After returning from their expedition to the Cloakwood and destroying the mines, the Troupe takes some much needed rest at the Friendly Arm Inn. Here they meet Jet’Laya, who has asked for help finding her sister. They are now preparing for their journey to the Peldvale, her last known location.
4 Eleint 1368
After an almost sleepless night at the inn, I awake to find the others already packing their bags. At breakfast Aura suggests we visit the temple, see if we can get any word on Perwell’s fate. After we are done eating, we agree to go and visit Gellana. She has no news, but is happy to see Aura.
Gellana Mirrorshade: For a bit o’ respectful coin we can cure what ails thee, if you need.
Ah, I see you’ve brought our little darlin’ inventor with you! How are you, Aura, dear?
Aura: All is well, missus Gellana. Thank you for your concern.
Gellana Mirrorshade: Good, that’s good, dearie. Now, was there something you needed?
Aegon: Thank you, but we’ve just come to take a look around.
With nothing to gain here we decide to browse the markets before we leave, but with little coin to our name we don’t find anything worth purchasing. There’s no point dilly-dallying any longer. We leave through the gate and start making our way east towards Peldvale.
5 Eleint 1368
It takes us the whole night to travel to Peldvale, and we reach the area sometime after the high sun. Kivan warns us to be wary since this used to be bandit territory. He keeps his bowstring taut as we press into the wood. Then we hear shrieking and a group of fiendish gibberlings charge toward us. Kivan looses his arrow and strikes on through the eye.
They are unable to pierce my armour, and succumb to Kivan’s arrows one by one. It seems almost a lifetime ago when one of these creatures would send me running for the trees.
We collect whatever we can find on their corpses – a few coins and a couple of sunstone gems. We press on to the east, prepared for whatever Peldvale may throw at us next.
We encounter a group of giant spiders that Branwen burns with her Fire Bolts.
Our next encounter is a human. We approach cautiously, wary of an ambush. He spots us and calls out to us.
Ted: Hey there, city folks! So what in the name of Lathander takes you so far from home?
I maintain my grip on my Hammer as I watch him carefully.
Aegon: We are adventurers.
Ted: Ye’re adventurers? I used to have an uncle who thought of himself as some kind a hero. He had the sword, shield, the whole bit. But he got himself killed, see? He was going off ta kill some sort of beastie with all of his buddies, but something went terribly wrong. I guess this beastie figured out he was coming and set up a trap for him and his friends. So anyhow, there are him and his buddies, trudging through the wilderness on their way to the monster’s lair. Then all of a sudden, BAM! SMACK! The monster leaps out and starts ripping off.arms and legs. When my pops found his brother, there was nothing left but a big pile of rotting meat.
He likes to talk and he speaks of ambush. Kivan starts checking every nearby tree for hidden foes. I keep my eyes locked on him. He doesn’t look like a bandit. Maybe he’s genuinely an innocent traveller.
Aegon: That… was a real cool story. You wouldn’t by any chance have any advice for us? Some sort of adventuring advice?
Ted: Oh, yeah! I have lots of advice about adventurin’. If ya wants to get rich, the best place to go would probably be the ruins at Firewine Bridge. If you want some action, why don’t you give back some of that trouble those bandits have been dishin’ out on the Coast Way?
With that he bids us farewell and continues to the west. No ambush. Just a cheery stranger offering advice. Still, I’ve learned that friendliness often hides something more sinister. Or perhaps I am getting too paranoid after all the assassins that have been sent after me.
We press on to the woods east of here. Our guard must have been dropped after meeting the strange man, as we are surprised by a group of wild dogs who must be hungry.
We slaughter several of them and the rest decide it would be best to flee.
Kivan kills one more as they retreat, but the other two get away. One was heavily wounded and bleeding, it will likely not survive. Only one of their pack will remain.
We approach the edge of the treeline. The map tells us this is the Wood of Sharp Teeth, a name that does not sound inviting. We pause, mentally preparing ourselves to enter the trees. Kivan turns to me and makes an observation.
Kivan: I have noticed that you are the only one who does not try to change the subject when I mention Deheriana.
Aegon: l am your friend, Kivan, and it seems to me that there is something weighing heavily on you in connection with Deheriana. It is obvious that you loved her, yet you told me that you were feeling guilty. Why?
Kivan: You are right, mellonamin. When the orcs had surrounded us, I had my dagger pressed against Deheriana’s neck. But I hesitated, and I lost my chance to save her.
I turn to look him in the eye.
Aegon: Kivan! Listen to me. What if you had killed her, and then there was a chance for both of you to escape? Kivan, death is irreversible. You did the right thing by staying your hand!
Kivan: Aegon, if I had another moment, she would have died by my hand, and I would have followed her. You know what happened, instead? She begged the beasts for mercy… to spare me.
Tazok found it comical and ordered me beaten in front of Deheriana, and pretended that her pleas might touch his heart. If only she tried a little harder…
But I was weak; at length I fainted. When I came back… When I came back…
She was lying on the ground, or at least what once was her was lying there – a misshapen piece of flesh, torn, cut, burned… Tazok was wearing a fresh pair of elven ears on his necklace – he told me that it was a trophy for the one who takes the first turn…
He pauses for a moment, staring into the distance. I give him some time to contemplate his next words.
Kivan: It became my only goal to not pass out and be entertaining enough as a victim. The world became a blur, but I forced myself on my feet after each hit; I screamed until my voice failed… but Tazok finally grew bored by the spectacle and ordered Deheriana killed. There were enough volunteers.
As soon as I felt that she was dead, my spirit left me too. They left both of us for dead. But I did not die.
Why did I not die with her?
Aegon: I think you know the answer, Kivan. Is not that why you are so devoted to Shevarash, the God of Vengeance?
Kivan: Yes, I had betrayed the one I loved to the most horrifying end, and Shevarash gave my life back to me, so I might redeem myself and avenge my wife’s death. That’s what I think…
Aegon: It is plausible. Seek your vengeance, help me kill some evil monsters, and you will feel better. After all, you did not have much of a choice, and you have done what you could to protect-your Deheriana, ranger.
Kivan: Ranger… yes. A Ranger guides and protects, and yet I led the most precious traveler I knew to her death, and failed to protect her. I am surprised that you still place your trust in my skills.
With that he starts his way into the woods that lay before us. Somewhere in there is Jet’Laya’s sister, and we are determined to find her.
