This is my first PS story (and indeed my first post, yeah!). It starts a bit clunky (there will be rewrites), but it sets up the rest of the letters (which will be out shortly).
Note: If you're looking for nice feel-good story where everybody lives happily ever after, look somewhere else. I like to write tragedies, though normally they aren't first person. Comments appreciated.
Edit: This was originally just a fictional story, but i liked it enough that it has become the backgrounds for one of my characters, Arcov Nagori. If you encounter me in-game, please keep in mind that these letters are the private knowledge of their individual owners and remain in character (and you character hasn't read these letters). But with that in mind, enjoy!
The 1st letter of Terond
It’s ironic really; I’m a prisoner of my own choosing. The wide open wilderness is my cell, men hundreds of miles away are my jailors. I’ll probably die in my cell, and if there is some lonely, wandering soul who stubbles across my letters, then it is to him that I write.
Perhaps I should explain myself better; my name is Terond. For most of my life I have lived on the streets, my mother had abandoned me as a child to the Temple of Laanx. Life there was too disciplined, it wasn’t the place for me; and so I ran away from at the age of nine, with that youthful longing for adventure. Things were tougher than I had thought. I had had to survive off of the crumbs of others I found lying around. And within a week of me having run away from the temple, I had to resort to stealing to survive.
Seven years later I found this girl, Sarha, she was beautiful. Shortly thereafter, we fell in love. Her father was rich, and probably wouldn’t have liked it if his daughter was going out with a beggar, so we kept it a secret. One day, he caught us. When he asked her what she was doing, she made up some story about how I had tried to rape her. Now I don’t want to make her sound cruel or backstabbing; Sarha was just trying to protect herself in the eyes of her father. Her father was fuming, and called some of his personal guards to arrest me. There was no way out; now perhaps it was the survival instinct I had learned from years on the streets, but I did it. I held hostage the closest person in reach, which ended up being Sarha. I threatened to kill her if they didn’t let me go; but I in no way intended to follow up on my threats. Once I escaped, I whispered my love for her in her ear, apologized, let her go, and started running.
Now they hunt, constantly, driven by the madness of an enraged, wealthy father. So now I run, forced to abandon Hydlaa for the open plain. Survival is different out here, compared to the city; I don’t think it’ll be long before I die. So to him who finds my body, return it to the Korslee’s residence; you’ll probably get a reward and her father won’t have to keep paying someone to search for me. It’ll be best for everyone.
The 2nd letter of Terond
The sweaty wool in my stolen jacket irritates me; so I take it off. Then the heat from my small fire becomes insufficient to keep be warm; so I put it back on. Until it itches again, so again I remove it. Only to put it back on a minute later. I see no way out of this endless cycle of misery. I wonder what’ll happen when I die. I have heard that by some miracle people have come back from death. Will I come back? Will I want to? If I die, only to return again, those hunting for me will ever have noticed my absence. So the question remains: if death cannot free me from pursuit, what can?
The thought has occurred to me several times to turn myself in: they’ll kill me, and I’ll me just as well off as I am about to be now, except I’ll be without a pursuit. There is a problem with this theory though; I don’t think they’ll kill me.
The 1st letter of Akolan
The hunt continues my lord. We are close on his trail; as we found the ashes of a small fire and an abandoned wool coat that he was wearing. We shall catch him soon.
And in response to your previous letter, yes we understand the terms of this contract, there is no need to fret. We won’t kill him, just as you requested. We will capture him and bring him to you to do with as you wish.
With the blessing of Talad,
Akolan, of The Mercenaries.
The 2nd letter of Akolan
My lord, I am sorry to report that we have lost his trail. For miles around his small campsite we have searched. It is truly impossible; in order for him to have escaped, he would have had to at least broken a branch or something in running through the bush. It is simply impossible that he walked away from his campsite without leaving a trail; even the most professional people are unable to not leave a trail in dense bush. The only possible way he could have escaped is by magic. Is there any way that he could have acquired the services of a mage on his travels? Nevertheless, we will continue our search. Have no fear in our capabilities, we are the best, and we will find him, just like every other job we have taken on.
With the blessing of Talad,
Akolan, of The Mercenaries
The 3rd letter of Terond
Death has welcomed me with open arms, and indeed all my stuff with me, except for my irritating coat. But I have more troubling matters than a woollen coat. Death is a lot worse than I imagined, though I suppose it’s less than what I deserved. At the very least I have nothing else to look forward to than that will never be cold again, for the heat is consuming me. I don’t know what to do here, boredom will erase my sanity before anything else, and so I write. To whom I write, I do not know; if only for my own purposes, for my own sanity. The problem I have is that there is nothing to write about, the walls are as claustrophobic as they have always been for the past few days. The fires as stiflingly hot as they have been. The air has the unique and putrid smell of death, so much so that it is overwhelming; but I’m getting used to it.
People pass me and ask if I need help getting out, eventually they get tired of waiting for my non-existent answer and leave. They don’t understand. Nobody understands. For death is the only safe place. Perhaps if I wait long enough, Sarha might die and end up here. What would I say to her? After all, she is the one who started then whole hunt. But it wasn’t her fault, she had to lie. Her father wouldn’t have understood the truth. Does she still love me? Did she ever?
The 4th letter of Terond
2683. That is how many times that liquid has dripped from the stalactite since I have started watching it. I don’t even know what the liquid is; it tastes like sulphur though.
2684. Perhaps the worst thing about death is that nothing changes; it is horrible, always horrible. In life, the crystal waxes and the crystal wanes, crops grow and are harvested, the lake rises and falls. But nothing happens here!
