CXXXIII. Homecoming

General Summary

The atmosphere in Felstadt was grim. Most of the civilians had left town, and those who remained were thrown into the same determined work as the soldiers and businesses to prepare for Dhor's imminent attack. There was little time left, and much to do.

Seven Days from the Final Battle

  A week before the battle, Lady Kohinoor and Gault used her Helm of Teleportation to return to the Singing Wood so that Kohi could officially update her will. With her parents as witnesses, she modified her will to specify that in the event of her death, her younger sister Alizeh was to be named her successor, to both her status as heir apparent of the Singing Wood and her status as the family's Paladin of the Crown. If Alizeh were to refuse to take on the mantle of Paladin, this responsibility was to fall to Gault, and if he too refused, the role was to revert to her father. Waythe was pass into the possession of Achilla, the Shield of Ivargrad, unless he expressed that he wished otherwise.   Before she departed, Kohinoor's mother tried to convince her not to leave, reminding her that she was not a soldier--she should leave war to others and stay home to resume her duties as a Princess, or to start vetting suitors, or to celebrate the upcoming winter holidays. Anything besides risking her life somewhere far away. Predictably, Kohi would hear nothing of it, and returned to Felstadt with Gault against her mother's wishes. When she returned, she spent the next week organizing and overseeing the evacuation of civilians. During this time, she lent Jäger the Helm of Teleportation so that he could do as she had...  

Five Days from the Final Battle

    Jäger used the Helm of Teleportation to return to the Iron Islands, where he stayed for two nights. During the days, he oversaw the Islands' defenses, ensuring that the kingdom's ships formed a blockade around the island, that the keep would be defended, that they had supplies to last them, and that the warriors were good and frenzied for battle. The first night, he spoke to Regen and the council to tell them that if he died in the final battle, he wouldn't be coming back. Jäger trusted Regen to make the right choices, and he had a feeling he would be meeting his family. From behind the coral throne, Jäger retrieved and donned his grandfather's armor. The night before he left, he enjoyed a feast with his kinsmen. When he returned to Felstadt, he checked in with his Roak Ironbeard, who admittedly wouldn't be much help in the fight to come since he'd been blinded, but vowed help in any way he could.  

Three Days from the Final Battle

  With three days to go before the battle with Dhor would commence, Soora made up her mind to participate in the rite Obsis had told her about. Before she did, she visited her brother and his wife, who was pregnant, to make sure they would be safe during Dhor's attack. Varis assured her of their safety, and told her they planned to hole up in the Jawbones safehouse throughout the duration. It was where they felt safest.   With her brother's safekeeping taken care of, Soora went to her friends to ask them to help her wit Obsis' rite. Krux, Amari, and King tried to talk her out of it, knowing the pain of death themselves, but Soora would not be swayed. Most importantly, however she needed the help of Aerwynna Cannari, who somewhat reluctantly agreed to resurrect her after the act was complete.   Accompanied by her friends, Soora made her way to the cloister of Obsis at The Rocks, where the scant worshippers there attended her with hymns and chants to prepare her for the most sacred of rituals. When the preparations were complete, Soora kneeled in a quiet, secluded hideaway and transformed Obsidian into a black blade with which to end her own life. With impressive dexterity, unshakeable will, and merciless power, Soora quickly struck herself in the abdomen. She felt a warm sensation--her own blood spilling onto her hands--before she drifted into darkness.  

"Oh fuck, she did it!"

-Jäger Ironbeard

  Quickly, Wynna rushed to Soora's side, before the warmth could leave her body, and cast Revivify. Soora's lungs filled with air once again as her consciousness floated back in from the darkness. With her blood still staining her hands, she stood and stumbled out into the light of the temple's main hall. The wound across her midsection had been healed and was now a blackened scar from which shadows were wisping out and coalescing into a shroud around her. Soora was paler than normal, but she sensed a power within the shadow--a power of of control. This shadow was the veil of Obsis. The veil of night. Forevermore, Soora would be able to command her own shadow, to cast it wherever she wished and permanently walk in its length.   That night, while Soora recovered from her ordeal back at the Ring and Wren, Wynna cast a series of wards and protections on the building, intent on creating a refuge where those friends and loved ones who couldn't fight would be able to stay safe during the battle. On the house's edifice she cast Hallow, with an extra effect of Silence. Then she traced Symbols of Fear on every entrance, and a Symbol of Death on the safe in the treasury.  

