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Heritage of Dragonsreach (UPDATED September 4, 2007)
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<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 3633339" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>Arrival at Last</strong></p><p></p><p>We rested for a day in Ladyheart's newly-formed grove, enjoying the tranquility of the area now that the corruption had been cleansed. I could see new growth erupting all around us. I wonder what the grove will look like in a hundred years time. I'll have to make a point to return and visit Ladyheart again.</p><p></p><p>The following day we set off again, for Roland had rather begrudged our previous day's rest, I think. I admit he has a point that we should try to reach the village of the Blessed as soon as possible, but I trust to the Lady that Lerner's army won't be able to get there faster than we can. </p><p></p><p>After we'd been traveling for a time, under the protection of a spell Latan summoned to make our steps untraceable, Hedrin indicated that he thought something was following us. This was naturally a bit disturbing as Latan's spell was intended to prevent such an occurrence. We paused while Latan sent her tressyms and Isaura back to see who or what our follower was. They returned to report that it was one of the thornmaidens we'd fought in the grove, presumably the one that had fled after the corrupted creature was destroyed. </p><p></p><p>Hedrin then suggested that he approach the thornmaiden to invite her to tell us why she was following us. As he'd tried to pursue the fleeing thornmaiden earlier, Latan remarked that perhaps he wasn't the right person to take on this task. Hedrin then asked Latan to speak with the thornmaiden. Latan wondered if the thornmaiden might be fearful of us or even of Ladyheart, because we had destroyed the creature she served. </p><p></p><p>After some thought, I decided to step forward and address the thornmaiden, who was nearly invisible against the jungle foliage. I called out to her in the Sylvan tongue, hoping she would understand, as I don't know the language of plant creatures and Latan wouldn't be able to speak that tongue until the following day, if she so chose. Thank the Lady the thornmaiden did know a little Sylvan. I was able to coax her out of hiding and ask her a few questions, aided by Latan, who of course speaks Sylvan as one of the Fey.</p><p></p><p>The thornmaiden had no name of her own, she told us, being accustomed to simply being called "number one" by her former master. She knew no life other than the plane of corruption from whence her master had come. Latan immediately suggested naming her "friend" in the Elven tongue, if she would accept it. She raised no objection. We have been calling her Mellon since. </p><p></p><p>But before we could speak much further, Hedrin detected some other creature rapidly approaching us. This frightened Mellon and she fired some of her poisoned thorns at the newcomer as soon as it was within range. The new arrival turned out to be a wolf - not native to Chult, I think. Fortunately Mellon was so startled by the wolf rushing out of the jungle that her thorns failed to hit their mark. </p><p></p><p>Latan spoke to the wolf in its own tongue, which made for a rather curious conversation as she yipped and growled to the wolf, then translated in Sylvan for Mellon and in the common tongue for Hedrin and Roland's benefit. But before she could explain to Mellon, the thornmaiden shot another cluster of thorns at the wolf. I had to ask her to cease her attacks. </p><p></p><p>Then wolf then began sniffing eagerly at each of us, particularly at Hedrin. He then growled and seemed confused. Latan suddenly realized that her spell masked our scents, and she dismissed the magic to permit the wolf to smell us. The wolf appeared to be most interested in Hedrin. Hedrin then held out to the animal a locket he wears, and at the same time discovered that the wolf had a thong tied about its neck with some small item attached to it. When he removed the object, it was revealed to be the ring he had sent with Rose Weisselpuff for her to give to Semiyama, the wolf-woman who travels with Lerner.