EO+ Journal Entry #1 (Zenkal)

<Date Month Year>

On this day, Vesperia received a grim reminder. We live in fear of the beasts and are disgraced to sneak about like despicable vermin in this cage we call the Yggdrasil Labyrinth.

Oh right, chronological order. In the morning, we went in briefly to do map out some of the first floor, as part of some qualification test or something. Kind of a dumb idea if you ask me, not like they have a proctor tag along to make sure people didn't copy someone else's map or anything (which I immediately suggested, but Mr. Guildmas said, verbatim, "But my map! She's so empty, and sad, and and unloved! We absolutely must fill her up and teach her what it's like to be cherished!" [citation needed]). Smashed some vermin along the way, and--God, the flies. Don't even get me started with the flies. In what realm are flies freaking as huge as your face and PERFECTLY HAPPY TO FREAKING HEADBUTT YOU? Etria, apparently. At least they were more conductive to volt than they were annoying. Ha! Zenkal - 3, Filthy Insects - 0.

As we were leaving, an ominous figure watched our departure, its shadowy silhouette disguised by a thick bramble. Sensing a hint of killing intent, Luke quickly turned around, but the dark figure had already vanished from its hiding spot. We shrugged it off and moved on, and our unseen stalker followed, creeping ever closer, emboldened by our inability to detect its presence. We reached the exit not a moment too soon, as by then the silhouette had gotten quite close, close enough to pounce on us and tear apart our throats before we can even utter a single cry.

Didn't take too long, sun still high when we got back to town. Recruited two more since Luke was getting angsty about being more bruised than me and Mammon. Wasn't too hard, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE HIGH LAAGARD ROYAL ARMY I IMPLORE THEE SUPPORT OUR CAUSE, yadda yadda. Neither of them seemed to be Mammon #2, which was a relief. Also sampled a bit. The single malt whiskey here is tolerable, though given the price there are probably better choices from that menu. The 'pale lager' was really just diluted beer. Tasted like the tears of invalids wishing they could afford real booze. Really, I just ordered it to have something in my hand as I strike up a conversation with Randy, but it still came pretty close to being one of those decisions I actually regret. Overall, two stars so far.

Few hours of ~*~bureaucracy~*~ later, we went once more into the breach. Even as we approached the entrance, a pair of eyes (or was it several?) was already watching. We went past the guard from before, and he let us through after Luke showed him some certificates or something. A little while later, I looked back; he was already nowhere to be seen.

Found entrance to next floor pretty easily. However, we still hadn't shaken off our mystery follower. Agreeing that it'd be safer to deal with this threat now than let it get the jump on us on the probably more dangerous second floor, we backtracked, and followed the unknown foe. Now, however, the wildlife decided to impede our pursuit! Wave after wave of small fry came, and soon we lost track of our target, and were forced to choose between branches in the path at random.

At a particular branch, we spotted a wounded guard, lying helpless further along one of the paths. Of course, being the naive schmucks we were, we approached to help him; that was our first mistake. No sooner had the man told us to run did a figure came in sight, blocking the way we came from: a massive and intimidating herald of death, its eyes leering at us with intelligent malice. It damned near killed Randy, and nothing we threw at it stuck. We ran. It strolled along leisurely, laughing at us mockingly while peering down on us the same way one would regard filthy roaches. We soon found the reason for its relaxed demeanor: we were in a dead end! This damned creature left the guard alive there on purpose, so that we would corner ourselves on our own accord; what helpful and obedient prey we were, it must have thought!

As we seemed out of options, Luke took out some sort of exotic weapon from his pocket, and stood before the grim executioner. Just then, thank Polaris, Beato managed to find a small gap in the brush leading back outside. We called for Luke, but words already couldn't reach him; his weapon shined brilliantly as its power started to unravel, and our foe recoiled from it, though its stance was that of a provoked predator, ready to pounce its prey. We had no choice: both the beast and the weapon both far outstripped our capabilities, and the ensuing battle might as well be between two gods, whatever gods there might be. Hideous wails threatened to scar our psyches as we crawled through the small passage like rats back to the lake near the entrance.

With heavy hearts, we designated the guard we rescued as witness and started to peruse Luke's will, when a loud impact rang out, and Luke was launched at me as a projectile, a last-ditch attempt by our hunter to thin our ranks. Thankfully, whatever it was, it didn't mince its meat very thoroughly, and we managed to scrape enough pieces of Luke off the landscape to postpone the fulfillment of his will. Oh, Claire tried rather hard to fix that, she did, but in the end neither of the two bodies we carried to the hospital ended up at the morgue at the end of the day.

Well, shit, with that much stuff happening in a few hours, a man's gotta drink to /something/, right? Tried bit of the higher end of the menu this time. Bartender stepped out a bit, told some young hand to serve in his place for a bit. Asked for some red wine. Chap got me this one bottle that ended up amber-ish in the glass. Apologized, and gave me a discount. "I-I dunno why it's not red, I'm sorry sir, if you still want that I-I suppose I can give you half off for it!"

Half off for a vintage. Ha! Thanks for the freebie, suckers.