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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 7626542" data-attributes="member: 6971069">The Grove of the Brethren - 6/26/2019The Grove of the Brethren There is nothing a bottle of bub can’t fix. Except the real problem.“This seems like a setup,” Iesa muttered.“Why is that?  Because it always is?” I retorted.  We had left Portstown and were on the road out.  I had dropped the magic concealing my eyes.  However, the headache was still there and had not faded.“No…yes…right…Crap.  It’s too convenient is all!”  Iesa stammered.  “A short hike outside of town, and follow a path after hitting a stream?  That’s it? “ he exclaimed, as Mo skittered ahead from shrub to shrub.“You want a long arduous quest?  I for one just want to find my father.  If this happens to be the shortest path, so be it.”  Beepu lectured.Daneath was silent throughout the discussion.  His face was knotted in concentration, but he was unwilling to share his thoughts.  Ever since the half-orc had reluctantly gave us directions, Daneath seemed to be steeling himself for something.  A fight?  An argument?  I couldn’t tell. “Well remember that the smith also didn’t say we would survive,” Isea tossed back.  “Why should I feel comfortable.”I stop and turn to look at Iesa, “Fine, let’s go back now.”“What?” He was taken aback and looked at me in surprise.  In fact, everyone had stopped and were looking at me.“We came all this way, to get answers and all you are doing is shouting screed.” I said leveling a gaze at Iesa.  “I don’t care if you’re afraid or paranoid.  I already know you don’t like it.  But what I am not hearing, is something better to do.  So, either get ready to dance, or go home.  But tell me now, so I stop wasting my time.”Iesa’s mouth hung open a moment taken aback and stunned into silence.“Let’s get this over with,” Daneath said, continuing down the trail.  “Coming?” he glared at us and turned to continue down the path.Iesa and I stared at each other for a moment and we both nodded.  We knew we were heading into trouble, fighting now was a waste of energy.  We all followed Daneath, making his way on the trail.The directions were simple enough:“Follow the main road out of town until you hit a stream.  Just before the water, you should be able to find a game trail on your left.  Take that trail until you enter a grove of trees.  What you are looking for will be there.” The half-orc said grimly.“And what are we looking for exactly?” Daneath had asked.“They’ll find you.”That was all we had to work with.  It had been a while since we had found a game trail and were making our way to some trees settled into a small valley.  Considering that this wasn’t even going to take a day, on one level this did seem too easy.  But something else was bothering Iesa and I couldn’t finger what exactly it was.  So, there was only one recourse.“Beepu.  What’s got Iesa going on edge?”“Oh.  That is simple.  A woman.”I wasn’t sure I believed what I heard.  “A woman?”“Yes.  As Iesa and I were looking for the smith, he ran into an elven woman, and I he had some words with her.  If I did not know any better, I would have said he was smitten.”“And?  What happened?”  I was very curious at this point for reasons I didn’t even understand.“Well…nothing?  As I recalled he approached her, said something, and she gently laughed and walked away.”“That’s it?  You didn’t hear more?”“I was busy looking for the smithy, and it did not seem important.”“You know Myrai, if you are jealous you could just say so,” Iesa said with a wicked grin on his face.I could feel my face flushing in embarrassment.  “What?  Of you?  Not likely.  Mo on the other hand…you might break his heart.” I said glibly and strode ahead of Iesa so he couldn’t see my face.“Sure Myrai.  Whatever you say,” Iesa chuckled.Jealous?  Why would I be jealous?  I liked Iesa certainly.  And he was attractive in that unkempt style of his. Clean him up a bit, and he could easily make many women swoon I was certain.  But beyond flirting with me on occasion, he never really showed interest in me.Did I miss something?  He had a cute and playful personality, but I never gave anymore thought to it than that.  Should I have?That had to wait, as we crossed some boundary and found ourselves in the outskirts of the grove.Now Foggle was flying about ahead of us and slightly above us.  Before we had arrived in Yartar, he did this daily.  So much so I frequently forgot he was around.  So it had been a long while since he had done this type of ranging.  At some point though, Beepu stopped in his tracks and looked around flustered.“Where are you?” he muttered to himself aloud.“What’s wrong Beepu?” Daneath asked.“Foggle.  I…I cannot feel him.”“Wasn’t he just ahead of us?” Iesa said.  “Perhaps we should catch up with him.”“I am inclined to agree,” Beepu said, and we jogged along the path.  At a certain point when we ‘crossed-in’ the grove he stopped again, looking confused.  And then Foggle, flew down and landed on his arm.“What happened?” I asked.Beepu focused a moment and then looked at me.  “It seems we have crossed into something.  He could not talk to me, but it was more than that.  From his perspective we disappeared from his sight as he watched.”  Beepu looked at each of us in turn and then said.  “We have crossed into a magical field of some kind.  We should be cautious.”Now we were under the shade of the trees, I could feel the hairs on my neck rise. The air felt alive.  An almost primeval air surrounded us, and the whole atmosphere felt…The trees felt like they were closing in, watching us.  I could see it on everyone’s faces that they felt the sudden change.  Even Mo, who normally charged around chattered, was silent and apprehensive.We moved slowly through the trees, looking and searching for something we couldn’t see.  We knew we were entering someone’s demesne, but little idea who…or perhaps what.   But as far as we knew, and we were warned; we were likely uninvited guests.  And perhaps unwelcome as well.Finally, we entered a clearing, with a solitary oak in its center.  A small brook ran through the center, circling around the large tree.  Various bushes, and ground foliage was scattered around ground.  Some wildflowers had blossomed, giving the floor of the clearing vibrant yellows and violets.  It looked tranquil.And yet, it felt anything but.  The omnipresent feeling of being watched.  No being judged hung there in the air.  There was no birdsong or rustling of animals in the brush.  This included Mo, who had drifted to Iesa, and now sat on his shoulder.   Beepu’s minion seemed loud by comparison, with metal gears whirring as it took off to fly above us.We were looking around apprehensively, when I spotted her.  Standing next to the oak tree I saw a woman leaning against it, watching us.  Her skin was a deep brown, her eyes had the lightest grey.  At first, I thought she was an elf, but then I realized I was seeing something far more fey.  Her fingers were longer and thinner, trailing off into long tendrils.  Her hair moved in the breeze in a cascade of oaken leaves attached to flexible shoots that hung loosely down to her waist.  All of this concealed the fact that she wore no clothes, and probably had never had.A Dryad, I thought to myself.  I heard of them from stories.  The Sensates had many stories about many of the fey creatures as they were fairly common in Aborea, where the Sensates had an enclave established for training and…rehabilitation.  The stories told were lumped into two main categories.  The first was all fantasy and romance, where protagonists of all type chased the maidens of the wood for a dalliance.  Fun stories and of course the most common.  But the second group were more practical and interesting.  Dryads were fey and were fickle.  They were focused on their domains with care and joy; but that did not include trespassers.  Especially, non-Fey.  While I knew enough about creatures of belief to know how they looked upon mortals as barely animals, the Fey would take a very similar perspective; even to true creatures of belief.  For while they weren’t truly immortal, they had all the attitude of one.  What they wanted is what they got.  If they needed a man for something, they would take them.  The fantasies are all from then ones who leave their clutches.  The second set of stories tells the rest of the story of the ones who never leave…dead or at all.All of which were enough to take me aback, but it was the severe look on her face that gave me chills.‘We were not wanted here,’ was what its face said.  Daneath broke the silence of the grove first, “Ahem.  We were hoping that—”“Leave this place.  He is under its protection,” the Dryad said in a strongly accented voice.  She was now no longer leaning against the tree, but had taken a step forward, fists clenched and staring hard at us.Iesa spoke up, “We need to just talk to him, and we’ll be gone.”“No.”“This doesn’t have to be a conflict,” I said hopefully.  “We don’t need to fight.”“I…disagree,” she simply said.From the bushes burst out a barrage of sharp spines.  Daneath reacted first, placing his shield in front of him and ducking for cover.  I was lucky with several grazing me, and two more splatting against my shield.  I threw a bolt towards the dyrad and hit her in the leg.   Beepu, took a single needle as a flesh wound, and started to move to a nearby rock for cover.  but it was Iesa that took a full shot to the chest, with blood spraying everywhere as he sprinted towards one of the bushes.The dryad face appeared frozen, regarding us all with an indifferent expression.  She raised her arm palm up and then flexed, closing her root like hands into a balled fist.  A greenish emanation of light appeared around her hand and I could feel the energy spread out from her.From the ground, first the grass grasped at my legs, and then roots erupted and wound around my legs and ankles.  