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Heritage of Dragonsreach (UPDATED September 4, 2007)
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<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 3752812" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>Preparing for War</strong></p><p></p><p>Praise the Lady, we've finally reached our destination. </p><p></p><p>At first I thought the buildings were unfinished, as though the village had only recently arrived at its current site. But after a moment I realized that the entire village was cloaked in an illusion to make the casual observer see it as a cluster of abandoned ruins.</p><p></p><p>As we approached, Latan and Roland tried to draw Kyril into a discussion of the village. She was rather taciturn. Then I ventured a question - I don't recall what it was now - and scarcely had I spoken when a figure in flowing robes came swooping out of the sky and grabbed my wrist! I barely had time to register that it was Xiao Lu before she said, "Come with me" and we lifted off into the air, leaving my friends behind.</p><p></p><p>A few heartbeats later we had landed by what appeared to be a small chapel. The yard outside was occupied by monks practicing their martial arts. Xiao Lu led me inside, pressed me onto a bench, and demanded that I speak. </p><p></p><p>We had already been told that her Blessing lies in the power of her voice, and that one word was proof enough for me. She was somehow able to convey to me exactly what she wished me to speak of, and that she sought brevity and clarity. I also recognized that she has far greater knowledge of the draconic words of power than I. I quickly explained our mission to her village and our fears about Lerner Provol. </p><p></p><p>When I had finished my rapid summary, Xiao Lu turned to look at something behind me and uttered a word in the ancient draconic tongue that I hadn't heard before. I was pleased that I've learned enough to recognize its intent - it was meant to send something or someone away, to banish them to another dimension. A few moments later Latan came flying into the chapel, out of breath and obviously upset. She demanded to know what Xiao Lu had done with Isaura. When Xiao Lu calmly responded that she'd banished the elemental to her native plane, Latan then ordered Xiao Lu to bring her back. I tried to intervene to explain that Latan must have sent Isaura to look after me and that my friends were simply concerned for my safety, but Xiao Lu brushed aside my explanation. When Latan remained obstinate and refused to leave the chapel at Xiao Lu's request, Xiao Lu uttered her word of banishment again and Latan vanished!</p><p></p><p>Fortunately Roland and Hedrin arrived then and Xiao Lu was persuaded to bring Latan back to us. She reappeared in bird form and alit upon Roland's shoulder. I think she refused to resume her natural shape out of pique at Xiao Lu's imperious treatment of her. </p><p></p><p>Roland then gave Xiao Lu greater detail about Lerner and our concerns. During the conversation, Xiao Lu remarked that she, too, has been touched by prophecy. She recognized that we have all met the Oracle. She also told us that she was responsible for the death of the man from the village whose Blessing came to Hedrin! Evidently she somehow slew him from a distance once he was retaken and tortured by Lerner. I'm not sure whether to be appalled by this or relieved that she ended his suffering.</p><p></p><p>But I forgot to be concerned by that at the time, as she made another amazing pronouncement a moment later. She spoke a word that caused a door to open at the rear of the chapel, revealing a pair of entwined trees. She then proclaimed to Latan that these were her parents!</p><p></p><p>Latan was of course overwhelmed and quickly resumed her normal form. She didn't question that the trees represented her long-lost parents, but she did want to know how she came to be and how she was taken to Dragonsreach. Xiao Lu told her that she had been given the infant Latan by the trees, and that she herself had conveyed the baby to Dragonsreach to be taken under their care. Part of the lure that draws the Blessed to the village is those trees, though no one understands how or why, and most of the villagers are unaware of their existence.</p><p></p><p>We decided to leave Latan alone with her parents and went out to see the rest of the village. Like Dragonsreach, the occupants are of every kind and creed, and not all are Blessed, though many have unusual gifts. Among those we saw were one person obviously of draconic blood, a man who can create structures merely by willing them into existence, and a bugbear who has chosen to follow the path of wizardry. </p><p></p><p>Xiao Lu continued to make remarks that left us awed as she showed us around. One offhand comment led me to realize that though she scarcely looks any older than Roland, she is the grandmother of Hedrin's mentor, Master Keye, the elderly leader of the monks who dwell near Dragonsreach!