Ederin runs through the gate as soon as it's open even as Kaylayne shouts.
"How much faster do you expect me to move?" He calls back.
The giant bear bursts through the gate, followed by Ederin and Kaylayne close behind.
You are in a clearing, with some smoke rising lazily from cooking fires to the east (you can just see the tops of a few chimneys as well). Behind you, you see a gate, covered in vines and clearly in some disrepair. You can't imagine how it worked at all...
More importantly though is the sun! The sun! It's rays bask you in warmth, and though Lief's light is indeed bright, your eyes squint at the harshness of daylight after so much darkness.
Surrounding you is a small (a couple dozen), but growing group of elves, many with bows at the ready, and all watching the group of you. More continue to come every round, some onlookers, some clearly troops.
The leader, clearly, is a reasonably tall elf and seems noble by his bearing and by the way folks are treating him. He does not have a weapon out as he approaches the newcomers. You see Lief and Dimitrio to one side, unbound, but stripped of obvious weapons.
"I am Villastir, and welcome you in peace, but with uncertainty. You'll allow me your weapons please - which will remain in your sight the entire time we chat - while we sort this out. You see this gate has been guarded for many years, a long time even by our reckoning, with no traffic to speak of."
"We must discuss where you're from, and what your intentions may be to the elven people. My manor is just over the rise, I welcome you to a fine meal for you look gaunt, followed by some discussion. If we, unfortunately, find ourselves at odds, I'll return your weapons and see you to the edge of Kyonin in peace."
"We will not harm you. Now, please, your weapons." He gestures, and a number of elves approach you cautiously, arms open, clear in their intent. They do not dream of de-clawing Allarnon of course... Well, there's that one guy, but he's not in charge...
Dimitrio's face beams as he sees the rest of his companions, "I knew you guys could do it. See? We made it back out. Look. The sun."
Not sure what he can say and what he cannot say about what they were doing and for whom, the bard holds his tongue for the time being.
He does advice his friends, "Just give them the weapons. They could have killed us if they wanted to. Lief and I came through blind and stunned."
he quickly adds, "And it wasn't our intention to leave you behind. We both had the intent of opening the gate but were pushed through."
Ederin listens closely as the elf explains his reasons for needing their weapons. He sees Leif and Dimitrio unharmed, but doesn't necessarily trust that it means they're safe. Only if he deems Villastir trustworthy does he hand over his bow and sword and whatever arrows aren't hidden on his skin.
He doesn't respond directly to the elves. Mostly because he's gotten used to Kaylayne speaking for them, but he does respond to Dimitrio.
"We know you weren't gonna leave us behind Carini. Coulda done 'at a long time ago if you intended to. Jus' glad to see the sun again, an' feel some fresh air. Unless they got any blood rivers 'round here, I'll consider bein' an hostage an improvement."
The elves do not search any of you, merely taking what's obvious if there is no fuss.
Lief gladdens when the bear and archer bolt through, Dimitrio's doubt bleeding through despite his best efforts. When the group is together, Lief maintains a respectful distance, and lets Villastir's band lead them away from the Gate.
"Villastir, if I might ask... what will you do differently, now that you understand the Gate's activity? There is at least one noble drow who knows of the Gate, and may seek to use it to her benefit."
Every so often, Lief turns his face to the sun, and breathes deeply.
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Though Allarnon is temporarily blinded his heart races with glee as he sees the sun and feels its warm embrace once again. Though it only lasts for a moment before it breaks again.
Tarkir will never see the sun again.....
Seeing the many elves surrounding him he panicks for a moment before calming down. As a show of good faith he hands over his pair of spears to the surface elves.
"I am sure Lief explained our situation to you all? Since he left us in the middle of a battle with the drow that is." Allarnon glowers over to the smaller human.
"Ah, no. Villastir, they were delayed passing through the Gate, trying to chase down a spineless noble drow, and end him. It might have made them feel better that he was dead, before they left. I considered it an unnecessary risk, the Gate having been cleared." Lief returns Allarnon's gaze, with no animus.
Kaylayne barely notices as her weapons are taken (and if they are not searched, then her powerful staff lies still within her haversack) as she basks in the sun again.
That they are elves and not dark drow is all Kaylayne needs. She doesn't care if they do kill her, it would be fine as they are in the sun once again.
She allows the sun to bleach away the dark, saying nothing for several moments.
