Ashes on the Wind

3rd of Camince, 1485

I knew it was a mistake to go there… to Ysgard, the realm that was once Kord’s, but now belongs to Shard, the cursed Blood Lord. I almost find myself wishing I’d refused to bring them, although they would have simply found another way…
 
Our party is crumbling. Just like the walls of Egig Ero Fa… the ashes of my friends soar in the wind…
 
Dekar is dead. The fool! He attacked Shard with the abandon born of sheer stupidity and hubris. What did he hope to accomplish? Nothing. It was suicide, in the end. And to think, he had the nerve to tell me that you need to keep pressing on for the memories of friends, and then he has the audacity to throw his life away for an ill-timed attack on a fucking god!
 
It was only a few days ago, when he told me that he was counting on me to make sure that everyone gets out of this adventure. He was counting on me to have his back in the coming battles. What the fuck? How can he say that shit, expect me to carry on through an entire city of undead, when the first time he comes across the cursed god he claimed to want to kill, he threw his life away? So fucking stupid…
 
Grimaldus tried to revive him, but apparently Dekar refused to call to return. Just looking at Inira in that moment… I could nearly hear her heart shatter. It cracked, along with her façade of control that she so desperately tries to keep. It cracked as soon as Grimaldus told her that Dekar chose not to come back.
 
I didn’t know what to do… I’ve lost friends and loved ones before, but not like this… I’ve never stood by while a friend threw their life away for such a foolish reason… a suicide more than anything… and especially not a friend who had a lover standing there waiting for his return. Are all men this fickle? I find myself looking over towards Grimaldus and hoping that they are not.
 
Dekar’s body lay there, his unseeing eyes staring up at the blood drops raining from the sky. I didn’t know what else to do, so I moved over and prestidigitated the blood from his face, and gently closed his eyes. As is the manner of my people, I spoke the words “Hiro hon hidh ab’wanath.”
 
Inira looked at me, her tears carving rivulets down her bloodstained face. “He doesn’t fucking want peace, but thank you.” She said bitterly.
 
I shook my head. “Everyone wants peace, in the end.”
 
“Then he would have stayed with me.” Inira choked out.
 
Not knowing what else to do to comfort her, I conjured a miniature pendant, engraved with Dekar’s likeness, and placed it in her hand, before backing away to allow her a modicum of privacy in her grief.
 
I made my way down to where the others were waiting, trying to comfort Meriwald, who’d buried his face into my neck, grief wracking his little body.
 
We sat there for a time, allowing Inira her privacy.
 
Grimaldus was talking with his grandmother, the Blood Lord had offered sanctuary to the old woman, and Rhaego, for as long as was necessary. I was distracted by their conversation when “grandmother” turned to me and asked if Elves beat their children when they’re unruly.
 
I was taken aback. Why would anyone beat their child? When I expressed my consternation, she explained that children must be beaten for discipline, to ensure that they don’t turn as wild as cannibals in the desert.
 
I informed her that my people do not “beat” our children. Rather, Elven parents raise them in such a way that they never are at risk for being wild as cannibals in the desert.
 
“A child must be broken like a horse.” She retorted.
 
“No.” I insisted. Why was I even having this conversation with her? “Horses must be gentled.”
 
“Ah.” I could see the disbelief written across her face. “However, you must think… we have particularly stout children. They may not respond to such gentleness… they may see you as soft.”
 
“I don’t think I need to worry about your children right now…” I raised an eyebrow, trying very hard to be civil, when I really wanted to shout at her that Elven children are intelligent individuals who are fully capable of being raised without such harsh discipline.
 
She snorted in disagreement. “Of course not.” She said placatingly.
 
She said it was nice to meet us and with a huge hug for Grimaldus, bid us farewell.
 
Rhaego told Grimaldus that he better return before he was as old as their grandmother. I didn’t like thinking of the two of them, Rhaego and “grandmother” stuck here on this plane if something goes wrong. So, I asked Rhaego if he is familiar with magic. As he said he can use rudimentary magic, and scrolls, I gave him a scroll of sending, and told him that if he needs it, then he knows how to contact me.
 
The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted our conversation. The black cloaked figure of the Blood Lord approached, carrying Inira’s lifeless body in his arms. Purple bruises ringed her neck, and I could feel my heart drop out through my stomach. “What the f…” my words failed on my lips.
 
“I know what she did…” Grimaldus said.
 
“She made a choice.” The Blood Lord’s voice was emotionless.
 
I shook my head, willing what was in front of my eyes to be some kind of dark illusion. “She didn’t…”
 
“She did.” Grimaldus stated, his voice almost held a note of admiration… why, is something that I’m not willing to look at even now…
 
“She will awaken in the next day.” The Blood Lord stated implacably. “Make sure she does not see the sun. When she awakens, she will need to feed. Make sure…” he trailed off.
 
Then, he gently laid her body down near us, and said “Go forth, become legends.” Then, he turned around and walked back up the stairs to his shrine as though nothing had happened.
 
We returned to the material plane shortly thereafter… a much more somber group than when we left. We arrived far off in the desert, the wind was howling all around us.
 
Grimaldus led us north, toward the tombs of the primeval kings. We made camp in a set of ruins for the night.
 
And so, here I sit… Garrick’s hammer is weighing heavy at my side. I took it from Dekar’s body… I couldn’t bear to see one of the last remaining mementos of Garrick lost in the horrible plane.
 
I feel numb… as though this is all surreal and I might wake from a meditation and find that these past few hours were naught but a twisted dream. But alas, that is to the case… Dekar is gone. Inira is… well… it remains to be seen what she will be when she awakens. A vampire yes… but will she retain any aspect of herself or will she be as a ravenous beast? I don’t know. Nor, do I find myself able to stop thinking about it, even though I desperately wish my mind leave the dark thoughts behind. What if she awakens and we have to kill her?
 
I cannot help but wonder why… why would she take such a step so willingly… to seek it out. I know that she did mention it in passing before, but when the vampiress approached her before, it seemed like Inira was looking for a way to back out, to refuse the “blood kiss” as they call it. Maybe she made her decision too hastily, caught up in the tangle of sorrow that Dekar’s death, and refusal to return, must have overcome her? I know not… but I do feel like I lost two friends this day… I sit here and find my gaze unable to stray from Inira’s cold, lifeless body, laying across from me where Grimaldus set her.
 
I don’t know what to do… these past few days have been difficult. The flames of our campfire bring the smell of burning wood to my nostrils… which leads my mind back to the burning of Egig Ero Fa, Filandrel’s alleged treason, and Prince Oberon’s request of me… if he was even the prince at all…
 
As I think on it now, I cannot help but wonder… for, I’ve never met the prince in person… can I be certain that he wasn’t actually Filandrel in disguise? He told me himself that he has been many different people over the centuries, had many different faces… but that isn’t the only thing… my father is a friend of Filandrel’s… will his consequences bear ill for my parents?
 
Anxiety is rising in my chest, I need to make sure that they are safe… I need to go check on them, make sure everything is okay. I could leave right now, but I think I shall wait for Grimaldus, Rowan and Hasim to return. They said something about finding bandits and left shortly after we made camp.
 
It looks like the others are returning… I will talk to them and go to Alcarin as soon as I’m able…