I tripped over a stray root, and fell, smashing my face into the stone viper atop the grave. As I clutched my bleeding nose, I listened to the gibbering howls in the dark, I hoped I could find my sister before the slave-finders found me. Looking up, between two of the stone markers before me I saw my salvation--a cathedral. I didn't care what kind of priests dwelt inside, it was a place to hide. I started crawling, as quietly as I could through the ruined graveyard. I caught a whiff of something rank, like the smell of rotting fish mixed with fermenting goats milk. That was when I felt something stir beneath me. Before I could cry out, a clawed apendage leaped from the ground and squeezed my throat drawing me closer to the smell. Everything went black as the stench overpowered me.

I awoke in a cage, surrounded by bones. Its cold. I can hear something shuffling, outside this room, but it doesn't answer except to moan. It hasn't stopped moaning all night. I can't sleep, the moans sound so sad. I wonder if the slave-finders are still looking for me. I wish I had something to eat. Or some water. "Stop it, stop moaning! Shut up!"
Suddenly, I heard someone shout. A door slammed, and then I felt a breeze, it was  still pitch black but I could feel something looking at me in the darkness. I couldn't hear anything though. Something reached out of the dark, and grabbed my head then everything got cold until I passed out.


13th of Mirtul, the servants found some small human amongst the graves tonight. Brother Verence had them put it in the observation room, until I could inspect it. It appears to be a child. Based on the tooth decay, and wear my research would indicate it was between the ages of eight and nine winters. An vivisection would be more conclusive, but Scrivener Aluka has ordered us to wait, and question it first. Perhaps it could be of use. I disagree. It is too small, to be a worthy addition to our work.
-Brother Guich


When I awoke my cage was unlocked, and it was morning. Dim light shone through the boarded up stone windows. The corners of the stone bricked room is piled high with musty yellowed bones. My cage hangs from a rusty metal chain from the ceiling, facing a heavy iron door twenty feet away. I stood up and crept out of my cage. No sooner than my feet touched the cold cracked stone floor under the cage, did the bones begin to tremble, and two skeletal figures formed from the piles. I screamed in horror but they just stood there. I froze. They didn't move. I thought maybe they didn't see me, afterall they don't have eyes, actually the one on the left doesn't even have a head. When I tried to step back out of my cage, they both raised their arms and menaced toward me. I leaped out trying to clear the twenty feet between me and the door. And lefty knocked me down with one kick. Then the two of them just stood there. I didn't move.


14th of Mirtul, the child seems weaker than before. I have inquired with Brother Verence, who believes we should water it before it dries out. Since he has successfully questioned the child, I wonder if Aluka will allow us to experiment with it. It seems an excellent source of fresh blood. Which I will require much of to continue my inquiries.
-Brother Guich


A hunched man, in smelly robes brought me a pitcher of icy cold water, and poured over my face. I tried desprately to ask him where my sister was, but my throat was too dry. He asked me my name, in a raspy voice. I told him it was Etrik, once I was able to suck some of the spilled water out of my shirt. I wonder if Talann is safe.



17th of Mirtul, the child still weakens, I consulted our tomes on the workings of life. I was appalled. Evidently, the child will require infusions of meat, and perhaps a bucket. I have consulted with Verence. He is willing to use number twelve as a source of meat. I wouldn't give up one of my specimens.
-Brother Guich



The bones brought me a plate that night, it was lumps of torn grey oily.meat. I looked at the bones. They stood in like a man, but seemed like a lifeless statue. I tried a bite, it was crunchy, but it squirted out a bitter juice into my mouth, that made me gag. As I swallowed something squirmed around in my mouth, I spit it out. It was a maggot. I tried take another bite, but I my stomach twisted, and I dropped the chunk on the floor.



20th of Mirtul, the child collapsed again today, it has responded well enough, to servant number twelves' ministrations, though number twelve's effectiveness as a guard is nearing its end, perhaps I should travel into town for a new supply of meat. Then perhaps I could also inquire to its origins.
-Brother Guich

20th of Mirtul, zhe boy could ve utheful to our order, vhy doesn't Guich zee vhat ith in front of hith eyeth. Zhe pozziblitieth are endleth. Ve could even induct him into the order.
-Brother Verence Tolkh



I woke up in the middle of the night, a dusty figure in thick brown hooded robe, was proding my chest with stick. As my vision cleared, I realized it was the things finger. It asked me "Would you like to die?"
"Please don't kill me, I'll do anything you want."
"Have you any skills?"
I had to think, what could I do that these monsters might need? "I'm a cobbler's son, I can make shoes!" I lied.
"Shoes?" it repeated incredulously.
Well, too late to change my story "Yes, I could make you a stylish pair of boots, and.and.um I can write, I used to take down measurements for my father," not a complete lie since we had been owned by Khalgeri, my sister and I. Khalgeri had taught Talann to read and write so she could keep his books, and she had shown me a little.
"Very well." it said in a scratchy voice. Then it left me alone.
Wow, never underestimate the power of good set of boots on these things.


21st of Mirtul, I took an entourage down into the village, I remember it being bigger, when I worshiped Myrkul. I was met at the edge of the estate by a group of nervous looking group of soldiers, asking about a slave. Obviously, our young scribe. I ordered our entourage to move them out of the road for our carriage to pass. They fled in the power of our lord. I will have to send a letter to our patron, about the rudeness of his soldiers. I purchased some animals for the child, including two mules, an old man, and several ducks. Scribes are expensive.
-Brother Guich