The Story

Session X (RL: 5/3/02 & 5/4/02)

• June 24th, 183 2C. Sperin, Kira, Thurton and Creyton rise early and have breakfast at the Forest Flower. They chat and, among other things, note how pleasant the current accomodations are. They ask about getting around town and a young woman named Ilyna offers to escort them about Elvinhome. First, they ask to see a tailor, so Ilnya leads them up into the trees to a tailor who takes measurements and tells them to return in a day or so for their clothes. When they request to see the sights, she leads them to the northern part of Elvinhome, across the ancient road to a temple that is at the bottom of a ravine. Statues of elvin heroes, glowing orbs, and comfortable benches surround a reflecting pool. Ilnya meditates and Sperin, Creyton, Kira and Thurton decide to leave. They find a dwarven inn on the main road and have lunch with the gruff owner, learning more about Elvinhome from the dwarven perspective. After a heated debate, the owner kicks Sperin out, who decides to go back to the temple. There, Sperin runs into Ilnya again and spends more time talking with her, learning what he can about elvin ways and philosophy. Aliana wakes up a bit later. She learns that her cohorts went off with a guide to find a tailor so she sets out to find them. She ends up spending a good part of the day exploring Elvinhome, coming across a wide range of shops, but not her friends. Kira and Thurton spend some more time at the dwarven inn while Creyton goes back to the Forest Flower. Kira and Thurton explore a bit themselves, then head back, running into Aliana as she returns from her explorations. They spot an elvin guard, later learned to be Gildir, watching them from a tree. Sperin returns from the temple with Ilnya. They discover Creyton in side, running up a tab of elvin wine. Sperin, Creyton, Aliana, Kira and Thurton have dinner. They invite Ilnya to join them. She does for a short time then departs. Anastasia finally comes down from upstairs. She explains that she is weary because she shared a "water vision" with the old seer of the tower. The seer was glad to see them safe in Elvinhome and has asked a friend to look out for them. More conversation over dinner and wine, for some. Later that night, Gildir comes in with two other elvin guards. He "arrests" the group and takes them to see "the Keeper". He leads them up and over several trees to one of the largest in Elvinhome. Weapons are taken away. They meet Rolyndir, who is a Keeper. He says he spoke with the old seer of the group and has agreed to aid them. It is late and, after some conversation about going back and taking care of the Kasuud, they are led to the "top of the world". A platform above the treetops. They see the stars. It is breathtaking in the moonlight. The group falls to sleep, careful to stay away from the edges.
• June 25th. Kira, Anastasia, Thurton, Creyton, Aliana and Sperin are led across Elvinhome to the stables. Their equipment is returned to them and they are each given a elvin steed to ride. They are accompanied by Ilnya and Gildir. They read south by southwest through the Great Northern Forest on the swift horses and make good time. They camp in the foothills of the Flattop Mountains. The fact that Gildir dislikes humans is made clear. Ilnya, however, spends some time talking with the group. They learn that she is Rolyndir's daughter.
• June 26th. It is a lazy day. Gildir informs them that they must confront the Kasuud after dark, so they will wait. People are hungry, so Creyton goes hunting and comes back with some racoon. The elves stick to the dried fruit they brought for everyone, which proves to not be enough for the humans. Group talks about how they need to do a better job sticking to the plan when they get into combat situations because everyone seems to panic. As evening comes, Gildir and Ilnya lead everyone into the Yinni caves. Ilnya casts a spell of some sort that allows everyone to see in the dark with this strange green glow. She also "pushes aside" any Yinni that come in their way. They go further down into the caves until they come to a room with four elves and two Yinni chanting. The walls are covered in blood like markings Creyton and Sperin recognize from Fort Hancock. Ilnya drops to her knees, draws her own blood, and begins counter-chanting. The four elves open a portal to the Kasuud. Something happens and the elves become aware of the group's presense. Gildir reacts by killing two of the elves. The other two retreat into the Kasuud. Ilnya and Gildir follow them in. After some debate and panic, Sperin and Kira go in as well. Creyton's bowstring snaps, wounding him. Aliana heals him. Thurton and Anastasia ponder what to do. The Yinni have fled and can be heard returning with their friends. Creyton, Thurton, Ana, and Ali prepare to hold off the encroaching Yinni. On the other side, it is dark chaos and death. Spirits are seen. Battled are fought. Thurton sticks his living staff into the portal. Something strange happens. Soon, the portal vanishes. Everyone is simply in the room as if they never left. The Yinni come in more numbers. The group retreats and, after a few confrontations, eventually makes it back to camp.
