"I've already done the hard work, initiating conversations with these sort of fey is never easy. Gifts and flattery works well, but only gets so far. Oh, and we should clean you both up."
He withdraws a thin wand from his hip, one that looks familiar to Atriox at least--it's one of the ones used in the Velvet Fang to repair and clean the rooms, or any damage done by patrons. With a flick of his wrist, a wisp of sparks encircles you both and the mud and slime literally flakes off. Blood is cleaned, leaving dry wounds, and your armor is shined as well as it can be.
Atriox snorts gives Oxious a sassy grin
"Well if were looking nice and proper i suppose i should do something about the rest of me."
He concentrates a little bit and forces his appearance to hide anything resembling his vampiric nature. While the effort drains him slightly it's nothing to bad seeing as he just ate. Even though the blood was horrific in taste it did the job
"Yes, well..." he looks you up and down, seemingly satisfied. "Probably a good idea. Not sure how they'd feel about--"
"Aaaaaabout.... Whhhhat?"
Oxious startles as he turns around again, face to face with a tree that wasn't there before. A willowy sort of shape, its bark contorts into a fearsome expression.
The tiefling blanches, caught off guard. "A-ah, Willoris, I brought my business partner as requested, and this is fellow is--"
The tree cuts him off. "Aaaaaaabout.... Whhhhat?"
Atriox is not pleased by this development but he does his best to stifle his irritation. He smiles at the creature and gives it a bow out of respect
"Hello there. My name is Prince Atriox and this is my freind Oredion." He points at Ore
"As for what Oxious was speaking of.......I am currently cursed. It affects how I look amongst other thing's. I simply didn't want to concern you is all."
The tree's expression slowly relaxes, becoming more peaceable. Slowly, surely he morphs into a more humanoid figure with brown, barklike skin and green, mossy hair and clothing.
"Iiiiii seeee..... Weeeelcome, curssssed prrirrince." He talks calmly and melodically.
Oxious exhales with relief, regaining his composure. "Yes, well, I hope we did not startle you or your kin at our approach."
Around you both, dozens of glowing pale eyes emerge from the shady trees.
Atriox smiles peacefully and bows again in gratitude
"Thank you! Now Oxious would you like to explain the situation to us ?"
"Yes, of course." He puts on his most charming voice as new figures begin to approach. A few others are fair looking dryads, but several are beautiful, delicate, ethereal looking fey. Nymphs.
Oxious continues, unperturbed. "I've been speaking with Willoris here for some time. We came across one another in a previous visit of mine to Thunderdale."
The nymphs move around Atriox and Oredion with curiousity, their fair, pearly hair draped over their shoulders. With looks of gentle innocence they admire you with wide eyes. There is a humming melody wafting through the trees.
"I've explained my desire to restore this area, and that the building of my little business will help ecologically as well as economically..."
Willoris chuckles in a very raspy, low way. His voice begins taking on a more natural tone, but is still rather slow.
"Feyyyy... Our economics are different... Andddd many love to play with mortals. It seems a good... Symbiotic relationship, from what details we haveeee discussed..."
The nymphs cradle their arms about you both, soft as silk. Up close they are very much like impossibly beautiful wood elves.
(Make intelligence saving throws, please... XD both of you.)
(Rude and 14+3)
(15+7)
(Woah wise Oredion in the house xD)
Atriox, you feel your mind... cloud with peace. It's plesant. Joyful, almost. You feel nicer than you've felt in years. One of the nymphs plants a kiss on your cheek and you almost... can't recall those terrible memories that plague you. You relax instantly in their arms.
Oredion, a handful of the beautiful ladies enshroud you with their cooing voices. But the tenseness in your mind from Grummsh persists. You feel you could enjoy their company if you wished, without the hypnotic charm they seem to possess.
Atriox trys to fight this calmness coming over him but every second he does he finds it's a losing battle and after a minute is lost in the moment
Oxious chuckles a little to himself. Willoris shakes his head.
"Maidens, would you mind if...?"
He uses a sing song sort of voice and their cooing turns to fits of giggles. The girls scatter and flit into the trees like bursts of light.
Atriox wakes up all of the sudden and shakes his head growling a little bit
"Wha........what happened ?"
Oredion laughs a bit harshly as he eyes the nymphs leaving.
"You simply fell under the nymphs charm Atriox. I expected a lady chaser such as yourself to know better."
Oredions leans against a tree close by hoping its not a treefolk
Atriox skakes his head again
"Well.......im going to let this pass as harmless fun.....this time."
