Berries & Ink/Issues/Berries-03-02

Publication: Berries & Ink

Volume: 03

Issue: 02

Issue Date: May 1, 2026

Contributors: Eruwyn, Nilme, Shaoimhe, Valynn, Stelling, Allye, Eionelthaniel, Jaelia, Vendelt, Karatyna, Crobin, Harkour, Warbrolus

Editor: Illiya

You tap a pale blue paper. A blob of berry-red wax is affixed to the paper. It is imprinted with a plump strawberry nestled in a crown of delicate leaves. You gently open the folded paper.

[~* Soft light breaks across pale blue paper sky above a sun-drenched forest clearing with rain-streaked strawberries and inkpots framing the hand-lettered script: *~] Berries & Ink - Volume 3, Issue 2 [~* Editor's Note *~] Dearest Readers, Before anything else, I want to thank you. The love and appreciation that followed our first issue was more than I could have hoped for. Every kind word, every message or mention passed along felt like a warm hand extended, encouraging us onward. I hope that we can live up to your expectations. On that note, I am pleased and honored to present you once again with our beloved columnists: Eruwyn, Shaoimhe, Valynn, Stelling, Allye, Jaelia, Vendelt, Karatyna, Crobin, and Harkour - as well as another beautiful poem from returning contributor Nilme Iondu'il. And we are especially excited to welcome two new contributors, Eionelthaniel and Warbrolus, with pieces that invite contemplation and reflection. Lately, I've been thinking about how many of us move through our days carrying more than we let on. If you're finding yourself in one of those seasons, remember to take care of yourself in whatever way you can, whether that means a nap, a sweet treat, or simply a few moments of quiet with a hot drink and your personal copy of Berries. With warmest wishes, Illiya [~* And with Gratitude to Our Sponsors *~] [SHOPPING] Sparkling gems, rare quest loot, tools, sanowret crystals, and more - you'll find everything you need to shine at Kiyora's Starlight Selections! [SONGWRITING] Need a custom song for a theme or special person? Just jot down your request and contact Nilme Iondu'il! [~* Twin apple tree branches abloom with pale pink petals embrace the words "Guess Who? by Eruwyn Cholares" *~] A graceful Elven woman stands amid a twilight garden, surrounded by blue tinged roses that half fade into the shadows behind her. Lustrous sapphire eyes gaze out from a delicately sculpted face, while her raven-hued hair is upswept in an arrangement of curls and blooms. Her gracile, hourglass figure is wrapped in a sweeping gown formed from glitter filled paint that gives the illusion of dozens of gems scattered across a lush fabric. Metallic silver hues grace her ears, neck, and fingers to give the impression of subtly glowing jewelry upon her alabaster skin. (Last issue's portrait: Casari. Winner: Ayrell. Mail in your guess for this month! The winner will be revealed next issue.) [~* Framed by tiny rosebuds tinged in the diluted hues of a sunrise are the words "Excuses by Nilme Iondu'il" *~] So many choices, what should I train? I could go explore, but outside there's rain. Trip to the city and a pint of cold beer? Wait! I might have some brandy here. Hunt? I'd need my longsword repaired. Maybe I should've been better prepared. Crafting is something I could do inside! Carving a bow that will bolster my pride! I look at my deeds. No wood to be found. I should've made sure there was plenty around. Hmm. How to waste time on this rainy day? I glance at my pet, who has nothing to say. That's really not helpful. I need advice! I'm at a loss, but my chair does feel nice. The house is cozy. The fire's nice and warm. Plus, here's the brandy, so bring on the storm! [~* A tiny cartoonish tart carrying a bindle walks atop the words "The Traveling Tartling by Shaoimhe Bramblebairn" *~] Hello, friends! This issue marks the maiden voyage of the Traveling Tartling and...I may have messed up big time. For forever I wanted to go to Muspar'i, you see, and I thought it would be a great place to start. Well, it was TOO great! It was SO GREAT!! I mean the desert, the heat, the crazy transportation, what a fun journey. And the city itself?? Food -everywhere-. Bustling people and colorful art and interesting shops. And music! I stayed in this inn with a window overlooking everything, and I saw more stars in the sky than ever in my life and the smell of coffee and spices woke me in the morning. I even got to visit this incredible theatre, and got my face painted! So, anyway, I don't know what can ever top Muspar'i...but I'll do my best! [~* Eat This, Not That by Valynn Aehre *~] This article is a nod to Ahneya, whose love of pickles is both admirable and slightly alarming. Located in a corner of the Ratha Bazaar, Piperelle's Perfect Pickles is owned by a Halfling so thoroughly steeped in vinegar he may be partially preserved. The air announces the establishment from fifty paces, simply approach and inhale. The half-sour dills are the unsung heroes here. Sweet, juicy, and priced like Piperelle hasn't done the math yet. The honeydew pickles deliver a delightful crunch, and the cherry peppers will have you desperately scanning the Bazaar for water. The hog-cheeks, however, were simply rotten and the troll-ears should have stayed on the trolls. This reviewer consumed too many pickles in the name of journalism and is feeling...uncomfortable. One wonders how Ahneya does it. [~* Bottles and flasks sprout from thorny vines encircling the title "Measured Pours by Stelling Constalon" *~] Brandy, brandy, who loves a brandy? The varieties abound Find it in cocoa, with it tobacco and cherries are soaked And if you haven't yet, try the cupcakes and tarts! Many are hard to differentiate Like whiskey before Appley and oaky, throat-warming liquor House Reserve and Dapper Dandy to name two Let's upgrade our game though At Shard's Silver Eye Rekave's is ridiculously refined Don't let the burn bother, the sweet will redeem My personal favorite is at Raven's Court Among other places, Rissan! Be sure you get the best, else you'll miss The fruity, the spicy, the toffeeful wonder. [~* Myths of the Mouse: Before the Cheers, by Allye Karayilma *~] Ragged breath misting the interior of a rusty thimble helm. Sweat-slick fur soothed as cool rain seeps