The Fairy Diary Day 277 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We three fairies joined Dunfallon and Grimace on their side of the rim this morning and together we compared our experiences. 

Rumble summarized his notions and those of Noralei and mine. The crater is barren in every direction. A desert really. But at the center lies a great mystery. Each of us looked into the shaft at the center of the crater and felt something different. Rumble thought it strange to see so much smoke swirling but never rising into the air above. Noralei is sure the red glow from below indicates a forge burning and someone or something is hard at work. I experienced an overwhelming heaviness that increased the closer I came to the shaft’s opening. 

Rather than tell us their discoveries, Dunfallon and Grimace took us to a camp set up a fair distance away from the crater. Together they had investigated it, having walked the silent grounds filled with the entranced forces of the enemy. The two asked my permission to check the trolls among this host. 

I granted it to them. And got out the scroll to write out this latest account to the High Fairy.

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Day One Thousand One Hundred Seventy Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The explosion rocked the ground beneath us, throwing us down. After we regained our footing, I looked back and saw a rising plume of smoke from somewhere on the other side of the reservoir.

Pandemonium reigned in the sky above us. Drones and warplanes criss crossing and colliding and falling to earth.

I briefly remember being thankful for the confusion for I realized it favored our escape. But then as I fled with Elijah in tow I saw that the confusion was affecting the cohesion of our group.

Reuben was in the advance urging us on, but Quasimo and Magwich were no where in sight.

Quasimo and his drone did catch up with us later, but Magwich is still missing.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Thirty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

When viewed yesterday, the high place seemed only to be a day’s journey more, but the actuality turned out otherwise.

We got a peek at it every so often as the path weaved to and fro. It is unmistakable that the idol of Stan has been replaced. And it is now even larger than the one we destroyed days ago.

I am sure that it is clearly visible to his troops far below in the valley.

We saw no movement in its vicinity, but we knew something was going on.

A wisp of smoke commenced at noon, and thickened into a column by day’s end.

The uppermost question now is – what will we do when we arrive on the scene?

Day Three Hundred Twenty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah emerged from the set apart cabin, staff in hand. And I was waiting for him.

He simply said, “I know,” and beckoned me to follow. I offered to fetch the Captain, but he answered it would not be necessary.

No one was about when we arrived forward. The acetylene torch and its paraphernalia were cluttering the passageway  outside the cabin in question.

Elijah ordered me to wait outside, and cautioned me to do nothing no matter what I saw or heard.

He struck the door with his staff. It opened and he entered, slamming the door behind him.  Smoke or mist which had issued forth, was sucked back in by the action of the closing door.

Again, I wait.

Day One Hundred Sixty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

All witness accounts line up. The single column of smoke rising from the center of the first district made its first appearance two days ago.

I went into the city to investigate. I walked to where the gates to the first district once stood. They have been removed, and the gap walled up.

An easterly wind pushed the smoke in this direction filling the sky overhead. It bore with it the sound of cymbals and drums.

I turned my back on the sights and sounds and strode away. A man came out of his house and stopped me. He asked what it all meant. I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Nothing good.”

Peace returned to me in the walled courtyard.

Day One Hundred Sixty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Lyle’s mission yesterday bore fruit. He emerged from the west with five children. They are now scattered to other families throughout the encampment for safe keeping.

We now know that by no means is the mark borne universally in the west. But people there reported rumors that those who have, are forming bands to sweep through the city to seek out those who don’t. And Lyle saw evidence of this on his way back through the district. A band surrounded one of the west end markets and checked each customer.

Talking with Lyle about this, I was feeling overwhelmed. There must be a better way to help.

I was unsettled further when he described smoke rising from the first district.