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A piece of paper lays on the side of the road. It flows in the air as the wind picks up and carries it around. Soon it flows into a bush in front of a large brick building which many people walk past. On it the writing becomes a bit hard to read. Blood stains are faintly visible. It has come over a long distance. Something is amiss on it. On it all that is left is this:

I have traveled....for two days.....now.....it has been a long and hard walk in the mountains......this walking....is wearing off my boots....my feet stick out of the soles...and my toes are numb.....I have no idea how but....

The mountains are slowly freezing me.....I have found a shack up here. But it is empty....I spent the night in it and started a fire in it's chimney.......it was the first warmth I have had in a long time......I feel like something bad is about to happen.....I keep having visions.....about something.............red........laughs......I'm going insane........

After my awakening on the fifth day......which was this morning.....I found that my feet were frost bitten......I couldn't move them...............Time is short here.......the storm has died down and now......I have to leave.....it will hit hard again by noon.

I have left the shack....and continued my journey across the mountain ranges.......time is short and......

the writing stops here and a trail of blood drops little the rest of the page. It seems as though the writer or whoever possessed the letter encountered something. A few more words can be made out at the bottom but are barely made out. The final words are. "Only the gods can help me"

Elaralith walking by the building quickly notices the parchment with her sharp gaze.
"What's this?"
Elaralith snatches the parchment up as it is about to be blown off by the wind. She quickly scans the faint writing, and alarm grows on her face.
"Oh my...Sevious! This is terrible. Elara's grace be upon us!"
Elaralith gathers up her dress and staff and walks begins to call attention to the matter at hand.
"A search party must be organized! A life is at stake here!"
Elaralith continues to pray urgently to Elara for guidance as she gathers help.

Moathia runs over to Elaralith "Whats the matter?" Then she sees the paper and a look of horror washes over her face, she takes a step back white faced and falls over a log on the ground behind her.

.... noo.... not Helios, he was my first friend... the first person that talked to me as a friend... and he asked me when the time comes... if i could join him on a journey and ive always been waiting for that time... I will do anything i can to help find him

He is right, it is coming, and I feel his fate in the ice may be a wiser choice than ours in the stone.

Elaralith steadies Moathia, and speaks in a calm if somewhat strained voice.
"We must use all our resources to find him and save him if that be Elara's will at once! Any here ranger, druid, or skilled in woodlore? We need one who can track, or can tame some animal to track!"
Elaralith looks around her searchingly....

Down by the river, past the tavern and near the edge of the woods, a letter half torn lays there. It seems to have been washed ashore from the currents of the river. On it is more words. More words that seem to tell another story of a day that had passed. It reads:

......I'm weak......I have managed to escape......the Tantula......It is a vile creature........More like ......a giant spider.........I've heard of them........This tantula.....was a mountain cave one.......It ambushed me earlier........this wound.....on my arm.........It's pain grows.......it seems the scars here have a new one.........this one hurts......the pain......it paralyzes me sometimes......I just stop in the middle of a walk......through this mountain........the storm that hit noon is harder than ever. My cloak won't last much longer.....it's torn and almost ragged like a begger's clothes on the street......soon I'll be out of cloth to keep me warm........I threw out my shoes.......they were nothing.......That slip on the edge almost costed me my life.........

Unfortunately, I lost my boot......One boot won't help much......but I'll keep wearing it........it grows dark and I hear things besides the high screaming of the wind......some monstrous sounds........loud cries.....not that of a wolf.....but something else........my sword and shield are all that I have to protect myself.........I'm afraid to go to sleep.........I'm wounded.......and I go slower.......each hour feels like a centurie of torture in a dungeon.......I don't know how much longer I'll last up here......all these dangers......Tantula's........those creatures that make those sounds..........Soon my journey may come to an end........if only I was elsewhere.......if only I was in a warmer place.........

The letter ends there as the rest of the paper is torn off. On the parchment, the smell of rotting flesh comes from it......not that of the undead but that of a dieing man. One that may not survive to see the next sunset. The letter sits there helplessly. The winds have died down and now it awaits to be found.

As the day progresses, another parchment washes upon the shore behind the inn of a certain hobbit. The writing on it appears to be more poorly written than the previous two. The parchment seems to be torn and a few peices are missing. Red stains cover the remaining letter. It seems to have been drenched in blood. The blood is fresh....The parchment reads:

I find myself in the snow.....my face is buried in it....in other words....I find myself crawling in the snow.....I'm still able to move....but slowly.....Behind me.......fresh blood trails along in the snow........I'm vulnerable to attack.....the smell of this fresh blood that oozes from my arm......arouses all kinds of hungry animals and monsters.....the storm isn't dieing down....but yet it rages on......