2685. I think that I will try and leave this place, and go and confront my pursuers; whatever they can do, nothing is as worse as this.
2686.
The 3rd letter of Akolan
We got him. Please bring the other half of the money to the sewer entrance in behind of the Kada’El tavern and you will get your boy.
The 1st letter of Raulesh
Akolan, I would like to request one more thing from you, find copper barbed wire, 100 yards worth. In payment you shall receive 10 octa if you deliver it tomorrow. If you don’t deliver tomorrow, you will get 9 octa if you deliver it the day after tomorrow, 8 octa the next day, and so on. If you do not deliver it in 10 days you can consider this contract terminated. Time is of the essence.
The 2nd letter of Raulesh
Sir, the boy has been captured, your materials gathered; please just let my daughter go now. I have done everything you have asked, what more do you want from me? Just let my dear Sarha go, she’s my life, my everything! Please don’t hurt her.
An employer’s notice
Dear Galentino,
As you yourself were foolish enough to point out, the boy has forgotten everthing; this was not my intent, you have failed your contract. A word of advice: Run.
Should this letter happen to find its way into other's hands before reaching Galentino Thanleng. Please notify officals of this torturer.
The 1st letter of Tarii
Dear Naulii,
I saw the wierdest thing today; right after school, on my way home, I saw this crazy guy! He came out of an alle and was screeming a name over and over and over: “Sarha”. Then he ran and then knocked me down!
Oh yeah and Kelnor is Estee’s boyfreind now…
...she’s almost as crazy as that guy from the ally. My mommy’s calling, I got to go. I wish you were out here.
Sincerely,
Tarii
The 1st letter of Ka’Torik
Of course, friend, I’ll take care of some boy. I’d do anything for you; this is nothing but a small favour. Why, you saved my life in Ojadeva that one night. If it wasn’t for you I’d be dead. Then there was the gifts you gave me. You must indeed be rich in order to give away a opal-encrusted claymore every year. No matter how strange the request I will do this for you.
In this and in any other matter,
Your Friend,
Ka’Torik
The 1st letter of Arcov
(Found in Arcov’s journal)Today has been a strange day. Yet it is ironic how I should call it strange when I have nothing to compare it to. I woke up this morning not even knowing my name. I was lucky that Ka’Torik found me or else I would have died without knowing whether I should be eating a stone or a loaf. Ka’Torik has been very helpful to me. He even told me my name; Arcov Nagori. Now that I put it down on paper, it seems a little strange that he should know my name, but at the time it felt OK. I will think on it.
My memories have eluded me, I have forgotten everything except this: “He killed Sarha.” This means something to me, I’m not sure what, I’m not sure why, but it fills me with anger, with violence. I’m not sure what I’ll do with my life; nevertheless I will destroy him, no matter what, at any cost.
What should happen if I remember? I don’t know. Will the name Sarha mean something? I don’t know. Will the anger fade? I don’t know. I know nothing.
Tomorrow is another hopeless day. I have nothing to do, no other purpose to live for. I have looked out at the people on the streets and I see people who want something, who desire something. Me, I desire nothing but violence; I’m jealous. So I am trapped in the endless nothingness with naught at my side but jealous anger.
A friend’s eulogy
(On a note found on Ka’Torik’s grave)To him who knew too much,
You had said that you’d do anything for me. Would you have died for me, friend?
The 2nd letter of Arcov
(Found in Arcov’s journal)He killed Ka'Torik now too. The one man who welcomes me, treats me with respect, like his own son, is taken away from me before I even knew him. Now I have yet another person to avenge. I must find him. I was out seeking the services of a magi this morning (and indeed that is when he hit) to help me regain my memories. If I had only stayed at home, rather than seeking out an answer to my problem, I would have found that my problem would have come to me. Why is it that the gods must always have such cruel humour?
The 3rd letter of Arcov
(Found in Arcov’s journal)I have found some people, they call themselves "The Fallen Kingdom". Their goals are remarkably similar to mine, they seek vengeance, and perhaps, when I join with them, they can help aid me in my vision, for they have many resources that I do not. Sarha, I will avenge you.
The 4th letter of Arcov
(Found in Arcov’s journal)I have failed, failed miserably. My first true fight, and I had not the guts to step up to them; because of a simple stab wound. How can I ever truely defeat... him... if I cannot win this small battle. I am ashamed, for I stepped aside in the midst of battle, leaving a commorade to nearly die. In the end the blood of many people was spilled, perhaps if I were more properly trained I could have ended it quickly. I am hopeless. I am sorry. I will do better, Sarha. Next time, I will do better.
The 5th letter of Arcov
(Found in Arcov's Journal)Death has found me out at last. But were it such that I could have died a heroic death; no, I fell but a few feet, only to land the wrong way. Fate again seems to spit in my face, laughing at me every chance it gets. Upon waking up I found myself in the lands of the dead, and I thought to myself that if I had died, and Sarha died, perhaps we might meet, in this god-forsaken land. After searching desparately for many days, searching out each crevice of the land, I found nothing but... it. It was a presence, haunting me, following me, whispering words of malice in my ear. Hatred followed the presence, and the presence followed me. And at last, finding nothing but a portal which I had been overlooking for what seemed like ever, I entered, finding myself in the lands of the living, with all the curses therein. Immediately upon waking up I was harrowed by a man, constantly asking questions that needn't be answered. This presence seems to follow me, even now, or at least it's effects do. I now seek ever harder to destory him, because he killed Sarha.