Villastir leads you along a short path past a small wooden fortress, beautifully done, with several live trees as part of it's construction, to the edge of the village. The architecture of his home is breathtaking, it's clear he's someone of some wealth and power.
He speaks softly to his servants who melt into the background comfortably as he escorts you into a large sitting room filled with tables and chairs. Your weapons are piled carefully on the sideboard as food and wine is brought to you. The troops leave, and finally you are alone with Villastir and an old butler, who doesn't seem to be paying any attention, though he's quick to replenish your needs from various cupboards and decanters.
Once you have had something to eat and drink, and are feeling more comfortable, Villastir begins anew, "So, where have you come from, and what is your business with Kyonin? Please, take your time, I have nothing pressing."
He stares intently at you, clearly eager for what you have to say.
Lief reflexively looks to Kaylayne, their mistr... then remembers himself a bit. "I'm not certain you will understand what it is we're about, to be honest. We have allies in Crying Leaf, Eviana and Kaerishiel. You should bring them here, so that they may vouch for our character. Otherwise, I fear you will find our story preposterous."
He smiles warmly, "We are quite a ways from Crying Leaf, you are a short walk from the capital of Iadara in Kyonin."
"Why don't you start with what you have, and we'll go from there, shall we?" he encourages.
Too used to letting Layne talk for them, Dimitrio reverts back to what allowed him to survive these past few weeks.
He nods to Layne, "Layne, you want to explain just where we were and what we were doing?"
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Lief listens to Villastir, trying to take the measure of the man.
"Well, where to start? We are originally from Riddleport, each of us. This journey began with the presence of drow in our hometown, which brought us to meet an elf named Kwava, who claimed to be a member of the Shin'Rakorath. We accepted an alliance with him, of sorts, when we traveled to a place called Devil's Elbow, where we found more drow, at the site of a downed celestial body. I'm not sure how much you're aware of the Plucking of the Star, but the impact of such a thing, here, on our world, had huge ramifications in Riddleport, the hometown of the Cyphergate. We believe the Cyphergate was used somehow in the fell magics that brought this event to bear. Well, from that point, we parceled up drow journals and traveled to Crying Leaf, to present our findings to Eviana and her village, where we assisted in repelling further drow attacks in the long-abandoned city of Celwynvian. Within those city confines, we discovered an aboleth helping to protect a shadow plane, called the Armageddon Echo, which served as a center of study for the events leading up to the Age of Darkness, by a powerful drow mage. We purged their presence, and in our success, we were tapped for an even more outrageous infiltration of the drow community. They brought in a powerful necromancer of their own, the elves of Crying Leaf, who used the skins of dead drow to disguise us powerfully as drow, ourselves. We wore their skins, until recently. We infiltrated House Vonnarc, in the city of Zirnakaynin, and learned as much as we could of the motives of the drow for continuing to work towards another Age of Darkness. We have that information, but I think we need to share it with those who would see it reviewed seriously. Once obtained, we were stripped of our disguises, and forced to flee for our lives, from the First Daughter herself, Alicavniss. She says hello, by the way."
Lief sits back, and waits for the others to join in.
Feeling hallow and broken, Kaylayne listens to Lief speak, but then realizes she has no desire to explain herself to these elves at this time.
"We can discuss this later. You know of the war in Crying Leaf. Let them explain. I need some time alone," Kaylayne excuses herself to go outside and sit in the trees for a bit.
She goes outside to find a tree to relax by.
Lief raises his eyebrows, briefly, then nods. He envies her for her boldness in this company. "She's not wrong. I was under the belief that Kyonin and Crying Leaf were in touch daily, for provisions, through the magics of teleportation. Teleporting makes short walks meaningless, especially when the matter is of grave importance to both sides of the magical traveling."
Villastir does not stop Kaylayne as she finds some solace in the trees. She is accompanied (at a loooong distance) by a servant, likely as much to keep an eye on her as to provide excellent service. However the servant is rather far away to be useful.
Villastir turns to Lief and laughs, "Oh, so you claim to be that important do you? I should just teleport you around, on your say so, after a story that by your own admission is a little far fetched?"
He turns a little more serious, "Yet you speak the truth, or at least believe that you do, which is curious enough. But your friends, do they support your missive?" he turns to the others for their own additions to the story.
Lief's expression turns stonily serious as Villastir laughs at him. "I never claimed to be important, only the information we gathered. Only one of us needed to have survived to bear it back. I also never demanded I be the one teleported. You would be a better host if you didn't insult your guests." The young man stands up and brushes off his lap of various colorful crumbs, turning to Ederin, raising a single eyebrow.
