A House of Ruin

World of Rynaga Travelogue

Silentwood Forest, Veratar

As it turns out, Arcan and I were released two days later by our Kirzan captors. Figuring out how to find Dain and his wife before the Dark Traders do has been foremost on our minds.

After looking through maps and strategizing our next moves, knowing Dain’s pursuers are still in the area, Arcan and I decided to pay a visit to the village of Skyel (about 30 miles into Silentwood from its southwestern edge). Here we found nothing but quiet citizens going about their daily lives. Yet, we did learn about a house on the outskirts of the village. This sounded promising.

After a small hike, we arrived at the home only to find a burned wreckage in a quaint forest glade. A stone chimney stood alone as a monument to the home’s existence.

Arcan sighed in frustration. “Let me look around for a bit,” he said. “Search the surrounding area for signs of life.” After almost an hour we met at the door of the house and I heard Arcan’s theory.

“The home was burnt down within the last day. It was set alight during the day using emberdyn (a form of radia used to start fires),” Arcan observed. “As you may know, fires sparked by radia produce very little smoke, so this fire would not have easily been seen during the day by the villagers down the hill. Those responsible for this did not want to attract attention to their business here.”

“Over here, I found some weapons among the ruin still sitting upon their holders. Any capable man present would have grabbed a weapon in defense. Not so in this case. A woman, unskilled in the use of blades I would add, cooked alone at the fire. No one else was at home.” Arcan pointed to broken cooking utensils and a pot on the floor.

“A group of about 12 surrounded the home and two men broke down the door.” Cracks were evident near the frame of the front door. Footprints of varying sizes could still be seen outside the house. “I have little doubt the same Kirzan mercs who detained us could be traced to this deed.”

Arcan then directed my attention to what used to be the main bedroom. “Look at the way the bed in this room is positioned. The woman tried to bar the door using the bed, but she was not strong enough to move the heavy frame in time. She was taken captive before the home was burned down, as no evidence of a body exists,”
he concluded.

“Could this be the home of Dain and Vesena?” I asked. "We know they are being pursued. We know they’re in danger.”

“It’s likely.” Arcan scratched his chin and crouched down still eyeing the blackened doorway. “Vesena has been taken captive. Dain remains at large. Their pursuers burnt the house down as a warning for him upon his return. They’ll interrogate Vesena in attempts to find Dain. By the way, what did you find in your search?”

I smiled and said, “A secret doorway.”

Arcan turned to me with a raised eyebrow.