Lillyanna Moonbreeze
Lillyanna Moonbreeze (a.k.a. Lilly (by friends and family) and Snow Lilly)
Well I guess I should start with telling you that my name is Lillyanna. I have been asked by Archdruidess Celote to put my life into writing.
I am unsure as to why she wishes this done. For me the beginning is not easy to tell but for everything that she has done for me, I can do at least this one small thing for her. I will have to start with what she has told me of the event, it starts on the day of the winter solstice many years ago.
As she heads for the meeting grounds, she takes in the beauty of the forest under a fresh blanket of snow. The snow had started at midday the day before forcing her to stop and take shelter with Tika, a female brown bear that has a den close by.
As she gets closer to the meeting grounds she is joined by a few of the other druids from the surrounding area that share the same destination. The greetings that are called out are in a tongue that, any casual listener would have not been able to understand a word that was uttered. As they talked amongst themselves and approached the meeting place, they hear the loud screech of an owl.
As they look up perched atop a large flat round stone with a circle hollowed out in the center was the familiar face of Sabine a beautiful white barn owl, and as she stood on the meeting table it almost appears as if she has been waiting for them to arrive. As Celote approaches to great her, Sabine tells her "follow, follow" as she hops around to the other side of the stone table looking back to see if the druidess is following. Once she satisfied that Celote is coming, Sabine takes flight to a nearby tree hollow calling "look, look".
When Celote get close enough to the tree she peeks inside to see a blanket wrapped bundle tucked into the hollow.
As she reaches in to grasp the bundle Sabine happily states "found it, kept it warm, knew you were coming". With that statement she very gently picks the bundle up to see what it is. What she finds shocks her to no end for as she moves the blanket aside she sees that what she holds is an infant, the first thing she does is quickly check to see if the infant is still breathing to her relief it is.
She turns quickly goes back over to the stone table that her companions have gathered around as they had watch her and Sabine and proceeds to try to clear the snow away as she tells them what Sabine had found. When enough snow is cleared away one of the other druids produced a blanket to put up on the table so that she may set the infant down. As she places the baby on the blanket and unwraps the one around the baby, she asks the other druids to go to the tree and see if they can find any trace of who may have left the child.
During her inspection she finds that the baby is an elven female about 1 to 2 weeds old and other than being very cold the child seems fine. In an attempt to warm the girl she puts her into her shirt to share her warmth. Once she is finished wiht this she turns to see if anybody has found anything that may shed some light on whom the little girl's parents are and what may have happened.
They spent an hour scouring the area but unfortunately do to the recent snowfall nothing was found, they even questioned some of the animals in the area but due to the snow all were in their dens. With nothing more being able to be done in search of the girls parents they turn their attention on preparing the meeting area for the arrival of the others, by starting the fire in the center and clearing of the snow off of the stone table. Over the next few hours the rest of the druids arrived. After sharing news and warnings, discussion turned over to what to do with baby, most were leaning towards picking a village that one of them could take her to on their way home. It was at this point that Celote felt the first movements of the child. She hurried back over to the blankets that has now been warmed by the fire, and proceeds to take the little girl from her shirt. Before the cold could affect the baby again she wraped her back up in the blanket she was found in.
With that task complete she looked too the babies face and see bright emerald green eyes staring back at her, her skin is pale as moonlight and she has enough hair to tell that it is the color of snow in the sun. It was at that moment that Celote knew exactly what to do with the baby, turning to look at the others she said " I will keep the child for I am the one who lives closest to here, and we will have Sabine keep an eye on this area to see if anyone ever returns looking for the girl." as the other druids nodded and agreed, some saying that perhaps the parents were in danger and had hidden the infant to protector her.
What Celote did not tell the others was that she had another reason she wanted to keep the baby with her, she had been longing for child of her own but had not found the right mate. But as much as she wanted a baby of her own, if the parents did return and had indeed hidden the child to protect her she would return her to her rightful mother. But no one ever came and after 5 years Celote relieved Sabine from having to watch the site, and began to believe that maybe The Oak Lord had gifted her with the one thing that she wanted most but had never asked for.
Life from then on was fairly normal or as normal as it could be with an Archdruidess for a mother, but I would not have traded it for anything in the world.
