Sam’s Journal Entry #19

Hey Kid,

I used my dry spell joke too early. As you know, we’re traveling through the desert. I wrote last that I would update you when something interesting happened.

I’m not even gonna lead with the “you’re not gonna believe-” I’m just gonna get right into it. You’re just gonna have to start believing.

The last time we talked we had only spent a few nights on the sands.
It’s been a month since then.

The Consortium is still acting as hired sword for the people of Meadowmere who decided to go on this trip. Scouting, defense, peace of mind- the like. It’s been an easy job for the most part. We opperate in tandem with the Town Guard who aren’t so bad really- though beats me why they all came along. I thought at least a few would stay to protect, ya know, the town, but who am I to judge?

Though they really all might have come along because the whole town was sundered so there isn’t much to protect.
Huh.

Like I said, it was easy work. Not even any sort of wildlife to shoo away. And it felt… good. To be useful. Took my mind off the hard stuff and let me focus on the day to day. The hardest part was keeping my patience with the civvies. When I say my nerves were grated thin by the amount of “Are we there yet?”‘s we endured day in and out on the grand open dunes full of absolute nothing…

I can’t say I really blamed them for asking so often truly. We were all becoming desperate for any sign of the end to that miserable heat and sand. And really, I was probably getting so irritated because it was the wrong voice nagging and complaining. Usually, it’s me moaning over how long the journey’s taking. I guess I owe you a thousand apologies for your own nerves I’ve grated so finely over the years, huh? Sorry, kiddo.

Our prayers of finding something were, of course, answered.
By bandits.
People stealing bandits.
The people freed themselves while we were negotiating their freedom but still. In the entirety of the dessert, they found us to kidnap specifically our scale folk.

Morey, these Meadowmere folk are the luckiest unlucky people I’ve ever met and I’m including us.

Don’t worry though, your big sis had it covered. By the time I was done handling my end of it, I turned and our group was surrounding a big undead fricken elephant! Side note: did you know necromancy is illegal in some planes? Jimmy Bones would be pissed! He wouldn’t be able to take his skelly rat here! And he takes that guy everywhere! But it’s real bad here. Freaked everyone out. This woman and her baby were just leading the big ol’ guy to their final resting place and they were still giving it the side eye.

They led us back to a city I couldn’t be damned to remember the name of and I really thought that would be that for the day. Mission accomplished.

Except it wasn’t.

I’d barely spent a few copper in the local market when I got word one of out own was being held hostage. One of the same who’d been kidnapped! All at a temple no less!

Now, you know me, I didn’t really ask questions. Tannas said we were going in, Raine said do what you have to, and I said bet.

(Another side note: It’s kind of nice to be on the same page as these people. They’re quick to recognize threats and faster to act on them. Naivety is not an obstacle here. They act together)

We about near stormed the place and these temple followers- Sanctuary, the ones from before- answered in full. Far more prepared than I expected. At one point, I switched from fighting back these blinded loons to looking for hostages. I forced my way through to the back looking for the two that had been captured or at least the healers that had made it through in case they needed help but-

For moment, I swore I was back in Avernus.

I could feel the grief in the air almost like I could feel the flames bathe the world. Unfortunate souls clinging to one another. Death raising the hairs on the back of my neck. The resigned helplessness I felt just before I di-
It made my stomach turn.
I’ve never has fear come back like
I still feel

I couldn’t help them. So I did what I do best and ran back into the fight. One of the wolfish guys had another fighter cornered so I charged in to even the field. I really must have been fired up because one moment I was watching it happen and the next I was facing him myself. By the time my brain caught up to the rest of me, I realized my guard was shot. The next thing I knew I was on the ground and he was swinging his sword down screaming “Coup-De-Grace!” And then I was-

Why did I see your face? Why did I see your face? I should have died why didn’t I die Why did I see your face? Why were you in pain? What in the nine hells did you do? What deal did you make? It isn’t supposed to be like this. It shouldn’t be you, this should never have happened to you. You were supposed to-

When you get out of there, we’re taking a long mandatory vacation. No sketchy jobs, no life threatening risks, no fighting for our lives. Once I get those coins and this cult stops bringing upon the end of the world or something we’ll go to those beaches I talked about. You can meet pirates and lay in the warm sand and I can sit in the water and float. Think they actually make drinks out of coconuts there?

Other notes of importance happened: the temple collapsing, the leader getting away, an artifact being stolen, an elephant sage being rescued but it all blurs together.

One thing does stick out though. A man named Jack- an important man in Meadowmere. He lost his memories while wandering the desert. At first it was so bad he couldn’t swim and then only bad enough for his stay in Meadowmere to have disappeared. Someone was able to gleam that he’d had traces of magic over him. Raw magic. Unknown. Jack couldn’t answer questions or recognize friendly faces but he did talk of a love he lost. Made my heart ache.

Bleeding heart, I know, you’d kick my shin about it. I promise you’re priority.

Still. His case worries me for another reason. An important man, losing his memories of Meadowmere right as things go terribly awry for everyone. Did he see something he shouldn’t have? Did he know something important? Are we missing an integral piece about Sanctuary or the end of the world? I brought it up to Grimm because I thought at the wandering threat would put another person of quick defense on edge enough to watch their backs. I was going to gauge how much I should be worried off of that type of magic with how little I know of this world but then… no reaction. Not even in the mystery or way of secrets.

These things feel so important and connected! I’m missing something and I’m right on the edge of knowing it! It’s driving me crazy!

Maybe that’s it, huh? I’m going a little crazy. Paranoid more like. A new flavor of myself I haven’t been enjoying but have been experiencing a little more of each day. You wouldn’t blame me if you were here. I’d probably be the one telling you to keep your calm as you paced a rut into the dirt about it.

Of course, you would have already figured this out already. I know you would. You’re such a smart kid. I miss you.

There’s more questions than answers here. Makes me itch. But it is an itch I will smother, one way or another.

I think the heat got to me, Morey. I think I really am losing it a little. It’s time for me to rest.

Goodnight, Kid. Love you.