Mystery of a Timeless Swamp

by A. F. Sturmer

This special edition unveils a terrifying tale, recently brought to light by a reader who stumbled upon a memory echo in one of the realms. Scientists Doctor Jekyll and Allan Quatermain are diligently studying a journal, piecing together events seemingly connected to the recent portal outage and the mysterious disappearance of travelers between dimensions, events we had attributed solely to the Watch.

Here is the complete echo log from a realmwalker:

I leave this log, hoping my knowledge and experience will shed light on this phenomenon, as it could be intertwined with a global calamity we have all endured.

Spring day 38, 1889

The day began unremarkably. My companion Nell and I planned to create a garden near her home, filled with exotic plants from the Astrolabe Desert Realm.

While gathering supplies and performing morning chores, Nell prepared our realm cards. Little did we know, this choice would be crucial. We utilized Fae’s machine and an ancient static portal. As the portal whirred to life, an unsettling feeling gnawed at me.

The portal’s swirls spun unnaturally in reverse. I stepped through and was immediately swallowed by an unfathomable darkness. It was an oppressive void, devoid of sound, light, and sense of self. That overwhelming nothingness was my last memory before losing consciousness.

Editor notes: To enhance your reading experience, consider playing the accompanying video's sound in the background. This added element can deepen your immersion into the narrative.

Upon awakening, I found myself half-submerged in water, shrouded in darkness. My hunger suggested days of unconsciousness.

I longed to cry out for Nell, but then a paralyzing realization struck me – unseen eyes were watching from the underbrush. Terror gripped me as I understood my condition: stranded alone in a swamp realm, enveloped by night. My belongings were gone, my companion missing, and danger lurked in every shadow. Fear throttled me, my heart pounding in my ears. But as the panic receded, survival instinct took over. “I must not yield here,” I resolved.

Crawling through the undergrowth, I reached firmer ground. My only possessions were a lantern, a realmwalker’s pocket watch, and my survival skills. I hastily crafted an axe and erected a shelter from swamp vegetation, too fearful to light a fire. As I lay in my makeshift refuge, sleep overcame my exhausted body.

When I awoke, disoriented by the unending darkness, a chilling realization dawned – I was in a realm of perpetual night.

Suddenly, a sinister clacking noise pierced the silence. The sound of a Harpy – eerily close, its presence just beyond my flimsy barrier. The Harpy’s breath was almost palpable, its deadly curiosity probing my sanctuary. Then, without warning, the earth trembled. Trees snapped, stones cracked, and my spectral stalkers scattered with fearful shrieks. A sense of irony washed over me. What worse fate could await me now? I stayed hidden, knowing the legendary beast Humbaba roamed outside.

... The echo-log abruptly ends there. Our hopes are that this intrepid traveler survived. Intriguingly, no remains were found at the echo’s location, and the realm minor card had been altered, suggesting the traveler reached the Realmic Transmuter. A final mystery remains: the last log was timestamped in the year 1905. Did the portal incident damage the calendar, or have we received a message from the future?