Letter to Gideon 7

Dear Gideon,
 
The very forest, or something within it, seems to have turned against us. While the weather has calmed down a thick mist seems to have set in, and the aura of dread from the forest is back in full swing. Luke discerned that the mist is magical in nature, some enchantment magic or other. In the evening Robert Talespinner spends time reading and taking notes on an old book he got in Hillfield, full of fairy tales and legends and he was kind enough to let Lil read from it to the group for entertainment, something we desperately need in this oppressive environment. Hayley did take precautions and mended the old book, as it looked to be almost falling apart, though she did spend a lot of time reading a page that fell out, but we didn't really pry further and she didn't share so we moved on. What also has become a theme is Gael pushing a berry into most of our hands in case we need some "quick healing". He's also taking double the watches than either of us, courtesy of his Elven heritage. Though I hope he also takes double the relaxation when we're in the safety of a settlement, a violin's string that is wound too tight will snap ruining the sound of the entire instrument after all.
 
The 9th of Lug started off on a very bad note as Luke and Hayley both woke up feeling sick, the symptons resembled something like the flu. We didn't think much of it at first as Lil used her divine magic to heal them (still gotta get used to my sister using magic, hope you get to see it soon brother because it looks awesome) but by noon the illness came back. Though before that we had quite the encounter with an Owlbear of all things, it came from the bushes behind our caravan, foaming at the mouth and full crazed. Hayley, thinking back at the foxes from a few weeks ago, thought to put the creature to sleep and have a look. But the only affliction it had was wounds from bolts and arrows, making it clear its raging madness came from pain rather than an illness. Taking the opportunity we just set off to let the Owlbear come to and move on with our travels, the Owlbear luckily thought the better of it and moved on. With that the rest of the day was uneventful, besides Luke and Hayley getting sick again. On watch I saw them turn around feverishly and growing paler by the hour, I was taking a watch with E.J. but couldn't help but feel worried for them. And the next morning (the 10th of Lug if you're keeping track, brother) they didn't feel any better, Hayley had some brews that alleviated some symptoms and Gael called upon his friend Sylvesse to help. But even he didn't have much to add, mostly saying the mist has consumed the entire forest and we should look for the edge of it to get out. He also mentioned the affliction on Luke and Hayley seems like a side effect rather than them being a main target, as it covers the entire forest. But why were they in particular afflicted? No one could really answer that.
 
We tried to find ways to get out of the forest and maybe go around it, but Onvyr was not really a fan of it since the area around the forest is as, if not more, dangerous as the forest itself. So after asking Luke and Hayley what they think, since they were having the hardest end of it, we did decide to just go forward and brave the mist and wilds.
 
A few hours into our march Dadroz noticed a silhouette of a wagon on the side of the road, and after no reaction came from us calling out we found quite a gruesome sight: the wagon was attacked and four corpses were there together with two dead horses. Dadroz and Ileas managed to discern that the tracks came from small creatures, but there were a lot of them here. The supplies they carried was mostly food, probably for Logvale, so we loaded some into our cart before setting off, hoping we could still deliver some to Logvale and have some food to spare for us if need be.
 
As if the raided wagon wasn't weird enough, a bit later we encountered someone stranger. A man was walking around, almost naked, a bit ahead of us. Though, walking might be too generous, as he was barely moving one foot in front of the other. Being a bit worried I jogged ahead to talk to this stranger and offer him my coat at least but the poor guy was scared shitless seeing me and was reduced to curling up under my coat by the time everyone else got there. And after Hayley and Lil couldn't talk much sense into him Hayley put him to sleep with her signature magic. He did reveal he had no idea who he was and where he was, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him there, all alone not knowing who he was or what he's even doing. So we dragged him into our cart and moved on, the stranger having fallen sound asleep and still sleeping as I'm sitting at the campfire, listening to Lil read out some more stories from the book, Luke and Hayley getting ready for a good night's rest in the carriages of the Collines and Talespinner after Lil treated some of their symptoms and E.J. and myself getting ready to take first watch. We can only hope Logvale is close.
 
And maybe it's the lack of any light due to the mist, or the sense of imminent dread from the forest. But my mind wanders more to my sister and the duty that awaits her when we make for Keralon or rather, what it might do to her. Because if my spirits are high it's because of her enthusiasm and the thought of doing all this without her frightens me a bit. Though in a way, that's where bravery comes in. For how can you be brave if there is no fear to overcome?
 
With best regards from the point of light surrounded by mist,
Ali.