Dark Age Year 871
Twenty-ninth day of the First month
“While Tharos was well known for his wisdom and foresight, although many could not see it at the time. He was often correct and made all the right choices in many of the enterprises we engaged in. However, that does not mean he is without fault or unable to make misjudgments from time to time, which he certainly did. He himself would admit this to me, and even I, who viewed him and still do with pure admiration, will admit this as well. Tharos wasn’t a perfect being, for he was still essentially a man regardless of what he became by the end. However, his decision not to fully finish off the snake cult would be one of many decisions, I suspect, that he has made throughout his long life and that he would soon regret. However, I would like to state for the record that I believe if Tharos fully knew the true scope of the snake cult, he would have destroyed them all without mercy or hesitation, right then and there. Just as he has done with many other foes that stood before him. If he had done so, it could have saved so much heartbreak and loss, for the power of Nagazarzul and his champion, the Serpent Queen, was a power that we underestimated at our folly. But the details of that will be for another time.” —Excerpt From the memoirs of Cenric Dellcreek.
After another two weeks of gruelling travel, our trio was greeted by a marvellous sight at the break of the new dawn. It was a sight that some of them thought they would never live to see again, or if they did, it would be in bondage and chains. In front of them was the start of dry, grassy plains and half-dead forests. It was a sign to all of them that they were crossing beyond the threshold of the Deadlands and into what was called the frontiers. The border zone between barbarism and the early stages of Civilization. It might have been a rather simple and rustic form of Civilization. But it was Civilization nonetheless, as it was protection from the elements and the savage barbarism that existed beyond these scant settlements many fences and walls.
For Cenric, however, it was none of these things. For him, at this very moment in time, it was just a refreshing change from the almost endless sea of sand and rock formations and caves of the Deadlands, from the blazing sun that would burn his skin upon its touch, from the cold nights that would chill him to the bone, and most importantly, it was far away from nightmarish creatures that he encountered. Far into the distance, Cenric thought he could see the outline of grassy plains, fields dotted with colourful flowers, small and bumpy hills. If he looked far enough, he could even spot crystal-clear blue lakes and riversides along with woodland forests. If he squinted hard enough, he could even see the start of the frost-covered and rocky mountains of the northern Aria that were as grand as they were imposing. Sights like this were starting to become a rarity of late in the lands of Aria, as the fires of unrelenting human greed and pointless ambition sought to burn and destroy everything they touched. It was like a poison seeking to corrupt every noble aspect of the human spirit and the beauty of nature.
However, regardless, Cenric would enjoy this sight as much as he could. For if these few weeks of travel had proven anything to Cenric, it was that following Tharos was following death itself and was only going to invite more danger and calamity. Almost like that time in that alleyway in the city of Zarbar, he could end up being cut down like a reed of grass before his due time, but in all honesty, it was far better than his previous circumstances. So he would take pleasure in these monuments knowing they could be his last, and this time, he wasn’t taking in the sight as a slave. But now, he was enjoying the sight as a free man. He looked around, taking in every sight, sound, and smell before him. He could smell and hear the swaying of the dry grass as it was being carried by a soft wind that blew through his hair as Cenric stood there. He noticed Tharos was beside him, as if he was also enjoying the view. It was as if Tharos was savouring the very tapestry of life that was unfolding before him. Tharos then turned his head towards him as he do so, Cenric then heard a familiar voice echo in his mind.
(“Remarkable, isn’t it?“) Tharos asked, though Cenric felt it was more of a rhetorical question. This was something Tharos liked to do a lot, he noticed. Nevertheless, he decided to humour him with a reply anyway.
(“Yah it’s quite pretty. Actually, I got a question for you. Was it this pretty back in your time?”) There was a brief pause as Tharos folded his arms, deep in thought.
(“Yes, it was quite beautiful. It’s still breathtaking even now, but in a different way. It’s rather hard to explain.“) Tharos stated.
