If Edgar wants to see you, then why not? If he had anything sinister planned for you like having his escort kill you when you arrive. Besides you’re old and you didn’t worry about dying in combat when you were twenty, you’re not going to start worrying about it now.

You pack a few things for your trip and get your horse ready since you know Rask carriages don’t travel through ED territory anymore. It’s hard getting on damn a horse ever since losing part of your leg, but you’re not about to walk the way there!

When you reach the border the next day, you see a group of soldiers camped out in the distance beyond it. You see an ED Flag flying so you assume that’s the escort Edgar told you about. When you approach several of the soldiers point muskets at you…heh you sometimes forget of how technology has marched on.

They immediately ask for identification and you state your name and hand them the message with Edgar’s seal on it. The leader, who is a blonde woman with fair features reads through it and greets you.

“Greetings sir. My apologies on the initial caution, but we had to be sure. I am Sergeant Kalah, and I am to escort you to Prime Eternal Edgar. I am told he will be most pleased to see you, though I must admit I was also curious about you myself. Many are, as the Prime Eternal has mentioned you several times in high regard.”
“Heh, yeah I’ve heard about that before. Never get used to it though. Well let’s get on our way then.”

Sergeant Kalah is very talkative on your trip, and goes on about great the ED is, and how it provides for all. She sounds very much like you did a long time ago. You’re a little curious about something so you interrupt her propaganda speak.

“Tell me sergeant, you and your men are all on the youngish side, what generation of eternal are you exactly?”
“Me sir? I am fourth! We all are, we are newest eternals to serve directly in combat and I’m proud to say that we are so far the first to have natural night vision!”
“You can see in the dark eh? That must come in pretty handy. Wish I’d had that back in the day.”
“Oh yes, the glorious Eternal Dominion was able to fight those treacherous svelk mercenaries that the cowardly Felkans employ on equal footing when we were deployed!”
“Hmm, any other natural abilities?”
“The fourth generation also regenerates better than the third even though they were the first to have such abilities. Under the right circumstances we can potentially regenerate a lost limb.”
“Now THAT is something I definitely would’ve liked to had!” you say knocking on your wooden leg. “Still, with all these advantages I’m sort of surprised you haven’t utterly crushed the Felkans yet.”
“I believe we would, even with our resource shortages. Most of us do! We have the Felkans on the run, I do not understand why we have not pressed forward with our attacks, I long to be in combat again…but it is not my place to question the Prime Eternal’s decisions, I’m sure he has a good reason…”

Wow, that line sounds familiar.

“Well all I can say is, sometimes the political aspects of a nation are more complicated than the wars.” You reply

Sergeant Kalah doesn’t argue, but just says that you may have more wisdom about such things. Kalah and you continue to speak with each other about various subjects and she’s courteous the entire time, in fact she’s downright friendly. You definitely weren’t expecting that and it’s sort of a nice change of pace. While traveling through a town, a couple of pathetic peasants are being beaten in the streets by another soldier, though his uniform seems to be a different color even though it has the same markings.

“You there! Why are you beating these peasants! What crime have they committed?” she demands.
“Ma’am! These peasants were caught stealing food.”
“Well you shouldn’t be beating them just for that…you should be chopping their hands off!” Kalah says, followed by pleas and screams of the peasants.
“…yes ma’am…alright get over here you lousy thieving scum, let’s make this quick!” the soldier says drawing his sword and striking out at the screaming peasant. However, in his enthusiasm to follow orders he ends up hacking off the peasant’s entire arm.

More screaming arises from the female peasant who rushes to what is probably are dying husband. Sergeant Kalah rolls her eyes.

“I swear never let a human do an Eternal’s job…men shoot all three of them.”
“No wait!” the soldier says before several musket balls hit his body. The two peasants are also killed instantly.

The onlookers of this event duck and hide, but the sergeant makes her point known.

“Listen up! This town is now on watch! If I hear of anymore thievery or other crimes, I’ll be back to burn down this whole town! And for those of you in charge of keeping the law around here, I better see more competence displayed in the future than I saw today or I’ll have you drawn and quartered! You are ALL servants of the Eternals! We are your masters, we know better than you and you will OBEY.”

And there it is, the ruthless arrogance. It would appear than Kalah’s friendliness extends only to other Eternals. Can’t say you’re surprised though. You all move on and eventually you reach the capital and the palace where Edgar resides. Funny how this is the first time you’ve ever been to the palace after all those years serving the Empire.

“This is where we part company, but I must say I hope we meet again in the future, it was an honor to meet you.”
“And it was a pleasure to meet you too…” you say and then you decide to give her a big fat thrill. “…and if I may say if we have more eternals as pretty and commanding as you, we will no doubt rule for thousands of years to come.”
“…I…oh…well thank you sir!” she stutters and smiles before riding off.

New guards accompany you into the palace and through it. You’ve never been in here before, so you do a little sight seeing as you walk. Eventually you reach the royal bedroom. An older woman is sitting on a chair outside sobbing. She looks regal. Did Edgar get married? You’ve never heard of their being any sort of “queen” of the ED you always assumed he was just ruling alone. Another older muscular man with a stern expression is standing nearby pacing. When you arrive, he frowns even more.

“Oh so you decided to come after all. A pity.” He says.
“Well, I certainly can say your military is politer than the royalty around here.”
“That is probably because they believe all the stories Prime Eternal Edgar says about you. Such is the foolishness of youth.”
“And who the hell are you exactly?”
“Hmm, not surprised a deserter like you doesn’t remember me. My name is Rissok and I served under you during the Empire riots. I saw you kill my friend in cold blood. A true eternal who served with honor!”

“Oooooh now I remember. You and your other buddy were looting houses while Felding was attempting to rape a woman. Yeah, real honor there.” You say and Rissok gets in your face.
“Don’t mock me! You are only here because the Prime allows it! If it were up to me, I would have you labeled as a traitor and have you killed!”
“Well nothing is stopping you. You got the guards here, Edgar’s too sick to prevent it and I’ve only got one leg, so I’d say it’s a fair fight.” You remark.
“Stop it! Stop it please! My Edgar is dying! Can’t we have one moment without murder and killing?” the woman sobs.

At this point Rissok storms off without another word, the guards stick around and tell you that you may enter at any time. Before you do, you have to ask the woman who she is because you get the impression she isn’t an eternal. You just sense it.

“My apologies, I didn’t know that Edgar was even married. What title do you go by, queen? Emperess?”
“(sniff) No, I’m none of those things. I’m just Eva. Sometime Lady Eva if we’re being formal, but I am not married to Edgar nor am I common knowledge to a majority of the public, I am merely his companion of sorts. He could not marry me, for concern of marrying a non-eternal might weaken his position of leadership. I understood this from the beginning though and do not blame him for it. Eternals have more wisdom on these matters.”

You’re pretty sure that isn’t necessarily true, but you understand Edgar’s rationale and Eva seems to genuinely be in love with him. You ask her if she wants to come in with you, but she says she has already said her goodbyes and that he wants to see you alone when you arrive. Having no other questions, you enter the bedroom.

When you see Edgar, he’s lying in his bed and looking completely unwell. He’s pale and his face has a gaunt looking appearance. You can’t even believe this is the same man you fought along side at Fort Defiance.

“Edgar? ”
“(wheeze) ah…you came…I knew you would. (cough cough) You’re also looking much better than I am…minus a leg I see. How did that happen?”
“Long story…but you! How the hell did you get this sick?! Other than physical pains racking my body, I’ve never been actually sick. I didn’t think we could!”
“Well…after you’ve suffered five or six assassination attempts all laced with various poisons, it tends to fuck up your body a lot quicker…anyway there isn’t much time left I doubt if I’ll make it through the night (cough cough) you’ve read my letter I take it?”
“Yes.”
“Well then you know that when my death comes, anarchy will ensue.”
“Don’t you have a successor? What about Eva?”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we can’t have children. We Eternals seem to be sterile or barren. I’ve had people try to look into this problem, but they haven’t come up with anything yet. It would seem what makes us superior, takes away our ability to reproduce. Maybe it’s nature balancing itself out, so that we don’t take over the world like so many of our younger eternals seem to want to do.”
“Hmm, I have to admit, I always wondered why all those strumpets I slept with during my merc days never came back with little bundles demanding support.” You reply. “Anyway (cough cough) I’ve drawn up official forms for the person I think could be a successor…”

You already know where Edgar is going with this.

“Oh no…don’t say that’s why you dragged me out here…Edgar they aren’t going to listen to me! I haven’t even been living in the ED since it’s formation!”
“That doesn’t matter! You’re still an Eternal! One of the first and probably the best of us! (wheeze cough) They’ll listen more likely than you believe, why do you think I always spoke so highly of you? The younger ones will most likely follow without question, your major opposition will probably be the second generation…but there aren’t too many of them left, you could easily purge them all if you had to.”

Sheesh, you haven’t even agreed to anything and Edgar’s already suggesting mass purges. It’s like you never left the Empire.

“Please…I tried to build something here…(cough) I tried to do what you might’ve done if only you’d taken the reins of power, but I can’t go on any longer. The only person who can guide the Eternal Dominion into something worthier is you. I’m asking you not just as former comrade in arms…but as a (cough cough) a fellow Eternal…”

Edgar’s trying to guilt you into this mess, but it’s just not going to work. This plan of his is doomed to fail and you know it. Every high ranking Eternal is probably going to be vying for power and that idiot Rissok will probably the worst of the lot before Edgar’s body is even cold. Still, this is his dying request. You could always accept his proposal just to appease him on his deathbed.
> You tell the truth and decline
You didn’t lie to Kane when he asked you to join him.

