A Loss of Memory

Coming out of the Vaults where we have hidden for hundreds of years, the first thing that struck me was the beauty and warmth of the sun. Life giving and bright, it shone down onto my face from the endless blue sky above. By my oath, if there is one phrase that can describe this new life I lead it is "Under the Sun".

I am not the first to come out of the Vaults to explore the surface. I think myself a brave man, but I am not as foolhardy as the first to venture forth. No, I waited with my family and comrades while the initial explorations were made, and reports came back to us letting us know that it wasn't as bad as we had thought. Sure, there seemed dangers aplenty, but nothing like what we had feared: a world uninhabitable. Ruins of our cities and towns were found, in remarkably good condition considering the wars and ages that had passed. The brave explorers moved out into the lands farther away from our sanctuary, discovering and rediscovering wonders, while more groups made plans and organized themselves in the Vaults in order to move out and explore this new/old world of ours.

My monarch, John Prosper, called us all to the Great Hall of Clan Prosper to announce to our Clan that we would soon be migrating out onto the surface world. Excitement and enthusiasm swept through the crowd and I smiled to my wife, Zia, from my position on the dais behind my King, there with the other Lords and Advisors.

It had always been the role of my branch of the Clan to provide materials and support to others in our monarchy, even going back to before the wars; we needed to be prepared to assist with this endeavor. So, as leader of House Desiderata I announced to my own followers and family that I would go into the upper world and begin preparing a place for us there. Others too stepped forth, to volunteer and go to the surface, to prepare a place for our Clan when the Great Migration began. Pride in the courage and fortitude of my vassals, family, and peers caused my vision to mist over in a quick scatter which I quickly wiped away.

What would I find above, in truth? Reports of plentiful resources and fearsome creatures had given us all a confused view of the Sunlit World and I knew little of what to expect. My dear wife, my daughter, my vassals and kin, all gathered around to wish me luck and fortune. They would join me above over the days and weeks ahead, but someone had to go first. Courage, and a deep desire to explore and see and learn of the world above is all that kept me going as I stepped into the swirling purple mist of the portal to the surface.

The twisting angles and a rolling sensation in my belly eventually came to an end in a flash of bright light and the feel of rough stone beneath my hands as I steadied myself before attempting to stand. I could see but little and what I could see was blurred, distorted. A warm and human voice spoke to me as I shook my head to clear it of the fog and swirl of the portal space.

"Welcome to the surface world. I am your instructor, your guide, for your first days with us here."

Looking about, I forced my eyes to focus on the speaker: a strongly built woman of middle years, with a sword at her side.

"Thank you," I murmured, still unsure of where I was... or even where I had come from.

"You are experiencing the effects of the portal still, friend," her voice measured and calm, reassuring. "We all had the same forgetfulness of our recent past when we emerged from the Vaults. Your memory of your life there, your companions, and even your skills may return in time, with practice and effort. But, I am afraid that for now you are as a new child in the world."

I shook my head again, but what she said seemed true. I could remember very little of my past, other than my name, Roland Esque. I was married, had a... or several, children. I was the Lord of House Desiderata, a Noble House in the Clan Prosper. But... what else? Why was I here instead of... wherever I had come from?

Seeing my confusion and the beginnings of panic on my face, my guide took my hand and led me down a long hallway, giving me comforting words and assuring me that in the future other folk arriving from the Vaults may be more in possession of their memories, skills, history. But for now, rediscovering myself must proceed apace with my discovery of this new world that I found myself in.

I remembered one thing well: I was among the first of the general population from the Vaults who had stepped into the portal. Others would be coming, including my family, my House, my king and clan.

Turning to my guide, I smiled. "Yes, quickly, teach me what I need to know to go outside, to begin."