We lived on the outskirts of a small village named Eilingbrook and while I did spend sometime in the village when my mother was away, but when she was home I spent most of my time in the forest with her or playing by myself. As I grew older it became apparent that I had a natural talent for dealing with animals and a preference for being amongst trees and plants more than other people. On the day that I turn 25 mother had me tested by another druid to see if I had what was needed to become a druid, the next day my training begin. No matter how much I learned, there always seems to be something more that I had yet to discover. And yes I know that she is not my birth mother. That was something that she never hid from me, but she is the woman that raised me and taught me everything that I know, for that she will always be mother to me.
The only times that I do not refer to her as mother is when she is in the role of our leader, then she is Archdruidess Celote. There was the time that I never thought I would refer to her as such, but then the war started and many things changed. For 30 years the war raged on and had it not been for the Heroes Of The Vale all would have been lost. For they were able to hold Lorithra forces on the plains giving enough time for King Lorian and a combined army of man, elf, halfling, and dwarfs to scatter the remaining forces. Sadly not all made it through the battle, Liu the Hammer was lost, along with so many others.
When the war ended I was given a task by Archdruidess Celote. For the past 30 years I have lived on my own in the forests of landry vale. As I practiced my craft caring for the different animal and plant life of the forest, I soon figured out that there is always something new to learn. But it looks like my solitude is to end for I received a message from my Archdruidess, stating that she needs me to go to Orthon and that she had already arranged an escort for me. When I got to the town at which I am to meet the escort, I'm relieved to find that mother was there too and I got to see her before I left. She was very vague and danced around my questions as to why she wishes me to go to Orthon, but I will do what she asks of me.I must admit I am nervous at the thought of being around so many people, after being mostly alone for all this time.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
She has a slight but curvy build thou her robes tended to hide it before she had some cloths modified to make travailing easier for her
Body Features
First thing you would notice about her is that her hair is a silvery white color, when unbound falls to the back of her calf and she does't where her hood outside shines like snow in the sun and her skin is pale as moonlight
Facial Features
She has an oval shaped face with a button nose, full lips, forest green eyes and a kind smile
Identifying Characteristics
silvery white hair and forest green eyes
Apparel & Accessories
she wears a loose fitting green shirt with brown pants with a modified green skirt that goes over the pants to give the appearance of traditional druid robes and has a necklace that is a piece of metal pressed to look like an oak leaf with a green pearl made to look like an acorn
Social
Family Ties
Gashak Redblade (Mate)
Nelebrie Song Redblade (Daughter)
Current Location
Faribyr
Alignment
Neutral Good
Age
161
Date of Birth
Winters Edge 21st
Birthplace
Unknown
Children
Current Residence
Faribyr
Gender
Female
Eyes
Green
Hair
Silvery White
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale White
Height
5'9''
Weight
120
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
wondering thoughts
I can not believe that I let myself become so distracted that 3 giant hyenas and another creature were able to get into camp and attack with me not hearing them. But no mater how much I tell myself that I need to put half of these thoughts to the side and focus on a plan to free Rosaria before this Lord Barrington, no before this man, because from what Gashak told me he is no true lord, knows what we are the for and can not use her against us. So far I have yet to come up with a plan that I think will work, I think we all need to sit down and talk to see if we can come up with a plan together and I can tell the others what Gashak told me about Barrington and what he told me of Hawold. You would think that after writing that down, that is what I would be focused on but my mind keeps going to what happen after Gashak and I spared and talked, to what happened in the counsel chamber and what we talked about the next morning, I am still unsure of what will happen between us when we get back but I need to put that out of my mind for the time being and focus on helping Slinger
A promise made
With everything that's happened I'm surprised I'm still awake enough to write this. It has been a stressful and emotional few days after what happen in Paburh with Lachlan and what we found in the temple. The hardest was trying to figure out how to tell Cerrydwen that I had failed in the task she gave me that i was unable to heal him when he fell. When we made it back to Faribyr we find that the aid Gunthar had called for had arrived and meet his commander Ryany, we tell her what we know and looking over a map we think we may now know where the men from Drafalls might have been taken. I then with Leaf take Lachlan to Unhf and tell her what happened, she gathers some things and we go to her grove where I find she has a communication bowl as well. When Unhf activates the bowl, I see my mother and when she sees Unhf and the look on her face as she tells her that something bad has happened she thinks that something happened to me. I step forward quickly so she can see me and she thanks