Entry 14: A golden cage and fiery tower

Dear diary,
 
The final defeat of Cornu and the chance to rest in warm, cozy beds granted us a much-needed reprieve. Even though the Lorewood remained cloaked in a heavy mist, the eerie howls of wolves had faded away, retreating along with the hunter's fall.
 
Over a hearty breakfast Farrah offered us answers to our many questions. We inquired if anything could be done for poor Onvyr, but she shook her head with regret, explaining that the powerful magic needed to reverse his petrification was beyond the abilities of their camp. Still, she shared a glimmer of hope: patrols from Keralon, consisting of brave knights and skilled clerics, traveled through the area regularly and might be able to help. Though the decision weighed heavy on our hearts, we agreed that leaving Onvyr in Logvale was our best option for his survival and a hopeful reunion in the future.
 
With Edward and Alistan still weak and recovering, we decided it was best to rest for another day within the safety of Logvale's protective walls. Elsa and Liliana busied themselves fussing over their respective brothers, while others took the time to explore the camp or simply rest their bodies. As for me, I found solace in the work of a witch. I went around the camp, lending a hand where needed—bandaging wounds, mending clothes, preparing meals, gathering herbs. Keeping busy helped keep my mind at ease.
 
As the midday sun peeked through the heavy canopy, Liliana came rushing towards us, her face alight with excitement. "You have to see this!" she exclaimed, pulling us along towards the back of the camp. She led us to a small pond, or rather a puddle tucked behind some buildings.
 
What we saw took us all by surprise. The puddle's surface had frozen over, and beneath the ice, a familiar sylvan rune shimmered with an ethereal, icy blue light. The sight sent chills down my spine—not from the cold, but from the familiarity of the glowing rune.
 
As we knelt to examine it closer, we noticed something even more extraordinary. At the bottom of the iced-over pond lay a hatch. Carefully breaking away the ice, we managed to open it, revealing a tunnel that led first downwards and then off into the unknown.
 
I could sense the others' eagerness to rush headlong into the dark passage like headless chickens, but I held them back, urging caution. I had to inform Farrah of our discovery and our intention to investigate. Dorr, our dwarf companion, looked disappointed that we didn't immediately fetch him after having discovered the tunnel. After all, dwarves excel in navigating underground terrain.
 
In hindsight, I should have considered Dorr’s eagerness more, not just because of his skills, but because he had proven to be a reliable companion throughout our journey. I made a mental note to stay in touch with him once we reached Keralon, as our travels had brought us closer.
 
But I digress.
 
With Dorr, Elsa, and Edward joining us, we ventured into the tunnel, leaving behind the warmth and safety of Logvale. Dorr, after studying the smooth, polished walls, confirmed that the passage must have been forged with magic long ago, perhaps from the time before the settlement became known as Logvale.
 
We walked through the dim, claustrophobic tunnel for what felt like hours. The air grew colder with each step, and the silence pressed in around us. Just when the tight passage became almost unbearable, the tunnel opened up into a vast cave mouth that led us out into a narrow valley nestled between two looming hills.
 
Beyond the cave lay a partially frozen lake, its surface glinting with patches of ice. As we approached the lake, we noticed a stone archway standing at the edge, marking the conclusion of a circle of ancient menhirs. The runes carved into the stones flared to life in our presence, shimmering with cold blue light, as flames of the same hue ignited on either side of the archway. As if in response to our approach, the gateway activated, and snow drifted through the open passage.
 
A figure emerged from the drifting snow—a woman, her silhouette unmistakable. She walked toward us with unhurried grace, and my heart quickened. This encounter promised to reveal more mysteries, perhaps answers to the questions that had haunted us since the journey began.
 
As she approached, her presence dominated the space like an ice storm, serene and menacing. She moved with a languid grace, her long, flowing white hair glistening like snow under the cold blue flames of the gate. To call her beautiful would be an understatement, but it was the unsettling beauty of the fey—dangerous, distant, and captivating.
 
She spoke in a light, friendly manner, her voice carrying a hint of a melody that enchanted the ears. Yet beneath the surface, her tone held an amused condescending edge, like she was indulging us with her answers rather than respecting our questions. Her gaze seemed to take us in with a glance of mild interest, her posture casual yet calculated.
 
As the icy queen answered our inquiries, she moved effortlessly among us, brushing her slender fingers against each of us in turn. I stepped back when she reached out to touch me, but she merely smiled, seemingly amused rather than offended by my resistance.
 
When she reached Liliana, her manner changed slightly. She paused, regarding her with a different, perhaps more curious expression. Liliana, drawn in by Vivienne's ethereal beauty and allure, appeared almost mesmerized. The connection between them was palpable, and I could sense Liliana's immediate infatuation, the young girl enraptured by Vivienne's otherworldly charm.
 
She introduced herself as Vivienne, an enemy of Cornu and an ally of sorts to us. But it became clear she was there not out of pure goodwill, but rather to safeguard her own interests. She revealed she had been offered the service of Liliana as her pet bodyguard, a pact made with her liege, Ulther, though the specifics were left unexplained.
 
Luke's inquisitiveness took hold, as he pressed Vivienne with questions about Ulther and the arrangement, but she remained nonchalant, her answers vague. Alistan then proposed a private discussion to decide our course of action, the group splitting between wanting to find Robert and the desire to head straight to Keralon using Vivienne's gate.
 