You didn’t lie to Brenda when she asked you to join the Eternal Dominion

And you aren’t going to lie to Edgar now. It might not be what he wants to hear, but it’s what he’s going to hear.

“Edgar, I’m not accepting this position. First of all it’s not realistic despite what you want to believe and I think deep down you know that. Second of all, if I wanted the reins of power as you say, I would’ve taken them a long time ago. Did I ever think about it? Sure, but I came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t lead to anywhere good…and given your condition I’d say I was half right. I say half right, because it is apparent that you did gain a loving wife out it, or whatever she is to you.”

Edgar is silent while you continue.

“And while I don’t say my own path was any better, it was ultimately mine and it’s one I intend to finish whatever the future may hold for it. Edgar, don’t worry about what you accomplished and if it’ll last. Just be proud of it now and spend your last moments with your wife. That’s who you need to be concerned about.”

Edgar hacks and coughs up blood and spits it into a nearby bucket and struggles to breathe, but manages to answer you.

“Very well…you’ve made your point. And you’re probably right. You usually were. (wheeze) Bring my…my wife in. I do wish to spend the last moments with her…and farewell…my brother.”
“Farewell Edgar.” You say with a nod and leave.

You step outside and tell Eva that Edgar wants to spend his remaining time left with her. She seems happy with this idea though of course still upset. She runs in and one of the guards says he will escort you out. On the way out, you run into Rissok in the halls and once again he gets into your face.

“Leaving again are we? Just as well you aren’t welcome here anyway. In fact I’d suggest you make it quick. As soon as Edgar’s breathes his last breath I’m going to make a lot of changes around here.”
“You’re saying you’re going to be in charge after Edgar?”
“Of course! Others might say they are, but they’ll be silenced soon enough, just like all traitors will be. I am the only one qualified to run this nation!
“Hm, well…we can’t have that.” you say and with a quick motion you pull out your dagger and stab Rissok in the neck. Blood spurts out like a fountain when you pull it out and Rissok gurgles clutching his throat attempting to curse you the entire time.

You pretty much expected to get your head blown off by the guard standing next to you, but he just stood there and did nothing.

“I had a feeling you were going to do that.” He says in an almost bored tone. “How old is that dagger anyway? That design was outdated even before I was born. We use a much lighter weight metal now that allows a for a smoother cut.”
“Still gets the job done. So I’m guessing by me being still alive, you have no objections with his death?”
“Feh, you could’ve killed him in front of the entire army and nobody would’ve lifted a finger. He was an asshole and I know I wouldn’t have followed him even if the entire Eternal Dominion depended on it. Besides, we third generation eternals are more fit to run things than any of the seconds. Just glad you didn’t decide to stick around, would’ve hated to have to kill a legend.”
“Well if you ever decide to go to war with Rask, you might still get your chance.” You say and the pair of you leave Rissok’s body behind in the corridor as you exit the palace.

A carriage takes you back to the border where a horse is supplied to you to make the rest of journey home. And you are certainly glad to get back. It’s certainly been a strange few days for you, but then you’re use to strangeness going on in your life.

A couple days later you get the news that Edgar has died and that the new leadership of the Eternal Dominion as of now is uncertain. Rask of course is still fully expecting war to come their way, but you suspect that probably other than a few skirmishes, most of the fighting will be within the ED itself, or pushing ahead against the Felkan Kingdom.

You also realize that you really are the last one left now. Kane, Roldan, Gerald, Warrick, Brenda and Edgar all gone. The thought saddens you and you’re reminded of the phrase Gruz told you as he died.

“You’ll outlive everyone…”

It looks like it’s come true at last.

Oh sure there still are all the newer eternals around, but you were the first to be the perfect Empire soldiers in the misguided hope that you could save it. A project that failed utterly for its leaders.

You think about some of the other Eternals in your class that didn’t even make it past training, or the few like Cyrus that were transferred to the Shadow Guard. You also heard there was a group of eternals that came before you, though all of them died in training and never even made it into the field while the Empire was still “perfecting” their plan.

You wonder if all of you had made it and kept together as a separate unit, would it have made a difference? Who knows? You wonder if you’ll even be remembered as the years go by. Not just years or decades, but centuries. Edgar tried to create something to last and while he’ll probably have the best chance out of everyone in your group, ultimately history may just list him as a footnote as some obscure ruler.

As for the rest of you, you’ll be forgotten. At best, you may have the “honor” being brought up in tall tale by drunkards and bards in taverns, which you can live with, but you’d like the rest of your old friends… no, your old brothers and sister to be remembered.

That’s when you get the idea. You shall write you memoirs. Maybe nobody will read them or care, but what the hell, you need something to occupy your time in your twilight years. You’ve got a lot of it after all.

Grabbing a quill and some parchment you begin to write. You want to get as much down as you can, but of course a lot of history has passed and you’re having a little difficulty of where to start.

“Damn, I should’ve done this a lot sooner…oh yeah…might as well start with her.”

Mistress was her name, and that was about the only thing I ever knew about her. Oh that and the fact that she was a sadistic svelk bitch that helped trained me and my bothers and sister to be killers. Not just killers though, Eternals.

This is our story.


Year 75

As the years creep up on you and despite missing part of your leg, you still feel don’t feel in any ill health. It’s mostly just aches and pains from your more physical years catching up with you. After the leg incident though, you took that permanent position at the Keplavisk military academy as a strategy instructor, though nowadays it’s looking like it’ll become the Rask military academy. Rask is in the process of becoming a “real nation” rather than just a collection of allied towns. You don’t really know all the politics of it, but the main guiding force was justified Raskian paranoia again. Ever since the Eternal Dominion’s war with the Felkan Kingdom grinded to a halt, the ED has been making overtures to Rask to join them in the veiled form of threats rather than any sort of diplomatic alliance agreements.

While starting a war on two fronts is always a bad idea you’re guessing Edgar needs the resources that Rask has to make his final push to conquer the Felkans once and for all. You’re also guessing he’s intent on ignoring your advice of not attacking Rask too, you’re just surprised he held out this long. You’re not really worried about it if it comes to war. The Raskians may not have the unnaturally bred “eternals” like the ED does, but they’re trained well enough to make the cost very high if they are in invaded. You should know, you trained most of them.

You hear a knock on your door and you slowly make your way over.

“Mail for you Mr. Bane.” A delivery girl says to you when you open up the door. You toss a gold coin to her and take your letter.

At first you figure it’s from Ulivik, no doubt telling you about whatever grand adventure he’s on this time. The last time he was here, he was for his mother’s funeral. He kept his composure for the most part, but it still wasn’t a good time for him. He didn’t say it in so many words, but he did say that you were the only family he had left. You didn’t follow up, but the pair you said your goodbyes both of you knowing that you had that bond similar to that of a father and son.

But this letter isn’t from Ulivik, it’s mysteriously labeled as from “a friend.” Considering you’ve never really had any, you’re baffled to as who it could be. When you open it you see that it’s from Edgar, several pages in fact. You sit down to read all of it.

The beginning of it hopes that the letter has found you as he wants you to take in all of what he has to tell you. He begins by stating that he’s dying. He mentions his health is deteriorating by the day and he doesn’t know how much longer he has left. His “successors” are likely to start a war with Rask soon after his death, it’s only due to their respect that they don’t. The same way his respect for you caused him not to.

The majority of the letter explains that he wants you to understand why he did what he did and how he wished that you had joined him. He says the incident with Kane never left him and how if he’d only been there to listen to him and help him more, none of that might’ve happened. Perhaps even the Empire would’ve survived. (You doubt that though, it would’ve just taken longer) When the Empire was in its last days he saw how chaotic the new eternals were and realized they needed guidance and a purpose much like Kane did. He always thought that you’d do it, but you left leaving him as the only person willing to. He says it was very difficult and while they ultimately they fell in line, but without the purpose of conquest they wouldn’t stay that way for long. So he began forging a new empire as it were, with the eternals as the leaders as it always should’ve been. The newer generations of eternals were better disciplined, as he made sure their training went very much the same way yours did. Still, they are much more arrogant that he ever was. They believe it is their destiny to rule the world and he believes that he’s set something in motion that even he is no longer in control of.

“Ah Edgar, always getting yourself in over your head.” You say to yourself.

The rest of the letter mentions that you two are the last of the old Eternals. Warrick died in Battle of Yaquan when the ED successfully took the city from the Felkans eleven years ago. He says that while he still considered him a traitor to side with former enemies like that, he took no pleasure in his death and heard he died well.

Brenda died four years ago, but she apparently had become increasingly withdrawn years before that, to the point where she no longer even participated in the major decisions concerning the ED. She was found dead by her own hand with a note stating that she wished to be burned and her ashes scattered near Fort Glory like she did with her husband Roldan. This wish was of course granted.

Edgar’s last portion of the message also states that he has a last request as well, he wants you to come to the Eternal Dominion as he would like to see you again. He knows that you’ve had your differences and you weren’t ever friends, but right now, you’re the closest thing he’s got. He’s already made the arrangements to let you through and will have an escort waiting for you on the Rask/ED borders for the next few days. He also has placed a separate message with his seal on it, so that they may identify you.

The message ends there.
> You write a letter back to Edgar
While Edgar may not have any ill will towards you, you just aren’t sure about his subjects. You decide it wouldn’t be the best idea to go deep into Eternal Dominion territory, but Edgar does deserve a letter back, so you begin to write.

