"Here, you can help strain the birré, and mix this powder into it. You have to do it slowly and evenly, listen to the song and let it guide your movements." Nketiah shows Bea how it's done before stepping back and letting her handle it.
Bea watches intently, listens even harder, "I think, I can..." she says softly to herself. Her brow furrows, her ears perk up, and she gets to it.
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Hours pass as most everyone is busy with the preparations. At midday, the celebrations begin - with food, drink, music, dancing and contests of skill. There is a lot of laughter, and several youths dare each other to speak to the strangers, enticing them to eat some of the spicier food, challenging them to a round of dance-off, or just being curious.
Late in the afternoon, the atmosphere turns expectant and the noise dies down a little, eyes turning towards a platform that has been so far empty, with woven grass cushions set into a wide circle. As the last rays of the sun dim beyond the canopy, Nketiah strides onto the platform, and a hush spreads as she strikes her staff against the floor.
Most of the younger Ekujae scamper to take a spot on the platform, watching Nketiah with rapt attention. The twin leaders of the clan motion to Bea, Beau, Gofran and Hammid to join them, and room is made for them in the best spot - in front of the speaker.
Once everyone is settled, Nketiah's voice calls out, clear and strong in the expectant silence, speaking in Elven. "Come, children of the Leopard Clan! Dusk has fallen! Let us call a moth to tell us a story!" As one, the Ekujae lift their cupped hands in front of them, each conjuring a small ball of light into their palms.
"I have caught a little moth!" Nketiah says, dramatically clutching the air in front of her. "It has a story to tell. It is a story of a Great Darkness."
"We will listen," the Ekujae reply in unison.
"There was once a time of anguish. A time of destruction. A time of night so dark that even moths refused to fly. From a hole in this night came a Great Darkness, who saw the world suffer, and thought only that it wanted to see more suffering. The Darkness sought to burn all that remained, until there was nothing left but ashes."
"Burn, burn, burn," whisper the Ekujae, the sound of their voices hissing and rustling.
"The first people that the Darkness found were a brave people, who stood before the Darkness with their weapons, and did not run. The Darkness sought to destroy them, saying 'You shall fall before me, for I am Death and I am Fire.' But the people were not afraid, and replied, 'You shall not break us, for we are the guardians of this land, who stayed to defend it when all others fled.'"
A thump reverberates through the platform as the listeners hit the floor with an open palm, all at once. "We stayed."
"Oh, what a terrible battle it was! The people shattered their spears against the Darkness again and again, but no living being could pierce its hide. At last, the greatest among the people, the kindest, the most righteous, gave their lives to forge their souls into weapons for the people to wield. Oh, how their souls burned, like bright coals in the night!"
"They burned!" moans the audience in anguish.
"The people took up the souls of those they had most loved, and in wrath split the skin of the Darkness. They spilled the blood of the Darkness across the whole of their lands. They broke the horn and teeth from the Darkness and flung them into the sea. Yet still the Darkness would not die!"
A wordless wail rises.
"The people forced the Darkness back into the place from whence it had emerged. The people trapped it in the space between spaces. The people swore they would stand guard so that the Darkness could never escape to threaten the land again."
Another resonant thump. "We stand guard."
"Could the people imprison the Darkness forever, when even the best among them could not defeat it? Was it foolish to expect them to try?" Nketiah pauses, then says, "That is the story that we have been given."
"We will remember," the other Ekujae reply.
A few long moments pass in silence, then Nketiah smiles at the visitors and switches to Taldane. "Well, friends, do you have a story of your own that you would like to share?"
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The gnomish woman looks at her companions to see if any of them wish to tell their story, then stands. She steadies herself by brushing off her skirts.
Thinking quickly she casts a light spell on a piece of fruit, then divides it up into six parts, each still glowing. "One day in a far away place, there was a cry for help. Six normal souls answered, each for their own reason, but still answering." she cast another spell, making the six pieces to float in the air.
She searched a pocket for a handkerchief, then cast it to the color black letting it rise in the air too "A darkness had taken over a home, and started creeping out, Reaching, wanting, hurting." the fabric jerked menacing "The six souls had to do something." the glowing fruit surrounded the black fabric, darting and dancing around it. "They were new to this sort of thing though." each get swallowed, one by one, little sound effects like swords and cries, and one burp for some reason (an accident by the looks of her cheeks afterward), "Then through trust, faith, and pure desire to Help..." the six pieces could be seen moving together under the fabirc to reform into a single ball. "They banished the darkness!" the fabric slid off them, rolled into a tight wad and came to her hand so she could put it away, leaving just a glowing ball of fruit. "And then some of them came here."
