The Ends of the Infinite

Kozlik

Submitted for the consideration of the Earls Assembled at Holm-ir, by their loyal servant and man of the Tribe of Patrekan, Ranger Vsekan.

[Editor's note 1: the term Earls Assembled is sometimes translated otherwise. This partly stems from the disagreements on how to translate this aristocratic title of these lands. In other works, these nobles may be called "princes", "counts", or "thegns". Their gatherings are sometimes also called "the Princely Congress" or "the Princely Court".]

The crimes of which I am accused are far outside my desires and far beyond my capacities. I have never engaged in sorcery, nor do I have training therein. I have not engaged with any foreign nation, for I have not encountered any. I hope to explain the past year of my life and thereby to clarify to your Excellencies the circumstances leading to what we see today.

I am the eldest son of my father, Vsokan, who served Earl Mladekan loyally throughout His Excellency's invitation at Ir-karbat, Gradabah, Gornahar, and Polustogr. My father was released honorably from my lord's service upon His Excellency's ascension to Ozerstogr. Soon after his arrival in Polustogr, to meet his quota of servants to His Excellency the Great Earl Stareshan at Holm-ir, my lord sent me. I was then sent to the Ranger School.

[Editor's note 2: the term "invitation" is disputed. Given the nature of aristocratic succession, behavior, and separation from the daily life of the subject people, there are a number of suggested alternative terms, including "service", "residence", and "protection" or "defense".]

Upon completion of my training, the Great Earl Stareshan dispatched me to the eastern frontier. I was to continue the work of the Rangers along the River Qabaar, establishing an outpost two months' travel away from the current easternmost outpost, Misragr, and to document my findings along the way. I was issued a team of twelve serfs, as well as a boat with supplies.

[Editor's note 3: such boats have been found by archaeologists at several sites. They tend to be about forty feet long, powered either by sail or by oar, and with enough room to move sizable amounts of trade goods or supplies. For more, see Morskovich's painstakingly (and soporifically) thorough examination of the subject, Workhorse on the Rivers: The Vessels of our Ancestors.]

I began by traveling towards Misragr, which takes about four months down the Qabaar. I began in the winter, to travel in spring conditions to my destination, and to allow the summer for construction at the site. My arrival to Misragr was uneventful, and there the invited Earl, His Excellency Molodkan, warmly hosted me and granted me the supplies I would need for our two months of travel. After about a week at Misragr, I began the key part of my travels.

Beyond Misragr, the taiga continues far. For three weeks, I saw emerald coniferous trees, with low grey clouds, frequent fog and rain, and occasional snow, and great mountains in the distance. I did not ever see the Qabaar branch, although I saw a number of small mountain streams flow into the Qabaar. Often along the banks, despite the thick fog, I would see all forms of poultry and game: buffalo, deer, goats, mink, squirrel, chipmunk, rabbit, ermine, otter, beaver, bear, and wolf among them. In the river I saw fish the size of a man, swimming against the current. Although these animals contemplated me with interest, they did not approach the boat.

Eventually, the forest thickens. The trees grew in size as I traveled eastward, and their canopy eventually obscures the sky, even over a river as mighty as the Qabaar. The day became pitch black, and I had the serfs mount torches on the boat so I could see our surroundings. Such ecology continues for several days of travel. From this darkening canopy, some form of nettle-ivy appears to grow. I noted the form of the leaves and flowers when I first saw it, and directed the serfs not to touch it. In spite of my instructions, some of them attempted to pick the leaves or grab these vines. They had painful burns on their hands for several days thereafter. I felt that was punishment enough.