Eibhlin sits in her nest with a light cantrip above so she can write in her journal. She is about to hibernate for 10 days and wishes to write about all that happened to her the 21 days she traveled in the real world. She writes.
I was in the real world for 21 days. I usually do not get that long before being whisked back into the mists to commune and learn from the tree spirits. During those 21 days much happened, and I am not sure how to start so I will do so with something small.
There is a newer woman in the circle. A sun elf by the name of Zaeryl. Luthias and I have taken her several places such as the goblins and Warrior’s rest. She wishes to learn the ancient art of blade singing. She’s a nice girl a bit naïve (not as much as Nuar’verthal when he first came but still, she tends to be very open.
I have been going to the village of Tradesmeet to find out what these humans really think. I sit at the local inn and listen to the banter all around me. An Orc-blood by the name of Altimere came into the inn and started a conversation with me. Just as we made introductions Zaeryl wandered into the inn with no hood on and started to speak to me in elven. My cover was completely blown. Altimere realizing that she and I were both elves left immediately. I found out later that Altimere is the half-blood that recruits for the beastlord Malar in the town. He also set up the high hunt during the spring festival that many of the conclave went against. I may have found out more, but Zaeryl disrupted me. I do not blame her. She was just being who she is, though for a few moments I was quite miffed that my cover had been blown. There may be more people I could listen in on or converse within further outings.
I found a place to do my first moon dance here. I even made a dress as best I could. It was simple, I am not a seamstress but still was somewhat well done. I asked Vaelia The local Hanali priestess for help. She readily agreed. I was elated for such expert help. However, she forgot before the full moon, and I could not connect with her again. So, I danced with what I had.
The Edd Boone situation is getting out of hand. I feel for the injustice of the first incident I heard about how he was almost arrested because he used magic to dispel a wounded man’s invisibility so the man could be healed. He escaped and wanted to talk to the authorities about it, but they tried to arrest him. He used a wand to escape which of course is using magic again. That second incident is on him. He should not have done that. Now he is a wanted man. Not only for these two incidents but also by someone trying to make him a martyr.
It seems someone put pamphlets all over Murann about organizing a revolution and they put Edd Boone’s name on it. Now he is wanted for treason too and they are looking for anyone that is associated with him to arrest them too. Several members of the Conclave are his friends. They are in grave danger also the very forest is under assault by bands of adventurers looking for Edd. Now the situation is even affecting the tribes.
I met Edd once in Tradesmeet. He took Zaeryl, and me and another to Brost. He said he had a stash of magic items for us. When we got to where he said he stashed it there was nothing. It seems it had been picked clean. We parted and went back to the circle.
The second time was due to the trees telling me that Edd Boone was in the gulch headed to the circle. I was alone so made haste. I found him escorting Zaeryl back. She had become lost trying to find her way home. I stopped them both. Zaeryl confirmed that it was Edd in fact. (She tends to let the cat out of the bag every time I see her) I thanked Edd but told him to go home away from the forest. I appreciate that he did a good thing, but he is banded from the Circle for a reason. The tribes and the Conclave can ill afford worsening relations with Murann.
On a final note, there is a huge reward for Edd Boone that includes Amnish citizenship so may adventurers and treasure seekers are after him. During the ceremony of the crescent moon, a religious ceremony honoring the father of elves Correllon, several humans came to the Starlight court. At first, they seemed to want to help but in reality, they were looking for Edd and asking what the elves knew about him or if we were harboring him.
The situation is slowly becoming untenable for us. I hope it doesn’t explode to armed fighting in the forest.
One of these adventuring groups hunting Edd is a band called the Pale Stones. Many that know them call them the Piss Stones. This evil bunch wants to eradicate magic from the face of Toril by any means possible. It is said they will capture and torture anyone they think can use magic. The means Mage, Priest or even a Shaman. This evil band of demons have been pushing their weight around everywhere they go and harass almost everyone they talk to. They are malicious and will not hesitate to kill anyone if they think they can get away with it. Personally, if all that was said to me about them is true, I think they should be wiped off of the face of Toril.
I have the names of their more elite members and will be extremely wary of them. They wear black or dark armor with white. So, they can be identified fairly easily. The names of these elite are:
Alexander Guerrero
Kanlaeel Tauth
Or an Orc half-blood that changed his name to look like he is a knight. He goes by Ordwyn now.
Armo another who changed his name to seem more noble. He goes by the name of Armonde now.
And last but not least, Folcard of Earlhaid
This one Folcard is a fanatic and shrewd. It is said that he is the brains of their operation and not someone to cross ever. They say he loves to torture to death children to get their parents to confess to using magic. Then after he is done, he revels in drinking the child’s blood from a challis as the torture and execution of the parent proceeds. I do not know if that is true or not, but this one is said to be the evilest of the bunch.
To be continued.
Eibhlin: The Locket
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Winterhawk99
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Winterhawk99
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Re: Eibhlin: The Locket
Eibhlin stops writing for a moment and thinks about what she wrote. She comments to herself, “Gods of the Seldarine let me not meet these vile men in Tradesmeet.” She renews her writing.
