Excerpts from Scout Lavigne's Field Journal: Encounter With the Lauma (loe-mah)
The handwriting in charcoal on parchment begins neat but cramped; as entries progress, it becomes nearly indiscernible.
7th of the month - 2 days to the new moon It is confirmed. My glider is in pieces. I am a scout, not an engineer, and I haven't the slightest idea of where to begin fixing it, if I even can. The forest canopy here provides good cover here, so I doubt any of the 'manlings' as they call themselves saw me descend in the sudden storm that struck me from the sky. What a silly name for a human. It isn't a wonder they must be brought into the fold to have their savage ways tamed. I am writing this from the comfort of my luxurious lean-to crafted from the torn remains of my tent and fallen branches. Sweet dreams to me tonight. Scout Lavigne's Caeli Glider was recovered five and a half miles south-southwest of the drop-zone in forested territories previously uncharted by the Andryte expedition. 8th of the Month - 1 day to the new moon The storm has finally ceased, bless the Mother. I have dried all my equipment and belongings out, but my food supply has been lost or ruined in the crash and the storm. Plant life here is much the same as my homeland, so I have been able to forage for roots and berries but it is not enough. A body needs meat! After my shelter is prepared and I have gained my bearings, I shall set some snares and take my bow to hunt for bigger game. The land here is plentiful, but it seems those silly fools are too superstitious to come into these woods. I have found several wicker talismans and wreaths on the trees as if to mark something. I can only figure it is some heathen pagan practice meant to keep people out of the woods. Far be it from me to snub the spoils of the land they foolishly refuse! I shall eat well tonight. Scout Lavigne's empty campsite was found half a mile due south from the glider crash site. 9th of the month - night of the new moon I have heard movement in the trees all night last night and throughout the day. Now dusk is falling I feel a chill travel up my spine and I am certain I can see strange forms in the trees. Most troubling is when I returned from gathering rabbits from my snares, my camp was littered with those wicker talismans and wreathes hanging from the tree branches. Stricken, I tore them all down and used them for kindling to cook the rabbits, but the food tasted like ash in my mouth as I felt the hairs on my neck and arms prick. Something is here in the woods, watching me. Something that stands upright with animal legs and devilish horns. Once it is dark, I will go out to set human sized traps or hide in the treetops. These creatures will not catch me unawares whilst I sleep. I fear tonight will be long. Scout Lavigne's body was recovered a few hundred yards from the described campsite in a situation the recovery team described as a "heathen sacrifice ritual". The scout was hung by the arms from a tree with their hands and tongue removed; the trees were filled with the woven ornaments the scout described. The 3rd Chapter has marked the territory as hostile and will not reengage.
7th of the month - 2 days to the new moon It is confirmed. My glider is in pieces. I am a scout, not an engineer, and I haven't the slightest idea of where to begin fixing it, if I even can. The forest canopy here provides good cover here, so I doubt any of the 'manlings' as they call themselves saw me descend in the sudden storm that struck me from the sky. What a silly name for a human. It isn't a wonder they must be brought into the fold to have their savage ways tamed. I am writing this from the comfort of my luxurious lean-to crafted from the torn remains of my tent and fallen branches. Sweet dreams to me tonight. Scout Lavigne's Caeli Glider was recovered five and a half miles south-southwest of the drop-zone in forested territories previously uncharted by the Andryte expedition. 8th of the Month - 1 day to the new moon The storm has finally ceased, bless the Mother. I have dried all my equipment and belongings out, but my food supply has been lost or ruined in the crash and the storm. Plant life here is much the same as my homeland, so I have been able to forage for roots and berries but it is not enough. A body needs meat! After my shelter is prepared and I have gained my bearings, I shall set some snares and take my bow to hunt for bigger game. The land here is plentiful, but it seems those silly fools are too superstitious to come into these woods. I have found several wicker talismans and wreaths on the trees as if to mark something. I can only figure it is some heathen pagan practice meant to keep people out of the woods. Far be it from me to snub the spoils of the land they foolishly refuse! I shall eat well tonight. Scout Lavigne's empty campsite was found half a mile due south from the glider crash site. 9th of the month - night of the new moon I have heard movement in the trees all night last night and throughout the day. Now dusk is falling I feel a chill travel up my spine and I am certain I can see strange forms in the trees. Most troubling is when I returned from gathering rabbits from my snares, my camp was littered with those wicker talismans and wreathes hanging from the tree branches. Stricken, I tore them all down and used them for kindling to cook the rabbits, but the food tasted like ash in my mouth as I felt the hairs on my neck and arms prick. Something is here in the woods, watching me. Something that stands upright with animal legs and devilish horns. Once it is dark, I will go out to set human sized traps or hide in the treetops. These creatures will not catch me unawares whilst I sleep. I fear tonight will be long. Scout Lavigne's body was recovered a few hundred yards from the described campsite in a situation the recovery team described as a "heathen sacrifice ritual". The scout was hung by the arms from a tree with their hands and tongue removed; the trees were filled with the woven ornaments the scout described. The 3rd Chapter has marked the territory as hostile and will not reengage.
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