The Oak Lord that I am safe, I then tell her about Lachlan and she calls for the queen and I have to tell her that her brother is gone. She orders mother to open a tree gate and in the next moment they are both here. Cerrydwen goes to her brother and after a few minutes with him tells us to prepare him to be laid to rest in the morning as she leaves the grove. I watch her go not sure of what to say or do when i feel a familiar hand on my shoulder, as I turn to see my mother I am still at a loss of words and it is like she knows and just pulls me close. We spend a few moments together before helping with Lachlan and as we finish Unhf's mate Ealdhet enters the grove it is apparent that he will be Lachlan's guard for the night and after thanking him I go to find Cerrydwen. When I do find her she is in the long house talking to Gashak, not wanting to interrupt I wait a respectful distance for them to be finished and The Queen to call me forward. When she does I approach and bow ready for what ever she decides, as she rises form the throne and approaches I keep my eyes down but stand tall and ready for what ever she decides, coming to stand infront of me she says my name and as I look up and meet her eyes, she embraces me and tells me that this is not my fault, I return her embrace as relief rushes through me but I will not lose my best friend. As we part and talk turns to what happened, I make a promise to her that I hope will not cost me the friendship of another. Soon the four of us are sitting listening to Cerrydwen share stories of happier times with Lachlan. As the night goes on I find myself falling asleep only to be awoken by a hand on my shoulder and Gashak saying that I should go get some sleep to which I agree and we say our goodbyes as mother and I head for the Ravens house.
Entry 4
A few days ago we had two tigers enter our camp having been drawn by the smell of our fresh kills. Gunthar, Rowan and, Isaac were able to easily take care of both animals before Slinger and I had a chance to react. The next night during third watch with only Gunthar and I awake, I glanced around and notice that Slinger is missing. As I look around camp for him I alert Gunthar and proceeds to look for any sign of where he might be. I'm able to find some tracks leading away from camp towards the River, I tell Gunthar to stay at camp and guard the others well I go check down by the River for Slinger. At first he is reluctant to let me go but I am able to reassure him that if I need help I will call out.
As I get to the River I lose the tracks and am unable to find any sign of where he went, since I am out of sight of camp I decide to take a different approach and change into a giant hyena an animal native to this area in hopes that I may find him. Alas I am unsuccessful and find no trace of him, I search for an hour as a hyena with no success and another 3 hours on top of that in my normal form. As I hear the others at camp begin to call out for us, I am down at the river and feel like tug on my cloak. When I turn to see I find Slinger rubbing the sleep from his eyes and the first thing I do is drop to my knees and hug him. As I pull away I ask him firmly why he was left camp. It turns out he had moved away from camp and slept beneath a fallen log, because of a loud incident involving Isaac, Rockwell, and Mawinai he felt safer a little further away. And while I am relieved to find him safe and unharmed, I was hurt at the fact that he did not feel safe with me. Maybe I should tell him, tell them all really what I am able to do. I know I should have done so already but there's been too many times when someone has found out, and thought me either nothing more than a mindless beast or something to be feared and I dread to see my companions look up on me in such a way.
I do scold him a bit and I make him promise me that if nothing else he will tell me where he's going, so that if something were to happen I would be able to find him. Thankfully he readily agrees and as I rise back to my feet the others find us, Rowan and Isaac are relieved to find us safe and give us a warning about the large tracks that they found. I am able to tell them what made the tracks and to not worry about it as it is obviously left the area. As Gunthar approaches Slinger sees him and he does not look happy. Slinger quickly ducks behind me as Gunthar tells me to move so he can get to Slinger and more than likely tell him exactly what I already have. I refuse to move and explain to Gunthar that I have already talked with Slinger and he has promised that should he need to leave camp again he will tell me where he's going. I think Gunthar was just as worried as the rest of us.
On our third day in the grasslands, as we are headed over a small hill Isaac catches the smell of cooking fires on the wind. As we cautiously approach the hill crest trying to keep low to try not to be spotted we see what looks to be an outpost of some kind. Before we can discern anything about the outpost the gates open and five worg riders burst from the gate at full speed headed right for us. Within moments two more groups are spotted coming from either side, totaling fifteen riders in all. Gunthar is quick to react and gets us into a formation with him facing forward Isaack facing the group coming from our left, Rowan facing the group coming from the right, and Slinger and I in the middle. As the riders bear down on us I turn and take a knee in front of Slinger grasping both of his shoulders, I tell him that no matter what happens to stay with me to trust me and I will protect him, he is hesitant but agrees. When I get back to my feet singer moves up behind me and I drap my cloak around him to help further shield him.
