Cedric’s Journal- 29th day of Winter Finding – Year of Four Dragons

The tale as told by campfires and hearths of Eamonvale, a tale of one of their own:

Those were dark days for young Cedric, not yet a man, with only a thin fuzz to cover his chin. But for the grace of Daladon and the ministrations of Demeter’s disciple, Cedric would have been ground to dust in the hellhounds’ maws.

May his example be a lesson to us all, for the youth persevered. Despite his wounds, he built a cradle to carry home the precious cauldron of Lady of the Lake. In that lifeless monastery, he labored while others slept.

And after a short respite to recover their strength, they began their journey back to the lake. Fate had other plans. Just as they left gate, a dark cloud sped toward them in defiance of all wind and sanity. Cedric and Stephan, The Cursed One, stood proud, challenging the coming doom. Then the foul smoke billowed away, revealing Stygoth, the cursed dragon of the Great Swamp

Forestwalker loosed his arrows at the beast as Stephan just laughed. Horrified, Cedric watched as The Cursed One lept to the dragon and was carried away.

Yes, those were dark days for the young Cedric, a woodcutter’s son thrust into the politic of high powers. The winter cold that pricked his bones paled compared to the betrayal of his heart. His friend, corrupted, had joined the dark powers. His mentor had played them like Twill plays the royal court. When next the met, well, you know the tale.

.  .  .

The trek proved almost more than the lads could manage, berift of the strength of their supposed friend. The Wolf’s Winter bit down on them as they struggled through the early snows. Winter’s Night still approached. Would they have Stone Freeze, as told in the olden tales? Cedric pondered these questions has he laid Daladon’s Vigil for his new friends.

For such is the heart of the forestwalkers – though the travel the lonely path, they repay loyalty and kindness in kind.