Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Forgotten Lore (Updated M-W-F)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7141582" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 45</p><p></p><p>Xeeta stared at herself in the tiny mirror.</p><p></p><p>The mirror was of poor quality and showed a slightly blurred image, but the distinctive features of her heritage were clearly visible. The clothes were new, and cheaper than what she’d been wearing, but they were clean and sturdy. Between that and the natural imperfections in the mirror she could almost imagine that the face she saw belonged to a stranger. Almost.</p><p></p><p>She turned away and looked around the room. It was also tiny, though clean and neat. The proprietor of the Gray Oak Inn clearly put a lot of effort into his accommodations, even out here in the middle of nowhere.</p><p></p><p>Her gaze swept back to the basin under the mirror and the small purse that sat upon its edge. It held only a handful of silver and copper coins. Her rescuers had agreed to give her a share of the money they’d taken from the kobolds. It was generous, especially since she’d done nothing to earn such a reward, but she couldn’t help but think back to earlier days. When she’d left Li Syval she’d had a purse full of platinum trade marks and electrum obots, along with fine clothes trimmed in silver thread and a dagger with an opal embedded in the hilt.</p><p></p><p>That was a long time ago.</p><p></p><p>She shook off the memories of the past, angry at herself. She had long since stopped allowing herself to wallow in what might have been. It was well past time to embrace reality.</p><p></p><p>She looked back at the mirror, challenging the face staring back at her. Finally she lifted a hand, spoke the words of magic that summoned her power. The image in the mirror blurred again, but this time it was replaced by a new face, one with pale skin, a <em>normal</em> shade, framed with gentle curls instead of twisting horns.</p><p></p><p>She reached out and took both the purse and her rod. Two steps were sufficient to bring her to the door and the hallway beyond. She didn’t bother locking the door behind her. It wasn’t as if she had anything worth stealing.</p><p></p><p>A few more steps, simple enough, thought they felt harder than the first. Finally she was standing in front of another door. She could hear the sounds of activity from the common room drifting up from the stairs at the end of the hall. She normally didn’t enjoy crowds, but at that moment those noises pulled at her like a magnet tugging on iron shavings. Her disguise would last for an hour, plenty of time to go down and enjoy a glass of wine or a bite of food and pretend she was normal.</p><p></p><p><em>You’re being a coward</em>, she berated herself. She reached up and rapped on the door.</p><p></p><p>The response came at once. “Come in.”</p><p></p><p>Bredan’s room was only slightly larger than hers, though it had an actual table and two chairs crowded into a corner. The warrior was seated in one of those chairs, while Glori sat on the bed with her legs tucked under her.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, I didn’t mean to intrude,” Xeeta said when she saw the half-elf woman.</p><p></p><p>“You’re not intruding,” Glori said. “I was just about to head down to the common room, if you were looking to talk with Bredan alone…” There was a hint of something in her tone that had the warrior—gods, he was really just a boy—coloring up his neck to his ears.</p><p></p><p>“It’s quite all right,” Xeeta said, coming into the room enough so she could close the door behind her. “I’d like to speak with both of you, actually.”</p><p></p><p>“Would you like to sit?” Bredan asked. At her nod he took the other chair and turned it around so it faced into the center of the room.</p><p></p><p>“Thank you. I understand you’re going to continue your search for the missing boy tomorrow.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, there are a few more sites on our list,” Glori said. “Apparently this village is surrounded by abandoned houses and old ruins.”</p><p></p><p>“This whole region was once part of the Mai’i Empire,” Xeeta said. “The nature of its collapse left a great deal of wreckage behind.”</p><p></p><p>“So we’ve been told,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“I take it you’d like to come with us?” Glori asked.</p><p></p><p>Xeeta was not often caught off guard, but she blinked in surprise and betrayed a moment’s hesitation before nodding.</p><p></p><p>“We could use another spellcaster,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>Glori and Xeeta continued to match stares. “You’ll need to convince Quellan and Kosk,” the bard said.</p><p></p><p>“I know. I thought maybe you could speak for me.”</p><p></p><p>“Why would they object?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>The two woman shared a knowing look. Bredan was about to say more, but saw that something more was going on and held his tongue.</p><p></p><p>“They’ll want to know why,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“I thought about using the argument of my debt to you, for freeing me from those bastards.” She indicated her new clothes. “For helping me get back, for everything.”</p><p></p><p>“That we would have done for anyone,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“Yes. Yes, I see that. Even Kosk would have done that, maybe.”