Voyage to the Mror Holds (Ayanna)
From Toosigma
| Title | Voyage to the Mror Holds |
|---|---|
| Author | Philip Mann - Ayanna |
| Campaign | Shattered Prisons |
| Session | Voyage to the Mror Holds |
| Posted | |
| Game Date |
I traveled quickly and quietly, one with Nature, as I sought the answers to my questions. The village, occupied and marred by the invaders was not destroyed as I imagined. The patrols were everywhere, and in much greater number and strength than I could have imagined. In spite of my relative freedom in the wilderness, the presence of this army caused my return to the ruin to take much longer than I would have liked. When I arrived, however, I found that the dragon I had seen earlier and those who were most clearly the leaders of the invasion had already arrived. I would say that I knew the others had left the dark confines of the ground while I was away, but my heart only wished for that to be the truth because I had no way to be sure.
I overheard some of their speech, and learned something of the part Vrahl had in this...and the keys seemed very important to them as well. They said they would track the adventurers, which I presume to be Malidin and the others, but they seemed more immediately concerned about a “girl” and her role with unraveling the plague. My thoughts immediately became of Trina Laster, first to contract the vile disease, but the longest to survive in its grasp as well. Others contracted the disease after she and died, but the girl lives yet. I have seen signs of the plague among some in the army, so mayhap they believe little Trina will be instrumental in their overcoming it...
As quickly as I could, I fled the area and took flight with the wings of the mighty eagle. I had seen Zaarin do this and I always wondered how it felt to glide so far above the trees. Evidently I had not mastered the skill yet as I looked to what I could see of my new form. Instead of the mottled brown wings I expected, I saw golden feathers indistinguishable in color from my own hair. For now, that did not matter as I needed to fly and cover the area quickly, not blend in with the eagles I have known.
I scoured the eastern edge of the wood where I thought Keradin to be. Once, as I passed a stream far below, I saw Malidin and the others spread along the bank as they figured a way to cross. Inside, I smiled as I knew the dwarf, crouched over the water plants, was using them to see if where he was would be a good place as I had shown him. Yes, he might have made a fine ranger had he lived his life in Silvervale...
I flew until I could no longer hold that form, and then I ran as a wolf to find Keradin. He had been hiding from the patrols that had already outpaced the group, and continued to determine the security of the seals in the area. He seemed almost surprised to see me as a wolf, but pleasantly so as I could determine. He appraised my transformation, muttering something about Zaarin being right, before gifting me an earring of a beautiful red cottonwood leaf. He told me that it would help protect me as I left to find the keys without me even telling him of that option. I had told him everything else that I had seen and could recall, but I had not mentioned that I would leave with everyone else as I had not yet decided on that course. Keradin impressed upon me, however, that even a slim chance to recover the keys based on rumor and recollection was important enough to journey across Khorvaire. I had grown to want Keradin's approval and I knew that this quest would be no different, so we parted and I knew that I would not see him again until I returned.
I shadowed the others for a day before I allowed Malidin to find me. Seeing him though, and having him know I was there, I felt strange. He explained that the journey out of the woods had been difficult without me and I did not know whether feeling good or feeling bad was right. I felt very bad for leaving everyone in a pinch where my assistance would have been valuable, but I also felt good that I was missed in some way. I have never felt that my absence would be noticed, but I am yet unsure if that is how I want to feel.
Before these people, these “adventurers” came into my life I was sure that I would occupy my duties to Nature and then pass from the world, forgotten by the world I helped grow as one season is forgotten by the next. Whether I live a year or a thousand years, my own life would be just a whisper of a memory in time, but for this moment I felt as if I might be just a little less fleeting to those who have taken time to know me. Yes, I could have a special place in the world, or my own vanity may have gotten the best of me as I sought a reason to follow my friend to his home so far away.
