3. Milla's thoughts - Her Journal

Milla's thoughts - Her Journal


  • (( This is Milla’s journal. Of course nobody actually reads it, but the things she writes in it is what she’s talking about around a camp fire, for exemple. She doesn’t go into details, but you get the picture. ))

    (( I’ll try to write often, as her journey continue. The more I will write, the better it will be, I hope. Please, keep in mind that english isn’t my first language. ))


  • February 18th

    • Sitting near the campfire in Jiyyd, Milla is taking some time to write in her journal. The place is empty tonight, but her smile describes a heart full of emotions. *

    _Frandor! My dear brother… I have finally found him! Well, actually, he found me by chance. My thanks to Rillifane to have guided its footsteps.

    I was so happy to see him again, after that long time. My heart is now at peace, filled with joy. I must say, I had despair to find him in Narfell. I have asked so many times this question “Have you seen a male elf, named Frandor Dannode’lin?” and the only answer I ever got was no. So, I had decided to concentrate on finding the Wolves first to later ask them for help in my search. That is why I stopped asking this famous question, and also because every time I was asking it, my heart was filled with hope for a better answer. Of course, when there is hope, there can be despair and sadness if the conclusion isn’t what was expected. So, every “no” was like twisting a knife in an open wound.

    But, enough with those bad memories! Frandor is alive and well. We talked so much tonight, like when we were back home. The reason he hasn’t been around Narfell is that he made a stop elsewhere (that I don’t remember the name, because I was too excited, listening) with the caravan. There they made some work to be able to buy more protection for the caravan, because there was a rumour of ambushes along to road to Narfell. That’s what caused the delay.

    He arrived yesterday, in Peltrach. Once the caravan made it to the docks, he came down to Jiyyd with some others that don’t like being in big cities. When I saw him passing through the gate, I just ran to him crying with tears of joy. He was extremely surprised to see me here, thinking I was still in the community, being the little sister I've always been.

    We talked for hours of all the things he and I went through. It would be really too long to write down all of it, but I must note that we talked about home of course, which is where he’s going back. With all the gold he made along the trip, he wants to rest some time enjoying home. In fact, the night he wanted to spend in Jiyyd was its only night in Narfell. The caravan he accompanied is leaving at dawn, so we had to finish our conversation. He left by the same gate, after a big emotional hug, some moments ago.

    Before departure, he asked me to go back with him. I hesitated, of course, but my answer to that was no. I’m not ready to leave Narfell. I can even say that I just arrived, finally. With that shadow out of my mind, I can now really concentrate about being here. I will surely remember this advice from him: “Milla, my dear sister, watch your back and stay alive. We will travel with each other one day.”_

    • Closing her journal, Milla uses her hand to wipe a tear of joy from her delicate face. She then closes her eyes, whispering a song in elvish with a smile of happiness in this beautiful night. Soon, the sun will rise to the east on a new beginning. *

    Milla Dannode'lin: Description; Story; Journal
    Nathal Sterr


  • February 7th

    • The Gypsy pass is empty. Milla’s friends went for a patrol to remove the foes that are soiling their home ground. Usually, she would go with them, even if the patrol is extremely dangerous, but today she has a weakness that can be seen in her empty eyes. Sadness and fear feed the small tears falling from her green eyes to the leaf-ground. *

    _It’s been a long time since I wrote. Many things have happened to me since; most of it was good so I didn’t felt the need to write. I barely had the time, spending it between prayers to Rillifane, patrols, meeting with people and learning. But one event occurred, one that I will never forget. The one event that has brought me fear, sadness and home sickness. My first real visit to the Fugue.

    It was on a beautiful night, in Jiyyd. I went to rest a little near the cows, south of the main road. When I woke up, I saw some people running to the main road having their weapons drawn. Getting my senses back, I began to hear combat noises, so I went to see what was going on. Before I could do anything, even see who was fighting what, I was paralysed and something hit me from behind, near the water. Everything went dark……… I… I .. Writing this down reminds me of it…… I remember waking up some time after in this place, the Fugue, with an incredible headache. Took me time to realize what happened… Then it struck me… so hard. I was no longer in Narfell. I can’t find words to describe the sadness and despair I felt. I just cried all the tears I had.