</p><p></p><p>“So since you’re not going that way, what reason did you decide on?”</p><p></p><p>“The truth. It seemed appropriate.”</p><p></p><p>“And that truth?” Glori asked. Bredan thought that she already knew the answer, but needed to hear it. He looked over at Xeeta, who nodded as if she’d come to the same conclusion.</p><p></p><p>“I have nowhere else to go.”</p><p></p><p>“We’re probably not going to find anything at this old estate,” Glori said. “And our road eventually leads north.”</p><p></p><p>“Well then, I suppose we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Xeeta said.</p><p></p><p>“I expect the others will want to hear more about your story,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>Xeeta nodded again, clearly unsurprised. “It’s not a tale I wish to recollect, but it is a fair request.”</p><p></p><p>Glori looked at her a moment longer than sprang up. “I think that Quellan and Kosk are in the common room. We can…”</p><p></p><p>But even as Bredan and Xeeta started to get up they could hear someone approaching. It was impossible to miss the distinctive tread of the cleric ascending the narrow steps of the inn; even though Quellan tried to be unobtrusive it was hard to conceal six feet and three hundred pounds of armored half-orc. Glori went over and opened the door to the room.</p><p></p><p>“Ah, Bredan, Glori, I was looking for you,” the cleric said when he appeared in the doorway. If he was surprised to see the tiefling there he quickly recovered. “Miss Xeeta,” he said.</p><p></p><p>“Xeeta wants to go with us tomorrow,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“Oh? Your aid would be welcome.”</p><p></p><p>“I told you,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“I would not wish to insert tension in your relationship with your companion,” Xeeta said.</p><p></p><p>Quellan waved a hand. “Kosk’s bark is worse than his bite. He’s more tolerant than he seems. After all, he accepted a half-breed as his friend.”</p><p></p><p>“You’re more than your bloodline,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“Thank you,” Quellan said. “I would say that the same applies to you, Miss Xeeta. Don’t be alarmed if Kosk treats you with caution, or even suspicion, that is just his way. Master Karras received much the same treatment at first.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t see how that’s changed,” Bredan muttered.</p><p></p><p>“I understand that trust is something that must be earned,” Xeeta said. “I appreciate being given the chance to earn it.”</p><p></p><p>“You came up here to tell us something, Quellan?” Glori asked.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, yes. The mother of the local notable… Anthernorn… she sought us out, spoke to Kosk and me downstairs. She wants to help us in our investigation of the old abandoned estate.”</p><p></p><p>“News travels fast,” Bredan said. “We only just briefed the council about the bandits a little while ago.”</p><p></p><p>“Small town,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“I got the impression that Althea—that’s her name—is the real driving force behind the family,” Quellan said. “She strikes me as the kind of woman who knows everything that happens within her demesne.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m familiar with that sort,” Xeeta said. “What kind of aid is she offering?”</p><p></p><p>“She wants to send one of her family retainers with us tomorrow morning.”</p><p></p><p>“The one with the sword that we saw earlier?” Bredan asked. “That first time we met with the local council?”</p><p></p><p>“That’s the one,” Quellan said. “His name is Colum, and apparently he knows the area quite well.”</p><p></p><p>“Is he any good?” Glori asked. “Can he handle himself?”</p><p></p><p>“I suppose we’ll find out,” Quellan said.</p><p></p><p>“What did Kosk say to this offer?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>Quellan smiled. “I believe he is interested in expediting our trip so we can resume our travel north.”</p><p></p><p>Bredan snorted. “Yeah, I bet that’s exactly what he said.”</p><p></p><p>“Should I go speak to him now?” Xeeta asked.</p><p></p><p>“Let me,” Quellan said. “Perhaps you’ll come down and join us for a drink later? We’ll likely get an early start tomorrow, but I think we’ve earned a moment’s respite.”</p><p></p><p>“I can come down for a little while,” Xeeta said. She made a gesture with her hand that highlighted the changes to her features.</p><p></p><p>Glori nodded; she understood. “I was thinking of turning in,” she said. “Especially since I know what Kosk’s definition of ‘early start’ means.”</p><p></p><p>“I’ll buy you a drink, Xeeta,” Bredan said, but as he got up he hesitated. “Should I bring my sword down or leave it in the room?”</p><p></p><p>“I think we’re safe in an inn common room,” Quellan said.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know, I’ve been in some pretty wild inns in my time,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“I can almost hear Kosk’s voice in my head,” Bredan said. “Should I be worried about that?”</p><p></p><p>Xeeta allowed a small smile at the interplay. “I can protect you, if need be,” she said. She snapped her fingers and a wisp of flame rose from her hand, dancing in her grasp for a moment before dissolving into nothing.