The slayers · An organisation group of people united under a single cause -- defending the living from the undead and from chaotic forces · I had never heard of them before ⸴ until a call for voluntary conscription began to spread across kundirk · Zane ⸴ the werebear i met on kalinthas three piszots past ⸴ is a master slayer of the cause ·
A noble cause to be sure ⸴ but not one that i was going to pursue in light of my commitment to the earth healers guild and my pursued initiation into the moonless nights · That is ⸴ until in my slumber six dăți past ⸴ the duellist elf link sent me a dreaming stating he expected me to pursue the cause as well ⸴ and in return he would teach me how to properly use my weapons the way that he can · His criticism on calyx had already inspired me to commission a longsword from rock ⸴ an ogre blacksmith ⸴ who expects the crafting will be done once these cold seasonal storms have left the region · As well ⸴ i have procured a small tunic of chainmail ⸴ which is sturdy enough to protect me but light enough not to inhibit my movement ·
Upon waking and considering the dreaming from link ⸴ i got myself around and departed the kyngeshead to head to valbrough ⸴ where i found saro in the unofficial moonlights nights headquarters · In fact i was lucky to have found her there ⸴ as she had recently returned from her duchy up in eloria; her hair was disheveled ⸴ her hat askew ⸴ her clothes smelling of spilled rum ⸴ and her dress chewed on by a goat · (I forgot until later in the day that she had acquired several goats back in the fall ·) She explained upon my arrival that she had been captaining a ship to go back and forth between her duchy ⸴ valbrough ⸴ and the homeless shelter in kingsmoore ⸴ and the winter seas were unruly · Not to mention that those in the homeless shelter were cold and hungry ⸴ and overwhelming her ·
Saro's initial suggestion ⸴ on my request for advice regarding the slayers ⸴ was that it did not seem to be something suited for me (or i for it) since i had no great vendetta against either undead or chaos ⸴ any more than most adventurers · She cautioned me not to overload myself ⸴ obviously speaking from experience ⸴ and i was grateful since i had been thinking along the same lines · However i did also offer to assist with the needs of the kingsmoore shelter ⸴ since i could forage with the local fauna and supplement the food supply ⸴ and saro accepted my offer gratefully ·
Leaving for kingsmoore meant i needed to notify aunt cyn of my extended absence so the other guardians could know to be present ⸴ and she was the other one whose advice i sought regarding the slayers anyway ⸴ so i crossed the city toward the healing house near the tavern · It being the second day of the week ⸴ luni ⸴ i knew she would be present there rather than back in onothera ⸴ even in spite of the bitter cold and blowing snows · Sure enough ⸴ though she was neck deep in paperwork ⸴ she had a bright fire going inside the yurt and greeted me with delight as i came through the door ⸴ taking my cloak and offering me some tea ·
As I gratefully drank the warm beverage i made the same explanation to aunt cyn about the slayers ⸴ and zane and link ⸴ and she smiled reminiscently as one who has known both of them for some time · She understood my concern about having my fingers in too many pies ⸴ and mentioned that she had given up her adventuring guild in the kingdom of wayside because as a noble lady she needed to prioritise serving the people · Yet ⸴ as we both pointed out with amusement ⸴ she had become a guildmistress anyway ⸴ for the earth healers guild - combining her service to the people with her wisdom and leadership ·
Aunt cyn also pointed out that the slayers served a rather common goal with those in the healing house - «quelling the darkness» · We had a bit of a discussion about how actively fighting off a threat ⸴ perhaps aside the slayers ⸴ was more important than simply standing guard doing nothing over a healer who was actively trying to save an injured person · In fact she mentioned that link himself took the protection of healers very seriously but did so on the offensive front ⸴ unless there was a direct threat to the healers themselves · I seemed to think that in fact my job would be enhanced by joining and learning from the slayers - which aunt cyn also pointed out was not a full commitment because «think how infrequently you've encountered them» which was zero times ·
