27th Day of Galehome
Laundry Day
Weather: Sunny This morning I got really lucky. I was able to hitch a ride across the river to the woods and then I just happened to walk exactly to where my 2-day-old trail was. I don't remember being a tracker, but somehow I just followed my old trail straight to the mouth of a cave. I do remember a cave. I assume that the one I awoke in a few days ago is the same one I found this morning. I wasted no time climbing down the sides of the sinkhole and into the rocky interior. It evidently hadn't rained in a few days, so there was no stream to follow, but the path that the water had followed was easy enough to pick out. The problem came when I went deep enough that I could no longer see daylight. When I arrived, which is the only word that I can think of for what happened to me, I could see my surroundings. It wasn't bright, by any means, but I could see well enough to find my way to the cave entrance. Today however, as I ventured ever deeper into the cave, I left the light of day behind. It wasn't long before I could no longer see the way I had come, let alone the deeper passages. I turned to retrace my steps, I was sure that I could remember the way I had just come long enough to at least get to the light. But after a few steps, it grew increasingly apparent just how difficult that proposition was. I think it was around that time that the dreams started. It was strange. I felt as though I was walking through the forest above. I could clearly see the trees, but as I stepped, the cold cave floor greeted my feet. It was like sleepwalking through a dreamscape. I don't know how long I wandered in that cave, but when the visions subsided, I could once again see the light enough to guide me into the trees. On my way back toward the Cobbled Stream and town, I ran into a fellow named Besso. Besso is apparently a mushroom hunter and a subsistence farmer. He doesn't live in the Valley, exactly. He said he has a cabin in the woods near the Sunset Mountains. We wandered through the forest for a while chatting and looking for mushrooms. It was a plesant time. Besso seems like a nice fellow, he just doesn't tend to seek out social situations very much. He did mention to me that he stays well away from the cave. He said it's called The Tunnel That Dreams. I guess those visions I had earlier were caused by something in the cave. I may need to be more careful in the future. In fact, I guess I need to be more careful in general in the future. Not just because of the cave, but Besso also mentioned that there are fae in the forest and they like to mess with people. In my experience, which I say with a sardonic laugh, most fae aren't really mean spirited, they just like pranks. And sometimes they don't know how far a creature, or their mind, can be stretched. Anyway, Besso brought me back to the Cobbled Stream, which I guess is probably named because of whatever covers the bottom of the river. It really does look like brightly colored cobblestones. We said our goodbyes and I headed back to Doctor Cliff's house. On my way back, I passed a few other houses, almost all of them seemed to be a bustle of activity. The ringing of hammers could be heard up and down the street. At one house, the owners were up on ladders with buckets of dark red paint as they recolored the structure. Several people could be seen at various stages of washing laundry. It was at one of these homes where I met Azul the Builder. I had noticed a brightly colored pirce of fabric on a drying line and went to take a better look. At first I thought it was some kind of flag. I kind of hoped a flag might spark some sort of memory for me. It turned out to be a sports uniform. I found out later it was an Elfball jersey for a team called the Bitter Canons. As I was aproaching the fabric a blue person who seemed to be made entirely of gelatin and wearing a bright scarf stepped around the corner holding a basket of laundry. We talked for a bit about the jersey and the town. When I explained to Azul about my amnesia, they didn't really believe me. Actually, I'm not sure they believe me even now. But whether they believe me or not, they were kind enough to explain a little bit about the traditional days of the week in the Valley. Apparently the days here are named after the tradition observed on that day. People bake bread on Bread Day, they have social gatherings on Friends Day, etc. That was how I learned that this day of the week is called Laundry Day and it's tradition in the Valley for people to spend the day working on household chores and, of course, laundry. Tomorrow is Rest Day, which is kind of convenient since I'm still getting my bearings around here. I thanked the slime person for their help and complimented their scarf before turning and heading back to Doctor Cliff's house. It was getting on in the day and I wanted to see if there was anything I could help with around the house. It was Laundry Day, after all. Being the only doctor in town apparently doesn't leave one with a lot of time to work around the house, so it turned out that there was quite a bit for me to help out with. I was able to get the house swept, the vegetable patch weeded, and fix a fence rail that had been broken at some point. While I was working, a curious thing happened. It wasn't quite a vision. I guess it could have been a lingering dream from my time in the Tunnel, but I think it was a memory of my old life. I was in a building. I think it was my home, but it wasn't as nice as Doctor Cliff's. I was a kid and I was surrounded by other kids. We were all cleaning the house with rags and brooms. We were working furiously, like we were trying to get it done before somebody came home. I think it was my family and the kids were my siblings. I'll have to spend some time thinking about this memory. Maybe I'll be able to bring out some details. It was evening when my host returned from work. He was surprised at the work I had gotten done. Actually, given the time it took, so was I. I asked him about his day, but didn't ask for details since I didn't want to pry into anyone's privacy. Cliff basically said that it was a long day and he was very tired. We talked a bit about what I had seen in the forest and then he retired for the evening. I guess being the only doctor in town really is exhausting. I don't really have any specific plans for tomorrow. It's Rest Day in the Valley, which I guess means I should spend some time doing lesiure activities. The problem with that is that I can't remember what I like to do. Maybe I'll try a few things and see if anything strikes my fancy. I do need to figure out how to investigate the Tunnel That Dreams more, however. Soon.
