[J:New Beginnings] Vitae - The journal of Lucas Valkyrin

[Piecemaker]

So much has happened, so much fighting, I am weary but we are out of it now.

Yesterday we traveled to Surmia, we being Selene and I. We joined Rurik, prince Rurik and a number of other people, we were heading out. Outside the wall we fought the charr, always there seem to be more of them, always they attack us again, and again. I try to be everywhere, I try to protect my friends, but I am only human, I fail, I fail too often. Luckily I have not yet failed in the most important thing, and I will not as long as I still hold breath.

Enough of this moaning.

We discovered the charr held a large number of ascalonians captured and we set about freeing them while keeping the charr at bay, Rurik seemed a man possessed hurling himself at every charr he spotted, the fool, yes I call him that now, in private at least, has forgotten the first rule as a leader. Care for your men. Despite Ruriks effort we managed to keep our people together as a somewhat cohesive fighting unit.

After a series of very intense battles we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by charrs, we thought we had circled around them, but the beasts wised up and charged us. Finally Rurik showed his worth as a leader, he came through for us, while we had a very nasty fight with a large group of charr, he secured us magical transport to the Nolani academy.

Rurik gave the signal and we all rushed inside the building with the portal, and while we were busily bracing the gate waiting for the final activation of the portal some of the people rummaged around and found something rather interesting,

We found the mouthpiece to stormcaller, stormcaller the fabled horn sitting over Rin, legend say that it will be able to protect Ascalon from its enemies, needless to say we brought it with us, then we jumped into the portal. Traveling like that is not a pleasant, in one single instant there is nothing, you are totally unanchored, no body, no thoughts, only a feeling of nothingness, and suddenly reality hits you again like a hammer wielded by a giant.

We arrived at Nolani and we met up with Frost, Augustus, With a ranger and a warrior I did not know, nice people though. Rumors had arrived that Rin was under attack and about to fall, and Rurik wanted us to set out again, as fast as possible. We gathered what forces we could, unfortunately there was no time to send for some of the Valkyrin troops.

So we set out, again with Rurik in the lead, setting a forced pace, the charr seemed to shy back from the anger he contained within him, but Rurik would just dive right into the fray. I know now, his days are numbered, you can not continue to defy odds like that, it is a listen best remembered by all of us,

We arrived at Rin, and our fears were confirmed, the city was burning, it’s defenses overrun and it had little chance of survival. Rurik rushed for Hornhill, and fitted the mouthpiece to the horn, then he blew the horn with all his might. I know not what was supposed to happen, something most definitely happened, the fires went out and the charr seemed much disturbed, but they were still alive. Rurik then charged alone into the middle of the charr forces, heedless of the danger presented to himself or the men he led. Luckily for him these years of fighting has made my friends into a very efficient and tight knit group, we managed to keep him alive, even though it taxed all of our abilities, I thank Dwayna for the powers she has lent me, I am able to protect my friends and I could protect Rurik from any deadly harm as well.

We managed to fight our way through the charr ranks, and found ourselves face to face with a huge charr I remember from our first scouting trip outside the wall. Much has happened since then, we have grown so much stronger, the charr never stod a chance, and it felt good. I am not fully comfortable that I am able to take such pleasure in killing something, but killing that charr left me with the feeling that justice had been served, and more so than just that of killing one single charr, I think he was someone significant.

Finally, reinforcements arrives, the king himself heads up his troops and I expected some rest. But no such luck, Rurik manages to infuriate his father so much that we are banished, pressured for an answer I would have to say that I think Rurik had the right idea about what to do, but there must have been a better way than getting us banished.

I can do nothing about it now, we must save what we can, I dearly hope mother is able to cope, now she has to take care of our people. The family and father, I will have to find some way to get back and see for my self. It should not be impossible with all the fighting going on, I am pretty sure Selene will know a way.

One good thing about this though, I am now banished, without titles, without influence, I am nothing, and it feels wonderful, I am free, and I can say and do what I want to, including showing my affection for Selene.

Still….. I feel obligated to help my people, Rurik will need help guiding the refugees to Kryta, and as far as I am concerned these people are now the heart and soul of Ascalon.

We will see where this lead, I have to come to terms with our present situation, I will have to find somewhere to fit in or carve my own space.

Still I am a Valkyrin, still I will do what must be done.