    Then, something happened… I felt like I was beginning to fade… to disappear in some comfortable light. I closed my eyes, avoiding the bright light and before I could open them, I heard my named from a friendly voice. My friend Brynhildr…. no, more than that…. my dear friend Bryn was passing by in Jiyyd as she spotted my unanimated body on the ground. She took me at the temple and prayed hard until I was raised.

    When I opened my eyes, I saw her, smiling at me. Syrano was standing next to her, holding my equipment. I just started crying, feeling a shocking blend of happiness and fear. From all my belongings, it was my family ring I was the happier to see again. After recovering my spirit, helped by Bryn’s councils, Syrano took me for a walk back at the Gypsy Pass where all my new friends were gathered. That helped, because many told me that the Fugue was once their home.

    I don’t know why Bryn and Syrano were there at that precise time, but I suspect Rillifane had felt my despair, guiding their thoughts and steps to Jiyyd.

    Back at the camp, I was lost in my mind….. trying to figure what happened to me. I pass the next patrol; they were going to fight a demon and some gnolls. The few times I went with them were incredible. A perfect party to be in I must say, and of course I learned from that. But I could still feel a weakness and my mind was not yet ready to scar.

    Time has past and finally I decided it was time to confront my fears face to face. I went for a spider hunt with Arandor and Star. They let me battle each of them, teaching me. At the end of the hunt, I could still feel a weakness, but it was not in my mind anymore. Time will heal me from that event and it will become an experience.

    On the bright side of things, I made some progress about the Wolves… It appears that I know a lot of them, adventurers I didn’t suspect at first glance. Many of them trained me to improve my combat ability and, of course, my knowledge of the wild. I won’t spell their names here in case my journal fall into wrongs hands. The Wolves are a secret I should respect._

    • As she writes the last words in her journal, the patrol party returns from their hunt. *

    Milla Dannode'lin: Description; Story; Journal

    Frandor Dannode'lin: To come…


  • January 22th

    • The rain started to fall in Norwick. Cold it was, even under a hooded cloak. But Milla just wanted to stay outside, breathing pure air. Because of the recent bugbears attacks at the south gate, she decided to sit on the Watch Tower and write there, protected by her cloak. *

    _Well, a small moment of peace between two attacks, I suppose. I need to get a better bow, one with a bigger range so I won’t be useless standing here. We just suffered an attack, mainly by goblins again. I stayed on the protected hill west from the Watch Tower and fired what I had left of arrows. I killed some, but again, only the ones stupid enough to stay within range.

    I made a lot of thinking about what I should do or be, here. No, I won’t go back to my community, for now. That would be seen as a failure, to begin by my own perception. Have I always been so naive ? Thinking that adventure would be easy? I should really try to change that naive attitude of mine, that might trick me someday.

    I’ll try to find my brother, but I should start with small goals. This will help, I hope, to acquire the confidence and experience I need to survive these lands. Beside, if something has happened to him, I should be ready to avenge him. That, I am not right now. I will travel to Jiyyd and Pelt, maybe there will I find weapons, armors and of course, gold. I may have to scavenge corpses of foes that will be killed by my arrows in order to get gold, even if I would like to avoid this. I have to be mind-ready. And of course, on my way there, I shall keep an elven eye out for information about the Wolves. I have to join their rank, but for now, I must discover their true nature.

    Let Rillifane and Mielikki guide my steps in the dark, using shadows as an ally.

    Hum.. A sound near that strange portal… and there is some kind of fire light that can be seen through the night. I better have a look._

    • Putting her journal back in her backpack, she ran to the portal drawing her bow to discover burning… things, walking and attacking a group of well armed adventurers. Something is not right. Even inside the gates, it isn’t safe anymore. *

  • Milla's Thoughts - Her Journal.