Oxious tries to wipe the smile off his face but has a hard time doing so. He was definitely unaffected by their wiles somehow, and he knows it.
"In addition to their intimate knowledge of the surrounding area," he muses outloud, indicating the fleeting lights and playful fey giggles, "It is said that the kiss of a nymph can remove all painful and troubling memories... and that a potion including a simple lock of hair from a nymph is enough to knock a person into a deep sleep."
He walks over to Atriox and pats him on the shoulder. "Those are just a few of their magnificent powers. Good for our establishment, yes? Charming as they are, they do that playfully... Won't be necessary in a place like the Silken Fang."
Atriox muses on this for a moment and then grows a slow smile
"Yessss this could be very beneficial. The Silken Fang eh ? And what do your people get out of this if i may ask ?"
The last part was directed at willoris
Willoris tilts his head. "Wassss... Not my choice, but the nymphs. They think it would beeeee.... Funny."
"As welllll," he drones, running a hand along the trees as he approaches Oredion, "It willlll bring health back to this corner of forrrrrest. Even with increased trrrrraffic... We can inforce good behavior."
He looks at Oredion curiously, wary of his axe. "Iiiiiit has already ssssstarted. Thankkkkk you for clearinggggg the kuo toa and their goddddling from the marsh."
Oredion smiles as he slings his axe over his shoulder signifying no I'll will towards Willoris.
"It was no big feat my kind treefolk friend. Just glad to be of help. Sadly this one was of no use, but to charm two giant toads."
Oredion laughs as he gestures to the grumpy Atriox. Oredion brings his hand up to shake Willoris's hand.
Willoris tilts his head again, taking your hand in his and gripping it--unsure what to do but hold it tightly and release like a vice.
"Giantttttt amphibianssss... I see. Theeeeey are interrrtresting indeeeed. Must be careful alonggggg the banks."
"Willllll youuuu be staying againnnn Oxiousss? Theee others would loveeee an audienceeee..."
Oredion brings his hand back down to his side and looks up to the treefolk in front of him curiously.
"Not to cut you off Oxious, but I have a question. If you dont mind me asking big fella. Why didnt you take care of the pesky fishes yourself? You look pretty capable to me. I mean no offence, I was glad to help and all... just curious."
Willoris smiles, his teeth like the white inner wood of a tree.
"Mannnnny more thissss year, and difffffficulty with theirrrr.... Peculiarittttties."
He hunches like a tree blown in the wind, bending to better address Oredion. "They are god makerrrrrrs.... It would beeeee... A poor choice inddddddeed for ussss to supply to suchhhhh a group of evil chaossss, a goddddling of feyyyyy power..."
He raised a mossy eyebrow. "I ssssssuspectttt they madeeee ahave mock godddddling of your powwwwwer, did they notttt?"
"What in blimy is a godling old sport? There was one in the water... that twisted shapes? How in the blooming world do we defeat something with God in its darn name?"
Oredion says the last bit with confusion directed to Atriox and Oxious.
Atriox grunts
"We didn't. Hence why I told you to get away from that thing in the water. I had no clue what it was at the time......but I had a bad feeling about it."
"Well what the hell, if we can defeat dragons I suppose we can try to defeat gods. Now if you dont mind. I'm just gonna sit back and listen. Hopefully I'm not leaning against one of your kind Willoris."
Oredion chuckles as he gives a final nod to Willoris. He leans back and listens to the others talk of the future fang.
Atriox rolls his eyes in a amusement before looking between Willoris and Oxious with a mischievous smile
"As I said once I'm in Skyhold we will be building the Golden Fang. While Dragonborn will be naturally drawn there I intend it to be a place for all creatures and people of the world to live in peace. That being said....I'm somewhat glad that your people gave me a taste of what they can do now. With rare skills like that such a woman could make us and herself a fortune and live a happy life. So Willoris how does that sound ? Is there one among your people who join us on our journey to Skyhold ? I would promise you she'd have my houses personal protection and whatever she needs of course."
(Persuasion 21)
Willoris sways from side to side, considering the question with a somewhat wizened look. "I'm twooooo thousand years and still somewhhhhat young for my kindddd... but even innnnn my time I haveeeee seen the havoccccc that thoseeeee little fish can makeeeee. Thunderrrrrdale wasn't always hereeee, and many maaaany towns came beforeeee..."
Oxious shrugs, cutting in to help. "The people here swore they would not touch this place until after the summer ended, due to some--well, what I thought--was some folkish superstition." He raises an eyebrow at the dryad.
