[Since Jurado is illiterate (and wouldn't be one to keep a journal anyway), her journal is not to be read as a traditional diary or log. This is more of a written record of her thoughts during the game. It is written in her voice.]
I am glad that the lupas Treylin and I found shelter in a group of humans. He was a tiresome companion, always talking. He knew I did not speak the language of his people. Somehow he managed to be just as annoying in gibberish. But, for the times when he was quiet, he was a valuable companion. His knowledge of survival was invaluable, and I thanked him as best I was able.
I do not know why Treylin was apart from his people, nor was I able to tell him why I was apart from mine. We were both moving towards the human region when we met, so we kept going. The group we met outside the city entrance was a strange one. I counted three humans, one brun, and one pum. Treylin made peace with them and we introduced ourselves. They assumed I was hostile when we met. I may have given that impression.
The human who spoke too much was called Wol Sog. I admired his sense of duty, and his thorough nature. He would make a useful addition to any band of travelers. He made arrangements with his people for us to cross the crater, then climb the other side of the valley. Our purpose was to investigate a strange river that he had seen there.
The brun was called Draga. He was the one to whom I spoke the most, in a way, since he was my translator. He was a gracious to do this, but not too much, since I did not have a great deal to say to these people.
The pum was called Snarl. That name sounded foreign. I wonder if it is real? I did not get the chance to ask him. I have found too many men among my people who seek to mate and nothing more. I would prefer to have as little contact with Snarl as possible.
The last member of this group was a human called Imoen. She also spoke too much. If I had not met humans prior, I would have assumed them all to be like this. She was excitable, like a child, and spoke to me very slowly, when she did speak to me. I wish to know her more in a strange way, like when you meet a moronic boor and find yourself wishing to listen to him speak. She is not stupid, but she was not blessed with great intelligence either.
I obediently followed this group beyond the edge of the human territory, grateful to be allowed their presence. We passed through the crater, which I had seen only twice before, from a distance, and never at night. It was a strange sight. I could tell that Treylin, who was seeing it for the first time, was most interested. Wol Sog warned us not to get close to the center of the crater, and though I trusted his wisdom at the time, it was the first sign that we was not a brave man.
This demonstrated itself more clearly after we arrived at the top of the other side of the crater and camped for the night. We found the river, and after a time, a very large building rolled down it, shining light at us. Wol Sog ordered us to get down, but I quietly ignored his command. Our purpose was to investigate, not hide. The building passed us by and kept moving down the river. I do not know if I was seen or not.
Also that night, I saw the crater at night for the first time. It was glowing, clearly from some kind of strange energy, possibly magical. I also spotted an object moving in the sky, some distance away. It darted this way and that. I felt completely at peace seeing these things, for I knew they were no harm to me. Later when Imoen told Wol Sog about them, he apparently responded as though they were an obvious threat. Was he an idiot and a coward, or did he know something that I did not?
At daybreak I found my pack disturbed. I am accustomed to being alone, so it served as a rude reminder of the cost of traveling with others. I do not know who it was that rifled through it, and I failed to observe this person doing it again.
We investigated the river upon having daylight. It was hard, like rock, but smooth and consistently formed, as a long strip that curved around our location and went in two directions. There were also markings, possibly navigational in nature. It was hot to my bare feet, so I stayed off of it whenever possible. I should have investigated it further.
We moved north, staying to the side of this river. Several times, moving buildings passed us, always with Wol Sog wanting to hide, though I was unwilling. Upon better inspection these buildings were silver in color and very quickly moving. They floated above the river, and the space beneath them melted like wax. I would like to hold an object beneath one to observe the effect, but one would have to stop first.
On a bridge we encountered one of these buildings very closely, and were almost struck. It was clear to me then, when the building did not even slow in our presence, that it was not thinking, and not noticing either. We could ride it like a giant horse if we could somehow board it, but I did not mention this idea to the others. I still wished to make more observation.
After more hiking we reached a point where the river split in two, in a thick forest where the trees grew in rows. I found this disturbing, but I think I was alone in that. We made camp and explored up this section of the river, and found a wall made of bent metal wire. Beyond were a pair of grounded buildings, with the floating buildings slowly moving around them. I thought this might be our best chance to board one, but I could not speak. I determined to learn the language of these people as quickly as possible.
In the morning, we followed a slow-moving building up this section of the river. When the metal wall parted to admit it, we passed through as well, and snuck over to the grounded buildings. Golems floated in the air above us, and I believe we avoided them. It may have been luck.
When we entered the building, we found a female human manning a desk. I waited in the doorway, to prevent it from shutting and trapping Imoen inside. She approached the woman and they spoke in the human language. When Draga translated, it seemed as though this place was a food processing building of some kind. They made food for the people in a city further north, up the river.
I was tired of my jerky. Presented with the first opportunity for new food in a week, I asked how we could obtain seafood. This involved writing information on a sheet of paper, and since no one else was willing, I did it myself, scratching in writing wherever I saw empty space on the paper. When I entered, the woman told Imoen that her animals had to wait outside. This angered me, but I let it pass. It was becoming clear that this woman was not thinking, only reacting. When she rejected my writing on the form, I considered beheading her and breaking into the building to obtain satisfaction. But, I did not wish to jeopardize my presence in this group, and I did not want to find out if the golems in the sky could do more than float.
When we returned, Wol Sog seemed relieved for some reason. I think he was worried we would be harmed. When he sees a demonstration of my ability to protect myself and people with me, he will be less worried. |