Two Days from the Final Battle

  Early the next morning, Wynna visited her parents in Fentis Gardens and convinced them to come stay in the Ring and Wren, where she could personally ensure the level of protection.   Dressed in casual clothing for a change Soora, Wynna, Amari, Jäger, and Roger accompanied King to his hometown, Norbrough in the late morning. The party teleported into a quaint countryside village that smelled of pastries. Beautiful and perfectly idyllic, the grass was gold and all seemed to be in good cheer as harvest season was coming to a close.   On the way to the house of Borra Brooks, King awkwardly greeted several old ladies who called out to him as he passed. All around, townspeople recognized him and asked how his adventuring was going. King went beet red at first, but after about the fourth person he began to get excited and answered with pride. Jäger took part too, approaching any kids he saw to tell King's story.   Inside Borra's house, they found King's friend playing with his young son, Finnegan. Borra only recognized King and Amari, but asked after Milio, who had been put to work for the Ring & Wren.  

"You know what I did with that djinn? I trapped him in my lucky coin and sent him straight to hell!"

-Drayton King

"A fair fate for that fella."

-Borra Brooks

  They passed some time catching up.    

"This, what you have here, is just as much success as we had in Felstadt."

-Drayton King

"You appreciate it more when you come back."

-Borra Brooks

"When we were kids I thought this was the worst place in the world. But now I've been around the world and there's no place better."

-Drayton King

  Before visiting their last stop, King took his friends to drink mead at the Snuffling Hound pub, where they were met with characteristic Halfling hospitality. Finally, the group made their way to visit King's parents on the Honeysong Farm. King hadn't been home in a year, but had sent gold home once or twice. They were greeted warmly by King's mother.  

"Our adventurer!"

- Euphresia Honeysong

  King's mother was very affectionate, and his father a bit more gruff--he commented that they could have used help with the bees. But they served their guests a huge lunch, accompanied by the best honey they'd ever had.  

"So, why does everyone think I'm an adventurer? Who's spreading rumors?"

-Drayton King

"The letters, dear, from your friend the scribe."

-Euphresia Honeysong

  On Lannering's desk sat a stack of letters from Felstadt. Brilliantly penned, detailed, and praiseworthy, all were signed Squinnustrio Fiswick. Jäger burst out laughing.  

"You know who penned these? A miserable, lying gnome! I would never put myself in danger like that."

-Drayton King

  Euphresia and Lannering looked taken aback, but Amari and Jager were quick to set the record straight.  

"Your son saved my life!"

-Amari of the Ring & Wren

"And mine too!"

-Jäger Ironbeard

"This staff is a legendary magic item--it's proof!"

-Amari of the Ring & Wren

"I could carve something better than that. I carved this whole house."

-Lannering Honeysong

"He might not have the brains, but he's got a damn good shot. And a good heart."

-Jäger Ironbeard

  From his pockets, King produced the ornamental crossbow he'd won in the Felstadt archery competition.  

"I don't know if there's room for it on the mantle, but..."

-Drayton King

"Sure son, there's room."

-Lannering Honeysong

  As the party's visit drew to a close, King's parents told him they were proud of him for making a name for himself in Felstadt. He assured them his "business" was booming, and again pressed to them that he really didn't engage in adventuring all that much, but asked that they please toast him at the harvest fest in case he didn't make it back...in time. The wouldn't let him leave without taking bushels of treats, honey, and pies. In return, Jäger gifted them the bottle of Drow wine they'd found beneath Felstadt.   It was getting dark by the time the group made it back to Felstadt. As they walked up Gygax Street toward the Ring and Wren, they happened upon Festiv and Blinda sitting on stools around a barrel of ale, seemingly taking a break from coordinating the delivery of supplies.  

"Join us for a toast!"

-Blinda Brimgold

"What are we toasting?"

-Drayton King

"Anything. Felstadt, the Ring & Wren, Gygax Street, Dhor, fuck it!"

-Festiv Fullsprout

"Sorry, but I can't toast Dhor."

-Jäger Ironbeard

"Man of the cloth!"

-Festiv Fullsprout

  The adventurers joined the two merchants in their drinking.  

"Felstadt's had a lot of challenges these past few months..."

-Blinda Brimgold

"This one's our biggest one yet."

-Amari of the Ring & Wren

"Festiv, will you take shelter in the Ring & Wren?"

