The First Quest

When I first saw the dead elf lying there, my heart started pounding. I grabbed Willow's arm. “Do you see him? Willow, do you see him?!” I frantically asked. “Yes, Eloni, I see him. I do not think it is him.” she said in a calm voice. I was antsy, wanting nothing more than to run up to check to see if it was our brother lying there dead in the middle of the road. “But how do you know?” I asked. “How can you be sure?” Willow set down the reins, took my hand off her arm, and held my hand in both of hers. “Eloni.” she said, “Look at me.” I managed to tear my gaze away from the body in the road and met her eyes. “I do not know know for sure. But we have to think. I know what you want to do, but running up there is stupid. We do not know what could be lying in wait.” While Willow is one to observe and then act, I am not. I wanted to go there. I had to go there. Freija appeared by the carriage's drivers seat. “I will go with her, Willow.” she said. “I would like to see the bodies, as well.” Willow looked at us in turn, looked at the forests around us, and finally consented. I jumped down from the carriage and Freija and I slowly and cautiously headed up the middle of the road toward the upturned caravan. Temporalis opted to stay with the passengers, Willow stayed with the horses, and Finfer slipped into the woods to the right.

As soon as I dared, I rushed to the body of the dead elf. Although his face was mangled and his clothes and skin were torn, I instantly, somehow, knew this was not my brother. “Thank you good spirits!” I cried, as relief washed over me, knowing Woodsy was still alive. Nearby, Freija made her way through the bodies, checking for survivors, praying over the dead, when suddenly a human male that was lying on the ground began swinging wildly at Freija’s head with his mace. With it still being dark, and the human on the ground, the drow had no issues easily dodging the attacks. Frustrated, the human stood and started swinging in the direction of Freija. She easily dodged each attack, ducking and twisting away from him, which just angered him. “You stupid drow!” he yelled. “I know you’re there!” But, as he was lifting his mace again, he suddenly dropped to the ground, laughing uncontrollably. Confused, Freija said “What could possibly...” I glanced back to see Temporalis, feather in one hand and wiggling the fingers of his other hand, as if he was tickling something, while whispering. I said “Temporalis” and quickly notched an arrow. I took a shot the laughing human, but in his wriggling state I only managed to nick his calf, which unfortunately knocked him out of the spell. He was disoriented, in pain, and trying to get to his feet. I quickly stepped back a few steps, turned to our carriage and called out “It’s not Woodsy! But we were attacked!”

The other passengers, hearing my words, started panicking again. Willow turned, spoke to the passengers, then darted through the woods to the left to a small break in the trees. Having heard me shout to my sister, a human and an elf emerged from behind the overturned carriage and climbed up on top of it, both wielding crossbows. The elf on the carriage shot Freija with a crossbow bolt, grazing her arm. From the direction she had gone in the trees, I heard Willow scream, so I immediately ran toward her. As I entered the clearing, I saw a human male with a mace, and my sister clutching a bleeding arm. I shot her attacker with an arrow, hitting him in the thigh. “ANOTHER ONE?!” he exclaimed. “Stupid elves!” He swung his mace at Willow again, but she had cast a healing spell on herself moments before and was able to dodge the attack. Nearby, Temporalis continued to struggle with his attacker and Freija was dodging arrows flying at her from the upturned carriage. Freija turned toward the carriage and was greeting by the human, who was laughing uncontrollably moments before, coming for her. She stepped up to him and thrust her short sword, stabbing him in the shoulder. He growled, knocked her short sword out of her hand, and took a mighty swing at her with his mace, connecting hard to the side of her head. Freija crumpled to the ground, unconscious. “Who’s next?” he roared, looking around. He spotted Temporalis up the road a bit, toward our carriage. “You!” he growled, pointing at Temporalis. “You’re next.”

As the big human made his way to Temporalis, dragging his mace on the ground through bodies and debris, Finfer appeared at the edge of the woods near the upturned cart and quickly dispatched those on it, who were firing arrows at Freija. I fired an arrow at my sister’s attacker, planting it right between his eyes. “Are you ok?” I asked her. Shaking her arm a bit, she nodded and replied “I’ll be fine.” she said, as she made her way toward Temporalis. I followed not long behind her. Up ahead, Temporalis had managed to miss a wild scimitar swing from the elf still attacking him, and responded with a burst of dark magic into the elf's chest that caused the elf to drop his scimitar. Temporalis picked up the scimitar and sliced the elf open, killing him. Temporalis turned to the big human and said “There is still time to surrender, or you will die.” The big man smirked and said “Then I’ll see you in the underworld.” He picked up his mace and swung it behind him, preparing to bury it into Temporalis’ neck, but before he could do anything, Willow’s arrow found it's mark in the back of the human's head and he dropped, dead before he hit the ground.

With the fighting over, Willow ran to Freija and cast a healing spell on her to stop the bleeding and stabilize her. The remainder of us started searching our attackers, finding miscellaneous weaponry and a little money. Temporalis called out “I found something on this fellow”, indicating the large human. Temporalis held up a note and read it to us: Farmlands not viable, not military. Unsafe, horrid smell, send priests. “What do you suppose that means?” I asked. Finfer, who had come up behind me, pointed out, “These guys’ clothes are not theirs. His cloak is too small. I’d wager these clothes belonged to the ones who were in the carriage, before it was attacked.” Willow, supporting a very weak Freija, joined the group. "Jacob" Willow called out. "Come join us, please." Jacob peered out from behind the carriage door, shaking, and asked “Are you sure it’s safe?” Finfer snorted. Willow cast a sidelong glance at Finfer and replied “Yes, you will be safe. We would like you to see something.” Reluctantly, Jacob came out and slowly made his way to our group. Temporalis showed him the note and the ill-fitting clothing. “Mercenaries, I’d say” Jacob said, glancing around him. “I sure don’t recognize any of them from Mountain Hide.” Temporalis handed him the note. “Do you know what this might mean?” Jacob read over the note and considered it a moment. “No, I’m afraid I don’t. But I know someone who might. Plus, your friend there could use some healing. Minister Urum in Mountain Hide can help.”

