I am back with a short one. This time it is a side story though I do admit the beginning of it probably belonged in the last chapter. This side story is concerning one of the books Otis found in the gray man's safe. Yep you guessed it; a journal. Journal are common things in many games. So why wouldn't Otis find one here. But the real question is; who's journal is it? https://yougots.wordpress.com/

Otis laid Sonashi down on one of the beds in their room. The guards separated them from Caeanos and Kavdiir and placed them in a room in the servant’s quarters. According to Otis’s map the underground complex was between two Under Districts and was an extensive series of rooms and corridors. He was thankful for the map because with it he could find his way out of the hidden complex if it all went bad. The only thing he had not retained during the transition to this world was countdown clock that had always ticked down in his vision.

“Sona, I know you are awake so you can stop faking it now.” Otis sat down on his bed and began to pull out his bags. The room was small but he was not going to complain. He spent much of his time in the Halls which for all intents and purposes was sleeping outside. In all honesty Otis preferred sleeping outside as there was something about being in this city that unnerved him and it had nothing to do with it being deep in the heartland of his enemy.

Sonashi sighed and propped herself up. Her eyes were still droopy as she looked over the room. “I am still tired you know and I would like to continue sleeping.”

“You were awake the moment we met the Queen so you can’t be too tired. Besides I could have used your help in there.”

“Why should I help you? You ate your own foot just fine without any of my help.” She flashed him a sardonic smile before rolling over to face the wall.

“Yea, yea not saying my inner thoughts out loud is something I need to work on. It's just been awhile since I have been around people.”

“What do you mean?” She spoke without looking back.

“N-nothing, everything was just so clouded by the Bloodrage.” Otis said cautiously as he looked over his seven bags and the letter that he place on his bed. In the bag that contained items from the gray man’s safe and there was a large amount of money, 157,124, 246 ^/^ to be precise. He did not recognize the symbol but assumed that it denoted Farg currency. He ran his [Inspection] skill over the rest of the items.

[Letter to the Traveler]

[Plain letter written in Archian or Rantide depending on the reader]

[Building a Traveler’s Gate]

[Instructions handwritten in Farg. Not Learnable through use of Magic]

[Second Lieutenant’s Journal]

[Journal written in English by United States Army Second Lieutenant Matthew Thompson]

[Rantide Language Tome]

[Language Tome. Can be learned through use of Magic]

[Archian Language Tome]

[Language Tome. Can be learned through use of Magic]

[Recall Stone]

[Returns you, your party or whoever you are physically connected with to the town you have designated as your home. Cannot be used while in combat.]

[Elixir of Intellect] x 11

[Increases Intellect by 15 for 30 minutes]

[Elixir of Strength] x 14

[Increases Strength by 15 for 30 minutes]

[Elixir of Lesser Agility] x 21

[Increases Agility by 15 for 30 minutes]

[Elixir of Fortitude] x 12

[Increases Stamina by 15 for 30 minutes]

[Elixir of Trolls Hide] x 23

[Increases Defense by 4 or Physical Resistance by 5 for 30 minutes]

[Greater Healing Potion] x 16

[Restores 600 to 800 Health. 1 minute cooldown]

[Greater Mana Potion] x 5

[Restores 1000 to 1100 Mana. 1 minute cooldown]

“Let’s take a look at this letter first shall we.” Otis spoke to himself as he tore the letter open.

Congratulations Traveler! You have successfully completed your first dungeon! Now that it is cleared you have freed the Rantide from their oppressive spider ruler. The tunnel between your two great nations is now open. Use the Language Tomes you have earned to build Human and Rantide relations. Find a lifelong friend by teaching them your language! Everything's more fun with friends!

Speaking of friends, your dungeon [Party] has received the same rewards as you from the [Chest] except for one randomly generated item. Feel free to trade that item amongst yourselves until everyone is happy with the result. Remember just because Vilenna is a harsh world it does not mean you have to be harsh to those around you! Good Luck on your journey Traveler!

Otis flipped the letter over to check the other side but it was blank. “That left a bad taste in my mouth.” He smacked his lips in attempt to remove it. “Hey Sona what do you think of this?” He tossed the letter over landing behind her back.

“Ugh.” Her hand shot back like a vice snatching the letter. “I do not think much of it since it is written in a language I do not understand. Now let me sleep.” She crumpled the letter and threw it to the ground.

“Ok but just so you know there is a shared bath at the end of the hall. Should I go first?”

“No!” Sonashi leapt from the bed and was out the door before Otis could say anything else. She had startled the guards but they led her to the bath without much complaint.