I have gone with Keila on many patrols, both long and short. She has become like a big sister to me. Always offering advice on the trails of the Wealdath. We have fought worgs in their dens, spiders in ruins, Wealdath spiders in the wilds and had many adventures often stopping at the gazebo to honor fallen warriors so she can make her prayers or stopping at rills inn to have some tea. She doesn’t have tea, but I do. We even did a short patrol so that Firiel could test a new bow.
I noticed how much Firiel yearned to become one with her bow. Seeing this I gave my father’s grey cloak. The one he used when he worshipped Solonar Thelandira on his midnight ceremonies. I figured the cloak should go to someone that would appreciate the symbolism of the cloak, and I think I have.
As I see Keila ever more like a big sister that could guide me in the ways of the Eneyri, I see Luthias more and more as a little brother. I don’t think his mind has really developed after the age of 90. We often chide and compete with each other for fun. He’s very shall we say independent of spirit. He often perplexes me with his antics and confounds me with his simple language. Still, I do enjoy having him around even if he frustrates me on patrol at times with his non-cooperation with the group as a whole. He hangs back with his bow when we need him up from with his hammer and shield and when we don’t need a front liner he often takes up his hammer and shield. He is an enigma to me at times, but his soul is generally good but good in a different way. I would say good in a lone wolf way.
I will move on to Hallis. Hallis is a dwarf that wandered into the circle one day. I spoke to him at length and found out he is a very honorable man even though he can hide very well. He is a traveler. In fact, he had been near my home forest at one time. After spending some hours talking to him Keila questioned him on his intent to be within the circle and asked if he was Conclave. I stood up for him and said he was my guest. And thus, with my talk with Keila he became my guest while within the Enclave and I have taken responsibility for his actions.
Since then, he has visited many times and has helped us on many patrols. We made a bet one day, and I won. The bet was a dinner. He took me across the countryside and into the white pines from there we passed an underground tunnel and went left to an exit. There in the middle of some mountain peaks was a hidden vale. A place of Sylvan beauty. I could feel sprites around. I don’t know how, but they hid from our eyes. He cooked me a wonderful venison dinner with potatoes and onions. We talked and walked around the Vale looking at all beauty including several waterfalls that form a pond.
At the end of it he wanted to…. well………. inferred that we could possibly do more. I had to take a step back and I guess he felt my hesitation. So, he asked for a kiss. I accepted and gave him one on the cheek. We went back to the circle.
Later he tried to get closer and closer to me asking the next time if he could have a kiss. I again kissed him on the cheek. But I knew where this was going and well if he had been an elf I may have been all over him but he is a dwarf. As much as elves and dwarfs talk of a cross breed called a Dwelf we all know it cannot happen.
I told Keila about my rather odd adventures and Hallis being enamored with me. She teased me pretty good while on patrol. I did need to talk to Hallis and set things right. I met him at the tavern in Tradesmeet. I told him of my desire to have children on day and that could never work with a dwarf. I even joked about helping him get a nice dwarven girl. He seemed to take it well enough. Though I know I may have hurt his heart.
I eventually told him I would always consider him a good friend and that a kiss on the cheek or a hug was fine but no more.
Not long after, I recruited Keila to go back to the hidden vale with me. We found Ghallar and found the trail to an old battlefield that I and Hallis past. After that I lost the trail. We ended up in the mountains at night and had to turn back for there were both orcs and ogres roaming around the area. I will ask Diolliun sometime if he knows where this hidden sylvan paradise is.
Coming back Keila showed me a place by the road near Tradesmeet where Troglodytes roam. I went back with a team of 6 people. We cleaned the place out and made a lot of coin from them. I found the group as a whole easily defeated them. I went back several times by myself. At first one room then two then all the way to the end.
I found it a good way to make good coin. However once while fighting them they knocked me unconscious. Someone must have come and dragged me to the safety of the entrance. I had a grave wound and went to the high druid to have it sewn up proper. Knowing I could not let that stop me I went in again and this time again succeeded alone.
This will be my next big training area for teams. Knowing that I can go it alone now, I can take one or two or six people to train them to work in a group. It’s not as bad as Warrior’s rest but much more challenging than the goblins.
One of the days I was in the real world when the call rang out in the circle that there was a bugbear war party marching up the river. There was a call to arms and many of us went to dissuade them from getting to the enclave. We fought them back down the river. Eventually we were near the lake when Firiel did some scouting and found what led them. It was Grimbark himself. We retreated back to the circle. I would assume that finding his little army destroyed Grimbark retreated to his haunts near the wounded land.
One of the last things I did was go on a major patrol with Keila looking for humans hunting Edd Boone tromping through the forest. If we had found any, we were to turn them back to their own lands. However, we found nothing. Coming back, we met with another large group led by Dilliun.
They were on their own mission and asked us to join. We went to the Brambles. Once there Diolliun revealed their intent. He wanted to cleanse the poison from the area, and he chose the exact place that the last doomed ritual was performed.
We had nearly 20 defenders and only 4 druids and shamaness to be in the ritual. It was Diolliun, Shalee, Silvaine and myself. We formed a circle. Diolliun explained that he will lead the ritual. I spoke up saying that we did not want to make the same mistakes we made the last time, and he agreed.
This time there was a clear leader to channel our energy into. He led and we followed. I sunk into a light trance and hummed with him as the other girls did, and we all spoke his words and lent our own magic energy to him.