Once the horses and other passengers were calmed again, we continued toward Mountain Hide. Upon arriving at the city gates, the gate guards stopped us. “Who are you and what business do you have in Mountain Hide?” Willow and Temporalis explained who we were and what we had endured. “We have the bodies of Schwerdt and Segita with us. We could not leave them back there.” Willow said. “I’d like to see the bodies, please.” one of the guards said, and followed Temporalis to the cargo trailer. As they passed the passenger cabin, the guard glanced in at the other passengers and brightened. “Jacob!” he exclaimed, pulling Jacob out of the carriage and embracing him. “I am glad to see you unhurt, my friend!” Jacob returned the greeting, then said “These people are good people. What they say is true. They saved my life, and the lives of the other passengers. They need help. Summon Minister Urum, please.” The guard said “Right away!” and motioned for another to open the gates and let us pass.

Once we were inside the city proper, a frazzled-looking dwarf ran over, with a half elf in shining but dented armor on his heels. “My, oh my, what happened here?” the dwarf asked. Our guard escort bowed his head. “Mr. Ambersharn, these people have been through quite the ordeal. I am on my way to find Minister Urum. Perhaps they can fill you in?” and hurried off. The dwarf turned to us and introduced himself. “Obman Ambersharn, owner and operator of Mountain Hide Trading Company.” As soon as he said who he was, Willow and I shared a look. Obman gestured to the half elf with him. “This is Commander Dakus, leader of our City Watch. Someone, please, explain what happened!” Willow stepped forward and recapped what had happened so far, the events of the first caravan attack, the deaths of Schwerdt and Segita, and coming across the wreckage and the mercenaries lying in wait. Temporalis provided the note to Obman and Dakus. The gate guard returned with an older male elf, quickly introducing him as Minister Urum, and took him directly to Freija.

As Minister Urum tended to Freija, Willow and I approached Obman and Dakus. “Excuse me, sirs.” Willow said. “I know this may not be the most appropriate time, but with recent events regarding caravan attacks on Mountain Hide shipments, I must ask you something. My sister, Eloni, and I have been searching for our brother. His last letter stated he took a job with the Mountain Hide Trading Company, which is why she and I are here. His name is Woodsy. Do you know him, or know where we might find him? It is very imperative that we find him right away and bring him home.” Obman goes “Woodsy? Of course I know Woodsy! He’s one of my best workers!” Excited, I asked “Is he here? Can we see him?” Obman’s countenance fell slightly. “Unfortunately, no, he is not here. He left a couple of weeks ago on a shipment. He’s expected back in a couple more weeks, still.” Disheartened, Willow said “Thank you, sir.” From behind, near Freija, Temporalis spoke up. “Might we trouble you for a place to rest? I cannot speak on behalf of my companions, but I am quite tired.” Obman nods. “Of course, of course! You will stay at the Wagon Wheel, as guests of mine. Stay as long as you like.” Turning to his City Watch commander, he says “Dakus, please see to the bodies of Schwerdt and Segita. They deserve a proper burial.” Turning back to us, he said “Follow me! I will get you set up with rooms!”

On our way to the Wagon Wheel, Temporalis commented “I couldn't help but notice that we work fairly well together.” As we walked, contemplating what Temporalis had just said, I asked Temporalis “What are the dark shapes you throw at enemies?” He seemed confused by my question at first, but then realizing what I had asked, he goes “Oh, it’s magic. Eldritch blast. I’m a warlock, you see, so magic is my primary weapon.” Before I could inquire further, Jacob caught up with us. “I’m afraid I haven’t been entirely forthcoming. I was traveling, seeing the other continent as I had said, but you see, my name is Jacob Montrose. My family is very prominent in this town, and my father is an important figure. I am his eldest son, and his heir. My father will be very grateful that I am back home, and safe, and we have you to thank for it.”

The next morning, we were greeted over breakfast by Obman. “The rooms were to your liking, I hope?” he asks. “They were more than we could have asked for, thank you, sir!” Freija says. And they were beautiful. Spacious, with thick carpeted floors and shuttered windows, beds that were larger than I had ever seen in my life, and so soft that they seemed to envelop me in a cloud of comfort. I could not remember ever having slept so well. Over breakfast, Temporalis recounted to Obman what we had learned from the bartender in Medietas, regarding the caravan shipments being unusually slow of late. Obman, listening attentively, nodded and said “I wonder if everything is connected. The slow shipments, the attacks on caravans, the note found on the mercenary. It seems too coincidental to be separate issues. Unfortunately, Dakus deems these issues a Trading Company problem, not a Mountain Hide problem. He says that the city itself and the people who reside in it are not in any danger, just the shipments, so he cannot afford to loan any City Watch to assist.”

Obman paused a moment, and looked at each of us in turn. “I’d like to hire you to find out what’s going on with these shipments, determine who’s attacking my caravans, and put an end to it. I’ll leave you to discuss my proposal amongst yourselves for a bit, as I have an errand to run. Either way, for all you've done for us and our town so far, the rooms are yours as long as you need them.” Obman stood, bowed to us, and left the tavern, leaving us to thinking on his offer. “Well,” Temporalis said, after a pause. “What do you think?” I said “My main concern is finding my brother. He is not here, but will be back. I do not plan on leaving here until he returns safely. Until then, I will offer my assistance if it is required.” Willow agreed with me. Temporalis said “I need to go to Windy Coast and Laketown, to stop the end of the world. But, to do that, I need resources; mainly gold and armor. I say we help--for a price.” Finfer agreed. “I think the note indicates undead in the farmlands.” Finfer said. “Land that’s no good, horrid smells, the call for priests--it all adds up. But farmland issues are a city problem. Obman wants us to make his roads safe again. I say we do it, for a price.” Freija, who had been quietly listening, said “I go where I am needed, and I am needed here. I will help.”