“It just shows how much we must stink. Now on let’s learn to speak like an insect.” He summoned the tome to his hand and quickly consumed it. The golden glow was over in almost an instant.

[Rantide Language Learned]

Otis summoned the journal to his hand next. It was an interesting find and he was eager to learn how it ended up in the gray man’s safe.

January 2nd, 1942 Journal Entry #1

So my dad gave me this journal as a gift. A few buddies and I just enlisted in the US Army. He said writing my thoughts would help keep my mind healthy, that there are things you could see and do in war that could break a man. Well I guess before all that I should introduce myself. My name is Matthew Thompson and I am currently riding the bus to boot camp. There was sadness in my parent’s eyes as I boarded the bus but I think there was pride there too.

If this journal is found please return it to my father. Their phone number and address is listed below this entry.

Otis stretched out on his small bed and flipped a few pages past the journal entries concerning boot camp.

March 13th, 1942 Journal Entry # 26

I am finally being deployed. As you know I have been stuck here doing paperwork for the last few weeks while the rest of my friends have already landed in England. You would think I would be happy that I finally get to serve my country. But, you know where they are sending this Indiana boy? England? Africa? Australia? NO! I am being sent to god forsaken Oklahoma! Dad was right if I could not write this down I would crack.

March 25th, 1942 Journal Entry # 32

The trip to my new station did not take long though if you asked me where this place is I would not be able to answer. The airfield we landed at looked like it was built yesterday and none of the streets had any lights or signs. As far as I know I am assigned guard duty for some science facility. I spend a majority of my day filling out paperwork. Something called a non-disclosure agreement and a death and liability clause among others. Sally assured me it was standard operation procedure. Sally is a dish, she almost makes this whole assignment worthwhile. Speaking of my assignment I start tomorrow.

April 15th, 1942 Journal Entry # 41

Guard duty is tiresome and apparently this facility is studying some children. I do not understand why they need guards for a government funded day care. Oh well, it is above my pay grade to care and I have heard that some other guards have been sent away for asking too many questions.

Tomorrow I am going to try to speak to Sally again. I am sure she is going steady with some other guy but I do not care. Wish me luck!

May 22th, 1942 Journal Entry # 72

I have been promoted and I now have a secret clearance. Roy abandoned his post but no one knows why. The scientist all seem very nice if not a bit detached. I received some letters from Jimmy and the old gang. It sounds like they are having a gas in Britain.

June 3rd, 1942 Journal Entry # 76

I saw one of those ‘kids’ today. It sent a shiver down my back. I am glad I was armed.

June 6th, 1942 Journal Entry # 77

I have a date with Sally tonight! There is not much to do on the base so we are just taking a drive in her car. Wish me luck!

June 7th, 1942 Journal Entry # 78

Its early morning I just got back. I must have said the right things because Oh Boy!

July 9th, 1942 Journal Entry # 86

I am guarding the inner facilities now. Those ‘kids’ still creep me out with their red eyes and gray skin. But the doctors are all excited it sounds like they have made a breakthrough. I know I am not supposed to ask questions but one excited man told me they are developing the next generation of soldier. Whatever that means.

Also, Sally and I are going steady! The other guards are not too happy about it but it really is none of their business.

August 13th, 1942 Journal Entry # 98

There was an accident in the lab today. I was not there to witness it but I saw one of my fellow guards, Gregory, and a scientist wheeled out in a stretcher. They were violent and had to be restrained. They had the same red glow in their eyes that the ‘kids’ have.

August 15th, 1942 Journal Entry # 101

I was shocked to see Gregory again. He is in the glass cell with the ‘kids’. He is not the only adult in the cell there is another that the ‘kids’ refer to as the Preacher. I did not see him I only overheard some of the scientist talking about him.

September 1st, 1942 Journal Entry # 112

The fella’s are telling me to not to get too attached to Sally that she is just a share crop. I told them off they are just trying to make me look like a fool. Teddy thinks so too. He may be one of the ‘kids’ but he is not like the rest. I needed someone to talk to last night during guard duty and his cell is one of the few with an intercom. He turned out to be surprisingly insightful.

September 22nd, 1942 Journal Entry #135

I found Gregory with his stomach split open when I went on duty today. Somehow one of the ‘kids’ got a knife. When I was making my rounds I found him standing over Greg’s body pulling out his entrails. I do not think I will ever get the image out of my mind. How could a child do such a thing? No, I have to remind myself that these things are not children. The doctor said we do not know where they came from but they can heal fast and have strength way beyond what a child should possess. I do not think I should talk to Teddy anymore.

September 24th, 1942 Journal Entry #137

Today I was reprimanded for asking too many questions. Anymore questions and I would not like the consequences.

