Eril's Story

Day 21

Thankfully, in contrast with gale of yesterday, the fresh day brought new weather - glorious sunshine, with only a remnant of clouds in the sky. The air was vibrant and alive as the last of the precipitation was rolling off of the leaves, pooling in sunken areas. Surveying the place we had stayed in the light, it now took on new meaning.

It was indeed a man made space. Great furrows of soil, side by side with earthworks, made from the displaced dirt formed very precise and purposeful patterns. Climbing up to the low branch of a tree I could see it in its entirety - winding together upon itself, spiraling from a central stone formation.

I shuddered for it was a design I knew - a symbol of the evil that dwelt on the other side of reality. A rare sight now that the armies of shadow had been defeated, only their relics from the past remained, and these were destroyed upon discovery. In the center of it all was a stone plinth, I shuddered to think what took place there.

Climbing down from the tree, I noticed scorch marks along the bases of the trees, my companions saw the same among the others surrounding the site, only scorched on the inward facing sides. It was quite puzzling. We went to the center and broke down the altar with large chunks of rock lying nearby, then smashed the various small stone icons that were present. Whatever this place was used for, the feeling of darkness lingered - the kind you could feel pricking your back.

On our way out, I happened to look down into the pit I assumed I had fallen into the previous night - recoiling with revulsion, I saw bones protruding from the mud, many bones, more than from one creature. In horror, my mind turned, envisioning the slaughter that must have taken place here. My stomach felt sick as I weakly pointed out my unsettling discovery. Balars face became one of disgust and fury, Cyriths one of shock.

We had done all we could to dismantle the physical function of the site, but it clearly went deeper, there was an immaterial essence, and that was not as easily purged - lingering and intangible. We turned our attention and energy towards the creator, in hopes that the place would be cleansed, and could eventually find peace.

Forlorn we moved on, discussing amongst ourselves who could be brought to do such things. The tales were, and these were only hinted at, were that people seeking power over others, would go in search of helpers, even greater than the Seraphs, who would help mortals that sought them with gifts - offering knowledge and skill far beyond what any human possessed. Things that elevated them over their fellow man.

These beings would prey on the most fundamental of people's desires, curiosity, sufficiency, the ego and striving for more, things that are inherent to some degree in us all. When that innate desire is met with things that are deceptive, instead of things that truly sustain and uplift a person, the effects could be disastrous. But not all think this way, and there will be those to whom what has been given is not enough, and to those, the things that plague our world, will enable them, bringing about their own demise.

We mulled over these solemn topics as we made our way through the twilight forest, only stopping to eat. When night came, we packed away our gear that was now slightly musty smelling from the rain, not having a chance to dry properly. Then finding a cozy embankment with enough dry wood around to start a fire, we switched to more joyful topics, listening as Balar told thrilling hunting stories from his younger days, until at last we drifted off.