</p><p></p><p>“Well, I guess I can skip the flint and steel at the next campfire,” Bredan said with a grin. He’d finally decided on taking the sword, tucking the baldric under his arm. He stuck out his other elbow toward the tiefling. “Shall we, then?”</p><p></p><p>After a moment Xeeta took his arm, and they headed downstairs.</p><p></p><p>“I think she likes him,” Glori said when they were alone.</p><p></p><p>Quellan looked suddenly awkward. “I thought… you and Bredan…”</p><p></p><p>“We’re just friends,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“Ah. Well. I know you wanted to get some rest, so, ah, I’ll just go, then.” He started to turn toward the door.</p><p></p><p>“Quellan?”</p><p></p><p>He turned back. “Yes?”</p><p></p><p>“I’m glad you’re with us. Both you and Kosk. I don’t think we could have managed without you.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m glad too. Good night, Glori.”</p><p></p><p>“Good night, Quellan.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7141582, member: 143"] Chapter 45 Xeeta stared at herself in the tiny mirror. The mirror was of poor quality and showed a slightly blurred image, but the distinctive features of her heritage were clearly visible. The clothes were new, and cheaper than what she’d been wearing, but they were clean and sturdy. Between that and the natural imperfections in the mirror she could almost imagine that the face she saw belonged to a stranger. Almost. She turned away and looked around the room. It was also tiny, though clean and neat. The proprietor of the Gray Oak Inn clearly put a lot of effort into his accommodations, even out here in the middle of nowhere. Her gaze swept back to the basin under the mirror and the small purse that sat upon its edge. It held only a handful of silver and copper coins. Her rescuers had agreed to give her a share of the money they’d taken from the kobolds. It was generous, especially since she’d done nothing to earn such a reward, but she couldn’t help but think back to earlier days. When she’d left Li Syval she’d had a purse full of platinum trade marks and electrum obots, along with fine clothes trimmed in silver thread and a dagger with an opal embedded in the hilt. That was a long time ago. She shook off the memories of the past, angry at herself. She had long since stopped allowing herself to wallow in what might have been. It was well past time to embrace reality. She looked back at the mirror, challenging the face staring back at her. Finally she lifted a hand, spoke the words of magic that summoned her power. The image in the mirror blurred again, but this time it was replaced by a new face, one with pale skin, a [i]normal[/i] shade, framed with gentle curls instead of twisting horns. She reached out and took both the purse and her rod. Two steps were sufficient to bring her to the door and the hallway beyond. She didn’t bother locking the door behind her. It wasn’t as if she had anything worth stealing. A few more steps, simple enough, thought they felt harder than the first. Finally she was standing in front of another door. She could hear the sounds of activity from the common room drifting up from the stairs at the end of the hall. She normally didn’t enjoy crowds, but at that moment those noises pulled at her like a magnet tugging on iron shavings. Her disguise would last for an hour, plenty of time to go down and enjoy a glass of wine or a bite of food and pretend she was normal. [i]You’re being a coward[/i], she berated herself. She reached up and rapped on the door. The response came at once. “Come in.” Bredan’s room was only slightly larger than hers, though it had an actual table and two chairs crowded into a corner. The warrior was seated in one of those chairs, while Glori sat on the bed with her legs tucked under her. “Oh, I didn’t mean to intrude,” Xeeta said when she saw the half-elf woman. “You’re not intruding,” Glori said. “I was just about to head down to the common room, if you were looking to talk with Bredan alone…” There was a hint of something in her tone that had the warrior—gods, he was really just a boy—coloring up his neck to his ears. “It’s quite all right,” Xeeta said, coming into the room enough so she could close the door behind her. “I’d like to speak with both of you, actually.” “Would you like to sit?” Bredan asked. At her nod he took the other chair and turned it around so it faced into the center of the room. “Thank you. I understand you’re going to continue your search for the missing boy tomorrow.” “Yes, there are a few more sites on our list,” Glori said. “Apparently this village is surrounded by abandoned houses and old ruins.” “This whole region was once part of the Mai’i Empire,” Xeeta said. “The nature of its collapse left a great deal of wreckage behind.” “So we’ve been told,” Bredan said. “I take it you’d like to come with us?” Glori asked. Xeeta was not often caught off guard, but she blinked in surprise and betrayed a moment’s hesitation before nodding. “We could use another spellcaster,” Bredan said. Glori and Xeeta continued to match stares. “You’ll need to convince Quellan and Kosk,” the bard said. “I know. I thought maybe you could speak for me.” “Why would they object?” Bredan asked. The two woman shared a knowing look. Bredan was about to say more, but saw that something more was going on and held his tongue. “They’ll want to know why,” Glori said. “I thought about using the argument of my debt to you, for freeing me from those bastards.” She indicated her new clothes. “For helping