• June 27th. Everyone spends the day travelling back to Elvinhome. They sleep in Rolyndir's compound, a bit out of sorts with each other after the chaos that came of their plan when dealing with the Kasuud and the Yinni.
• June 28th. The morning is spent talking with Rolyndir. The elvin Keeper agrees that he will teach the group since the seer has requested he does so. He will make arrangements for them to be housed in his compound. Rolyndir decides that Ilnya will teach Anastasia and Kira how to deal with Kasuudic spirits, Gildir will teach Sperin the sword and Creyton the bow, Rolyndir will teach Thurton to work with the spirit of nature and he will teach Aliana how to focus on her elvin magicks. That afternoon, the group argues about how they should handle bad situations going forward and they decide they should nominate a "panic leader". This leader is to be someone who's decision is final should the group enter a high pressure situation where a decision is needed quickly. After much debate, Anastasia is named to this role.
• June 29th. It is a pleasant early summer day and the lessons begin as Rolyndir said they would. That night, Ilnya invites the group to join her for a walk. Through the dark, she takes them north of Elvinhome to a hidden grove. There, the rare moonflower blooms only by the light of the full moon. As the moonlight comes above the small clearing, the flowers open up in the light as it touches them. Many flowers are collected. On the walk back, a pair of nyrgil are spotted. They have a human and a yinni with them and seem to be a scouting party or a patrol. Nothing else transpires as the group returns to Elvinhome. While the others go to rest, Ilnya departs to tell her father of the nyrgil.
• June 30th. Everyday are the lessons as outlined by Rolyndir, leaving everyone with much knowledge. On this afternoon, Anastasia and Kira successfully open a small Kasuudic portal. However, the effort to close it is not successful and, in fact, the protal begins to widen. Ilnya manages to close it however. Aliana spends some quiet time meditating at the temple when she isn't taking her lessons.
• July 1st. Aliana and Creyton debate the relationship of free will and religion/destiny, that leaves them a bit frustrated with each other. Thurton spends the afternoon at the temple, pondering everything he is learning about the great spirit that ties all life together. Sperin and Gildir debate racism, which does little to build a friendship between them. Gildir points out that through no fault of her own, Aliana is the problem of the races becoming close.
• July 2nd. It gets hot and humid. The basic lessons continue and do so every day. Thurton spends his morning down at the dwarven inn, talking with the owner. During Thurton's afternoon lesson with Rolyndir, he asks many questions about the earth mother spirit. Sperin spends the evening in thought down at the temple and Creyton gets Kira, Anastasia, Thurton and Kira together to discuss the fact that 7/3 is Sperin's birthday. They make plans for him when Ana announces that they missed hers. They kick her out and make plans for her birthday as well. They all agree on what gifts to get. Aliana, Kira, Thurton and Sperin each get assigned tasks and go forth to complete them.
• July 3rd. When he is not having his lessons, Thurton goes against the group's decision to get them a big gift all together and gets personal gifts for Ana, a cloak, and Sperin, a shield, in addition to doing his work for the group gift, which is arranging dinner. After a hard day of lessons, everyone meets at the Forest Flower for the big dinner in honor of Sperin's and Ana's birthdays. Ana is led up to a room where a hot bath with rose petals awaits her. After she is cleaned, she is massaged by an elvin boy and left to sleep in the comfortable bed. Sperin is rewarded with a date with Ilnya. They walk and talk in some the more private areas of Elvinhome.
• July 4th. The morning begins with Anastasia finally returning home and the grand interrogation on how people liked their gifts. Everything seems to have went over well. People are smiling and happy. It is still hot, though, and the lessons still go on.
