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We apprehended the man in the middle of the street after having received numerous reports and complaints of a hunched-over traveler, staggering about and raving loudly at the populace. His appearance was unkempt, swaddled in a large, tattered, blue cloak that bore the filth of what must have been many months of travel from our estimations. We attempted to engage him peacefully and inquired about his name, place of origin, and business in our city. All we were able to get out of him was incomprehensible gibberish. When questioned again about his name, the cloaked figure emphatically repeated the same thing, interspersed with other syllables that were hard to discern: "Sylo'vet!" Taking him to be mad, we relieved him of his arms, which consisted of a gnarled staff and a long dagger of noble make which hung about his waist. When questioned about how such a man as himself came to possess such a fine dagger, the man became more silent and started muttering to himself. Also taken from him was a small travel bag of supplies, filled with various oddities, a small amount of coin, and a leather-bound tome, filled with nonsensical scrawling. His belongings were stashed in the southwestern barracks.

The magistrate saw him and questioned the man about the dagger with similar success before declaring him a man of unsound mind as well as a thief, or likely a looter of corpses, and ordering him to be locked in a cell to prevent harm to himself and our citizenry. Without a proper name to associate with this man the magistrate ordered that he should be called by the words he yelled repeatedly when asked for his designation. For use of record, his designation was rendered as Sylo. His sentencing was carried out immediately, having established for him a segregated, cobble-stone cell recessed into the earth to prevent him from inciting the other prisoners with his ranting.

The pitiable man was held in safe keeping for the passing of several summer moons without incident. He was never violent. Indeed, he barely seemed to notice the comings and goings of the guards, content to sit in a far corner of his small confines, muttering his nonsense into the darkness. A single portion of food seemed to last him for days.

I can personally vouch for the loyalty and competence of the three guardsmen whose duty included the careful watch and care of this prisoner. They have distinguished themselves under my command for many years, and have never once failed in their duties in all that time. There was no indication that the prisoner was intending to escape, or that he even knew he was being held in a cell for that matter. At no time during the days in question was his cell ever left unguarded and the prisoner, during the entirety of his captivity, never once approached the gate of his confines.

His absence was first noted during the evening guard change. The relief for the second shift arrived and noticed that the prisoner seemed more silent than usual. The guard on duty was still alert and standing at his post. Together, they looked into the cell and could not see the madman. Entering, they found no presence of the man at all! The guard who was on duty during the assumed time of disappearance has been relieved and is awaiting your judgment. I beseech you to extend your great mercy to my men in this matter, as they are sturdy souls--fine men of service, and even I, your loyal and most humble captain, am confounded by the vanishing of this strange wanderer. What is more, the escapee was somehow able to obtain his confiscated possessions from the barracks without incident or notice. It is as if they, along with this lunatic, had at once vanished into thin air!

I cannot even begin to convey the depth of penitence I feel for having such a thing occur under my command. I assure you that no effort was spared in the attempt to track him down, but after several days time we have yet to find a single sign of his flight. It is likely that this man has wandered off to his death in some forgotten pit or cliff-side and that we shall never hear from him again. I have returned my men to their regular duties, excepting the guard in question, and offer this report to you in an effort to allay any fears or questions of danger you may have concerning this vanished man as well as to beg your leniency in this most perplexing matter. I serve at your pleasure and bow before your graciousness, for which you are widely and righteously loved.

Your humble servant,

Leovar Errickson

Captain of the Guard