When you’re finished with the letter, the next day you have a professional letter carrier take care of it with your instructions to where it is suppose to be sent. Hopefully it gets to Edgar.

As the days pass into weeks, you receive the news that Edgar has died and that the Raskians are all concerned that war with the ED may come soon. You aren’t really concerned about such things, but you do feel a little bad that you didn’t visit Edgar now. You hope he got your letter in time, but you guess you’ll never know. It feels odd knowing that you’re the last eternal left from the “original” group.

The rest of your days are spent mostly going about your business. War never comes to Rask as the Eternal Dominion seems to descend into civil war after Edgar’s death. There are some changes in Rask society, but you just find yourself with less and less to keep yourself occupied. Still, you do enjoy the visits from Ulivik whenever he has the time.

Year 101

During one of Ulivik’s visits, you finally lose the battle you’ve successfully been fighting for over a century and death at last takes you peacefully in your sleep.

The day after your death Ulivik finds you. After his own short immediate morning period, he makes the arrangements to have your body burned as requested. He then takes your ashes to a high hill and scatters them to the winds.

“Rask may not have originally been your home, but it became your home. And now you’re part of it forever.” He says as his final words to you.

While never remembered on a large scale, tall tales about you pop up in taverns in Rask from time to time of various things you did or didn’t do and Ulivik would always speak fondly of you whenever he was asked about his own past.


Ulivik may be an accomplished warrior now, but out of all the tales he’s told you about his adventures; he still hasn’t faced anything like the wendigos and he’s going to get himself killed or worse if he goes into this with just the hope of some magic bauble around his neck. As much as you’re loathed to go through this again, you decide to help Ulivik.

“Alright I’ll go, but as soon as I think we’re in a shitload of danger that we can’t handle, you better listen to me, because this isn’t going to be the fun adventure you think it’s going to be. Understand?”
“Sure, but I really don’t think it’s going to be as bad as all that.”
“No, it’ll probably be worse. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to get some sleep and get my mind focused on this fool’s task.”
“Fool’s task? You’re coming with me.”
“Yeah, which says more about my own foolishness than yours, because you don’t know any better. I know we got these magic amulets or whatever, but these… things are going to try to get inside your head and if they succeed, it’s all over. If that happens to you, I won’t hesitate to put a sword through your head, and I expect you to do the same.”
“Ha ha you’d kill me so easily?” Ulivik laughs, but you’re in no mood.
“Hello, I don’t believe we’ve met…by the gods have you remembered nothing of the stories of my past? Of course I’d fucking do it so easily! I’ve killed innocent men and their entire families just because they disagreed with how the Empire was doing things, hell I even killed one of my Eternal brothers because of it. Wouldn’t be anything to kill someone who was turned into a mindless beast even if…”

You stop yourself right there.

“Even if what?” Ulivik asks.
“Even if…he’s too stupid to see this is a really bad idea! Anyway, I’m ranting and I’m tired. I’m going to bed, you can let yourself out. And don’t say that I don’t have to go, because I’m already committed now. I gave you my word as an Eternal.”

Ulivik knows when you say something like that, you’re being serious, so he just nods and tells you he’ll be by tomorrow morning before leaving. As for you, you head off to bed with a myriad of thoughts going on in your head.

“Can’t believe I nearly said he was like a son to me. What the fuck am I thinkin’ about? Better get your head in the game old man, because wendigos are going to thrive on that. They live on weakness.” You mumble before drifting off to sleep.

The next morning you and Ulivik set off for the infamous Wendigo Hills. Along the way, you go on about your own major conflicts with them, even when they were originally just thought to be people infected with lycanthropy like the rest of the old barbarian tribes around Rask. Ulivik listens to you in fascination like he did when he was much younger as you’ve never spoken of your experience with the wendigos before to him except in passing. It’s good to know he’s still listening.

“So after that battle, no wendigo has ever left those hills?” Ulivik asks.
“Eh, we had a couple that still managed to snag bodies and kill a few people before being brought down and exorcised by some of the local hedge wizards we recruited later, but that was mainly due to people idiotically still going into the hills in the first place. Sort of like what we’re doing.” You say.
“But if they’re spirits can’t they just float about possessing people?”
“You’d think so, but for whatever reason they can’t leave these the hills in pure spirit form, they need a body. That’s why when they’re killed they immediately try to hop into a new one or else they get pulled back to the hills. Dunno why, and I don’t think anyone’s bothered to learn the history either. Everyone’s just glad they were deprived of nearly all of their bodies by a certain Eternal decades ago.”
“Ha ha, but what about animals? Couldn’t they just possess animals and leave the hills that way?”
“Always wondered that myself, but again if they could I’d imagine they’d still be a major threat. Besides, when I traversed those hills I didn’t see a single animal, not one, of course I assumed that they probably ate them all. The wendigo are basically consumption and hunger in its purest form. They aren’t big thinkers in the scheme of things and it’s fortunate that they never organized past their barbarian tribal hosts.”
“Sounds like it, but if they are all spirits as you say, then we shouldn’t experience any physical combat at all and with these amulets and our steel trap minds we should be fine! We might even find some sort of ancient lore about how the wendigos came to be tied to those hills!”
“Well you’re as optimistic as ever. I suppose that’s good, it’ll keep your mind better prepared when the wendigos try to oppressively crush your free will. Y’know, now that I think about it, I think that’s what partially saved me. My mind was so dedicated to the Empire back in those days, the wendigos were trying to crush something that wasn’t really my own to begin with.”
“And now?”
“Now? I got my impenetrable cynicism to protect me, which I’ll definitely put more stock in than this ridiculous magical amulet that’ll undoubtedly fail to do anything.”
“Looks like you’re off to a good start with your cynicism.”

The after a couple days of travel, you eventually make it to the base of the Wendigo Hills. The markings and warning signs line stretch up, down and all the way around as far as you know. No real physical barriers of course, but even those dumb ass ogres that can’t read know better than to pass the line. Of course they usually knew better to begin with, which proves that they’re smarter in that respect. You take a deep breath and step past the markings and make your way up the forested hills.

It’s at this point your amulet starts to glow a brighter blue, Ulivik claims “that’s how you know that it’s working!” Great. Still, you don’t hear any sinister whispers yet, but there is still that dead silence you remember. As if nothing living is here.

Ulivik, mentions that he found a crude and well worn map of some of the Rask area during his trip through Eternal Dominion lands and wants to explore some ruins that are clearly marked on it. You mention you haven’t been here in a long time, but you don’t remember ever seeing any, so you can’t be as of much help as he might’ve thought. Ulivik says he doesn’t care though, he’s just glad to have you along.

“That map is probably old Empire. Like really old Empire, and much might’ve changed since then. It could also be inaccurate to begin with.”
“Yeah, that’s true, but we might as well find out. It’s the journey, not necessarily the destination that’s important! That’s what adventuring is all about.”
“Funny, I always thought it was the misguided hope of finding lots of loot and the avoidance of a real job.” You reply.
“That’s just a bonus.” Ulivik comments and you allow yourself to chuckle. Never thought you’d do that while in this cursed place.

After a half hour or so of walking, you start to get an uneasy feeling of being watched. You mention this to Ulivik and he says he’s getting that impression too. You ask him if he’s hearing anything, but he says he isn’t except the snow crunching under foot. Neither are you, maybe the amulets are working, but it’s obvious the presence of the wendigos is near.

Another hour of travel and you and Ulivik see something you didn’t expect.

“Do you see that? That’s a rabbit! I thought you said nothing was living here?” Ulivik says.
“When I came through I didn’t see a living creature, so I just assumed there wasn’t. I guess there is though.” You reply.
“Maybe the wendigo aren’t here anymore and everyone has been scared of this place for decades for no reason.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. Something is definitely here and just because we’re seeing rabbits doesn’t mean it’s safe. It just means animals must not be suitable hosts for them.”
“Well…hey that rabbit it’s hopping towards us. Hmm, a little larger than average and hopping towards people is rather unusual behavior for a ra…”

Before Ulivik can finish, his leg is leaped upon and viciously attacked by the rabbit. After some hollering from the surprise, you grab the little furry beast and break its neck. You toss its lifeless body in the snow while Ulivik examines the bite marks in his pants

“Fuck, that thing chewed through my pant leg and broke the skin! You never mentioned killer rabbits on your travel to here.”
“That’s because I didn’t encounter any, and I doubt if that was really a rabbit anymore. It would seem that animals CAN be hosts after all, they just need a human one or something similar to leave the hills. Anyway, we should really get out here, there are more coming.”
“What? So? I’m sure we can handle a few overgrown possessed rabbits.” Ulivik says still preoccupied with his very minor wound.
“A few, sure, but how about hundreds of them?” you say and draw his attention to literally that number popping up all around you.

The glaring red eyes of hundreds of possessed bunnies are upon you and their herbivore buck teeth have now been replaced with the toothy fangs of a carnivore hungry for flesh. And they look like they haven’t tasted a bi-ped in a long time…
> You fight your way to the ruins
You’ve come this far, no sense in running back home now especially not from rabbits, even if they are possessed by wendigo spirits.

“Come on let’s get to that ruin of yours, hopefully we’ll be less out in the open there!” you shout slashing out at the nearest bunch of bunnies.
“It should be nearby, this way!”

The pair of you run chopping up rabbits along the way as the “little” nippers are hopping after you and occasionally leaping on you and get a few bites in. This might all be very comical if your life wasn’t in mortal danger. After about fifteen minutes of this, you’re still practically waist deep in rabbits and no closer to your goal. You’re starting to regret your initial decision.

