Journal - After the Attack

Journal - After the Attack

                Today was another interesting day.

                First, a summary of the raid (according to Nueva's speech to the town in the morning):

                Two hundred and twenty were taken, roughly;

                The militia recovered about one hundred and fifty, and perhaps ten escaped through other means;

                Leaving sixty or so townspeople captured;

                A party was to be sent out to find where they were taken (they left after noon, twenty strong, mostly the militia but also a few others of significant martial skill);

                Small parties have been sent to nearby villages to see if they have been attacked;

                Those who live nearby in the woods are being contacted (although from what the militia saw yesterday evening it seems grim);

                All are requested to stay calm, and find something with which to defend themselves. Those near the edge of town are to fortify their homes;

                A watch has been set up along the forest's edge to ensure further attacks do not catch us by surprise;

                A burial for the dead (a dozen, and mostly members of the militia) will be held in two days’ time.

                The speech - and subsequent discussions - took up the morning. I perhaps should have left when Nueva had finished speaking, but I wanted to know if someone would mention my heroics (no-one did).

                I spent some time working on plans for my next expedition (more later) and took lunch. After lunch, to my (pleasant) surprise, Allisat paid me a visit. Our discussion quickly became quite interesting, so I shall reproduce it below.

                I had made a comment about planning for my upcoming expedition, when she said, "I'd like to come with you."

                This shocked me well enough to forget the specifics of what I had just said. "Into the ruins? They're not - they're not exactly safe, Allisat," I said.

                "They're safe enough with a guide; and I'm fast enough to keep up, I think," she replied.

                "I suppose - but, why? I never thought you'd be one to come on an expedition."

                She gathered her thoughts, and said, "I owe you one, and the ruins are safer with someone watching your back, right? And... After yesterday, I don't want to be in a situation like that again. Unable to fight back at all and - not again. I'll learn a lot, and maybe we'll find something else I can learn from."

                "I'm not sure how this is - can't you ask the militia for training?" I asked.

                "I can - and I'm going to go to the lessons they're giving - but that's not enough. My father won't let me join the militia - too much risk, especially now - but he's fine with an expedition. It's safer, as long as we don't take chances, and my father likes the idea that I might find something valuable, or do something important," she said. I must have looked somewhat confused, because she added, "He wants me to be in charge of a farm one day, support my brother in leading the same group of farmers he leads now. I'm sure you know how that - bit of strangeness, really, works."

                I nodded. "I suppose it does fulfill your father's desires, and yours, but it's not as safe as I you (and your father) think. The areas around the rear entrance are barely explored; and I saw two drone types that my father has no record of. We should be okay, but... I can't guarantee your safety, or even mine," I said.

                "That's alright," she said. "It's not certain death or anything like that, and that's enough. It'll show me if I can be... Stronger, like I want to be. I won't be too weak to fight again."

                I shrugged; which was probably not a great idea, but. She seemed to know what she wanted, and understood the risks (I hope). So I said, "Alright. You can come. I have to ask one thing of you though - swear to secrecy on the location of the secondary entrance. It is very dangerous to cross without proper knowledge, and my father wished for the exact location to be known by only a few until it has been explored thoroughly."

                "I swear on the lives of my family that I will not reveal the location against your will."

                "Then you are welcome."

                We spent some time discussing the expedition itself; and I spoke to an extent of the challenges and risks we will face in the ruins. Allisat is keen to pick up as much as she can before we go - which is very wise of her. I shall probably talk about the ruins with her another couple of times before we leave.

                In three days we shall make our way to, and into, the ruins. This will give Allisat some time with the knife, and me time to make preparations (and perhaps ask others to accompany us as well). A small team is the best choice for any expedition, though it increases the chance of casualties.

                Once we make our way inside, we will explore the two corridors breaking off from the first junction that I did not have time to examine previously. If they prove to be too risky or small, we will return to the living corridor I visited previously and delve deeper (as well as taking the useless items I left behind last time). If time permits, we may explore some of the other corridors that lead from the second junction.

                We will not attempt to spend the night within the ruins (as it has, in the past, proven quite suicidal). If it has become too late, we will camp at the determined safe distance and return to town the following morning - supplies for such will be left outside the ruins in a stash. Further expeditions will be planned following our return, depending on the results of the second.

                I also went over my previous expedition with Allisat. She was interested, and I perhaps too happy to share the details of my adventure. From weeks old memory, here is a summary - it would have been in this journal previously, but I entertained the idea of concealing it from my father. Which is no longer possible, of course.

                The past few months, with my father afar on an expedition, have been dull. He forbade me from entering the core ruins, but encouraged me to enter those that have long since been picked clean. I have been to some before - they are dull places. A few pieces of unknown writing on the walls, the occasional built in shelf. Nothing of interest, however. Those responsible for the ruins that litter this part of the world were not the kind to create secret compartments and passageways.

