My Dearest Kailie,
 
Please excuse the quality of my handwriting; my right shoulder is still quite sore, so I am attempting to pen this with my left hand.
 
Today was very exciting, and not entirely in ways which one might prefer. It began simply enough with the recurrent indication that I really ought to learn how to cook at some point. It is quite strange that I am simultaneously embarrassed by the idea, but also becoming rather self-conscious about my lack of knowledge and ability in that respect.
 
I was able to convince Mister Reggie that not only was it a smashing idea to return to the forest, but to pack for an overnight camping trip. A –real– one, Kailie, with an actual tent and everything! It was not as glorious an activity as we imagined as children, and was in fact nearly deadly, but even so, it is enjoyable to have finally done the thing. It was not difficult to persuade Mister Reggie, for he is at least as excited as I am to venture into the unknown.
 
We once again enlisted the aid of Karth, who himself seems a bit at loose ends presently. His excitement at the prospect of our excursion seemed rooted less in a desire to explore than it did simple boredom. I can only imagine how dull it must be to perform the same menial tasks day after day, busying oneself with horseshoes and other mundanities. I suppose it is rather like finding oneself faced with yet another dreary hour of language studies or maths when the sun is out and the air is warm.
 
At any rate, the three of us traipsed once more across the boundary between what is safe and what is interesting. We meant to check in on the tree spiles, but got turned around. Somehow we found ourselves at a spot in the forest where there was strung between the trees a tripwire, set right in front of a spike pit that looked like it was sized nicely for a Dwarf. There has been talk in town of another group such as ours who boldly treads the wilderness, and so at my urging, Karth put his axe through the tripwire. There was little we could do about the pit, and very shortly scant focus that we could spare for it anyway, as our conversation was interrupted by angry chittering from up in the trees. It sounded very like the squirrels back home. However we saw instead sort of creature that shared some physical characteristics with common rats, but with the addition of writhing, curling tentacles where the mouth should be. You certainly would have been horrified, Kailie, but to me, they were –fascinating–.
 
By turns we discovered that they were intelligent, and had language–Elvish, in fact. We spoke with a creature who identified itself as “Fingers”. They were very confused by Karth and myself, though I am uncertain if this reaction was caused by our traveling together, or merely by our presence in the forest. They didn’t know what to make of Mister Reggie. Amidst their confusion, Fingers did mention something about a treaty between Dwarves and “darok”, the colloquial name for Elves that I mentioned in my last letter, and needing to speak with their council about what our presence means in regards to said treaty. Their attitude was not antagonistic or even openly hostile, though I would certainly not describe them as friendly. Regardless, I am uncertain if I will ever acclimate to the fact that the creatures in this forest are this intelligent, and can speak and/or understand Elvish.
 
Ultimately, Fingers led us northward toward what they noted as being a boundary between “darok” territory, and its own people’s region, which we saw on a carved marker stone was specified as “zuk”. From there we parted ways, as Fingers did not wish to cross into “darok” territory because of the treaty.
 
We were finally able to find not only the three trees we had tapped the previous evening, but a fourth tree to harvest sap from, as well. Reggie observed the sap to be odiferous, viscous, and seemingly insect-repellant. I am intrigued to see what he can create with it.
 
Before nightfall, we set camp. Apparently in addition to cooking, I need also to learn how to properly erect a tent.
 
Experiencing sundown under the boughs of this forest was a truly unique experience. I knew from last night’s activities how dark it can get within such a dense wood, but actually seeing its daytime twilit avenues transition to their nighttime gloom felt somehow disconcerting.
 
We took turns keeping watch. Not too long after Karth went to rest, we detected the presence of the same visitors from the night before. The individual with whom we had spoken was among them, so we spent some time conversing once again.
 
During this conversation, Mister Reggie and I conducted an experiment to investigate what it is that these creatures eat. Last night, our friend seemed most interested in a piece of hard tack that Mister Reggie happened to have with him, and not at all interested in his offering of jerked meat. This time we came prepared with bits of raw meat, some smoked meat, and almost comically, a scone that Mister Reggie had baked for that morning’s breakfast. (I can attest that the latter was delicious enough after multiple mornings of meager porridge.)
 
Our friend expressed interest in the raw meats, both muscle and organ, and explained in writing that their kind prefer their meat living if possible, but will consume pre-slaughtered flesh. Which it did, upon our offering. I will again spare you the details, in deference to your sensibilities.
 
Also in writing, our friend explained that they had learned Dwarvish from a Dwarf, and acted as a translator. We did not think to ask why or between what parties, but given that they are also fluent in Elvish, I feel some further facts can be surmised. Our friend also explained that their teacher succumbed to what they called “The Wasting”, which appears to be a plague that swept through the indigenous Dwarves, Elves, and even the “zuk” shortly after when Kethians first established their presence on this continent. The timing of this decimation chilled us all; its implications beg further inquiry.
 
Lastly, our friend mentioned that there –might– still be Dwarves underground, but that to get there, we would need to be wary of what it called the “hungry dead”, but what our scary stories called ghouls. It seems that since The Wasting, there are notably fewer Elves and Dwarves, but –far– greater numbers of ghouls. Given how our camping trip ended, I am astonished that we had not heretofore encountered any such ghastly entities.
 
Our friend and their companions went on about their evening. Karth and Mister Reggie lay down to sleep. I was keeping watch in the pitchy darkness, when suddenly I heard a voice from within the trees. It was speaking some dialect of Elvish, and looked as though once upon a time it might have been one of us. I screamed as it flew at me from the dark, and as I flung out my hand to fend it off, I heard the most unsettling tearing sound, like something was separating that no benevolent force in nature had ever intended to. The ghoul exploded in a flash of purple/green energy that came from my very own hand.
 
I can do magic, Kailie. Somehow. I have had some very queer visions during my evening meditations ever since I crossed beyond The Veil, and because of some of them, I am almost unsurprised by this newfound ability. And yet I had been certain that they were only dreams. Now I am questioning what other certainties about those dreams may prove incorrect.
 
What happened next was so fast that I can barely remember the proper sequence of events. Mister Reggie came bursting from the tent and fired a crossbow at the ghoul; Karth angrily axed his way through the tent wall and cleaved the creature. It went down, but not before raking me with monstrous claws that made me wish for a brief moment that I was back in Kethis. Its touch was so, –so– cold.
 
We packed up and returned to town immediately after that. I am almost afraid to return to the forest again after that encounter, and yet…there are so many questions I have now that I did not have two days ago, and the drive to find their answers is strong. Stronger, I feel, than any fear of death.
 
I just pray that should I meet my end in that dark forest, I will not rise again to ravage hapless explorers.
 
All My Love,
 
X

• This topic was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by rumor.