You open a dirty envelope bearing the seal of some random backwater inn. Inside is a heavily damaged and filthy letter. The ink is smudged, words are misspelled, but you can feel the earnest desire in the written word.
Lord Maximus,
I write to you today to ask fXe for you ta take me on as a happrentice. I am a ferXmaX farmer. I half a lot of skill in the lands. But I fell as tho I am needled here. An I want ta fight with you and for you. I swear my haligiance.
Lansin al'Farath
Day One
I'm new to this, Lord Maximus says my writing must improve in order to join up. So he says I should write a diary. It's really hard an he stands over me and fixes my spellings and such. But if this is what it take I'll do it. He's a tough old bastard though. Takes his spellin serious. I wrote that so he would have to read it.
Lord Maximus made me run around the walls. Ya think you know how big Fal Dara but I can say, you do not, not until you run around that place a few times. I thought I'd die. But Lord Maximus says I will be stronger. I say I'll likely be dead in a week. I XcenX can do this though. I have to.
That's all for now.
Day Two
Lord Maximus kept me up for hours last night lect... speaking on the import of knowing your letters. I figure he's probably right. Today I went to the trolloc camp in the borderlands. Everyone just call it Camp. Scary territory. The paths are tight and it's choked up something fierce. I went in hunting trollocs. I need a few to please the Lancers.
I wish I could say it went smooth. Truth is I almost died. Managed to kill two of 'em though. Caught them alone and took them from behind. I ain't a hero. Not yet, maybe one day. They all wear patches. Strange how organized they are for beasts. That's what I thought at first anyway. Then I saw the eyeless and understood. Never been so frozen as then. Never want to be again. Is it strange that I'm ascared of sleep? I'm scared I'll see that face again.
I met Lord Matheus too. They all says a lot about him. They say he's kind of crazy. I'd say he's kind of scary. But he was nice. I think he thinks I'm thick. He talks to me slow for some reason. I guess maybe he can't understand me 'cause of the way I speak. I don't know. But he's nice. We tried to kill the brigands up gap way. But I rushed in from a solo trip and was wounded when I arrived. Only managed to kill a few afore we had to retreat. Maybe next time. I'll say this about Lord Matheus. The man seems to be able to sleep in the saddle and with his eyes open. Saw him disappear too. Impressive.
Until next time.
Day Three
I saw Lord Matheus again today. He tol' me go fourth and find a trolloc. I said yes sir. Then I went the other way. Who is mad enough to do that? Not I. Not yet. Damndest thing happened though. Trolloc found me! I fought him as well as I could but quickly found myself in trouble.
So I'm bleedin' like a pig. Trolloc who keeps screaming Trill, or maybe he was trilling like a bird, I don't rightly know, is stabbing at me, then there's a damn wolf man beside me screaming at the trilling Trill. Well what the heck? So this golden eyed man is doing golden eye man stuff, I'm trying not to die, and somehow the trolloc dies. I do not know if I am strong enough for this. But I will not give up.
I followed that man, Castien I learned his name was, all the way back to Fal Dara where Lord Matheus sat chirping at the strange man. I gave Lord Matheus the scalps of the two trollocs I killed over in the Camp earlier and just sat in a vegetative state after that. What a damn day.
I'm sposed to start training with a man named Uno tomorrow. So I better go ahead and turn in.
Day Four
There is a damn epidemic! I do not know what is happenin but everyone is starin off slack jawed! I just saw Lord Matheus drooling. Now I don' no if that is what he always does or what, but this is freakin' me out! I keep randomly falling asleep! Lucky for me so do everyone else! It is like someone keeps turnin the lights on and off. Maybe the Creator is angry. Because of all the trilling and wolves. I do not rightly know. (Mud is continuously crashing currently)
Before all this began I did meet the man Uno. He is a big deal in the north. Many say a hero. Uno Nomesta he said to me. I offered my hand but he just looked at it suspiciously. I do not know what to make of that. I was sposed to learn the sword from him, but all he did was tell me stories about hisself. Then he quizzed me in maths. I'm confused but I think I may be becoming smarter.
I'm very tired, I'll update you again tomorrow.
Day Five
I finally got ta trainin' with Uno Nomesta. He insis... very much wants me to call 'im by his full name. Man has a damn sword. So I say no problem. He can't seem to stop swearing for very long. It is like it hurts him in his heart if he does. Damn the man is good with a blade tho. He took me thru the basics and we spent a good five hours walkin forms. He will shout them out an I have to do it. I'm aching all over, but I would be lying if I said I was not excited. I feel like I am finally moving forward and accom... doin' something good.
I miss the farm. I miss my folks. But I feel like I am doin' what I am sposed to do. I'm scared. And excited. Strange how them two sometimes go to work together. Like Uno Nomesta says, two birds in a bush will break glass houses. I think
Lansin al'Farath Shienaran Lancer Applicant