They pulled at me, holding me in place.  Beepu had some cover but was equally immobilized by the grasping roots.  As for Iesa, he had already moved far from the grasping tendrils, and Daneath easily broke their hold.  Unrestrained, he moved towards one of the bushes spitting needles at us.I watched with surprise, as the bushes started to move on their own accord.  What once appeared to be a simple shrub now looked to be a short-hunched figure, covered in conifer needles.  And now, they had a single focus; Iesa.  There were three of these vicious bushes all throwing needles at Iesa as he scampered looking for cover, as he tried to safely close with one.  Fortunately, Daneath’s break from the spell holding Beepu and I was a welcome distraction.Iesa closed with a bush and made a quick cut with the tip of his rapier and managed to lop off a side of the bush.  Unfortunately, the bush swiped at Iesa, and a knotted ball of needles struck him in the gut, winding him and causing him to sink to his knees.  Daneath however led with his shield and cut the bush down, while more needles bounced off his armor and shield. As I saw Iesa fall, I worried less about the roots holding me fast, and instead called the light within, to close Iesa’s wounds and put him back into the fight.  The shrubs from Baator however focused their fire on Iesa and Daneath, giving me breathing room.  Or rather us. From behind his rock, Beepu had pulled out some clay from his pouch and quickly made a small hand with it.  And with a couple of words, the earth erupted around the dyrad and took the form of a giant hand, which grasped and squeezed the fey.  If it caused her pain or any type of discomfort, it wasn’t obvious.  She made no noise, and her face kept the same flat expression.  But I could hear what sounded like creaking wood coming from her, as she did struggle to free herself.My magic had the effect I expected, and Iesa quickly scrambled to the next shrubbery, parrying its blows until Daneath closed and chopped at it with his heavy sword.  The shrub momentarily distracted twisted to defend itself, giving Iesa an opening, allowing him to cut the second bush down.  The last shrub threw more needles at Iesa and moved away, trying to keep distance from the pair.  This barrage was as accurate as the last, and Iesa was faltering again.The Dryad twisted in frustration, unable to move and act.  But it still held us fast with its spell.  It turned to look at Beepu with that frozen face.  I would have felt more comfortable if she looked angry, or in pain, or even annoyed.  That inhuman look of permanent disdain was she offered.  She didn’t even utter a scream.I could only pour more energy into Iesa, unable to strike a blow at anyone.  But Beepu, focused and briefly released her only to grab and crush her body again.  Now the wooden creaking sound became louder, and the Dryad twisted more and more attempting to free herself from her bonds.  But he then threw a bolt of fire striking her form.I can’t unhear that sound; it was primal.  A horrid mixture of fear and revulsion as the fire licked over her.  Her face finally changed from impassive to one of frustration and fear.Fortunately, keeping Iesa alive was enough for the Daneath and he to strike down the third shrubbery, with Daneath taking a mild punch to the gut with a ball of needles.  Now that didn’t have to pour more energy into him, I threw another bolt of energy at the dryad, striking it in the chest.  But it was Beepu that finished her off.  First there was this sickening sound of wood cracking and shattering, followed by another bolt of fire to her midsection.  The Dryad then lost…cohesiveness, as her body broke apart into ribbons of fiber, leaves and loam.  And as she collapsed, so did the ensnaring magic holding myself and Beepu in place.We were looking around a moment, for more murderous vegetation when we heard the unexpected sound of slow clapping.Turning around there standing on a rock in the open field, was a halfling.  He was unassuming, with tousled black hair and bright blue eyes, and his weathered brown face had the slightest smile upon his lips.“It was about time that you arrived,” he spoke confidently.Daneath’s eyes narrowed “We were what? Expected?  And who are you?”“Yes.  Our organization values its privacy, and we do try to keep tabs on people that are important to us.  And my name…is not important for this conversation.”“What organization are we talking about?  Some part of the Zhentarim?” Iesa said confused.“No…not the Zhentarim.  But, I am bound by certain strictures and codes.  So, without the correct currency I can’t say more.” He said, crossing his arms in front of him, and looking at us expectantly.Beepu and I looked at each other blankly; neither of us had a clue what currency he was talking about.  Daneath’s mouth opened and closed as he stood thinking about what the strange halfling wanted. Suddenly, I heard the ringing sound of a thumb flipping a coin.  