After an expedition to the Wood of Sharp Teeth goes awry, the Troupe returns to civilisation licking their wounds. Both Branwen and Dynaheir were killed by the orcs infesting the forest, so now they seek resurrections and some new party members to replace their losses.
6 Eleint 1368
Our journey back to Beregost was fortunately uneventful. It wasn’t long before we left orc territory, and those in our path were already slain. When we arrive at the Song of the Morning Temple, I remember that Coran was after a bounty for the wyverns in the Cloakwood. Kelddath Ormlyr is impressed when I show him our trophy, the head of the largest wyvern.
Kelddath Ormlyr: You must be powerful heroes to have brought down such a great beast. I will take the wyvern head and give you 2,000 gold for your troubles.
I ask him to resurrect both Branwen and Dynaheir. Our reward covers the donation he would normally ask of us, but he still gives us 600 gold as a kindness.
Though resurrected, they will remain in Beregost to recover. We say our farewells before leaving the temple.
Branwen: We have fought well and we have fought bravely. Tempus willing, perhaps I will fight at your side again someday.
Dynaheir: Thou hast proven to be quite a leader. I shall look forward to when we can again call each other comrade.
Aegon: Our paths must run apart for a while. If I should need your help again, though, we should rendezvous at the Jovial Juggler in Beregost.
Dynaheir: If thou dost desire it, then I shall do so. Thou hast proven thyself to be quite the leader, and by now I have confidence in thy decisions.
Branwen: I will chafe at the inaction, but I am deeply in your debt. Return soon to this war priestess.
We are wounded and tired, so we also leave for the Jovial Juggler. We’ll need some time to rest ourselves before we can return to the orc-infested forest.
As soon as we enter the inn, a large man with a huge sword strapped to his belt approaches us. He seems excited to meet us.
Thorfinn Hauskluniff: Hail and well met! I am Thorfinn Hauskluniff. I heard you are well-known adventurers who solved the iron problem. I would like to join you and help if I can.
Aegon: Yes, you may join us. All help is welcome.
Thorfinn Hauskluniff: I shall endeavor to help you any way I can.
We take a table with Thorfinn while we talk about how he can fit in with the Troupe. He doesn’t seem to be the smartest in the world, but he has muscles the size of my head.
He tells us he is a Berserker, and can fly into a rage just like the orcs we encountered in the Wood of Sharp Teeth.
Gameplay Note
He was originally a Barbarian, but since White already has that class I decided to switch him to a class I haven’t tried yet. I also considered the Mercenary class, but Kagain already fills that role.
He can move fast when he needs to, either to get into combat swiftly, or get out of it.
He can also go Berserk, giving him a burst of energy that can turn the tide in combat.
He has meagre equipment, wielding a two-handed sword and some throwing axes. He does have some custom made hide armour, bearing a wolf engraved on its chest.
He also wears a horned helmet decorated with fur to match.
From our Bag of Holding I pull out a Throwing Axe, enchanted so that it will always return to the wielder when thrown. This will save him from having to carry many axes around.
I also give him some better armour to try. If he’s a berserker he’s more likely to charge into the fray, and he will need that extra protection.
Kivan gives the Berserker his Khazid’s Death, telling him that the sword will fare better in a true warrior’s hands.
While I go to talk to the innkeeper about a room, Kivan and Aura talk about their skills in archery.
Kivan: From whom did you learn to wield a bow, Aura?
Aura: My sister, Juno, taught me the basics. I was also trained by my mentor, Reika-san, while I was in Kozakura.
Kivan: That would explain why your technique is unlike any I have seen in the past. I have encountered few of those from the Far East.
Aura: II’m really not a great example of Kozakuran kyudo… I don’t even have the stature or the strength to use a bow with your level of skill, Kivan. It’s mostly my bow, the Sunshooter, doing the work.
Kivan: I see… the shape is much like that of a recurve bow, and the separate limbs allow for an easier draw, reducing strain… you have created the bow to cater to your requirements. I am surprised that such a design even exists.
