Fahren al-Heit - Fatigue

Summer is at its conclusion. The green grass is fades to brown as its final performance towards the oncoming fall. My glassy eyes stare south. Yonder lies the hillside town of Nanto. I fight the urge to run down the road, Tuskers must be slain, I need supplies to accomplish this. It has been a great while since I just did something on a whim. With some effort I turn my gaze to the tower instead.

The Lin archmage has an excellent selection and is much easier to get to then the far coast of Mayoi but you pay a bit more for this convenience. If I could earn enough for a portal gem I would have gone to the Gharu’n Desert mage. We can sit and chat for hours about Ispar and the City of Tirethas. We both hold fond memories of that arid place. Such a lifetime ago it seems. I hand the mage my hard looted pyreals and bow upon leaving as is the Sho custom.

A sigh leaves my lips as the components are carefully assembled in my various packs, tapers in the light red, Herbs in the green, scarabs and tailsmen share the dark blue, potions and powders nestled in the purple. Next the expensive mana stones are destroyed in the process of transferring their power to my various Jewelry and wands items. I then start the ritual protections for my armor. Its hard to focus, the road is beckoning me to explore, to travel. See sights and sounds. My armor is magiked and I begin to use the life protections. Soon I am ready. I prepare to re-call back to the hunting grounds. I cannot bring myself to do it. It’s all so routine. I pause getting tired just contemplating another cycle of killing Raveners then Tuskers. Gathering up a few item then back to Tou-tou for selling my loot. Over and over, sun up sun down. Its all becoming too much. When was the last time I visited Uziz and sat in the tavern and had some good hot Coffee? When did I last court a woman? When did I last share tales of adventures with my friends over many types of Ale? In my quest for power I have been missing life.

I succumb to whim, I stow my wand and head to the Tou-tou portal across the road. As the portal space recedes I find myself at the familiar leather crafters shop and lifestone. The bathhouse catches my attention like no time before. Many of my Sho and Alluvian comrades enter this place they say the steam from the nearby hot spring is therapeutic. I have never indulged in this. I saw no reason to sit in the mist of hot water; such a thing was unknown to me until this place. I enter the domicile and the moist heat immediately brings droplets to my armor. There is a small room upstairs to store ones gear. I head up there and strip down. A friends recent wedding acquired me a towel that is quite wearable and somehow appropriate for this. Not entirely sure how to proceed I head down the stairs and into the heavy mist. I back away with a silly notion of being scalded. I steel myself and I head into the room. The sensation of sweating instantly is very new as I sit upon a woven mat I look across at the fog-obscured walls. Many of the dungeons I have encountered have similar looks to them. I think of the fog that I have watched along the coast. It is the same nature but cool to the touch.

I grow restless of just sitting. The urge to go out and fight those foes of choice fills me, tires me. I center my thoughts and begin to recall my favorite Gharu’n poems. As time passes I find that the world has slipped away and with it most of the cares I had earlier had. I open my eyes to find a few others have joined me. Embarrassed that I did not greet them I quickly try to make amends. The two are very familiar with the workings of this place and quickly put me at ease. We strike up a small conversation but quickly relax into a mist-induced silence. While the sweat from work makes one feel unclean this is more cleansing. My companions tell me they end their steam session in the cool waters of a nearby fresh spring. They have a young squire who agrees to carry my belongings to the pool.

We emerge as though newborn and those just entering the Tou-tou area via portal are shocked. We delight in their faces as we sprint across the green field. The chill of the plunge takes my breath I lazily float around enjoying the sensations. The sun is nearing its zenith and I climb upon a nearby boulder to soak up the sun. The hours spent slaying creature after creature seem so far away now. Simple pleasures I have unwittingly denied myself for such a long time. As the evening progresses I dawn my robe and head across the field a short distance to the Tavern. Many are here and the din is not unlike a mite hoard. I try some Sho beer and join the others upstairs. Soon we are telling stories and trading goods found. A helmet I was going to sell to the local vendor is now a gift to a very grateful warrior. It seems he has been looking for this helm for some time.

Our local color arrives in the form of a retired warrior, Slice by nickname. He tends to lounge around holding court garbed only in a towel. Soon the wine, beer is flowing with the wild tales and jokes. I end the evening back at the room I rent behind the weaponsmith. It has been one of the best times on Dereth this day. I have naught to show for it. Except for some new acquaintances and offers to quest a few things. As sleep closes my eyes I realize that hunting Tuskers wont be so tiring tomorrow. I have renewed myself.

-F Gahru'n BM and loyal follower of The Silver Citadel (LC)