Weather: Sunny This morning I got really lucky. I was able to hitch a ride across the river to the woods and then I just happened to walk exactly to where my 2-day-old trail was. I don't remember being a tracker, but somehow I just followed my old trail straight to the mouth of a cave. I do remember a cave. I assume that the one I awoke in a few days ago is the same one I found this morning. I wasted no time climbing down the sides of the sinkhole and into the rocky interior. It evidently hadn't rained in a few days, so there was no stream to follow, but the path that the water had followed was easy enough to pick out. The problem came when I went deep enough that I could no longer see daylight. When I arrived, which is the only word that I can think of for what happened to me, I could see my surroundings. It wasn't bright, by any means, but I could see well enough to find my way to the cave entrance. Today however, as I ventured ever deeper into the cave, I left the light of day behind. It wasn't long before I could no longer see the way I had come, let alone the deeper passages. I turned to retrace my steps, I was sure that I could remember the way I had just come long enough to at least get to the light. But after a few steps, it grew increasingly apparent just how difficult that proposition was. I think it was around that time that the dreams started. It was strange. I felt as though I was walking through the forest above. I could clearly see the trees, but as I stepped, the cold cave floor greeted my feet. It was like sleepwalking through a dreamscape. I don't know how long I wandered in that cave, but when the visions subsided, I could once again see the light enough to guide me into the trees. On my way back toward the Cobbled Stream and town, I ran into a fellow named Besso. Besso is apparently a mushroom hunter and a subsistence farmer. He doesn't live in the Valley, exactly. He said he has a cabin in the woods near the Sunset Mountains. We wandered through the forest for a while chatting and looking for mushrooms. It was a plesant time. Besso seems like a nice fellow, he just doesn't tend to seek out social situations very much. He did mention to me that he stays well away from the cave. He said it's called The Tunnel That Dreams. I guess those visions I had earlier were caused by something in the cave. I may need to be more careful in the future. In fact, I guess I need to be more careful in general in the future. Not just because of the cave, but Besso also mentioned that there are fae in the forest and they like to mess with people. In my experience, which I say with a sardonic laugh, most fae aren't really mean spirited, they just like pranks. And sometimes they don't know how far a creature, or their mind, can be stretched. Anyway, Besso brought me back to the Cobbled Stream, which I guess is probably named because of whatever covers the bottom of the river. It really does look like brightly colored cobblestones. We said our goodbyes and I headed back to Doctor Cliff's house. On my way back, I passed a few other houses, almost all of them seemed to be a bustle of activity. The ringing of hammers could be heard up and down the street. At one house, the owners were up on ladders with buckets of dark red paint as they recolored the structure. Several people could be seen at various stages of washing laundry. It was at one of these homes where I met Azul the Builder. I had noticed a brightly colored pirce of fabric on a drying line and went to take a better look. At first I thought it was some kind of flag. I kind of hoped a flag might spark some sort of memory for me. It turned out to be a sports uniform. I found out later it was an Elfball jersey for a team called the Bitter Canons. As I was aproaching the fabric a blue person who seemed to be made entirely of gelatin and wearing a bright scarf stepped around the corner holding a basket of laundry. We talked for a bit about the jersey and the town. When I explained to Azul about my amnesia, they didn't really believe me. Actually, I'm not sure they believe me even now. But whether they believe me or not, they were kind enough to explain a little bit about the traditional days of the week in the Valley. Apparently the days here are named after the tradition observed on that day. People bake bread on Bread Day, they have social gatherings on Friends Day, etc. That was how I learned that this day of the week is called Laundry Day and it's tradition in the Valley for people to spend the day working on household chores and, of course, laundry. Tomorrow is Rest Day, which is kind of convenient since I'm still getting my bearings around here. I thanked the slime person for their help and complimented their scarf before turning and heading back to Doctor Cliff's house. It was getting on in the day and I wanted to see if there was anything I could help with around the house. It was Laundry Day, after all. Being the only doctor in town apparently doesn't leave one with a lot of time to work around the house, so it turned out that there was quite a bit for me to help out with. I was able to get the house swept, the vegetable patch weeded, and fix a fence rail that had been broken at some point. While I was working, a curious thing happened. It wasn't quite a vision. I guess it could have been a lingering dream from my time in the Tunnel, but I think it was a memory of my old life. I was in a building. I think it was my home, but it wasn't as nice as Doctor Cliff's. I was a kid and I was surrounded by other kids. We were all cleaning the house with rags and brooms. We were working furiously, like we were trying to get it done before somebody came home. I think it was my family and the kids were my siblings. I'll have to spend some time thinking about this memory. Maybe I'll be able to bring out some details. It was evening when my host returned from work. He was surprised at the work I had gotten done. Actually, given the time it took, so was I. I asked him about his day, but didn't ask for details since I didn't want to pry into anyone's privacy. Cliff basically said that it was a long day and he was very tired. We talked a bit about what I had seen in the forest and then he retired for the evening. I guess being the only doctor in town really is exhausting. I don't really have any specific plans for tomorrow. It's Rest Day in the Valley, which I guess means I should spend some time doing lesiure activities. The problem with that is that I can't remember what I like to do. Maybe I'll try a few things and see if anything strikes my fancy. I do need to figure out how to investigate the Tunnel That Dreams more, however. Soon.
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