Again, the corrupted forest resisted. It sent its maddened animals and other minions to destroy us. There were worgs, gibberlings and meenlocks all attacking us trying to disrupt the ceremony. The defenders all kept the maddened creatures from those of us performing the ritual this time. The poison from the soil manifested in great bulbus, mushroom like cists growing up from the ground.
As they grew and grew to giants that towered over our head and as the ceremony was crescendoing the defenders made a great shout that Grimbark was on his way. Just then the magic peaked, and the towering cists broke open covering all those in the circle with a stinky goo.
We had cleansed the soil in the brambles area of its corruption. Grimbark became confused and slowly wandered back towards the wounded land he often haunts. We had succeeded and the forest came back to life with a new peace all around us. Shalee fainted from her exertions. I put my back to the oldest tree there and It lent me a small amount of strength to get back to the circle without fainting.
When I got there, I ate as if I had just come out of hibernation. It was a strange sensation of being so hungry and tired. We had done it. We had cleansed a small part of the forest near the scar. I know it is only temporary, but any small victory against the scar is a godsend. I revel in it.
Thus is my story for the last 21 days. Now I go to my spirits within the mist, and they will tell me how I have succeeded and how I have failed. Hopefully I will have done more than good and have made less mistakes. I hate being called a sapling. Still, it means I must learn much more and mature to my true potential. Then I may gain enough respect from the trees that they call me Speaker.
I have gone with Keila on many patrols, both long and short. She has become like a big sister to me. Always offering advice on the trails of the Wealdath. We have fought worgs in their dens, spiders in ruins, Wealdath spiders in the wilds and had many adventures often stopping at the gazebo to honor fallen warriors so she can make her prayers or stopping at rills inn to have some tea. She doesn’t have tea, but I do. We even did a short patrol so that Firiel could test a new bow.
I noticed how much Firiel yearned to become one with her bow. Seeing this I gave my father’s grey cloak. The one he used when he worshipped Solonar Thelandira on his midnight ceremonies. I figured the cloak should go to someone that would appreciate the symbolism of the cloak, and I think I have.
As I see Keila ever more like a big sister that could guide me in the ways of the Eneyri, I see Luthias more and more as a little brother. I don’t think his mind has really developed after the age of 90. We often chide and compete with each other for fun. He’s very shall we say independent of spirit. He often perplexes me with his antics and confounds me with his simple language. Still, I do enjoy having him around even if he frustrates me on patrol at times with his non-cooperation with the group as a whole. He hangs back with his bow when we need him up from with his hammer and shield and when we don’t need a front liner he often takes up his hammer and shield. He is an enigma to me at times, but his soul is generally good but good in a different way. I would say good in a lone wolf way.
I will move on to Hallis. Hallis is a dwarf that wandered into the circle one day. I spoke to him at length and found out he is a very honorable man even though he can hide very well. He is a traveler. In fact, he had been near my home forest at one time. After spending some hours talking to him Keila questioned him on his intent to be within the circle and asked if he was Conclave. I stood up for him and said he was my guest. And thus, with my talk with Keila he became my guest while within the Enclave and I have taken responsibility for his actions.
Since then, he has visited many times and has helped us on many patrols. We made a bet one day, and I won. The bet was a dinner. He took me across the countryside and into the white pines from there we passed an underground tunnel and went left to an exit. There in the middle of some mountain peaks was a hidden vale. A place of Sylvan beauty. I could feel sprites around. I don’t know how, but they hid from our eyes. He cooked me a wonderful venison dinner with potatoes and onions. We talked and walked around the Vale looking at all beauty including several waterfalls that form a pond.
At the end of it he wanted to…. well………. inferred that we could possibly do more. I had to take a step back and I guess he felt my hesitation. So, he asked for a kiss. I accepted and gave him one on the cheek. We went back to the circle.
Later he tried to get closer and closer to me asking the next time if he could have a kiss. I again kissed him on the cheek. But I knew where this was going and well if he had been an elf I may have been all over him but he is a dwarf. As much as elves and dwarfs talk of a cross breed called a Dwelf we all know it cannot happen.
I told Keila about my rather odd adventures and Hallis being enamored with me. She teased me pretty good while on patrol. I did need to talk to Hallis and set things right. I met him at the tavern in Tradesmeet. I told him of my desire to have children on day and that could never work with a dwarf. I even joked about helping him get a nice dwarven girl. He seemed to take it well enough. Though I know I may have hurt his heart.
I eventually told him I would always consider him a good friend and that a kiss on the cheek or a hug was fine but no more.
Not long after, I recruited Keila to go back to the hidden vale with me. We found Ghallar and found the trail to an old battlefield that I and Hallis past. After that I lost the trail. We ended up in the mountains at night and had to turn back for there were both orcs and ogres roaming around the area. I will ask Diolliun sometime if he knows where this hidden sylvan paradise is.
Coming back Keila showed me a place by the road near Tradesmeet where Troglodytes roam. I went back with a team of 6 people. We cleaned the place out and made a lot of coin from them. I found the group as a whole easily defeated them. I went back several times by myself. At first one room then two then all the way to the end.
I found it a good way to make good coin. However once while fighting them they knocked me unconscious. Someone must have come and dragged me to the safety of the entrance. I had a grave wound and went to the high druid to have it sewn up proper. Knowing I could not let that stop me I went in again and this time again succeeded alone.