• July 5th. Thurton spends more time at the dwarven inn chatting with Ronmar, the owner. In the late afternoon, Kira brings everyone attention to the stone road, which they can barely see in the distance from their treehouse. The army is marching by. Creyton estimates it to be nearly a thousand men. Threforfar is on the move. People are curious as to why or what is going on. They watch the army go by, then it is back to the lessons.
• July 6th. Creyton gives Sperin an archery lesson and during the lesson, they discuss their thoughts of the rest of the group, most notably Aliana.
• July 7th. After one lesson and Kira's departure, Anastasia and Ilnya spend a good deal of time chatting. Ilnya asks many curious questions about the nature of being human. Further conversation reveals that Ilnya is very attracted to the idea of what it is to be human. She admits to wanting to live vicariously through Anastasia, to live such a bright flame that burns so quickly. So begins the formation of a friendship between the pair.
• July 8th. Kira explains to Aliana the nutshell version of what she has learned of the Kasuud, that it is the anti-thesis of life. Conversation drifts to other subjects and eventually ends up venting some frustrations against Thurton for going against the group's plans for the birthday gifts and giving his own in addition to the group's gifts. Gildir comes in and interrupts their talk, asking for the location of Sperin and Creyton. Aliana goes to answer first and he commands her not to speak to him. He takes the answer from Kira and goes on his way. Kira and Aliana discuss their frustrations with the racist and sexist world in which they live. Thurton, while walking through the woods pondering the earth mother spirit, comes across a small waterfall and pool. He observes Ilnya bathing there before he creeps off.
• July 9th. Thurton finds an herbalist and spends the morning there, trying to learn what he can. Sperin and Creyton discuss the panic leader role and how it could best be approached by the group. Kira spends a good deal of time whittling.
• July 10th. The heat finally breaks with a gentle rain. Sperin and Aliana have a long talk in the treehouse. Sperin confronts her that he does not like the way she references his abuse of alcohol as well as his relationship with his wife. He feels it is not her business. After some debate and conversation, she apologizes. Sperin also tells her that she should be careful with Creyton. He is very wrapped up and confused by this religious thing and he might have feelings for her.
• July 11th. Kira and Creyton sit down and talk about how they should best protect the group. They are the most capable. Thurton and Ilnya talk about animals and their spirits. Ilnya explains that the bear is the animal of healing. Aliana asks Rolyndir on his thoughts on half-elves. He explains his position that all things are part of the earth spirit. Some do not like the mixing of the races and to some it is a natural thing.
• July 12th. Anastasia and Ilnya discuss the history of Elvinhome and the elvin people. Kira goes off to send a message to some of her friends. Thurton spends an evening at the stables admiring the elvin horses. Aliana talks to Rolyndir about the nature of an elfstone and what it is. As always, the lessons continue. Sperin begins making a serious effort to get fit. He begins running every morning through the forest before his lessons.
• July 13th. After many hard lessons and instructions to "try again" from Gildir, Sperin finally masters his first sword kata. Aliana better learns how to focus her healing arts from Rolyndir, making a break through. Ilnya invites Anastasia to come witness the birth of an elvin child. It is the first child of the year and it a great event. Ilnya oversees the birthing as a religious figure.
• July 14th. Creyton mentions in conversation that he is a better archer than Gildir, but when pressed by the others for what he is learning from the Captain of the Elvin Guard, Creyton only smiles and says that it is really cool. Aliana presses and Ilnya agrees to do some research into Aliana's ancestors. Thurton catches a brief, heated exchange between Ilnya and Gildir, but he cannot make out the elvin words.
• July 15th. Kira chats with Rolyndir about the old Seer from the island. She learns that the seer is someone named Aroud's apprentice. Thurton spends his free time at the stables. Gildir is called away on other business so Sperin has a free day which he spends at the temple, pondering what has happened in his life so far.
• July 16th. Aliana seeks other opinions on what it is like to be a half-breed, this time from Ilnya. Thurton finally gets the hang of speaking and understanding with animals from his lessons with Rolyndir. He spends time with some squirrels. Anastasia starts taking sword lessons from Gildir as well.
• July 17th. The summer goes on. The group has an afternoon off and they spend time in their tree house sharing what they have learned so far and their thoughts on things. They joke and laugh and bond. Conversation ends on a slightly down note as they ponder the two men in studden leather armor who persued them in Akia.