At that moment however the door flew open again ⸴ to reveal none other than saro herself ⸴ who had presumably come to be treated for her fatigue but heard me talking with aunt cyn and admitted to eavesdropping on us · She reiterated that she feared i would exhaust myself ⸴ but aunt cyn and i had the poor exhausted girl sit down herself and take some refreshment while we expanded our conversation to include her · Saro's biggest concern was how firmly would i be passionate about the destruction of chaos ⸴ which i admitted was only an indirect goal along the lines of protecting the people i care for · We all came to the conclusion that perhaps i should proceed slowly for a few months before truly committing ·
Over the course of that conversation i asked about the goat bites on saro's dress and she said that the ones she had acquired in the fall were unruly and undisciplined · Aunt cyn offered to take possession but not ownership of the goats ⸴ and have them milked regularly with the mild delivered to the shelter · Upon which offer ⸴ saro thanked her profusely ⸴ and then promptly fell asleep at the table ·
At aunt cyn's request i carried saro's prone form to one of the patients' cots and made her more comfortable while she rested ⸴ and went on to my other item of importance ⸴ my absence to go assist with the homeless shelter for additional food ⸴ since saro had reported it struggling · Aunt cyn was taken aback and upset to learn about this for the first time ⸴ and wondered why saro hadn't asked for cyn's assistance since the shelter was for the benefit of «cyn's people» ; i suggested that perhaps with saro's own new station ⸴ she felt the need to hold all the responsibility and did not want to show weakness by asking for aid ·
The arrival from eloria of our mutual friend and saro's adoptive «mother» ⸴ kailisa ⸴ shortly woke saro up and she elf was distressed to see we had laid her to bed · But even kai agreed with us that she needed to take some time to rest - which we had to basically force on saro ⸴ but she finally gave in and allowed us to give her tea and bread ⸴ brush her hair (kai did this ⸴ with commentary from me) ⸴ and mend her garments (aunt cyn's fourth favourite hobby) · While tending to saro ⸴ aunt cyn explained that asking for help was no sign of weakness and that she was going to provide aid from her personal accounts rather than anything official ⸴ because she cared for saro and for those living in the shelter ·
With the additional arrival of velnaeus at the healing house ⸴ aunt cyn indicated she had all the help she needed and would also be able to cover my absence ⸴ so i bid them all farewell and retrieved my own cloak to take the waystone to kingsmoore ·
A noble cause to be sure ⸴ but not one that i was going to pursue in light of my commitment to the earth healers guild and my pursued initiation into the moonless nights · That is ⸴ until in my slumber six dăți past ⸴ the duellist elf link sent me a dreaming stating he expected me to pursue the cause as well ⸴ and in return he would teach me how to properly use my weapons the way that he can · His criticism on calyx had already inspired me to commission a longsword from rock ⸴ an ogre blacksmith ⸴ who expects the crafting will be done once these cold seasonal storms have left the region · As well ⸴ i have procured a small tunic of chainmail ⸴ which is sturdy enough to protect me but light enough not to inhibit my movement ·
Upon waking and considering the dreaming from link ⸴ i got myself around and departed the kyngeshead to head to valbrough ⸴ where i found saro in the unofficial moonlights nights headquarters · In fact i was lucky to have found her there ⸴ as she had recently returned from her duchy up in eloria; her hair was disheveled ⸴ her hat askew ⸴ her clothes smelling of spilled rum ⸴ and her dress chewed on by a goat · (I forgot until later in the day that she had acquired several goats back in the fall ·) She explained upon my arrival that she had been captaining a ship to go back and forth between her duchy ⸴ valbrough ⸴ and the homeless shelter in kingsmoore ⸴ and the winter seas were unruly · Not to mention that those in the homeless shelter were cold and hungry ⸴ and overwhelming her ·
Saro's initial suggestion ⸴ on my request for advice regarding the slayers ⸴ was that it did not seem to be something suited for me (or i for it) since i had no great vendetta against either undead or chaos ⸴ any more than most adventurers · She cautioned me not to overload myself ⸴ obviously speaking from experience ⸴ and i was grateful since i had been thinking along the same lines · However i did also offer to assist with the needs of the kingsmoore shelter ⸴ since i could forage with the local fauna and supplement the food supply ⸴ and saro accepted my offer gratefully ·