“Ulivik, what the fuck man? I though you said it was close by?!”
“It is! It is! I just need to look at my map again!” Ulivik says fumbling with his map.
“Ulivik we don’t have time for all that! We’re getting surrounded, and like normal rabbits they seem to have multiplied severely. They’re going to wear us down by attrition if this keeps up.”
“Hold on I, agh!”

White rabbits, which were blending into the snow, suddenly pop up and bite at the legs and ankles of you and Ulivik. This causes Ulivik to fall to his hands and knees in the snow as they continue their attack.

“Get off! Get off!” he shouts killing them, unfortunately one the rabbits jumps on his back and with his teeth takes the amulet chain and leaps off with it.

“Ulivik no! Your amulet! We need to get the fuck outta here now!”
“Arrrrgh! My head feels like it’s going to explode! Shut up! Shut up!” Ulivik yells.

The mental assault has already begun and you tell Ulivik to quickly try to think about other things and drown out the wendigo voices, he’s obviously in pain though. In the meantime you’re attempting to drag him back the way you came while still fighting off rabbits.

More and more of the ferocious furballs leap on to you and Ulivik, and sure enough your own amulet chain is eventually broken off as well.

“Welcome back Bane of Rask, we always knew you’d come back.” You hear in your head and then a gray rabbit the size of a bear comes bounding out of a hole in the ground. It is at this point, the wendigos make their awful howl in unison. Ulivik screams in pain and you’re not feeling so great yourself, but you refuse to be beaten by an overgrown rabbit.

You quickly run over to the wendigo leader and hack at its head, putting out one of its eyes. The beast roars and succeeds in smacking you to the ground with its claws.

“Foolish mortal! You cannot hope to win this battle! Give up now and let me take over…”

You ignore the taunts of the wendigo leader, you ignore the whispers of the wendigos’ mental assault, you ignore the countless bites into your flesh from their hosts. You just focus on one thing. Killing that gray sonofabitch.

You roll out of the way the leader’s attack and shove your sword in his side and then using your dagger you put out his other eye. Blind and still enraged he clumsily tries to lash out against you with his claws again, but once again you dodge and pulling your sword of his side, you shove it into his head this time and twist it back and forth making sure it cuts through skull, brains and everything else.

“You haven’t won…” you hear in your head while stomping on some nearby rabbits still biting at your ankles. Ulivik is staggering towards you with a trail of his own dead rabbits in his wake.

“Ulivik, come on we still need to get outta here, before the leader regroups with a new body!” you say and grab at Ulivik to help pull him towards you. Ulivik stares at you blankly for a moment, and then his demeanor changes to a less friendly one.

Your heart sinks knowing what has happened, and you try to let go, but his own grip becomes very tight as his nails dig into your flesh.

“I told you, you couldn’t win.”

In Ulivik’s body, the wendigo is much quicker than you and manages to knock your sword out of your hand and then knock you to the ground. You scramble for your weapon, but you feel a kick to your head followed by a couple of stomps to it. Bloody and dazed, you lose consciousness before you are made into the wendigo’s long awaited meal.


Year 65

You get a knock on the door to which causes you to wonder who would be bothering you at this time of night. You’re more than a little annoyed since you were sleeping.

“Go away, I ain’t getting up.” you say from your chair trying to go back to sleep.
“Open the fuck up, you useless old man!” you hear from outside and it’s enough to motivate you to answer it and punch out the fool who said it. When you open it however, an unexpected visitor meets you.

“Ulivik?”
“Yeah, it’s me! Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?” he laughs.
“Yeah sure.” You say and the both of you head to your quarters to sit and talk. You still shaking the cobwebs after being awaken from your slumber.

“Were you asleep?”
“Yeah, what of it?”
“Nothing! Just sort of surprised, I mean I know it’s night, but its still pretty early.”
“Eh, it’s been kind of a lazy day today, felt like sleeping for most of it.”
“You didn’t teach a class today?”
“Class? School’s been officially closed for about two years now. I mean I get few people that seek me out looking to increase their skills every once in awhile, but nowadays everyone goes to that new military academy they opened up here.”
“Oh, I was wondering what that big new building looming near the edge of town was, so they didn’t offer you a job there?”
“Eh, they did, but I didn’t want it. People who I originally trained run it and most of them I didn’t even like when I was teaching them, so I’d rather not have to follow whatever silly guidelines they’ve come up with for that place. Anyway, I sometimes get paid to give speeches on tactics and strategies there. I get by. So where have you been and what brings you back?”

Ulivik mentions he mainly returned to when he heard his father had died and that he’s probably going to be around for a while to look after his mother. He then excitedly goes on about his various adventures of exploring ruins, caves and finding treasures and lost trinkets. Not enough to get rich, but he’s not in it for that. You enjoy hearing about it all, it’s not like you really go anywhere or do as much anymore. And as the years go on, you are finding yourself with less and less to do. You sort of thought your school and teaching would occupy your time and that if you got bored of that you could always break it up with a little mercenary work. But both of those options are pretty much closed off to you at this point, at least in Rask. The place is less wild and more peaceful now than it ever was under the Empire.

You could move you suppose, but it’s not such a bad life maybe you should just settle in and enjoy your elderly years in relative peace…

“..and so then I got my head split open and my entrails eaten by the clawbeast and died. Hey! Are you still with me?” Ulivik asks.
“Huh? Yeah you got your entrails eaten and died.” You answer.
“Well glad to see you’re still listening.” Ulivik laughs.
“Sorry, just a little preoccupied. Anyway, go on.”

Ulivik knows something’s up with you, and he’s got a pretty good idea what it is.

“Hey, have you ever thought about leaving Rask and joining your old buddies in the Eternal Dominion?” he asks.
“Wha…oh I don’t think that’s for me. Besides I only have two there, dunno if one of them is even still alive and I never really was exactly friends with Edgar. Speaking of which did you have much trouble traveling through the ED? I heard they aren’t too fond of svelk there ever since most of your people have been hiring themselves out to the Felkans.”
Well as you once pointed out, we’re not really liked anywhere we go, but I never really kept to the populated areas while in the ED so I didn’t have too many problems. However, I did find that dropping your name helped me a few times. You’re sort of known there.”
“Huh. Dunno, why I would be, not like I was ever part of the place. Guess Edgar really did look up to me. Unexpected.”
“Didn’t he offer you a job too one time?”
“Yeah. Don’t think it’s still available though. Like I said, my time serving big governments is over with. I wasted more than thirty years of my life doing it. Not going to waste the remaining years I have left even if it’s a high position of power. Besides, I’m still not sure that I wouldn’t have to kill Edgar if I ever got into an argument with him over something.”
“Surely it would be more interesting than sleeping all day.”
“Hah, probably. I dunno, I just feel like Edgar’s Eternal Dominion is just mimicking a lot of the old Empire. Sure it’s doing well now, but ultimately it’s going to fall just like the Empire did, so what’s the point?”
“Hmm, well you could offer your services to the Felkan Kingdom, I think they could use the help.”
“Yeah, no. I’m not into lost causes. Did that before too and saw the results. The Felkan Kingdom could’ve won the war if they didn’t fight so defensively. There were many times early in the war where they should’ve pressed an attack and took territory. Their fate is probably sealed at this point. Only a matter of time, assuming the ED keeps with it’s policy of total conquest, and doesn’t fuck it up. Anyway don’t get me started on how I nearly got dragged into serving on both sides of that conflict.”

“Okay, but how about another proposal?”
“I’ll bite. What is it?”
“Well, as you know I’m going to be here awhile looking after my mother, but I need something to do. Rask still has areas of it that are largely unexplored. I sort wondered if you’d like to come with me on an adventure in this very area.”
“Oh? And where would this place be? Most of the places you’re speaking of involve mountains, and as bored as I am, I’m not about to go dragging my ass up a fucking mountain.”
“Ha ha, nah not the mountains, though it still might involve a little bit of climbing.”
“Okay, so where?”
“The Wendigo Hills.”

Now there’s name that’s spoken of in only whispers nowadays in Rask. Everyone knows about it and doesn’t speak about it, let alone go near it, from humans to ogres and even the few giants still left. Ever since you wiped them out forty five years ago, there have been little problems from those evil spirits. Years later after you first left Rask you heard the various villages got their holy men together to perform some sort of ritual to make sure none of the spirits managed to ever escape from those cursed hills ever again. Of course every once in a blue moon some unfortunate idiot…usually an adventurer gets himself possessed and no expense is spared in hunting down the creature and destroying it.

Now it looks like Ulivik is intent on being that new unfortunate idiot.

“Have you lost your fucking mind, because if you haven’t, then you will if you go there and that’s if you’re lucky. I went to that blasted place once, I had a company of soldiers with me and I was in my prime. I barely got out of that place alive and you know what happened to the few soldiers that survived with me? Four of them ultimately committed suicide from their nightmares and the other two got discharged and thrown in the asylum for just going batshit insane. No, I’m not going and if you got any sense, you won’t either. That place does shit your mind. The spirits there are pure evil, and they are not to be trifled with.”
"No, I have a remedy for that! Look at these!" Ulivik says and produces two amulets with a faint blue glow.

"Let me guess, these things are magical and they're supposed to protect us from getting possessed."
"Correct! Even when I was little, I heard there was supposed to be great treasure in those hills. Nobody has ever had the skill to go in there and claim it, but I want to be the first because I truly feel like I'm ready now. You're the about the one who has traveled the most in those hills and survived. You would be a great help and we can even share whatever we find! Come on, it'll be like old times!"