After a few hours, Obman returned and sat down with us. “Have you considered my proposition?” he asked. ”Will you help?” Temporalis spoke up. “Yes” he said, pausing for a moment. “For 250 gold each.” Obman rocked back in his chair and let out a low whistle. “You drive a hard bargain.” he said. “I'll be honest; I can’t swing that price. But, what I can do, is give you immediate support, such as new armor, weapons, horses, whatever you need to get the job done, and monetary compensation after. What do you think?” Temporalis looked at each of us. Willow & I nodded, Finfer shrugged, and Freija said “That sounds fair.” Obman slapped his palm on the table. “It’s a deal. I’ll send word to the blacksmith and tanner to provide whatever you need. If you’ll follow me to my office, I’ll write up a note for the apothecary for potions.” Obman rose from the table. “Now, I can’t give you potions, because they are too costly to make, but I can discount them.” Temporalis agreed to Obman’s terms, and we followed Obman to the Trading Company offices. He wrote a note, gave it to Temporalis, and we left the Trading Company to head to the tanner. Everyone but Freija was fitted for studded leather armor; Freija received plate armor from the blacksmith. The atilliator provided a crossbow and bolts to Finfer, and the fletcher gave Willow and I some arrows. The apothecary provided us two healing potions, which we gave to Freija and Willow to hold. After we received our items, Obman met us near the city gates. “Did you get everything you requested?” he asked. “Yes, thank you. We would like to get started immediately, if that is alright.” Willow responded. “Absolutely!” Obman said. “Do whatever you need! May the good spirits be with you!”

We decided to walk back to the second caravan attack site, rather than ride, even though horses were offered, because we can move slower and quieter on foot. Once we reached the upturned caravan, we immediately began searching the area, the bodies, the caravan, everything we could to see if we could find some sort of clue as to who these attackers were, where they came from, and what their motives might have been. “Eloni” Willow called out. “Tracks.” I went to Willow, who was crouched at the edge of the Wooded Hills Forest, and analyzed the tracks she discovered. “Five separate sets, all human and elf.” I said. “No animals or beasts. They were through here within a day. They went into this forest.” Finfer said “Looks like we found what we were looking for.” Temporalis nodded. “We need to follow those tracks. Can keep on the trail?” he asked me. “Easily.” I said. “I can help her.” offered Finfer. "Good. I’d like to look around the ruins before we head out. There might be more information to gather.” Temporalis replied. As Willow and Temporalis looked around the campsite ruins, Finfer and I stayed near the edge of the forest and Freija wandered around, searching for consecrated sites. When everyone was satisfied, Finfer and I led the way, following the tracks into the forest.

We had been following the tracks for several hours, and were deep into the forest, when our trail became intermixed with tracks of a beast, a large beast, who had been through the area very recently. The humanoid tracks were still there, but not near as strong as the beast tracks, and they split off deeper into the forest. “Look here.” I said, pointing to the ground. “We have new tracks.” Temporalis spoke up. “What do you see?” Finfer replied “A pretty large beast came across our path.” I said “It was here fairly recently, too, within the last couple of hours. Should we keep on our original path, or follow these new ones?” Willow said, “I suggest we keep our original path. We need to stay on task.” The rest of the party agreed, so we continued down the original path. We had been going for some time, when Willow quietly moved up next to me and put her hand on the small of my back. Knowing that signal, I immediately stopped in my tracks and held a hand out to halt Finfer. “Why ar--” he started, but I cut him off. “Quiet.” I said softly, and indicated to Willow. Temporalis and Freija stopped behind us. With a hand in the air, palm facing forward, Willow was indicating we should not move and stay silent. Listening intently, she said quietly “Something is straight ahead. Something big.” She nodded to me, so I proceeded slowly and quietly, Finfer next to me, Willow behind me, and Temporalis and Freija at the rear. We came upon a clearing in the trees and found a goblin riding a large wolf-type beast. They immediately spotted us, and charged straight for us.

The beast charged me, clamped its teeth on my arm, and pulled me to the ground. I screamed and fell, clutching my arm. Willow, having a natural ability to talk with animals, tried to speak with the beast, but it either did not understand her or did not care to listen to her. Instead, with her palms up in a gesture of peace, she addressed the goblin, since she does speak their language. “Tuuc! Daan ghaac o khruun mar!” (Stop! We mean you no harm!) she called out. The goblin ignored her; however, the beast responded in goblin with “O dech draal.” (You will die.). Once Willow translated to us what the beast said, Finfer immediately loaded a bolt into his crossbow and shot the goblin off the beast’s back, killing him. As Freija ran up to try to intercept any damage the beast might inflict and Temporalis cast magic at the beast, I got to my feet, pulled my short sword, and lodged it into the beast’s shoulder. However, even though Temporalis and I both managed to damage the beast, all we seemed to do was annoy it. Freija stabbed the beast in the eye with her short sword, which angered it greatly, so in retaliation it swiped a giant claw at me. Claws grated deep gashes across my chest and stomach, and I fell to the ground, semiconscious and in great pain. I heard a tremendous howl and the ground shook as the beast fell next to me, a crossbow bolt sticking out of its head.

