Thanks to Rel for deleting some of the posts for me so that I can start fresh from where things were lost. If any of you out there are reading again who started the story hour with me two years ago, I am sorry for the review, but I just could not go on with some of the most important events lost. I don't know why I did not save them on my own computer, but for whatever reason I could not find them. So we are picking up from a bit before the Glade of Eilanahih. For those of you new to this story hour, enjoy! And for the players who might be reading this, please feel free to post again. I think some of your posts got lost as well. On with the show.
Oh wondrous night! I have not been feeling like tallying how many times I have longed to be home or even at Fort Greerson in a soft bed at an inn, or how many ogre heads I have popped open with my mind. The arguing is continuous and the forest relentless in the battles it brings us. We finally made headway in getting further than two steps out of the outpost we have been living in for I don't know how long, but I think it must've been because the ogres were busy training since when we ran into them again, they seemed even harder to defeat than before. I think the only reason we hadn't turned back is because we've been dragging Ardel's body with us and anyone in charge of it didn't want to back track. I knew we had intended to resurrect him at some point, but I thought he would become an ogre meal first. At least until tonight. Did I mention this was a wondrous night?
It started as most evenings here do. We were considering stopping for the night when, guess what? A band of ogres attacked us. Oh what a surprise that was. I think I took a club in the back and something slashed my arm. I don't know if it was an ax or an ogre claw because at this point, it all feels the same. My whole body hurt. I'm sure my brothers would tell me if I had ever bothered to work on the farm, I would be able to handle the pain better, but I don't think sore muscles from a day of bailing hay is the same as a bruise that runs from my shoulder blades to my rear end.
But anyway, we had been beaten down yet again. The ogres were all dead, but there was no hope for us if more attacked during the night. We pretty much dropped everything we owned and sat down to bind our wounds. I think Ternell was so tired he sat on top of Ardel's body. I was debating healing myself a little now or saving my power for the inevitable fight later tonight, when a man silently stepped into our midst. He had long, blond hair, almost silver, and clothes the colors of tree trunks and leaves. He actually looked as if he had stepped out of one of the trees, but no one saw where he had come from to tell me if that had happened.
“Good day,” he said.
“Good if you like being beaten like a drum by ogres,” said Korliss.
“You look damaged,” he said. “Perhaps I can help.” He held out his hand to shake Korliss' hand. Korliss doesn't trust people under normal conditions, so given the situation we had been in for months now, it is no surprise that Korliss merely stared at his hand and did not offer his own in return. The man was unruffled and remained with his own hand outstretched until Korliss finally relented and shook the man's hand. My eyes got big and round at that guy then. Korliss had a gash five inches long on his forehead that shrunk until it disappeared. His bruises vanished, and he stood straighter than I'd seen anybody in the party stand since we'd entered the forest. Korliss gaped as the man released him and offered his hand next to Chani. He shook each one of our hands and the wounds vanished before my eyes. When he took my own, I felt a calm and steady power flow through my veins that seemed to burst with energy around each of my wounds. Not only were the wounds gone, but I felt as if I had slept for a day straight.
Then, to my surprise, he bent down and took Ardel's hand. He said, “Why don't you get up?” I started to say that Ardel was dead, but Ardel stood up before the words came out of my mouth. Being a man of few words, Ardel managed to mutter, “Thanks.”
“Why don't you tell me about your visit in the forest,” said the miraculous man.
This was my queue to say something as I am supposed to be the speaker, but I was still drinking in the power he had sent through me. The others recounted what had been going on, even about Algalarond. He was surprised that Algalarond was imprisoned which was the only bit of emotion that crossed his face. Finally I found my tongue and asked, “Please, how may we repay you for what you have done for us?”
“Finish what you have started,” he said.
“Why don't you help us,” asked Korliss. I wanted to scream, “He already has!” but remained silent.
“That would throw off the balance,” he replied. Then he took Ardel's ax and placed a mark magically on it. I have no idea what the mark is, nor does anyone else. He left after that. He never told us his name or where he was from. Chani thinks he is an old elf, but I thought all the elves had left the world. She seemed to think some had stayed. I don't know anything about that, but I do know I wish I had the kind of power he has. To be able to grasp somebodies hand and raise them from the dead is amazing. There was no diamond or long ritual asking the gods for help. He just touched Ardel and Ardel was back. What power.
