Letters to Meeka - 1 - The Mists

I made it to the Harvenset Fête this year. It has been a unique change from those we visited when I was a child.
Of course there always is some snake oil salesman in the Herbalist Court, and this year it appears they were trying to pass off a bottle of ash and oil as some cure for scars. Now before you lecture me on how to make a salve for such a remedy, this woman was casting to eliminate the scars. The concoction was a fraud and even the rouse seemed ill effective on me. This of course made them quite nervous, but it was too late as the crowd had turned on them.
I slipped away to browse the other stalls, but I hear they demanded money back and drove them away into their homes. I admit feeling good about that. Not much intrigued me at the vendors though today. I've run out of stock but am all too disinterested in the profession of a medicine woman. You would be disappointed I'm sure. Maybe even angry. I just find no interest or pleasure in it as of late.
 
But I did meet some interesting folk who I feel may just be of enough interest to warrant my company. They are to be the perfect companions to sow the disorder, chaos, and excitement I've craved! I am sure you would rather I'd just settle down and be like you'd been... But that taste of freedom and danger has intoxicated me.
I've tried to live better, slower... It's left me empty, mother. I hope to find a place among these people, even if it is just the healing woman. At least I will be near the interesting!
I'd met them after a disturbance in the Bazaar. Something granted the plants violent sentience and so we cut down the poor things. Well... All but one of us.
 
There is this man, a pretty face, who just watched and made glib remarks the whole time. He seems simultaneously the most normal and yet interesting man of the bunch. He calls himself Jeremiah and from his garb and a comment from Cole, he appears to be a solider-type. There is a cunning there that I wouldn't normally expect in a solider. So of course, he is intriguing. He asked about the cards, so I gave him a reading. Judgement was what came up. I know you don't know much about the cards, but its a very interesting read, and he seemed to find it relevant.
 
Cole, who seems to be partial to Jeremiah, is a rather religious sort. He is asking everyone on if they worship and preaching his own faith rather aggressively. Which comes as a shock when you find out he found his faith only a week ago. The man is quite a mystery, and has a rather odd habit of staring through that great big helmet for uncomfortably long. He allowed me to read him his cards as well and the Heirophant appeared. I believe it fits him, but he seemed to be disinterested. I wasn't able to get much confirmation as to the fit.
 
One of the women who I've met is named Cyra, and she is a foul tempered one. I believe she's a Shifter, and VERY distrusting, but also not scared to let you know. Because of this I know very little about her beyond that.
She was also disinterested in her card, the Five of Pentacles, but I think it fits our situation and her foul attitude well.
 
And the fourth is Sessile. She's also rather closed off, but it much more quiet about it. All that can be determined so far is that she is an Elf of 180 years old, and I pulled the Three of Swords. She seemed shocked at the card, which often indicates its accuracy.
I will admit I was quite proud of how well the cards performed for me today. I know you don't care for them much but... I was excited to get such good readings. Maybe one day I can pull your cards.
 
But once we'd made introductions and everyone had a brief drink the Seance had been moved up, so all but Jeremiah went to witness. He claimed it wasn't his thing... So I do wonder what is. Or if he's just one of those boring types who'd prefer to read in a Tavern.
And I don't want to hear it! He wasn't just reading in a Tavern... And he was far from boring.
 
At the Seance I actually saw him. The Spirit Guardian of the Forest. He appears to have a stag skull for a face and it very tall and lanky. He stared at me, but remained in the shadow of the trees, watching us.
Gardenia spoke with me and Cole, but Cole was convinced the Gaurdian wasn't real, and wondered at why it was worshiped. I had little interest and went back to the tavern, finding Jeremiah exactly where we'd left him.
 
And just as the evening was deepening a feeling of dread came. Outside became deathly quiet and a mist had begun to lick under the door. It plucked at my feeling so easily and planted an urge I couldn't understand. An urge to go within that silent, dread filled fog.
Cole went right in, despite my warnings, and Jeremiah went after him once he'd been made aware. Cyra was on her feet already compelled to follow her own urge to go out. Either it worked strong on her, or she has absolutely no impulse control. Hard to tell. Sessile and I were slow to leave, and it seemed a poor choice as Sessile quickly was overcome and Cyra ran off after something. Jeremiah went with her and Cole did as well, leaving me to watch over Sessile. It was a bit annoying but the poor girl obviously couldn't be left in this dread. And just when I thought to possibly try and bring her back into the tavern the mists had lifted along with that heavy burden. Sessile had recovered and we decided to look for the others. But... they killed a man and took his daughter, leaving the weeping mother to scream over the chilled corpse. He was disturbingly cold and there was nothing I could do for him but close his eyes.
 
The guard had appeared, even the fancy ones. And that's where Jeremiah learned about the magic to speak with the dead. He seemed rather put off by it, which only made me wish I had more use for such a spell, just to see him rattle on and on about how it wasn't possible.
Men without magic are so amusing. And yes, he hasn't got an ounce of it, so he says. I hope he is of the solider type, because otherwise I'm going to be spending a lot of time trying to keep him alive.
 
Either way. That was where our day ended. Zaheed has been rather lazy lately. I think I've begun to bore him. Perhaps, with our new found friends, there will be some new excitement to keep us both entertained.
 
Until we meet again,
M