Beau certainly has no stories of his own that match the one told by the Ekujae! Bea, however, came to their rescue and managed to tell a riveting rendition of their own collective story. "The Darkness sure did not appreciate us coming here, for it tried to undo us with its burning hatred. But as long as we stand together, and look out for one another, the Darkness is not strong enough to claim us."
The Ekujae listen to Bea attentively, looking at her and not at Nketiah, who is translating. When she finishes the story, they thump their fists on the wooden floor in appreciation, making the platform vibrate.
A few more stories are told, Jeryn or Nketiah translating for those who are not fluent in Elven, and then the audience disperses, returning to the festivities. Nketiah approaches the group, her expression serious.
"From your story it is clear that both you and my people have a stake in the fight against the Darkness. And I hope that we can work together and help each other in this." She pauses as Jahsi and Akosa approach and come to stand next to her, regarding the party in somber silence.
"After we drove the cultists away from the temple of Ketephys, we sent scouts east to track them as they fled. Yet these scouts could not complete their tasks, for while they were pursuing they were struck blind - all of them."
Akosa interjects. "They said it was as if the air had turned to embers and ashes, and they could not breathe or see - as if they were somehow caught in that terrible battle our people fought against the Darkness, thousands of years ago."
Nketiah nods, and continues. "When I studied the broken pillar that the Cinderclaws let behind in the temple, I could tell that some of it was meant to channel power against our people in particular. The Darkness has a grudge against us, and I think the Cinderclaws are using the power of that grudge to keep us from striking back against them where it matters most - at the seat of their power."
She looks to her father, who folds his hands in front of him, gazing at the group. "My friends, I know it is much to ask, and you have not known us for more than a day, but ask I must. Would you go to where my people cannot, and see what you can discover of these cultists? If we are wrong and you end up blind, I promise that you will be healed."
"If ve end up blind and ve arre able to rreturrn." Gofran corrects Nketiah. He then shrugs, nevertheless. "I'll go, but I do not do this frrom the kindness o' my hearrt."
Looking between all the elves, he adds. "Ye arre corrrect that ve both have Dahak as ourr enemy, yet ye have failed, and now it vill be ourr turrn to trry." He doesn't say this to mock the elves or rub them in the wrong way, as he is just stating the facts. "Should ve rreturrn successful, I ask ye to considerr some sorrt o' trrade agrreement betveen yerr city and ourr town."
Bea opens her mouth to agree wholeheartedly, but sees the logic her friend is asking for. She adds "if nothing else as a trail, experimenting how well we can benefit each other."
After a silent exchange of glances with Jahsi, Nketiah nods. "Very well. And we will do our best to equip you for the journey with supplies. Some of our scouts will guide you close to the spot where the trail was lost."
Akosa walks away, returning in a short time with several elves carrying neatly packed tents, rations, waterskins and padded wooden boxes with vials inside.
Jahsi likewise leaves and returns with a couple of long bundles wrapped in oiled leathers, kneeling to unwrap them and present them to the departing group.
"This was the favourite bow of one of the warriors who perished at the hands of the Cinderclaws, she would appreciate it being used to continue the fight against them. This sword was gifted to me long ago, but it is not my kind of weapon, so I gift it to you, to help you in your mission."
With a smile, Nketiah offers her staff to Bea, an amulet wrapped around it. "A token of appreciation for your story," she says. The charm was given to me years ago by a friend, when I was facing a dangerous task. Please take it, with our wishes of good fortune."
Beau is all smiles and blushes when the elves shower them with gifts. He inspects the bow with great respect for the craftsmanship and backstory and nods at Jahsi to show his gratitude. "Words fail me right now. All of this is too kind, and I'll make sure we won't let you down."
Beatrix is deeply moved at the gift. "I..." like for Beau, the words she was going to say doesn't seem sufficient. So she touches Nketiah's hand and smiles her thanks "Someday, I will repay this kindness, I promise." to Nketiah, to her people, to the land in general. Somehow and someday.
Gofran looks at the offered items and while he firmly believes that dwarven craftmanship are far superior than elven one, he does have to admit that the greatsword in front of him was beautiful. He takes it with reverence and nods in thanks.
"I believe ve should leave then and do ourr job."
Bea slips on her pack, adjusting the straps and her clothes, then smiles around at her friends and new companion "Ready?"