This will be my next big training area for teams. Knowing that I can go it alone now, I can take one or two or six people to train them to work in a group. It’s not as bad as Warrior’s rest but much more challenging than the goblins.
One of the days I was in the real world when the call rang out in the circle that there was a bugbear war party marching up the river. There was a call to arms and many of us went to dissuade them from getting to the enclave. We fought them back down the river. Eventually we were near the lake when Firiel did some scouting and found what led them. It was Grimbark himself. We retreated back to the circle. I would assume that finding his little army destroyed Grimbark retreated to his haunts near the wounded land.
One of the last things I did was go on a major patrol with Keila looking for humans hunting Edd Boone tromping through the forest. If we had found any, we were to turn them back to their own lands. However, we found nothing. Coming back, we met with another large group led by Dilliun.
They were on their own mission and asked us to join. We went to the Brambles. Once there Diolliun revealed their intent. He wanted to cleanse the poison from the area, and he chose the exact place that the last doomed ritual was performed.
We had nearly 20 defenders and only 4 druids and shamaness to be in the ritual. It was Diolliun, Shalee, Silvaine and myself. We formed a circle. Diolliun explained that he will lead the ritual. I spoke up saying that we did not want to make the same mistakes we made the last time, and he agreed.
This time there was a clear leader to channel our energy into. He led and we followed. I sunk into a light trance and hummed with him as the other girls did, and we all spoke his words and lent our own magic energy to him.
Again, the corrupted forest resisted. It sent its maddened animals and other minions to destroy us. There were worgs, gibberlings and meenlocks all attacking us trying to disrupt the ceremony. The defenders all kept the maddened creatures from those of us performing the ritual this time. The poison from the soil manifested in great bulbus, mushroom like cists growing up from the ground.
As they grew and grew to giants that towered over our head and as the ceremony was crescendoing the defenders made a great shout that Grimbark was on his way. Just then the magic peaked, and the towering cists broke open covering all those in the circle with a stinky goo.
We had cleansed the soil in the brambles area of its corruption. Grimbark became confused and slowly wandered back towards the wounded land he often haunts. We had succeeded and the forest came back to life with a new peace all around us. Shalee fainted from her exertions. I put my back to the oldest tree there and It lent me a small amount of strength to get back to the circle without fainting.
When I got there, I ate as if I had just come out of hibernation. It was a strange sensation of being so hungry and tired. We had done it. We had cleansed a small part of the forest near the scar. I know it is only temporary, but any small victory against the scar is a godsend. I revel in it.
Thus is my story for the last 21 days. Now I go to my spirits within the mist, and they will tell me how I have succeeded and how I have failed. Hopefully I will have done more than good and have made less mistakes. I hate being called a sapling. Still, it means I must learn much more and mature to my true potential. Then I may gain enough respect from the trees that they call me Speaker.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: Eibhlin: The Locket
Eibhlin gets ready to set up for her hibernation. She goes up to her next and throws up a light spell then opens her journal. A ritual she has come accustomed to over the months she has been here. She writes.
I was in the real world for 4 days after being in the mists for 10. Much happened which surprised me and I myself instigated a little prank on the village of Tradesmeet. It was a little fun to poke at the humans, nothing that would harm but I will get to that.
When I came out of hibernation I found Isilme in the circle. I had promised to take her alone to the troglodytes for training purposes and so I did. We ran through the place like a whirlwind all the while I showed her the tactics I used. I think she took to it. No rushing around no running. Just a slow walk while setting up ambushes for them in just the right places. Leading them to the ambush point then dealing with them. It worked so well neither She, I nor my Jaguar needed much of any medical attention at all.
It shows how a disciplined well thought out plan of action can work if you think and discuss it before assaulting a fort or ruins of evil creatures. She was very happy and surprised just how well it paid off. She said she had enough with just this one excursion to pay off her two debtors. I was happy for her, and she carried herself well.
The next thing to happen was well I was bored. I have plenty in the vault now. More than 10,000 silver coins and my equipment is the best you can buy so I really have nothing to spend a royal fortune on other than dresses. I have no needs thus I decided to play a little prank on the village of Tradesmeet.
Late at night when everyone was sleeping, I went to the town. The horses all seemed to want to follow me for some reason…... Sorry I’m snickering already. Somehow, they wound up crowding the crossroads so it would be very hard for someone to pass them. And what do you know? A mysterious note seemed to fall to the ground. I picked up the note I wrote and read it.
The note said that the horses were tired of being abused and had a list of somewhat reasonable demands. They included more alfalfa in their food, cleaner water troughs, a mud bath once a week, and custom designer multi-colored horseshoes…. I’m not sure about that one but most of the other demands sounded reasonable to me. And thus, the great horse revolt of Tradesmeet had started. I left and came back later that night and the horses were still there with the note. The next morning, however, everything was back to normal. So, it seems someone played a little mischievous prank upon the village.
The real question is what will be next? Will an army of goats come down from the hills to invade the town and eat all the human’s bedding? One never knows.
On a more serious note, it was important to me to find the mysterious forgotten Vale that Hallis had taken me too. I had lost the path. It just so happened that on the second day I was in the real world Hetaerina came to the circle. Hetaerina is an expert map maker. I would say most likely one of the best if not the best herself in all the surrounding lands.
