My Decision is Made

2009-06-16T23:43:00.000-07:00

My name is George Woodruff. I have always led a life of practicality and pragmatism. I am not particularly religious, nor superstitious. And yet now, in my late fifties, I have found it both necessary and inevitable that I become a Warlock - a male witch.

This is not a decision I take lightly. I realise that it may even seem ridiculous to some, especially to those who miss the daily signs that surround them.

I have been a naval seaman, a civil servant, an office manager and now I am the estates manager - otherwise known as caretaker - for the properties of Rivercastle Developments (Wales) Ltd., such as the firm owns in Castle Avon, Glendowershire, in the beautiful and ancient land of Wales.

My current employment is part of the reason I must change my life in this way. In return for accommodation and a salary, I have undertaken to protect those properties - the shops, the new apartment block, parts of the castle. Routinely, this means the mundanities of changing lightbulbs, engaging tradesmen and so on - but now these structures are all in terrible, unseen jeopardy, so I must extend my responsibities accordingly. The threat that hangs over Castle Avon is essentially supernatural - and so it must be met and dispelled by a force similarly not of this plane of existence as we commonly know it. Put simply, my choice is in keeping with the promise I made to my superiors; it is how I shall fulfil my contractual duties.

But there is another reason for my life being taken down this extraordinary path, and it stems from those who would otherwise have defended Castle Avon. The Coven believes nobody knows of its existence. On the one hand, its clandestine nature has allowed it to operate for years - indeed centuries - without molestation or inquiry. But the secrecy in which it holds itself is a double-edged sword, to inflict wounds on the body that wields it. That is the position of the Coven now.

And then there is Myfanwy. Dear Myfanwy. So out of her depth. So reminiscent to me of past tragedies. It must not happen again.

My decision is made. There is much learning to do. But first I must give my thanks to the people at Arberth Studios (http://www.covengame.com/) for helping me to keep this electronic journal.

George Woodruff (Castle Avon)

My Decision is Made