    January 20th

    Milla just came from here favorite place in Norwick. A place where she hides when she wants to be alone. A safe place in nature, her santuary. But the rain was falling hard, so she decided to get warm in the Boarshead Inn, renting a dark room to think, to write and to rest at candlelight.

    _Quiet time, at last. I never thought that I would feel that good in this Inn.

    I didn’t really have the time to write in this journal since I arrived in Narfell. Maybe I should start by describing the region from my sight. Well.. I haven’t visited a lot, it is too dangerous to do it on my own. But I must say that Norwick isn’t a bad place. I like woods, but here is the closest to what I’m looking, and it is safe. I’ll have to accept it for now I suppose. I also went to Jiyyd, exploring; to Pelt, finding a way to work for gold. Not much to say about those two other than Pelt is quite a huge city, too big for me.

    Since I arrived, there has been battles everywhere. So many goblins attacking at the south gate of Norwick. Death… it is everywhere. I even experience it, but it was not like I thought. I don’t know why… but I knew it was not over, like if I had another chance. There, in this unknown place, I encountered what they call a Succubus I think. She made it really clear that next time, I would be for good. Actually, I didn’t take the time to think about this experience and now I’m afraid. I just don’t want to die. I knew that leaving the comfort of my home would be dangerous, but I guess you never really understand it until you face it. Recent events made it clear; that night where everything went wrong.

    After having defeated some goblins at the south gate, with help of course, everything went calm. At that time, I though that it was over, but no, they were just regrouping. Then two people came out of the city, two friendly faces which I saw on my day of arrival. It was Cike and Lilin. It was nice to meet them again and they arrived just in time to counter a fierce attack. I was talking to Cike, looking for answer to my questions about the so called Wolves of Narfell and about my encounter with two rangers named Star and Tala. Then, they stroke us by surprise. But this was only the beginning, because the next waves were just harder. From small goblins to heavily armoured ones, we fought. Cike, Lilin, Sir Moe and Calendel were protecting me, as I was beginning to be really afraid. I was unleashing arrows after arrows at the goblins and I killed many. This was just the beginning, because some really big creatures came out of nowhere, striking us in the shadows from behind. Those were bugbears, big ones. We fought hard, but my arrows were useless against them. I was just a weight to them, because they were desperately trying to protect me. When the first attack stopped, something happened right there, in front of my eyes. Lilin changed… suddenly to take the shape of a “were animal” and she started to attack us. She was out of control, so Cike shout at me to get inside the gate and I did. He had to take Lilin far from the gate, to protect her against herself. The bugbears must have watched the scene, because they chose this time to counter attack and they did it hard. Right in front of me, they killed Sir Moe and Calendel and I wasn’t able to do anything. My arrows were useless against their armor and I had to retreat inside the gate to stay alive. I felt so guilty, so useless… and I still feel that way. But Cike returned and sent me get some help to recover the bodies. I just hope I did that well. I saw Sir Moe at the south gate recently, so everything is fine at the end.

    That raises a question in my troubled mind. Do I really want to be an adventurer? Maybe it isn’t my nature and that was just a dream. It is not as easy as I though. No gold, bad weapons and a constant fear to venture in the wild, where I really want to be.

    And what about my brother. It’s been two weeks of asking, and nobody seems to know him. I’m beginning to think that he never arrived in Narfell. Or maybe he stayed in the shadow, trying to avoid contacts with other. Maybe this whole idea of coming to Narfell was bad for both of us.

    On the positive side, I meet a lot of people. Many of them have been really nice to me, answering my numerous questions and even saving my life, often. And what about those Wolves of Narfell. The ranger named Star told me that they were watching me… Well, they better not watch too often, because they will soon realize that even with the strongest intentions to do good and to protect the woods, I can’t handle it very well.

    I feel so alone here, far from home, far from my community…_

    *She closes her eyes, feeling desperate, tired by too much thinking about her goal here. A single tear falls in her fragile face and drops in her journal. She closes it. Thinking about what she wrote, she’s entering the shadows to find sleep. *