Aura: It wouldn’t work if not for the special materials used. I’m not proud of having to compensate for my failings, without ever improving, but my parents did everything they could to procure what I needed, so that I could protect myself.
Kivan: Then it is a symbol of your parents’ love and desire to keep you safe. There is no shame in such a thing.
Aura: Perhaps… but still… I often feel too weak without this bow with me. I’m afraid I’ll drag the group down.
Kivan: If you desire it, then I would gladly train you in archery. Though I may be unfamiliar with the fundamentals that you have practiced, I will do what I can to assist.
Aura: Thanks, Kivan… I may take you up on that.
I hope she takes the lessons. Kivan has proven himself a deadly archer, often slaying opponents before they can react. It’d be good to know there are two archers with his aim in our Troupe.
I tell them we have a nice room and we retreat upstairs. As I am storing my equipment away for the night, I hear Kivan offering words to his late wife. He does this often, yet this time something compels me to ask him about it.
Kivan: ‘Quel undome, a‘maelamin Deheriana. Good night, my beloved Deheriana.
Aegon: Every morning I hear you say “good morning” to your dead wife – and every night you bid her to have a good night. It makes me sad.
Kivan: Do not be saddened, my friend. Those are my beautiful moments. Once, I was looking for excuses to talk to Deheriana, and I would not sleep until she passed by, and I could bid her “good night”, hear her voice and see her smile.
Aegon: How did you meet her, Kivan? If you do not mind me asking about it…
Kivan: I met Deheriana during the war in Shilmista. Everyone then became a fighter, elders and children, nobles and commoners alike. She was among our spellcasters – a small group and vulnerable, but a lot of our hope was placed into their power.
So a fighter’s eyes were always on them to protect and to lend them cover… I saw Deheriana… it was hard not to notice her. In the moments of deepest despair, when all was but lost, I looked at her, and my spirit soared, and I cared not for hurts.
Like a young birch tree, golden and green, she stood, and her voice was clear as morning dew, even as her chants brought death to our foes.
Aegon: And after the war was over…
Kivan: After the war was over we buried our dead with honors… My mother could not be consoled in her grief for my father and my brothers who had fallen.
She convinced the rest of my kin to leave for Evermeet. I stayed behind, for after the freezing winter I saw the new spring coming, and Deheriana was smiling every time she met me, and I bid her to have a fair day.
Hearing him talk about her… It’s almost as if she is alive again. Her spirit lives on through him. As father’s spirit should live on through me. I say goodnight to Gorion before I climb into bed, and I close my eyes.
I dream of blood. Not of blood on a blade or the blood on my hands, but an ichor that runs as a torrent through the Realms. A flood that pours across the fields and forests. An ocean that floats you to the world’s edge and threatens to cascade off into the void.
This blood seems a frightening thing: a massive force that sweeps away all resistance. As a whole, it is a monster, and it cannot be stopped. Were it to be viewed from on high, it would seem to cover the entire world in its red-black embrace.
I, however, do not have such a lofty perch. From within the deluge, I can see it does not move as one, but is filled with currents, eddies, and undertows. Pockets of calm afford breathing space, whilst violent whirlpools threaten to rend limb from limb. Ultimately, it seems undirected, and lacks a driving will, a quality I have in abundance. I may be caught within, but sufficient determination can shape what I need to survive. There are still options open, still choices to be made.
As the tide presses forward, I steer as you wish, atop a ship called Persistence and under sails made of resolve.
A sudden and deliberate wave puts an end to my course and to the dream. It would seem that the flood does have some will and took offense to me enjoying the ride.
7 Eleint 1368
I awake in a sweat. Something feels different. I feel a new blessing this morning, a new ability. I can Slow Poison that runs in the blood of those around me. The ichorous blood will flow clean once again.
I get dressed and go down the stairs to the bar. The others are already waiting for me. We have five members in our Troupe. We need to recruit a sixth. And for that, we must make our way to the Friendly Arm Inn.
