The Last Words of the Unknown Wanderer

These are the last thoughts of a wanderer that happened to be holding a magical scroll that was able to capture what was going through his mind just before his death. We don't know who he was, but because this scroll suddenly stops like it does we know he is no longer living. If anyone knows who this person might be, please contact us so we can notify the family.

'... Come on! You damned lock open!
I can not believe that I've come all this way through the Wild Lands to be stopped by a rusted lock. One more twist... YES! finally.
Careful, careful. No traps, good. Carefully push the door open now, not too fast.
There does not seem to be anything living here, I suppose that lock kept the bigger animals out all this time. Slowly now, wait for the eyes to adjust. No reason to make it this far and be killed by a silly trap on the inside.
Timor will beg me for weeks to know where this place is. I can not wait to keep him dangling about this place.'

...


'Gods of legend protect me. An orb? It's so small. No traps around the orb, this is not right. The orb must be trapped itself. No mage would go to all this trouble to have a simple lock protecting it. There are no other rooms here, nothing else of value, this must be what I was told about, but it's so small...'

'This spell detection amulet better have been worth the gold. Here I go, not too close now, slow... slow.... Nothing, no active spells. There must be a spell! The orb is glowing, there must be a spell. Damned amulet, just junk.
Simple plan, take the bag and put it over the orb, push it into the bag and get out. It has worked before, and this time is no different.
Put the bag over the orb... done... now push the orb off the pedestal... done... time to go!

'This orb is damned strange. No apparent spells, but it glows. How am I going to sell this piece of junk with no enchantments! I'll have to find a diviner again. I should be able to find a cheap one on the way to the bazaar.
What was that?!'

"Who's there! Show yourself!"

'This damn place has me on edge. If someone was around I would know.
I bet I could sell this to one of the old mages I know, they are always looking to study this old enchanted junk. The glow will make them think there is some secret hidden within, a secret worth a lot of gold!'

"I heard you! Quit hiding and come out now!"

'Enough of this game. Someone must have followed me out. It came from the South West, I'll circle around and catch him from the back. This location is empty now, so I don't have to fight him about the secret.
Fast, come on faster!
This should be far enough, now to start curving back toward the campsite.
Odd, this is where the sound was coming from... No tracks either... Even the grass isn't disturbed.
Someone has to be out there, I suppose it could be a beast... No.. it wouldn't be toying with me if it were. I'll hide here for a moment and see if he makes another mistake.'

'Damnit! Still hiding is he?! Or maybe I'm just driving myself crazy... I have been out in the Wild Lands for a long time, maybe I'm just getting too jumpy out here. Sleep ought to get me in the right mind tomorrow.'

...


"Muh... huh..... What! Stop, come back!"

'Who the hell was that! He was in my pack, he must have been after the orb. He wants to take it and sell it himself, bastard!'

"Come back scum! Face me in honor, don't run you coward!"

'I know I saw him run this way. He must be nearby, waiting to ambush me no doubt. If I stay low he won't be able to see me. Where are you bastard.
Somewhere near here, he must be!'

"Damned thief! My dagger aches for your blood! Show yourself!"

'He's hiding again... I better make sure he doesn't double-back and take the orb. All the way out here and someone managed to track me the whole way without me noticing. And now I'm having to play a stupid game of hide just like a child.
Good the orb is still here, bastard was too slow. I better keep it on me, he'll have to get close if he wants to try it again.
I can't sleep now, it's just what he is waiting for.
Maybe I should pretend to sleep and draw him in. Perfect! He'll get close and I'll run him through. The scum doesn't deserve to live the way he is skulking around.'

...

'Closer.... closer.... I hear you... closer.
Sneaking up so slowly, you have no idea your life is about to end. Just a little closer scum.'

"Die scum!"

'Impossible! How did he dodge my strike. He moved so fast, but I saw his hand was reaching for the orb, now I know he is after it!'

"Bastard! Thief! I will run you through!"

'He's close, I can hear him running through the grass. The dark will not save you this time.
Slowing down it would seem, soon I'll be rid of this thief for good.'

"You're not far, and you won't get away this time scum!"

'Close now, I can smell him! There is nowhere for him to hide!
There he is! He can't escape me now.
Keep running, run... run....
Almost there, I see him, only a few steps ahead. It's been so long since I've had to kill another wanderer, so long. Scum, try and steal from me!'

"Gods of Legend save me!
Stay back! No! Stop! Friend, save me! Help!
Damn you beast! I will not be your meal this night!
Come to me beast! I will skin you!"

"GAh! Mhmfmfm...."