Kaylayne grumps in silence for a while, happy to be away from the group and given time to be alone among the trees. She sits, crosslegged, mindful of only the trees and the sun.
She wishes to be purged and cleansed of the time underground and horrors therein. She wants to be renewed.
I need Lief's soap back. I doubt he's used it.
Kaylayne sits for an hour, maybe a bit longer. Finally, she will stir and require a quill, ink, and parchment from the servant. If he will not fetch it for her, she will ask where it might be purchased nearby.
He turns a little more serious, "Yet you speak the truth, or at least believe that you do, which is curious enough. But your friends, do they support your missive?" he turns to the others for their own additions to the story.
Dimitrio spoke next, "What he says is true. We have gone through a similar gate to this one near Crying Leaf at the request of the elves there. They can indeed vouch for us.."
He shuddered as he remembered his stay with the drow, "We have personally endured hardship in the underdark and seen things that should not be seen. I myself was tortured in front of an audience for entertainment."
He looked at Lief, "No need to snap at our host. I don;t think he meant any offense and our story is not easy to comprehend, let alone believe."
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Ederin watches Kaylayne leave the meeting with a bit of jealousy. He almost gets up and leaves with her, but he knows that they need to at least convince their host of their story and everyone leaving isn't going to help much.
"Teleport or not mate, you should be able to contact some fancyboy or other that can back us up. I ain't been around you Kyonin elves all that long but in that time I've seen plenty o' magical items and spells that put whatever we use in Riddleport to shame. You been wachin' this gate for how long an' you got no way to tell anyone somethin' came through quick like? " He puffs his chest out and crosses his scarred arms, missing his temporary but intimidating drow height.
"An' maybe Leif here is too humble, but I ain't ever claimed to be. We are that important. Wasn't jus' any group o' soldiers your kin sent down to collect information from the heart of the drow civilization."
"No need to snap at our host. I don't think he meant any offense and our story is not easy to comprehend, let alone believe."
Lief presses his hands together as if in prayer, bringing them up to his lips, stifling the first words, where they remain until the calmer words are ready to be released.
"I was being facetious about Villastir being a host. We've been escorted here, stripped of our weapons, under guard, brought in for questioning. Does that sound like hospitality to you, Dimitrio? No, we're here to convince them not to outright exile us. This is what your 'host' has threatened. I suppose we can be grateful that we're not directly threatened with execution."
This is Undamesta all over again.
"No need to snap at our host. I don't think he meant any offense and our story is not easy to comprehend, let alone believe."Lief presses his hands together as if in prayer, bringing them up to his lips, stifling the first words, where they remain until the calmer words are ready to be released.
"I was being facetious about Villastir being a host. We've been escorted here, stripped of our weapons, under guard, brought in for questioning. Does that sound like hospitality to you, Dimitrio? No, we're here to convince them not to outright exile us. This is what your 'host' has threatened. I suppose we can be grateful that we're not directly threatened with execution."
This is Undamesta all over again.
Dimitrio was past caring what his host thought of them bickering.
"Listen boy. They are guarding the gate for a reason. Probably someone told them that whatever comes through that gate is bad news. Really bad news."
He shook his head, "Here we come through with some crazy-ass story and expect him to take our word for it. Put yourself in his shoes. We're lucky we're not in chains."
He turned to his host, "Sorry about all of this but the past few weeks have been very dificult for us all."
"Listen, boy..."
Ah, there's the a~!@+%++, finally. Reasonable debate, and he finally resorts to name-calling when he can't argue the point. Silly to expect more from a Riddleport dancer.
The moment Dimitrio utters the word 'boy', Lief tunes him out, turning back to Allarnon, Ederin, and Villastir to continue the discussion, more intelligently.
"How will you verify our story, Villastir? Once we've shared our account fully, can you facilitate our return to Crying Leaf?"
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Allarnon sighs as his anger quickly begins to rise. "Look, you asked for our story and we told it. Now you can either believe us and give us our weapons back so we can go back to the Crying Leaf or you can contact them yourself to make sure we are who we say we are. Seems real simple to me."
He stands up and crosses his arms over his barreled chest as sweat begins to form on his brow. "But, you need to hurry. The bastards killed my friend and I need to get back in there to stop them."
