JOURNAL CONTENTS

10/20/1006

Finally, I'm getting out of that office today. Rhyme Wind and Dusty Trails gave me a fond farewell. I could feel a bit of sarcasm in their tone though; guess they really thought I'd be a goner surveying the area inside that forest. I just laughed. If Princess Twilight says it's safe now, then hay to it, it's safe. “The Everfree's been purged of dark magic and chaos,” she said. “It's safe to go in there now,” she said. Typical of my two colleagues to completely ignore even their Princess' words on this matter.

I'm still half laughing to myself, partially out of confidence and partially out of excitement. This forest has been nigh-abandoned completely ever since the battle between the two Alicorn sisters a thousand years ago, and I'm the first one to venture into it with a real purpose instead of some emergency need. I shouldn't get ahead of myself, but I can already see the newspaper now: “True North; First Cartographer to Map the Everfree Forest!” Ha! That'll show those two office buddies of mine.

I'd better calm down. Can't let myself get distracted by potential future acclaim.

Now, down to business for today:

Grids Alpha through Beta thoroughly scanned

Tools used : standard graduated telescope, magnetic compass, protractor, and measuring tape

Total area examined : 2 square kilometers

Distance from Origin (Princess Twilight's Castle) : ½ square kilometers (still practically within earshot)

10/22/1006

Well well, this is a surprise. I've traveled a bit deeper into the forest now and, well, suddenly there's a path in front of me, right there, just around a nearby bush! It looks like it's been used recently too. I never saw any indication of a path going through this part of the forest. Nothing on any current, or ancient, maps, no markings of a town or settlement near here. It couldn't lead from Ponyville. That town's in the opposite direction from this area, and the only thing due east of here is the nearby mountain range that curves out towards the coast (in short, Baltimare's the nearest settled area to here).

It's the strangest thing; this path shows up on no maps, no history records... nothing. Adding to this mystery is that there isn't any sign of wild animals here, no footprints, no droppings, no chewed-up or trampled vegetation, not to mention that this path is too straight, too wide, and looks too well-traveled to be a simple wildlife-blazed trail.

I'm thinking of turning around and heading back to the castle about this. If it isn't just a simple animal path, and is a recently-traveled, pony-made road with no map markings or history reports, then this could be a route made by smugglers, poachers, or who-knows-what kind of shady characters.

I think I'll head back in the morning; it's getting close to sunset now, and cleansed or not I'd hate to have to travel through this forest in the dark. I'm setting up camp here for the night. I don't think just a sleeping bag will do; started noticing some dark clouds overhead. Finally time to break out the tent.

First the report; can't forget that.

Grids Gamma and Delta thoroughly scanned

Tools used : standard graduated telescope, magnetic compass, protractor, and measuring tape

Total area examined : 2.5 square kilometers

Distance from Origin (Princess Twilight's Castle) : 3.5 square kilometers approximately

10/23/1006 (midnight)

Thought I heard a noise outside my tent; it sounded like a mare laughing. It was distant. I couldn't quite pin down where it came from. Pulled out a flashlight and went outside to have a look around. One problem though; I'd forgotten to charge the thing before I left. I couldn't tell which was brighter, my horn glowing or the pathetically small beam of light from the tool. Didn't see anything out in the dark though. I saw no eye shine from any wild animals, no rustling bushes... nothing. Going to try to go back to sleep; I can't let myself get spooked. Might have just been my imagination; I might have just still have been dreaming.

10/23/1006 (11:30 AM)

Not dreaming anymore, I can say that for sure. Woke up this morning and half dove back inside my tent. Hoof prints, RIGHT OUTSIDE MY TENT'S FABRIC DOOR. They're large, wider than mine but not quite having the proportions you'd expect from a stallion. Either way, this could mean trouble. They seem to go straight through my camp, following the path. Strange thing is that they didn't seem to stop. None of my gear is missing, nothing's been disturbed, not even the firewood I'd set out has been tampered with.