Alistan, Gael, and I leaned towards another attempt to locate Robert, but Luke, Dadroz, and Ileas were in favor of reaching Keralon as soon as possible. Liliana, already swayed by Vivienne's allure, seemed keen on accepting her new role as the queen’s slave, which ultimately tipped the decision in favor of using the gate.
 
With our course settled, we headed back through the tunnel to gather our belongings in Logvale. Liliana remained behind, drawn to Vivienne's side, eager to embrace her new path. Luke stayed with them, naturally unable to resist the chance to delve deeper into Vivienne's world and uncover any hidden knowledge. I wasn't surprised by his choice; his curiosity often led him down unexpected paths. But I knew whatever he learned would prove valuable later on.
 
As we walked, the memory of Vivienne's chilling demeanor lingered in my mind. I kept recalling her instructions not to reveal anything about the hidden passage to the villagers of Logvale. Maybe she fears the knights of Keralon. But I was so baffled with the eagerness by which Liliana accepted her fate, that I didn’t even consider breaking that promise. Maybe I should have.
 
Once we returned to Logvale, our first task was gathering our belongings. Gael and Alistan took charge of explaining our abrupt plans to Farrah. Gael suggested she block the tunnel entrance after we’d left, though neither he nor Alistan could give her a proper reason why. It was a strange compromise, but perhaps it was best to leave the choice up to Farrah.
 
We said our farewells to Farrah and the other villagers. The thought of leaving Robert behind without searching for him weighed heavily on my heart. Gael’s somber expression showed me he shared my pain. Still, we had little choice but to carry on.
As we walked back through the tunnel, I kept my gaze on the shadows ahead, trying to focus on the journey to rejoin Luke and Liliana. With each step, the uncertainty of our choices lingered. My heart ached for the lives we’d left behind, but our path lay ahead, whether we liked it or not.
 
As we returned to the valley, Vivienne rose gracefully and activated the gate. True to her word, the gateway opened to a location closer to Keralon, though still a day's journey away. This shortcut would save us weeks of travel. Liliana exchanged farewells with Vivienne, then joined us. As the gate closed behind us, Liliana proudly displayed a new, ornate sword to her brother—an apparent parting gift from her new master. While the sword is most definitely beautiful, I couldn’t help but wonder how easily pretty trinkets and a golden cage seem to make forced servitude that much more bearable.
 
I chose not to comment, avoiding yet another fruitless debate, and instead focused on our new surroundings. We still stood on the edge of Lorewood, but the eerie mist had not followed us this far. A small relief, but a sign of better things to come.
With a last glance at Lorewood, we turned away and set our sights on Keralon. The road ahead was uncertain, but we had each other, and that, at least, was a comfort.
 
It took us hours to reach a decent road, and by then, night had already fallen. We were just about to make camp when Gael, Dadroz, and Alistan pointed to a column of smoke beyond the trees up ahead. A large campfire, perhaps? But as we walked closer, the sounds of battle grew louder with every step.
 
The trees gave way to a clearing, and in the center, a blackened tower stood tall, its walls adorned with rows of gargoyles. The ground between the wall and the encircling braziers had been scorched repeatedly.
 
A woman with flowing auburn hair, clad in wizard robes, fought off an armored figure and two pixies. The fey turned their attention to us, one aiming a spell at Alistan but Gael’s sharp aim took it down with a blunted arrow to the head. The other summoned roots and brambles, engulfing and trapping us momentarily. Luke, with a blast of energy, obliterated the remaining fey, making the roots retreat.
 
Maybe it's time to teach my brother some temperance—he's always been the more volatile one between us.
 
The golden warrior with blazing blue eyes, which turned out to be a construct, took a bit more effort to bring down. But with Liliana wielding her new sword, Gael using his magical bow, and the fiery spells of our new friend, Amarra the wizard, we managed to defeat it.
 
As Amarra inspected the remains of the construct, I turned my attention to the unconscious pixie. I carefully revived her, warning her not to act rashly. She seemed bewildered by the situation and claimed to have no memory of the fight. According to her, she and her sister had been traveling in the feywild when a thick fog enveloped them. The next thing she knew, she was on our plane and being revived by me.
 
It seems she had been caught in the mist that had been plaguing our realm, a sad twist of fate that brought her to this battle. Her confusion was genuine, and her story tugged at my heart. As she left to find her way back to Lorewood and, hopefully, her home, I couldn't help but feel for her misfortune and the loss of her sister.
 
Amarra couldn't shed light either on who sent the attackers, but she did point out the targeted nature of the attack, mentioning the construct’s resistance to fire. In return for our help, she welcomed us into Caern Fussil, the wizard tower linked to the elemental plane of fire, offering food and lodging for the night.
 
While Luke rushed off to explore the tower’s library, I set about preparing a meal. Meanwhile, Alistan engaged in a conversation with Amarra about Keralon.
 
She warned us about the city’s strict rules regarding magic items—only knights are allowed to carry them. She advised us to enter through the hunter’s gate instead of the main gate to avoid heavy surveillance. She also shared information about Keralon’s current state—guilds have been outlawed, life has become expensive, and it’s become harder to find apprenticeships.
 
After that, Amarra left to speak with Luke while I retreated to my room, grateful for the opportunity to rest after a long journey.
 
13th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree