lykkenthrope
Explorer
Session 18
The party ran toward the shouting, though the words were drowned out by the roar of the river. When they reached the bridge, they saw a chaotic scene unfolding.
A group of Fae were locked in a tense argument that looked as if would become combat at any moment. A tiny Fae woman, with a confused look on her face, was being surrounded by 5 of her own kind who all had their weapons drawn. These fae were strange, frail looking creatures. Their skin was withered and sallow, their limbs scrawny like twigs, and even their wings appeared to be barely usable dried husks.
Something about these creatures struck Sorian deeply. He remembered the fae of his childhood, playful and bright, their wings alive with color. Yet he knew these were the same beings, the fae of Innenotdar, the Seela, just shadows of themselves due to a century of fire.
The group rushed forward. Grom, Vic, and Torrent hesitated to strike such fragile creatures, but the fight was already underway. The Seela spoke in Sylvan to each other, their words sharp and frantic. Only Sorian could understand them. Vic and Grom tried speaking in Common and Elvish, but their attempts only worsened things, drawing the Seela’s fury toward the party.
The others followed his lead. Despite their efforts to subdue rather than kill, Torrent and Reshi struck too hard, and two of the Seela were struck down. This caused the remaining attackers to flee downriver, leaving the Seela female crying over the fallen.
At first, she was wary of the party, but she relaxed when she heard Sorian speak Sylvan and learned he was Tarnanesti, born in the forest. She introduced herself as Tiljann and, speaking in broken Common, explained to everyone that her people, though few, still lived downstream at the lake. That the Seela were bound there by a duty to keep a creature called Indomitability imprisoned beneath the water.
The group exchanged uneasy looks. None mentioned that they had already met Indomitability and had promised to free her. Instead, they accepted Tiljann’s invitation to meet her people. As they walked along the river, Tiljann filled the silence with excited conversation, hopeful and talkative despite the parties grim demeanor.
Tiljann asked if they had been sent by Etifini, the Longstrider. When the group admitted they did not know the name, her enthusiasm dimmed. To fill the silence, Vic asked about Etifini and Tiljann happily told them his story: Etifini had been a Seela who escaped the fires, vowing to return with help, a hero and their one beacon of hope all these years.
Before she could continue, a warm wind swept over the river. Without hesitation, Tiljann dove into the water. The others, astutely trusting her instincts, followed….well all but Reshi, who stayed standing on the bank staring at the others in confusion. A moment later, a cinder cloud rolled over him, choking him and burning the air in his lungs. Thankfully the cloud passed quickly and everyone surfaced once the danger had passed.
The strange event left the group with questions they directed at Tiljann: Was the fire natural, magical, or cursed? What exactly was Indomitability? Tiljann admitted she didn’t know the full truth, but said their elder, Papuvin, could explain more. She added that Papuvin did believe that fire’s inability to consume the forest was likely tied to Indomitability’s imprisonment.
Pressed by Ze for more detail, Tiljann asked Sorian if he remembered the stories of Arielle. He recalled only that she had been a beloved warrior who died before his birth. Tiljann nodded and shared the tale of Arielle and the binding of Indomitability.
As Tiljann finished her tale she touched a few of the embers floating in the wind. Tiljann explained that many of her remaining people where tired of singing, tired of the fires, but that Tiljann did not understand this. She explained that she had been born shortly before the fires and had never known the forest as it once was. That while the others mourn, she can only see the beauty in the only world she’s ever known. Tiljann then reiterated how glad she was that she found the party, they would be the hope the others needed to continue on,
And with that, the group continued downriver, towards the lake, towards the Seela, and towards Indomitability and a looming promise they were going to have to make a decision on.
(Session End)
The party ran toward the shouting, though the words were drowned out by the roar of the river. When they reached the bridge, they saw a chaotic scene unfolding.
A group of Fae were locked in a tense argument that looked as if would become combat at any moment. A tiny Fae woman, with a confused look on her face, was being surrounded by 5 of her own kind who all had their weapons drawn. These fae were strange, frail looking creatures. Their skin was withered and sallow, their limbs scrawny like twigs, and even their wings appeared to be barely usable dried husks.
Something about these creatures struck Sorian deeply. He remembered the fae of his childhood, playful and bright, their wings alive with color. Yet he knew these were the same beings, the fae of Innenotdar, the Seela, just shadows of themselves due to a century of fire.