Recently I cam upon a corpse....that of a man.....well what was left of it......it looks like it's been up here awhile......I searched it....and found some food...in it's bag that was attached to a limb of the body....one that seems to be an arm.....this is the only food I've found and got left.....two apples, two peices of raw ham, and three loaves of bread.....and also a flask of water....this gash in my arm is infected and still bleeds dangerously.....I try to help it form a clot with the remains of my ripped shirt.....but the bitter coldness gets to it......also...this poison that was injected into me.......it seems to have died down but.......the worst of it is still to come........

All that I got left to keep me warm.....is my shirt on my body, my torn pants, and this ripped blue cloak are all.....my other boot gave way last night after I tried running....something chased me last night....it may have been that creature that was making those horrible sounds......while I was running, the boot tore in half and now lies in the snow a ways back.....It's futile to sleep up here.....I need rest, but I'm afraid to sleep....I constantly look behind me....I squint to see through the snow falling and the fog that litters the mountain air with it.....I swear I see some sort of figure......it doesn't look like anything but still.....I may be seeing thi.....

The writing trails off the parchment. It seems the writer finished this entry quickly and hurried on. The parchment lays silently on the beach, awaiting to be discovered. Maybe the owner will find it. Or perhaps someone passing by. But for now it lays there as the water hits the shore and goes back out into the sea from wince it came.

Callith wakes up from his deep meditaion as some paper flutters by in the wind, with amazing speed, his hand come out and grabs it. He reads it twice slowly making sure that he takes it all in, before walking calmly into town up to Elaralith and hands it to her. " You should look at this, and I shall help you, find him." Then he smiles at Moathia in a father to daughter kind of way, and whispers to her " Young one, don't worry, we will find this human, but only if you come with us. Also please take what was handed down to you, those swords will be needed, and don't worry about your lack of skill, the memories will flow into you." He smiles once more before standing over next to Elaralith and reading the first paper.

Elaralith looks up and receives the piece of parchment Callith hands her. After reading the blurred writing, she says:
"More clues...everyone who spots one of these please bring it here we can better find and help Sevious if all the clues are together. This is not good news...we must waste no more time! I fear that Sevious' condition worsens rather than better. For this dire quest, a party must be formed immediately."
Elaralith smiles at Moathia and Callith.
"Glad that you are both coming. We need some stout warriors too that can track."
Visibly calm, Elaralith leads the small group in search of more to save Sevious.

Walks slowly into the town noticing everyones rush, and sighs. He got a message from Helios from his eagle and is going to make a proposal.
Well, it seems we have all heard of the trouble our dear friend Helios is in. We must find a way to help him. I am wishing to make a proposal. I would like to know if I can lead this group, or at least a portion of who would like to go with me, on this quest. I have known Helios since he has arrived on this island and have done many things by his side. If you dont wish me to lead this search party, I shall take my leave alone. Anyone who wishes to join me may do so. Farewell...

Veralion turns around, closes his eyes, and whispers to himself.Let my spirit and the gods protect you in this time Helios. I will find you, even if it costs me my life...

Boremier hears verallion's words as he walks into the town,he listens closely when verallion has finished he murmers to himself May the gods protect you my dear friend Helios if you are still alive I promise to find you. He starts to walk out of town he looks up at the stars and says to himself And so it begins but without Helios there maybe no hope.

The wind suddenly kicks up and dead leaves from the fall fly in it, but the leaves are not alone. With it a peice of paper flows slowly up and down and then lands on top of a building with many chairs. The building seems to have been used in the older days for some sort of meetings. There the paper lays down silently in one of hedges on the border. The paper is soaked in blood like the previous ones. This one has more writting on it....it reads:

Another day and night have dawned upon me........The storm is finally dieing down but not enough..........my feet.....my bare feet......are blistered and beat up.........patches of skin miss on them.........they bleed constantly.....causing me great amounts of pain.........the other night.......my shirt ripped off of my body on a sharp rock while I was crawling slowly through the snow......the wind blew the remaining pieces away and now I have nothing to keep my upper body warm.......it it seems.......my food is running low.......

