.

I guess that’s why I’ve written home.  I’m tired of looking, and always finding the wrong guy.  Maybe my parents have more experience to draw from that they won’t choose some lying jerk or idiot.  Even if they do, at least I can blame it on them, and if I get pregnant again because I guess the tea doesn’t work for me, well, at least I won’t have to have some nasty potion to get rid of it.

Other than that, things are rather dull and boring as usual.  I’m a fire mage working in a library, I don’t know how exciting that can get.  I did have some strange requests for books over the past month.  There was one guy who kept bugging me for books about Nagrand and stones or something.  I had no clue what he was talking about half the time.  Then there was another guy who kept asking about lizards.  Then he wanted to know if magic lizards could be caught with enchanted traps.  Like I would know?  I’m sure there’s something about enchanted traps in one of the enchantment books I found for him, but then he started asking about what moths eat.

The more I think about it, the more I can’t wait to get back to Silvermoon.

 

My Week by Vaildor Lightmist

Reading and writing is boring, and I don’t like math much either.  History is boring because all that is just more reading, but they disguise it by calling it something else.  Sometimes the science lessons aren’t so bad.  There’s all sorts of different kinds of trees and rocks and stuff and they all have names and ways to identify them.  I kind of like that, but having to read books about it is still boring.

I was able to fill out my application for the art school.  I still need to talk to Hethurin about maybe having real classes here for general education so that I won’t have to take them in Silvermoon.  They’re all boring, but I’d rather have them here than in boring Silvermoon.  I hope the application is accepted because then I can start studying at the art school a few days each week starting next semester, after the holidays.  I’m excited about that!

Today, Lani is baking a cake and she said that it can be part of my science lesson because I learn how things react in heat and make different things.  I don’t know what really happens though.  I mean, she mixes all these different things together, and puts it in the oven and then it’s cake!  I think that’s more like magic than science.

She was worried about the cake coming out right.  I told her it should be fine if she follows the directions on her recipe because it wouldn’t be a recipe if it didn’t come out right when it was followed.  So I helped her measure everything exactly, then she was upset because the eggs come in different sizes and she wasn’t sure if it meant big eggs or small eggs.  We used the most medium eggs we could find.  I like the big eggs for breakfast.  They’re the best!

So she’s making the cake but she made two different sizes, so there was one big cake and one smaller cake.  She said the smaller cake was for the Confessor and I can’t touch it.  She’s going to decorate it later.  Maybe it’s his birthday?  But then he went out to visit some of his patients who can’t make it into town, and I don’t know why he would want to do that on his birthday!  Maybe she’s just making him a cake for just him because she misses him.  I bet that’s it.

Ranger Logs

Gaelardrim’s Log:

Things here have been going well.  I think the real rangers are starting to think of us newer people as real rangers too, usually.  They’ve put Ty and I on our own morning patrol.  I hate morning patrol, but I think it’s good they trust us to do our job.  It does cut into the time I would normally have to work on the house, but I have adjusted.  Ty and I stop for lunch at the school so that I still get to see Maerista daily at the regular time.  She’s always waiting for me at her window, which is big and has a place for her to sit.  We go meet in the garden then, though I doubt we’ll be able to eat outside for much longer.  The air has been getting chill, and the clouds have been getting darker.  It’s been raining off and on for the past few days.

I was hoping to have the house done before winter, and there is still time, but we won’t be able to work on it if it’s raining too much.  Ty and Orledin have been helping most afternoons after patrol.  Sunashe has been not helping by insisting that we practice our bow shooting right after patrol, which cuts into the daylight hours.  Anyway, it’s starting to look like a house now, so as long as it doesn’t rain everyday for the next couple months, it should be done before any snow falls.

***

Sunashe’s Log:

Maybe it will work out.  We went to Shattrath, and to the forest just outside the city.  She showed me some of the things she had talked about.  Spiders bigger than the spiders here in the Ghostlands, and funny looking trees.  They were tall and thin, and had cones that dropped from them.  She showed me the birds that lived nearby, and some giant moths.  I also saw some lizards that disappeared and reappeared not far away.  Lin said it was like a mages blink spell.  Magic lizards!  I’d like to learn more about them, and Lin seemed fond of the moths.  I’m hoping we can take a trip back there soon.