"Old" being the key word here. While you were wondering if you were becoming more complacent in your old age, you aren't sure if going to the Wendigo Hills is something you want to do just to prove "you still got it."
> You stay home
Complacent or not, you’re really thinking that this is just a bad idea all the way round.

“Ulivik, I’m telling you, this isn’t a good idea. I’m not about to place your faith in some amulet that may or may not work and you shouldn’t either. I know you’re an adventurer and all, but some places are just better left alone.”
“Oh come on! The man I knew wouldn’t have backed down from a challenge like this!”
“The man you knew was twenty years younger, and I still had a purpose for my wandering. I was a merc, remember? Look, if the fact that I won’t go traipsing around in wendigo territory looking for ruins that might not even be there and wearing an amulet hoping it’ll protect me disappoints you, well I guess I’m just going to have to disappoint you.”

Ulivik does indeed look disappointed, but he doesn’t argue the point anymore. Instead he just abruptly gathers his belongings and starts to leave.

“Ulivik, I really wish you’d heed my advice on this. Think about it, have I ever lead you wrong?”

He stops for a moment, and thinks, but continues his exit.

“No, maybe you haven’t, but just as you have picked your path to become an old man who is content on resting on his laurels now. I still feel the zest for excitement and danger, and I am compelled to do what I must. It’s just a shame we couldn’t have shared in it together just one more time.” Ulivik says and leaves.

Once again you are left by yourself to reflect on your life and Ulivik’s words. He might have his own point about resting on your “laurels” but what the hell, it’s not like you haven’t deserved it. You could go back and forth on such things, but honestly you’re a little more concerned about Ulivik and what he’s potentially going to get himself into. Still, he’s an adult and capable of making his own decisions.

Days pass and you don’t hear anything from Ulivik. True he was a little mad at you, but you’re pretty sure he’d come back to see you before he left. You begin to fear the worst. You end up going to his mother’s house to see if he’s been there or shown up, but she says she hasn’t seen him. She’s worried as well, though she’s understandably more upset about it.

Your next move is to go to the militia and make a report, you don’t expect anything to be done, but you figure that the “risk” of a possible wendigo possession is more than enough to keep all the towns alert about it. You are nearly tempted to go looking for him in wendigo territory yourself, but you decide that it would only serve in getting you killed as well, and there’s no way you’d even be able to track him.

Weeks pass into months and there is still no sign of Ulivik. No wendigo attacks either, so you can only assume that he wasn’t possessed, just killed and eaten. Many times you go back and forth in your head wondering if you’d just gone with him that maybe he’d still be alive…or maybe there would be two dead instead of one. Can’t second-guess your decisions, you learned that a long time ago, but still you feel saddened by Ulivik’s passing. He had a lot of potential and in some odd way he almost felt like a son to you.

Life goes on though, but it feels a little emptier.

Year 73

The rest of your years have been spent mostly going about your life with increasingly less and less for you to do. There are some changes in society, but ultimately you begin to feel the decline of your own will to live. You never thought you’d feel that way, but there it is. You just don’t have anything else to keep you motivated anymore.

The thrill of living finally disappears from you entirely and you are found dead by your own hand. While you were not sick and still in relatively good health for a man your age, you decided that you would end it before you might not be in such a condition to do so. A note explaining your suicide is left nearby and the town gives you a proper cremation. Some of your old students turn out for it and say a few words, but in time you are soon forgotten and only brought up as the subject of “tall tales” by drunkards in Rask taverns every once in a blue moon.


Year 55

After another hard day of training various citizens of Rask, you lie in your bed thinking about how much has changed over the years. Never did you think that you’d be running a real business, though to be honest if it wasn’t for legitimate paranoia on the part of the Rask Alliance, you’d probably be spending all of your time still as a merc, as it stands you’re practically responsible for training the closest thing to an army that Rask has, though it’s probably more of an organized militia.

It’ll be the first line of defense if the Eternal Dominion starts to look to this way for expansion. When the ED started re-conquering the old territory of the Empire it was only natural that the towns and villages of Rask started getting worried. They didn’t break away from the Empire only to replace it with something similar or worse. It was just their luck (and yours) that you wanted to become a professional combat instructor. Soon people from all over Rask were coming to see you. You hardly ever have to do any sort of mercenary work anymore and the mayor of Keplavisk is overjoyed by the fact that you set up shop in his town.

As for the Eternal Dominion threat, you aren’t sure what to think. There has been no formal declaration of war or even a diplomatic visit to Rask yet, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be, Rask has lots of resources after all. Still, the ED has its hands full still trying to keep everyone in line from the top to the bottom while attempting to gain more holdings. Mass orc migration to Rask are becoming common, even the svelk are more welcome in Rask again. Partly due to the possible need for more mercs if war comes to pass and partly due to dark elves being disliked by the ED, which apparently frowns upon mercenaries (and probably the attitudes of the dark elves in general).

You have to hand it to “General” Edgar though, you didn’t think he’d be able to get those chaotic brats calling themselves “eternals” organized, though it sounds like they’re still as sadistic as ever and if the rumors are true, another generation of Eternals are being trained as well. You can’t even imagine what they’re going to be like. If war is coming like everyone thinks it is, you know immediately that you’re probably going to be nominated and begged by the various mayors and council members to be some sort of commander. You aren’t sure if you’d accept the position though you probably will mainly because you don’t want to be bothered moving anymore and you’ll be damned if you’ll live under the rule of some half assed Eternals.

Part of you wonders what the hell is going through Edgar’s mind. He seemed more level headed the last time you saw him, like the incident with Kane forced him to mature, but you guess his aspirations for personal glory were just too great to keep suppressed for long. You also wonder about Brenda, she’s the only other old Eternal that was left, and you have no idea if she’s even still alive or serving with Edgar. You get your answer and then some in a few days.

Another hard day of training various citizens of Rask and you’re ready to close up shop and then two figures wearing hoods enter. You have flashbacks to fighting the Shadow Guard and you draw your sword.

“Hold on! It’s me! Warrick! See?” a familiar voice says and reveals himself from under the hood. The face is much older than you remember and sporting an eye patch, and the hair is now nearly gone. But considering you thought Warrick to be dead, you aren’t completely convinced until the second cloaked figure reveals herself and speaks.

“I told you wearing these things was a bad idea. He probably thought we were Shadow Guards!” she says. Her face is also much older and the hair is completely gray, but you definitely know this one is Brenda. Between the pair of them it truly makes you realize how much time has passed since you saw them.
“And I told you, we need to keep a low profile, this situation is dangerous to the both of us.” Warrick says.

“Warrick back from the dead and Brenda, I was just recently thinking about what had become of you.”
“We need to talk to you about Edgar.” Warrick says cutting right to the point.
“Yeah I thought so…okay let me lock up and we can talk about this in my quarters.”

The first thing you find out is that Warrick is now working for the Felkan Kingdom. He says it’s a long story, but it has its roots in his becoming disillusioned with the Empire much like you did. Warrick also goes on to say that’s one of the reasons why he’s here. Edgar definitely has plans to attack it in the future and the crown hopes to avoid another long and troublesome war by recruiting allies this time. He mentions real Felkan diplomats will probably be arriving in Rask soon to speak with the leaders of the towns, but he was sent to specifically reach out to you, because whether you knew it or not, your reputation here carries weight.

As for Brenda, her position is much more dangerous. She is currently serving the Eternal Dominion, (another long story) but is trying to encourage an underground dissident movement. Not really difficult considering how oppressive Edgar’s regime is. It is the hope of the Felkan Kingdom that the ED will wear itself out on keeping down riots and other potential conquests like Rask before it turns its eyes on the Felkan Kingdom.

You tell Warrick that he’s probably wasted a trip as the paranoid mentality of the Raskians are already preparing for war with the ED and will have no problem allying with the Felkan Kingdom and that you’ll no doubt be called upon to command the people you’ve been training. Warrick seems relived to hear that, and you and he begin to do a little catching up. Brenda participates as well, though the whole time she seems a little preoccupied. Eventually as the night goes on, Warrick says he must be getting back to report to his superiors. Brenda says that she is not ready to leave as she wishes to speak to you about Roldan and his last days with you. Warrick understands, but warns her that she should not be away for too long so as to arouse suspicion. He would hate to have her sacrifices should lead to her death.

“Sacrifices…as if he would know about such things. When the Empire needed him the most what did he do? He ran to the fucking enemy. Now his new masters give him commands and the running lapdog thinks he’s free, but he’s still a slave.” She remarks with distain, before continuing.

“Edgar may be an egomaniac with delusions of grandeur like he always was, but he at least tried to keep the Empire together, even if it is in a different form now. He believes in something better, even if he’s not exactly intelligent enough to carry out that idea. And you, you’re worst of them all. You just dropped out altogether and dedicating yourself to nothing, but coin like a fucking svelk. What the hell happened to you? You used be our leader.”
“I’m not exactly sure what your point is, but if this all pent up anger at me due to Roldan dying I…”
“Don’t you dare fucking mention him! I heard enough of hollow apologies in that damn letter you wrote to me.”
“They were Eternals as we all are. Dying in combat is always a possibility for us, I know their deaths weren’t the most glorious, but at the time they died doing something they believed in. I can hardly help that the institution that they believed in, crumbled soon afterwards. I tried like hell to maintain my own belief in the Empire despite having it time after time again tested. Eventually I saw the light when I had to command a bunch of those new eternals while attempting to put down mass riots near the capital. Was leaving the right decision? I don’t know, but it was for ME. The fact is ALL of our lives were nothing but duty and dedication to a corrupt government that deserved none of it. Kane knew that, Gruz knew that, and as much as I still hate them to this day, the Shadow Guard knew that. When the Empire was in its death throes it affected us all differently. I can’t help the fact that you decided to stay loyal and it didn’t work out resulting in you eventually having to capitulate to Edgar later on. At least you and Roldan had an experience that none of us will ever have. You have at least that to cherish.”

