The Last Realm: The Blood of Clans

~~Today is the fifteenth day of the ‘Black March’. Lord Godfrey has effectively sealed our fates. He has made a deal for Altamira's safety, and in return is allowing free passage through the northeastern mountains. Unfortunately, we lack the proper means to evacuate by sea. We are being flushed out like the rats they think we are. It won't be long now until we're crushed here, within this holy sanctuary. From the tops of the cathedrals, you can easily spot the enemy encampments. I've only been here a little over two years now, and each day seems to have gotten progressively worse. General Reinbecht made his last visit yesterday evening and regretfully informed us that the young master was not being given haven. With a heavy heart I write down my last entry, unsure as to its value anymore, let alone the hope of the survival of this journal. I was deemed unfit to bear the mantle of the Jade, and so the Black Prince comes to end us all.~~ “So what do you make of it, friend?” A young man with shoulder length dark brown hair peered over at me as I finish reading and close the small notebook. He had a good couple of inches on me, and stands just over what I estimate at six feet, with sharp blue eyes and a pale skin tone beneath the deep maroon robes. I gently placed the torn page, with it's scribbled writing, back onto the table and slightly scoot the chair back away from the makeshift desk. An overflow of possible emotions bursting suddenly inside of my head, but there is nothing yet to discern from the cryptic note. Not yet anyway. “What do I make of it? That's quite a loaded question you know, seeing as nobody has really even tried to tell me where I am now, or what's going on exactly.” My throat pinched tight and my voice cracked slightly with an unnatural strain as I try to vainly collect my thoughts. “Where you are? Ha...” The guard smirked at me mockingly. I couldn't help but feel out of place, even more so with his scrutinizing gaze fixed on me as he continues on. “We get people like you around here, on occasion.” “Like me? Are you saying there's something the matter with me being here?” I fired back, unease building at his remarks. “That depends, is there?” Another question is asked back my direction. “You still haven't told me where I am, friend.” “You're exactly where you are…but humor me anyway.” The guard paused before continuing further. “Let's say you weren’t from around these parts, where might you claim to be from?” Another sinister smile spread across his face as I seriously consider whether answering him or not, but I eventually gave in, knowing full well that we’d never get anywhere if I don't. “West Monroe, Louisiana.” “West Monroe? Really, well I'll be. I have a pal a mine from the same exact place.” “That's quite a relief.” I stammered back. “I was worried for a minute I might be in some really freaky dream or something.” “Ain't no dream, friend, and ya really think I know anybody from your town? Ha…next thing is you're gonna tell me that you be one of them crazy suckers from far off.” “What do you mean a crazy sucker, and far off?” The frustration building, I tried my hardest not to lose my cool. “You ain't from around these parts, correct?” He asked back, still ignoring the majority of my increasingly frustrated inquiries. “How about you tell me where these parts are, then we can work from there.” “Fine, fine, buddy. We're on the island of Kyzekia, sitting in the Trevithack bay. If you want anything more specific than that, well, we're just outside the country of Altamira.” I'm totally floored by his announcement. Shock runs through me as he tells me that I appear to be in a completely different country, and perhaps, world. This is totally unfathomable, and most improbable. “So you mean to tell me that I'm no longer in Louisiana?” I ask a midst the harshest glare I can muster at the moment. “Seems that way.” “Of course it does.” I shoot back. “So what happened to my world? To my house, friends, family and life?” “I'd guess that they didn’t come with you...seeing as we found you alone.” “So isn't there anything you can tell me? I'm just to believe that I wake up in some strange land, all by my lonesome and you have nothing to offer to help sort any of this out.” “That about covers it. And I can only tell you where we’re at, present like. I ain't got them other answers, sorry buddy.” He shot back with a grin still spread across his face. He's no doubt enjoying all of this. “Sorry? I wake up in this freakish nightmare and all you can offer me is a lousy sorry? Doesn't anyone around here have any answers?” Now I've had it. I'm irritated and fully ready to unleash all of my teenage angst on this jerk of a guard. “Well, you want some answers, right?” The guard replied, the enjoyment still plastered on his smug features. “Didn't I already say as much?” I growled roughly. “Hmm.” The guard seemed to ponder over this thought for a few seconds, unnecessarily. “Then how about you start by telling me more about yourself. Then we can think about speaking to someone with a bit more knowledge than me.” “Think about? I need to know what's going on.” My fists shake on my lap as I feel the anger welling up. “Alright pal, I was just razzing you. Course I'm gonna show you to the big boss, soon as you give me a bit more scoop on you.” The guard said so while making his way into the room and plopped down on the edge of the small, dingy bed. “Spin me a story and start off from the top, if you don't mind.” That annoying smile is still in place, as I begin to explain myself. “Whatever, man. My name is James.”