-Wynna Cannari

"No. It's been a long time since I was a young pup with a full head of hair, but I'll be down there with you and the troops. I'm a fighter. It's what I do. Wynna, if I don't make it, if you find me out there on the field, don't bring me back. Dwarves have an old thing called the moridoom, a moral death. Dying in service to another. And there ain't no better place than here. And let the boy know: if it doesn't work out for me, I'll give the Goblin to him.   ...But enough of this grim talk. Let's drink."

-Festiv Fullsprout

  As they drank, Amari told Festiv of all the dreams he had for the school he wanted to build--his plans. what he would want to teach.  

"Kofi really picked a winner with you. In six months, you did more than we did in a hundred years. That school's gonna be something special."

-Festiv Fullsprout

  Jäger pulled out The Sunderer and handed it to Festiv, who lifted it with no trouble.  

"I feel like this is something a dwarf would like have in his hand when he dies."

-Jäger Ironbeard

 

"Aye, back in the hands of a dwarf! They'll love to see me, those deepguard."

-Festiv Fullsprout

  After a few hours of drinking, the party made it home, where King confronted Squintz on sight. Squintz reacted with his typical sour demeanor.  

"YOU! You don't have to be telling my parents everything!"

-Drayton King

"Someone has to."

-Squintz

"Those letters were very accurate...almost loving. I won't forget it!"

-Drayton King

"Who got you here?"

-Squintz

"I got here all on my own steam."

-Drayton King

"Yeah, sure. Just like you built the King's Court all by yourself.   My father's a notary, that's where I learned it. You should talk yourself up more."

-Squintz

"I don't need to. I used to, but looking back it's more about what people do, when they show they care."

-Drayton King

 

One Day from the Final Battle

  The energy was palpable on the day before the battle--there were still many last-minute preparations to be made. Throughout the day several past members of the Ring & Wren made their way to the party headquarters--a homecoming, of sorts. Diana , Luna and Vasya all return.  

"Felstadt is our home too."

-Luna

  In between coordination of various efforts, the party caught up and traded stories with their wayward friends. Around dusk, a knock sounded at the door. An imperial soldier had come from Redwall, and as he removed his helmet, Kylo flew down and landed on his shoulder.  

"You probably don't remember me..."

-Laurence

"Laurence! We met at the...funeral."

-Drayton King

"Yes. I'm glad to see Kylo's doing well. Listen, I know what's gonna happen tomorrow. Everyone's heard. I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't come and say this now, but I want you to know that I think Lee would be very proud of what you've done for this city. And after everything that happened, she'd be honored to fight with you, and have gotten you here.   This little wren is the heart of the Ring & Wren, and that name is spread. And in a way, she's still here. I'm sorry it took me this long to say it and it took me so long to visit. If we make it tomorrow...I have to report in, but I'm glad I caught you."

-Laurence

  After Laurence left, Wynna cast Forbiddance on the house, with the password set to "Archmage please enter" in Elvish. Amari took the chance to go down the street and take a look at the construction of his planned magic school, which had halted in wake of the the city's fortification. An urchin was hanging around, and asked Amari what was being built. When Amari answered that it was a magic school, the child scoffed. Who needs school? In response, Amari created a Minor Illusion of a piece of candy in his palm, which he pretended to eat.  

"What?? You can make candy? And you learned that in school? I'll go to your school, mister!"

-My Next Character

  As night fell upon Felstadt, Jäger and the Ironbeard soldiers began an ancient Ironbeard war tradition on the beach. They welcomed the rest of the soldiers and the members of the Ring & Wren to join if they wished. King and Roger agreed to take part, but others, including Wynna and Kohi, simply watched the ritual with varying levels of disgust and awe as those taking part in the ritual waded into the ocean, found sharks, and wrestled them out of the water with their bare hands before taking them to shore, skinning and dressing the catch.   Once they'd eaten, the participants stripped and danced around a great bonfire, shaking their weapons, wearing nothing but the skins of the beasts they'd killed, howling and chanting into the night. Bolts of lightning struck the bonfire at high points of the chant. It was truly spectacle: the sea beyond had been churning with the threat of Dhor's forces, but the shouting of the warriors almost seemed, to the onlookers, as though it were keeping them at bay. The festivities lasted far into the night, ending around midnight when at last the revelers passed out, drunk, on the beach and slept...

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