- Lucas Valkyrin

[Piecemaker]

I made my way down from the Shiverpeaks to yet again set foot on the barren Ascalon soil, It hurts even more to walk tormented soil of my home country after some days absence than it ever did before. Selene was probably right, Ascalon is dead, better to bring some of it with us and start anew. But she does not know about the responsibility that rest upon the shoulders of the Valkyrin family.

So I made my way to the Nolani Academy hoping to blend into the crowd there, I knew that there would be a gathering of the families there, so I expected to be able to gain information and maybe figure out a way to get back to the family and find out for my self how things were going.

As I entered the academy, I was again confronted with the loss, the once grand academy is now only a ruin of its former glory, The once proud walls are now sagging, and desperately leaning on any support that they can find, the finely crafted sculptures has been defaced and are mocked by the gargoyles wandering around.

All of this hit me in the face when I revisited the academy, last I visited it we were traveling with prince Rurik, and no one had time to stop and think, not with the Prince in such a frenzied mood. This time I had time to think about it, this time I had time to notice the details, this time I had time to feel the loss and sorrow. To my surprise it was all muted, I did feel sorrow to see the academy in such a state, but nothing that really went through my heart, I knew what to expect and I took solace in the fact that many of our people were safe, or at least somewhat safer, in the shiverpeaks.

I think I have started to come to terms with the things, I know that only time can change my home, it will be the work of generations, the thing we need to do now is to get our people to safety, rebuild, regain our strength, then one day, some day……

So I discretely entered the academy, and to my joy I found Alberto there, I spent a bit speaking with him, and he advised me to stick to the shadows if I wanted to avoid attention, I sat down in a dark corner and watched as the people arrived, the talk were flowing freely, I relaxed and felt at ease, this was almost like old times, and a smile must have been playing around at the corners of my mouth.

At some point Yerzinia, she was the host by the way, asked us to help clear out the charrs in the vicinity of the Academy, I think that was what she asked at least. I was pretty much content to let things pass me by and just observe the proceeding events, but Yerzinia and the monk Thecula seemed to be about to head out alone so I joined them to bolster their strength a little. It was not exactly keeping a low profile but, I guess that with all the colorful types around I would not be noticed.

So the three of us headed out to see the charrs, though our first obstacle proved difficult enough, there was a bunch of pesky Gargoyles almost right outside the Academy’s gate. They cast all manners of annoying spells and we had to retreat several times before we pushed through them.

We fought on to meet the charrs, in their camp no less, and proceeded to wipe out a rather sizeable number of them, and receiving a few new scars in turn. Strangely Yerzinia seemed to come through with out a scratch even though I am sure I saw her receiving a few nasty gashes. I guess I must just have been imagining things in the heat of battle.

When we arrived back at the academy we met up with the others, some of the other groups had managed to slay a very impressive amount of charrs. Especially the group Athenis was in, seemed to have done excessively well, she was duly honored by Yerzinia with a beer….. down her neck.

After that conversation flowed freely and I kept to the background, only joining the conversation occasionally, my mind was occupied with thoughts of home and what to do. After a good deal of talking, dancing, and something that with great generosity could be described as dancing the party winded down.

I left the academy heading for home, not that much wiser, but somehow comforted by the little bit of “normality” that I had been part of.

- Lucas Valkyrin

[Piecemaker]

Home, it is a special feeling, it is the place you long for when you are tired, it is the place where your mind finds rest and your heart solace. As I walked down the Ascalon roads, I had a good look of the war thorn landscape, It still hurt to see how the lush green meadows now were brown or black, char pits were bubbling where once water flowed no majestic trees were proudly swaying in the wind. Still I knew that one day we would reclaim this, one day the land would be green again. It will probably not be in my time, but every journey begins with the first step, and I will make it a good first step.

The charrs did not worry me, any wandering band I could deal with, and what could not be killed or discouraged I could slow down and outrun. I sent a small smile to old Archibald, my teacher, he could be quite merciless but his teachings were solid, I felt secure in my ability to survive in even this barren country, that once was home.

Home, is it really home any more, we carry the heart of Ascalon with us, the refugees will be the new Ascalon. And on the day we return we will rebuild Ascalon not just as good as the old Ascalon but better!

So why am I still saying that I am heading towards home, I am because that is where the rest of the family dwells. Those people, of who I carry memories and love for, are buried in the soil at home. That is why I am heading home, and not just to meet my family.