The halfling caught it in the air and then held it up.  It was more of a large token than a proper coin, but on one side was the same mysterious looped snake symbol, that was tattooed on Daneath’s arm.“Is that what you are looking for?” Iesa asked with the faintest tremor in his voice.The halfling regarded the piece, “It is.  And it buys you some answers…and your lives today.”“Our lives?” Beepu exclaimed.  “While I do appreciate the offer, I do question the necessity!”“To be fair, it was  essentially paid for by his master,” the halfling said.  “But the organization normally keeps its secrets close.”“What organization exactly?” I asked feeling more than a little lost.The halfling looked down and smiled, “The Kerhak.  We…adherents serve our master’s ends.   We are given power from him, and we are to use them for his ends alone.  Your master was one of these adherents.  As am I.”“So, you know my master then?  Where is he?” Daneath asked.“North I assume, travelling.  Running in fear I suppose.”“Fear?  Fear of what?” Daneath pressed.“The Kershak, his master.  Because he broke one of the rules in accepting the power.  The Kershak will always reclaim his power.  As it grants many abilities and long life.  But if one of us has children, it…diminishes us all.  Makes us weaker and makes it harder to reclaim.  And so, it is your Master, your father ran.”Daneath was taken aback, “What…he never said—”“No, he didn’t.  He did expect you to find me.  He said as much when he travelled here with an older gnomish fellow.”Beepu’s ears pricked up, “What?  They were here…together?”“From what I know they were..friends.  But I couldn’t tell you how or why they travelled.  He paid dearly for me to…delay the inevitable.”“The inevitable?” Daneath asked fearfully.“The sins of the father must be paid in blood.  His blood and his progeny.” The halfling said simply.“I thought you said we paid for our lives already,” Iesa said concerned.“And you did.  You all will walk out of here alive today.  But should you return, you would not walk out again.  And at some point, in the future, I will not be able to delay the inevitable either.”“Great.  Daneath, I don’t know what to say but sorry?” Iesa said guiltily.“Well, your brother I am certain appreciates your concern,” the halfling said smugly with his grin growing wider.“Wait…what did you say?” Iesa looked at the halfling in shock and involuntarily took a step toward the halfling.“You hadn’t figured it out?  Why else would you have a Kershak coin?  You are both prodigal sons of your father.  How wonderful.  I am…glad I could at least clear up that mystery for you.” “You are certain of this?” Daneath said.“Of course, unless you think your father is a liar?  But I wouldn’t worry about it much.  Your fate is written; the Kershak will have his blood.  And the blood of those who help his quarry escape his wrath.”Beepu started to look concerned, “Wait what?”“Oh yes, your father I suppose is a marked man as well.  As are you.  Both of you,” he said pointing to Beepu and I.“This has got to be a soddening joke,” I said uncomfortably. “No.  The Kershak isn’t known for its sense of humor.”“So, why are you letting us go then,” Daneath asked intently, becoming more alarmed.“Because, I…respected your father and owed him a debt.  It is now paid in full and then some,” He replied mildly.  “I will not pursue you…for now.  I do hope you find your fathers.  The next time we meet, will likely be your last,” and with that utterance the halfling jumped down from his stone onto the earth.  But we never heard him land or saw him walk away.  He simply vanished from sight, leaving the four of us standing confused in the diming light of the afternoon.After a moment Beepu spoke, “So.  How could you be such a dolt Iesa?  You have a map with this mysterious Kershak symbol on it. A mysterious coin with the symbol on it  All mysteriously in your possession from a mysterious benefactor.  We have Daneath with it as a mysterious tattoo.   So, it is no mystery that you are brothers.  The only mystery is why my Father is involved.”I looked up at the sky.  I had heard the story and the threats and was quite done with it.  “I’m going back to town,” I said and started back towards the trail that let us in.“Myr…what’s wro—” Iesa started and reached for my shoulder to stop me and turn me around, when I swung with my fist and punched him dead in the face.“OW!  What was that for?!?”“For dragging me into…this!” I said, “First you get me killed wandering in the plains, even though we had a map.  You have me brought back in a barmy bargain with a criminal with ties to the Lord of the Nine, and now…now I find myself marked for death, just because I travelling ‘helping’ you.”  And I started stomping off in frustration.“Where are you going Myrai?” Beepu shouted.  "To the Inn, to get drunk since I can’t go home.”I was not in the mood to talk and led the way back to Portstown.  