I felt the familiar warm, tingling sensation of magical healing coursing through my body and caressing the wounds in my stomach and chest. Eventually, I was able to sit up, and stand with Freija’s help. “Who killed the beast?” I asked. “Me.” said Finfer, standing behind me. I turned and said “Thank you, you helped save my life.” I turned to Freija and said “That is twice you have healed my wounds. Thank you again.” Freija dipped her head and said “We look out for our own.” Before I could respond, Finfer asked “What was that thing, anyway?” Since I was still weak from the damage and the healing, Freija beckoned for Willow to come support me until I could stand on my own. Freija bent down and inspected the beast’s teeth, claws, and fur, and laid a hand on its side. “It’s a warg” she said. “The goblin was its owner. It must have been a scout.” From behind Freija, Temporalis spoke up. “He was a rich scout.” he said, and held up a handful of platinum.

Temporalis, Finfer, and Freija continued to search the little battlefield. Willow eased me to the forest floor, and sat with me until I regained my strength. Once they were satisfied they had found all they were going to find and I was recovered enough to continue moving, I found the original set of tracks and we began following them again. After a time we came up on a small campsite that contained two goblins and an orc. They were far enough away that they didn't notice us until it was too late. Between my arrow and Temporalis' magic, the orc quickly fell. Willow and Finfer made short work of a goblin, and Freija charged the last goblin, slicing him nearly in two. Looking around, we determined their camp was as good as anything we would make, and after making sure nobody else was in hiding, we disposed of the orc and goblin bodies in the woods and took shifts for the night.

Medietas

The carriage was a standard passenger carriage, wooden, well built, with four large, spoked wagon wheels. The drivers’ seats consisted of an open-air bench, with two large work horses hitched to the front. The passenger cabin was covered, with a door on one side and an open, curtain-less window on the other. There was an open trailer with short walls on each side attached to the back containing cargo going from Port Appulsus to Medietas. As we climbed up into the carriage, Schwerdt and Segita took their places on the driver’s bench, and Freija and Temporalis climbed up into the cargo trailer. Jacob, Finfer, a gnome, two dwarves, Willow, and I occupied the passenger cabin. It was comfortable, with benches lining three of the walls of the cabin, offering plenty of seating. Willow and I sat along the front of the carriage. Finfer, Jacob, and the gnome sat on the side opposite the door, and the two dwarves sat along the back. As we settled in for the trip, Willow asked the other passengers general information: their name, what brought them to this area, and so on. The gnome declined to answer, and seemed content to watch the scenery go by, keeping to himself. The two dwarves, Conlin and Eriyn, mentioned they were headed to Mountain Hide to visit cousins that work for the mining company. Finfer was not very talkative either, and rather vague, simply stating he had business in Mountain Hide and someone to meet, with no further elaboration. Jacob, however, was much more talkative. He has no job, and had been out traveling, seeing the other continent, and was on his way back to see his family in Mountain Hide.

The small talk continued amongst the passengers, mostly Willow and Jacob, until we reached the town of Medietas. By now it was mid-afternoon, with the sun high above us in a clear blue sky. Mediatas was larger than Port Appulsus, with buildings haphazardly placed and what seemed to be duplicates of everything. Schwerdt and Segita pulled the carriage to a stop just outside of town. As we piled out of the carriage, Segita called out “There are two taverns in town, Distant Horizon and Gold & Iron. I recommend Distant Horizon, as it is the nicer of the two, and Gold & Iron tends to draw the more rowdier crowds. I’ve also heard rumors of gambling at Gold & Iron, but it’s up to you. Schwerdt and I will be at Distant Horizon if any of you need anything.” Before they could leave, Willow asked “Why is the town set up like this, with two of nearly everything?” Schwerdt said “The Payney and Cotte families own the town. They don’t get along, and more or less keep to their own sides. So, instead of crossing over into the other’s territory, they just built their own ‘town’ within Medietas. No Payney or Payney supporter crosses into Cotte territory, nor does a Cotte supporter cross into Payney territory. Visitors are welcome to go wherever they’d like. We prefer the Distant Horizon, as it is cleaner, nicer, and well-ran, but it’s up to you.” Schwerdt and Segita secured the cargo on the carriage, then headed over to Distant Horizon. Freija watched them leave, then headed to the Gold & Iron tavern, saying something about ministering to people in the name of Ehlonna. Finfer followed after her. Temporalis said he was going outside of the city to make some sketches of what he sees. Willow and I decided to take the advice of Schwerdt and Segita and went to Distant Horizon.

The tavern had a rustic feel to it, and it was neatly kept. Potted flowers lined the base of the building, and light blue curtains hung in the windows, fluttering once in a while in the gentle breeze, giving it a warm, home-like feel. It was roomy inside, with tables and chairs spread throughout the main room and candles in the center of each table. To the back of the room was a bar, with shelving behind the bar displaying various bottles containing the choices of drink. A staircase led up to the immediate left of the door to a balcony with more seating and a hallway with rooms across from one another. Willow and I went to the bar, paid for a room, and ordered soup, bread, and ale for dinner.

After a time, Temporalis came in. Spotting Schwerdt and Segita, he headed over to their table. Although the dining area was not small, it was cozy enough to be able to pick up on another's conversation, especially if they were not making any sort of effort to keep their conversation private. We heard much of the conversation between Temporalis, Schwerdt, and Segita, as he inquired about Evershard Isle, Port Appulsus, and Medietas. I approached their table and asked if we could join, as I was interested in hearing the history of the island, as well. Segita responded with "Sure! The more, the merrier!", so Willow and I moved our meal to their table. Willow had just asked how often it was for one to see a drow around here, when a man nearby said "I saw a drow once. Her skin was dark as night, eyes blood red, hair white as a ghost, floating around her like an evil spirit waiting to do her bidding. It was a few years ago. I was certainly glad when she left." Temporalis’ demeanor suddenly darkened, and he said "Well, it won't matter what race you are when the end times are here.” Everyone sat in confused, awkward silence, wondering what brought about that sort of comment. In an effort to end the odd turn of conversation, the bartender turned to Schwerdt. "Where is everyone? It is usually busier than this, especially when caravans come through. Although, come to think of it, there haven't been any caravans in a while." As the conversation drifted to that topic, Willow and I ordered another pitcher of ale and invited Temporalis to join us at our original table.

Finfer showed up at the bar as Willow was in the middle of asking Temporalis about his odd prediction earlier. I spotted him and invited him to join us. Upon introducing him to Temporalis, another patron heard me and said "Temporalis? I've heard that name before." Puzzled, Temporalis asked where. "There's a bard up in Northlake that sings at the Blue Cat Tavern.” he said. “He's sang about a fellow named Temporalis." Temporalis wandered over to the man's table to talk more about this bard in Northlake, so Willow turned to Finfer. "So, how was the Gold & Iron Tavern?" Finfer shrugged. "It's a tavern" he said, pouring some ale from the pitcher. It was obvious he was not in the mood for conversation. Willow, not so easily dissuaded, tried again. "How much are their rooms?" Finfer said "A gold." Surprised, I said "Really? It costs three gold for a room here." Finfer down his ale and said "You got ripped off.” He got up and left the tavern. Willow and I looked at one another, shrugged, and went upstairs to our room for the night.

The next morning, I was awakened by Willow, who had been woken by the soft, gentle sound of a pealing bell. We dressed, gathered our belongings, and went down to the bar to see about breakfast, which consisted of more of last night's vegetable stew. After we paid and ate, we headed to the agreed upon meeting place for the next leg of our journey to Mountain Hide. Once we paid Schwerdt the remaining 5 silver for the last of the trip, we all loaded up into the caravan again: Finfer, Jacob, the gnome, the two dwarves, Willow, and me in the passenger cabin, and Temporalis and Freija on the cargo trailer. As we settled in for the journey, more idle conversation started up so I leaned my head against the side of the carriage and closed my eyes. Before long, the gentle rocking of the carriage, the sounds of nature outside, and the soft conversation lulled me to sleep.

I woke with a start, realizing the carriage had stopped, and sensing something was wrong. It was dark out, and I was not certain how long I had been asleep. I asked Willow for an update on our trip, and she replied that we had stopped, but did not know why. She said she wanted to open the door to look out, so I moved to one side and she moved to the other. Finfer, moving to the window, said he had spotted two humans nearing the front of the caravan, carrying bows. My heart was pounding in my chest as Willow slowly opened the door, just in time to see a large creature that somewhat resembled a lizard lunge and attack Segita, pulling her off the carriage by her leg, and starting to drag her away. Segita was screaming and writhing, trying to free herself from her attacker, but the more she struggled the harder the creature bit down. Schwerdt pulled a knife from his belt, jumped off the carriage, and rushed to her aid, but the lizard creature was bigger and faster. It dropped Segita, turned, and clamped down a bite on Schwerdt’s neck. The sickening sound of snapping bones filled the air, and Schwerdt went limp. Watching everything, Segita screamed, and fainted. The creature dropped him, turned its attention back to the unconscious Segita, and started to eat her.

Two male elves appeared out of the woods from the direction the creature had dragged Segita, and started making their way up to the carriage with weapons drawn, ignoring what the creature was doing. Seemingly out of nowhere, Freija appeared outside the carriage, with her shield up, and at the same time we heard a loud thunk above us, followed by Temporalis' muffled voice. Freija was trying to talk to one of the elves, to reason with them that they did not need to do this, and that they could save themselves and their allies pain and eventual death if they stopped what they were doing and surrendered. "I'd rather die, than surrender to you" one of the elves growled, while swinging his scimitar behind his shoulder. Willow stood in the doorway of the carriage and released an arrow from her short bow, piercing his chest. He looked at the arrow, then at Willow, and crumpled to the ground. Freija turned to look behind her and saw Willow standing there, in the open doorway, her short bow in her hands. Willow nodded to Freija, then turned to the opposite window. As soon as Willow left the carriage door, I took her place, planted an arrow in the calf of the other elf, and jumped down to the ground next to Freija. I heard a sound that reminded me of swift winds and looked up to see a swirling dark mass fly from above and hit the creature in the side, tearing gash in its tough skin. It continued to eat Segita, unphased by the hit and the fact that it was injured and bleeding.

Suddenly, I felt a jolt of searing pain in my head, like someone had taken a hot poker from a fire and ran it into my ear, followed by Temporalis' deep voice stating someone was hiding behind a large rock on the other side of the carriage. Clutching my head, I turned to look up on the carriage roof and saw Temporalis, fingertips to his temples, concentrating on me. Then the pain stopped as quickly as it started, and he cast more dark shapes at the lizard creature. I turned to Freija and said “I think there is another man behind a large rock, on the other side of the carriage.” I then turned to the creature, pulled my short sword, and took a slice out of its shoulder. Screeching in pain, it turned and bit me on the thigh. The elf, dropping his crossbow, took this opportunity to into smash my shoulder hard with his mace.

Seeing the state of my thigh and shoulder, Freija grabbed my arm and closed her eyes. I felt a warm, tingling sensation coursing through me, focusing on the pain coming from my wounds. When she opened her eyes and removed her hand, I noticed that the pain in my leg was gone and the pain in my shoulder had lessened. Freija and I then rotated, taking one another's place, since she is more heavily armored and can take a harder hit than I. However, as soon as she was in front of the elf he took a hard swing at her head with his mace, connecting, and nearly knocking her off her feet. Somehow she managed to stay on her feet, but barely. Willow, after seeing what had just happened, rushed to her side and started working to heal her wounds. I shot an arrow at the creature, found its heart, and dropped it instantly. Freija turned to the elf in front of her and said "You were warned." She thrust her short sword into the stomach of the elf, twisted it a bit, then yanked it out. The elf looked at her with surprise and dropped to his knees. Then, with a blood-filled smile, he said "This is only the beginning." An arrow suddenly protruded out of his left eye socket and he crumpled to the ground, revealing Finfer right behind him, short bow in his hands.