I am down to an apple....a piece of raw ham......and two loaves of bread......I predict It'll only last me another two days......if I ration it.....my arm is now paralyzed.....I can no longer move it......but keep it to my side.......I ripped off a piece of my pants and tied around my arm and then body to hold it up.......on my chest......I'm down to just this one arm......the only defense I have left is this arm and the sword I weild......

Earlier today.....I came upon a dead carcass of a bear......it was fresh and the skin was still intact. I used my dagger and cut off the skin......and cleaned the inside.......now I am using the fur to treat my feet......I feel sorry for the thing.........whatever killed it must be around......I have to keep an eye out.......but the bear..........it looked like it died.......I feel ashamed to take skin.....without giving back to it........although it was dead...............I used my right arm and dug a hole up in the mountain and put what was left of it......and buried it in the whole......this took me quite awhile even though it was still snowing..........the fog still lays dormat here in these god forsaken mountains.......I keep seeing something.......I know something is following me......but what?.....ugh.......I can't stop complaining about all this pain.......my feet......my arm......the posion from the damned giant arachnid........I'm still leaving a blood trail......I sense some predators are not to far behind.....those sounds still go on at night......

Right now I am digging out a cave.......a small place just big enough to sleep in.........and I plan on finishing in cleaning the blood off this fur......I don't want to sleep in any more blood than my own............sometimes I wonder............if I'm all alone......I don't know exactly how I got here.......but somehow I di....oh well.....I shouldn't be writting my personal thoughts down.......it's just lately......I've been getting visions.......something with red eyes...........It calls my name......in the snow.........Always whispering.......then the sounds of the sad storm goes up again........something is definitaly watching.......


The writing ends here and soon the rest of the writing disappears.....the writer may be in for some trouble.

Elaralith smiles tiredly at Morgaine's approach and quickly relates to her what the other parchments say.
"Ah my good friend Morgaine, good to see you. We will need all the aid there is to help Sevious, and with you that aid will be increased significantly. Hmmm...I think if we put all these parchments together we can see the big picture and get an idea where Sevious is... As well, a tracker or a tracking animal could use the scent and blood from these items to lead us to Sevious..."
Elaralith is in deep thought and discussion with the others when she spots Veralion's approach.
"Greetings Veralion! So you know about the troubles that have befallen poor Sevious? Good. That will save the time for explaining, I think we should all work together to help save Sevious instead of going in separate directions. A team can do more than an individual! As well, I do not think it matters who "leads". The most important thing is that we save Sevious.
Elaralith with the others continues the search...

Hearing of his lost friend Hermie walks through town till he finds the gathering of people and begins to talk

If people launch different search parties in different directions we would have a better chance of finding him. The clues so far tell us he is in a snowy place, most likely mountain, so that narrows down where he may be. Also what direction do these papers come from? North, North East? South? The more we study things the clearer it will become.

Elaralith directs her attention to Hermie.
"No Hermie, we should definitely not separate. According to what Sevious' diary pages speak an great evil is hunting him. We will need all our strength together to combat this thing and save Sevious. As well, a druid who can tame birds to send some swift birds to give us the location of Sevious. We should not go blindly into the Wild not even knowing generally where Sevious is."
Elaralith returns to the others and they continue the search for a druid...

I never said to go blindly into no where. But whatever we do we must do it hastily! He is low on food and clothing, I dont think he will survive much longer! Turns to Veralion Veralion, if you are leaving soon I shall accompany you, and Boremier, if you come with us we should have a pretty good team. I do not fear the evil that hunts him ... I want to rescue him before it is upon him. Hermie scratches his head with a look of worry covering his face

"This arachnid he speaks of, an Avatar I think, a beast of the gods, incredibly powerful.

"Although, I fear for Helios' soul more than his body, this person, calling him, I hear him too. If Helios is having theese visions I must find him, and swiftly."

Guingalan straps on his sword and ready's to depart

"Lead a search when you wish, but I cannot delay any further."

With that Guingalan turns and walks away

Before Boremier leaves he gets his valuebles he puts his shield on his back his sword is at his side I'm coming Helios I'm going to find you even if it costs me my life!my freind hermie I wish to go by myself I just feel I should. Just as he is leaving he see's a two second flash and in the flash he see's those red eyes! No its closer than before!He journeys out of town to find his friend Helios he has decided not to go with the others not because he does not like them but because he feels it to be better alone.

Boremier has left the safety of the town to search for Helios as he walks on he writes down some notes on some paper if the same thing happens to him. I have begun my search and I have only just left the safety of the town I hope to make it into the mounrains within a couple of days the fly's are buzzing around me its annoying but they do not leave the swamp.... As he writes down his notes he see's guingalan not knowing if he should say anything he waits for guingalan to say something.