Leaving for kingsmoore meant i needed to notify aunt cyn of my extended absence so the other guardians could know to be present ⸴ and she was the other one whose advice i sought regarding the slayers anyway ⸴ so i crossed the city toward the healing house near the tavern · It being the second day of the week ⸴ luni ⸴ i knew she would be present there rather than back in onothera ⸴ even in spite of the bitter cold and blowing snows · Sure enough ⸴ though she was neck deep in paperwork ⸴ she had a bright fire going inside the yurt and greeted me with delight as i came through the door ⸴ taking my cloak and offering me some tea ·
As I gratefully drank the warm beverage i made the same explanation to aunt cyn about the slayers ⸴ and zane and link ⸴ and she smiled reminiscently as one who has known both of them for some time · She understood my concern about having my fingers in too many pies ⸴ and mentioned that she had given up her adventuring guild in the kingdom of wayside because as a noble lady she needed to prioritise serving the people · Yet ⸴ as we both pointed out with amusement ⸴ she had become a guildmistress anyway ⸴ for the earth healers guild - combining her service to the people with her wisdom and leadership ·
Aunt cyn also pointed out that the slayers served a rather common goal with those in the healing house - «quelling the darkness» · We had a bit of a discussion about how actively fighting off a threat ⸴ perhaps aside the slayers ⸴ was more important than simply standing guard doing nothing over a healer who was actively trying to save an injured person · In fact she mentioned that link himself took the protection of healers very seriously but did so on the offensive front ⸴ unless there was a direct threat to the healers themselves · I seemed to think that in fact my job would be enhanced by joining and learning from the slayers - which aunt cyn also pointed out was not a full commitment because «think how infrequently you've encountered them» which was zero times ·
At that moment however the door flew open again ⸴ to reveal none other than saro herself ⸴ who had presumably come to be treated for her fatigue but heard me talking with aunt cyn and admitted to eavesdropping on us · She reiterated that she feared i would exhaust myself ⸴ but aunt cyn and i had the poor exhausted girl sit down herself and take some refreshment while we expanded our conversation to include her · Saro's biggest concern was how firmly would i be passionate about the destruction of chaos ⸴ which i admitted was only an indirect goal along the lines of protecting the people i care for · We all came to the conclusion that perhaps i should proceed slowly for a few months before truly committing ·
Over the course of that conversation i asked about the goat bites on saro's dress and she said that the ones she had acquired in the fall were unruly and undisciplined · Aunt cyn offered to take possession but not ownership of the goats ⸴ and have them milked regularly with the mild delivered to the shelter · Upon which offer ⸴ saro thanked her profusely ⸴ and then promptly fell asleep at the table ·
At aunt cyn's request i carried saro's prone form to one of the patients' cots and made her more comfortable while she rested ⸴ and went on to my other item of importance ⸴ my absence to go assist with the homeless shelter for additional food ⸴ since saro had reported it struggling · Aunt cyn was taken aback and upset to learn about this for the first time ⸴ and wondered why saro hadn't asked for cyn's assistance since the shelter was for the benefit of «cyn's people» ; i suggested that perhaps with saro's own new station ⸴ she felt the need to hold all the responsibility and did not want to show weakness by asking for aid ·
The arrival from eloria of our mutual friend and saro's adoptive «mother» ⸴ kailisa ⸴ shortly woke saro up and she elf was distressed to see we had laid her to bed · But even kai agreed with us that she needed to take some time to rest - which we had to basically force on saro ⸴ but she finally gave in and allowed us to give her tea and bread ⸴ brush her hair (kai did this ⸴ with commentary from me) ⸴ and mend her garments (aunt cyn's fourth favourite hobby) · While tending to saro ⸴ aunt cyn explained that asking for help was no sign of weakness and that she was going to provide aid from her personal accounts rather than anything official ⸴ because she cared for saro and for those living in the shelter ·