Villastir watches Lief’s tantrum with a smile, ”I believe you have elven blood sir! But no, I meant no disrespect, merely that you are asking for some powerful magics to be used on your behalf, and we have chatted for just a short time, and covered very little so far. Please be patient.”
He turns to Dimitrio, ”Yes the drow, if they exist, are known for such behavior. Most unpleasant. I’m glad you survived to tell the tale.”
He listens carefully to Ederin, ”Oh, I will confirm what I can of your story, but there is no rush. Thank you for your honesty and clarity.” he turns to you all.
Then when Lief and Dimitrio match words, he sits back, staying out of the way, and watches. ”Yes, you have given up your weapons, but I am trying to make this as pleasant as possible. However, if you prefer chains…”
He turns finally to Allarnon, ”It is clear you have been through much, and are very on edge. Please, be my guests tonight, sleep soundly in comfortable beds with the sounds of the forest to give you peace. While you rest, I will confirm what I can of what you’ve said so far, and in the morning we shall see where we are.”
He turns to his butler, ”Give them rooms, and whatever else they desire.” he looks back at the group and winks, ”Within reason of course.”
He waves to your gear, ”Please, take these with you if you wish, so you know I mean you no harm.”
Kaylayne takes the offered writing implements and begins to scribe a simple note.
Iaon Griffen, Teacher
I would speak with you again. I have emerged in Kyonin, somehow, after escaping the UnderDark. Would you be able to come to me again? I need your counsel. And a cleansing. I am at the home of someone named Villastir.
Kaylayne.
Kaylayne offers the note to the servant, asking him to arrange delivery to Iaon Griffen in Crying Leaf...or tell her how she might arrange delivery.
* * *
Kaylayne returns to the group after a good long rest and sit. She is somewhat refreshed, but still frazzled. She offers a smile and a kind word to Villastir and tries eat some, but mostly she wants to go back outside.
She sleeps outside that night, forgoing the bed and the people to find a quiet spot under the sky and stars.
Kaylayne, after collecting her thoughts, approaches Allarnon. She kneels or sits near him.
"Sorry, Allarnon," Kaylayne says. "I've been so lost within myself here that I've forgotten what is really important. Forgive me. I have been selfish."
Kaylayne looks over to wherever the bear might be.
"What did you wish to do with the bear? How can I help? What is your custom?" Kaylayne is happy to help honor the bear in whatever way is appropriate...once she figures out what it is.
"...if they exist..."
"All due respect, you are not the one we should be speaking to. If you are not aware of the existence of drow, you are not sufficiently informed enough to understand what it is we underwent." Lief excuses himself, availing himself of very little in Villastir's manor, for he needs very little. He takes back his items, and allows himself to be shown a room. He takes only his requisite sleep of two hours, before he wakes, and begins work on his alchemicals. Something in the fleshwarping... made sense, and he seizes upon the thin thread of understanding, hoping to weave together a more substantial practicality, in concocting his formulae. He studies the two flasks of likely fleshwarp, then continues with his experimentations. When his early morning is complete, he's happy and sweating, as he realizes what it is he can now do.
He finds Ederin at first light, not seeking to disturb his slumber. "Good morning. I know we haven't had much time to return to ourselves, finally leaving behind the Underdark, but I think even there, there was something to learn. Look." He produces a vial. In it, something of mineral flecks swirls, reflecting the dawn's light. "Now, normally, my formulae have only been strong enough for my weak frame, but this... this is something that even you can consume, to benefit from the potent magic that I can fold into the solution. I think it only lasts for the day. I can't be sure. But I can renew them daily, of course. Take it. It's my first. Sometime today, can you do me the favor of trying it out?"
Lief pats Ederin on the shoulder, then departs the room, seeking to enjoy most of the sunrise.
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"What did you wish to do with the bear? How can I help? What is your custom?" Kaylayne is happy to help honor the bear in whatever way is appropriate...once she figures out what it is.
Allarnon's brain runs amok as he digests what all the hell happened in just the past 24 hours. Was that all it has really been? With saddened eyes he looks up to Kaylayne. He runs a hand along Tarkir's fur. The bear's muscles have long since tightened up and taken on the effects of rigor-mortise. The smell of blood and death takes hold all around the small bear as it stares blankly off into the distance with soulless eyes that have lost their gleam of life.
With a tired and defeated voice Allarnon finally speaks as his shoulders slump. "I.... I don't know. What can I do? He is the first of my family that I have lost. The custom where I come from is to bury their body so that their energy may be returned to the world. A creatures energy helps sustain all of the rest of life around it and helps it flourish. Tarkir would like that I think."