</p><p></p><p>After our brief introduction to the villagers, Xiao Lu left us to conduct other business. She has long been aware that a threat such as Lerner's army would descend on her village, and her whole purpose has been to prepare them to face that threat. But though she is extremely skilled in the martial arts of the East, she is no military commander and she realizes that our militia training, as well as Roland's knowledge of tactics and my knowledge of history, will be an advantage to the villagers in the coming struggle.</p><p></p><p>A feast was prepared that evening to welcome us. There we were introduced to almost everyone in the village, including Artie the builder and Armetis the bugbear wizard. Armetis demonstrates an amazing ability to recognize the properties of magical objects, though he seemed somewhat confounded by my Lady-blessed sword, as well as by a twisted amulet we recovered from the body of one of the goblin mages. With Artie's help he's managed to build a workshop for himself that appears to be only a tiny outbuilding from the outside, but is a roomy workspace within. I think he and I will have a great deal to talk about in the coming days.</p><p></p><p>On the following morning we bade farewell to Pimani, who returns to his family in Mezro. He goes with our gratitude. After our goodbyes, we met again with Xiao Lu. She has asked each of us to use our skills to aid the villagers in protecting themselves against Lerner's forces. Hedrin and Roland will help with the defenses and training the villagers in group tactics and strategies. Hedrin will also go as emissary to a village of wolf-men nearby to seek their aid. He intends to bond himself with Fangrim before he leaves, using an enchanted ring we found among the goblins.</p><p></p><p>Latan will work with the powers of nature to make further defenses, such as walls of thorns or persuading dinosaurs to attack our foes. She is also spending much of her time with the trees, attempting to communicate with them and to understand their purpose.</p><p></p><p>I know my own part in this is just as serious, but I can't help but be excited. Xiao Lu has told me she'll teach me more of the draconic words! </p><p>__________________________________</p><p><strong>Quips & Quotes:</strong></p><p></p><p>Jubilee: "Is there a ring of Charisma in our loot?"</p><p>Zora: "No."</p><p>Jubilee: "The GM doesn't like me."</p><p>sniffles: "Because your Charisma is too low!"</p><p></p><p>Jubilee: "Did Latan come out of a pod? She's like 5 Latans in a pod!"</p><p></p><p>Devo: "It might be a safe haven for our guerillas."</p><p>Jubilee: "We have monkeys?!"</p><p></p><p>Zora: "For the feast, Artie creates tables that run through the center of town."</p><p>Devo: "How fast do they run?"</p><p>Hedrin: "Expeditious Eat!"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 3752812, member: 30035"] [b]Preparing for War[/b] Praise the Lady, we've finally reached our destination. At first I thought the buildings were unfinished, as though the village had only recently arrived at its current site. But after a moment I realized that the entire village was cloaked in an illusion to make the casual observer see it as a cluster of abandoned ruins. As we approached, Latan and Roland tried to draw Kyril into a discussion of the village. She was rather taciturn. Then I ventured a question - I don't recall what it was now - and scarcely had I spoken when a figure in flowing robes came swooping out of the sky and grabbed my wrist! I barely had time to register that it was Xiao Lu before she said, "Come with me" and we lifted off into the air, leaving my friends behind. A few heartbeats later we had landed by what appeared to be a small chapel. The yard outside was occupied by monks practicing their martial arts. Xiao Lu led me inside, pressed me onto a bench, and demanded that I speak. We had already been told that her Blessing lies in the power of her voice, and that one word was proof enough for me. She was somehow able to convey to me exactly what she wished me to speak of, and that she sought brevity and clarity. I also recognized that she has far greater knowledge of the draconic words of power than I. I quickly explained our mission to her village and our fears about Lerner Provol. When I had finished my rapid summary, Xiao Lu turned to look at something behind me and uttered a word in the ancient draconic tongue that I hadn't heard before. I was pleased that I've learned enough to recognize its intent - it was meant to send something or someone away, to banish them to another dimension. A few moments later Latan came flying into the chapel, out of breath and obviously upset. She demanded to know what Xiao Lu had done with Isaura. When Xiao Lu calmly responded that she'd banished the elemental to her native plane, Latan then ordered Xiao Lu to bring her back. I tried to intervene to explain that Latan must have sent Isaura to look after me and that my friends were simply concerned for my safety, but Xiao Lu brushed aside my explanation. When Latan remained obstinate and refused to