                The only ruin that has not been explored from end to end is the 'core ruin'. The gate between their world and ours, so very long ago. It is the only ruin with active defenders, and the one in which the most was left behind - the majority were nearly completely picked clean, or mostly destroyed, when they left. The only one worth exploring, and one of the closest to town.

                So, I planned an expedition. Without parents or siblings around (my mother accompanies my father always, and my other siblings are too young to be left behind) I was able to plan freely, and poke my nose into any journal I pleased.

                The areas around the main entrance are well explored, and to quite deep levels. But the rear entrance - discovered by my father fourteen years ago, and only visited a handful of times due to its complicated entrance - was promising. Especially when I cracked the entrance.

                It relies upon a pair of turrets with overlapping target zones, which is something not encountered entering from the front entrance (or rather, the few instances of it have been damaged beyond repair - one of the reasons we are all too familiar with the vengeance the drones exact). This seems to be hard to avoid - distracting one turret is easy, but two?

                Yet, one of my father's theories - that you can distract both away from yourself at once - sounded correct. His attempts were poorly timed, but my precisely calculated one proved successful. The key (simply put) is to have the correct timing, and to throw distractions (in my case, stones) into the areas not covered by both turrets. You must also ensure you don't walk too fast - this is to keep the stones as the highest priority targets, rather than becoming it yourself. Once you are across, there is an alcove (one of my father's discoveries) that can be used to hide from the drone inspection squad that will be sent to investigate.

                Having done so, I made my way to the junction my father discovered (avoiding the other primary tunnels - my father's notes indicate they are... quite dangerous, though one may lead to a third entrance?). From there, I explored several tunnels, keeping track of the local drones and their particular routes successfully. It was the - if I check my notes - sixth tunnel that proved promising, and eventually lead to a second junction.

                A good discovery; certainly enough to impress my father. I considered turning back then - my father returns in a couple of years, plenty of time to explore further. But exploration is in my blood, and I had nothing to show for my troubles. The first two corridors I checked were troublesome - one guarded by a protective field, the other too often patrolled - but the third led to a residential area.

                Though not the best source of useful goods, residential areas almost always contain something. Day to day items, from those who built the places. Though fairly useless, these can be sold afar at a great profit - and as such, they are more or less treasure troves, occasionally worth a fortune.

                The one I had reached was not particularly full - it seemed to be fairly well cleaned out; only things truly useless or replaceable left behind. However, fairly deep within the area I found a room with an un-emptied (or incompletely emptied) locker. It contained the boots, and the knife. In all likelihood, it was left behind because its occupant (probably an infiltrator of some kind) was killed.

                Though I will keep them, the boots and knife are probably worth a small fortune; especially the boots. There are similar items to the boots mentioned in my father's notes, mostly from knowledge of the times and a few translated documents. They generally have some effect on 'gravity' - the force that draws us to the ground. Supposedly these items were intended to allow the visitors to exist in high gravity environments, and proved so useful that the same technology was adapted to other things. Bands that made chests as light as a feather when full of iron, or objects like my boots.

                My boots are one of only six such items ever recovered. All but one - a pair of gloves that allow one to carry heavy objects fairly effortlessly - have been sold or lost; the gloves belong to a family of lumberjacks. When my father gets back, well, he will not be impressed by the boots beyond my luck in finding them. But the exploration I have carried out already? That will. And I hope to do much more before his return (and now with the blessing of the mayor!).

                My exit from the ruins was far simpler - using the boots I was able to slip between patrols faster and better than ever before. Better still, I could use them to reach alcoves and places I previously could not - which gave me a great many new options for hiding as patrols went past. I did, unfortunately, discover that some drones look up an awful lot; something that is rarely mentioned in the notes. I intend to correct this (at least, in my own notes).

                In total, it took me about eight hours to explore that deep; yet only half an hour to exit (it should have, by my calculations, taken around an hour and half without the boots). Having the boots made me excited - I have been spending much of my time planning the next expedition, not reading over my father's notes (as I have written previously).

                I planned to enter the ruins some time next week (when it would be least noticeable); but with my efforts out in the open and company available, three days is plenty of time. Most especially, I no longer need to go about acquiring certain provisions in a cautious manner.

                Unfortunately, I do need to pen a letter to my father, as he will surely be sent one by a 'concerned citizen' - or possibly the mayor herself. I'm not looking forward to it; how does one write a 'dear father, I did the exact opposite of what you said and it worked out because I'm lucky!' letter?

                Regardless, that was the last of what I discussed with Allisat today that bears mentioning. She is very enthusiastic, and even showed me what the knife has taught her 'so far' - almost as much as I know, and seemingly better (one day!). I must admit that allowing her to use the knife has a quite positive side effect - I will learn to exactly what level the knife can teach, which determines its value. I suspect it may teach far more than just novice level techniques. Or, perhaps I hope such.

                Dinner and further planning on the details above; I have several people to see tomorrow (too many to list) and much else to do for the expedition, so I shall cease writing now so I may sleep at a reasonable hour.

                I will say, last of all, that I'm excited.