Happy DST from Candlemass

Candlemass just swept into my room and started detaching everything electronic from the walls, possibly in hopes that if he did, I wouldn't stay awake for too much longer. He told me that tonight (daylight savings time) is a night best meant for sleep, and I should be getting it. I don't think he realizes that my computer can run on a battery for a while, but that's okay. He made sure I was in bed before he left again, saying he had some follow up to do for his last mission.

He left me some "dream oil" in a very attractive blue glass decanter, and told me it would give me sweet dreams.

So, sweet dreams, everyone, and happy DST.

And more skraelings

Sorry, skraelings will have to come at a later time. I woke up this morning and shuffled into the kitchen for coffee and brains, and in my half-awake state, I must not have noticed Candlemass was already there until I felt someone run the tip of their finger across the back of my neck. Of course, this scared me half to death, and Candlemass got a good laugh out of the whole thing.

He had already helped himself to some coffee, which he says he enjoys. He was more than a bit of a mess, cloak covered in spatters of mud and blood, and he looked like he'd been doing some strenuous stuff earlier. When I asked him what he'd been doing, he said he'd gone on a "hunt" with other members from the Order for the last bit of the skraeling band, and he'd finally gotten to immolate the nest.

It sounded pretty grim to me, but he reminded me (while pouring himself yet another up of coffee) that they killed people and animals, and there was no room amongst all the dead for them to be pitied.

We chatted a bit, and I shared my breakfast with him before he headed off, saying he still had to go make his report for that morning's patrol.

So far, that's it for today. I'll have to tell you guys about the skraeling attack, and the skraeling hunt after that. They're kind of grim, but I think they'd be interesting.

A strangely relaxing day

Today I went on a hunting expedition for some old books in the unused second floor bedrooms of my house. They've been closed up for a long time, so you can imagine the unpleasant detritus that's built up in there, something that they lacked no shortage of.

I also found lots of stuff from when I was a young kid, when I was really into herbalry and botany and whatnot.

Candlemass popped in randomly while I was digging through old boxes of my stuff, and smiled at a huge book of herbs I'd pulled out and started leafing through it. He asked if I remembered anything he used to teach me, and I surprised him by telling him more than he thought I would remember.

On Shielding

So, with the weather and whatnot, my life has been a little weird lately. Candlemass is cranky with me for trying to expose him to a larger public, which I suppose I can only blame myself for. The Punishers are a public order,  but, as he explains to me frequently, it's not a public order in this realm, and he'd rather keep unwanted attention from himself for as long as possible.

He tells me that it's mostly for my sake, as my attention towards him has a habit of attracting attention to me. 

Remember the thing that I saw in the kitchen a (few?) week(s?) ago? 

It wasn't the only thing I had to worry about, apparently.

and more Grindels

It was already nearly dark by the time Candlemass finally made it back into town and went to collect the mission objectives, as he told me. The night was nearly springlike, but still too early for treefrogs and crickets (peepers and creakers, as he calls them, which I still think is cute), and altogether rather enjoyable. But it was still rather dampened by the realization of what he would probably be dealing with.

A rash of cattle thefts had broken out shortly after the Red Skull scare. Something not entirely uncommon, Candlemass assured me, as occasionally farmers would panic and steal their neighbors animals in reaction to their numbers dropping. However, not even a day therafter, the cattle began to reappear, their bodies stripped entirely of meat until they were nothing but skeletons. Everything except the head. It was almost immediately after the first occurrence (one is enough, but two is too many for coincidence) that the village council convened, and the council head decided it was a matter best dealt with by the Punishers. And, so, Candlemass was swiftly recalled.

Grindels

So Candlemass came back a few days ago. He looked exhausted when he finally dropped into my chair- he had two black eyes and a swelling bruise on his jaw. He kind of walked and sat gingerly, and he seemed to have regretted sitting down so quickly, because he winced.

Of course, I asked him what happened and if he was okay. Candlemass shook his head, pressing a hand against his ribs, before responding to me.

"Grindels, Chickadee, are never pleasant things to begin with." I asked him what had happened, and to tell me the story. He gave me a wry look, and wanted to know if this would all go into that "infernal contraption", but he already seemed to know the answer. I'm just pretty glad he's well enough to have a sense of humor about everything. 

So, that was a quick update, and the story will be shortly to follow!

Just saying "hi"

Candlemass dropped in this morning. He said he's still dealing with reports from his last case, but he wanted to drop in and make sure I was okay. He looked so haggard and beaten up I had to ask him if he was okay. He said he was dealing with Grindels, which he would explain to me when he got a moment. When he got a good look at my expression, he told me to have heart, and gave me a hug, before telling me to stay safe and heading out.

I really do hope he's okay. I wish I could help him.

(minor update apropos of nothing- I made it so everyone can make a comment, even anons.)