I got some people together to once again try to find this place of sylvan beauty. Hetaerina said she knew exactly where it was so I gathered her, Keila, Rhys, and Aldarin to me and we started out to explore to see if we could find it. Aldarin fell by the way quickly so the four of us continued on to Ghallar. Once in Ghallar we headed in a certain direction for several miles and went to a cave entrance. I immediately recognized it. Keila was a bit incredulous that we would find it and did not truly believe it existed until we went under the mountain and found the entrance way to the vale.
When we came to the Vale, I felt again that someone was hiding and watching us but still it’s sylvan beauty and the sheer amount of different species of trees enthralled me. I could live there for an eternity without a care in the world. Keila was less impressed, but Hetaerina and Rhys were awestruck as I.
After we explored the forgotten vale, we decided to explore the outlands in an area called Poet’s Folly we found a cave with skull poles outside. Keila said it was orcs. We decided to go in just the 4 of us. There was a hole tribe of orcs in those caves. We fought them out to the end of the cave system.
We were doing well until the very end when many orcs got around and surrounded us. Rhys went down. I took a chance and used the chant while Keila used some healing upon him. Whether it was the chant or Keila’s healing he got back up. The only problem is the whole time I was chanting three of the orcs were trying to beat me to death. Even with the regeneration I was nearly dead when I stopped. I fled the scene to heal myself and had to flee fairly far away, as two of the orcs gave chase. I lost them and used my magic to heal myself and quickly wrapped some bandages on my wounds.
When I came back Keila was dancing with the champion of the orcs, but something was wrong. She looked confused and was walking funny. I touched my amulet and called forth thunderous might. I am not sure if my magic infused arrow or Keila’s last was the killing blow, but both struck him, and he fell.
Once that was over, we searched the vast cavern that made for the orc’s seat of power. We found a woman dead on an altar to their god. She was kin. No amount of healing would save her as her soul had moved on. Disillusioned and saddened that kin would be sacrificed by the orcs, we decided that our exploration was over. We took the body with us.
We buried her northeast of the enclave on a hill overlooking a lake. I gave her last rites, and we buried her. I sprinkled rose petals over the grave. May she sing her praises now safe in the heavens of Avandor.
The next day the girl whose family tends the forgotten vale was in the circle alone. I asked her about it. She was surprised I knew of it and said it was supposed to be a secret. I think her name is Nebalinne or something similar. We talked at length about the little paradise, and I thanked her for the information provided. I will go back and help her family from time to time, I think. These places of beauty should be preserved for those few who know and can enjoy its wonder.
The last thing I did was a patrol with Keila but there is a story too it. A few days earlier I had found an elven arrow and tracks at the place called the overlook. The arrow pointed into the forest to the path that leads in. Not something I wanted anyone but kin and conclave to know. But what this was all about I had no idea. So, I forgot about it.
Today, Keila told me the story of the arrow. It seems she had found the tracks also and put the arrow down herself to mark the entrance of someone unwanted in the forest. This person or person went through the area we named the Call of the Wild and killed every living thing they could find. Even the squirrels and birds. The person then went down to the Sangue river and headed northeast up to the lake. Everywhere they went they killed everything they could find: Deer, wolves, squirrels, badgers…. everything.
I was off course incensed by this and we immediately gathered a patrol to find further evidence. Unfortunately, it had been a few days. Tracks were old and worn. Any evidence had melted away within the forest. We went all the way to the lake and found nothing. The forest had returned to normal. This person got away with a travesty, and I believe since they got away with it they will one day do it again.
They left the tracks at the outlook in a way to make sure we would know they passed by. They wanted us to know their intent as if purposely rubbing our noses in dung. I hope next time they attempt it we catch them and let the justice of the forest seek its revenge.
I will drift off now into hibernation and I will ask the trees if they either know this person or can describe them to me. When I come back to the real world, if they do tell me of this incident, I will report what I know to both the conclave, the elders and to my friend Keila.
There has to be justice served for this atrocity.
I was in the real world for 4 days after being in the mists for 10. Much happened which surprised me and I myself instigated a little prank on the village of Tradesmeet. It was a little fun to poke at the humans, nothing that would harm but I will get to that.
When I came out of hibernation I found Isilme in the circle. I had promised to take her alone to the troglodytes for training purposes and so I did. We ran through the place like a whirlwind all the while I showed her the tactics I used. I think she took to it. No rushing around no running. Just a slow walk while setting up ambushes for them in just the right places. Leading them to the ambush point then dealing with them. It worked so well neither She, I nor my Jaguar needed much of any medical attention at all.
It shows how a disciplined well thought out plan of action can work if you think and discuss it before assaulting a fort or ruins of evil creatures. She was very happy and surprised just how well it paid off. She said she had enough with just this one excursion to pay off her two debtors. I was happy for her, and she carried herself well.
The next thing to happen was well I was bored. I have plenty in the vault now. More than 10,000 silver coins and my equipment is the best you can buy so I really have nothing to spend a royal fortune on other than dresses. I have no needs thus I decided to play a little prank on the village of Tradesmeet.