We journeyed beyond the plateau and across the plains to the east when we came upon part of the caravan that had escaped Silvervale. I bolted so quickly that none could follow only to find the wagons attacked and burning as a battle continued. I called to Dreamseeker and some of his pack for aid, and I prayed to the plants to hold-fast the attacking forces. Together, we disrupted the assault until the rest of the group caught up and began to ply their formidable strength to save the villagers...or those that we could. In my haste to aid however, I forgot that my wolf form was not familiar to them and I too was regarded as an attacker as I approached. Only after I resumed the shape that the village had come to know, did I continue and render what healing and assistance I could.
The others finished dispatching any remaining hostiles while the leaders that remained spoke of the caravan wagons that had escaped. Immediately, I knew that I had to catch the departed wagons or they might get too far ahead to aid if they fell into another ambush.
My spell-improved speed gave me hope as I followed the wagon tracks through the forest. I was amazed at how far they had gone and, though I heard a scream behind me, I set myself to find the wagons and allow what might be behind me to be dealt with by the rest of the group. I knew that I had little chance to aid them and still catch the wagons, so I focused on what I could do alone.
Minutes passed and I found that the tracks ended at a stone bridge into Wyr. I was stuck before the bridge, shocked at what I saw on the other side. People, more than I thought to see in the whole world, scurried from place to place in wave after wave of violence and confusion. Nothing flowed, there was no harmony to any of it, and yet I knew the missing wagons had gone into the heart of it. I felt cold from my nose to my tail as I observed this abomination of the natural order of things. Even the most unnatural structures in all of Silvervale paled in comparison to everything in front of me.
I learned that the others had themselves been ambushed as they tried to follow me only when they found me frozen before the bridge. The ease with which they spoke of journeying into the chaotic fray called “Wyr” was beyond my comprehension. What I found truly disquieting was the Hazairah girl storming across the bridge and disappearing into the mob with complete abandon. Marius suggested the remainder of the caravan travel to the south while he locate the caravan, including that I should stay with the caravan as it traveled, and I agreed unquestioningly. Any terror in the wilderness is preferred to being trapped in the walls and cellars of such a scar on the land.
That argument won inside of me until the halfling ran across the bridge and spoke to the others of the missing wagon. He explained that Firella had taken the others with her, including young Trina and another youth, and had been captured inside of a tavern controlled by ruffians. He also asked where I was, being ignorant of my new form, but Ioth attempting to treat me as a pet of some kind to further disguise my presence was revolting. I could not stand his hands on me, and I rebuffed his petting before finally moving away. Perhaps he thinks there is some distinction between having his hands on my body as an elf, which he should never consider, and in any other form, but that distinction simply does not exist unless I want it to; and I did not grant that to him.
With the halfling's news, I knew that I could not let the girls, or Firella, remain in danger if it was within me to help. Malidin would disagree, but Firella's unprovoked hatred of me was not reciprocated in any way in spite of her own actions in the past. It was still beyond me to know whether Malidin's aggression toward her is on my behalf, or if that is a convenience of circumstance. However, I told Marius that I would help and his stunned silence was enough acknowledgment for me.
We entered the tavern, fighting even before we cleared the doorway. Marius, Malidin, and Brit performed admirably as they freed the women who were being assailed, while I was able to help Dreamseeker to separate another woman from the man who was holding her hostage. As she kicked and slapped at me, however, I was reminded again how these “civilized” people view nature and how they assume all that is wild is also against them.
Within a few moments, we were notified that the caravan had received word from the Hazairah girl. They said that the journey to the south was not to be as an army had already moved into positions in that direction. Instead, they would proceed through Wyr and follow Marius' directions to travel to the southeast instead of directly onto Fairhaven. We were also told that the Hazairah girl was also captured and in jail in the town center, so I expected that we would depart that direction as soon as we secured Trina, Firella, and the others.
While the debate of how best to interrogate the ruffians proceeded, my focus was on the girls that we had come to rescue. I found the cellar entrance in the back and I swallowed my fear as I descended tiny opening and the steep stairs. It seemed like several minutes before any of the others followed, and I responded to Marius' request for light by leaving a brightly glowing paw print on his shield. He seemed amused.
