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The Grey Gift

Being cuni, one thing we loved about the Greys was the exotic trinkets they would bring back from their travels. Our divisions kept each race quite segregated but having diverse friends had at least that benefit. We were already losing the siege at that point, but my friend, Pearl, gifted me the most magnificent silver ring. It was beautiful: sapphires inset on beautiful cresting motifs. Pearl gave it to me before she fell in Moro, apparently she had looted it from an elven frigate. I remember flashing it around constantly to the ire of my mates. Regiments had a strict dress code back then. Breastplate, tabard, wrapped feet, gloveless hands, halberds. Our commander made us hop obstacles all day for my persistence in keeping it on. They would steal it from me and hide it deep in the holes, but I always found it and wore it to piss them off. All that time without drilling eventually got us captured and deported to Ochita. We had already heard the rumors, but we were too afraid of drowning to escape. My Commander, Ferne, bound and unarmed with our regiment was so angry, he kicked me, in full kit, off the prison transport and into the water. That fall from the high deck plus my weighty armor broke my foot as I crashed against the solid sea. Turns out, Pearl's ring was enchanted and let me walk on the water. Cunis can't swim... there is no way I would have known, so I limped away atop the waves before the half-hearts could discover me. I ran and ran and ran. Sleeping under the moon on the still Chalk until I stumbled dehydrated onto the coarse sands under the cliffs of Oren. What little water in me left my eyes in tears as I removed the ring from my finger. I placed it very gently on the sand with the rest of my kit, and with that ring I didn't only leave those memories, but I left my family, and friends, my comrads, and all the Beryls taken to the Wylds behind. So, this ring is always on my mind.