Late at night when everyone was sleeping, I went to the town. The horses all seemed to want to follow me for some reason…... Sorry I’m snickering already. Somehow, they wound up crowding the crossroads so it would be very hard for someone to pass them. And what do you know? A mysterious note seemed to fall to the ground. I picked up the note I wrote and read it.
The note said that the horses were tired of being abused and had a list of somewhat reasonable demands. They included more alfalfa in their food, cleaner water troughs, a mud bath once a week, and custom designer multi-colored horseshoes…. I’m not sure about that one but most of the other demands sounded reasonable to me. And thus, the great horse revolt of Tradesmeet had started. I left and came back later that night and the horses were still there with the note. The next morning, however, everything was back to normal. So, it seems someone played a little mischievous prank upon the village.
The real question is what will be next? Will an army of goats come down from the hills to invade the town and eat all the human’s bedding? One never knows.
On a more serious note, it was important to me to find the mysterious forgotten Vale that Hallis had taken me too. I had lost the path. It just so happened that on the second day I was in the real world Hetaerina came to the circle. Hetaerina is an expert map maker. I would say most likely one of the best if not the best herself in all the surrounding lands.
I got some people together to once again try to find this place of sylvan beauty. Hetaerina said she knew exactly where it was so I gathered her, Keila, Rhys, and Aldarin to me and we started out to explore to see if we could find it. Aldarin fell by the way quickly so the four of us continued on to Ghallar. Once in Ghallar we headed in a certain direction for several miles and went to a cave entrance. I immediately recognized it. Keila was a bit incredulous that we would find it and did not truly believe it existed until we went under the mountain and found the entrance way to the vale.
When we came to the Vale, I felt again that someone was hiding and watching us but still it’s sylvan beauty and the sheer amount of different species of trees enthralled me. I could live there for an eternity without a care in the world. Keila was less impressed, but Hetaerina and Rhys were awestruck as I.
After we explored the forgotten vale, we decided to explore the outlands in an area called Poet’s Folly we found a cave with skull poles outside. Keila said it was orcs. We decided to go in just the 4 of us. There was a hole tribe of orcs in those caves. We fought them out to the end of the cave system.
We were doing well until the very end when many orcs got around and surrounded us. Rhys went down. I took a chance and used the chant while Keila used some healing upon him. Whether it was the chant or Keila’s healing he got back up. The only problem is the whole time I was chanting three of the orcs were trying to beat me to death. Even with the regeneration I was nearly dead when I stopped. I fled the scene to heal myself and had to flee fairly far away, as two of the orcs gave chase. I lost them and used my magic to heal myself and quickly wrapped some bandages on my wounds.
When I came back Keila was dancing with the champion of the orcs, but something was wrong. She looked confused and was walking funny. I touched my amulet and called forth thunderous might. I am not sure if my magic infused arrow or Keila’s last was the killing blow, but both struck him, and he fell.
Once that was over, we searched the vast cavern that made for the orc’s seat of power. We found a woman dead on an altar to their god. She was kin. No amount of healing would save her as her soul had moved on. Disillusioned and saddened that kin would be sacrificed by the orcs, we decided that our exploration was over. We took the body with us.
We buried her northeast of the enclave on a hill overlooking a lake. I gave her last rites, and we buried her. I sprinkled rose petals over the grave. May she sing her praises now safe in the heavens of Avandor.
The next day the girl whose family tends the forgotten vale was in the circle alone. I asked her about it. She was surprised I knew of it and said it was supposed to be a secret. I think her name is Nebalinne or something similar. We talked at length about the little paradise, and I thanked her for the information provided. I will go back and help her family from time to time, I think. These places of beauty should be preserved for those few who know and can enjoy its wonder.
The last thing I did was a patrol with Keila but there is a story too it. A few days earlier I had found an elven arrow and tracks at the place called the overlook. The arrow pointed into the forest to the path that leads in. Not something I wanted anyone but kin and conclave to know. But what this was all about I had no idea. So, I forgot about it.
Today, Keila told me the story of the arrow. It seems she had found the tracks also and put the arrow down herself to mark the entrance of someone unwanted in the forest. This person or person went through the area we named the Call of the Wild and killed every living thing they could find. Even the squirrels and birds. The person then went down to the Sangue river and headed northeast up to the lake. Everywhere they went they killed everything they could find: Deer, wolves, squirrels, badgers…. everything.
I was off course incensed by this and we immediately gathered a patrol to find further evidence. Unfortunately, it had been a few days. Tracks were old and worn. Any evidence had melted away within the forest. We went all the way to the lake and found nothing. The forest had returned to normal. This person got away with a travesty, and I believe since they got away with it they will one day do it again.
They left the tracks at the outlook in a way to make sure we would know they passed by. They wanted us to know their intent as if purposely rubbing our noses in dung. I hope next time they attempt it we catch them and let the justice of the forest seek its revenge.
I will drift off now into hibernation and I will ask the trees if they either know this person or can describe them to me. When I come back to the real world, if they do tell me of this incident, I will report what I know to both the conclave, the elders and to my friend Keila.
