An excerpt from the journal of Soizic d'Karak, a Questing Knight-
Dear diary,
Yesterday was the anniversary of my parents death. I miss them terribly, and I miss my brother, may enchantress watch over him. I realized only this evening that I had lost track of the dates in this wretched land, and I write now still weepy-eyed from the discussions around the camp fire that ensued whence I realized my error.
They insisted I tell the story whole, for though I have been guarded of my past these two have proven themselves worthy shoulders to me, and I could not deny them. (The conversation I transcribe entire, for never have these words graced your pages and I wish to strike while I have struck already once tonight.)
"I too was once a child... I was raised near the where the road of Gisoroux Gap crossed the River Grimorie, a daughter of a knight sworn to Bastonne and granted a manor for his service. My brother Michael was a year older than I and we learned horses and swords together along the banks... It was a life that let me believe in the stories I was told of heroes and duty. My brother was set to be squired to a distant uncle in Monsfort.
"It was.... It.. itwaajustyesterday... (Gulp) Just yesterday twenty one years ago. We had seated ourselves at the table- father, mother, Michael and i, while the low tables held most of the guard and staff. We were expecting a large caravan to arrive at the river for the crossing the next day under good light, but they must have been ambushed and run for hours to have led the enemy to us at the time they did.
"I didn't see much- green skin slathered purple as the barred windows were smashed in and my... My people started dying. I know Father had lost his arm but was still fighting when I was grabbed and dragged out by Mother, and I know I saw her kill the orc who followed her with a kitchen knife before Micheal threw himself across me and shut the door of the cabinet we had crammed into.
"I remember the noise so very, very well, and I will never hear Waaagh without hating it to my bones."
Oswald broke in here, exclaiming his condolences, but fell silent slowly at the melancholy look on my face that told him more was to come. Francesco merely reached across to grip my shoulder.
"They weren't done, of course, orcs are too kunning for such simple evasions. My saving grace was Michael- when the first of the scavengers found us hours later and ripped open the cabinet, he screamed and flung fire into it's face.
"We stabbed it, of course, with the knives we wore- a half-dead goblin prey to two children...
"And there we hid. Thrice more by the next sunset skavenger goblins moved through the house, but we were not found again until near midnight, this time by a cloaked woman."
Oswald asked the obvious question.
"Yes, I do believe her to have been the fey enchantress. She greeted us as we hid, bade us come out, and looked on us with sorrow as she drew Michael to her side away from me.
"She asked me if I knew, if I knew that she had come to take my brother for his magic. I did. I knew. I sobbed there, on the floor of the kitchen, while Micheal was brave and sniffled at her side and she watched us quietly. But what else was there to do, but the right thing? I knew Michael was taken from me the moment he saved me.
"So I forced my sobs back, and I climbed to my feet, and I told her that since orcs had taken father and mother and she was taking Michael, I guessed it would fall to me to uphold the duty my family swore to, and I asked her if girls could be knights, because she'd know better than anyone.
"'Perchance' was her reply, 'for I remember still Jacomettá de Turín.
"And so they left. I gathered the armor my brother had been gifted, made sure my parents were buried, and headed south to present myself to my Sir Uncle.
"He accepted when I told him I was the son of the family and my name was Soizic, my sister Michelle had died with my parents, and there must have been a misunderstanding somewhere..."
...
I wish for these endless blasted plains to pass. I wish I could stop feeling guilty over missing the day I honor my mother and father. I wish that my brother knights would have treated me so well, when they learned my secret.
Wish me luck, dearest diary.