When I turned onto that old road so different yet so familiar, I started running, in the distance I could see the ruins of home, but small houses were visible here and there, they had even build some minor fortifications. I sensed my fathers influence all over this, and grinning wide I rushed into what once had been the courtyard.

There they stood arguing as usual, and I started to grin even wider. With a yell I rushed to them and hugged them both as tight as I could. Oh how I had missed being near them all these months through all this fighting and bloodshed. The look in their eyes when I saw them and they saw me, it’s a thing worth remembering until the final breath. Lines disappearing from their faces, years removed in an instant. Unconditional love frozen in an instant.

Catching up took a while, I quickly saw that the sky raining fire were not enough to stop the Valkyrins, even though father never get over the injuries he had suffered in the searing, he was still as clear of mind as usual. And mother…. well she was the same as usual, her huge hammer never far away from her hand, ready to crush the skull of the next person she found needed it.

I explained them about the situation in the Shiverpeaks how we had gone from fighting charrs to have our progress hindered by warring dwarves and their centaur allies, how so many of my friends were missing or had changed so much. But in the end I could smile and tell them, our people will be safe, we will lead them over the Shiverpeaks and to safety in Kryta. The prince will guide us and we will overcome the troubles ahead.

I had one last thing I needed to know before I could relax and just enjoy being with my parents. I had to ask about that which the family must guard. But father just laughed like in the old days and told me not to worry, no one has time for something like that in these times. For now I just had to focus on doing what I had to do and then do my very best to stay alive as well.

The next morning I left again, strangely refreshed, filled with good spirit, I set out for the peaks again to rejoin my people and once again be in the thick of managing a refugee caravan on the move. Once again I would have to take charge of soldiers and my decisions would decide whether they lived or died.

But none of this daunted me that day, this is what families do, they give you support and the courage to go on. That is what home is, it is your base, your safe harbor, where you need to go sometimes. It is where you set out from, stronger, more filled with courage and in the conviction that everything will be all right.

- Lucas Valkyrin

[Piecemaker]

The forest is oddly quiet at this time of night, listening to the soothing sound of logs burning in the campfre would put me to sleep, if not for all these thoughts circling in my head. Muttering sounds can be heard now and then from the people around me, I cannot blame them for resting uneasily, the gravity of our situation is felt almost tangibly as a cloak smothering us. I really should rest, but instead I sit here, journal in my lap, thinking... or trying to. We were supposed to get away from all this, duties, obligations, people that needs saving, evil that has to be fought. It is a humble wish, somewhere peaceful, where you do not need to worry about where you sleep, how big you make your campfire and whether you will wake up in the morning. I should have known it was too much to hope for, trouble seems to find us where ever we go. But I will not be daunted by this, we are going to stand together in this, taking comfort in the knowledge that we will come out on the other side of yet another crisis and the gods have mercy on anyone getting in our way. Now it is Shiro, before that the charr, we escaped the charr scourge to be faced with the challenge of rebuilding, dealing with politics and intrigues. This is the life we have to deal with, getting in the way of the life we want. I wish things could be simple, I wish I could lay down responsibilities to all the people around us, only focusing on what is truly important. Some days it feels like the conflicts within me is tearing me apart, but ultimately I cannot lay down these burdens, I only hope she will forgive me for this.

The forest is oddly quiet......

I know they are out there, like us they are waiting for the light of dawn, then we will be back at it, trying to avoid fighting, trying to accomplish yet another task to honor an agreement that were forced upon us. This land is a strange one, tomorrow we will continue our search for the three people we were sent out to find, they seem to have volunteered to be part of some strange ceremony or sacrifice. I will not presume to understand how these people think, their culture seems frozen in time, oddly archaic, but still so very rich. Under different circumtances I would have loved to walk among these people and learn of their culture. But now...... now i just want it all to disappear.

The forest is oddly quiet...

I should be sleeping, but i am not, instead i sit here by the fire, there are no plans in my mind, no thoughts circulating.

The forest is oddly quiet...

In the silence of my mind i only hear the small sounds she makes in her sleep now and then. I should be sleeping but I am not, i sit here, by the fire, watching her sleep. A moment out of time, such a brief moment, I sit here watching and i am at peace.

The forest is oddly quiet...

- Lucas