In between dream by Inez
Dear diary,
Forgot to tell you of the dream I had during a catnap this morning. Having spent all night outside fighting rats messes with your mind. Not to mention the company of magical books and the idol. But I’m already regressing in the first lines. Back to the dream!
The landscape had changed, I was no longer in Ki or Nook, but someplace high in unknown mountains, cold and chill. Winds were howling around me, with on top of them the whispers of the Idol, promises and threats of dark magic power. We stood upon the rampards of an old castle, over viewing a snow covered city that was clearly under siege. We, that were my faithful companions Finn and Jonathan, even in my dreams. Here we were joined by Tomaso, a Nezumi warrior monk or wizard and his apprentice Jonasi, a Tortle paladin or fighter of some kind. Obviously we were in a foreign country, the style of clothing, armour and even weapons felt exotic. Fortifications and houses felt both familiar and odd, with decorations and curves creating an exotic and beautiful look. When I whispered this to Finn, he hissed back that my description reminded him of one of his companions. Rolling my eyes at him, I still reddened a little. This pesky halfling, dear diary!
My reddening deepened when the monk asked me if I had any questions. Seemingly he had been given us instructions about an important mission to fulfil. After stuttering an empty reply to him, he sighed and handed me a harp. An instrument I was taught to play when I was little and I hated to perform on demand for my father. During banquets I was placed in a corner with such an instrument, though a gnomish one, its strange design contained a magical mechanism to secretly record conversations. This one looked quite old and ordinary, but I did not dare to complain to the bound and determined looking Ratman. “So remember: We must find Dragon Bile. Only that stuff burns in such a way that these creatures do not return!”; the monk stated, all the time eying me. Like I did not know what that was or where it could be used for, being a wizard!
Clearly I had missed some parts of the instructions, as the men as one turned around, stepped up the ramparts and jumped down! Dear diary, I could almost hear my father say: ‘Like a gear in the wrong machine you’re spinning fast, making noise, but not turning anything useful!’ Looking from above, I could see them moving fast into the city, leaving me lonely and cold with some guards on top of the wall. Luckily I had already spotted some extra clothes to help me get warm, lying in some crates. And not too shabby either, a hat and a cloak that could have been done by Nook’s Glitterfrost Atelier. I used to have a cloak with Snowflake Patterns that changed color when you moved! This set looked more practical and fit for fighting, still the white fur did look great on me! (Sometimes my dreams do work out fine, dear diary!)
Having picked up some lines from our orders, I looked how I could scale down the wall to follow my fellow warriors. Finding a rope ladder leading down, I ordered the soldiers to lead the way and saw them jump as I carefully made my way down the wall. In front of me were some ruined houses, a bit further an undamaged one and behind those the sound of fighting could be heard. Ordering one group to go check the alley to the right, I took three soldiers with me and walked towards the still intact building. Inside I found two more soldiers, but not a lot more. Then I could hear Jonathan shouting towards someone, so I went outside to find out what was going on. In the far left outskirts of the town I could see him and the apprentice fighting strange looking humans. Though all humans look a bit off to me, but these one wore terrible clothes and make up, like their skin was falling off. Jonathan seemed to address each of them separately, probably trying to convince them that bloodshed was a bad thing and they should consider following Chislev before killing them off like he was a champion of Ilmater!
Remembering parts of the briefing, I returned into the house to look for materials to set on fire. Our job was to create a fire lane, by burning down the last houses, between the survivors of the city and these attackers of all things fashionable. Hopefully our employers had things worked out with the owners, I couldn't help myself thinking, still the daughter of a solicitor.
Searching the human house, it felt almost familiar though off scale with everything just a bit too large in size. It felt like it was looming over me, like an old human witch once did. Peeking around unaware of events, suddenly I was poked by one of the guards: “Look out! They came out of nowhere!” Now I noticed that the soldiers in the house were under attack! The attackers looked like an image of a book shown by Doctor Vexora in her lessons, the Dark Moon Monks. That’s why they probably appeared in this dream, dear diary. And they were killing off the guards and I, as a guardian of fashion, would probably be their next victim!
Surrounded by the black clad figures, the only thing that came to my mind was the harp. Striking it in a rushed uncontrolled way, I felt it resonate through my spine into my brain (not unlike the way Finn somehow connects to my inner mind), triggering a stream of raw magical power. To my surprise, and probably to that of the monks, after pulling the snare of the instrument several times, my assailants laid around as if they had been toyed with by the Owl Bear cubs! Not a pretty sight, and I fled the house nauseous, staggering over the damaged furniture. All my actions must have pleased our old housegod Helm, as I found an urn filled with dragon bile on my way out.
Outside carnage was going on, houses were on fire and lid up the fights between my entourage and hordes of creatures. Finn was swaying around with a pole-like weapon like he was Arvoreen herself! Still I know he is not that keen of Gods and a bit too keen of a certain gnome lady, dear diary. The two men, Tomaso and Jonasi, were battling like veterans, creating and clearing a path between the halflings, safety and me. As another shed was set on fire, Jonathan came running towards me, carrying a torch: “Hey, have you found bile? That’s so great! Now all we have to do is set this last place on fire!”, he shouted at me, pointing at the house I was still leaning against. “Of course”, I answered, “let’s do this!” Calmly I unloaded the bile through the doorway into the building, thanking and blessing the guards lying inside quietly.
“Can I have the torch please?”; I asked Jonathan, who was still panting from his run towards me. Just as I took the light over, Finn rounded the corner, followed by the two larger men. Throwing the torch in elegantly, showing off to the men, I had to hide my shock when the house erupted in flames forcefully. Before any of them could say a thing, I stepped between Jonathan and Finn, laying my hands on their shoulders: “That wasn't so hard now, was it?”
The slam of Finn’s hand hitting the table next to my head made me wake up quite rudely, dear diary! Perhaps for the best, as a dream burning as brightly as this tends to leave a mark. Not having a clue about the meaning and location of my dream, dear diary, or how these two humans and we are connected. For now I only have this note, that I wrote down smirkingly, to the wonderment of my two halfling companions. Hope to write to you soon!