We searched every square inch of the cellar before I finally discovered the tiny door in the floor. No, I could not make myself go down there. The hole, barely enough for the ladder attached to the side, seemed to get narrower as it faded into the black. Surely this was designed to trap anyone who was foolish enough to go inside; Nature does such things with pitcher plants and anything that gets stuck there dies. This trap could have any horrible thing inside...or it could have nothing but blackness until even time has forgotten me...
The others descended into the terrible place without fear, and I knew that they must be laughing silently at my despair. Still, the crackle and ozone-smell from below told me that I was right to stay above. Not, of course, that I had a choice once I finally steeled my nerve to descend the stairs and changed my form to allow me the elven hands to hold the ladder. The door slammed shut so quickly that I jumped, and I instantly found myself face-to-face with a shadowy figure that had been the halfling just a moment before.
The being attacked me with a force I had never experienced. It ripped into my body and leapt away again, giving me just the moment to flee as a wolf from the confined place that would be my tomb. When he struck me again, I stumbled into the stairs and got free again as I raced across the tavern. At the doorway, more aberrations awaited me...I had been anticipated and they were trying to trap me. I took the only way out I could find, crashing through the thick windows into the alley where I found myself again surrounded...but I had just one refuge: they sky. My arms blossomed into golden wings and I climbed into the air with every ounce of my strength and will. Whatever their reason, I did not care, save that I could live another day. I prayed as I flew that my decision had not endangered any of those we were trying to help, or any of my companions
When I realized that I was safe in the air I found that I could see a tower near the middle of the city, and I reasoned that it was the place the Hazairah girl was being kept. I saw many locusts flying from the area, but any manner of confused swarm could have mistakenly flown in and become stranded, so I paid them little mind other than to stay out of their way. I circled the tower once and determined that I should land on the balcony to look inside. There, I found her on the floor and dressed strangely to be a prisoner. I said nothing about it however, as her silent gape at my own battered appearance left questions she must have unanswered as well. All I could do was hope that we could find her belongings and get free of the tower before those who might be pursuing me caught us. She gave me a potion to heal my injuries and, while it did far less than I know she expected, it was a gesture from her that I shall not forget.
We found the tower abandoned and managed to catch the caravan with little trouble. The others, successful in locating the girls, but bringing terrible news of Vesbel Bolim, returned to the caravan shortly after us. Only Firella remained unaccounted for, and I hoped she had managed to escape harm.
I thought to tell Malidin of what had happened after they all descended the ladder, but I did not want to hear him quip of how I should have stood my ground as he would have. He gets so agitated and angry, and always wants to redress through violence. I have wondered if I would have to put myself between him and Firella should they meet again, but he may yet see reason to not be so ready to combat everything and everyone who harms me. Still, he has saved my life and I may one day clear that debt...
The caravan travels and I remain on the periphery as if it is the village of Silvervale moving across the land. During the day I move about where the wind takes me, and at night I find myself nearer the fires and small encampments though still not part of any of it. I might have liked to spend my evenings as I had from time to time, talking with Malidin about things I thought would never happen, but now that they had I spent more time tending the animals that were being driven so hard by the exodus. I used my spells to talk with them, to make sure they were being treated well, and I explained to them what was going on and why they were being made to travel so far from home. Like the people who often forgot, these animals had lost much as well, and they were grateful to know that there was a purpose behind this trek. Yes, I was busy, but my tasks gave me purpose and allowed me to keep my mind off of many unpleasant topics.
It is strange to me though, to be wrapped so close to these people. Often, as I make my way through the caravan, I see behaviors that I had never noticed before. The Hazairah girl, like a humming bird, moves from the company of some to a place completely alone, and back in a pattern I cannot discern. I saw her writing furiously in a book, and I saw her return in disarray another evening though I am sure I was just a part of the unnoticed background to her. I am curious of what troubles her at times, but I remind myself that I am not of the village and not the kind of person she would confide in. She has been spending more time with Malidin though. He is strange, but easy to talk to most of the time. I hope he can help her with her troubles because I am doubtful anyone else can...