I don't want to wait around for things to get worse. Once my gear is packed, I'm out of here and will call the guards. Looks like my guess of a smuggler's trail might be right after all.

No time to write a survey report. I might have to even put off this journey until things can be proven to be safe.

10/24/1006 (10:45 AM)

This isn't happening... Paths don't just up and vanish...

I started taking the path backwards, hoping it'd lead me back to at least where I could see the castle, but... when I started back down the trail, going back towards where I found it, it just... stopped. Vanished into the brush.

I know I haven't come back that far yet; I haven't reached the path's starting point, I'm sure of it. The castle was still in view when I found this trail; I could still see the tops of the towers over the treeline...

This makes no sense...

Making things worse is that I think my compass might be broken; the needle is spinning around erratically. Maybe my gear had been tampered with by whomever that was.

Guess I'll have to navigate by sunlight and starlight. My cutie mark isn't shaped like a map and compass for no reason.

10/24/1006 (11:50 PM)

I don't believe this. I. Don't. Believe. This.

Hours and hours of tracking, hours and hours of mapping, hours and hours of GETTING LOST... and for what? Winding up right back where I started; stuck on that path.

This is ridiculous. All day it felt like the sun kept changing position every time I looked at it. All night it seemed like the stars were literally MOVING ABOUT when I watched them. It made for a beautiful display, to be sure, but I couldn't help but look up flabbergasted, confused, and a bit scared as I tried to get my bearings against a constantly changing grid of starlight.

I don't know what's going on. Maybe it's a trick of my eyes; I admit, I haven't slept well over the past several days prior to this expedition (partially out of excitement for this trek into the woods). Then again, and more likely, it might be a trap those poachers or whomever they are have been setting up.

I'm worried of winding up foalnapped, or worse now... I've seen illusion spells before, but nothing that could alter the sky above with such accuracy. Either one of them is a very, very powerful mage, or has somehow gotten ahold of a very magical enchanted item. Far fetched, perhaps, but then again who knows what lengths a criminal may go to in order to preserve their nefarious ways?

Hopefully things will be better off in the morning. I've managed to find my way back to the clearing that I managed to get myself stuck in before. Oh, and another thing; those prints I saw a day or two ago are GONE.

I'm setting in for the night before I scare myself to death. I pitched my tent off the path by about a dozen paces or so, covered the top with leaves and branches too. Hopefully whomever is doing this won't find me here.

10/25/1006 (2:00 AM)

Eyes.

Two glowing eyes...

At first I thought I was just still dreaming, but no... TWO BIG, GLOWING EYES...

They appeared, then disappeared. Appeared, then disappeared.

Staring at me through the tent's fabric.

Wasn't an animal, no. No. Too calm, too curious in behavior. Someone was out there.

The smugglers perhaps, or whomever is playing these horrible tricks on me.

Can barely write. Tired. Scared. Needed something to do to keep from falling into total panic.

Will try to get as much sleep as I can tonight. Will try to escape the woods tomorrow.

Also: tried to get my bearings before bed. Can't be right... Can't be right... Must be tired. Calculations say that I'm several dozen kilometers away from where I started.

That I'm right in the very core of the Everfree.

10/25/1006 (8:00 PM)

Slept all morning and part of the afternoon to make up for the lost rest. I'm not entirely sure what just happened, but gods preserve me, something did. Those eyes. I want to tell myself that they were just some animal (maybe this is an animal path after all), but I just couldn't help but think that there was a mind behind them beyond any simple creature.

Now the sun's gone down, I must have gone through half my rations over the past couple of days, and my hooves are killing me. I'm not exactly calm either, strange things or not.

I NEVER get my directions wrong, NEVER. It's not just because it's my own special talent, I've studied all manner of cartography at university. Not once have I ever erred in finding my way around. I've followed the path of the sun heading west, back towards where the castle should be, and now that it's set I've been using starlight to set my path. I've checked my bearings, checked my direction...

And yet still all I can find is this blasted path! It seems to double back on itself no matter which way one goes.

I haven't set up camp tonight. I just set out my sleeping bag, and covered it over with a makeshift camouflage net made from some dead brush I gathered. Don't want to draw attention to myself... I admit it; I'm scared, scared for my life. Whatever could be out here, thieves or wildlife, I don't want it finding me tonight. It might be less curious this time and more agitated, or worse, hungry...

10/26/1006 (9:15 AM)

Slept better. Didn't see anything strange.

I know this is a long shot, but it seems the only constant around here is that path, whatever it leads to. I really don't want to follow it, and in any normal circumstance I wouldn't, but I'm low on supplies now and even lower on options. I'm setting off down the path as soon as I've packed everything up. Hopefully it leads to somewhere out of this forest, or at least to some nearby town, or trading post, or... something. Anything besides these woods.

10/26/1006 (3:00 PM)

Came across more hoof prints, fresh too by the looks of them. They look just like the ones before; bigger than mine, yet still having a curve to them that suggests a mare. They're not alone this time; it looks like there are other hoof prints along with these. Multiple thieves perhaps.

At any rate, I've been following this path through the woods for hours now. Here's hoping they lead somewhere other than here.

10/26/1006 (8:55 PM)

Hiding out in the brush again. My makeshift cover for my sleeping bag was certainly a pain to reconstruct. I managed to get so much dirt on me that you'd never guess my fur and mane are dark blue.

Nervous... Scared... I'm still nervous, still scared, perhaps not as much as before though. Moving down a path at least made me feel like I'm making progress. I guess I just need to keep that in mind.

Keep moving forward. Keep moving towards the way out, or at least towards someone who knows a way out.

Who knows? Maybe if it is smugglers I might be able to barter a trip back to civilization, or at least solid directions.

10/27/1006 (2:00 AM)

Got woken up about fifteen minutes ago.

Still groggy, but I thought I heard voices on the path. Must have been at least four of five of them: a few mares, a few stallions. They sounded... almost like they were singing, but it wasn't in any language I know. It sounded almost like they were singing in modern Equestrian, but it seemed off; like it faded to a mere whisper every couple of syllables.

Didn't pay too much mind to trying to understand it. I was more concerned with staying hidden.

They passed by, just kept on walking. All of them taking the same path I now am...

I'm going to have to be cautious once the sun comes up. I can't take the risk of startling them, or worse, provoking an attack. If I'm going to barter my way out of here with whomever these ponies are I can't come across as the least bit threatening.

10/27/1006 (10:00 AM)

They must have covered their tracks, or perhaps just walked along the path's side: no hoof prints in the dirt.

Either way, I'm still headed down the path. I haven't seen any signs of life aside from the vegetation however.

I have noticed something though; the trees seem to get thicker and thicker as the path goes on. It's like the foliage is weaving itself together the deeper you go.

I'm already about as uneasy as I can get without shaking like a newborn foal. Never the less, if I ever want to get out of here I need to keep telling myself, “calm down”, as many times as it takes.

After I finish eating, I'm continuing on. I've got to get out of these woods.

10/28/1006 (5:30 AM)

I feel exhausted. I didn't even know the time until I looked at my watch. The plants here, everything from the undergrowth to the canopy, have grown so dense and tight that no sunlight at all gets through. No light, no sense of time I guess.

I've literally walked for nearly a day straight!

I feel like just falling over here, pulling out a blanket, and just resting for... who-knows-how-long...

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. I just wanted to map the forest, not become entangled in this mess. I just want to go home now, I just want out!

No sense in crying... No sense in... Oh who am I kidding?

I can't help it. I'm lost, confused, and stuck in a dark tunnel of trees and vines. I don't know if I'll ever get out of here...

It's funny; I cry, the mix of tears and dust in my eyes stings, I stop crying... and then start again... It just keeps going... Just like that path.

10/30/1006 (7:00 AM)

According to my watch, I slept for a day straight. Can't say I'm surprised.

Started going down the path again. Lit the way with my horn.

As it turns out, the path goes into a cave. I found out after I started hearing my own hooves against the rocky floor.

If I wasn't so tired, I'd be either curious or nervous. The stalagmites and stalactites in this cave are very well developed. Problem being is that they remind me of giant teeth, like this was the mouth of some giant creature.

Thought I heard that strange singing again earlier when I woke up. Still couldn't see any ponies in the area, or anything else. I have half a mind to just turn around and

10/30/1006

Ran... Ran... Just kept running... Turned around... Saw the eyes... Saw the eyes right behind me...

Dropped my gear, dropped everything except this book I was holding. Was holding it with magic... Grabbed it with my teeth as I ran...

Help me...

Help me, someone...

Get me out of this place... Out of this cave...

I can't even tell where I am anymore in this... this... oversized hole in the ground. Kept on running, horn alight for illumination... Can't even describe it. I knew I was running fast... things must have been a blur... The rock formations, those stone teeth of this place, looked like they were twisting together, moving in the shadows...

Someone help me... Someone, please...

Thought I just heard a voice... That's it, I don't care who it is, I'm going to them. Either they'll help me or kill me, but either way I'll be out of this place!

1̵́0̸̀͏/͟͠3͢1̨̕/҉͘1̛0͟0͏̢6̶͘͠
̶͘͡
̢́ ͟
͟͝͞

̶͞
̕͜
̸
̀͢
̛
͏
̛
̵̧
͟͢ T́h͟è̸̛y҉̕ w̨è̛͘r͝҉e̸ ̷͝ẃ͠r̷̀o͏̨͝ńg҉̡.̵͘.̶.̷̨
͝
͠҉͟
̵
҉
̷̴͠
́
͝
͝
҉̢
̡
͜͝ ҉T͜he̴y̵͞ ̶͝wę̶r͡e҉ ̢͠ẃ̡r҉ò̴n̸͠g̵̸͘.́͘.̧.̶̀
̧
͘ ̸̵T̕͡h̵e͡y͜͞ w͟͡é̵r̷͟ȩ͏ ͢w͟r͏̴ò̵ng̵.͟͜ ̸̨T͜͟͜h̵̷̛è̸y̵ ́́͘w̧e̵̕r̛e ̢̛͜w͞r̢͞o̡͡͞n̸̕ǵ̨͞.̢͞ ̛͞The̵͢y͟ ̵we̢͝re҉̛ ̢̡ẃ̶r͏͜͠on̢͟g̴͢͠.̢
͟
͠ T̨h͝ey̡ ̧a̴l̴͜͜ļ w͞͞e͞r̛e̢͘ ̨̨͡w͡ŕ̡͞o̢n̷g͘.̴͏҉..̧
̸̵
̢ Ḩ̨́e̷r̴̢e,̴͜ i̵̛ń̀ ̡th̵͝i̡͟͞s̶͞ ̕͟͝b̷l̢͟eş͝sȩd͞҉ ͡҉̀p͏͘la̴͟c̵͘e͘͞..̷̧͝.
҉
̴͞ ́҉The w͡r̷͟͟ón͜͡g̶͢ ́ç̨͞o͏̵r͝r̵̸e͘͝c̶͘t͢e̸d͘͝.̶̢.̧.̷͞ Ć̸o͜͟r͟r̀͠ȩ̡cţ̀͜ed,͠ ̡̨̛ŗ̧͘è̢͠ṕá͘i̶̸r̸̡͡ed̷͟,̶͠ m͘͘e͢nde҉d̡̕.̨̕͝.̷.̵͜
҉̸
͏H́i͠s̡͢t͘o̸r̨̨ỳ͡.͏͞.͟҉̡.̷̢ ̀O̸͜u̧r̷͝ ҉̴̢h̡́i̡͢s͏͝t͜o̶̧r̡y̕͢͝.̴̴̧.̕.̶̧ ̵h̷̶a̧lf̷ ̸͡t͠r̸ų͢t͟͢h͡s͠.̛͏ ̶͝H̶͟a̷l͡f͝ ͏͠t̸ru̴҉th̡͜͠s̸ ̷̧͟a͢͡ǹd ͟͢no̧ ̶͟͢m̸͜ǫ͡r͟e̡͢.̴̕

̡Ò͝h͟҉͢ h͟͝ow̶̡͝ ̢͡w͜ro͏̧n͞ǵ̕͝ ̡͘͏e͜͟v̛͝er͞͞yo̵̶n͡͞è͡͡ ̀w͏à͢͞s̵̶.̵͝
̛̕
͟͠I̢͘͞ ̶̴c̕r̶͞y̕͘ ̧nǫw̨͝,̢ ͝͠n͏̢͘o̶͡t͠ ̧̕in ̢f̵e̴a̧r͘ ̴̡b̛͡u̕t̡ ̸r̸è̴͢m̀ór͏̴͠s̴͡e͞.̷̛͢.͜͡.̛́
̛
̷͞ ̸H̷̢o͠͞w̴҉̷ cou͢͢͡ld̀͏̴ ̢͡t͡҉̕h̢̛eý͡͡ ͜͝há̷͜v͢͟ȩ m̸͜i҉̕sse͘͏̵d̡͢ ̸s̀͢͡ó̴̀ ̶m͘u̷͢ćh̕͟?̵̶͢
̡̢́
̷̨̕

̛
̕͜
͘͞
̴͝
́̀

S̷h̷e̷͏ ̀i̷̡͟s̶̛̀ ͜҉͝h͏e̢̨͢r͢e̴͡.̡ ̸̸S͟h̛͜͡e̕͞ ͜͝s̡̨̕ti̢l̸͜l̀̕ ҉̛e̶͢x̡i͝s̸͘͝t̴͜s ҉̸í̴̛ņ̸͝ ̵͝th͜͞i̷s ͠w̕or҉͜l͡d͡,͢ ͟a͢n̡̕d ̛҉ņ͟͞o̕͜w̴̶ ̛҉ǫ̸̕t̕͢h͟͠e̵̷̴rs̷̶͜.̨

҉̧́ ̕͜O̴t̸h̕͏ȩr͘҉s d̷i͝st̶a͝n͠t̶͜͡ ̕f̴r̷om̀ ͟͜he͘͡r̸͠ę̴̕.̶̧ ̵̀S̵̢ơ̢̡m̶̡e͟͞ ͢s̛͢o͏̡ ̸ư͝n̴̷f͠o̡̨̡r͟͢tư͡͠n̴͜at̡̛é ̸̕b̸̧u̧̨t͝ ̷͡͏ver̶̨y ͏r͘͠͠éa͜l̨.̡
͞
͞͡ R̨͠e̶̕͢al a҉s͡ ͜͏t͠h̶è ̢͡S̡h̛a͝d͏̛ow̛͟s̨̀͟ ̡th̶̴é͏y̴͞ a҉̷r͞͞e.̢
҉͘
̸̛
̸̡
҉̧
̶̴Sh̴a͜d̸̶̕o͢w̡͟s͠͝..҉. ҉̢the҉ ́͘҉S̶͢h̶á͏d̵̨͟o͠w͏s̡.͏́.̴̕.̡͢҉ ̀
̡͡
̶̀ ́͢͞F̸͠r͢͞ien҉d́̕s̨ ͜o͢f͘ Ḑ͡a̴̵̢r͏͜kn͝e̡͜͜s̶̵̡ş̶̷. F̢͝r̢o҉̢m ̧͢d̴̛̛i̡ff͘eŕ͠ȩņ͠t ̕̕͠w̵̢o͝r͞l̨ds̛͜.̨͘

͝ On̡͡e͟͏, Ę̷̵que͠s̀ţ̨ri̵͜an͏́͡ ,̢̕ ̵͘͜ḿa̸҉r͘e,̷͞͏ ̀͢͢c̸oa̧t͞͡ ͡͡͡o҉̴̡f̕ p̵̶͢e̢a̷͏̨r̶̨̀l͠͠ ͟a̴̧̧n̕ḑ̸̕ ̛e̕y͜͟es͏ ̀̕͠o̴͘f̨́ ̸gò̴̸ļ̛̀d̢҉.́̀
̵
̢͝͡Aǹo͞th̨e̡̛͠ŗ̸̧,̕ ̡͢s͟t̛͘r͞ą̕ng̛e̷ ̡͘͡a̶̶n͏d ͘͢ąl̢̀҉i͘ȩ̛͠n̡..҉.͏ ͏T͞a̷͏l̕l̢,̨ ̧p̵̧͡a҉̷͟le̡̕, ̶̸͠w̸ì̢͜t̨͘h͡ ̷gl̶a͟s͡s҉-͜͝co͏v͘͠ȩ̡r͝e҉̷d̛͘ ҉̷e̡̢̡y͞e̸s̛͡͝.̵͡
҉
͞ ̵͟͢Ò̴th̴͘e͏rs,͞͡ ͠s̷͘͘tr̀a̴҉̴n̕̕͟g̛͟eŗ͞ ̕͘͜s̶͢͠t́̀́i̛l̛҉l̷.̕.́.͡ ͘͘͡b̵̛͘e͜y̶ó̡nd̨̕͝ ͟͜m̛̀͟y͏̵ ́o͝h̶͢͠ ̕͢͝so̢͝ ͏l̷̴i̕͜͠m̵͏i̛t͡͝eḑ̸ ̷͘de͠͏s̷̸͏ć̡ri̧p͜͝͞t̀i͏̵̡ó͟n̢̧.́
́͝
̵̵̧ ̧Á̷̵l͞l bo̶n͏̴̡d̶́͝ed̴͡ ҉͏i̸͠n̴ ̵͟͞S͟ha̢͘d́͜͏ow̵s̕.̀͜
̧
҉ ̀̕A͜l͝l̡͜ ̴͢H̵é̷̕r͞͏͝ ͢͢S̢͟hà̕͡d̵͠o͞҉͝ẃ͘s̛͝.̧̕
҉̶͢
̴̢͢
̶̛̀ ̕͠H̡̕͝e̸r.̷͢
̨̡
̶́͠ ̶͏C̶ḩ̷i̶l͏̕d̴ ͞óf̵̧ ̢͏͟t͜h҉é ͢͞M̨͜͟ó̸o͡n͡.̷̡̡
͜
̧͜ R͝u͝l͠e̕r ̡ò̴̕f̧̨̛ ̸҉D͟a̕͡r͡k̴n͏̴e̛͘͞s͜s̢.̸̵
̧҉͠
H̵urt ͘҉̵by ̢̢͡H͟a̸̸ŕm͢͠͡ơ̷n͏͏y'̀s̸҉ ҉̡̧t͏̴o҉ú͘͡ch̨͏,͝ ̷̡an̡̢d͞ ͜y̸̛e̴t ̶̡͝ş̢tr̸ò͡n͜g͜͝ e͡n̸o̡u̡ģ̸h̸ ̧͘҉ţo̶̡͝ ́͠rę̷tu͏r͟n͜͡.̸̷
̧
̡͢ H͡o̷͡w̷ ̸I̷͡ ̶́y͝e͜͞a͘r̡n̶͞ ͟͜t͘ò͢ ͜b̸̧è ̢́oǹe҉ ̕w̕҉į̶͟t̨͢͢h̨͜ t͟͞͏h̴̡e͏m͏,̴ ͢͠҉t͢o̴ ̀b̷̕͟è̕͢ a̵n̨͘͝ó̴̧t̀ḩ̛ę̸͢r͡ ͜o̸͡͞f̛͠ Her̴̸ S̀́h͡a̴̴ḑ̛o͡҉w͝s!̵͘
͜҉
͡ ̨I ̨͘sit̴͜͏ ͠ḩ̸̶er̶͢é̶͏ n̴̡̢ow͜. ̕S̸̡i̷̢͢t͜ ̧h̷e̕ŗe͏,͟͠҉ ̡̨̀in̵̡ ̡p̀e̢͘ac̡͘͝e̶̴.̸́ ̸͝D̸a̛͟ŗ̸k̵ǹ̸e͜͡s͘s̀̕͘ ͞o̷ncȩ ͘̕e̸͢ḿ͘͡i̕t͟t͘i̴͞n̵͢g̸̢ ̷̨̧f̶̴́e͟a҉r̶͘҉,͠ ́̀͏n̕͜ow̵̕͏ ́̕o͘͏͞n̸҉ļ͞y̨ c̛̕͢ǫm̶̧͢f̨̕͢o͠͏ŗ͝t̕͢i̶͠n͜g̡̕̕.̴̶͝ ̨͟͝
̷͘͞