There has to be justice served for this atrocity.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: Eibhlin: The Locket
After ten days of tending to the grove in the mists the Circle tree calls Eibhlin to him. Her spirit comes down from its perch near her nest. She looks quite different from her real self here for only her spirit and mind travel in these realms. Her hair is made of leaves and so is the clothing that covers her. She looks like a dryad in her young stages of life. She walks to the circle all the while watching the souls in the real world walk around her never knowing she was in fact with them yet a world apart. A world seen but by few.
She lifts her arms to the sides palms up and levitates to almost 50 ft until she finds the mid-section of the trunk. “What is it you will have of me today old one?”
The circle tree grumbles with a deep, resonating voice in her head, “It has been a half-turn of the sun since you came to us. Tell us of the elves and others you live with. Tell us what you have learned.”
Eibhlin hesitates. Worry lines her face. It only deepens when the Circle tree waits patiently as the elf is not accustomed to the old spirit doing that. It usually demands an answer immediately. She takes a deep breath. “When I first came to this place, I was full of hope to find a new tribe. To integrate. To be with those that are and will always be my family as the tree spirits of the Wealdath Forest are.
At first, there were many others from many lands that came to help stop the evils of this forest for they are great. They all had great hope that together the enclave, foreign elves like I and the conclave would be able to figure out and stop the great enemies such as Grimbark the troll, The necromancer that lives below the serpent pond and the great gash in the earth called the scar.”
Eibhlin stops a moment as the sadness in her face deepens even further. “One by one they all disappeared. Disillusioned by something I did not perceive until too late. I do not think that many of them saw the wrong buried deep within the roots of the community itself. None saw it but everyone felt it deep within. Embarrassed to call out the wrongness they could no longer deal with what they saw and left the enclave for new lands: disappearing into the night.”
The voice in her head once again speaks, “What was this wrongness Speaker of Trees?”
Eibhlin sighs and looks down carefully gathering her thoughts. When she looks up there are tears in her eyes. “The very tribes living in the same forest as this great evil called the scar have been slowly corrupted by the very same. They have ceased to be truly kindred and are changing into something different, something dark as the trees that surround this great evil have. They may have found a means to clean small areas of the forest but the corruption that has sewed deep within their hearts will eventually even corrupt that as the scar grows faster than they can cleanse and their rituals start to fail.
There are those that are still pure. Those that hold off the darkness that ever threatens their hearts, but they too will eventually succumb or move as the wrongness they feel becomes unbearable. If they do not the darkness will eventually overtake their souls. It is inevitable for the few that are left willing to fight are too small as the others that surround them have already been taken by the scar though they do not know it.”
Eibhlin stops a moment. Her brows furrow. “Did you just call me Speaker?”
There is a soft groan in her mind, “You have learned quickly from us, Speaker. You have deduced the real problem that surrounds us. We fear you must leave now. This forest may be doomed, and we cannot wait two centuries for another speaker to be born and raised. You must leave this place for another forest needs are greater than ours.”
“And what about the Scar? What about the Necromancer that bides his time until coming out and wishing to continue the destruction of the people?”
“We all of us, the spirits of the forest, will do what we can to put a stop to these evils. It will be difficult as most of our speakers, including you have left now: sent away by their spirits to keep them safe. The voices of the spirits, the few left, must move on to speak for us. We are sending you away speaker so that you may survive and give you a chance to become the Voice of the Trees. We will hold the tide of evil as best we may.”
“I do not like this. I have pledge to defeat the scar for my parents and my friends.”
“Your kind like ours is long lived much like ours. Patience speaker. As you grow and learn about other places, your wisdom will also. If we can hold the tide until your return, then you may and help us finally turn the tide of this great battle. The forests of the world are slowly falling and being replaced by human fields and cities. It is a greater evil for us even more so than the Scar. You must understand this fully so that you may find a way to grow and tend the life across toril. It is more important to the spirits of the forest than the Scar for the scar is local. You belong to the world and your actions in the future will determine the fate of all forests.
Take a cone from the mother and hold it fast too you. When you return to the realm of the living, walk into one of the three trees that make up your nest. You will find yourself in a new place with new tree spirits. and you will continue your quest and your studies as they teach you more. Go now and strengthen your roots. It is the only way for the great forests to be saved, Speaker.”
Eibhlin does as she is told. She goes to ground and walks to the Mother Tree. Again, she levitates and holds position. The Mother does not wait. “Speaker, I am saddened by your loss. Yet know the seriousness of the greater mission. We will hold the tide until your return. Cup your hands in front of you.”
Eibhlin does so, cupping her hands together in front of her. A pinecone full of seeds drops in her hands. The Mother Tree speaks again. “Return to the living now, Speaker Eibhlin. Gather yourself and step into one of the Weirwood that surrounds you with the cone. Once you are in your new home plant the seeds so that the forest will be strengthened in the times of your own descendants. Good-bye, Speaker and good luck.”
Tears fall from Eibhlin’s face as she goes back to her nest. She nestles back into her elven body and awakens in the real world. She finds in her hand a pinecone the size of a honey melon. She gathers her things and goes to ground. It isn’t much. She never needed much to survive.
She hesitates. She has never fully stepped into a tree before. She was unsure what would happen. She decides to experiment. She puts her hand up to it and tries to touch it. Her hand does not stop. It moves through the bark and into the heart of the tree. Slowly she steps fully into it. She becomes concerned and scared of what she has done. She quickly steps out.