Brenda is silent for a moment as she takes in your statement. She looks at a ring on her finger, which is obviously still her wedding ring to Roldan. She smiles and then speaks.

“You’re right I suppose. You usually were when we all served under you. Even you couldn’t have prevented the Empire from falling, the damage was done long before we came into existence. I guess I just never got over Roldan’s death and had nobody except you to blame since you were the only one still alive. The funny thing is I didn’t start blaming you until I found out you left the Empire. You were always our leader, and it seemed unthinkable that you would leave willingly. You know I think none of us really saw anyone else as their leader except you. It’s probably why Kane wanted you to join him, it’s no doubt why Warrick insisted on reaching out to you and it’s why Edgar sent me…”
“Excuse me?”
“One of the things you were wrong about and Warrick too. I am not helping him though he still thinks I am. There is no underground resistance, or at least none that matters. Warrick and his Felkan masters think they can undermine the Eternal Dominion, but they are quite wrong. When Edgar first came to me and explained his cause and ideas I realized it was a just and worthy one. I joined in an effort to help with some of the details that Edgar himself is not nearly as skilled at, still he has proven himself to be more charismatic than he once was, at least to the other eternals and that’s who is mainly important. He wants to create a nation where we Eternals are in control, as it should’ve been.”
“…so why would he want me for, wouldn’t he consider me an enemy like Warrick?”
“No, not like Warrick. While your abandonment did sadden Edgar, he always figured you had a good reason. He never questioned it. And now that you’ve told me your views I see he was right. It’s really quite odd to see how high of regard he holds you. I guess your time with him during Kane’s attempted secession really impacted him.”

“Brenda, this is a lot to take in, what exactly are you expecting from me then?”
“As Warrick said, your reputation carries weight here and you have the ear of several of the mayors here. Perhaps you could explain to them that even with training that resistance will be useless and that the ED will just slaughter everyone. Better that they should surrender now and have a benevolent overseer such as…you running things.”
“And you really think Raskians are going to go for that idea?”
“What does it matter? They are going to be conquered eventually anyway. I merely suggest other options to Edgar’s plan, which was to convince you to just come with me where you could take command of a battalion to conquer Rask seeing as you know the place the best.”
“Heh, sounds like him. So what was the plan if I refuse altogether? Killing me I suppose?”
“Didn’t come up though I even asked him about it, but as I said Edgar really believes that you’ll help us. Perhaps in some way he didn’t want to think about the alternative. I’m guessing that you are considering the alternative?”
“Don’t see why I shouldn’t, do you?”
“You would have a true purpose again. Serving an idea greater than yourself.”
“I have a true purpose now. I’m training others to fight against those that would take their lives. The Raskians don’t want to be ruled over and quite frankly neither do I, let alone by Edgar.”
“No! You would be different! You, like myself would be given an equal place in the decision making process! Even the other Eternal don’t get that.”
“Yeah, that’s the other thing, I’m loathed to live in a land that considers those new…things, eternals.”
“They are much different now, true they still have their sadistic streak, but only towards the non-eternals and who cares about them?”
“I’m sure the non-eternals do, and while they may very well be inferior, enough of them can topple any government. We saw it happen, and it’ll happen to you too if you aren’t careful.”
“So are you saying you won’t join us?”

You get the impression that if you say no, she’s going to attack you and you’ll have to defend yourself. Killing Brenda is something you do not want to do, but lying and saying yes is duplicity you’d rather not engage in.
> You lie and say yes
This is probably going to bite you in the ass later, but you just can’t bring yourself to kill Brenda…at least not this day. It may very well come in the future though.

“Alright Brenda, I’ll help you, but I’m staying here in Rask. Forgive me, if I’m not quite trusting enough to go walking into ED territory just yet.”
“Well I guess I can understand your caution, but what are you going to do up here to help us?”
“I’ll do what you said I’ll try to convince people that they should submit to the ED, it will most likely still require a lot of bloodshed and it this goal isn’t going to be an immediate one. However, I’m confident that I can do this, I have enough supporters to raise an a big enough army to get me started. I know this territory the best so any wannabe freedom fighters hoping to escape into the wilderness to wage a guerilla war won’t be a problem either. When I think the time is right, I’ll contact the ED to step in to mop up and to reinforce order, but I really think your armies would be better spent on hitting the Felkan Kingdom and hard. If they’re putting out feelers for alliances with Rask, then they’re probably desperate. You tell Edgar I’ve personally suggested this, he’ll listen. He should, after all I’ve never given him bad advice before.”

That last part is very difficult for you to say, knowing that you’re blatantly lying. The worst part is Brenda doesn’t even question you. She too believes that you’re being completely genuine and requires no further “proof” that you’re actually going to do what you say other than your word and your impeccable past reputation.

She leaves a little happier than when she arrived. You on the other hand are a little sadder. At best The Edgar will follow your advice and the Felkan Kingdom will do enough damage to the Eternal Dominion that they won’t be in any condition to attack Rask. It may even collapse. Not exactly great for Edgar or Brenda, but at least you wouldn’t need to fight against them.

At worst…well you’d rather not have to think about that, but you’ve always prepared for the worst. The next day you suggest to the mayor of Keplavisk that Rask seriously invest in thinking about building a proper military academy, possibly even a professional army.

In the following months several meetings with the heads of the Rask towns occur. You give your opinion on the Eternal Dominion situation, but you leave out the whole meeting with Brenda and Warrick of course. Eventually the politicians agree that more protection might be necessary and steps to ensure it are taken. Since you brought all this to their attention, you are nominated to run the military academy.

Year 58

Edgar took your advice…at least initially. He sent thousands across the Felkan borders a couple years ago. The war with the Felkan Kingdom is currently at a stalemate, but you hear it’s even more brutal than the one with the Empire. Edgar has adapted with the times unlike the Empire and has implementied stolen technology from the Felkans. You can only imagine how Warrick has fared, but you got your own problems due to your lying, though maybe it was inevitable, who can say?

When it became apparent that you weren’t actually doing anything to help bring Rask under the Eternal Dominion banner, Edgar correctly came to the conclusion that you lied. Sensing that Rask may even be gearing up for their own invasion, Edgar risks a two front war and strikes out at Rask.

While the Eternal Dominion is certainly short of man power due to their war with the Felkan Kingdom, they make up for it with ruthless fanaticism and of course the fact that they’re using updated technology as well. Their first major push is at Kenneth’s Rest. The old fort stands strong for a day before it is taken. Everyone that wasn’t killed during the battle or escaped was executed upon capture. This happens with a couple of the smaller villages before the Raskian army manages to stop the advance. From the butchery that the ED troops have been displaying it’s obvious that they aren’t taking prisoners.

On the Raskian side, patriotism goes up and they have no intention on surrendering if that was even indeed an option. Mercenaries, who were previously beginning to leave due to the lack of jobs for them suddenly become in the market again. They are used mainly for harassment purposes such as destroying supply lines. Flog has turned out to be quite the asset. He sees the Eternal Dominion to be nothing more than the Empire under a new name (And he really hated the Empire) and has managed to unite some of the more “civilized” ogre tribes to help destroy the inheritors of the Empire legacy. Eldolith still runs her small svelk band and charges the highest price as usual for her services. Ulivik even has a small group of humans following him now. They mostly consist of survivors who managed to escape death at the hands of the ED attacks on their homes and in it for revenge not the money, in fact neither is Ulivik anymore. Ever since the invasion he gave up his mercenary life in exchange for that of a patriot fighting for his family and home. You’re glad to see he has become a competent warrior.

Due to your warning of this threat years before, your position at the academy and all your years of combat experience you are made into a full blown general and practically given extensive powers over all military functions. A very powerful position, in fact it’s rather ironic. You didn’t ask or even want to “rule” over Rask, but your current arrangement practically makes you a potential dictator. Even more so due to the fact that you’re an Eternal, a representation of a past oppressor and a current aggressor towards Rask.

While the politicians have given you this role, not all Raskians are happy with this idea, but as long as you’re fighting the Eternal Dominion no disgruntled Raskian has tried to assassinate you yet. While you miss being able to personally lead troops into battle, you still try to be as close to the action as you can, by traveling with the army rather than staying in an office somewhere.

The war with the ED has already taken quite a toll on Rask, and it doesn’t look lik it’s going to end anytime soon. The best you can do is dig in and make sure you make the ED pay for every inch they step deeper into Rask territory.
>
Year 65

As you settle down for the night, you think about how you got in this position.

As the war started to drag on, the tactics changed from one of conquest to one of annihilation. The ED began outright destroying any village and town they managed to capture. They sent in suicidal fanatics to blow themselves up or blow up mines and other areas of production. They managed to poison the water supply of one towns, but the worst was their intentional sacrifices in the Wendigo Hills. The ED dragged over a hundred of their own citizens into the Wendigo Hills, which had been off limits to any right thinking being ever since you went into that cursed territory. The wendigos had been confined there for decades with no sentient hosts to possess and allow their escape, but that all changed when presented with the new ones the ED provided. The wendigos of course immediately ran amok with their new bodies and became a problem for everyone.