With a tired and defeated voice Allarnon finally speaks as his shoulders slump. "I.... I don't know. What can I do? He is the first of my family that I have lost. The custom where I come from is to bury their body so that their energy may be returned to the world. A creatures energy helps sustain all of the rest of life around it and helps it flourish. Tarkir would like that I think."
Dimitrio keeps his head down when Allarnon talks to them about his love for the bear. It was clear that it had been a lot more than just a pet, a kick-ass fighting pet.
"C'mon big guy, I'll pray to Desna for a safe journey for your friend. He died a good death, if there ever was one."
"I.... I don't know. What can I do?"
Kaylayne shakes her head.
"I don't know what he would want. I do know that, with the right elements, I might bring his soul back to his body. I can't guarantee success, but I would try. I doubt his soul has gone too far...and if you think he would want to return, I would help bring him back," Kaylayne says with far more confidence than she feels.
"If not, I think we can ask our hosts for leave to bury him in the forest, I would help with that. You just tell me what you want."
While Allarnon ponders the offer, Kaylayne will check in with Villastir and see about acquiring a large quantity of diamond dust.
Ederin shrugs when they're given their gear back. Apparently they'd come to some agreement, and if that meant not listening to the next bit of bickering among his friends, he was more than willing to end the conversation.
"You tellin' me you could maybe resurrect Tarkir?" He asks Kaylayne, shock written all over his face. He runs a hand through his hair and looks at Allarnon to see if the bear believes her anymore than he does.
"If you really can, well, if Al wants t' do it, I'll help if I can." He's not sure what he's signing up for, but the bear had traveled below with the party and was the only one not to return. Something about that didn't sit well with Ederin. "Where should we put him in the mean time, we can't jus' keep draggin' him around, it ain't right."
Whatever the solution, Ederin takes some time to himself just to sit and relax. They weren't out of the woods yet, but this was a significant improvement, he eats food that isn't fungus and sleeps with both eyes closed for the first time in what feels like forever.
When Lief finds him in the morning he raises and eyebrow at the younger man and sticks the infusion in a pocket, wondering what exactly it'll do to him. "Yeah mate, I'll try it out, thanks."Part of him wants to drink it right away out of curiosity, but he decides to wait, wanting it available in case things with this new elf turn sour.
He makes his way to where they had spoken with Villastir the day before, hoping the elf managed to confirm their story and can lead them back to their allies in Crying Leaf.
"You tellin' me you could maybe resurrect Tarkir?" He asks Kaylayne, shock written all over his face.
Kaylayne visibly winces at the word 'resurrect'. She shrugs at Ederin, unwilling to show false confidence.
"'Ressurect' might not be the right word, but it's not far off. And I'm not saying I could do it, but I think I could...I think..." Kaylayne's eyes dart to the Other Kaylayne standing the doorway, her arms crossed as if also in thought. The Other Kaylayne shrugs and slowly nods.
Kaylayne gathers some courage from something she is looking at.
"The body is fresh. Tarkir's spirit couldn't have gone far. If it wants to live again and if I can find the right components to re-bind the soul within...it could work. I think."
Kaylayne looks at Ederin and then at Allarnon to see what he wants.
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Allarnon's jaw goes slack as he must have surely heard wrong. A little of glimmer of hope returns to his face.
"You are able to speak to his spirit here?"
His hands and legs shake visibly as he stands. His eyes are one of awe, hope and fear all in one as he stares at Kaylayne.
What is she? Do gods truly give her this amount of power?
With his mind thinking many thoughts at once he looks to Tarkir's body and squints skeptically at Kaylayne.
"He won't be a zombie will he? You are not raising him as an undead abomination like the drow were with their....their fleshshaping?" He shudders at the thought.
"He won't be a zombie will he? You are not raising him as an undead abomination like the drow were with their....their fleshshaping?" He shudders at the thought.
"ZOMBIE? WHAT?! NO!!!" Kaylayne replies. "I would never do that! No!" Kaylayne slides her staff out of sight. "Not to the bear. No, it would be normal. Absolutely normal. He'll be fine. Death is temporary...I think. But he'll be back. It's nothing evil."
"All due respect, you are not the one we should be speaking to. If you are not aware of the existence of drow, you are not sufficiently informed enough to understand what it is we underwent."
"That may be, but I'm what you have. At least for now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!" he says with a smile.