When she does, she finds herself in a new place surrounded by ancient trees. A voice in her head interrupts her thoughts. “Speaker of Trees. Are you ready for your next lesson?”
She lifts her arms to the sides palms up and levitates to almost 50 ft until she finds the mid-section of the trunk. “What is it you will have of me today old one?”
The circle tree grumbles with a deep, resonating voice in her head, “It has been a half-turn of the sun since you came to us. Tell us of the elves and others you live with. Tell us what you have learned.”
Eibhlin hesitates. Worry lines her face. It only deepens when the Circle tree waits patiently as the elf is not accustomed to the old spirit doing that. It usually demands an answer immediately. She takes a deep breath. “When I first came to this place, I was full of hope to find a new tribe. To integrate. To be with those that are and will always be my family as the tree spirits of the Wealdath Forest are.
At first, there were many others from many lands that came to help stop the evils of this forest for they are great. They all had great hope that together the enclave, foreign elves like I and the conclave would be able to figure out and stop the great enemies such as Grimbark the troll, The necromancer that lives below the serpent pond and the great gash in the earth called the scar.”
Eibhlin stops a moment as the sadness in her face deepens even further. “One by one they all disappeared. Disillusioned by something I did not perceive until too late. I do not think that many of them saw the wrong buried deep within the roots of the community itself. None saw it but everyone felt it deep within. Embarrassed to call out the wrongness they could no longer deal with what they saw and left the enclave for new lands: disappearing into the night.”
The voice in her head once again speaks, “What was this wrongness Speaker of Trees?”
Eibhlin sighs and looks down carefully gathering her thoughts. When she looks up there are tears in her eyes. “The very tribes living in the same forest as this great evil called the scar have been slowly corrupted by the very same. They have ceased to be truly kindred and are changing into something different, something dark as the trees that surround this great evil have. They may have found a means to clean small areas of the forest but the corruption that has sewed deep within their hearts will eventually even corrupt that as the scar grows faster than they can cleanse and their rituals start to fail.
There are those that are still pure. Those that hold off the darkness that ever threatens their hearts, but they too will eventually succumb or move as the wrongness they feel becomes unbearable. If they do not the darkness will eventually overtake their souls. It is inevitable for the few that are left willing to fight are too small as the others that surround them have already been taken by the scar though they do not know it.”
Eibhlin stops a moment. Her brows furrow. “Did you just call me Speaker?”
There is a soft groan in her mind, “You have learned quickly from us, Speaker. You have deduced the real problem that surrounds us. We fear you must leave now. This forest may be doomed, and we cannot wait two centuries for another speaker to be born and raised. You must leave this place for another forest needs are greater than ours.”
“And what about the Scar? What about the Necromancer that bides his time until coming out and wishing to continue the destruction of the people?”
“We all of us, the spirits of the forest, will do what we can to put a stop to these evils. It will be difficult as most of our speakers, including you have left now: sent away by their spirits to keep them safe. The voices of the spirits, the few left, must move on to speak for us. We are sending you away speaker so that you may survive and give you a chance to become the Voice of the Trees. We will hold the tide of evil as best we may.”
“I do not like this. I have pledge to defeat the scar for my parents and my friends.”
“Your kind like ours is long lived much like ours. Patience speaker. As you grow and learn about other places, your wisdom will also. If we can hold the tide until your return, then you may and help us finally turn the tide of this great battle. The forests of the world are slowly falling and being replaced by human fields and cities. It is a greater evil for us even more so than the Scar. You must understand this fully so that you may find a way to grow and tend the life across toril. It is more important to the spirits of the forest than the Scar for the scar is local. You belong to the world and your actions in the future will determine the fate of all forests.
Take a cone from the mother and hold it fast too you. When you return to the realm of the living, walk into one of the three trees that make up your nest. You will find yourself in a new place with new tree spirits. and you will continue your quest and your studies as they teach you more. Go now and strengthen your roots. It is the only way for the great forests to be saved, Speaker.”
Eibhlin does as she is told. She goes to ground and walks to the Mother Tree. Again, she levitates and holds position. The Mother does not wait. “Speaker, I am saddened by your loss. Yet know the seriousness of the greater mission. We will hold the tide until your return. Cup your hands in front of you.”
Eibhlin does so, cupping her hands together in front of her. A pinecone full of seeds drops in her hands. The Mother Tree speaks again. “Return to the living now, Speaker Eibhlin. Gather yourself and step into one of the Weirwood that surrounds you with the cone. Once you are in your new home plant the seeds so that the forest will be strengthened in the times of your own descendants. Good-bye, Speaker and good luck.”
Tears fall from Eibhlin’s face as she goes back to her nest. She nestles back into her elven body and awakens in the real world. She finds in her hand a pinecone the size of a honey melon. She gathers her things and goes to ground. It isn’t much. She never needed much to survive.
She hesitates. She has never fully stepped into a tree before. She was unsure what would happen. She decides to experiment. She puts her hand up to it and tries to touch it. Her hand does not stop. It moves through the bark and into the heart of the tree. Slowly she steps fully into it. She becomes concerned and scared of what she has done. She quickly steps out.
When she does, she finds herself in a new place surrounded by ancient trees. A voice in her head interrupts her thoughts. “Speaker of Trees. Are you ready for your next lesson?”