note: all things in this story are only a coincidence if they refer to
any things or persons you know.

A Windsong Logosmas Carol

Once upon a time in a land far, far, faaaaar away, long, long ago during
a cold, cold winter a few days before Logosmas. There was this lovely
young couple living in a forest in the far northern regions of the
lands. Trannox, a raja forestal, was living there with his beautiful
atavian wife Kyra. They lived in harmony with Nature, living of what
Mother Nature was giving them. Tending and nurturing all that lived in
the woods. All was going well and joy filled their hearts when Kyra got
pregnant. Their love would blossom in new life.
But then when winter came Kyra felt ill and she just knew something was
wrong with the baby. She first tried to hide it from Trannox but then
she started to worry too much and finally told him. Kyra would need help
to deliver the baby. Trannox knew about birth from observing the wild
animals around them, but he also knew if there are complications during
labour often the young would die and often the mother too. They might
need help from some healers or women that could help. But then winter
was blowing in from the cold north, so leaving their sheltered
environment would bring many dangers too.
They couldn't wait any longer and decided to pack the mule with lots of
supplies and warm blankets. Their packs filled with everything they
would need for a long trip. They prayed to the gods to watch over them
and guide them to a safe heaven. They didn't have any time to waste and
on their way they went.
They first headed south towards warmer territory. The first settlement
on their path was the little village of Petra. But the village was
looking deserted, the sings of war still were clear. The few farmer
families had barricaded themselves inside their homes. One would think
the village was deserted if it weren't for the weary eyes sometimes
watching from behind the curtains. The baron was known as a cruel and
unfriendly man, so Kyra and Trannox didn't even bother to visit the
castle.
They decided to try their luck in the nearby big city of Hashtan. And
what they feared happened. The gates were closed. With the war going on
in Petra between their city and Ashan, everyone was nervous and
suspicious about strangers. The wise men of the city feared it was a
list and the gates remained closed. Winter was gaining ground upon our
travellers and the first snowflakes began to fall.
Where would they head now? Night was fallen and Kyra could barely walk
any further. Trannox unloaded the mule and rearranged his packs with
what they needed most. He tucked in Kyra in many warm blankets and
helped her on the back of the mule, leaving some of their supplies
behind. Trannox couldn't decide which direction to head till Kyra told
him she had a vision of a bright star. In the dark night only the
Evenstar was shining through the clouds. They followed the road to the
east.
They came passed the Crystal Leaf Inn and knocked on the door. A grumpy
warden opened a small spy hole in the wooden door and yelled at them all
rooms were overbooked already. He couldn't let more people in and
promptly closed the hole again. Trannox kept on pounding on the door,
trying to explain the seriousness of their situation. But all was
naught. And as if some evil powers where involved the light snow changed
into a blizzard. One could barely see a hand before the eyes and the
bright Evenstar was reduced to a sporadic flickering dim light.
They continued further towards the east but in the blizzard they
wandered off the path and got lost in the forest. But for some reason
they felt safer in the forest and it seemed like the blizzard had a hard
time fighting the thick canopy of the trees. They came upon a road
leading towards Bagwar's Copse but a grumpy Sylvan had caged his grove
and just bluntly ignored Trannox' pleas. The only thing they could do
was continue to follow the Evenstar, but the trip was asking its toll.
They arrived at the gates of Ashan and Kyra had passed out on the back
of the mule. Luckily the poor creature was very brave and seemed to
scent there was something wrong and they needed his help. But the gates
of Ashan remained closed as there were rumours of spies trying to
infiltrate the village. Would this damned war between Hashtan and Ashan
mean the end of these two innocent needy people? Trannox was about to
give up, but then he gathered his last forces and only his love for his
beloved wife kept him going. And as if a compassionate God was looking
down on them the blizzard changed to a soft snowfall.
Trannox saw they drifted of their course and the Evenstar was shining in
what seemed to be the south, even if that was impossible. But the faith
in the vision of his wife was the only thing that kept him going. With a
pained sigh Trannox dragged the mule towards the gate of another
village. They were greeted by the city guard Cwincan. With caution in
his eyes he asked them what their business was in Eloosis. But our dear
Trannox was exhausted and crumbled into a miserable heap.

Trannox was coming to his senses again and surprisingly was feeling very
warm. He was laying in a simple, but soft and warm bed. When he wanted
to jump up to search for his lovely wife a gently woman tried to calm
him down. She told him her name was Miri, proprietor of the Eloosian inn
tea shop. She told him he was in a hut under the trees. Another village
woman named Muria was in the other room with his wife, trying to safe
the baby as well. But even these reassuring words couldn't calm down
this loving man and she helped him stumble towards the western room.
Trannox looked up towards the brightly shining Evenstar and send a
silent prayer into the silent night.
As they opened the door the silent night was disturbed by a crying baby.
Their little xoran girl was showing her strong longs. Trannox shook his
head in disbelief and relief. He was glad his lovely wife and their baby
survived the harsh trip. Even if the goddess of Mischief decided to gift
a bonding between an atavian and a rajamalan with a xoran baby. Like a
mountain against the wind, a storm bull was standing there, motionless
together with their mule, filling the room with their warmth and sharing
it with the mother and child.
Only after Trannox made sure his wife was ok and had held his baby he
noticed the stranger smiling softly at him. The stranger was dressed in
a grey cloak hiding the biggest part of his face under his hood. Muria
told him this stranger occupied the room but immediately offered his bed
to help. Trannox wanted to thank the man but the stranger just waved
away his words.
Then Miri softly knocked on the door and said three noble guests wanted
to check upon mother and child. It were no other then the three
Housemasters of the forestal Houses in Achaea bearing gifts. Conar of
the Druids, Fartet of the Sentinels and Ane'Ia of the Sylvans. They also
noticed the bright Evenstar and how it seemed to burn much stronger then
on usual nights and how its trajectory changed. They also saw the star
seemed to have frozen above Eleusis. Their Houses combined forces and
explored the surroundings but their efforts were naught. The only
unusual thing that happened was the arrival of the strangers in the
village.
Then all the sudden the grey cloaked stranger rushed towards the door
without any noise and almost like he was floating. The men in the room
followed him and saw he was blocking the entry for a small figure almost
going unnoticed in the shadows with his black cloak. A silver arrow
glistering in the light of the stars on his hand bow. The grey cloaked
stranger raised his staff and a blue lightning came sizzling from the
skies, zapping and killing the Nigi assassin on sight. A grey mist was
crawling around the grey cloaked stranger and he vanished. Could it have
been the Great Logos Himself?
When they returned in the room Ane'Ia showed them the silver medallion
the grey cloaked stranger left. The back of the medallion engraved with
the words: "For the gentle Polywog".

And so goes the story of the Polywog, born on Logosmas day. The Xoran
girl of the atavian Kyra and the raja Trannox, named Polywog Windsong in
honour of a mysterious grey cloaked stranger that probably safed her
life. Polywog grew into a beautiful woman that always protected and
nurtured Nature and that always was there to help her village mates,
friends and family. Her father already is gone from the realms for a
long time, but her mother Kyra is occasionally spotted in the hut under
the trees in the Eleusian Inn. None ever knew who the stranger was. But
destiny sure seems to have a special plan with the special Polywog,
maybe one day I can tell you the spectacular story of the Polywog
treasure if I ever life long enough to witness and tell the tale...


Penned by my hand on the 6th of Scarlatan, in the year 410 AF.