leave the chapel at Xiao Lu's request, Xiao Lu uttered her word of banishment again and Latan vanished! Fortunately Roland and Hedrin arrived then and Xiao Lu was persuaded to bring Latan back to us. She reappeared in bird form and alit upon Roland's shoulder. I think she refused to resume her natural shape out of pique at Xiao Lu's imperious treatment of her. Roland then gave Xiao Lu greater detail about Lerner and our concerns. During the conversation, Xiao Lu remarked that she, too, has been touched by prophecy. She recognized that we have all met the Oracle. She also told us that she was responsible for the death of the man from the village whose Blessing came to Hedrin! Evidently she somehow slew him from a distance once he was retaken and tortured by Lerner. I'm not sure whether to be appalled by this or relieved that she ended his suffering. But I forgot to be concerned by that at the time, as she made another amazing pronouncement a moment later. She spoke a word that caused a door to open at the rear of the chapel, revealing a pair of entwined trees. She then proclaimed to Latan that these were her parents! Latan was of course overwhelmed and quickly resumed her normal form. She didn't question that the trees represented her long-lost parents, but she did want to know how she came to be and how she was taken to Dragonsreach. Xiao Lu told her that she had been given the infant Latan by the trees, and that she herself had conveyed the baby to Dragonsreach to be taken under their care. Part of the lure that draws the Blessed to the village is those trees, though no one understands how or why, and most of the villagers are unaware of their existence. We decided to leave Latan alone with her parents and went out to see the rest of the village. Like Dragonsreach, the occupants are of every kind and creed, and not all are Blessed, though many have unusual gifts. Among those we saw were one person obviously of draconic blood, a man who can create structures merely by willing them into existence, and a bugbear who has chosen to follow the path of wizardry. Xiao Lu continued to make remarks that left us awed as she showed us around. One offhand comment led me to realize that though she scarcely looks any older than Roland, she is the grandmother of Hedrin's mentor, Master Keye, the elderly leader of the monks who dwell near Dragonsreach! After our brief introduction to the villagers, Xiao Lu left us to conduct other business. She has long been aware that a threat such as Lerner's army would descend on her village, and her whole purpose has been to prepare them to face that threat. But though she is extremely skilled in the martial arts of the East, she is no military commander and she realizes that our militia training, as well as Roland's knowledge of tactics and my knowledge of history, will be an advantage to the villagers in the coming struggle. A feast was prepared that evening to welcome us. There we were introduced to almost everyone in the village, including Artie the builder and Armetis the bugbear wizard. Armetis demonstrates an amazing ability to recognize the properties of magical objects, though he seemed somewhat confounded by my Lady-blessed sword, as well as by a twisted amulet we recovered from the body of one of the goblin mages. With Artie's help he's managed to build a workshop for himself that appears to be only a tiny outbuilding from the outside, but is a roomy workspace within. I think he and I will have a great deal to talk about in the coming days. On the following morning we bade farewell to Pimani, who returns to his family in Mezro. He goes with our gratitude. After our goodbyes, we met again with Xiao Lu. She has asked each of us to use our skills to aid the villagers in protecting themselves against Lerner's forces. Hedrin and Roland will help with the defenses and training the villagers in group tactics and strategies. Hedrin will also go as emissary to a village of wolf-men nearby to seek their aid. He intends to bond himself with Fangrim before he leaves, using an enchanted ring we found among the goblins. Latan will work with the powers of nature to make further defenses, such as walls of thorns or persuading dinosaurs to attack our foes. She is also spending much of her time with the trees, attempting to communicate with them and to understand their purpose. I know my own part in this is just as serious, but I can't help but be excited. Xiao Lu has told me she'll teach me more of the draconic words! __________________________________ [B]Quips & Quotes:[/B] Jubilee: "Is there a ring of Charisma in our loot?" Zora: "No." Jubilee: "The GM doesn't like me." sniffles: "Because your Charisma is too low!" Jubilee: "Did Latan come out of a pod? She's like 5 Latans in a pod!" Devo: "It might be a safe haven for our guerillas." Jubilee: "We have monkeys?!" Zora: "For the feast, Artie creates tables that run through the center of town." Devo: "How fast do they run?" Hedrin: "Expeditious Eat!" [/QUOTE]
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