</p><p></p><p>Latan remarked to me that the wolf was already weary when it arrived and Mellon's thorns had weakened it further, so I murmured the Draconic word I know to remove some of the animal's distress. I then moved cautiously nearer and laid my hand on his flank to extend to him some of the Lady's healing grace. He was somewhat confused by having all of us standing so near, but did not react with aggression. Latan told us he was much brighter than an ordinary wolf. </p><p></p><p>Latan questioned the wolf, who told her his name is Fangrim, and learned that Semi had sent him as a messenger to warn us. He couldn't quite explain what he was meant to warn of, but further questioning led us to believe that Semi had wished to advise us of the approach of Lerner's army. Fangrim told us she was in danger, but not injured or held against her will. </p><p></p><p>Though it was only mid-morning by this point, we set up camp so that Latan could administer a healing salve to Fangrim's sore paws. He had been traveling almost non-stop for weeks to reach us. While Latan administered to the wolf, Roland spent time getting acquainted with Mellon, who did speak a smattering of the common tongue. She seemed quite attracted to him. In order to allay both her fears and Fangrim's, he summoned his new mount to him to introduce them to the drakkensteed. I brought forth Istanil and introduced her as well, though she actually snapped at Fangrim when he sniffed her. Cheeky creature. She wasn't much interested in Mellon either, having little use for a plant creature who doesn't read books. </p><p></p><p>As we waited for Fangrim to recuperate, I noticed that Mellon's foliage was beginning to look greener than it had when we first met her. I felt sorry for her that she had never known the life she should have, among healthy green and growing things. In the normal course of matters a thornmaiden is meant to be a protector of nature, not a corrupter or destroyer. I hope no other corrupt plant-creatures exist such as the one who had enslaved her.</p><p></p><p>Hedrin had revealed that the locket he carried bore a lock of Semi's hair when he showed it to the wolf. While we rested, he explained to us just why he had become so enamored of her on such short acquaintance, for they had only met the one time when Lerner's ship waylaid Master Whitetree's vessel. He told us he had felt whole when he was with her, as though he had been missing a part of himself and had found it in her. It was then that I realized that Fangrim seemed unaffected by the aura Hedrin projects that most animals find disturbing.</p><p></p><p>The following day we continued our journey. Pimani told us we should reach the village in two weeks - assuming, of course, that it had not relocated since last he visited. The next three days were uneventful aside from a slight detour to avoid a great mass of spiderwebs. I spent my resting hours reading up on plant creatures with Istanil's assistance. I'd already discovered through observation that Mellon has the ability to meld into trees and pass from one to another without covering the intervening space. I wish that we could all do the same. </p><p></p><p>On the third day we came to a river crossing. Pimani advised that we should begin seeing evidence of patrols from the village soon. The area seemed less dangerous than previously, as though the presence of the village had driven off some of the more threatening creatures. But at one point we came to what was obviously the site of a battle between two goblin tribes, which Pimani identified as the Trihorn and Megaraptor tribes. Latan detected a residue of divine magic in the area. Roland wanted to leave some sign there to let the village patrols know of our presence, but was persuaded that this might not be the wisest course. </p><p></p><p>Three further days had passed without event when, as we continued forward at Pimani's direction, a well-armed woman abruptly appeared in our path. Roland stepped forward and introduced us as ambassadors of Dragonsreach, to which the woman responded by demanding that we "show the sign". This left us somewhat confused until it occurred to Roland to recite part of the temple litany that resembles a greeting. This appeared to satisfy the woman, for she told us we could pass. I suppose we should be thankful that she demanded nothing else. We make quite a peculiar group with all of our curious companions: a wolf, a drakkensteed, a thornmaiden, two tressyms and Latan's pet dinosaur, and Istanil of course... </p><p></p><p>But I digress. When the woman had recognized the "sign", she reached up and grasped hold of something that appeared to be a kind of fabric, which I had not detected before, and drew it aside. Beyond it I could see what was undoubtedly the village of the Blessed, surrounded by a curious distortion that I suspected was due to a magic portal between dimensions. The woman told us we were expected and indicated that we should pass through the portal. We had at last arrived at our destination, Lady be praised.</p><p>_______________________________</p><p><strong>Quips & Quotes:</strong></p><p></p><p>Jubilee: "I empathically call my familiars back to me... somehow."</p><p>Hedrin: "Send a feeling of longing for their company."</p><p>Devo: "Send a feeling of kibbles."