Original submission here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/29074836/

From the field journal of Researcher Raboris Ternum, found abandoned at the bottom of a river outside of Nordberg and posthumously titled: “Research into the Black Gate and what lies beyond” by the Ruborian Research Institute of Deities and Demons:

Day 17, Black Sheep expedition - I knew it was a good idea to consult the village witch on brews and potions and the like that might just keep me awake tonight! This brown bean juice from Ruboria certainly gave me the kick I needed to keep from dozing off like I have done during the previous nights. Though I suspect it has more to do with the spell that the old woman cast over it, or perhaps the multicoloured leaves that she mixed in with beetle shells before crushing it all into a fine powder and filtering it through a strainer. In any case: I saw it! I finally saw it! The Black Sheep that the locals have been going on and on about for tens of years now! As I write this and try to keep myself calm, the Black Sheep is still here! Behind this exact hill against which I am resting my own back against!

As you are aware (see days 1 through 12, ignore day 13 if you can make out anything from it. NOTHING of note happened on day 13, even if my foolish apprentice Gustavus would say so*), I have been on the hunt for the legend of the Black Sheep that has been reported here and there in the more peaceful hamlets and villages of our fair corner of the world, ever since the first fall of Arcadiopolis. From cave paintings discovered a mere few years ago to the ravings of village idiots passed down from trader to trader, the Black Sheep and its descriptions have been multiple and near identical with one another, with appearances reported every three years. I cannot blame the lunatics, for what I just beheld behind me almost sent me teetering over the edge as well, and it is a fair blessing that my apprentice is under the effect of, well, whatever it is that has made us and the village fall asleep during the past two nights when this thing has visited this hamlet.

This thing, this Black Sheep - which I assure is indeed as black as the night and in the shape and form of a sheep - is the size of a castle! A CASTLE! And whatever it did to send the local populace to the land of dreams before the night even properly fell explains why no one is reacting or remembering anything about it despite its sheer bloody size! Except, well, evidently those with means to keep themselves awake. But considering that most others fell asleep and I alone am awake, I now understand why those who have remained awake in the past have been considered mad for proclaiming to having been a witness to such a thing! I mean, the ground itself was shaking as it made its way over the hills from wherever it came from! Trees were shaking, leaves were falling down, but all the animals remained silent. Insects as well! This spell of sleeping, this, shall we call it, aura of exhaustion and weariness that forces any living thing within its radius (if we are assuming it to be spherical in nature) to fall asleep, is affecting the insects as well!

But not the sheep. Oh no. Those white and fluffy bouncing piles of wool and mutton were just as unaffected as I finally am. Gustavus however is blissfully unaware like all the others and would have drowned in his bowl of soup had it not been for my timely intervention. I was keeping a keen eye on him and watched with curiosity and alarm as he suddenly closed his eyelids before falling forwards on his bench, in the tavern where we were enjoying a hearty meal and preparing for the stakeout. But once the other patrons and the innkeeper too started to doze off and fall on their arses or upon their own tables, I knew something was happening. Gustavus falling asleep might have been due to sheer exhaustion, but everyone else following soon after was not natural. I even waved my hand over Gustavus’ face to make sure they were all not just acting, slapped his rosy cheeks, shook him from his shoulders in an attempt to wake him up. All to no avail. Even the shaking of the ground that begun at that exact moment and which shook the stained glass windows and caused a bunch of dust to come falling down from the rafters did nothing to rouse him from his slumber. So I grabbed my coat, headed upstairs, grabbed my scrolls, inkwell and pens, and this brew which cost me half of my monthly pay, and headed straight out the door!

So I followed the shaking, I did! But could not see anything out of the ordinary. Except for the occasional sleeping animal I came across that is. Still, I have always been of the cautious sort and decided to keep myself well hidden behind the trees, boulders, and even crawling on my belly when I feared that whatever the cause of the shaking and rumbling was might spot me at any moment over the foliage. The sheer rumbling and rhythmic thumping of what I now realise were its hooves already gave me a fairly good idea of its size. But for it to be the size of a castle! Finally, I managed to make my way over to this hill. And it was then that the blue light that even now is illuminating everything behind this wall of earth that I am resting against appeared. Despite common sense, I mustered up my courage, and I managed to take a look over the hill. Here is what I saw.

Physical traits - Size: Enormous. Shape: Round, sheep like in nature. Eyes: One - Huge, blue, the size of its head. Mouth: Not present. Nose: Not present. Legs: Hooves, four of them, as wide and round as ancient oak trees.

Behaviour observations: Standing still, eyeing the landscape atop the highest hill within observable environment. Emitting a low, almost musical tone from an undetectable source. Resulted in a gathering of sheep from all around the village and surrounding pastures and farms, all of them heading towards that same hill. Every single one of them! The light from the eye seems to be guiding them, beckoning them. No aggression towards the sheep, the light guiding them forwards. The eye blinks, moves, clearly taking in all sheeps one by one. Change in the musical tone, perhaps attempted communication to the sheep?

Other observations: The sky has parted above it and what can be described as a hole is being circled and surrounded by the roiling clouds. The horizon behind the tallest hill upon which it stands is draped in hues of purple. Moonlight is shining down upon the entity. Now the sheep are answering it! Or in the absolute least bleating at it in rhytmic bursts! The entity is replying in turn through the same musical tones! Incredible! Tens of sheep, more of them appearing from all around me, all heading towards the hill and the Black Sheep! One even walked right past me but paid me no heed! Are they also under some kind of a spell that makes them oblivious to the presence of others? Or do they just not care? So many unanswered questions!

On a second thought, they might just mention to it about my state of lucidity. Crap.

After ten minutes, I am surrounded by silence. I am scared to take a look over my shoulder for I do indeed fear that they have made it aware of my presence. But in the name of science and my professional curiosity, I simply must see what they are doing. I have take a look. I need to know. Perhaps... Perhaps they are all gone?

IT SAW ME

**Day 18: Black Gate Black Gate Black Gate North North I Must Go North Black Gate Find The Gate

Editors notes:
* What could be made out from under ink stains and furious scratching of ink on the entry regarding day 13, Raboris Ternum ended up enjoying the company of shady individuals, enjoying alcoholic contents with them, and ended up waking naked in a ditch with a black eye and bruised chest. Later on he heard from multiple sources that he had also ridden through the town on the back of a pig before coming in contact with these individuals, waving his pants above his head and shouting nonsense. A remarkable feat from anyone who has tried to ride a pig sober, let alone inebriated.

** Day 18 was not written down as “Day 18” in the journal. Instead two pages following the entry of day 17 were filled with the entry of presumed day 18, judging by the following entries continuing with questioning tones about if it was the 19th or 20th day of the expedition when Raboris Ternum returned to their senses.

A little something something that I got for my birthday back in the October of 2018. I fail at uploading things in a timely fashion, I know.

Taegan, more commonly seen in his elven form with two different coloured dragon heads upon his shoulder, or in the form of a three-headed dragon, has also many other forms. And it is in these forms that he visits different sentient or not so sentient races. In order to hear the latest news that he, even with his divine and unholy powers, might just be unaware of, and so that he can gather up some fresh belief at the same time. In this case, he has decided to visit some sheep. After all, sheep see and hear many things, and what better source of gossip than small towns and hamlets scattered across the world around which they graze for most of their lives.

At times however, it can be difficult to keep such simple creatures from panicking, or to get them to come to you in the first place. Nothing a touch dominating magical energy will not solve though.

Taegan (the sheepie in this case) in any shape and form ©  baracca
Delightful birthday art ©  ramul