́́̕ ̕W̶̧r̡̛͏i͠t͠͞i̸͠͏ng̵͠ ͘i̷̴n̶̶ ̴́D̷͡ar̸k̛͘͟n̡͢͞es̢̢̀s̕.̢͜͢ ͏Da̡͜r̵̢̛k̸ness҉͟ ҉͘f̧̨o͘͟r̶͢ ̵q̨͝u̷įļ͟l̨͘ ͝͡a̡͢ń͜d̛ ͏D͘͞a͜͠r̢͢ḱn̷̸͟e̵̕s̵̕s ͏f̸̶ò̧͘r̶͟ ̕i͞n͏k̷͘̕.̴̧̕ ̧̨͝
̕҉
҉͞H͟e̴̡͟r̀͘ ́҉e͢͞҉b̵̡͜òn͝y̡ to̶҉͏u͡͞c̷҉h̵͜ ̕͘͘c͞͡o̧҉̶m̧͟f͜ò̷r͢͠t̡i҉̶n͢͞g ͡m̡͜͝e̶ ̡͝as̛͘͞ ҉ẃ̨e̴̵̶l̶l̴.̢̡͝
͟҉
̶̛͜ Vo̕ic̶̕è̛ ̛f̴̵̛ą̛d̕͞e͢ş̛ ́҉a̕͡n̵̢̡d r͘ȩ̢̀t͝ư͘r̸n̶͝s̵͟ ͜aş͞ ̷I̶ ̴̴͞l̶͞e̵̵̵ar̢̡n̛.͜ ̛
̴̧̡
I̧͜ ͏͟l͠e̢a̶̴r͘͏͢n̴̢͞ ̨͞of S̵͏h̶a̢d͏o̵͡ws͠.̷͡͞
̴̸̧
̶̀
҉̸
̡̧
͢ I͢͢͡ s͜h͘a͜ļ͟͠l le̷͠a͢͡r̨n͡͏.̡͠
҉
̨
̷
҉̷̀
̶ ͜I͏̡͟ ̷͢͏sh҉a̶͝l̷l͏͜ ̕͟͞l͝e҉̴̛a̧r͢n͠.҉
͞
̨̕

̵ I̡n̸͟ ҉̛͝t͜͞ḩ̵e̵ p̷͞r̵e͏̢s҉̛eń̵̡c̷͜e ̢of̢̛ ̀͠a ̢b͝e̡͢a̸̵u̶t̕i̵͡f̶̛u͜ĺ̢ ̵N̸҉i͝ģ҉h̷t̴҉̵m͏̴ar̵̷̛e̢.͟

Author's Note:

!REPORT DETAILS!

Journal recovered by guard expeditionary team following the disappearance of a one "True North" in the Everfree Forest approximately four (4) months ago several days prior to the date of 10/31/1006 (Nightmare Night). Journal found in rough condition. Found abandoned on a wildlife-created trail in the Everfree Forest, approximately 3 kilometers from the castle grounds. Almost was discarded until examined by royal Battlemage. Battlemage reported strong traces of dark magic on the final page. Journal contents were read and logged here in this report. Further action and investigation deemed necessary.

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