Alstrat's Journal

Year 974 of the Moonless Age, Stone Company on the road to Sha’shi.

DHAL:“…And besides, I chose the name ‘Fen’ when you were still very young. This makes me something like a mother to you!”

NARR:Fen Alstrat stared in silence for a moment at Dhalzin, his mind slowly working, processing the words she just said. He couldn’t shake off the disturbing image of Dhal looming ominously above his crib – drawing her plans together for him, arranging his development from the cradle to the grave. Finally, he answered in the only way he thought possible.

FEN:[complete and utter disbelief]“No. Way.” 

DHAL:[playful]“Fine! Don’t believe me.” 

FEN:[insistent]“My FATHER named me.  You… You’re more like an evil step-aunt out to curse me.” 

DHAL: ”hahaha!  Your father liked the name well enough.  Afterall, Fen is short and easy to remember. Just like Des and Tau!” 

FEN:“Wait. Are you saying that…. you had a hand in naming my father and grandfather as well?!” 

DHAL:[playfully evasive]“Hmm-hmm! Maaaaaaaaaaybe…” 

NARR:Fen rubbed his forehead.  While he didn’t want to believe it, he also had no reason to doubt what he heard.  Dhal nurtured his ancestors generations ago, bringing them into her trading company known as Stone Company.  Fen glanced at her from the corner of his eye, wondering if that grin meant that she was teasing him… or that she was amused by how much the truth bothered him.

Year 974 of the Moonless age

Preface.  Before I begin, I must first recount upon a grievous tragedy that has befallen the Alstrat family and all whom had read her passages.

Fen looks down at his words, his face sullen as he rereads his introduction.  Above, he writes, “This book is dedicated to Dhalzin Stan'ea.”

Going back down, he continued on to his original line of thought, “One-hundred years of collected writings and maps are but now ashes, at what was once the family library in our home of Haltonreibe, put to the flame by the invading Northern Kingdom.  Atlases, tomes, periodicals, journals, maps– all gone, save but a few which I kept on my person. May our ancestors forgive us for the knowledge and wisdom that our children may never come to know.”

A sigh escaped him. “The family of Alstrat has always been an important part of Stone Company ever since it’s caravan began in our modest city. Through her travels, she has come to know all of the Spine, traveled along the Ahvresk coast, and even passed through the wastelands into the underworld…”