In the meantime the ED attempted one last push on Keplavisk. It was a bloodbath on both sides and the cost was high, but ultimately it never fell, and it was that the last major battle with the ED. Hostilities with the Eternal Dominion aren’t over, but they have stopped mostly due to their own internal problems. As powerful as they were, they couldn’t keep up a two front war with two foes that had no intention on rolling over. It was only a matter of time before attrition took its toll on the ED and fortunately the arrogance of the younger eternals caused them to finally question Edgar’s abilities to lead properly. Wasn’t long before they started squabbling amongst themselves.

Of course the damage they did to Rask left a permanent mark.

You were initially hailed as a hero by most and the rebuilding process begun, but Rask was in terrible condition. Towns and villages that hadn’t been completely destroyed were still wrecked to a degree that would take months or even a year to recover. This wouldn’t be so bad, if they weren’t also under protected due to a shortage of soldiers from the war. Wendigos, bandits, other monsters and even rogue eternals from the ED are such a problem that it makes the rebuilding process even longer and you conclude that spreading the soldiers too thin will ultimately hurt you in the long run.

You argue with the remaining politicians that what needs to be done is to cluster and re-group. Keplavisk is still the most intact and has always been the “capital” of Rask of sorts and it’s the biggest town to the point that’s its practically a city. You say that the remaining Raskian population should move to Keplavisk where the focus can be directed into rebuilding it and protection can be easier.

This isn’t a popular decision. Some Raskians don’t understand why you can’t just station more troops at their respective towns, but the fact remains you won’t have enough to defend Keplavisk, if you stretch them out any more and quite frankly Keplavisk is the most important city if Rask has any hope of not descending into anarchic wilderness again. Some citizens of Keplavisk don’t especially like the idea of “immigrants” moving into their city, but the major accusation is that since the mayor of Keplavisk was killed (along with most of his immediate staff) in the last battle with the ED, you’re about the closest thing to a leader. As such, some of the pessimists who claimed you would become a dictator with the powers that were given you at the start of the war are sort of becoming true.

So you ultimately play the role that was given you.

The first thing you do is call back all soldiers to Keplavisk and urge all other Raskians to do likewise. You say nobody has to come and you won’t force anybody, but as of now, you’re focusing only on Keplavisk and defense will be solely on the shoulders of the towns themselves.

Fortunately as a successful military leader, you’re popular with the soldiers, so most of them return. Some originally lived in Keplavisk, some had no home any more, and some sensed a better life so they brought their families with them. With absolutely no more protection anymore, this has the bonus effect of bringing in non-military Raskians to Keplavisk as well though a lot aren’t exactly happy about it.

The citizens that stubbornly stayed to rebuild their own homes didn’t last too long. By the end of the year only a few of the villages far north (that were mostly spared the ravages of war anyway) exist as other beacons of civilization.

Kaplavisk on the other hand is transformed from a town half in ruins to a well defended prosperous city state by the end of that same year. No longer is town hall the “center of government”, but rather the military academy, which also serves as your new home. Defenses are as best as you can get them, sturdy walls, cannons, implementation of firearms and when you can draft them, people with minor magic powers to upkeep wards to prevent wendigos from sneaking into the city.

True there are still the occasional protests about how there is much less “freedom” now, but it never really gets out of hand. Well at least not yet. The major rabble-rouser unfortunately is Ulivik of all people. His years as a “freedom fighter” against the Eternal Dominion have changed a bit of his outlook on life, namely he sees that Rask won the war just only to be conquered by an Eternal anyway.

You tried to speak to him personally about this, but he seems firm in his beliefs. He states that when you trained him to be a mercenary even though you were tough, he still respected you. When you fought against the ED he mentions that his original worship of you almost returned as nobody did more to prevent them from taking over than you did.

But now that you’ve allowed people to die without protection just because they wouldn’t do what you say and turned his home into a police state he cannot just stand by and do nothing. He says he doesn’t want to fight you for a couple reasons, but if it comes down to it, he will.

He’s put you in a difficult position, which normally wouldn’t be very difficult if he were anyone else. You have a slight soft spot for Ulivik, but that soft spot only goes so far. You’ve got to deal with him some how because if you let him continue he’ll gain more followers, despite his svelk origins. Capitulating to him isn’t an option either, you start giving in now, you’ll have to give in later, maybe not even to him, but others with similar ideas and you can’t afford to start loosening up the reins. At least not anytime soon.

You need to come up with an idea before you can get some sleep tonight.
> You execution
It is with a heavy heart and regret that this has to be done, but the only way you’re going make this problem go away is by making an example out of him. While it’s possible he’ll become a martyr, his “cause” is still manageable for your soldiers if a riot breaks out. After he’s dead, it’s unlikely anyone else will take up the mantle and those that might’ve been on the fence will fall in line. Besides he’s a svelk, who is going to shed many tears over him?

Having made this decision you finally get some sleep, though not very restful sleep.

The next day you order for Ulivik’s arrest along with his main followers. This doesn’t go over well. Ulivik refuses to be taken into custody and puts up a fight. A very good fight that involves him escaping completely and several soldiers dead.

You order a full manhunt for Ulivik, but he proves quite elusive. In the meantime you execute his followers, but this is when other citizens start expressing a dislike for how you’re handling things. The major advantage you have is the military, but as you crack down harder, the soldiers become slightly overworked. Some of them even have their own disagreement with how you’re doing things.

Before you know it you’ve got small riots in the streets and Ulivik keeps popping up every now and then just to stir the chaos even more. Before you know it, work places like woodmills and mines have to shut down due to you having to keep more troops inside the city rather on the outside to protect the workers. It’s all falling apart.

You put down riots, execute more people, but ultimately it all come to a head one late night in your own room.

You wake up and grab your weapon to see Ulivik lurking in the shadows. He’s obviously snuck in, and most likely killed any guards nearby. Doesn’t matter, you’ll either kill him or he’ll kill you before anyone arrives.

“I figured it would come to this.” You say and prepare for battle.

The two of you clash and you give him a good fight, but his youth, speed and dedication to his cause are an advantage, while you are old, slower and at this point you don’t even care anymore.

He eventually slashes you across the chest and runs you through. You fall to the floor feeling the life drain from you.

“Ugh…shit that really hurts (cough).” You say coughing up blood.
“Why didn’t you just give the people more freedom?” Ulivik asksin a demanding tone. The strange thing is, in retrospect you don’t have a really good answer except…

“I…guess the old Eternal ways of (cough) domination and war just got the better of me…heh knew there was a reason why I originally didn’t try to become a tyrant all those years ago. It never ends well…”
“It didn’t have to be this way!” Ulivik now exclaims almost as if he’s holding back tears.
“Maybe…but now’s your chance to make it better. Hope you’re prepared for it…I was getting tired of it anyway…” you say and pass from this world.


Year 65

As you settle down for the night, you think about how you got in this position.

As the war started to drag on, the tactics changed from one of conquest to one of annihilation. The ED began outright destroying any village and town they managed to capture. They sent in suicidal fanatics to blow themselves up or blow up mines and other areas of production. They managed to poison the water supply of one towns, but the worst was their intentional sacrifices in the Wendigo Hills. The ED dragged over a hundred of their own citizens into the Wendigo Hills, which had been off limits to any right thinking being ever since you went into that cursed territory. The wendigos had been confined there for decades with no sentient hosts to possess and allow their escape, but that all changed when presented with the new ones the ED provided. The wendigos of course immediately ran amok with their new bodies and became a problem for everyone.

In the meantime the ED attempted one last push on Keplavisk. It was a bloodbath on both sides and the cost was high, but ultimately it never fell, and it was that the last major battle with the ED. Hostilities with the Eternal Dominion aren’t over, but they have stopped mostly due to their own internal problems. As powerful as they were, they couldn’t keep up a two front war with two foes that had no intention on rolling over. It was only a matter of time before attrition took its toll on the ED and fortunately the arrogance of the younger eternals caused them to finally question Edgar’s abilities to lead properly. Wasn’t long before they started squabbling amongst themselves.

Of course the damage they did to Rask left a permanent mark.

You were initially hailed as a hero by most and the rebuilding process begun, but Rask was in terrible condition. Towns and villages that hadn’t been completely destroyed were still wrecked to a degree that would take months or even a year to recover. This wouldn’t be so bad, if they weren’t also under protected due to a shortage of soldiers from the war. Wendigos, bandits, other monsters and even rogue eternals from the ED are such a problem that it makes the rebuilding process even longer and you conclude that spreading the soldiers too thin will ultimately hurt you in the long run.

You argue with the remaining politicians that what needs to be done is to cluster and re-group. Keplavisk is still the most intact and has always been the “capital” of Rask of sorts and it’s the biggest town to the point that’s its practically a city. You say that the remaining Raskian population should move to Keplavisk where the focus can be directed into rebuilding it and protection can be easier.

This isn’t a popular decision. Some Raskians don’t understand why you can’t just station more troops at their respective towns, but the fact remains you won’t have enough to defend Keplavisk, if you stretch them out any more and quite frankly Keplavisk is the most important city if Rask has any hope of not descending into anarchic wilderness again. Some citizens of Keplavisk don’t especially like the idea of “immigrants” moving into their city, but the major accusation is that since the mayor of Keplavisk was killed (along with most of his immediate staff) in the last battle with the ED, you’re about the closest thing to a leader. As such, some of the pessimists who claimed you would become a dictator with the powers that were given you at the start of the war are sort of becoming true.