• July 18th. Thurton successfully befriends a falcon. Sperin increases his daily workout regimen.
• July 19th. Kira gives Anastasia a gift of the small wooden bowl she has been whittling for her companion.
• July 20th. Thurton hangs out again with Ronmar, owner of the dwarven tavern. They chat about elves and nyrgil and what Ronmar will do when he retires. Kira offers lessons in knife fighting to any among the group who desire to learn.
• July 21st. Thurton spends another meal with Ronmar, developing something of a friendship with the dwarf. They discuss how Thurton might come by some horses, which seem to be a rarity in Elvinhome.
• July 22nd. Kira spends some time learning and teaching the knife with Gildir. Rolyndir begins training Aliana in other magicks.
• July 23rd. Thurton finally gets to go riding on one of the elvin horses. He takes the magnificently bred beast out for a short ride. Ilnya takes Anastasia to her secret bathing pool and they bath beneath the waterfall by the moonlight. Thurton, however, does not stumble upon them.
• July 24th. Thurton spends some more time at the herbalist. The lessons go ever onward. They are so far north that the weather is, for the most part, pleasant.
• July 25th. Kira's study of the elvish language is amazing. She has a knack for such things which is shown by her becoming nearly fluent in the short time the group has spent in Elvinhome.
• July 26th. Sperin takes knife lessons from Kira. She is rather capable at such things, he is quick to learn. Aliana learns how to cast light from her elfstone.
• July 27th. Rolyndir and Thurton spend some time discussing Aliana's heritage. Thurton tells the elvin Keeper about Jolly Jones.
• July 28th. Sperin and Ilnya spend an afternoon together at the temple, talking and meditating.
• July 29th. Aliana requests sword lessons from Creyton. He says he can give her the basics, but to advance more she should seek out Sperin.
• July 30th. And the lessons go on. Every day, Aliana and Thurton continue to meet with Rolyndir, Anastasia and Kira meet with Ilnya, and Sperin and Creyton meet with Gildir. Kira goes shopping for a scabbard for a silver knife.
• July 31st. Gildir, after all this time, finally says, "Well done," to Sperin, which nearly gives the farmer turned soldier a heart attack.
• August 1st. Aliana begins to learn to "put things aside" or put them to sleep.
• August 2nd. Anastasia begins taking knife lessons from Kira.
• August 3rd. Ilnya seeks out Aliana and explains to her that Akia Moonsong left Elvinhome many years ago and has not been seen in Elvinhome since. Many said he went west to make wines or hunt. He has no other relatives in Elvinhome.
• August 4th. Anastasia and Ilnya speak of more elvish history and politics. Ana learns a good deal about the Duchess Eldrica.
• August 5th. Aliana begins to learn the Sphere of Gaia. Anastasia has a dream that the group will be leaving soon. As everyone has come to learn, she is usually correct when it comes to such things. The lessons continue on, however.
• August 6th. Ilnya, Rolyndir and Anastasia share dinner. Ana discerns that Gildir is courting Ilnya. Ilnya mentions she goes to pick moonflowers the next night.