(What is different about it?“) Cenric asked, feeling curious. Although he had a sense that Tharos was much older than he appeared, he couldn’t resist wanting to learn more about him. Cenric thought that by doing so, the strange feeling he always had around Tharos might go away.
(“Well, you see, these places and sights, while familiar to me, also feel unfamiliar to me. They are different in ways I can’t quite describe to you. But…”) Tharos continued, (“If I were to put it into words, it’s like I’m witnessing a faint echo of what was once here, but at the same time seeing what is currently here, and it is all blending together to the point where reality and the figments of my memory are blurring in ways I can’t imagine. For I don’t know where one ends and the other begins.“) Cenric didn’t know to respond to that. Because he didn’t really fully understand what Tharos was saying, and if Cenric gave it some deeper thought that, maybe just maybe he could understand.
(“What do you mean by that?“)
(“Well, for starters,“) he then saw Tharos point to what looked like a set of rolling hills in the distance. (“Over there in that general direction, there used to be a dwarf trade outpost, and a bit further up,“) he pointed again somewhere else more to the right. (“Over there was the start of the wall for the town of Unmeek.“)
For Cenric, all he could see were grassy plains and rolling hills. He couldn’t, in his wildest dreams, imagine that this place had ever had buildings; it made him wonder if the village of Dullcreek was, at some point in the far distant past, once a mighty city or fortress. As he thought that, another thought popped into his mind. Where are we going? During these several weeks of trekking through the Deadlands with Tharos and then Rayner, that question never came up. Well, a lot came up in those several weeks, so maybe he could forgive himself for letting that question slip his mind. But during those weeks, Tharos never told him where they were planning on going or what they were planning on doing once they had left the Deadlands.
(“I have another question. If you don’t mind me asking.”)
(“What is your question.”)
(“Where are going?”)
We are heading to the city of Sanctus,” Tharos said. That name was all too familiar to him. It was the former capital city of the Invictis Empire, and even now, it is still one of the few major cities in Aria that hasn’t been reduced to a smoking ruin by the war. But it was also the place where he was sold as a slave after he was captured by raiders when Dullcreek was destroyed. Regardless, Sanctus wasn’t a place that he thought fondly of, even if he was no longer it’s prisoner.
(“Why are we going there?“) he asked Tharos.
(“Well, if my memory serves me well, and these maps are accurate, then that city might be built upon the foundation of what was once a fortress built by my people, and if there is any luck, something that was once mine might still be there.“)
(“So we’re just going to trek all across the Aria to get some of your old stuff of yours.“) Cenric saw Tharos shake his head to the side, almost in disappointment.
(“That’s not the only reason we are heading there; it’s one of the reasons, but not the main one. The main reason is I wish to set up a base of operations and gather information on what has been going on in the Aria of late before I decide my next move.“) Cenric had no clue what Tharos was planning on doing, and perhaps he didn’t want to know or ask. It probably wasn’t anything evil, well that’s what he hoped. But before he could press further, he was interrupted by Rayner, who spoke up, directing his gaze towards Cenric.
“If you two are finished with your secret chat, I would like to keep moving. The feather away from his blighted hell hole, the better.” Rayner said.
“It’s not a secret chat. You’re free to join in if you wish. We where just enjoying the view.”
“No thanks, I’ve had enough of hearing that milk drinker voice in my head for one day, and don’t let him poison your mind with such drivel,” Rayner said as he moved ahead of them. Cenric then shrugged and looked at Tharos. (“He is right, you know. We do need to go,“) Tharos gave him a quick nod, and Cenric felt Tharos’ presence leave his mind. The two of them walked together to catch up to Rayner, who at this point was almost half a mile ahead of them. Cenric saw Tharos pause for just a quick second and turn his head, looking upon the Deadlands with a look of sadness as if he was saying one last final goodbye to his past before turning back and continuing to walk, following behind Rayner. With the slowly rising sun behind them lighting their way.
To be continued.