The night passes uneventfully, and for most (all?) of you, it’s the best night’s rest you’ve had in some time. The forest is peaceful and rustles in a light wind throughout the night. The sounds of an occasional forest creature are heard dimly, but it does not interrupt your sleep.
When you come together downstairs, Villastir’s servants prepare you a great breakfast, the butler apologizing that Lord Vallistir was called away, but will return by the end of the meal.
True to the butlers prediction, Villastir joins you as you’re finishing your coffee. ”Well my friends, I hope you slept well and peacefully. I trust breakfast was sufficient? Then let us continue our discussions, though they may be brief today as I’ve been instructed to take you to Queen Telandia Edasseri, Queen of the elven nation of Kyonin. She wishes also to hear what you have to say.” he smiles broadly.
”But if you’ll indulge me an hour or two before we’re on our way, I have a few questions prior to escorting you to our capital, Iadara. It is but a short walk from here, just through the forest, though I can arrange for transport if you prefer not to walk.”
He looks to the party before continuing.
Kaylayne looks up from her food, shaking her head.
Queen? Sure.
"If you think you're taking us before the Queen, I'll need a hot bath. Really hot. If you can't offer a bath, then maybe you would be so kind as to direct me to a stream or pond so that I might clean up? You can ask me questions there," Kaylayne asks, offering a forced smile to hide her nervousness.
Queen?! Why?
Lief only joins the group for kahve, preferring to relish the sunlight as long as he can, until he's drawn back into dire conversations.
"Then let us continue our discussions, though they may be brief today as I’ve been instructed to take you to Queen Telandia Edasseri, Queen of the elven nation of Kyonin. She wishes also to hear what you have to say."
Lief sets down his cup gently, smoothing out the linen surrounding it, before he turns to answer Villastir. "The Queen, you say. Not, oh say, military advisors to the Queen, or counselors. She herself wants to hear our story, directly? If I may ask, Villastir- did you contact Crying Leaf, or did you have other sources which served to independently verify our story?"
Dimitrio sat up straighter when he heard he was going to meet a queen. Not just a queen but the Elven Queen.
He smoothed out his clothes and twirled his mustache and waited for Villastir to answer.
He later added, "Oh, I also need to uh... freshen up to see the queen. You chaps don't grow facial hair so you wouldn't happen to have any mustache grease, now would you?"
Villastir asks Kaylayne, when diamond dust is requested, ”Oh, so you’re a druid? Excellent. I do happened to have 1,000gp worth of the dust here, no problem. Will you require 200gp worth for the restorations too? You have a cleric among you for the restorations? If not, I could make arrangements to have us met in the city."
- - -
Lief sets down his cup gently, smoothing out the linen surrounding it, before he turns to answer Villastir. "The Queen, you say. Not, oh say, military advisors to the Queen, or counselors. She herself wants to hear our story, directly? If I may ask, Villastir- did you contact Crying Leaf, or did you have other sources which served to independently verify our story?"
Villastir laughs, ”Well it is true, the Queen herself can be very, uh, flighty, but she's a good sport. But she has excellent advisors, me among them.” he laughs further, making it clear he knows his place in the grand scheme of things.
”I spoke, briefly, with Eviana Nirgassan of Crying Leaf as you suggested. She was very enthusiastic about your accomplishments there. I do not believe you should have been used in this way, and would have advised the Queen as much, if Eviana had informed us of her plans.” he looks thoughtful, ”But I suppose that’s why she said nothing.”
He later added, "Oh, I also need to uh... freshen up to see the queen. You chaps don't grow facial hair so you wouldn't happen to have any mustache grease, now would you?"
He nods to his butler, ”Perhaps my man can sort you out.” he gestures for you to follow him.
He does not have any mustache grease per se, but he does have a few hair jellies that are close to what your looking for. Between you and the butler, you make yourself look very presentable indeed, and can rejoin the group as they continue to chat in the sitting room.
- - -
"I spoke, briefly, with Eviana Nirgassan of Crying Leaf as you suggested. She was very enthusiastic about your accomplishments there. I do not believe you should have been used in this way, and would have advised the Queen as much, if Eviana had informed us of her plans. But I suppose that’s why she said nothing."
Lief feels a light rise of defensiveness as Villastir speaks in opposition to Eviana's strategy. We agreed to it, for better or worse, though it is true that we were deeply ignorant of what lay in store for us.