</p><p></p><p>Jubilee: "Do I know if thornmaidens are evil?"</p><p>Zora: "Like all of nature, thornmaidens are inherently evil." <em>(He meant to say neutral.)</em></p><p></p><p>Devo: "The thornmaiden likes the sound of my voice."</p><p>Zora: "Doesn't everyone?"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 3633339, member: 30035"] [b]Arrival at Last[/b] We rested for a day in Ladyheart's newly-formed grove, enjoying the tranquility of the area now that the corruption had been cleansed. I could see new growth erupting all around us. I wonder what the grove will look like in a hundred years time. I'll have to make a point to return and visit Ladyheart again. The following day we set off again, for Roland had rather begrudged our previous day's rest, I think. I admit he has a point that we should try to reach the village of the Blessed as soon as possible, but I trust to the Lady that Lerner's army won't be able to get there faster than we can. After we'd been traveling for a time, under the protection of a spell Latan summoned to make our steps untraceable, Hedrin indicated that he thought something was following us. This was naturally a bit disturbing as Latan's spell was intended to prevent such an occurrence. We paused while Latan sent her tressyms and Isaura back to see who or what our follower was. They returned to report that it was one of the thornmaidens we'd fought in the grove, presumably the one that had fled after the corrupted creature was destroyed. Hedrin then suggested that he approach the thornmaiden to invite her to tell us why she was following us. As he'd tried to pursue the fleeing thornmaiden earlier, Latan remarked that perhaps he wasn't the right person to take on this task. Hedrin then asked Latan to speak with the thornmaiden. Latan wondered if the thornmaiden might be fearful of us or even of Ladyheart, because we had destroyed the creature she served. After some thought, I decided to step forward and address the thornmaiden, who was nearly invisible against the jungle foliage. I called out to her in the Sylvan tongue, hoping she would understand, as I don't know the language of plant creatures and Latan wouldn't be able to speak that tongue until the following day, if she so chose. Thank the Lady the thornmaiden did know a little Sylvan. I was able to coax her out of hiding and ask her a few questions, aided by Latan, who of course speaks Sylvan as one of the Fey. The thornmaiden had no name of her own, she told us, being accustomed to simply being called "number one" by her former master. She knew no life other than the plane of corruption from whence her master had come. Latan immediately suggested naming her "friend" in the Elven tongue, if she would accept it. She raised no objection. We have been calling her Mellon since. But before we could speak much further, Hedrin detected some other creature rapidly approaching us. This frightened Mellon and she fired some of her poisoned thorns at the newcomer as soon as it was within range. The new arrival turned out to be a wolf - not native to Chult, I think. Fortunately Mellon was so startled by the wolf rushing out of the jungle that her thorns failed to hit their mark. Latan spoke to the wolf in its own tongue, which made for a rather curious conversation as she yipped and growled to the wolf, then translated in Sylvan for Mellon and in the common tongue for Hedrin and Roland's benefit. But before she could explain to Mellon, the thornmaiden shot another cluster of thorns at the wolf. I had to ask her to cease her attacks. Then wolf then began sniffing eagerly at each of us, particularly at Hedrin. He then growled and seemed confused. Latan suddenly realized that her spell masked our scents, and she dismissed the magic to permit the wolf to smell us. The wolf appeared to be most interested in Hedrin. Hedrin then held out to the animal a locket he wears, and at the same time discovered that the wolf had a thong tied about its neck with some small item attached to it. When he removed the object, it was revealed to be the ring he had sent with Rose Weisselpuff for her to give to Semiyama, the wolf-woman who travels with Lerner. Latan remarked to me that the wolf was already weary when it arrived and Mellon's thorns had weakened it further, so I murmured the Draconic word I know to remove some of the animal's distress. I then moved cautiously nearer and laid my hand on his flank to extend to him some of the Lady's healing grace. He was somewhat confused by having all of us standing so near, but did not react with aggression. Latan told us he was much brighter than an ordinary wolf. Latan questioned the wolf, who told her his name is Fangrim, and learned that Semi had sent him as a messenger to warn us. He couldn't quite explain what he was meant to warn of, but