Keeping it Succinct

On account of having minimal time to write extensively and dying from allergies no matter how much I strive to reduce them, I'll be keeping today's post as brief as I can.

The main update I'd like to share is that I've finished two more of Efiál's journals, putting me just past the one-third mark for reaching my goal. Again, because they're still technically W.I.P.s, I expect I'll be editing them in the future. For these particular journals, however, I didn't do too much editing while writing them, and they're fairly short entries themselves, since we were primarily traveling.

1st Journal

Year 5, Day 37
Sunday the 23rd of Uros: Night

Two words, Valen: Giant Centipede. Giant. Centipede.

No, wait, actually “giant” as a descriptor doesn’t do the bug justice. It was colossal, Valen, its scores of legs each the width of a tree trunk shaved down to a tip sharper than a harpoon. Its body coiled around the Dwarven tunnel two, three times, and it still had enough length to lunge at us, you know, when it wasn’t busy trampling us underfoot! Not to mention its exoskeleton was almost impossible to penetrate with weapons, mainly because it wouldn’t stay still long enough for Brod to land a decent strike.

Why?! In what reality do the gods exist and decide, “Ah yes, let us populate this world with such nightmare fuel as a…a…Titan Centipede. That is a reasonable and good idea.”

No! It is neither a reasonable nor a good idea! I’ve picked up centipedes in our garden before and been bitten! If the little ones’ bites are that vicious, then why would nature select this particular species to evolve massive descendants!? What manner of creature even preys on these things?!

Yes, I’m distressed! They give me the heebie jeebies! It must have already been injured or something, because there is no feasible way my spell to slow its movements should have worked otherwise. 

Let the Dwarves have their centipede-infested mountain. I’m ‘noping’ out of here at the first opportunity.

How I'm feeling: Frazzled because of the above! Not much can give me the creeps, so I’ve learned something new about myself today. This must be how Brod feels every time he faces a spider, real or otherwise. 

Speaking of Brod, he tried his best, but the tea he made this morning was awful. I can still taste it. That and the plum liquor. Ugh.

Happy to have run into Durrok, Muzmor, Dokkol, Komrol, Huzock, Ratul, and Rakhik again! They’ve been hard at it restoring the tunnels. Maybe I should Message them with a warning about Titan Centipedes…

Eager to arrive in Themfaruhm even though we’re still three days out. I’m going to be able to see Professor Wyse again!

Days since last Zoning: 1

2nd Journal

Year 5, Day 38
Moonday the 24th of Uros: Night

Valen, what was I thinking?

Gods, I’m such a harebrained fool! For four years I’ve managed to abstain from contacting anyone from my family, but the one night I can finally taste the plum notes in this liquor, my will crumbles and I Message Patra out of sheer nostalgia for those plum tarts he used to bring home as treats for us. If he so much as hints to Maryn that I’ve reached out to him, it could throw everything I’ve worked toward thus far into jeopardy. 

What have I done? How will he react? Will he heed my pleas and forgo ratting me out to Maryn? I don’t know! Last I knew both he and Matra saw me as some sort of demon child destined to ‘turn to darkness’! Gods!

I’ve already panic-Messaged my blunder to Professor Wyse, but I can’t sit still. I’m writing and pacing and panicking and my hands are sweating and shaking profusely because I’m treading unknown territory and it scares all logic and reason out of me.

I just. I miss him so much, Valen. Whenever you helped me become me, I wanted to emulate his smile as much as possible because I felt that he wasn’t so far away whenever I did, that maybe the smile I remembered wasn’t disingenuous. It was easier setting aside my longing for my family whenever we were together because I had you, and that was good enough for me. Now, however, every road I travel I wonder if Patra has done the same, every meal I consume at an inn I wonder if he’s tried as well, every time I converse or laugh with my friends I wonder if he’s shared similar experiences with his entourage.

Both of my parents are good people, Valen. The last thing I want is for them to become further entangled in Maryn’s web or face the consequences of my deeds in my stead. They’re so close to the source that any mistake I make could endanger them if he suspects that either of them sympathize with my cause.

What is the right course of action? Was it okay to contact him? How did he feel receiving a Dream Message from me years after my departure? I’m not sure. My mind is reeling.

How I'm feeling: Aside from the above, confused yet pleasantly surprised we met Ugimo on our travels today. I’ve been so preoccupied by anxiety I forgot about it until now. I have to say, I wasn’t expecting a run-in with him here in the Dwarven tunnels so close to Themfaruhm, but here we are. Oh, and apparently he and Father Ambien have met previously?? Small world.

Disappointed that I ruined a perfectly good brew of tea by Zoning. Haven’t managed more than a handful of days without falling into one. Sometimes it feels like nigh an impossible ambition.

Days since last Zoning: 0

Other Notable Accomplishments

• Started reading "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It's been an enjoyable read thus far, even though I'm only 4 chapters into the first book.

• Can play "Light It Up" by Camellia on Beat Saber's Hard Mode, and I can play it without too much trouble at 50% on Expert. Haven't had an opportunity to bump up the tempo yet. It's fascinating how muscle memory works in tandem with pattern recognition, especially, for example, on songs I've since randomly played on Hard Mode for the first time.

This Week's Obligatory Cat Pic: Mura & Qiri