The devil's jester : the ballad of Clarence Stillfield

[mojom]

Prologue

"... ecneralC"
"... efiw ruoy llik, ecneralC ..."

Clarence shakes his head.

"Excuse me sir, what did you just say ?"

"I said, have a nice life." The grocer hands Clarence his order a offers him a gentle smile.

"Ah yes, thank you. As to you."

Clarence started walking towards his house. A small cottage where he and his wife had lived for 10 years now. He wasn't rich but he had it comfortable and his wife had always been kind to him. Still lately he didn't feel quite himself, He felt like something was missing. That there had to be more.

Lost in thought he walked on. Another mile or 2 later he arrived at home.

"Honey, you're home." His wife says from the kitchen "Dinner will be ready in about 20 minutes"

He looks at his wife and for one moment, perhaps not more then a second, he doesn't recognize the woman calling out to him.

The next day the other villagers would find the cottage burned to the ground. The restants of two people sharing a bed in mids of the rubble.

The Stillfields died in a fire.

[mojom]

Following are the writings of Clarence Stillfield.

boB si eman ym

Words bearing nothing but the truth as I have witnissed it. seil, siel, siel

The reason I write down my memories down are twofold. Either I will completly lost the grasp on my lord's gift, in wich case I hope people will understand what drove me towards this point. Or I will reach the goal beset before me, for I am chosen, and these bindings will be used as a future holy relic.

To start my story I should go back to the day I lost my wife.

hcnew gniyl eht

I loved my wife and still do but my Prince had other plans for me in store. And for he is almighty I now understand that what happened was inevitable and part of his grand scheme. I was to become his agent, a pawn used against the heretics. With one single stroke

meht fo eno yreve devol I dna ,sekorts ynam

of a blade I saw that and understood his greatness.

He to that faithfull

appeared me night
in form a wraith
the of bloody

I awoke due to a sound, a whisper perhaps. And before me I saw the embodiment or rather the bodyless form of a ghost. A spectre red of blood. It spoke to me but not through words. It was as it spoke from within my soul.

"... ecneralC..."

"... efiw ruoy llik, ecneralC ..."

"...drow ym ot flesruoy etoved..."

"...etatiseh ton od..."

"... drol ruoy ma I ..."

"... efiw ruoy llik ..."

I understood what the voice demanded but how could I do such deed. I loved my wife. I still love you, Mary.

But then the spectre lashed forwards. Before I knew it his black fingers were prying into my mind.I thought I knew my worst fear when I saw the apparition at first. But what filled up my head at that time was a

fear

tenfold of that what I felt just a moment ago.

Accompanied with the fear came also the visions. Me, in a position of unknown power, wearing my lord's garments preaching his gospel. Instantly I knew the name of the spectre and the fact that I was blessed and that his word was the only true one.

The next thing I remember was me standing there naked and covered in blood. The lifeless body of my wife before me. I love you Mary. One hand holding the dagger responsible for my wife's dead the other holding an odd parchment. Written upon it in crimson letters, most likely my wife's blood, my first assignement.

[mojom]

The next page is a loose piece of paper stuck between the pages. On it in crimson letters, the following words.

Clarence,
you did well. However, if only for a moment, you doubted my word. And therefor from here upon you will be known as a fool. A jester, mine to command. Fullfill the following tasks and you might fall back in grace. Fail, and a fate more horrible then dead will come upon you.

- Burn your house and belongings. They are yours no more.
- travel east, west, north or south for four months but take no transportation other then that of a pig.
- Guise yourself as a begging fool. Act like one, become one.
- learn to play an instrument
- Upon the mentioning of one of the false gods, you will bark like a dog.
- With the rise of the moon you will howl at it.
-Till you meet a kindred soul all rules on this parchment apply as if new.

Oh, and Clarence. To make this task easier I took a bit of your mind. Hope you don't mind.

[mojom]

Hail, cause the Dark Sun decided to shine upon me once more. After 2 years of wandering changing direction every 4 months I am once again blessed with his grace. When I was driven to the edge of my sanity

tiwtin uoy ,dam llits er'uoy

he finally showed me the way again.

Ycamerpus sih eveileb ton od taht esoht fo doolb eht mih ot dleiy dna,
rewop emerpus sih erofeb nwod woB. ciryC esoppo ohw lla ot htaeD

I had been posing for a beggar for two years now. Two whole years, where every day I came to believe my lies more and more. I ate dirt, for breakfeast supper and dinner ... barked at heretics, howled at the moon.

loof uoy, od llits uoy

I followed the Lord's every word.

At one point, I actually came to believe I was this Clarence person

eman ruoy s'taht esuaceb

But my name is Bob, and I had been known as a beggar.

The day of my rebirth I had been beaten up more then I ever had before (and I had been beaten ALOT)

It's was due to the works of one of Bane drawoc eht's dogs nonetheless. If I had the strength I definatly would have slain that filth most foul. But I had to believe in my Liege's ways and accept that what was coming to me.

llew sa drawoc a er'uoy


The punishement that came upon me was harsh and when he left I felt like every bone was broken and not an ounce of blood was left in my body.

How long I layed there I do not know, I was about to give up, my body bruisen. Prepared to leave my mortal coil and face the gods justice. How foolish I was not believing in the Mad God's way for there at my final moment of despair he showed me the way. He send his emissary in the form of a Fey. A creature who's allegiance I soon would find out lied seil seil seil with my Lord as well.

!!!erus rof wonk t'nod uoy

From that moment on the curse that rested upon me was broken, and I knew that from this point on my personal way to greatness had been opened. Suddenly things cleared up, I knew why he had me learn an instrument, made me act like a fool.

My name is Bob, and from this day on I am an agent serving under the Fey

ecneralC ,oN

but ultimatly under the one and true lord, The Lord of Three Crowns.

He has shown me the power the Fey posses and it's mighty indeed. Yet I cannot help to think if the Fey is indeed worthy enough of my Lord's blessing. And if I am not to take it's place instead. I wonder ....

(crude drawings follow, barely representing the looks of words)

Wait, my name is Clarence

(more crude drawings follow till the end of the page)