From the journal of Wooliam of Ariese of A'mmoth Day of Thunder, first month of Winter Much has happened since I first encountered the great darkness. Yet, in those times again of which our paths crossed, the darkness has become warmer. For fear of misunderstanding, I must clarify my self. The darkness for my people belies not apprehension, rather, a commitment that traverses the deepest reaches of our being. Of the intense peace co-mingled amongst the fiery pain which acompanies the calling of the darkness, it's description defies it's telling. However, I shall give endeavor for as much as I know. During the great age of ice, my ancestors and those who called them kin, found themselves to be the source of sustinance for a myriad of predatory beasts. The lords of the sky and those of the wild unleashed their fury and departed our land, no more to be seen. Left alone and abandoned we sought to live. Existance provided sparce joy whilest survival provided profound need. Litle by little we learned that which survival required, and not only perservered, but began to claim it our birthright. Alas sorrow caught up with us, and began to teach us on a new lesson. The clans of the PiercingTeeth descended upon the great herds with a mighty vengence, and brought to sunder that which we had wraught. The herd must maintain survival. Fortune or fate, it fell to Felice of Brokrnorn and her betrothed Phortou of Clovenhoughph. With everything to fight for, Phortou placed himself as shield while the remnants of his herd made their escape. Severly outnumbered, he fell prey to the slavering maw of the PiercingTeeth. Wathcing through tear streaken eyes, Felice took it upon herself to finish her beloved's task and protect their herd. Loosing a cry, Felice reached through the depths of her soul and beyond, hurling herself into the face of oblivion. Heeding her call, the great merciful darkness awoke. Drawing the very being of her broken form within it's writhing mass, the great darkness laid to sunder admist advancing horde. To where the souls of Felice and Phortou have ventured, know not I. I have learned of that which resides on the other side of the great darkness. For I have traversed it's embrace and yet still draw breath. My Great-Granddames and Great-Grandsires (for all who have come before us are our great-Grandparens) of all our herds have developed a strength of will resembling that of Felice of Brokrnorn of Clovenhoughph. Whether inate or through sheer will, descendents of the great herds have a knowing of the great darkness. Day of Thunder, second month of Winter Should any who wander come across these musings, I leave to thee this... +- | So what be this great darkness, sometimes might hear. Hmm... I say. Tis hard enough to concentrate on such a dance with naught but necessity for distraction. Save living through your seat of thought parting from your knowing orbs of sight. But does this dance (or be it embrace), does it hurt so? Ahhhhhh... So some say of life. What!? This I will tell... only for a moment, then no longer. And what of Felice? She lost her beloved afore she could marry. Pah! I say. Do not discount the bonds of love. Know not I what guides your hearts. Beloved and betrothed, tis good enough for me. Why not remember as it might have been. | +- | Given unst to me of Curlorn of Bierdtusken | +- Day of Thunder, third month of Winter My travels have lead me to many reaches of what I now know as Haandorn. And long have I traveled amongst the bitter reaches called Bradinor. Or so it seems for one possesed of such small stature. Fortunate, for I have had these writings of Curlorn of Bierdtusken to guide may path. Along my journeys I have discovered we of the great herds have not always walked upon our hinds. Somewhere, somewhen the lands of our Great-Gransparens arrived here in the time of the ancients. Fours suited us no more. And developed we did of bipedalness. So I yet ponder when or where I roam. With great anticipation I await the comming of the great age of ice for already am I bedecked with stout woolens and full of warmth. The lands I once called home are no more accessable to me. I wonder on their very existance. I have the memories of things which yet seem to come, and am treated with something of supressed mirth. Let them so laugh and be merry. My thoughts blind me betimes. For many moons have I not seen my sisters and my parens. Yet here is where I ended up. "Such is the way of it. Life or death, living or dying, here is where you are. Embrace it and go on." "I go forth."