Beepu was following right behind me, but said nothing.   Iesa and Daneath were talking, excitedly however.  The threat to their lives far from their conversation, as they were excited to be brothers.It was dark when we reached the inn, and I had barely remembered to cast the magic to cover my eyes again right as I walked inside.  The lower floor was segmented into two sections, one being a general common room, the other was a little nicer, presumably for those with more coin.  I headed straight to that section.  My foul mood must have been on full display, because the tapkeeper looked concerned as I marched up to his bar and growled for a bottle of whiskey.  The keeper just nodded nervously and handed me a bottle and a glass to fill.“Anything else?” he asked with a note of concern.“A room for the night,” and I slid about twenty coins of gold to him.  “Will that cover it?”He simply nodded.  He retrieved a key from a cabinet nearby and slid it to me.  Meanwhile, I pulled the cork out of the bottle and took a long drink from the dark bottle.  It was strong, and the burn was harsh and raw as it poured down my throat.   I could feel the rush of the alcohol warm its way through me and could begin to feel the calming effect work its way to my head.After a moment Beepu came over to the bar and joined me on a stool beside me.  He sat silently there looking at me with concern.  I wasn’t very receptive and was seriously thinking about dropping the spell on my eyes so I could focus more on the drinking when he spoke.“It was not exactly fair to punch him you know.”“Probably.  I should have punched Daneath was well.  That would make it fair.”“Or say what you—”“Beepu, I know.  And it also isn’t fair that you and I now living on borrowed time.”“Yes.  I do not understand why my father was involved.”“It’s that gizmo you have in your pack.  They probably were looking to go somewhere.”“But that magic can be found in many ways.  Why my father?  What was so special that he brought to the table?”“I wish I knew.  If we are lucky we can ask him.”“And if we are not?”“Then I hope he left you a note.”“Perhaps that isn’t the worst case.  I am going to call it for the night.  I suspect you will be drinking for both of us.” And he slid off the stool and headed for the stairs.“Night Beepu,” and I took another long swig.In the common room, there was celebration.  Iesa had bought a round to celebrate his new brother, and Daneath for the first time in a while was smiling.  Both looked complete.  They didn’t care about the threats anymore.  They had each other; a family long since sundered now reunited.  The patrons around them eagerly helped them celebrate with raucous laughter.  But when the singing started, I grabbed my bottle and made my way to the stairs unsteadily.I opened the door, threw my energy at a candle to light the room in a soft red light, and closed and barred the door.  I dropped the pack I carried on the floor, and removed the sword belt and peeled off the armor I wore, letting it all fall in a heap.  The gambeson, shirt and pants followed.  I climbed onto the bed naked and sat upright in the bed with bottle in hand.“It was not exactly fair…” kept running through my mind.I was happy for Iesa and Daneath really.  Finding each other to be more than comrades, but family.  And their family was connected to Beepu’s via his father.   And there it was: a Rule of Three.  Three souls searching for their father.  Intertwined with destiny.So of course, that made me a 'Fourth Rule.'  An exception.  I tried looking for my family once.  Cost a lot of coin, and I found nothing.  My father remained hidden.  My mother, I knew even less.  Siblings?  I had no idea.  And the closest surrogate, was dead all because of my name-day. My last love…died in front of me, as I helplessly watched.  Finding out he never loved me made it even more painful to bear.It didn’t help that I didn’t really know how the others thought of me.  Was Iesa joking?  What about Daneath?  Beepu had some respect for my abilities, but that didn’t say anything about me.  And I had just acted like an ass in such an endearing way in front of all of them.  At least it was honest to them.  To myself?  I wasn’t sure.I sat there, feeling the tears flow freely down my cheeks as I drank to quell my thoughts, and dull the pain in my heart.It wasn’t fair. I wanted more than partners in crime or acquaintances.I wanted more than memories.I wanted family.I needed family.I needed someone.Anyone.But all I could do was sit there and cry in the dim light, naked and unconnected.  I don’t remember when the darkness finally took me.  I was just glad that for once, I couldn’t remember the nightmares that plagued my dreams for an evening.Session notes:This dialog was a long time ago, and my notes were rough because I was tangential to the main story here.  But it was indeed now DaddyQuest.2990</blockquote>

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