With the additional arrival of velnaeus at the healing house ⸴ aunt cyn indicated she had all the help she needed and would also be able to cover my absence ⸴ so i bid them all farewell and retrieved my own cloak to take the waystone to kingsmoore ·
I don't totally feel right taking a room or even floor space at the homeless shelter ⸴ but in effect i have been homeless during my stay in kingsmoore these past several dăți ⸴ so here i have been staying rather than freezing to death outside · But those who rely on the cooperative for their own survival have been grateful for what i can provide ⸴ it's true ·
Squirrels have been my primary allies in foraging · As is typical they have prepared many stashes in advance of the cold weather ⸴ but they are able to spare some of their stores which are high in protein ⸴ especially since enough of the old ones have sadly passed on (if they were otherwise healthy ⸴ i have also contributed them as a meat source) · Buried caches of beech nuts have been donated to the good of the humanoids ⸴ as well as regular gatherings of hop hornbeam seeds that fall on the snow daily ; the latter are delicious when toasted and especially when topped with a syrup that i was able to tap from its own tree the day before yesterday ·
Dock seeds are being ground into a flour substitute ⸴ often by the children who view it as a fun activity ⸴ and then the adults help to bake it into a bread · The extreme cold has also been good for the tiny crabapples I find in wild orchards to the south ⸴ the lower temperatures making the unripe fruits still sweet ⸴ and we bake small pieces of them into the bread along with tart hawthorn berries (a personal favourite of mine ⸴ though some of the older homeless haven't taken to them) and juniper berries ·
Aunt cyn has made good on her promise of aid as well -- not only the delivery of milk and cheese from the goats now kept warm and contained in her pole barns ⸴ but also in proper groceries secured with funding that she provided ·
Lastly ⸴ the night that i arrived i sent a dreaming back to link and zane to let them know as i had discussed with saro and aunt cyn that i was giving serious consideration to the cause ⸴ as it seemed it would only further my ability to serve the healers guild and protect the people i care about · Zane's predictably brusque response was «you know where to find me» · So now for certain ⸴ i shall have to make a sojourn to kalinthas a priority once frosttide has passed ·
Squirrels have been my primary allies in foraging · As is typical they have prepared many stashes in advance of the cold weather ⸴ but they are able to spare some of their stores which are high in protein ⸴ especially since enough of the old ones have sadly passed on (if they were otherwise healthy ⸴ i have also contributed them as a meat source) · Buried caches of beech nuts have been donated to the good of the humanoids ⸴ as well as regular gatherings of hop hornbeam seeds that fall on the snow daily ; the latter are delicious when toasted and especially when topped with a syrup that i was able to tap from its own tree the day before yesterday ·
Dock seeds are being ground into a flour substitute ⸴ often by the children who view it as a fun activity ⸴ and then the adults help to bake it into a bread · The extreme cold has also been good for the tiny crabapples I find in wild orchards to the south ⸴ the lower temperatures making the unripe fruits still sweet ⸴ and we bake small pieces of them into the bread along with tart hawthorn berries (a personal favourite of mine ⸴ though some of the older homeless haven't taken to them) and juniper berries ·
Aunt cyn has made good on her promise of aid as well -- not only the delivery of milk and cheese from the goats now kept warm and contained in her pole barns ⸴ but also in proper groceries secured with funding that she provided ·
Lastly ⸴ the night that i arrived i sent a dreaming back to link and zane to let them know as i had discussed with saro and aunt cyn that i was giving serious consideration to the cause ⸴ as it seemed it would only further my ability to serve the healers guild and protect the people i care about · Zane's predictably brusque response was «you know where to find me» · So now for certain ⸴ i shall have to make a sojourn to kalinthas a priority once frosttide has passed ·