"I came here to talk, finding out a bit belatedly what you were up against and why the people in town were so... reluctant. But the damage was done. Kuo toa seek after things of power or things they find that hold... greatness. To creatures like them," he chuckles, "that could be anything."
"You killing them overwhelmed their little minds and out of pure worship, they began the creation of a new god based on what they saw. Short memories and all."
Willoris turns his head toward Atriox, still processing the dragonborn's question in his own time. "Yesssss... kuo toa godlingsssss... strange beasts thatttttt roam the seas.... a new one joinsssss them."
"As forrrrrrr.... one of the feyyyyyy... mmmm, yessss, perhapsssss. One likesssss to wanderrrrr and has wished toooooo see more of the waterkinnnnn and mountainnnnn kin...."
He rumbles in his throat and a giddy noise can be heard among the treetops. A pair of firefly-like eyes appear in the shadows and swirl toward him in a mist of radiance.
"Isssssssmene... this fine princeling wishessssss to know if you orrrrr any of your sisssssters wish to travelllll from the forests hereeeee..."
Her round eyes grow brighter. She tilts her head at Atriox, and you recognize her as one of the ones that had tried to charm you earlier. She had a distinct sort of lilt to her voice and her smile, and it sounds clear like a songbird when she speaks.
"Yes, please! How lovely, yes." The trees fill with giddy laughter and some kind of sylvan sing-song language you can't quite make out.
(they're also rather small for humanoid beings, she's like.. 4'8")
(Definitely more treelike lol and he can actually look more LIKE a tree if he wishes to. They definitely shape change. He's been kind of adjusting while he's been around you both xD)
Atriox looks at the woman closely
She scoots up closer, eyeing him mischievously. "Hello, prince. You like to travel?"
Atriox eyes the woman while holding his small grin
Atriox eyes the woman while holding a small smile as she addresses him
"Hello Ismene is it ? I dont mind traveling. It can be very fun and informative but I suppose ultimately it depends on where I'm traveling to. I spent years traveling and I'm ready to got back home finally truth be told."
She looks elated. "This home of yours..." she floats her hand over your scales, tilting her head with admiration, "A mountain? Snow? I sense many other paths you've taken, so many I've heard only in stories." Her smile grows.
"Traveling is... delightful." Ismene radiates with joy. Willoris chuckles slightly listening to her ramble.
Atriox looks at her curiously
"My my your curiosity is just barely contained isn't it. I need to get some things in town. Would you care to join me ? I'm sure we can amswer each others questions without annoying our companions here. Shall we meet you back here Oxious and Ore ? Wee wont be tooo long.....I think."
Oxious looks at Ore, shrugging. "I don't mind either way." Willoris smiles at the dwarf. "I would be happy to learn more of your realms, dwarven brother. Care to join us for the evening?"
Ismene just smiles wider and hangs on Atriox's shoulder.
"Come, Atriox! Let's go to town... I've been a few times, it's quaint." She singsongs in your ear, dragging you along through the trees away from the others.
Atriox chuckles
"Not the most patient of woman are you. We might have to work on that a little but I'll indulge you."
Atriox waves over his shoulder at the others
"I need to find a base saddle and some things to modify it so I can more properly ride my new freind. But let us talk along the way. You asked about my home ? Skyhold. Many mountains, snow, lakes, trees, caves. You could anywhere to live that suits your needs there."
"I would love to see all of it! The forest is nice but there is so much... more." She practically skips through the trees, dancing around you like a fawn.
"Town is fun! There is a stable with all sorts of strange beasts and animals. I think they would have the material for what you need. The boy who works there is a funny fellow. I like to move the animals around in their pens to play with him. He never knows how it happens..."
She continues to ramble, bouncing from subject to subject. You hear all about the rumors in town, the strange animals that roam the forests north of it, and about other nymphs she is related to.
"I would like to see all these places and find where I might like to live! But perhaps nowhere, I never seem happy in one spot. Do you ever feel like that? Where do you feel at home?" She stops in front of you, a very serious but innocent look on her face. It's stark now that she's quiet and focused.
Atriox stops momentarily. As he ponders the question he looks up at the sky. After a moment he lets out a sigh and looks at her
"Truth be told i don't know the amswer to that. I haven't been home in many years. It seems like a lifetime ago even though I'm young. I've always been on the move.........so for now I'm my home. If that makes sense."
Atriox looks very awkward
She tilts her head, looking deeply into your eyes. You can sense a pure sort of charm about her, nothing particularly magical this time around.
"It makes sense. It is okay to feel that way. You make your own home, and that's sometimes the best you can have."
Tilting her head the other way, she looks closer at you. "You are young? How young? I sense an ancientness about you, despite what you say."
"But," she snickers, "I suppose I'm young compared to the others. I'm the youngest, actually. At least among my sisters."
Atriox turns his own head sideways
"Im only 19 but my kind..... mature quickly. Im about 24 in human year's I'd say. Been on my own since I was 8."
"Ah, I see..." She backs away, but the look in her eyes remains. Some kind of curiosity at your statement. "Maybe you just act old for your age. You are a strange, unique person."
Flitting around again, Ismene continues to lead the way. "I'm 547 I believe, if I go by human years. Still rather young to the others, they tease me all the time about it." She pouts like a child, peeking around the trees.
Atriox watches her
" I must admit I don't know a whole lot about your kind. Hardly anything."
She smiles. "That's how it often is. Not many seek us. Your tiefling friend was one of the few in a very, very long time..."
She disappears in a swath of leaves, reappearing up above on a branch above your head. "We don't like evil things. Or creatures that take the natural world for granted... killing for sport, cutting down saplings. And we protect our forests. We like to keep them pure..."
Ismene flips down, hanging by her knees around the branch as she looks you in the eyes again. "We're playful and curious at heart. Carefree. But we are tied to our surroundings... should we get hurt, our forest suffers and reflects it. Likewise, the same for the other way... magic is thick in our blood. We know some spells. Enough to protect ourselves."
A mischievous smile plays at her mouth again, and she pecks you on the snout with a little kiss before hopping down out of the tree.
She shrugs, leading the way again. "We don't die of old age because of that. We can see well in the night, at least decently so. It is funny to watch humans stumble about. I can talk to the plants bout what they hear, the animals about what they see... there is a lot to us."
She shrugs. "What about you? What is something unique to dragonkin like yourself? I haven't met many on the roads through here."
Atriox continues on ward while thinking about it
"My kind......were as varied and different as the seasons. Some of us value honor, some strength, others raw destruction. But unique ? Well if you believe the ancient stories my kind were born from the blood of our dead god. Io"
"Oooooo, how interesting..." Ismene's eyes widen like a doe, her hair floating about her without much of a breeze. "Could Io really die though? If he lives on through the blood of all your kind?"
She turns around, walking backwards effortlessly as she talks to you. "Does not a seed or an acorn carry the magic of the ancient trees that birthed it?" In an instant, a seed opens in her hands, sprouting and creating a small sapling. The fey croons over it, admiring the growing leaves.
"Io lives. As all things live. Bodies die, but magic is forever." She sets it on the ground and it continues to glitter with dew, the roots sinking into the earth. Ismene turns and prances along through the trees again.
Atriox smirks
" You are very clever.......and I think something along the very same lines. Forgive my poor choice of wording. Now shall we ? I'd like to get this done. There is much to show you."
She spins happily around like a leaf in the wind. "Yes, we shall!"
You continue your way through the forest, which makes for a pleasant journey overall. You hear the soft sound of flutes among the greener trees, the prancing of small hoofs, and even the occasional beating of wings past your ear. But whenever you turn to look or strain to see, your eyes catch nothing out of the ordinary.
The trip into town goes well. Ismene manages to play several pranks, most of which you aren't apparent until your departure. Flowers growing in front of doors and the wood on houses suddenly sprouting vines. You do meet with the man in charge of the stables, which is much larger than you expected. There are a variety of both common and strange animals, as well as a large storefront with unique pets and items for taking care of them. He happens to have a saddle for a similar sort of creature you've never heard of.
Atriox looks around checking out all the mounts and different pets
(Investigation 16 insight 17+3)
Though Atriox tends to be a serious person he can help but be silly and happy around animals
The owner, a young man named Artemis, is quite happy to show you around the place given your interest. He always keeps a wary eye on Ismene (who has promised to behave, but has shown little inclination to as of yet).
You move past several kinds of draft horses, mules and some interesting looking goats in the furthest stables. The air is thick with the smell of musty hay, the animals stuck inside due to the weather and the still perceived threat of the kuo toa.
You move past several empty stalls into a larger area with pens and cages. It's hard to take in absolutely everything. Among them you find strangely colored rabbits, flying snakes, something he called a teacup owlbear that recently came in from a provider... There are ferrets, guard dogs, hunting dogs, cats, salamanders, and even a few singing birds. Near the back wall there is a small aviary with hunting falcons, an albino raven, and various fruit bats. By the door, what you thought was a statue... is actually a cat-sized praying mantis.
Atriox stops at the owlbear
"Tell me about this creature"
Artemis smiles, scratching his head. "I'd never heard of a teacup one before, but this fellow insisted it wouldn't grow much larger." You admire the creature, perhaps the size of a small to medium-sized dog. It has the body of a bear, with feathers along its forelegs and the head of a owl.
As you look, the head swivels around to stare up at you with giant eyes. You now notice it's ripping apart a small rabbit, tendrils of sinew stretched between its beak and its claws.
"Definitely carnivorous. They have both a keen sense of smell and sight, and can see well in the dark. They're most active early in the morning and later in the evening."
He leans down, smiling at the creature. It makes a squawking sort of noise as it turns its head back around to look at him. You start to wonder if Artemis is half fey himself.
"Full-grown owlbears are known for their aggression and ferocity. They can rip a man in two like that," he snaps his fingers. "so this little guy is still a rather gruff little animal. Definitely not for children, as cute as it looks. It's 500 gold, but if you want to still get that saddle you were looking at, I could give them both to you for a thousand? Twenty percent off. I'll even throw in a collar for the little guy, and a few extra rabbits."
Atriox looks at the creature for a moment and then nods at the man
"Very well. Ill take it and the saddle."
He nods with a smile. Fetching the other items for you, he gets everything squared away before handling the owlbear. It's finished its meal and seems less ornery, but still ruffles its feathers in agitation at being handled. Ismene takes over carrying it, rather effortlessly so considering her size with it in her arms. It seems grumpy but placid.
You head back, the saddle slung over your back like a large shield and Ismene humming gaily with the animal in her arms. It seems to take less time to get back, as if she'd taken you through some sort of detour on the way to town in the first place.
Arriving back in the late afternoon, you follow her down a mossy track to a vibrant green grove. Here you find Oxious and Ore sitting with Willoris and another even larger treant sort of dryad. He has the air of a king of the forest.
All around there is music playing. It's very fairy-like, the grove filled with dryads cloaked in leaves, the beautiful nymphs dancing with a pair of fauns, and even some strange centaur-like beings playing the instruments you've been hearing since morning. They are stately and elegant, and Oxious looks strangely at home here as he smokes on a long, thin pipe.
Atriox looks about for a moment in wonder at the creatures before nodding to his companion to give Ore the animal he purchased.
"That's for saving my ass. We're even."
He looks torwards Oxious
"It looks like you have everything well under control my freind. Im heading back to Dragonshore. You can follow whenever you guys want."
Atriox turns and looks torwards Ismene
"I would welcome the company and the pleasure of showing you Dragonshore. You coming?"
"Gladly!" Ismene spins around with her sisters one last time before being wrapped up in a cloak of one of the dryads. The soft amber leaves fit her well, and she seems in a much better mood to travel.
Returning back the way you came, you retrieve your horse (which she is absolutely delighted with, and has started talking in quiet conversations with), and find the giant frogs you'd left near the marsh. It already feels better without the uncomfortable aura of the kuo toa. Perhaps in years to come, once this area is cultivated well, they will move on to other less populated places for the laying of their young.
Your frog is still blank faced and sedated as you work with it, saddling it up with the strange contraption that the stable owner Artemis provided you. It fits almost perfectly, and the bastard of a beast, Iwiek, croaks happily as you pat his head.
He is quite an interesting animal, crossed between a frog and a toad in terms of shape and form. Both his eyes blink independently, slowly, and his purplish tongue licks over one of them and across his greenish blue skin, cleaning off the remains of whatever he'd happened to eat while you were gone.
Ismene croons to the horse, which she has insisted on riding and has apparently named Jasper (in her words at least, it was what his name was despite what the humans call him back home). It definitely looks happy with her.
"What is this Dragonshore place? I haven't ever traveled that far east, though I have wanted to. Is it true there are dragons there?"
Atriox gently kicks his mount forward torwards the way back to Dragonshore
"It is a city bigger than the one your used to here. It is where me and my companions have been staying. And there used to be dragons there but no more sadly. Perhaps with the changing if the world now that will change as well."
She looks awed and excited at the same time. Following after you, the two of you take your time heading across the coast back toward Dragonshore.
Stopping once for the evening to eat and rest, and to let Iwiek soak in a nearby river, you arrive at the city by late the next day. Ismene is beside herself with glee. She had quite an exciting time going up the coast, talking with the random animals and flowers you came across, but the sight of such a bustling city is overwhelming. She sticks nearby you, watching all of the humans, orcs and kobolds go about their business with a childlike intensity.
****
Oredion looks down at the fuzzy owlbear Atriox handed him before he left. He'll never admit it, but he was genuinely shocked at Atrioxs kindness. As a plus Oredion has already decided that the owlbear is incredibly cute. He starts to gently pet the small creature as he speaks to it.
"Well aren't you a little ball of dangerous. What should I call you?"
(Can I accidentally use a spell I learned, but have never used?)
(Speak with animals level one. Got it from the beast totem thing.)
The tiny owlbear squawks in annoyance, and you hear the sound--but somehow register it in a language you understand. "Call? Call? Hungry!" It ruffles its feathers, twisting its head 90 degrees and nipping at your hand, wondering how you taste.
"Meat? Meat?" It hoots and growls. "Mine! My meat. Where? Where?"
It's bizarre to hear the voice of this squeaky little creature, but no one else around you seems to notice. Perhaps some of the nymphs, as they giggle and dance nearby, but other than that it is completely in your own mind.
"What? Are you talking little guy... are you hungry?"
Oredion sets the tiny owlbear in front of him and rummages in his travel bag. He pulls out two pieces of jerky and starts to place the small bits in front of the owlbear.
"Come on try it. I'll bet its alot better then the rabbits."
Oredion starts to eat a piece of jerky himself to show the small creature it's safe. He looks over to Oxious and waves him over.
"Hey... umm Oxious. I got a question for ya. Can you hear this little guy?"
The owlbear pounces on the meat, ripping and tearing at it with his tiny beak. It doesn't take much time for him to eat, but the toughness of the meat gives you a little break to talk to the tiefling.
Oxious wanders over, taking the sweet smelling pipe from his mouth and bending down beside the creature. "Hear him? Yes, he's making quite a racket. Strange for Atriox to bring you something like that, they get... oh, I'd say on the larger end, almost ten feet tall." He tuts his tongue.
"That big you say? Maybe it was a death present or just a better signal."
Oredion chuckles at his own joke as he looks back down at the owlbear. He watches eat for a moment then looks back to Oxious.
"Can you hear it say words? It's the darnedest thing, but I swear the little guy was saying stuff... maybe I'm just going crazy."
Oredion reaches down and picks up the small owlbear in his hand. He looks at it confused and slightly concerned. He takes a deep breath and signals Oxious to watch. He mutters a silent prayer Etny taught him and speaks again to the small creature.
"Was that enough to eat little guy? You can TELL if it's not. I have more jerky."
Oxious tilts his head slightly. He watches you talk to the small owlbear, which gurgles a reply to you. "More! Jerky! Yes!" It seems to relax a bit with the prayer, but stares at you with hungry eyes.
The tiefling stands up again. "No, I don't believe I do hear it speaking. Have you uh, been eating any of the fey food?" He chuckles a little and you can't tell if he's kidding or not.
"Eh maybe I did... forget about it laddy. I might as well come join your circle over there. They... they look entertaining to say the least."
Oredion stands up and brushes himself off. He takes the last of his jerky he was munching on and sets it on the ground by the owlbear to eat. He heads towards the group of creatures in front of him and pulls our his stien. He takes a quick swig before he joins the group.
The nymphs continue to dance around with the fauns, strange looking beast men that look half fey, half goat. In a way they look like Oxious, except not so... dour-faced and sarcastic.
"Whyyyyyy hellooooo.... younggggg mountainnnn bornnn..." The large tree-like being sitting nearby addresses you, a smile on his bark-covered face. In his beard of leaves and ivy hangs holly berries, and on his head, a crown of wooden antlers in which nest a family of birds.
"Oredion," Oxious addresses you as he passes you a goblet of clear, fruity liquid, "This is Lord Ashblade of the Fey. He rules this area of the coast, and protects the forests therein. It is his domain in which we are welcomed as guests."
The tree being nods reverently.
Oredion nods his head in respect as he seats himself. His eyes stray to the small owlbear with curiosity, but he focuses back on the group at hand.
"Mighty fine... woods you have here sir. Thank you for allowing us to help with your fish problem. Will they be coming back anytime soon. I'd love to give them another around of the old one two."
Oredion chuckles nervously not quite sure on what to say. He had not spent much time conversing over the years. Just enough to keep up a conversation.
Oxious stares at you out of the corner of his eye, giving you a small, encouraging nod. Lord Ashblade breathes deeply, raspy and ancient.
"Ahhhhh, yessss. Weeee are everrrrrr gratefulllll forrrrr yourrr serviceeeeees. Theeeee olddddd.... Oneeee twooooo."
There is a deep laugh, his antlers shaking in mirth. "Youuuuu areeeee.... Asssss sturdyyyy assss an earthhhh elementallllll.... Whatttt doooo you seekkkkk..?"
Oredion looks to Oxious slightly confused.
"What do I want? Hmm... I'm not sure how to answer that... I want vengeance... peace... but most of all I just want a family again."
Oredion rubs the back of his head shyly and let's out a chuckle.
"Aha the drinks must be getting to me.."
The nymphs and fauns laugh and begin to dance around Oredion and Oxious, poking Joey on the nose and giving the dwarf's head a kiss each time they pass. Oxious looks relaxed as ever. The tree king smiles.
"Notttttt poorrrrr wishesssss... Closureeeee... Calmmmm...." He chuckles a very earthy laugh as the nymphs begin to run around and kiss him too, obviously like his family. "Chaoooooos...."
Oxious smiles. "It's been a pleasure spending time here with you and your kin. We are blessed as ever for your choice company, sir."
Oredion looks down at his hands. His hands are scarred and rough and there are visible burn marks of old battles. He clenches them shut as his eyes start to glow a sea blue. His sight fades for a brief moment and a vision of Etny standing along side his family smiling drifts threw his mind. Oredion smiles kindly as the vision goes on, but his smile quickly fades. The faces of his family start to disappear leaving thier faces blank. He tries to focus on Etny and ignore the surroundings, but his heart sinks for a moment as her face starts to fade. He blinks and the vision is gone. He looks to his rugged hands clenched tightly, then looks back up to the tree king. He starts to speak with a shaky voice and a forced smile.
"How do you know if you deserve family? How do I know they will stay? That they won't betray me? That they won't leave, or... or die? I understand chaos, but peace... peace is something I cant seem to come to terms with.."
Oxious stares at the small embers in his pipe. He seems lost in thought, the depth of Oredion's questions catching him off guard.
Lord Ashblade hums to himself, "Hmmmmm.... Comeeee, littleeee mountainnnnling..." He suddenly stands, (or as quickly as a dryad of his size can), and kneels beside you. "Walkkkk with annnn oldddd kinggggg..." He gestures for you to come along with him alone.
He begins to lead you away from the mirth of the grove, the sounds of the flutes and pipes fading into the shade. Slowly he shrinks, becoming more human-like as you go, but never quite losing the strangely fey look--he still has great horns atop his head, and bark laden ivy all across his body. It makes for a regal robe, glittering with small flowers. He is quiet for some time, the sound of his footfalls like sighing trees in the wind.
Oredion walks beside the great forest king silently, unsure on what to say afraid to say something wrong or off putting.
"I have liveddddd... a very long timeeee... it may be hardddd to believe." He chuckles a little to himself. "In the thousands of years I haveeeee roamed theseeeee woods.... theseeeee hills..." He stretches up for a moment, as if looking. Remembering.
"It isssss... different for my kindddd. Us longggg livedddd ones... time is a continuallll wheel... life, deathhhh, life, deathhh... It is oneeee in the same. I have seennnnn forests burn... and grow... acorns grow intooooo mighty oaks andddd then fall... My children, my familyyyyyy..." he gestures back to the grove you've just left. "Theyyyy come and goooo as the wind... like little Ismeneeee..."
He slows, taking you in with his green eyes. "But for youuuu... youngerrrrr folk... you liveeee such hectic, short, fierce liveeees... you feel soooo muchhh more..... intensity. It isssss... beautiful."
Ashblade stops, a hand on your shoulder. You're in a new grove now, one full of saplings.
"Whoooo deserves familyyy? It often happenssss... when you least expectttt..." He gestures around you both. "Youuuuu.... grow close. Youuuuu.... try. Youuuu... tendddd... it like a garden. Everythingggg grows when it is tended.... be it loveeee... or... a fireeee.... or a treeee... or revengeeee..." He trails off, his voice echoing in the woods.
"Losssss... death... it isssss... a very mortallll concept." He waves his hands over the grove. "Thisssss burned many mooooons ago... carelessssss... humans...." He hums, sorrow in his voice. "I lostttt... family. But," the king crouches, looking lovingly at the new garden. "Here they growwww... again... they alwaysssss remain. Their spirtssss... their seeds.... their legacyyyy... it births countless moreeee.
Lord Ashblade turns his eyes back to you, intense and purposeful. "That is the peaceeee.. born in chaos. You cannot knowww... true peace without it...."
Oredion takes a moment to reflect the wise words spoken to him. He looks around at the beauty around him and smiles as his flames slowly start to leave his eyes.
"It is true that I do not live as long as creatures such as you, but... I've seen my share of family's leave. Its true, we do live hectic lives and fierce ones at that. Your words are wise king. I... I will try to nurture what I have, to hopefully see it grow and blossom into something that I will fight hard to protect. I hope.. that once my past is settled that I can look towards the future with new relieved eyes."
Oredion pats the tree kings hand, then continues to walk around the newly forming woods. His heart beats as he thinks about Etny and the things in his future he cant quite see yet, but he knows he loves her and she does him. Oredion turns around to the tree king and takes a deep bow.
"Your council is not lost Lord of the forest. I am glad to have met you before I leave with... hell what else would they be by now. Before I embark forth with my new found family."
The king nods, his voice noble and wizened. "I ammmmm also glad we haveeeee met. In that... We shallllll live onnnnn forever. In memmmmory... In heartttt. Innnnnn... Legends. Justtttt like your fallennnnn kin."
He approaches you, extending his hand and placing it atop your head. Beside him you seem but a child, both in size and age.
"Blessssssings of the feywildddd be upon you... Youngggg mountainling, Oredion." His hand and arm radiate with a pure green energy and you feel your skin tingle with warmth.
"Youuuu and all yourrrr family."
(You have recieved the boon of the Feywild Lord Ashblade: while in harmony with the wilds, once per dawn grants advantage to a nature/survival check.)
You and the king find your way back to the grove. The fey have taken to playing with your small owlbear in your absence, and he seems thoroughly annoyed.
He spots you and, knowing you as the person with the tasty jerky, pees on the faun holding him (to his disgust and the raucous laughter of the others) and rushes to you on its short little legs. He chews at your leather boots with the ferocity of a small angry dog.
Oxious looks to be packed up, his smoking pipe still in hand. Nearby, a few dryad women braid flowers in the manes of your horses.
Oredion scoops up the little owlbear quickly and sets him gently into his travel bag leaving the top open for he can peak out. The dwarf walks to Oxious and places his hand on the tieflings shoulder.
"Your friends are very kind. The king himself is a force to be reckoned with. I'm sorry for my show of emotion earlier. The king helped me see things more clearly. Are you ready to go?"
Oredion turns around without waiting for Oxious reply and gives one last deep bow to all present. He then turns back to Oxious with a cheeky smile.
"Because I am. Although if not to much of a bother I would like to see the king one day again. Be it long onto the future I feel his soul brightly."
Oxious nods, going to tighten his pack to his horse. "I am ready. And that's perfectly fine with me."
He still seems distracted as he mounts the horse, saying his brief farewells to the fey of the forest.
You continue on the road, and the trip back is rather uneventful. It feels pleasant traveling by the light of the moon. Comforting.
After waking the next day and traveling some distance further, you can see the smoke from the chimneys in Dragonshore.
The tiefling stares over the landscape. "Dwarf," he says calmly. "I am not wishing to pry. But, I heard your questions to Ashblade."
He glances at you out of the corner of his eye. "He left with you. What... wisdom did he share?"
Oredion smiles at the tieflings curiosity.
"He gave me words of kindness, words of wisdom, and most of all he gave me words of encouragement. He gave me a hope that tomorrow may not always be as bad as the days before."
Oredion gives Oxious a wink as he takes a sip from his magical stien. He let's out a loud relaxed sigh as he begins to speak in a playful manner.
"But as much as I still have my doubts, those fading thoughts will stay with me, Joey, my new pal... owlbear, and my love. Now I have a question for you, ya old goat. You think we missed out on any fun back in town. If so I'm afraid I'm going to have to put this wonderous thing to the test."
Oredion let's out a hearty chuckle as he takes another long pull off of his stien.
The tiefling shakes his head. "No, probably not. We're not that far behind after all... But I won't be slowed down by a drunken dwarf." He smirks, teasing, and spurs his horse forward and off attempting to race you back.
Oredion grins wildly and gently spurs the horses sides to speed him up. As the horse races after Oxious, Oredion bends down and pets the horses mane hoping it will relax the horse into running fast and free.
Your horse whinies with eagerness, rushing after Oxious. It's a close one, but he barely out maneuvers you on your way back.
Both horses are foaming and biting their bits from the exhilarating exercise and the tiefling pays at the nearest stable you drop them at.
"Decent race. Nice change of pace." Oxious comments airily before you're both interrupted.
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