As quickly as the commotion began, it ended. “Is everyone ok?” Freija asked, looking around at each of us. We nodded our agreement, and Willow ran to Segita, but found that she was dead. Freija blessed the bodies of Schwerdt and Segita, and Willow helped her wrap them in blankets she found on the cargo trailer. While Temporalis and I worked at calming the panicked horses, Jacob emerged from the caravan, shaking and pale. “I cannot thank you all enough! You were incredible! Without you, we would all be dead! Thank you!” When he learned of Schwerdt and Segita, however, he dropped to his knees in tears. “They must be returned to Mountain Hide at once.” he said. “The city needs to know what happened here.” He helped Temporalis load their bodies on the cargo trailer, while Willow, Freija, and I moved the bodies of our attackers off the road and a little into the forest.

Temporalis left a notice on a tree telling of our recent attack, and Willow and I climbed up in the drivers seat. With her on the reins and me tracking the route, we continued down the road toward Mountain Hide. Temporalis and Finfer rode in the passenger cabin, trying to keep the rest of the passengers calm, and Freija rode on the cargo trailer with the bodies of Schwerdt and Segita. The mood was somber, so the trip was quiet, until we came across another caravan that was flipped on its side in the middle of the road. Willow pulled our carriage to a stop a ways back from the scene, and we assessed what we saw in front of us: a caravan on its side; a couple of dead horses; a smattering of dead humans and elves, all wearing capes with the Mountain Hide Trading Company logo; a dead human dressed similar to those we just encountered; and a dead male wood elf.

Port Appulsus

It was very late in the day, with a clear sky, several stars, a bright moon, and no wind coming off the water, when we were able to book passage on a boat heading to Evershard Isle. Before boarding, Willow and I were required to hand in our weapons in exchange for tickets with markings on them. I assume we will return these tickets at the end of the journey, to retrieve our weapons, but I must admit that I do not feel at ease without my bow on my back, particularly amongst so many other unknown people, and heading into a foreign area. I put those thoughts aside as I walked up the ramp to the boat, Willow not far ahead of me. The boat was not very large, but it was roomy enough for its passengers and crew compliment. It appeared older, wooden, a little warped in places, and had a depiction of a mermaid on the bow. It had two masts with big, slightly tattered, billowy grey cloth sails, and a cabin that sat up higher than the deck. A worn staircase with a wooden rail lead to a door on the port side of the cabin, with a matching staircase that lead below on the starboard side, presumably to the location of the passenger rooms and crew quarters. The boat was lined with benches and tables, some covered and some open, making it obvious that this was a passenger vessel.

Accompanying us on this trip was a halfling, a drow, a dwarf, about three other elves, maybe a couple humans, a half-elf, and the ship’s crew. Out of habit, I took note of the other ship passengers. None particularly stood out, except for three: a smaller-than-usual halfling who kept to himself, hiding behind his cloak; a drow in tattered chain mail (which the mere fact that a drow is seen above ground with others is unusual in of itself); and a pale, blonde half-elf carrying several scrolls as if his life depended on their safe-keeping. For some reason, I was intrigued by these three passengers, so I decided it was in my best interest to observe them. I did not think they were dangerous, but for some reason I wanted to know more about them--who they were, from where they were traveling, and what their purpose was on this particular boat during this particular evening.

The cabins were pretty simple: a set of wooden bunks layered with straw and tattered (but clean) blankets, a table attached to the side of the boat, a cubby to stash belongings, a wash bucket, and a latrine. It was exactly what one would expect on a boat such as this one. I opted to take the top bunk, and let Willow take the bottom; we were fortunate enough to be able to share a cabin, which put my mind at ease because, not only did we have one another to keep company, but we could watch out for one another, as well. Our cabin was on the far end of the row, and I learned that the drow was down the hall a bit, and the halfling was next to her. The half-elf, however, resided in the cabin next to us, and I noticed some very odd noises emerging at night, almost like chanting, coming from his general direction. I tried not to concern myself too much with his actions, but they just seemed… off, like him.

It was very early morning when we docked on Evershard Isle, at a small harbor called Port Appulsus. The island itself was a beautiful place, with crystal-clear water, palm trees, and sand stretching down the coastline as far as the eye could see. The port, however, was not quite so inviting. There was a large building standing off on its own, looking quite out of place amongst the smaller buildings scattered here and there, haphazardly, like there was no rhyme nor reason in the creation of this port. They simply built a building where they saw fit. After gathering our belongings and retrieving our weapons, Willow and I headed ashore. We spotted a tavern up to the left, and the passengers all started heading that way, hoping to find some food at this early hour. As Willow and I were heading to the tavern, she wondered aloud about the larger building sitting a little further back. The blonde half-elf overheard us and seemed puzzled by question. “It says Mountain Hide Trading Company” he said, and hurried off to the tavern. Willow and I shared a look, then headed to the Mountain Hide building.

There were two big human men, presumably guards, standing outside a door to the building. As they stood there with their heavily-tattooed arms crossed, weapons on each hip and on their backs, their mere presence made it clear to anyone around that they were not to be trifled with, and that nobody would be getting past them anytime soon. As we approached them, they eyed us carefully, never moving from their posts. Willow asked the one on the left, the smaller of the two, if this was the Mountain Hide Trading Company building. He gave us a cursory glance and responded with a gruff “That’s what it says on the door, ain’t it?” Willow said “I am sorry for intruding, but we are looking for our brother. Would you happen to know an elf named Woodsy?” The guard, with an annoyed look, said “Look lady, I don’t know who this Woodsy guy is, but he don’t work here. This is a caravan stop. They drop stuff off, we ship it somewhere else.” I asked “Is there an office or manager we could speak with?” He gestured with his thumb and said “Yup. 2 days’ ride to the east of here, in Mountain Hide.” It was obvious we were getting nowhere with these guards, so we thanked them for their time and went to the tavern.

