Journal of Reginald Owen Part 1

This is the journal of Reginald Owen - Banker, Hunter, and now Grand Adventurer

October 7th, 1928

I am writing this, in case I ever return home, or in a darker sense, if someone after my end needs the knowledge.

What a fantastical place the Evrenstride is.  A world where humans are just visitors.  At first glance it is a realm of fantasy.  As you delve deeper into its workings, there is just so much more. 
I am still not totally sure where exactly Evrenstride is located.

I was driving my 1925 Nash Ajax, through the country side taking in the butties of nature that surrounded the rough path.   A few deer jumped from the treeline and into the road.  I swerved to to avoid them and lost control.  I plowed through the brush, branches scraping the sides of my car.  I was too focused on not crashing into any trees, I didn't notice what was going on around me.  Everything was a blur and I became lost.  More lost than I could ever imagine.

I was still in the forest, but not any forest near home.  The road was nowhere in sight.  The trees were a bit off, the bark had a slight blue tint.  I got out to assess the damage to my Ajax.  That's when I heard a screaming followed by a snarling.  Someone was being chased by some hungry animal.  I checked my car, and luckily my hunting rifle was still in the back.  Setting forth to help this poor person, I headed in the direction of the screams.  Only, it wasn't a person at all!

The thing screaming, running towards me was something out of an old fairy tale.  Gnomes, Elves, Goblins, whatever they were called.  It was just a few inches shorter than a man with a rounded nose and pointed earlobes stretching behind it. It's clothes were held together crudely by large stitching.  It seemed much more afraid of whatever was behind it than me. So, I took aim and waited for the pursuing beast to show itself.

  From the sounds I expected a wild boar, but this was much larger.  The monster stood shoulder height, it's fur the same blue tint as the bark of the forest.  Horns twisted outward, mocking the branches of the trees.    If it wasn't charging at such a great speed, it would of been a hard quarry to spot in these woods.  It's jaw was wide and strong, giving a loud 'chomp' as it snapped at it's prey. I fired a shot and caught a shoulder.  It was just enough to force the creature down as the weight of it's charge hit the leg and shot up to the shoulder wound.  I took a few steps forward and fired again as it was returning to a stand. 

I stood in awe looking over the beast, holding aim, just in case it was stalwart enough to withstand the shot.  Luckily, the second shot was a killing blow.

The strange looking man hugged me, and to my surprise he could speak some English.  It was very broken, but enough for a slight amount of conversation.  His name was Nerstom, and his people were called the Echker.  In return for saving me, he offered to clean and cook the beast for me.  He also offered to be my guide in exchange for being able to eat some of it himself.

I was more than happy to take up the offer.  The beast, which Nerstom called a 'Beslamut' actually tasted good, although it was a bit chewy.

Nerstom told me that this place is called the Evrenstride, and about his people the Echker.  I shall write more tomorrow, there is so much to take in.