further questioning led us to believe that Semi had wished to advise us of the approach of Lerner's army. Fangrim told us she was in danger, but not injured or held against her will. Though it was only mid-morning by this point, we set up camp so that Latan could administer a healing salve to Fangrim's sore paws. He had been traveling almost non-stop for weeks to reach us. While Latan administered to the wolf, Roland spent time getting acquainted with Mellon, who did speak a smattering of the common tongue. She seemed quite attracted to him. In order to allay both her fears and Fangrim's, he summoned his new mount to him to introduce them to the drakkensteed. I brought forth Istanil and introduced her as well, though she actually snapped at Fangrim when he sniffed her. Cheeky creature. She wasn't much interested in Mellon either, having little use for a plant creature who doesn't read books. As we waited for Fangrim to recuperate, I noticed that Mellon's foliage was beginning to look greener than it had when we first met her. I felt sorry for her that she had never known the life she should have, among healthy green and growing things. In the normal course of matters a thornmaiden is meant to be a protector of nature, not a corrupter or destroyer. I hope no other corrupt plant-creatures exist such as the one who had enslaved her. Hedrin had revealed that the locket he carried bore a lock of Semi's hair when he showed it to the wolf. While we rested, he explained to us just why he had become so enamored of her on such short acquaintance, for they had only met the one time when Lerner's ship waylaid Master Whitetree's vessel. He told us he had felt whole when he was with her, as though he had been missing a part of himself and had found it in her. It was then that I realized that Fangrim seemed unaffected by the aura Hedrin projects that most animals find disturbing. The following day we continued our journey. Pimani told us we should reach the village in two weeks - assuming, of course, that it had not relocated since last he visited. The next three days were uneventful aside from a slight detour to avoid a great mass of spiderwebs. I spent my resting hours reading up on plant creatures with Istanil's assistance. I'd already discovered through observation that Mellon has the ability to meld into trees and pass from one to another without covering the intervening space. I wish that we could all do the same. On the third day we came to a river crossing. Pimani advised that we should begin seeing evidence of patrols from the village soon. The area seemed less dangerous than previously, as though the presence of the village had driven off some of the more threatening creatures. But at one point we came to what was obviously the site of a battle between two goblin tribes, which Pimani identified as the Trihorn and Megaraptor tribes. Latan detected a residue of divine magic in the area. Roland wanted to leave some sign there to let the village patrols know of our presence, but was persuaded that this might not be the wisest course. Three further days had passed without event when, as we continued forward at Pimani's direction, a well-armed woman abruptly appeared in our path. Roland stepped forward and introduced us as ambassadors of Dragonsreach, to which the woman responded by demanding that we "show the sign". This left us somewhat confused until it occurred to Roland to recite part of the temple litany that resembles a greeting. This appeared to satisfy the woman, for she told us we could pass. I suppose we should be thankful that she demanded nothing else. We make quite a peculiar group with all of our curious companions: a wolf, a drakkensteed, a thornmaiden, two tressyms and Latan's pet dinosaur, and Istanil of course... But I digress. When the woman had recognized the "sign", she reached up and grasped hold of something that appeared to be a kind of fabric, which I had not detected before, and drew it aside. Beyond it I could see what was undoubtedly the village of the Blessed, surrounded by a curious distortion that I suspected was due to a magic portal between dimensions. The woman told us we were expected and indicated that we should pass through the portal. We had at last arrived at our destination, Lady be praised. _______________________________ [B]Quips & Quotes:[/B] Jubilee: "I empathically call my familiars back to me... somehow." Hedrin: "Send a feeling of longing for their company." Devo: "Send a feeling of kibbles." Jubilee: "Do I know if thornmaidens are evil?" Zora: "Like all of nature, thornmaidens are inherently evil." [I](He meant to say neutral.)[/I] Devo: "The thornmaiden likes the sound of my voice." Zora: "Doesn't everyone?" [/QUOTE]
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