Ro’an sits alone at a table in the high town Tavern. It’s after midnight and most of New Haven is asleep as he should be. Yet, Ro’an finds sleep eluding him. Leaning back against the wall with the kitchen behind him he takes comfort in the peace of the late night, empty tavern. The fire place still crackles with a hearty fire as tonight, like many leading up to it, is still cold.
Ro’an takes in a deep breath trying to center himself, and calm the constant anxious feeling he has had within his chest since the events of the 11th month late last year. Ro’an had to relive those events in more detail recently when Torrin asked to interview him while preparing for the upcoming trial. Thinking of the impending trial just made him even more anxious. He dreaded having to sit in front of all those people and having to tell the story again. As if people already did not know what happened. Ro’an sighed again. ”This is why you cannot sleep you know“, he thought to himself. ”You are dwelling on things beyond your control....again.” This thought at least gathered a small laugh out of Ro’an; measuring mental well being based on control of ones life now there’s a sad joke.
This drew Ro’an’s mind to a strange experience he had near the beginning of the week. Ro’an though it a good idea to write down the experience in case it was important. Sitting back up Ro’an reaches into his pouch and pulls out his journal and a quill and begins to write.
The 6th day of the 3rd month in the fourth year of the Age of Fire,
I awoke with a jolt, suddenly, standing upright in the woods beyond Everdusk seemingly in the middle of the night. My heart began to race, how, why, whom, again? Questions racing through my mind. Then I heard whispering, and a chill filled my entire being. I began to think this was how they were going to punish me for my insolence, for my betrayal. I nervously looked around me while reaching down to my side for one of my weapons anything to defend myself with and to my horror I was completely unarmed, alone, in the woods, outside of town, at night. Great, just perfect. I am going to die and I cannot even be given the honor of defending myself. Somehow while I am trying to figure out my desperate situation I suddenly realize the whispering I am hearing is firstly not in my head, and secondly is more than one voice.
At this point I am to terrified to move, but somewhat relieved, I think, that this does not seem to be....them....
What a strange thought to have right before you think you are going to die?
Then I noticed, something, a form, a shape, standing further down the path. I could feel it staring at me, and then it vanished. When it vanished so too did the whispering all around me cease. By the eldest I ran so fast back to the safety and fire light of everdusk. I have no idea what that was or how I ended up there, but I hope that does not happen again.
Ro’an closes his journal and finally feels like he can sleep. Storing both his journal and quill back inside his belt pouch the weary Grehlok wanders back to his cabin for some much needed rest.