The Shadowed Maw
Snappersdeem is changing. The dreary, but not wholly uninviting town has become subtly altered. The fog rolls in thick and malignantly at dawn, engulfing my seaside home. The houses sit evilly, leering down at the slick cobble streets. The residents shuffle hurriedly from place to place. not a soul lingers in the accursed streets.
Dear Relomain:—
Beneath the letter laid a packet of the aforementioned translation & notes. The documents were hastily scrawled, leading me to believe they were my father's personal transcript.
The body of Grumn the librarian was found on the 21st of Kv'tob. I, as the head of the investigative unit, was the first to find the corpse.
I know not what to do. yesterday, an official came to my door bearing news of my father. I could nary believe what he said. He told me that my father died 5 years ago. For I have just been been informed by the official at at my door that my father perished 5 years ago.
I transcribe this tale now, for I fear I may have brought this upon my town. The recent events uncannily resemble my visions from two years ago.
It was the 21st of Kv'tob, I had received a parcel that morning from my father. It bore a foreign mark I had never before seen in my studies. The parcel contained a voluminous sealed letter and a book wrapped in mouldy cloth.
I first read the letter, for I had not maintained correspondence with my father since he left my mother and I to continue his adventures. Despite the strained relationship between us, I was eager to hear a personally addressed tale of his seemingly never-ending exploits. I wondered why he had contacted me now, for I am rapidly gaining in years, as I began to read the unusually brittle parchment.
Dear Relomain:—
I regret not contacting you sooner. By now you must be nearing the end of your life. I oft neglect to remember how fleeting the lives of humans and their kin can be. I could hast held a couple conversations with you, and taught you how to use Crawling Commune , I believe it would hast resulted in a rich experience.
If my memory serves me well, and it has not yet failed me, you were always fond of my stories. I remember you staring eagerly at me as I recounted my tales. You would laugh at my companion’s antics, cower as I described the beasts I faced, cry with me at every loss, and boil with rage at the many betrayals. I remember it well, your emotions were like the contents of a high filled glass chalice: easy to read and always on the verge of spilling forth. You always had a bit of trouble letting things go and my abscondence likely did not help. I apologize and hope to Txun that you do not hate me, for you are my favored kin.
I hath contacted you now, for now is a paramount event. I hath discovered a fragment of the tome which is the subject of my ongoing search, the forbidden folio, the Biblioskia. This book is the ancient book of the Chit'kin. It holds many things ranging from histories, mythologies, and cosmologies to spells, rites, and recipes. The excerpt I hath sent you holds an ancient tale of a great creature written in the old tongue. I hath included a translated transcript and translation notes with this letter so you may read the enlightening tale. I shall say no more as not to bias or taint your consumption of the text.
Your Wandering Father,
Beneath the letter laid a packet of the aforementioned translation & notes. The documents were hastily scrawled, leading me to believe they were my father's personal transcript.
The body of Grumn the librarian was found on the 21st of Kv'tob. I, as the head of the investigative unit, was the first to find the corpse.
I know not what to do. yesterday, an official came to my door bearing news of my father. I could nary believe what he said. He told me that my father died 5 years ago. For I have just been been informed by the official at at my door that my father perished 5 years ago.
Comments