A Moldy Journal

[Azunara]

((This story is not about a rare beast, but rather a shout out to a single humanoid rare. He is simply labeled The Unknown Solider. He has no story, nothing to him but a tomb in Duskwood. Thereby, I am taking creative license in this tale, filling in the blanks as needed.))

Day One:

My name is Nathaniel Barim, soldier under the Night Watch. Commander Althea Ebonlocke gives every soldier under her command one of these journals, so that they may record everything that happens to them on their patrol. I suppose I can take this section to tell a bit about myself. I was born in Westfall , in a small house on a farm a bit south of Sentinel Hill. It's not on most adventurers maps, because really it's just a house with a garden, but my father has always proudly proclaimed it the Barim Farm.

My father was a soldier as well, and my mother served as a priestess. They fought together, but eventually retired and settled down in Westfall. I have a brother and a sister, Roger and Alicia respectively. Since my brother left, my father decided it was time for me to make a living, and sent me to see one of his old friends, Lord Ello Ebonlocke. His daughter could use more troops on the Night Watch, so here I am.

To be truthful, journal, I'm not a particularly good fighter. I have some skill with a sword and a bow, but I'm much better at working with animals. But they need troops anyways and will take anyone, and strange things are happening here in Duskwood.

---

Day Seven:

An entire week has passed, journal. The route I have to travel isn't too long or stressful, from Darkshire to the very edge of Deadwind Pass. I have to say, the people weren't very good at naming this place, it's rather dreadful and dreary. Nonetheless, I had my orders and I couldn't complain. Oh, and while I was patrolling, I found this carrion bird attacking a young wolf. I scared off the bird and made friends with the wolf, nurturing him to health again. I've named him Scout, after a dog I had when I was a child. Scout is a really friendly wolf, you'd almost think he was a really big dog. He never bites or snaps at anyone, and though Commander Ebonlocke had her doubts at first, she warmed up to him. He's great company while I'm patrolling, it gets rather lonely.

---

Day Ten:

I'm writing to report that I have heard strange cries at night. Moaning and screeching in the wind. Scout hears them as well, he gets all tense and sticks by my side, refusing to leave it. Commander Ebonlocke told me that was the undead just walking about, and as long as I stuck to the road I would be fine. Nevertheless, she told me to stay on my guard and keep my sword ready to be drawn at any moment. She told me how one year, the undead attacked Darkshire and many people had died that night of flame and pain. She also told me how feral worgen had also struck Darkshire, and taken several people into their ranks. You can still hear those worgen howling, she says.

---

Day Fifteen:

A member of the Night Watch was missing today. Her name was Alicia Romi, and she patrolled from Darkshire to the Tranquil Garden Cemetery. They sent a few people to look for her, and they returned with a tag that identified her as a member of the Watch. That was all they found. However, a few reports trickle in about a new ghoul wandering the cemetery, and looking strangely like Alicia. It made me sad, really. She reminded me of my own Alicia. Scout seems extra nervous, constantly sniffing the air and barking angrily at nothing.

---

Day Twenty-One

Scout is missing.

---

Day Twenty-Three

Not for the first time, I went looking for Scout. He had been there one night, and when I woke up in the morning, he was no longer by my side. I fear the worst for him, but the Commander won't let me leave my patrol, so I have to walk. I hear a lot of strange noises these days, though. More groaning and hissing and crying. I can't help but worry about what makes the undead so restless. To be frank, I'm terrified they'll attack me. I wish for Scout's company, for his solace. I figure it would be much safer with him.

---

Day Twenty-Five

I found Scout. He was barely breathing, covered in a bunch of claw marks and scratches and bites. He was bleeding and looked to be nearly dead. I sat besides him and he gave a soft, panicked whine, tail weakly lashing. I didn't understand why he would want me to go, when I heard it. A rumble and a wet cough, like something that had liquid filled in its throat was trying to expel it. Scout gave me a look that was easy to read: run.

The text pauses for a bit, then continues, scratchy and hurried, with wet stains that are likely teardrops.

Oh Light, oh Light. I don't want to die. I can't die now. I think I've lost the undead for now, but poor Scout is likely dead. I keep hearing them moving about, grumbling and shuffling and groaning, a symphony of despair. Please, let me get out of here alive. I don't want to die now, I want to see my family again. I hope the Night Watch sends someone for me, it's been hours since I was long due back, and the sun is set. I swear I hear horse hooves, that could be my imagination. More groaning, and-

There is the start of a word here "Th-" before it drops off, as if the writer was interrupted. The bottom half of the page is covered in bloodstains and torn, as well as undead ichor. If one were to look up the records in the Town Hall for Nathaniel Barim, they would find he had been killed by the undead during one of his patrols, and he and his beloved wolf were buried behind the watchtower where he had fallen. There is a note reading how they had found his corpse, a bit away from his wolf's, surrounded by several undead that had been killed before he went down.

---

Shadwyn gave a growl, her tail lashing. Solaira peered over the crest of the hill, and the fox besides her whimpered quietly. "I know, Shad," Solaira whispered, looking at the small glade. It was quiet, a small little pond burbling and trees arching over head. On the far side of the glade was a tomb, where a skeleton dressed in the garb of a soldier was kneeling. Besides him was a skeleton of something vaguely wolf-like. Solaira quietly moved closer, hearing the soldier whisper to himself in a dry, raspy voice, repeating a phrase: "I don't want to die, I don't want to die. I don't want to die."

The fox growled, and at a quiet command from the huntress, leaped forward. The skeleton whirled, screaming, "I don't want to die! Scout, aid me!" But arrows quickly felled the skeleton, and there was only a stirring in the glade as the trees moved and the spirit was set free. Solaira moved closer, reading the headstone by the tomb.

"Nathaniel Barim and Scout. Soldier of the Night Watch. You fell too soon." Solaira quietly bowed her head in reverence, thanking the soldier for what he had done, and apologizing for the fact that he had died. She prayed he was in a better place, a happier place, with whoever Scout was. She looked at the small, moldy journal that laid beside the grave and picked it up, flipping through the entries. Shadwyn whimpered besides her, and the huntress nodded, turning. And with that, fox and huntress left the past behind, letting the Unknown Soldier finally be free.

[Lupis]

Very well done, Azu. That poor soldier.

[Azunara]

Thanks!

I'd like to point out the part involving Sol and Shad was true. She did stumble upon the Unknown Soldier and kill him. I mention it in the Duskwood section.

And yeah, I agree. Poor guy.

[Varethyn]

Oh, wow... that was really well written. I'm going to have to check that out, I've never heard of it before.