Lief nods, heartened to know that their voices were lifted by Eviana's support, however distant. It brought him closer to home, in heart. We give our report, almost directly to the Queen, and we're as good as home.
The young man waits to depart, beginning to understand that Kaylayne is up to something, something involving a fair amount of diamond dust. He can wait.
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He later added, "Oh, I also need to uh... freshen up to see the queen. You chaps don't grow facial hair so you wouldn't happen to have any mustache grease, now would you?"
Allarnon runs his hands through his unkempt and extremely unwashed hair. His hands are cake in natural grease as he grabs ahold of Dimitrio's mustache and thoroughly greases it for the man.
Stepping abck he admires his work and claps Dimitrio on the shoulder.
"Now you're good"
"ZOMBIE? WHAT?! NO!!!" Kaylayne replies. "I would never do that! No!" Kaylayne slides her staff out of sight. "Not to the bear. No, it would be normal. Absolutely normal. He'll be fine. Death is temporary...I think. But he'll be back. It's nothing evil."
Allarnon sighs as he turns hopeful again. "Ok. Just let me know when you are ready. I don't want anything to go wrong..."
”Oh, so you’re a druid? Excellent."
Kaylayne looks confused.
"A druid? One of those treehuggers? Uhm. No, not really," Kaylayne answers reflecting only what she saw of the few druids she had seen when she was bartending back in Varisia. "Uhm, no. Uh...what?" Kaylayne shakes her head, trying to explain again what she needs.
"I need more than that small amount of diamond dust. I need more. About 5 times that. I need to try to bring the bear back. Back from the dead. I'm not trying to calm down the satyrs or move a sacred grove or anything. Just raise the dead. That's all."
"We'll pay for what we need. Or you can tell us where we can get it. We'd be happy to meet with your Queen when we're done."
He later added, "Oh, I also need to uh... freshen up to see the queen. You chaps don't grow facial hair so you wouldn't happen to have any mustache grease, now would you?"Allarnon runs his hands through his unkempt and extremely unwashed hair. His hands are cake in natural grease as he grabs ahold of Dimitrio's mustache and thoroughly greases it for the man.
Stepping abck he admires his work and claps Dimitrio on the shoulder.
"Now you're good"
"Er... maybe..."
The bard wanted to say something but just didn't have the heart seeing what else was going on in bear-man's life."[/b]
He held his breath and mumbled a timid thanks and then quickly proceeded to remove all traces of that with his magic.
Ederin's eyebrows raise at the mention of the queen.
"Queen o' the elves, eh? Wants to meet us?" He says out loud to no one in particular. He wonders if his friends back home will believe half of what he's been through these last few weeks.
He listens as Lief does what Lief does but is momentarily distracted by Allarnon grooming Dimitrio. He nearly chokes trying to stifle his laughter as he slaps the bard on the back. "Never looked better mate, you should wear it like that more often."
For his part Ederin doesn't do anything special to prepare, he takes sometime to look over his equipment and make sure it's in good condition and otherwise relaxes while they wait for Kaylane to bathe.
Villastir can make arrangements for a scroll to be provided, but it’ll be in town, not here. Do you bring Tarkir with? Villastir is happy letting him lie in state in his manor for now, so you don’t need to lug him around…
The party gathers themselves, after a short time. Villastir doesn’t get to chat much, and walks in reserved silence as you approach the capital city of the elves. He seems deep in thought - or possible conversing with another…
The first thing that you notice about Iadara (image) is the light - bright, glorious sunshine, streaming through the leaves of trees high above and washing over the ground in waves of sun and soft shade. Here and there it glances off the windows of graceful towers and austere buildings with exquisitely carved wooden eaves. The ground, too, is made up of thousands upon thousands of inlaid wooden tiles, polished and glowing the hue of a warm hearth, with designs as intricate as the most delicate gold jewelry.
Elves move to and fro, or gather to talk in light, carefree tones, and all - from tradesmen to the elite of elven society - are dressed in elegant but functional garb, and adorned with understated gold and silver trinkets of the highest quality. Colorful birds it through the air, and you can just make out a recurring melody in their song that brings to mind lazy summer days and hours of indolent pleasure. The sound of countless burbling fountains fills the air, and the scents of pristine woodland and delicate wild flowers grace every intake of breath.
