Ichabod

Mental characteristics

Personal history

DECIPHERED DIARY ENTRIES:

Date: I don’t know, but I think it’s the year of 738
I woke up in the middle of the road, on a misty morning. I had this crumpled piece of paper clutched in my left hand. With my writing on it. At least, I think it is my writing on it. It looked like it was a page torn out of a book. Similar in size to the one I’m writing right now. It said: “Whatever happens, don’t die or kill yourself again! Innocent people pay with their lives for your return.”
It was signed: Ichabod 726
What does this mean? Is that number… the year?
Date: It is indeed 738. To be precise, 09.02.738
I found my way to this shitty village. I’m in Dementlieu, close to the border. Their language was strange at the beginning, but I picked up easily. As if I knew it already but had forgotten it. My clothes were in need of repair and the fashion around here is quite… my taste. I managed to “loan” some pieces from a decent tailor. I’ve noticed I have a tattoo in my arm. I don’t know what it means, but I have this strange feeling that I should conceal it. As if a little devil whispered something in my ears, every time I look at it. The same feeling that makes me write this diary in a code.
Date: 14.02.738
Port-a-Lucine. The advanced studies on medicine brought me here. After remembering what my mission was… or have been, apparently, for years and years.
Date: 02.04.738
Oh, the sea breeze, the waves. To drive your attention from them would be but a hint of bad taste, if it wasn't because the distraction deserves it. And it does. Amelia. She swings in fine fencing against the wind. Slices the gust. So strong, so precise, so deadly, yet so graceful.
Date: 26.06.738
Endless walks. Endless roads, curves, hills, up and down. The wind shakes the grass, the barley and her dress. Am I jealous?
Date: 04.07.738
Today we were ambushed by bandits. Our Party managed to repel them. I hardly cut one down. When I turned around to assist Amelia, there were two corpses laying around her and she was fencing with the third soon-to-be-dead candidate. Professor Nolan took a bad arrow to the leg. The others had just minor wounds. Our expedition will have to wait.
Date: 05.07.738
We managed to get to a village. Professor Nolan’s leg isn’t in good shape at all. We didn’t find help but found a smelly inn. This is not a friendly place, though. An old woman at the inn stared at me right in the eyes and said: “They’re watching you, young man. Watching you…” I shouldn’t be concerned but… I felt a chill creeping up my spine. Maybe I’ll go back to talk to her, if we manage to take care of the professor. We need help.
Date: 10.07.738
I never managed to find that old woman again. When I asked around, people at the inn, the innkeeper just gave me a book. A diary of sorts. He told me that the old lady said it was my diary. I can recognize the letters but not the language. It seems to be coded. Much like how I’ve been writing. I should be able to decipher it with ease. Professor Nolan’s leg got better, and we finally left this village. The weather should be warm this time of the year, but this is a gods’ forsaken land. We should take a boat back to Dementlieu when we reach the coast in two days.
Date: 17.07.738
We’re back in Port-a-Lucine. Amelia and the Professor aren’t in their best mood. The trip to Lamordia did not bring what they wanted. But I… got the information I needed. I’ve sent my reports back.
Date: 10.11.738
In the Morning we all woke up as usual. Today I would have had to send a report but not anymore. I used to care about the money but things have changed. I can’t bear the thought of reporting back. What was I thinking? What have I done all these years? I hope the gods can forgive me… I hope I can forget it… I hope I can forget…
Date: 13.11.738
I knew it. I knew this would cause us problems. I can feel them in the dark. They’re following us. It is not about money. It is something far more nefarious. Why can’t I remember it??