A true hero never fears the unknown. He faces it, even seeks it out! So how could I, the great
Gunnar Rundthorn ignore the call of the wonders, the southern wilderness had for me? Nothing could stop me, I only knew one goal: To explore the jungle of Rathram and discover treasures, artifacts and history, that no living person had seen in hundreds of years! Nothing could ever stop my destiny! And what a glorious adventure it was, let me tell you!
Excerpt from "The Memoirs of a Hero"
Stored in Library of Rashan'Kan
Room of Human Fiction, Shelve 8.5
Mister Secretair, we have recieved another request of the so-called explorer Rundthorn. As before, he presented us with some unbelievable tale of cities of gold and waterfalls of gems, artifacts of ancient magics, waiting to be found in the jungles of Rathram. As before, we turned him away. I fear that his continued presence and agitated behavior could soon lead to an eclat, he is tractating the nerves of your noble ladies alreadywith his impertinent behaviour.
May I propose to you, that we grant him a small expedition, concering a land route to the
Port of Gems. It is my humble opinion we are better off with him in the jungle and if against all chance he does succeed, it is for the profit of our most noble monarch.
Communiqué from the Court of Baradolia circa 1368AR
Written by Compte Runamair to Secretair Livreton
From the state archives of Baradolia
Dearest Elisabeth,
How I whish we could have had time to say our goodbyes! I regret with a deep heart, ... [unreadable] ... not feel so well, to meet me before my big voyage. With sincere hopes... [unreadable] ... the illness that befell you at our last meal is not too ... [unreadable] ... you could have answered my question properly, but I do believe ... [unreadable] ... promised to each other!
My promise to you is ... unreadable] ... the wonders I am certain to find. Imagine the most beautiful treasures ... [large part unreadable]... I will lay them all to your feet, when I return as your glorious hero.
Until then,
with deepest feelings
Always yours - Gunnar
Date at the 4th day of the second month in 1369AR
Found in the personal belongings of Mirabelle de Tereon
Partly reconstructed, this letter was torn into many peices
Really, I have never before seen such a weird excuse of an expedition. I swear to you, half of the crates were filled to the brim with clothes. Warm clothes even! On an expiditon to a jungle. Those guys must be insane. It is going to be winter soon, he said to me in all seriousness. He wanted to be prepared for the cold. And most of their provisions willspoil within the week. I kid you not! I bet you that this moron will go overboard at the first heavy wave!
Report by Captain Miradsunn about the expedition of Gunnar Rundthorn
Written down by an unkown Priest of Sabes on scribing duty at the harbour
ca. 2nd month of 1369
My precious Elisabeth,
I long so much for your warm embrace! I am so far from you but in my thoughts always near you! The voyage is going splendid. We are bravely crossing the sea and just passed the
Breach, that cursed area, where
Zecod's evil fury itself destroyed the
Sword of Apac, and we are now sailing up a giant river, deep into the jungle. It is fascinating, how the sailers use their magic to catch the wind and aid our vessel.
Oh dearest Elisabeth, if only you could see these wonders! Il will do my best to describe them to you,once I can finally see you. I am a bit worried, that no letter of yours reached me yet. Please ease my sorrows, the next harbour is said to have a
Telemagi-Station
Yours, forever,
Gunnar
Date at the 10th day of the Second month in 1369AR
Found in the personal belongings of Mirabelle de Tereon
They were weird travellers. The tall guy wanted us to lead them, but when we asked them where to, they simply said south and pointed west. We know many paths but he always wanted to wander off. They complained about the hard floor at night but wanted to get the full experience of the wilderness. The small guy almost got poisened when they tried to cook the
Purple Flathad into a stew! They must have thought our paste for the tips of your arrows was to eat. They are so helpless.
Excerpt of the tellings of a carrier
Written down by the Shaman Cruchna Kanar circa the sixth month 1369 AR
Wonders of Architecture, marvellous plants, mysterious animals and so much more we braved, me and my trusted companion Sebastian. No other adventurer ever ventured this far to the south and was so skilled and brave in the face ofthe unknown. We survived by the jungle, that provided plenty for us, we slept in the midst of nature and I felt envigorated more then I did ever before in an ordinary bed. And so the weeks flew past, while we scouted the lands.
Excerpt from "The Memoirs of a Hero"
Stored in Library of Rashan'Kan
Room of Human Fiction, Shelve 8.5
We found them in the morning. One of our traps had sprung and we went to gather the animal, already thinking of the feast that evening. Whe we get closer it wa a pittiful view. There were no animals and no Orcs and that was a wonder. Our shaman was certain that onlyOrcs could have survived the cataclysm, thousands of years ago. Somehow they managed to trip the trap and get pulled into the spikepit. The tracks speak of struggle, of panic, one apparently died drowing in a puddle, while his companions stood on him.. Unfortunately some of them did not survive. Only two pale ones and two of the small dark ones are left alive, the tall one being badly injured. We treated them and led them to our village. How could creatures like this survive the cataclysm?
Report of an Orcen hunter
Written down by the Shaman Cruchna Kanar circa the sixth month 1369 AR
Elisabeth,
You should have seen those brutes, the most feral Ocs I ever saw! But I did not shy away, I fought the biggest of them heroicly. But alas, I could not whitstand against brute force and he wounded me - I have the scars to prove this to you, my dear - but my bravery certainly impressed them. They may be feral but they have an amazing concept of honor. Now they are treating me like a kign with greatest hospitality.
I miss you, Please try to reach me.
Yours, Gunnar
Dated at the 7th day of the fourth month in 1369AR
Found in the personal belongings of Mirabelle de Tereon
It was certainly unexpected. For generations after the great wars, that even the gods fought in, we thought that all of mortal kind was punished for their crimes. We thought of us to be the last, and the writings in the old library were proving us right. But it seems, that even the scriptures by the gods can be wrong, for we now met our smaller brethren, the humans. Weak and foolish as they are they actually searched for us. Outside of the boundaries of our green world, they talk of many humans, of elves, of dwarves and even other orcs. All our brethrenkind still exists. It is certainly unexpected, indeed.
From the personal notes of the Shaman Cruchna Kanar
circa the sixth month 1369AR
Mister Secretair, we are proud to report, that the hero
Gunnar Rundthorn has successfully reached the
Port of Gems. Not only did he successfully find a land route for our trades, he also met a reclusive tribe that has access to old temples of ancient Ethoras. This could be an astonishing opportunity for its Excellence, since some of the unexceptional cultured Orcs have accompanied him.
I can tell you, I never doubted this outcome of the expedition.
Communiqué from the Court of Baradolia circa 1369AR
Written by Compte Runamair to Secretair Livreton
From the state archives of Baradolia
My lady Tereon,
Your repeated communication is appreciated. However, I regret to inform you, that the time of the great Gunnar Rundthorn, the hero that found the lost tribe is currently enormously occupied. You hopefully understand, that his time is therefore limited and I ask of you to refrain from further communications until he decides to contact you.
Best regards,
Sebastian Karfonte,
Assistant to Gunnar Rundthorn
Date at the 3rd day of the eleventh month in 1370AR
Found in the personal belongings of Mirabelle de Tereon
In pristine condition
Love the first person perspective for this piece of storytelling, keep up the good work :)