As we neared the tavern, Willow spotted the drow sitting outside, begging for alms in the name of Ehlonna. Willow stopped dead in her tracks, causing me to nearly bump into her. “Ehlonna?” she said, with a confused look. “Did.. did she just say… Ehlonna?” I nodded, equally as confused. After all, Ehlonna is our deity. Why would a drow, of all beings, be doing work in the name of Ehlonna? Intrigued, Willow approached her. “Excuse me, but did I hear you mention Ehlonna earlier?” The drow, startled that someone addressed her, stammered “Y-yes, I am devoted to Ehlonna. I hope to be a paladin of Ehlonna one day.” As Willow and the drow, who called herself Freija, continued their conversation, I noticed a human male approaching. I recognized him as one of the humans that was aboard our boat. As he came closer, the drow fell silent and looked down. The human seemed to pay no attention to her; instead, he addressed Willow and I. “Good morning, ladies. Might I invite you in for breakfast?” he asked. Willow and I looked at one another, then at Freija, then the human. Willow said “Only if she joins, as well” indicating Freija. The human looked at her, and after a moment, shrugged, and said “Sure, why not.” Freija, completely dumbfounded by the events that just occurred, gathered her belongings and followed Willow into the tavern.

The human (who called himself Jacob) was telling us a bit of history of the tavern as we walked in. The Sail & Anchor Tavern was built by a half orc named Elid, not long after the port was founded. Being the only tavern located at the harbor, Elid made (and still continues to make) a modest living running it. Jacob and Elid had been friends since Jacob was a small child, traveling around with his family. Once we were inside, Jacob called out to a half orc behind the counter. “Good morning, Elid!” The bartender looked up and smiled “Good morning, Jacob! The usual?” Jacob nodded and said “Yes, please! The same for my friends here, as well!” With a nod, Elid placed the order and we took a seat at a nearby unoccupied table. “So,” Jacob asked, turning towards us. “What brings you to our island?” I noted he still paid no attention to Freija, and acted as if she was not there. She did not seem to be affected by it, and simply sat there with her hands folded in her lap, looking down at them. It was, after all, quite odd for a drow to not only be seen above ground, but to be as reverent as Freija was about a deity other than Lolth. Willow nodded toward me and said “My sister and I are looking for our brother. His last letter said he took a job with the Mountain Hide Trading Company. We went to the building up the road, but had no luck with the guards.” Jacob chuckled at that and said “I would imagine not. Those two aren't much for words. Well, I know of Mountain Hide and there is a caravan heading there as soon as Schwerdt and Segita awake… oh, here they are, now!”

Before Willow or I could ask Jacob anything further, a male human and a female elf descended the stairs from the top of the tavern, holding hands. Jacob told us that the elf was Segita, and the human was Schwerdt. Segita, a slender, attractive elf, dressed in dusty travel clothes with her blonde hair pulled back into a loose bun, approached Elid and ordered breakfast for the two. Schwerdt, a tall, thin human with long black hair braided down his back, stood near the door and announced loudly, “Any passengers going to Mountain Hide, form a line. Midway stop at Medietas. 5 silver.” Jacob rose from his seat and said “If you want to go to Mountain Hide, there’s your way!” He paid for our meals and headed over to Schwerdt. After they spoke briefly, Jacob turned, nodded to Willow and I, then left through the door. Willow and I rose and got in line to buy our tickets, with Freija right behind us. Behind her was the pale half elf from the ship, still guarding the scrolls as earnestly as he was before. Schwerdt addressed Willow. “What’s your name?” he asked. “Willow” she responded. “Headed to Mountain Hide? That’ll be 5 silver.” Willow paid the man and was given a small red token, presumably a passage ticket. “Alright, go on out.” he said. He turned to me. “What’s your name?” Money in hand, I said “Eloni” and paid him in exchange for my token. “Alright, go on out.”

Willow was already outside, but I paused and waited just inside the door, watching the line of people pay for their tokens. While still looking down and recording my information, Schwerdt asked the next person in line, “What’s your…a DROW?!” he exclaimed, when he looked up from his notebook to see to the next person in line. “You have no business here, drow!” He spat on the ground in front of her. Freija immediately dropped her gaze to the floor, took a step back, and held her palms up in a gesture of peace. “Please, sir, I do not mean any harm. I just wish to travel.” Schwerdt appraised her for a moment. “Fine.” he said, reluctantly. “But you have to ride in the back with the cargo. We don’t want the likes of YOU among our passengers. One gold.” Freija dipped her head in reverent bow. “As you wish.” She paid her fare and left the tavern.

Schwerdt shook his head, mumbling something about drow, and his continued taking names and passage money, until all but one remained—the small halfling. Schwerdt looked at him and said “Sorry kid, but we’re all full. Next caravan will arrive tomorrow. You and your parents can travel then.” Before the halfling could say anything, the half-elf, who had earlier identified himself as Temporalis when he purchased his ticket, spoke up. “I can easily ride in the cargo hold. Is there a discount?” Surprised, Schwerdt eyed him for a moment. “You really want to ride back there? With… with the drow?” Temporalis shrugged. “Sure, it makes no difference to me.” Schwerdt shook his head and said “No discount-price is the same whether it’s in the passenger cabin or the cargo trailer.” Temporalis nodded and headed out the door. Schwerdt turned to the halfling. “Alright kid, looks like you've got yourself a seat. 5 silver. What’s your name?” The halfling replied “Finfer. And I’m alone.” Finfer paid for his token and left. Schwerdt shrugged, and as he went to join Segita for breakfast, I left the tavern, not far behind Finfer. As I was leaving, I heard Schwerdt call out “Alright, everyone load up! We leave soon!”