through the cracks of his armor. A heady rumble as a hundred centipede legs kick into a thunderous pace beneath him. The unwieldy weight of the hairpin lance as he struggles to keep it aligned upon his target. The jolt of the weapon striking its mark. The rattling whirl of a tiny quintain spinning wildly. The tug of the reins as he directs his steed to turn around and take another pass. Then another. And another. Long after the sun dips beneath the horizon. [~* The Empty Chair by Eionelthaniel *~] There's an inn where evenings settle slow, The kind of place old travelers know. Not marked on maps or written in ink, But easily found by those who need a drink. Each night a man would take his chair, Watching the door like hope lived there. Across the room she'd sit nearby, Speaking of weather and days gone by. Between them stood an empty seat, Never saved, yet incomplete. Years went on as years will do, With words unsaid between the two. One night she looked, then crossed the floor, Past all the silence kept before. She took the chair, no bold display, Just truth where fear had blocked the way. He gave a nod, the smallest sign, Two hearts at last in the same slow time. That chair was never out of place, Nor was the moment, nor was the space. They learned too late what hearts debate, They'd both been wrong to wait for fate. [~* Community Commentary by Mother Jaelia Evensong *~] Phelim brings us more than dreams and visions. He also reminds us that sleep is not a luxury and is often the kindest gift we can give ourselves. Sleep is not wasted time, and it is not weakness. It is one of the quiet ways we take care of a life. Everything feels heavier when we are tired. Thought becomes slower. Patience becomes thinner. Even small things can begin to feel too large. But sleep restores something we cannot replace by force. It gives the mind a chance to settle, the body a chance to repair, and the heart a little room to breathe. We often praise discipline, effort, and endurance. But rest belongs with them. Because a person cannot keep giving without ever being restored. Sleep is part of how we return to ourselves. And sometimes, the most responsible thing we can do is close our eyes, let the day go, and trust that tomorrow will be better met with a rested mind. [~* The Dark Dyaus, Ch. 2: Tenebran and the Price of Knowing by Vendelt *~] Smart money said to forget her. Smart money said odd questions from Elven dames in the rain lead nowhere good. I'd never been much for smart money. Come morning I was already pulling on my boots, already running the angles in my head. Leth Deriel likes to think of itself as a city above reproach, all clean timber and gaethzen glow and old Elven dignity. But I'd walked these streets long enough to know what lives in the cracks, what lurks in the shadows. Something was wrong near the Deobar Bower Gate. Something small, maybe. Something nobody else thought worth the bother. That's usually how it starts. Mold doesn't ruin the whole loaf overnight. I turned my collar up and stepped outside. The rain had stopped, but the questions in my head hadn't. Looked like it was up to me to get answers. [~* Aether and Whiskers - Scales, Stones, and Claws: A Tiny Pause by Karatyna *~] I trotted through grass that was taller than me To see what a Gerbil was lucky to see Out popped a grass Eel, as thin as a thread It swarmed and it wiggled wherever I tread! We hit a deep mine, chilly and cold With long, dark shadows for me to behold A toothy Beisswurm gave a slither and grin With razor-sharp claws and a very thin skin! A grey-skinned Rock Troll with a wart on his nose Tromped out on his yellowed and hideous toes! He shook up the ground with a Tremor and thud And smelled like a pile of stinky old mud Trolls, Eels, and Beisswurms are all far too toothy The world of the living is truly un-smoothy! The creatures are odd and they like to go snap I'm glad I can hide in my Lady's warm lap! [~* The Adventures of Lavacano Gator, Ch. 22: A Small Prayer by Crobin Yuanfen *~] Zynell's chant had gone on for what felt like hours. Illiya knelt nearby, her healing light flickering as Lavacano's body lay still beneath the Grove's shadowed canopy. Footsteps approached softly. A small girl stepped forward - the same child Lavacano had shielded during the invasion. Clutching a worn teddy bear, she hesitated, then placed it gently on his chest. "You saved us," she whispered. "So... please come back." For a moment, nothing changed. Then the boar bead at Lavacano's neck warmed. His fingers twitched. A slow breath filled his lungs. Illiya gasped. Zynell's chant shifted, rising stronger as Lavacano's eyes opened to the rustling leaves above. Somewhere far off, like distant war drums fading into dawn, Everild answered. [~* One Year So Long and So Short: Spring Ends by Harkour Navarre *~] Shades of green replace the grey Life filling the season more each day Cast aside chilled winter's way And this life is born anew. Love grew in gardens care Passion born in moments shared Fingers entwined in your hair Desperate and soft yet all for you. Peace is savoured but never lasts Duty and honor can come so fast Called away after this last repast One last night swearing love is true. Summer heat is setting in The war that takes me away again This last kiss before I begin Walking with soldiers into the gloom. One last glance to see your face Swearing to return to this place Confidence now fear's replace And together after the war is through. [~* To Create a Devourer, Part 1 by Warbrolus Noq'Myth *~] She laughed. Standing at a distance, weaving execrable spells, she laughed as the innocent, our families, fell around her. History remembers the lich who raised armies from the bodies of the slain, the Devourer who erased a third of Kermoria's population, who murdered a prince and matched blows with a god. These things happened. She did them. And yet the record also tells us, almost as an afterthought, that she was a woman before she was a monster, a Warrior Mage marked by a cruelty visited upon her in childhood whose nature was never committed to writing. We are given the conflagration but not the flint that sparked it. [~* Thank you for reading! Look out for more juicy bites in the next issue! *~]