A Device Most Particular

The day the bridge was burned

     I am no stranger to oddities of technology.  On any given day, often stumble across all manner of items, which are difficult to categorize, the purpose of which is often unknown previous to careful inspection.  I am normally inclined to view such devices as trivialities and curiosities that may be dismissed in short order, with the appropriate attention.  This should have been the case of the odd clockwork necklace I discovered, and it indeed would have been, except that I found this device upon my own neck, making careful inspection a bit of an issue. 

     I am only sure that it is clockwork as the incessant ticking rings in my ears at every hour of the day and night.  Luckily, the works seem to be well-oiled and the clicking is subtle enough to be ignored, most of the time.  The incontestably placement beyond my line of sight has left me to only ponder the facts as I can apprehend via tactile investigation.  To date, I have only been able to ascertain that the device seems to have a time keeping function and an automated locking mechanism that has withstood  the greatest force I can exert on it without risking grievous harm to myself.

     After deep contemplation, I have concluded that the device is likely somehow connected to my sudden disappearance from the contemporary flow of time, and that it might be anchoring me to the here and now.  Despite that possibility, its presence around my own neck does worry me.  I am finding it impossible to even temporary leave this small island, even if only in my imagination; I am, at the moment, completely trapped.

     None the less, I have purposed to not loose any time, or at least no more than I have so far.  During my wandering of the island I was alerted to a most heinous crime by the billowing smoke of a raging fire.  The rope bridge which crossed a treacherous ravine from the main town square to the ruins of an old temple was set a blaze by a person unknown to myself.  Upon arriving at the scene, intent on offering assistance to the local authorities, I found the Honorable Elder Willow and the good Miss T were already on the case, and that they may have solved the crime before the flames had been extinguished.  Woe to the villainous arsonist in Glint!  As long as Elder Willow remains, whatever type creature she may actually be, no detail to small will be missed.

     Fortune shined on my attempted good deed.  Since there was little to discover at the crime scene, I was able to make my first contract on the island clearing dead-fall wood in the forest for my personal use and delivery to the future work-site of the next, more fireproof bridge.  With the Elder's blessing I was able to begin canvasing the forest for any loose wood that would be suitable.

     I quickly occupied myself in the search for the storm damaged woodpiles the Elder directed to me in the north-eastern corner of the island.

     While my trek did take me uncomfortably close to the alter, I felt more secure as Miss T was kind enough to direct my future search for the illusive cultists to the old temple on the southern rocky crag.  With the bridge in hopeless disrepair, I feel confidant that my search will be rather easier than I was beginning to suspect.

     With renewed spirits, I am more dedicated to repairing my airship and returning the the Ivory Towers with sufficient evidence to secure a grant for a proper expedition.  This island will give up its secrets to me.