Travel Report No. 13: In Search of the Fenn Realm’s Secret Weapon

Starting from Bruck, nestled in the heart of Isdraia and defying the current of the Elendar, a council of several dozen scholars works tirelessly to gather and document both historical knowledge and contemporary events. Thanks to generous patronage of the mayor, ample resources are available, allowing for an unprecedented scale of archiving. Thus emerges the greatest and most comprehensive repository of knowledge in all of Isdraia. From this endeavor arises an institution that shall henceforth be known as The Omniscient Archive.

During my previous journey into the Fenn Realm, I was able to gather valuable information for the Omniscient Archive. Although I was denied the opportunity to visit my actual destination, Fennspring, the Fenn living in Kuer told me of a secret and powerful weapon. It was said to be on the verge of “awakening” again. One Fenn also suspected that it was a bow capable of destroying entire cities and armies. In light of the potential danger this posed to Bruck, I once again set out at the command of the esteemed mayor. My mission was to gather any and all clues concerning the secret weapon. First, however, my journey began in Bruck itself. There, I spoke to other archivists about what they knew. Yet none of them could recall any legends, rumours or stories concerning bows of extraordinary power in the Fenn Realm. I therefore decided to question Fenn living in Bruck. I encountered a Fenn family who told me they had fled to Bruck from Gauland - a region in the far west, north of the Rawrise. To my regret, I discovered that they refused to provide me with any information whatsoever. Even after I explained the gravity of my concerns in no uncertain terms - after all, the very survival of Bruck was potentially at stake - they would tell me nothing about the weapon. They even denied ever having heard of it. I later reported the incident to the mayor personally and recommended that the family be marked as suitable for the cliffs. After all, the expedition I subsequently undertook produced thoroughly credible evidence that the weapon did indeed exist.

A few Darkenings after my unsuccessful questioning, I finally set out for the Fenn Realm once more - for the third time in total. Following my experience on the previous journey, during which the guards in Weiler ultimately expelled me from the realm, the mayor permitted me to travel with an escort this time. To safeguard this important expedition, I was accompanied by two bodyguards. These were the very bodyguards who had once accompanied K.S. northward. To my astonishment, neither possessed any archival knowledge whatsoever, let alone the qualifications required to assess the events of the journey adequately. Their formidable weaponry at least lent my concerns a certain weight. At the same time, I knew the outcome of the incident on the banks of the Eimh well enough not to allow myself to be lulled into a false sense of security. During the journey to Kuer, I also asked the two whether they had ever heard of the Fenn Realm’s secret weapon. Perhaps, I thought, they might remember stories told by K.S., who himself hailed from the Fenn Realm. Yet I was hardly surprised to find myself staring into disbelieving - indeed, almost simple-minded - faces. The bodyguards proved extremely uncooperative, despite the fact that we were of the same people. Along the Duskfringe, I once again encountered a merchant. To win his trust, I first asked about his destination and his wares. As he explained, he was travelling to Bruck and had several sacks of penjas and beetroot in his cart. Although I had not even asked, he refused to sell me any of them. I therefore told him that I was an archivist, at which point his interest visibly grew. I explained that I intended to search for the bow in the Fenn Realm and determine whether the time was nearly at hand. In this way, I hoped to give him the impression that I was already privy to the secret. The merchant laughed in response, nodded and wished me good luck. Then he continued on his way. Evidently, he knew exactly what I was talking about. This was the first unmistakable clue that the secret weapon truly existed.

Eventually, we reached Kuer. Upon arriving at the palisade, I began, as usual, by explaining that I was travelling as an archivist - I deliberately omitted which archive I belonged to. During my previous journey, the long-eared folk had shown little understanding of the mayor’s concerns. I was met with profoundly sceptical looks, directed particularly at the weapons carried by the two bodyguards. I therefore referred to the Rougebear sighting in the shadow of the Thorn and emphasised the heightened security risk. Their approving nods told me that I had convinced the guards. Nevertheless, they continued to press me. They asked precisely what my journey was intended to achieve and which cities I wished to visit. As I had done with the merchant, I therefore attempted to present myself as someone already initiated into the secret. “I wish to see when the time comes for Fendiril’s Bow to awaken,” I replied humbly. “The Archive has a great interest in witnessing this event and documenting it for eternity in a manner befitting the true greatness of the Fenn Realm.” I lowered my head and made a slight bow. When I straightened up again, the guards appeared to exchange a questioning look. Their gazes remained locked for some time, apparently searching one another’s eyes for common ground. Eventually, they turned their attention back to me. “Wait here,” said one of them before walking away, evidently to consult someone. This was surely an indication that my strategy was working. It must have been fear - fear of the knowledge they believed I already possessed. After a rather uncomfortably long wait - they had surely required considerable time to decide what to do with me - the guard returned. “Your entry will not be permitted,” he said, holding his head high and refusing to meet my gaze. “You should leave and return during another Skytide.” One of the bodyguards - though I have forgotten which - reached for her sword. Before she could fully draw it, I naturally put a stop to this outburst of unnecessary violence. My chances of gaining entry were not to be diminished any further. I first tried words, then Dar, to change the guards’ minds. Yet none of it helped, and these long-eared folk only grew more unfriendly. And so we began our return journey. Thus, I concluded that, thanks to the obstinate Fenn, I had seen nothing beyond the Duskwoods, yet had nevertheless encountered more than enough clues. Fenn in Bruck who lied to me; a merchant who wished me luck in my search; guards in Kuer who clearly felt they had been caught out - my search for the Fenn Realm’s secret weapon will surely bear fruit soon.