The Mist
by Nemos

I, who I am, being venturous, was one day observing the area around a Sanctuary when a mist arose... Well the next thing I knew was that I was a ghost, my corpse, bloody, beaten, and a wreck lay in front of me. I then phased in and out of places until I found myself around the area Kalane, the friendly healer resides. So I had myself resurrected and had my items, that were not rotted beyond recovery, returned to me. Isri, being ever so kind, gave me the advice to go and learn more about the area I had fallen dead in... The mist.

Day 1: Exploration Into the Forest.
The trees lay thick with branches, some laden with tent caterpillars eating the fragile leaves, and others swaying peacefully. I had started out on the main road towards the Dwarven forest. Heading south into its beautiful scenery, I came upon the familiar trail leading south-east, to the Elemental Canyon. So traveling down a small hill I noticed a northern path in the direction of the sanctuary. Following it, I saw many wonderful things, small animals scurried along the trail, up and down trees as well, but somewhat disturbed by my presence, like I didn't belong. Looking around for something else to focus on, I noticed the plants looking to the sun in the north-west. It was queer, like a patch of darkness caught over an area of the forest. I suspected something strange was going about, so I investigated. To the south-east I found what had me in it's grasp to begin with, the Mist.

Day 2: Exploration of the mist.
Little did I know that it was so beautiful, the water, clung in mid-air, so beautiful to view. Soft glows of light danced around my wide vision as the way back was closed and clouded by the thick, moist, air. I tumbled around the area, dripping with water, only to feel more lost in it all. I sit down, the grass wet, my bottom the same. I felt cold, I felt tired, I felt alone. When I was shivering, alone, a small globe of light floated closer to me and I could feel it's cold, warm glow on my skin.

Day 3: Continuation of the Mist.
My eyes open, eyelashes moist with the dew of morning, what sun shined through was not enough to keep me alive and warm. I saw a small face peer into mine, it twitched as I motioned to sit up, and I felt it's life beaming on me to keep me alive. It felt like he was trapped here a long, long time ago. He was as well lonely, and I extended my hand in greeting. He hesitated, but then extended his mitten looking hand to touch mine. A flash and I was in the exact same spot, but a different man, freezing to death from the cold and wet. The shock did not leave my body for quite some time. He then motion for me to stand with a playful smile on his face, he beckoned me to chase him! What fun we had, tackling each other, rolling in the dew with no care in the world... It was bliss, but I felt my time had grown too long there and I asked him to show me the way out, back to where I came. He seemed sad but also very pleased to help me out of this place, something he never had the pleasure to do. So he drew me a short map, which I memorized. It showed the basic, get in and out of the mist cursed area. My prayers had been answered.

Day 4: Beyond the mist.
What I saw once the sun hit my skin was more forest. This forest however, more exotic and foreign. It was beautiful though, beasts as colorful as some butterfly roam the area, but not to come into contact. More peaceful these creatures seemed than some people I knew. Then, while I was walking along a stray fist came at me, a LARGE fist to be exact. Quickly dodging it's poorly aimed attack, I mouthed some deadly words and it dropped dead, an Ogre. Not like the ones I am tusks and it wore tribal paint. The other Ogre, immediately snapped at me, and I concentrated on his words. He spoke something ancient and not touched by time. He said in essence, "You slain Uglogator, you must be brought before the Shaman!" This sounded a bit bad for me, but who was this Shaman he spoke of? I was intrigued; and so, I followed the large Ogre to his "Shaman".

Day 5: The Meeting of the Wise.
I met this Shaman, after being eyed strangely by all whom I passed. He was a smaller, older, and less savage person. He greeted me with a melodic grunt, and showed me a small stump to sit on. He then proceeded to circle around me like a vulture. I felt small in his doing this, but did not instigate a thing. He wore a soft fur cloak, and wore colorful savage looking clothing. He bellowed at me "You? Why do you kill our men?" I replied "You! Why did he attack me?"

The Shaman called the other guard into the room, they talked secretively, and the guard nodded after a while. He then stated "We apologize for accusation, we give you anything you want." Thinking for a second I replied "I would like to inquire about the Mist, why is it here?"

Gasping at the realization that I made it through, the man bowed, and then beckoned me to go into the door behind him. I lifted the spotted fir that cover the entrance, and I witnessed a large man set on a throne of animal bone. The Ogre yawned and said "Why do you outsider question the Mist, and come through to us?" I then quickly snapped back "Why do you not introduce yourself?"

Scratching his chin he said "Well, you have me there, I will only tell you I am the Chieftain." Sagely nodding I replied "Then all I'll tell is that I travel a lot, explore." Being a bit frustrated, he said "I will tell you about the Mist, but you must then tell me who you are."

"Fair enough." I said with a smirk. He explained that the Mist had been created by his ancestors to keep out other, more savage Ogre tribes. Since then the other Ogres became more in tune with the world, and less wild, so they tried to expel the Mist and failed. So it's the barrier from them to the world. Which explains its complexity.

"My name is Nemos, I am a teacher," I said in reply to his teachings. The chieftain spoke "Then you will leave us Nemos and take these with you." Almost about to step into a portal, he gave me a set of the things he wore, I then disappeared.

I then conclude that this place would be a nice space to get someone lost if you need to run. It has many admirable qualities, and people of the 25-35 plateaus should check it out. Many thanks for your time and patience, Nemos.