Oh wondrous night! I have not been feeling like tallying how many times I have longed to be home or even at Fort Greerson in a soft bed at an inn, or how many ogre heads I have popped open with my mind. The arguing is continuous and the forest relentless in the battles it brings us. We finally made headway in getting further than two steps out of the outpost we have been living in for I don't know how long, but I think it must've been because the ogres were busy training since when we ran into them again, they seemed even harder to defeat than before. I think the only reason we hadn't turned back is because we've been dragging Ardel's body with us and anyone in charge of it didn't want to back track. I knew we had intended to resurrect him at some point, but I thought he would become an ogre meal first. At least until tonight. Did I mention this was a wondrous night?
It started as most evenings here do. We were considering stopping for the night when, guess what? A band of ogres attacked us. Oh what a surprise that was. I think I took a club in the back and something slashed my arm. I don't know if it was an ax or an ogre claw because at this point, it all feels the same. My whole body hurt. I'm sure my brothers would tell me if I had ever bothered to work on the farm, I would be able to handle the pain better, but I don't think sore muscles from a day of bailing hay is the same as a bruise that runs from my shoulder blades to my rear end.
But anyway, we had been beaten down yet again. The ogres were all dead, but there was no hope for us if more attacked during the night. We pretty much dropped everything we owned and sat down to bind our wounds. I think Ternell was so tired he sat on top of Ardel's body. I was debating healing myself a little now or saving my power for the inevitable fight later tonight, when a man silently stepped into our midst. He had long, blond hair, almost silver, and clothes the colors of tree trunks and leaves. He actually looked as if he had stepped out of one of the trees, but no one saw where he had come from to tell me if that had happened.
“Good day,” he said.
“Good if you like being beaten like a drum by ogres,” said Korliss.
“You look damaged,” he said. “Perhaps I can help.” He held out his hand to shake Korliss' hand. Korliss doesn't trust people under normal conditions, so given the situation we had been in for months now, it is no surprise that Korliss merely stared at his hand and did not offer his own in return. The man was unruffled and remained with his own hand outstretched until Korliss finally relented and shook the man's hand. My eyes got big and round at that guy then. Korliss had a gash five inches long on his forehead that shrunk until it disappeared. His bruises vanished, and he stood straighter than I'd seen anybody in the party stand since we'd entered the forest. Korliss gaped as the man released him and offered his hand next to Chani. He shook each one of our hands and the wounds vanished before my eyes. When he took my own, I felt a calm and steady power flow through my veins that seemed to burst with energy around each of my wounds. Not only were the wounds gone, but I felt as if I had slept for a day straight.
Then, to my surprise, he bent down and took Ardel's hand. He said, “Why don't you get up?” I started to say that Ardel was dead, but Ardel stood up before the words came out of my mouth. Being a man of few words, Ardel managed to mutter, “Thanks.”
“Why don't you tell me about your visit in the forest,” said the miraculous man.
This was my queue to say something as I am supposed to be the speaker, but I was still drinking in the power he had sent through me. The others recounted what had been going on, even about Algalarond. He was surprised that Algalarond was imprisoned which was the only bit of emotion that crossed his face. Finally I found my tongue and asked, “Please, how may we repay you for what you have done for us?”
“Finish what you have started,” he said.
“Why don't you help us,” asked Korliss. I wanted to scream, “He already has!” but remained silent.
“That would throw off the balance,” he replied. Then he took Ardel's ax and placed a mark magically on it. I have no idea what the mark is, nor does anyone else. He left after that. He never told us his name or where he was from. Chani thinks he is an old elf, but I thought all the elves had left the world. She seemed to think some had stayed. I don't know anything about that, but I do know I wish I had the kind of power he has. To be able to grasp somebodies hand and raise them from the dead is amazing. There was no diamond or long ritual asking the gods for help. He just touched Ardel and Ardel was back. What power.