Journal of Jeziellia, Matis

[jennaelf]

Zora, Cities of Intuition in the Witherings
Late Spring, Atysian Cycle 3, JY 2535

Jeziellia found the Zorai in Zora to be much more kindly than some she'd met on an individual level. Once they had seen that she was not haughty and disparaging of their relationship with the Kami, and wanting to learn, they treated her almost like a curious child. She was shown some of their public archives, and allowed to read their histories, to ask questions, to learn.

While she was studying, she noticed a young Zorai enter and deliver a small box to the senior archive keeper. They spoke briefly and the younger Zorai departed. Later, when Jeziellia returned the scrolls she'd been reading, she asked, "What were those?"

"Knowledge returned on the lost village of He-Lian, from old Zoran." His mask didn't seem to shift at all, but Jeziellia could sense a certain sadness in him.

"May I?"

The Zorai hesitated. His eyes, hidden behind the shadows of his mask, searched hers - she could feel them. After a moment he nodded and handed her the box.

Jeziellia sat down with the scrolls and amber, obviously copies of originals. They were labeled with notes and numbers, for ease of study.

The object was a scroll labeled "Watchtower Journal".

It has become clear that the war against the Kitin does not go well. Even the Fyros fall back on every front and it cannot be long until we too see the Kitin scourge. We can only hope the walls hold and keep them out.

Jeziellia set the scroll aside, frowning slightly and picked up the second item - an ambersphere. Through the ambersphere, images came to Jeziellia's mind. Battle lines and the walls of the village faling to pieces, torn bit by bit under the claws and legs of the kitin. The kitin clambered up and over their dead kin, tearing down the wall and slaying its defenders. A sea of shelled forms spread over the landscape, a sense of hopelessness pervaded the scene. Jeziellia closed her eyes as the images faded and shuddered, putting the amber back in the box.

The next was a letter. Jeziella's frown grew as she read it.

Dearest Daughter, the wall is not going to hold against the Kitin for long. The Kami, Karavan or Tryton may come for us soon and I must stay to repair the warrior's weapons. Hide in the goo, the Kitin will not follow and you will be safe - for now.

Another scroll;

We tried to barricade ourselves in where Atys herself creates walls. They have not breached our barricade, they have tunneled. I hear them scratching beneath us. There isn't much time.

Jeziellia felt a little sick to her stomach and her hand trembled as she lifted the next labeled object from the collection; another ambersphere replica. She held it up, peering inside. The image was crackled. The original must've been damaged. The images were grainy, hard to see, but there was sound. Voices. Chanting, prayers. The visual grew even more difficult to see, but she could hear voices invoking Ma-Duk, Jena, even Atys itself. The only answer came in the shattering of a wooden door. Screams sounded through Jeziellia's mind and the only visuals were blood and then blackness, and a sudden silence.

She closed her eyes, pushing the ambersphere away from her, her free hand covering her mouth. Slowly she opened her eyes. There was only one thing left - another scroll. She unrolled it with care.

The Kitin have not left, but nor will they enter. The goo is affecting our minds. It grows harder to think each day as we slowly go mad. We have... eaten the fallen. Nobody came. Nobody helped us. We are lost.

Jeziellia stared at the scroll for many moments in silence, not even daring to breathe. With practiced care she rolled it up and replaced it with the other informational remnants of the village of He-Lian. She took it to the Zorai and handed it back to him without a word, perfectly composed. She turned and left the building before the Zorai could speak the inquiry reflected in his body language. It was only when she found herself alone, outside and behind the building, that she let herself weep.


Thank you to Kaetemi for posting these tidbits to the Lost Village (an R2 event) thread!