Who I Am

My name is Eloni. This is my story of adventure, peril, friendship, and family. Before I dive into the story, let me provide some background on me and my family. My family and I are wood elves. I have an older brother, an older sister, and a younger brother. Physically, I have long, black, curly hair that nearly reaches the tops of my legs, olive skin with a slight green tint, and dark green eyes. If one were to take a close look, they would discover a mostly-faded scar on my right cheek, from a childhood game with my sister, Willow. Emotionally, I am pretty stubborn. I tend to act before thinking, usually with consequences. I am skeptical of almost anything that is unusual to me, and pretty sarcastic. However, I am playful and good-natured, and do love a good time.

By trade, I am a hunter and ranger. I never really had much of an education per se, as my family resides in a small village deep in the forest. We provide for ourselves by living off the land, hunting, and gathering. I was always good with a bow (Mother likes to say I have a natural talent), so I took to carrying one everywhere with me. I am basically self-taught, although Father did teach me the basics when I was young. I have carried a bow with me ever since I was strong enough to draw back a string. Because of that, I took to patrolling the outskirts of our village, as a protector of sorts, doing my best to keep wild animals away from our village residents. After a time, the rest of the villagers came to see me as a sort of local law enforcement, and would often call upon me to break up skirmishes, or assist in emergencies (such as a campfire that has gotten out of control). I never had much of a gift for medicine, but Willow does, so we make a good team.

Growing up, I never had friends, really. I mean, the villagers were always friendly to me, and accepted me, but I never really got close to any of them, nor were there many others my age. It has always just been me and Willow. Woodsy, my eldest brother, is older than Willow & I, and his desire to explore always had him trying to learn everything he could about the world. Eadwinn is the youngest of us all, and he was never really around all that much. So, in addition to being my sister, Willow is my best friend. I am certainly not opposed to having other friends, but I guess that, since people see me as their protector, they are hesitant to get too close to me. And that is fine; I am more of a loner, anyway.

Although my family and village pray to Ehlenestra (you may know her better as Ehlonna, the Goddess of Forests, Woodlands, Flora, Fauna, and Fertility), I do not follow her religiously. I am more devoted to the idea of “as long as you are not harming anyone, you are free to do and believe as you wish”. That being said, I do not like criminals, or beings who hold no regard for the lives or well beings of others, or those who destroy nature and all it contains, as nature is very important to me. There are many theological issues we could debate (such as when stealing or even killing are acceptable, as I believe in stealing to feed one’s family, or killing in defense of one’s self or in the protection of others), but that is probably best suited for another time. What is most important to me, though, is my family.

My father’s name was Waclaw, and he was a trapper. He was a very good one, too, the best in our village. I say “was”, because one day, about four years ago, he found an extraordinarily large boar in a pretty foul mood in one of his traps, and when he went to complete the job the boar stabbed him with a tusk and killed him. It took everyone in our small community by shock, as Father was very strong and quick. It was a very dark time for all of us, my youngest brother in particular. Earla, my mother, grieved for Father more than the rest of us, but also knew that she needed to be strong for the rest of us. Mother is beautiful, gentle, elegant, and a mother figure to many in our village. Everyone looks up to her and deeply respects her. She is a hunter and gatherer, and has taught my siblings and me, as well as several others in our village, how to survive in the wilderness. I deeply admire her strength and determination, and strive to exhibit those qualities in myself.

My brother Woodsy is a man who has always had a taste for adventure. About two years ago, he met up with a small group of others who had similar desires, and they are currently out exploring the world. He always said there was more to life than our forest, and he wanted to see it all. Mother, knowing Woodsy’s desires, insisted he follow his dreams. He finally relented, and after he made sure that Mother was well taken care of by us and our village, he set off to see what all there is to see. He sends us notes from time to time, and small gifts from the places he has been. I miss him terribly, but I am happy he is doing what he loves.

Willow, is graceful, quiet, smart, exquisitely beautiful, and has as a very deep connection with nature. I have never before seen anything like it. It is almost as if nature itself bends to her wishes, and she becomes the very thing with which she is so connected. She is very devoted to Ehlenestra. Don’t let her gentle and quiet nature fool you, though, as she is a woman of action. She is inquisitive, helpful, and can certainly defend herself if the need arises. Although we share many traits, where I tend to act before thinking, she asks questions and carefully plans her moves and actions before doing anything.

My brother Eadwinn never liked the forest life, never cared for our village, and was a troublemaker of sorts from the start. He would often be seen running around the outskirts of our village with ruffians and urchins, which was a constant heartache for Mother. He took Father’s death very badly, more so than the rest of us, and I believe it drove him further away from us. He would often disappear for days on end, but he would always resurface, apologetic, saying he will stay away from those people, and that he will change. Mother always believed him. Woodsy was always stern with him, believing he should follow more in Father’s footsteps and learn the trapping trade. Willow has always been sympathetic to him, like another mother-type figure. I am skeptical of his promises to change, never believing him, but I love him dearly and wish for a day when he is happy.

Eadwinn is the reason for my journey. He left one night, last seen with this particularly rough group of known criminals known as The Otornasse, and he has not been home since. It has been three weeks since anyone has seen or heard from Eadwinn. Mother is beside herself with worry, nearly inconsolable, so she sent Willow and I to find Woodsy, so that maybe he can help us locate Eadwinn and bring him home. Willow and I left our forest home and headed in the direction we last heard from Woodsy, a place called the Mountain Hide Trading Company on Evershard Isle. His last letter arrived two weeks ago, so he does not know of Eadwinn’s disappearance. I do not know if he is still on Evershard Isle, but at least it is a place to start. After traveling across the land and finally reaching the coast, Willow and I must find a way to book passage on a ship.