September 26th, 1942 Journal Entry #138

Today we executed the ‘kid’ that gutted Gregory. You would think that was the end of it but he stood back up. He took ten bullets and stood back up like it was nothing. I cannot stay here. These things are little demons! We are making a deal with the devil trying to possess their power.

October 14th, 1942 Journal Entry #157

I know I have been on edge the past few entries but Teddy was right I needed to cool off. I feel much better now.

October 30th, 1942 Journal Entry #183

Teddy had really turned out to be the only friend I have in this place. Ever since Sally went missing a few weeks ago it has not been the same around here.

November 5th, 1942 Journal Entry #191

I met the Preacher today. Another guard has abandoned their post so my patrol has been expanded. He was not like I expected. He was just a frail old man nothing like the energetic and playful kids. I do not understand why he has been separated from the others.

I got a letter from my father today. They want to know why I have stopped mailing them. I know they are disappointed in my deployment but I am doing good work here. They would not understand.

November 17th, 1942 Journal Entry #221

My fellow guards harassed me again today. They still think I had something to do with Sally’s disappearance. They do not believe me when I tell them I had nothing to do with it.

I am tired of their harassment and my supervisors are not doing anything about it. My supervisors are probably on their side anyway. I left them a surprise at the end of my shift this morning.

December 6th, 1942 Journal Entry #234

They say the accident was due to contaminated drinking water in the labs. That some ‘kids’ blood got in it and they all went mad but I think they were already crazy, messing with things they do not understand. Things they could never understand. Teddy thinks they got what they deserved. These scientist are attempting to walk in the true god's domain. The experiments have been put on hold until they figure out the source. New scientist are going to be shipped in and they should be here in a month.

December 25, 1942 Journal Entry #275

Merry Christmas! I saw vision of the man in chains in my dreams again. I cannot see his face but I know he is speaking to me. He uses a language that I cannot understand but even if it is incomprehensible it sounds beautiful. Teddy told me that my visions are of the one true god and if I am seeing him then I am one of the chosen just like the ‘kids’. I do not know anything about being chosen I am only here to serve my country.

January 4th, 1943 Journal Entry #343

As promised I am not drawing another picture of the man in chains. I only have one thing to say though. Tomorrow is the day. Teddy says that the Preacher has something he needs.

January 5th, 1943 Journal Entry #392

Teddy offered me a small bite of the Preacher’s heart. I declined even though it looked strangely like a dark red fruit. He split the heart between him and his friend, the Butcher’s boy who had split open Gregory. The fruit had magical powers. Teddy and the Butcher’s boy aged right before my eyes. I returned them to their cells and made sure there were no witnesses.

January 7th, 1943 Journal Entry #476

I hope you have liked my drawings of the true god. Teddy and the Butcher’s boy removed the fruits from all of the other ‘kids’.

January 12th, 1943 Journal Entry #522

Teddy told me that the true god’s servant will be coming to retrieve them soon. I accepted their offer. I will leave with them when the time comes.

January 27th, 1943 Final Journal Entry

I am sorry Matthew but there is no place at my side available for those who have not sampled the fruit of corruption. I will write your final journal entry for you as you currently lack the means to do so. But do not worry I will complete this task for you before you breathe your last breath. You have been a trusted friend and confidant during these trying times while I await my master’s servant. It was fortunate for us to meet. Through me you finally could reach your full potential, count yourself lucky that you could contribute even a minute amount to my noble cause. By allowing me to eat the Preacher’s fruit of corruption I have shed the last vestments of my humanity.

My Master’s servant has come to retrieve the Butcher and me and unfortunately, your blood has run dry on my quill. My time on Earth has reached its end but I will return and behind me will be an army of my Master’s creation. I will scour the Earth and rid it of your kind. So for that I must say thank you friend.

Yours Truly,

Edgar Theodore Blythe

“Well that was unsettling.” Otis closed the journal. “Sona, I guess it's my turn for a bath.” Otis watch the woman crawl into her bed.

“Yes, you smell like a dwarf’s ass.”

“I didn’t know you had such a strange hobby.”

“Just go! I cannot sleep with your stench.” She hissed.

“You love it and you know it” Otis said as he ran out of the room. There was a thud in the door as he closed it, looking back he saw the tip of a knife sticking out.

Otis looked at his surprised Linnare guards. “Would you fine gentle...lizards show me the way to the baths. Apparently I smell bad enough to warrant murder.”

Boom! I hope you enjoyed that. I know it was a little different from what I normally write and to be honest it was nice to have a break from the usual. I will be back next week with a new chapter. Fingers crossed for Monday morning but no promises.