Elaralith watches the departure of some, and mutters to Morgaine beside her:
"They remind me of some foolish knaves I once met. So hasty and simple-probably comes as a result of them not being Elves. Their actions unwittingly harm Sevious more than help him. In their ignorance they see not the Wisdom in teamwork, but choose to play the part of the "hero" to go alone to their own separate dooms."
Elaralith shakes her head, and sighs.
"The use of Sight is worth the try my dear friend Morgaine...but I am afraid I will not be able to help you in that venture much besides Healing you your weariness after the casting of the spell. The powers I wield are of the gods, and are far from the skills of a mage. As a precaution in case Sight fails let us continue to search for a druid who can tame some birds of the air to fly far and find Sevious for us."

Guingalan hears footsteps a short way behind him, he turns and his eyes fall upon Boremier

"Come Boremier, I know you feel him too."

Guingalan points to the main search party

"It is different for them, they search to find a friend, wheras we search for something deeper"

Guingalan stops awhile to allow Boremier to catch up, as they walk of together, you notice how alike they seem.

Looks at Callith with surprise on her face, but says nothing, and then turns to Elaralith. " Please Elaralith, we have to hurry"

As it nears night the storm in the mountains dies down after a long while. Soon a peice of paper flies up into the air from a bloody hand and glides with the wind. The paper travels across miles and miles of terrain. It moves from the ice covered mountain tops. Then it floats over rugged grassland and then over a forest. Soon it reaches the ocean and then the wind dies down causing the paper to drop into the ocean. About a few hours later, during the night, the paper hits shore of an island. It then floats along side the island and down a river. It passes a building of a dwarf and human fighting undead horrors. Soon it washes up on the edge of the river by a memorial type place. That of a famous dwarf. The paper is torn and battered from it's journey but is still eligible. On it it reads:

I sit here.......doing nothing.........all I do.......is wait........my blistered feet.......my arm..........ugh.........my soar legs.....and these splitting headaches........I don't know......if I should let myself die......but rather.......kill myself.....put myself out of this miserable state.......I don't know....if there's anyone out there......anyone looking for me.......anyone I am close to.......I feel like I never knew anyone.......if I did they've long forgotten about me......I'm sure my sword would love to pierce some new flesh.......human flesh.......my flesh.........it'd be a new thing for this sword.......human.......it's never had human before........

I seem to be going crazy.......I have no idea......why......voices....in my head........they speak to me...........they tell me things.......they.....try to corrupt my mind........the red eyes.......the speak.......make threats to me......threaten to kill me.........that I deserve to die......no need for me in this realm........He tells me.......there is no way....to stop him........even with me......he says......you may have the heart......but not the courage.....not the......skills......and most of all.......not the pride.......he says the people of this realm would never count on such a ....."puny" human to defend them.....from.....evil.......from......him.......uh.....the pain increases every moment......soon I'll be.......overcome with.....pain.....

On other notes.......the creature......will have an easy meal......one that sits.....one that can't defend himself......I know how to fight.......it's just I can't.......I can't move my legs.....to jump or dodge........the things attacks........I have only one arm.....not two....to protect myself.....with a shield and sword.......my clothes.....are just rags now........the fur I salvaged from the carcass of the bear.....is keeping my feet warm.....but my chest........it exposed to the bitter cold.......my pants are ripped......and I'm down to an apple and loaf of bread.......I'm certain something has been following me.......I don't know what though.......I got a closer look of it.......it was tall........perhaps one of them....legendary....ice elves.......but who knows.......elves of such kind have no love for humans........they'd love to watch us die.....to anything.....I may be wrong......but ice elves.....or any......or......what am I saying.......

I can only stay awake.....now.........I can crawl......but there is no sense in doing so.........it'll increase my pain.......if anymore comes to me........then......I'll have to silence myself.......I sit here with this paper and lead.........I write......and when I'm done.....I put it down......and grasp my sword tightly.....with my right arm.......my only good arm.......that giant spider.......it hunts me as well......I can smell it.........if my hearing isn't wrong......I can hear it's legs moving.....searching......not much farther.......than about a mile away.........it smells me as well.....my rotting flesh........the stench travels well in these winds............



The writing ends suddenly. The letter expresses not much feeligns, except fear. The writer is dieing. Very slowly though. He is past the state of being able to move.......time will only tell.....