Good day to you! Wishton Ackford is here again this month. I’ve been recruited to provide the newsletter information this month. PH remains busy and Manny is off doing research, he’s off somewhere consulting with an acquaintance he doesn’t want me to meet. Perhaps standing here will become a regular occurrence which I welcome as a writer.
Returning to the idea of case writing, it is easy to become distracted by other points of investigated details which might slow down the telling of the tale. By this, I mean there are aspects of magic that become boring to the reader and yet have importance in resolving the mystery. Manny is quite knowledgeable in the field of magic and several others besides. His reviews of the writings direct me past relating too much information which doesn’t appeal to the reader. But then, some of our own conversations are easy to weed out of relating the tale.
Magic is the basis of our investigations and a key element of what is reported in my stories. Yet it is interesting that revealing too much can distract the reader in their understanding of the mystery because some of the information is so specialized and requires some amount of training. This writer only understands a fraction of what can be related mainly because of the depth of exposure through these many cases. The case points which are to be used remain how we arrive at the destination of the truth of the matter, that is, resolving a mystery.
These mysteries are often more than murky, being related to some arcane detail or other. Such intricate and hidden facts are often a way someone can commit a crime with magic. With the many checks and balances within the laws regarding magic, protection of the public from mayhem and criminal chaos is paramount. It is important to always remember that the authorities should take care of many of these issues.
Other mysteries that we investigate may not involve any crime whatsoever, but merely some magically related oddity that has The following post is a fictitious news report based on events from The Bow of Destiny, Book One of The Bow of Hart Saga:
The Auguron Wind-Times
Brazen Troll-Attack Near Marston’s Station
Dateline: Marston’s Station, Auguron Forest
By Rowigan Skaulter, Roving Reporter
This evening was disturbed by turmoil around Marston’s Station which roused this reporter from sleep. Reports are coming in this evening of a troll attack when travelers approached this very waystation. Events are unclear now, but trolls becoming so bold as to attack as far as the station are ominous.
While rumors of other attacks much further east have not yet been confirmed with the rangers guarding the roads, this reporter has been able to substantiate these local claims of fighting.
When I descended to the common room, I found the entire number of overnight visitors roused amid a storm of confusion. I saw one young woman brought in by a giant, an unusual sight in these parts, to be sure. The woman seemed wounded as her arm was covered in blood.
What follows is my interview with a dwarf who seemed to have been part of a scuffle, judging by the blood-spatter on his clothing.
Rowigan: “Sir, you look like you’ve been in a fight. Can you tell us your name?”
Dwarf: “Uh, Tordug.”
Rowigan: “Mr. Tordug, do you-”
Tordug: “Just Tordug.”
Rowigan: “Do you mean, Tordug the Just?”
Tordug: “No, Tordug.”
Rowigan: “Oh, I’m so sorry, it’s so loud in the tavern now. The men seem to be celebrating about something. Tell us what happened, Tordug.”
Tordug: “Well, some travelers arrived, shouting about trolls attacking on the road, just east of here. They said the brutes shot arrows at them. Then they said they were missing two of their party. So, a bunch of us grabbed our weapons and ran off along the road to help.”
Rowigan: “I see, so there were trolls? What did you find?”
Tordug: “We got there just in time. There was a young woman astride a horse and a young ranger fighting alone against a pack of trolls. The moon rose back east and shined on the woman, so she glowed like silver.”
Rowigan: “I heard mention of this woman and saw a human female brought in by a giant. Is that the same person? Was she wounded?”
Tordug: “Well, we fought off the trolls and found she was wounded but the ranger had only a few minor scrapes.”
Rowigan: “So there were trolls who were driven off into the night and one wounded in the fighting. Is that correct, Tordug?”
Tordug: “Yes, we drove them away. But the Withling healed the woman, her name’s Limbreth, I think. But she lost blood, so she passed out anyway. Had an arrow-wound.”
Rowigan: “Withling? There’s a Withling in Auguron? Now that’s news, indeed! Can you point her out? I’d like to interview her.”
Tordug: “Uh, I don’t see her around just now. But she was there, I’m certain.”
Rowigan: “So the young woman is this Silver Lady, these men are talking of in all this celebration?”
Tordug: “Yes, it is. My friend and I will be composing a dwarven verse about her bravery on the road. She rode back wounded for the ranger.”
Rowigan: “That’s a deed worth a song. And this giant, do you know his part in the tale tonight.”
Tordug: “He was with the Withling and the others that got attacked.”
Rowigan: “What? The Withling was attacked too? And this giant was with them? You’re sure of the details?”
Tordug: “Yes, I saw them when they arrived.”
Rowigan: “Well, Tordug, it was fortunate for this Limbreth, and the ranger, that you and your friends responded so quickly. Thank you for sharing your account tonight. Auguron owes you a debt of gratitude for your quick and decisive response to the danger.”
Tordug: “That’s what we dwarves do with trolls.”
And there you have the full account of the attack as this reporter has discovered directly from someone who fought in the altercation not far from Marston’s Station this evening. I’ll work to obtain an interview with this Withling and the blessing of such a rare appearance in Auguron Forest. We’ll have more to report from all across Auguron regarding the rumored, and troubling, incursions further east as we travel west toward Auguron City. Look for more reports in the coming days. Troll attacks can only mean trouble for our elven forestlands. This is Rowigan Skaulter sending by pigeon.
Look for more of these fun reports about the series. s case, Manny is quite able to consult with the individual who has hired us so that the problem may be resolved. But the observation of this writer is that most of the oddities brought to us relate back to the avarice and greed of unscrupulous individuals. It is our desire that such individuals be apprehended.
The tales that are related by this writer are always considered for truthfulness as well as respecting those who are involved. We always wish to involve the authorities in as many matters as possible. As always it is Manny’s expertise and guidance in both magic and espionage which provide us with the means to resolve a case. However, it is always important to understand that what this writer conveys is often an adaptation of the real thing, and, in some cases, the actual events may be stranger, compelling, and dangerous than the telling.
With those thoughts, I arrive at the conclusion of my topic. I wish you well until the next time we meet in this newsletter.
Manny