me get back, for everything.” “That we would have done for anyone,” Glori said. “Yes. Yes, I see that. Even Kosk would have done that, maybe.” “So since you’re not going that way, what reason did you decide on?” “The truth. It seemed appropriate.” “And that truth?” Glori asked. Bredan thought that she already knew the answer, but needed to hear it. He looked over at Xeeta, who nodded as if she’d come to the same conclusion. “I have nowhere else to go.” “We’re probably not going to find anything at this old estate,” Glori said. “And our road eventually leads north.” “Well then, I suppose we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Xeeta said. “I expect the others will want to hear more about your story,” Glori said. Xeeta nodded again, clearly unsurprised. “It’s not a tale I wish to recollect, but it is a fair request.” Glori looked at her a moment longer than sprang up. “I think that Quellan and Kosk are in the common room. We can…” But even as Bredan and Xeeta started to get up they could hear someone approaching. It was impossible to miss the distinctive tread of the cleric ascending the narrow steps of the inn; even though Quellan tried to be unobtrusive it was hard to conceal six feet and three hundred pounds of armored half-orc. Glori went over and opened the door to the room. “Ah, Bredan, Glori, I was looking for you,” the cleric said when he appeared in the doorway. If he was surprised to see the tiefling there he quickly recovered. “Miss Xeeta,” he said. “Xeeta wants to go with us tomorrow,” Bredan said. “Oh? Your aid would be welcome.” “I told you,” Bredan said. “I would not wish to insert tension in your relationship with your companion,” Xeeta said. Quellan waved a hand. “Kosk’s bark is worse than his bite. He’s more tolerant than he seems. After all, he accepted a half-breed as his friend.” “You’re more than your bloodline,” Glori said. “Thank you,” Quellan said. “I would say that the same applies to you, Miss Xeeta. Don’t be alarmed if Kosk treats you with caution, or even suspicion, that is just his way. Master Karras received much the same treatment at first.” “I don’t see how that’s changed,” Bredan muttered. “I understand that trust is something that must be earned,” Xeeta said. “I appreciate being given the chance to earn it.” “You came up here to tell us something, Quellan?” Glori asked. “Oh, yes. The mother of the local notable… Anthernorn… she sought us out, spoke to Kosk and me downstairs. She wants to help us in our investigation of the old abandoned estate.” “News travels fast,” Bredan said. “We only just briefed the council about the bandits a little while ago.” “Small town,” Glori said. “I got the impression that Althea—that’s her name—is the real driving force behind the family,” Quellan said. “She strikes me as the kind of woman who knows everything that happens within her demesne.” “I’m familiar with that sort,” Xeeta said. “What kind of aid is she offering?” “She wants to send one of her family retainers with us tomorrow morning.” “The one with the sword that we saw earlier?” Bredan asked. “That first time we met with the local council?” “That’s the one,” Quellan said. “His name is Colum, and apparently he knows the area quite well.” “Is he any good?” Glori asked. “Can he handle himself?” “I suppose we’ll find out,” Quellan said. “What did Kosk say to this offer?” Bredan asked. Quellan smiled. “I believe he is interested in expediting our trip so we can resume our travel north.” Bredan snorted. “Yeah, I bet that’s exactly what he said.” “Should I go speak to him now?” Xeeta asked. “Let me,” Quellan said. “Perhaps you’ll come down and join us for a drink later? We’ll likely get an early start tomorrow, but I think we’ve earned a moment’s respite.” “I can come down for a little while,” Xeeta said. She made a gesture with her hand that highlighted the changes to her features. Glori nodded; she understood. “I was thinking of turning in,” she said. “Especially since I know what Kosk’s definition of ‘early start’ means.” “I’ll buy you a drink, Xeeta,” Bredan said, but as he got up he hesitated. “Should I bring my sword down or leave it in the room?” “I think we’re safe in an inn common room,” Quellan said. “I don’t know, I’ve been in some pretty wild inns in my time,” Glori said. “I can almost hear Kosk’s voice in my head,” Bredan said. “Should I be worried about that?” Xeeta allowed a small smile at the interplay. “I can protect you, if need be,” she said. She snapped her fingers and a wisp of flame rose from her hand, dancing in her grasp for a moment before dissolving into nothing. “Well, I guess I can skip the flint and steel at the next campfire,” Bredan said with a grin. He’d finally decided on taking the sword, tucking the baldric under his arm. He stuck out his other elbow toward the tiefling. “Shall we, then?” After a moment Xeeta took his arm, and they headed downstairs. “I think she likes him,” Glori said when they were alone. Quellan looked suddenly awkward. “I thought… you and Bredan…” “We’re just friends,” Glori said. “Ah. Well. I know you wanted to get some rest, so, ah, I’ll just go, then.” He started to turn toward the door. “Quellan?” He turned back. “Yes?” “I’m glad you’re with us. Both you and Kosk. I don’t think we could have managed without you.” “I’m glad too. Good night, Glori.” “Good night, Quellan.” [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Forgotten Lore (Updated M-W-F)
Top