This is Iadara - a city built amid ancient trees and with elven ideals. Most of the city’s structures are built of finely carved and smoothly polished wood or delicately polished and shaped stone and crystal. Windows are large and bright, often decorated with pastoral scenes in stained glass. The people are peaceful and happy, even carefree - though they are merely polite and somewhat reserved toward non-elves, largely because they are not accustomed to other races; Iadara is an insular community a after all, and many of its citizens have never met anyone who wasn’t an elf, so there is some polite staring as you pass.
You are met at the entrance by a number of elves - advisors, guards, and other hangers-on. One of them passes a scroll to Villastir, which he immediately passes to Kaylayne. ”I took the liberty of providing Restorations also. If you cannot read the scrolls, I can arrange for someone to do that for you as well.”
The journey into the palace is short - the Viridian Throne is on the palace’s ground floor. A herald loudly announces the PCs by name as they approach the entrance, indicating that they should bow as they enter. Beyond the towering silver and crystal double doors from the palace entrance, a short, broad flight of marble stairs leads into a vast hall. Light filters in from above through wide crystal windows to focus on a dais perhaps a hundred yards distant.
Several richly garbed elves speaking quietly among themselves stand in a gathering near the dais, on which a single throne of living vines and delicate wooden branches sits. And seated upon that throne is a regal, beautiful elf woman with an intense gaze and an almost challenging expression. Upon her brow is a crown of delicate vines and violets. She nods at you as you approach - this is Queen Telandia Edasseril (link).
Lief spares little attention on the attending dro... elves, instinctually pinning the Queen for her dominance in this society, as being little different than the powerful females conspiring against each other in the Underdark. He only hopes the Queen reflects the same gentle attitude as Eviana of Crying Leaf.
"Pleased to meet you, your Majesty. My name is Lief Anemoi, originally from Magnimar. My companions are Ederin, Dimitrio, and Kaylayne, recently of Riddleport, and Allarnon. I'm not sure exactly from where he hails." Lief bows before the queen, deeply, before rising to meet her gaze, and continue.
"We are extremely grateful for your time, so I will not waste it. We have recently finished a dangerous task, likely foolhardy, but we think vital to the continued existence of our lands. I believe you are up to speed on the event to which we refer as the Plucking of the Star? A small, but cataclysmic event very near our Riddleport, caused by a female drow by the name of Allevrah. She has taken control of House Azrinae of Zirnakaynin, and conspires to exact the same retribution on Kyonin as was wrought on the Devil's Elbow. Information given to us by the First Daughter of House Vonnarc points to a legendary cavern call the Land of Black Blood, apparently located beneath Kyonin itself. She seeks a second Earthfall, if Alicavniss is to be believed. I know that drow are known for their deception and treachery, so please take this information in context. We've seen the damage from the Plucking, ourselves. We would rather have provided this information for vetting, than dismiss it as conspiracy theory spun against an opposing drow House." Lief feels a weight lift from his shoulders, and he audibly sighs at the finish of his report.
Kaylayne *bathes*. She's rarely, if ever, had a fancy hot bath before...most of her washing done in small tubs with always insufficient hot water. Or worse, she was the one fetching the hot water so that others might enjoy a good bath. So the opportunity for her to bathe like a woman who might be seeing a Queen...well, it makes her weak in the knees.
She takes the full amount of time needed and explores nearly every salve and soap during her bath. She scrubs and washes, then scrubs and washes again. She takes liberal use of the attendants, hoping that their help might ease her growing nervousness. She gets rid of grime that seems to have been there forever...and ever.
The Queen? A true queen?!
She asks the attendants to help her clean and unknot her vest, shine her armor, and beat the dust out of her cloak. She even brushes her hair and braids it down her back, tied with a red ribbon.
Only when she is *sure* she is clean and prepped, does she deign to make herself ready to see the queen.
* * *
”I took the liberty of providing Restorations also. If you cannot read the scrolls, I can arrange for someone to do that for you as well.”
Kaylayne squints at the scrolls, wondering where the error in communication happened, but then eventually takes them and thanks Villastir. She had not asked for the scrolls of Restoration (having intended to do them herself), but she tries not to let it show.
The scrolls will keep nicely for when we need them. She places the scrolls in her haversack and thanks Villastir again.
Kaylayne looks at the party and with knees knocking, she enters when she is announced.
"...wordswordswords..."
Kaylayne looks shockd that Lief spoke first, but had long ago cast away the notion that the boy might have manners or gravitas in such situations.
He's probably just as nervous as I am.
She smiles at the Queen after Lief's impropriety and waits to see what happens.