I did stop at the library to get books.  I don’t think they get many people asking for lizard books, at least, that’s what I gathered from the look on the girl’s face when I asked.

***

Orledin’s Log:

I’ve started baking bread in advance to go with supper as I’ve been helping Gaelardrim build his house.  He didn’t seem too sure about having me help at first, but things seem okay now.  I’m happy that things are going well for Ty and him, but I find something that needs being done on the other side of the house if they start talking about girls too much.  It’s not that I mind it, it’s just I don’t want to be asked if there’s any girls that I’m looking at, or worse, asked about my experience with girls!  Hah, there isn’t any.

I don’t want them to find out, still.  I’ve told the Confessor, but I know he’ll keep it secret.  I’ve spoken with Aeramin too, but I don’t think he’ll tell anyone.  He’s not here with the rangers often anyway, so that works out very well, especially since he doesn’t care to see me again.  Sorrowmoss also knows, but I think if she was going to tell anyone, she would have by now.

***

Perothis’s Log:

It’s been really great finally being able to go on patrol.  Lin has been taking us with her in the afternoon and evening shift.  Not a lot happens on patrol and I feel a bit like the odd one out because I’m the only guy, and I’m a lot younger than both of the women. They talk more to each other when we stop for our break than they do to me, but that’s okay.  It gives me more time to concentrate on learning the route.

The reservations that I had for the trip for Des and I were messed up, but the friend I have there is trying to arrange something for us.  He works at one of the big inns there and said that the prices go down a bit in the winter because more people go in the summer.  Anyway, we should be able to go soon.  I’m really excited about that trip.  I always feel like someone is watching us at the school.  I bet the Magister has scrying orbs all over the place or something crazy like that, which makes me a bit shy to even kiss her!  It’ll be a lot nicer on the trip.

***

(( And a letter arrives at the ranger building.  The penmanship is sloppy and the letter is written on the backside of a bill from a tavern. ))

Captain Silverdawn,

I am looking for work, and was wondering about the rangers as I’ve recently heard that you’ve taken on someone with a missing foot and helped him get surgery.  I too have some injuries which have prevented me from working, and need some assistance in that area.  I do not know much about archery, but I do have a sword and armor.  If my old injuries can be tended to, I would like to join.

– Arancon Firewind

 

Sunashe’s Log

I’ve been looking at the maps, trying to memorize the patrol routes before I actually go out on them.  Unfortunately, I know that I’ll need help the first few days.  Maps and actually being there are two completely different things.  Luckily, I’ll be able to go soon.  Already, I’m able to walk better with the new foot.  My leg is a little sore sometimes, but I feel stronger.  I think the priestess was right that I just needed exercise, but the old foot hurt and hindered my efforts in that area.

My shoulder is recovering well from the surgery.  I saw the priestess for a follow up last friday, and she said I could start practicing with my bow again, though I shouldn’t overdo it.  She said that if it hurts, I should stop.  It hasn’t hurt, but I am using a lighter bow than my regular one.  I figured it would be best to build back up the strength gradually.

I was okay to go to the faire with Lin.  I was hoping it would be really fun and turn out being a good place to go, but I’m not so sure things are going to work out with her.  I don’t think she’s very interested in me.  I tried talking to her and asking questions about herself, but the conversation kept drifting back to work-related things, or worse, silence.  I told her I like to take walks in the woods, but she said that was patrol.  I asked her what she likes to do, but she said she doesn’t have anything she likes to do.  I have a feeling it’s more likely that she does have things she likes to do, she just doesn’t want to share them with me.

I’m still taking care of the rose bush I got for her.  Someone has to.  I’ll have to cover it for winter soon.

