Journal session - Chimeras and gods

On day three of our arrival into the elven city, we notice a bustle. It looks like large beasts have been sighted. I wonder if they are also stumbling upon giant creatures like we did. We decide to render aid, which means that we join Merilith the princess, a mage elf, along with Arsilia, the elf that accompanied the Emissary and was captured by Rithari. 2 other elves also join our party.
 
Merilith greets The Lady, and tells us that this is a chimera creature, and that any help is welcome. Chimera can be the result of miasma, and they tend to be in constant pain and even become sadistic. If the creature is a threat to everything around it, we must stop it. Otherwise, it can be left alone.
 
We travel near some big hills, where we originally ambushed the Emissary's party. We climb to the very top of the hills, and we spend the day searching. This chimera is a flying creature. Rithari and the elves see a creature flying here and there, white and silver. As we triangulate it's landing spot, Merilith suggests that we approach it quietly.
 
We find it at the top of a tower in ruins. There is a nest inside it, and inside it is the creature. It has three heads, one of white dragon, and white feathery wings, and talonod claws. We retreat to discuss our plan, and Merelith is in awe of it's beauty.
 
Jak volunteers to try and speak to it. The Lady and Arsilia both volunteer to accompany him. He approaches it from the front, making sure that the creature is aware of him and does not feel threatened. He tries speaking to it Elvish or Duskhan, but the dragon head continues to look bored. The Lady tells Jak how to ask it if it speaks Draconic. The dragon head does seem to react, and Jak informs Seraphina. He tells it that we mean no harm, and the chimera reacts. It seems to understand, but it also seems unable to respond. At this point, The Lady walks up and takes over the conversation. She tries to use telepathy to speak to it. It responds in images. It is confused, since it remembers flying over an island unfamiliar to us, with many ships and cities of stone and marble. It is trying to get to its specific island, but flies through a descending cloud, and is confused to find a completely different landscape. The Lady believes that it may have come from the fire islands to the west. She tells it that the people here will welcome it if it means no harm and does not scare others. It thinks about people coming for it, and it responding with fire. The Lady tells the rest of us that we can approach, and tells Merelith to come and try and speak to it. The princess does approach, and the Lady shows her the creature's thoughts. The creature does not mind eating goblins, and the Lady tells it to go ahead. It also seems to like other animals that are ok. The Lady does warn it about the green dragon to the west, and the chimera is now less interested in remaining here. The Lady sees a picture of a large pyramid structure with many stairs, and she tells the chimera she has never seen it. The chimera then takes off to seek that tower, which is not threatened by a dragon.
 
Merelith inquires as to what is going on with the dragon, and we explain. Jak checks the nest, and there was a bunch of stuff around it, including some now-broken ancient chests. We raid it. Jak wants to talk to us, to make sure that we are not being put in a position where we are competing against the deep elves. Sera explains better what is going on politically, but Jak is still suspicious of the deep elves' intent. He thinks we should keep an eye on them, and make sure the princess is safe.

The Lady takes our trip back as a chance to speak further to Merilith. She talks about her life on the road, and her travels and trials. She speaks of overcoming challenges and coming together. The princess asks why it is that we are so keen on forming and alliance, since the network of mankin is already so large. The Lady speaks of putting prejudices behind us, and Merelith says that the deep elves have a very strong need and a fantastic gift. But if there is not all that, then an alliance may be too expensive. Most importantly, she reminds The Lady that the lack of an alliance does not mean our peoples would be enemies. She says that trade does help, but that alliances always means that military help becomes an issue sooner or later. And that the time to build a coalition to help Swanport may have passed.
 
The Lady finally tells Merilith about the bow, and Rithari says she has no proof, but that she is very certain that this is the bow of the Stormheart. She found it, and The Lady has asked her to gift it to her people. The group liberated it, but we knew it belonged to an elf. It is an elf that is willing to return it, and if she does, we can potentially bear witness to the birth of a god. Jak adds that there may be benefits to a cultural trade. Merelith tells us again to be clear and direct when proposing the alliance to the King.
 
Jak thanks Arsilia for her help. She finds it odd that a creature like that chimera was not created by miasma. She mentions that there is a lot of power that can be harnessed from miasma. Back home, they experiment under volcanoes, so if there is an issue, the whole room collapses and spews the miasma away. Jak reveals that his mother was likely a deep elf, and that he was taught some of that language, and he attempts to speak to her in it. They speak of the green dragon and their allies, and wines in Arsilia's native tongue.
 
The Lady now gives Arsilia some fruity wine, which is very hard to find in the underground caverns where she comes from, and they begin a good conversation. The Lady apologizes to Arsilia, and explains that she was originally mistaken about them and their intention. She also takes time to sell the idea of Dusk as a positive thing.
 
The next day we return, and are soon granted an audience with the King and Queen. The entire group is invited, and when we arrive, the Queen tells us that each of us must give her a good reason for the alliance. We go in turns, and I tell them about how Garoway led me to learn more about myself. While that is a good reason, the Queen reminds me that she is seeking advantages for the elves. I then tell her about how adaptable humans are. While they may cut trees and change the forest, they are still the creatures that can best adapt to different conditions, and the forest elves would be wise to learn that trait from them. Once we have all spoken, The Lady adds the detail of the bow - the third and last piece of their god. The king immediately grants the alliance, while the Queen looks distressed and tells him he cannot.
 
We inquire further, and it turns out that the process revive Llewelyr is one that requires a host, a sacrifice. I ask if Elvish blood is necessary for the sacrifice, and it is not. Seeing my only opportunity to not have to serve Kord in the future, I volunteer as the sacrifice. The Queen supports the idea, since I am not mankin. The King looks less enthusiastic, but he does seem agreeable to the idea. He simply did not think he could ask anyone else to sacrifice themselves, even if he did not want to be the sacrifice.
 
I am told I do not have to do this, and even my companions are keen to tell me no. But they do not know what it is like to follow a path that you do not like or want. I have wished so many times for a chance to make my own choices, and here it is. I will be the sacrifice that will bring back Llewelyr, the Stormheart.
 
We are allowed to go home, and while I have many things to do, I do not feel anything. I write a note to George, giving him all my gold in the hopes he'll one day be able to own his own bar or tavern. Nothing long or sad or sweet. Just an end, like we always knew would happen. I carefully pack all my belongings and leave them for my companions. I believe there should be more. More words, more tears, more things to keep me here, but there are none. This is my plan, and I'll finally be free. Gods, am I scared.
 
The next morning, I wake up, and when I open the door to look outside, there are elves upon elves, making a path for me towards the palace. I close the door in shock, and ask The Lady if this is what her life is normally like. She tells me that no, this is special for me. It feels absurd. Or rather, it SHOULD feel absurd, but I cannot feel anything. I hand my things to The Lady, who graciously waits upon me. I hand the note to Jak, to take back to George. It is time to follow the elves and allow Llewelyr to return, and the souls on the fountain to complete their journey. I walk to the palace.
 
At the palace, I am given a place to sit and rest, where I will attune to the three items. His horn, his spear, and his bow. I begin, and it takes me forever. Suns and moons pass. Planets rise and fall. It is a thousand years ago, and it is today. It is Llewelyr, coming to Terrakh to help his followers. It is nothing. Manikin sorcerers ambush me, and slay me, and once again, there is nothing. Then there is Laniken, searching for my mind, and our minds touching. I learn about the date, and where we are, and that my elves have been waiting for me for a long time. It is time to return and to fix things. It is time that Llewelyr Laniken returns home, and guides the elves away from their endless waiting and sorrow. It is time to guide them into a new era. I am returned.