• August 7th. It is late evening and Creyton, Thurton, Kira, Anastasia, Aliana, and Sperin are recovering from another day of lessons in the tree house. An orange glow is noted in the northern sky. They peer around curiously and begin to hear a commotion coming from the trees below. Kira goes to the platform at the top of the world and notes that the Great Northern Forest is on fire. Sperin sees Gildir and the elf asks Sperin where Ilnya is. Kira returns, reporting on the fire. The group gathers their things and goes off to save Ilnya, if she needs saving. They get down out of the trees and head north through Elvinhome, crossing the road, passing the temple, and heading for the moonflower clearing. The find her heading back toward Elvinhome, carrying and apron full of blossoms. There is chaos around them. Smoke can be smelled on the air. The howls of nyrgil can be heard. They head back toward the city. Creyton shows off what he learns from Gildir, fending off a nyrgil that would intercept them. His arrow launches, then in streaks of green magic, breaks off into multiple missles that plug the hairy creature full of holes. As they near the road, they see one elvin warrior engaged against four nyrgil and they decide to help. Ana shouts out a few things as the panic leader. Sperin moves forward and engages one. The nyrgil are armored. Kira makes an amazing knife throw, catching one right in the neck and drops it as it gurgles for air. Thurton plants his staff into the ground and suddenly vines grow up out of the ground, entangling the feet of the third nyrgil. The elf, however, is caught by one swoop of one nyrgil's great sword and nearly cleaved in twain. Aliana waves her hand in the air and manages to put one of the nyrgil aside, and it drops to the ground, unconscious. Kira jumps around, managing not to get cut in half by the huge swords. Sperin manages to hack into the leg of the first one, leaving the nyrgil incapacitated. Ana gives the order to move on and, after a bit of reminding, they move on. They make it back to the treehouse. Rolyndir hugs Ilnya and the pair tell the group that the city will be safe and they should stay in their treehouse. They leave. The group watches events out of their windows. Aliana wants to go back down and help protect the city. Creyton thinks that that is suicide and the argument heats up. Sperin gets involved as well and they decide to stay. After a bit, they spot three nyrgil passing below. Sperin and Creyton sniper them. One gets away. More time passes. A pair of human riders gallop by on horseback. The air gets hazy with smoke. A patrol of nearly forty armored nyrgil come into view. They run-march up to one of the larger trees in Elvinhome, one of them that supports the Duchess' keep. They begin to through oil on the base of the trunk, then ignite it. Suddenly, streaks of arrows come out of a nearby tree as a pair of elvin arches take aim. Gildir is with them and he leaps from the rope bridge to the ground, a nearly impossible feat, and begins to strike the nyrgil. The forest fights with him, plants entangling them. Any that threaten Gildir from behind are snipered by the archers. Before the fight is over, the group watches in shock as over twenty nygril are brought down and the rest scatter and flee. The three elves run off in persuit. The group decides to set a double watch. The humidity rises amazingly quickly and before morning, it begins to rain.
• August 8th. Breakfast is served. Gildir comes in and actually thanks the group for their help. He leaves and they are summoned by Rolyndir. He is in the main compound with Ilnya and they discuss Elvinhome and how Rolyndir is confident the city will be safe. It has seen much worse. The group is to spend the rainy day resting and preparing to leave. He cannot teach them and see to his land at the same time. They will come for dinner that night, then be shown out of the city. The afternoon is spent sleeping and preparing to depart. Finally, they come to dinner with Ilnya and Rolyndir. They are given a grand feast with much elvin wine among other things. In spite of the nyrgil attacking the city, everything is delightful. Conversation is shared and pleasant. Rolyndir gives a gift to each member of the group. Kira gets an elvish dagger. Thurton gets a bear totem. Anastasia receives an elvish longsword. Sperin acquires elvin chainmail. Aliana gains an elvin ring. After dinner, everyone gathers their stuff to go. Goodbyes and thank yous are exchanged. Ilnya kisses Sperin on the cheek. A guard leads them through the trees to the southeast corner of the city and, with Aliana overburdened and a bit clumsy, falling on Thurton, they make it to the ground. They sneak off and eventually spot some nyrgil. Thurton uses plants to distract them while the group sneaks by. They are spotted, however, when Creyton runs headlong into some pricker bushes and makes a commotion. The chase is on, through a small ravine, as the rain drizzles down from the sky. They avoid a troll and manage, with some difficulty on Aliana's part, to climb out of the ravine and flee east, losing those who would follow. They go for awhile, then camp.
• August 9th. Creyton leads Kira, Aliana, Anastasia, Sperin and Thurton north in the humid, hot early morning until they reach the ancient road, which they then take south by south east. There is some light banter and complaints about the heat as they travel.
• August 10th. It is another hot and humid day, worse than the day before. The bugs are hellish. The trees thin out as they reach the end of the forest and soon they are moving over rolling plains. Sperin, trying to adopt his recently learned elvish philosophy advises the group to "Be the field." The group promptly tells Sperin to "Be quiet." Eventually, they camp again.
• August 11th. Another day of walking through the oppressive heat. The ancient road continues winding downhill and southeast through the occasional farmland. By the fading light of evening, they pass through the wooden stockade and into the large city of Bibon.