She did say she likes some place in Outland.  I don’t know if she really wants to go with me, but I would go.  I’ve never been to Outland before.  I just hope it isn’t useless trying to go with her.  I talked to the captain and Ty about it for a bit the other night, and I’ve tried half the things they suggested already.  If she didn’t care when I told her she was pretty to her face, then what difference is it going to make if I write it on a card?  So she’ll have something to burn?  I really don’t think she’s that interested.

Another Cloak

I took a break from RaF today to finish up my 8th or 9th cloak.  I’ve lost count.  I think it’s the 9th.

Theronil is my second hunter to earn the cloak.

Lor’themar

I had to do the Isle of Thunder scenarios again and was inspired to draw Lor’themar.

My Week by Vaildor Lightmist

This week was a lot better than last week.  Last week, I didn’t have to write one of these things, which is good because I don’t think I would have been able to!  It was very upsetting, and I’m still upset about it, but I’m not supposed to talk about it to everyone either, so I don’t really feel comfortable writing it down.  Someone could read it!  So I’ll just have to say it was an upsetting week, and things happened.  I’m still a little sad.

The last time I did one of these, it was just for Lani, but now I’m going to the mage school to learn, which is weird a bit because I’m not a mage and I don’t want to be.  I think Hethurin should make a real school for the children in the area.  Right now it’s just me and he sends one of the students or sometimes one of the other magisters comes in to see me in the library.  Lani is still saying what I have to learn, and she sends me with my books and a list of things to study every morning.  History is so boring!  I’m glad I don’t have to write about it.  Lani thinks my writing is getting better, and I can read a lot faster too.  I’ll need to be able to fill out the application form for the art school in Silvermoon in a couple of months so I’m working on being super neat with my letters.  I wanted to go there for the fall term, but Lani didn’t think I was ready, and I did have some trouble on some parts of the application.  I don’t understand all the big words yet, and there’s a lot of them, but they write them really small.  Lani thought I should wait and apply for the winter term.  I think that will work out okay.

I was able to read that they have a program for younger students which is probably what I would qualify as because I’m not really that old.  Lani said they have it because general education is important, but sometimes young elves decide what they want to do very early, like me!  Anyway, she wants me to sign up for that.  It would give me some classes at the art school a couple of days each week, and the rest of the time, I’m supposed to attend regular school.  There’s a list of regular schools that work with the program.  That’s another reason that Hethurin should have a real school for kids.  He could tell the art school that he can work with the program then I wouldn’t have to travel to Silvermoon everyday, and I bet Hethurin’s school would be free for me, like it is now.  I know the regular schools in Silvermoon will cost money because I heard Lani talking about it with the Confessor, and I don’t want to cost too much.  Plus I think it would be good to have a regular school in the area.  There isn’t any now.  People should really listen to me about this!

Everything else is good.  Lani’s not a very good cook, so Tik usually makes something for me to take home at the end of the day for the whole family.  It’s weird to think that maybe they don’t exist in other realities.  I like it here though, and I know that Lani and the Confessor both care for me.  I don’t want to be anywhere else.  I was worried at first about moving into town because it was a different kind of move than I was used to.  It was new.  I love my new room though, and it’s so big, and I don’t have to share it with anyone ever.  I’ve been working on my walls.  I need to stand on things to reach the top, but the chalk works really nice on the black walls, and paint is good on the white.

I like the building too, and I like how Lani and the Confessor work right there.  Lani had a surgery to do last week and there’s a room in front for patients to stay.  It has two beds and a divider up in the middle, but we’ve only had the one patient stay there.  He was a ranger.  I saw him when he came in, but I’m not supposed to bother the patients.  It was easier to talk to them the first weeks we were here, but now Lani has someone helping her, and she’s out to check the waiting room a lot.  Her name is Isandri and she has a cute little baby.  She’s staying at Hethurin’s school while her place is fixed out here.  I guess they’re going to stay just outside of town.  Hethurin really should think about making a regular school because there’s Rylad too, and both of the babies will get older and need to learn how to read and write!  Lani wants a baby too, so a school here would be really good for the future.

Aeramin Art

I did this.

I think I’m getting a little better at shading. I did a lot of switching back and forth with greyscale. I think it helped.