The group rushed forward. Grom, Vic, and Torrent hesitated to strike such fragile creatures, but the fight was already underway. The Seela spoke in Sylvan to each other, their words sharp and frantic. Only Sorian could understand them. Vic and Grom tried speaking in Common and Elvish, but their attempts only worsened things, drawing the Seela’s fury toward the party.
The others followed his lead. Despite their efforts to subdue rather than kill, Torrent and Reshi struck too hard, and two of the Seela were struck down. This caused the remaining attackers to flee downriver, leaving the Seela female crying over the fallen.
At first, she was wary of the party, but she relaxed when she heard Sorian speak Sylvan and learned he was Tarnanesti, born in the forest. She introduced herself as Tiljann and, speaking in broken Common, explained to everyone that her people, though few, still lived downstream at the lake. That the Seela were bound there by a duty to keep a creature called Indomitability imprisoned beneath the water.
The group exchanged uneasy looks. None mentioned that they had already met Indomitability and had promised to free her. Instead, they accepted Tiljann’s invitation to meet her people. As they walked along the river, Tiljann filled the silence with excited conversation, hopeful and talkative despite the parties grim demeanor.
Tiljann asked if they had been sent by Etifini, the Longstrider. When the group admitted they did not know the name, her enthusiasm dimmed. To fill the silence, Vic asked about Etifini and Tiljann happily told them his story: Etifini had been a Seela who escaped the fires, vowing to return with help, a hero and their one beacon of hope all these years.
Before she could continue, a warm wind swept over the river. Without hesitation, Tiljann dove into the water. The others, astutely trusting her instincts, followed….well all but Reshi, who stayed standing on the bank staring at the others in confusion. A moment later, a cinder cloud rolled over him, choking him and burning the air in his lungs. Thankfully the cloud passed quickly and everyone surfaced once the danger had passed.
The strange event left the group with questions they directed at Tiljann: Was the fire natural, magical, or cursed? What exactly was Indomitability? Tiljann admitted she didn’t know the full truth, but said their elder, Papuvin, could explain more. She added that Papuvin did believe that fire’s inability to consume the forest was likely tied to Indomitability’s imprisonment.
Pressed by Ze for more detail, Tiljann asked Sorian if he remembered the stories of Arielle. He recalled only that she had been a beloved warrior who died before his birth. Tiljann nodded and shared the tale of Arielle and the binding of Indomitability.
Long ago, during the last great war between the Taranesti and the Shalahesti, Arielle showed herself to be a hero of unmatched courage and strength. Though during one of the Shalahasti attacks she was gravely wounded and was found by Timbre, the spirit of Innenotdar. Timbre healed her and gifted her a branch from the Mother Tree, which became the Living Blade, a sword of immense power. With this blade, Arielle drove the Shalahasti and restored peace to the forest.
Over time, love grew between Arielle and Timbre and they eventually married. It was a time of peace for the Innenotdar. Though sometime before the fire, an unnatural creature entered the forest and brought with it discord and dissonance: Indomitability. Indomitability’s touch warped the natural cycle of nature. The dead did not stay dead; beasts and people alike rose again in endless agony.
Many attempted to slay the creature, but all failed. So Arielle took up her sword once more and faced the Indomitability herself. Arielle fought the beast again and again, and each time it rose anew. Only when we Seela sang one of our holy songs did Indomitability show any signs of weakness.
With the Seela singing their song, Arielle faced Indomitability again and drove it into the lake. Arielle was mortally wounded in the ensuing battle, but with her last strength, pierced Indomitability’s chest with the Living Blade, binding it to the ground deep beneath the waters. As Arielle lay dying on the shores we now call out home, she asked one final request from my people: “Never stop singing. The beast must not be freed.” And so they have sung ever since.
As Tiljann finished her tale she touched a few of the embers floating in the wind. Tiljann explained that many of her remaining people where tired of singing, tired of the fires, but that Tiljann did not understand this. She explained that she had been born shortly before the fires and had never known the forest as it once was. That while the others mourn, she can only see the beauty in the only world she’s ever known. Tiljann then reiterated how glad she was that she found the party, they would be the hope the others needed to continue on,
And with that, the group continued downriver, towards the lake, towards the Seela, and towards Indomitability and a looming promise they were going to have to make a decision on.
(Session End)