So you ultimately play the role that was given you.

The first thing you do is call back all soldiers to Keplavisk and urge all other Raskians to do likewise. You say nobody has to come and you won’t force anybody, but as of now, you’re focusing only on Keplavisk and defense will be solely on the shoulders of the towns themselves.

Fortunately as a successful military leader, you’re popular with the soldiers, so most of them return. Some originally lived in Keplavisk, some had no home any more, and some sensed a better life so they brought their families with them. With absolutely no more protection anymore, this has the bonus effect of bringing in non-military Raskians to Keplavisk as well though a lot aren’t exactly happy about it.

The citizens that stubbornly stayed to rebuild their own homes didn’t last too long. By the end of the year only a few of the villages far north (that were mostly spared the ravages of war anyway) exist as other beacons of civilization.

Kaplavisk on the other hand is transformed from a town half in ruins to a well defended prosperous city state by the end of that same year. No longer is town hall the “center of government”, but rather the military academy, which also serves as your new home. Defenses are as best as you can get them, sturdy walls, cannons, implementation of firearms and when you can draft them, people with minor magic powers to upkeep wards to prevent wendigos from sneaking into the city.

True there are still the occasional protests about how there is much less “freedom” now, but it never really gets out of hand. Well at least not yet. The major rabble-rouser unfortunately is Ulivik of all people. His years as a “freedom fighter” against the Eternal Dominion have changed a bit of his outlook on life, namely he sees that Rask won the war just only to be conquered by an Eternal anyway.

You tried to speak to him personally about this, but he seems firm in his beliefs. He states that when you trained him to be a mercenary even though you were tough, he still respected you. When you fought against the ED he mentions that his original worship of you almost returned as nobody did more to prevent them from taking over than you did.

But now that you’ve allowed people to die without protection just because they wouldn’t do what you say and turned his home into a police state he cannot just stand by and do nothing. He says he doesn’t want to fight you for a couple reasons, but if it comes down to it, he will.

He’s put you in a difficult position, which normally wouldn’t be very difficult if he were anyone else. You have a slight soft spot for Ulivik, but that soft spot only goes so far. You’ve got to deal with him some how because if you let him continue he’ll gain more followers, despite his svelk origins. Capitulating to him isn’t an option either, you start giving in now, you’ll have to give in later, maybe not even to him, but others with similar ideas and you can’t afford to start loosening up the reins. At least not anytime soon.

You need to come up with an idea before you can get some sleep tonight.
> You exile
You don’t think you could bring yourself to kill Ulivik directly or indirectly, besides it’s not likely to help anything. He’d most likely become a martyr and you’d never be done fighting future uprisings in his name.

You then come up with an idea: Exile. If people are really unhappy here they can get the hell out and they can take their chances making it on their own. It has the potential to cause an exodus, but you doubt if it will. Not many with families will be willing to leave and it’s still less harsh than execution. You are giving people a chance to live after all, it’s up to them if they can survive in Rask without the benefit of protection or survive long enough for them to leave it entirely.

Not killing dissidents, it’s a radical idea in it’s own right, but you’re going to gamble on it.

Having made this decision you finally get some sleep, though not exactly restful sleep.

The next day when Ulivik is protesting with his little group in front of the academy you and several soldiers march up to him.

“Okay Ulivik, this ends today.” You say.
“And so it begins, I was wondering when you’d finally let loose and start threatening people for speaking out against you. That’s what you used to do back in your Empire days isn’t it? Well we aren’t going quietly to be executed, as I said, if you want a fight, I’m more than willin to give it to you right here and now!”
“I’m not executing you Ulivik.”
“Well we’re not going to rot in your jails either.”
“Will you shut the fuck up? I’ve heard your complaints outside my window for the past several months, the least you can do is listen to me for a change.”
“Very well, but this better be good.”
“Don’t presume to tell me what is good, because this isn’t a compromise. I’m going to say this once and once only and this is going out to all of you. Any more dissension or acts of stirring up shit for no reason, and you’re gone. And what I mean by gone, I mean exile. And not just you, I’m talking ALL your family, all your friends and even your fucking pets. All of you that don’t like how things are being run in this city, well you can get the fuck out. Let’s see you do better out there. Lots of luck…”

Ulivik is a little surprised by your tactic, but it doesn’t deter him and he gets in your face. You keep your soldiers back.

“You can’t just throw people out of the city! These people have a right, we ALL have a right to live here and voice our concerns when the government is failing to provide a suitable quality of life!” Ulivik exclaims.
“Failing? What the hell are you talking about? We’re protecting everyone from bandits, monsters, eternal dominion hold outs and do I even need to mention the wendigos? Nobody starves, everyone has a job, and all people have to do is follow a few simple fucking rules. I’m not demanding people bring me their virgin daughters! I’m not having people routinely tortured for not believing in some religion! Yeah there have been some sacrifices like food rationing and curfews, but I’ve been pretty damn fair about everything and YOU of all people should know that!”

Ulivik stops for a moment and while it seems like he knows you have a point, he refuses to back down still. Perhaps you taught him too well.

“So basically what you’re saying is we should just be grateful that you’re not Edgar…”

And that’s the last straw, you lose your temper and proving you can still be quick for your age, you punch Ulivik in face. He staggers back and is disoriented enough for your soldiers to get a firm grip on him. He tries to twist free, but you have four soldiers lift him up grabbing one of his limbs each.

“Let me go tyrant! Too cowardly to face me in battle? So much for your eternal bravery!”
“Lucky for you, since you weren’t even fast enough to dodge my punch, open the gates and throw his ass out. And if the rest of you want to join him, you can pack your shit and go too!”

As you and the soldiers escort Ulivik out of the city, the rest of his followers lose their courage. Most of them have families and friends and aren’t willing to risk your wrath anymore. Other citizens look on at the spectacle and just stare in silent awe. The only one making any sort of noise is Ulivik who is cursing you and everyone else who isn’t helping him. You ignore his curses, and just simmer in anger at the situation.

Eventually you reach the gates and with a mighty heave your soldiers throw Ulivik a few feet and face first into the snow. He scrambles to get up and upon turning around; your soldiers draw several muskets on him.

“Goodbye, Ulivik, don’t come back or else I won’t be as merciful next time.” You say from the gate.

“Merciful? You’re throwing me out of my own fucking home you bastard!”
“At least I’m not throwing your mother out as well, and at least you’re still alive.”
“Fuck you. I can’t believe I used to look up to you.”
“And I never told you to, you chose to do that! And you chose this path as well. I’m merely doing what I think is best, just like I did then. (sigh) I’m sorry it has to be this way, but you’ll survive Ulivik…I know I taught you that…close the gates.”

As the gates close you see Ulivik just standing by himself looking very alone. It’s sort of sad. He started out as a disliked “outsider” due to his race in this town when he was growing up and now he has at last been banished from it for good. Not even one of his so called followers or even a bystander pleaded for him or even joined him by leaving. He did a lot for Rask during the war and he was speaking out for their “rights”, but that doesn’t seem to account for shit in the scheme of things to people. While it’s a fortunate situation, it still doesn’t seem right even if he was opposing you.

Over the next few months you half expect Ulivik to be attacking soldiers outside the gates of the city and holding some sort of one man vendetta or possibly even gathering a small group of bandits robbing the miners or loggers and such, but that doesn’t happen. He’s gone, but you’re confident he’s not dead. You just hope he’s moved on to better things.

As for you and everyone else life goes on.

Year 75

With age catching up on you every day you sometimes wonder if it’s even worth getting out of bed anymore. You tire of the tedious act of governing, but you have no real successor to take your place. There are a couple of officers you have in mind, which could do a competent job you suppose, and that’s when you make a major decision. You decide to step down from power and hand this mess over to someone else. Since you know whoever you pick is going to have to be a strong leader and nip any potential coups in the bud, you pick the three most charismatic, intelligent and loyal that you can think of and call them into the training area in front of an audience of soldiers.

You then announce that the three men will fight to the death and whoever is left standing gets to be in charge. The three officers look a little surprised and the audience is silent, but it doesn’t take long for one of the men to try to sneak attack on one of the others.

The fight is a good one. As you watch you fight back to the days when you watched your classmates fight each other for Mistress. That was so long ago and as crazy as it seems you’ve actually been missing those days lately, everything much simpler at least. All of them are gone now. Last you heard of Edgar is that he was assassinated four years ago as the Eternal Dominion continued to fragment into petty fiefdoms ruled by equally petty eternal warlords. You don’t know about Warrick or Brenda, but you sometimes like to think they managed to escape the madness and are living satisfying lives. Barring that, you hope they died well in whatever battle that was their last.

Eventually one man is left standing. Bruised, bloody and battered, but victorious. It is at this point you stand up and congratulate him and make another announcement to the crowd.

“Captain Eddings has proved himself worthy of succeeding me. I trust you will serve this man as well as you have served me all these years. Congratulations Eckers, you’ve just been promoted to…uh general I guess.”
“Thank you sir, I will do everything in my power to ensure the safety and prosperity of the city.” Eddings remarks with pride.
“I’m sure you will, I’m sure you will, why don’t you head to the infirmary first though. As for me I’m going back to sleep. You can catch up with me later if you need some explanation on anything, but I left some notes on my desk for you as a general guideline.” You say and head back to your room.

You know you’ll probably still be running things for a while at least and probably be consulted many times, but you still feel as if a weight has been lifted off you. The problem is, you wonder how you’ll spend your free time. You’ll think of something you suppose.