As the riders get closer and change their formation, Rowan is able to spot the symbol upon their shields and armor. What he relays to us gives me hope that we may survive. For what he describes is the green Oakleaf of Silvaus, The Forest Father who names among his followers Rangers and Druids although it is strange to find them this far from the woods. Armed with this information I go step around Gunthar to try and stop the charge, Gunthar siming to sense the movement more than see put his arm out to keep me behind him. I quickly explain what the symbol means and ask him to trust me, to my relief he allows me forward as I call out in a language known only to the druids friends. The riders in front change formation once more into a spearhead, I try once more to call out but this time using both druidic and common. For a moment I feel that I am wrong and that maybe the armor had been stolen by followers of Cyric or even bandits, and that in trusting me my companions may be hurt or even killed. Too my utter relief the rider of the lead group pulls up rains and gives a signal to stop the charge.
The leader of this group is named Captain Conri, he demands to know what we are doing here. As I explain to him that we are here looking for 50 missing people from the village of Drafalls. Gunthar stays very close to my back ready at a moments notice should these men become hostile to us. He tells us that they have seen many warbands but none who had prisoners with them. As I begin to believe that we will be allowed to continue on our way when Captain Conri tells us he will take us to the leader of the outpost, who will decide whether were telling the truth or not and to surrender our weapons. Seeing as we are still outnumbered we reluctantly agree and it takes a little bit of coaxing on my part do you have Gunthar hand over his weapons as well. As Conri looks around and asks where our fifth member was, for their reports noted that there were supposed to be five. It is at this moment that I realize they have not spotted Slinger and I do my best not to look to the place I saw him last. Not knowing what lies ahead of us and in an attempt to protect him, I look right at Conri and tell him that his report was wrong that they have only ever been four of us.
I gave thanks to The Supreme Ranger what it became apparent that he believed me. It was then that he ordered our hands be bound that things went from bad to worse very quickly. Where Rowan and Isaac agreed, Isaac to be bound by not only his hands but by his feet too as well as being gagged. Gunthar did not agree and to see him bound as he put it "like a criminal" was too much. So I offered myself to Conri as hostage to make sure that he would not be bound, Conri was hesitant to agree but did only after telling Gunthar that if he did not cooperate it would be my head that was taken instead of his.I look back only once to see him watching me like an owl watch is a field mouse. I hope that he is not upset with me for putting myself in this position but it was the only option I saw the time. The trip to the village was uneventful and as we approached we see two figures standing there as if to welcome us.
As we get closer to the town there are two figures waiting is if to greet us. The first is an orc female wearing a green robe, the second was a human male in simple pants and shirt and a cloak with a bow slung over his back and a wolf lounging between them. Once more we are asked why we are here and believing one or both of them to be the leaders of the village, I explain once more about the missing people you're trying to find. They tell us the same thing that Captain Conri told us, and as it turns out they are advisers to the leader of the town. As we walk I realize that the female is familiar to me, but I can not recall a name but I will have to ponder that later as we approach their meeting hall. As we are lead in we are met with the opposing sight of a large half orc standing almost as tall as Gunthar. I have him confirm that he is leader of this village stating that I have told the reason we are here twice before and I do not wish to repeat it a fourth time should he not be. He confirms that he is the leader and tells us that his name is Goshak. He asked me what brought us here and the only reason I can see for the response that I gave for it was not diplomatic in the slightest was my worry over Slinger, for I told him that it was his guard captain that brought us here. As I tell them yet again why we are here it becomes clear but he does not believe us. It is here that I can take it no longer and I ask the orc female if we have met before because she seems familiar to me, at this she and Gashak share a look but no answer is given.
Gashak seems to think for a moment and tells us that we are to bring back proof of our mission, if we do not the next we are seen in the area we will be considered an enemy as he says this he signals for someone to cut the ropes binding us. Before I can ask what he requires as proof he dismisses us saying that we are free to move about the town and that the inn should have beds available for us. When we are lead back outside and pointed towards the direction of the inn. As I start to look around to see if I can spot Captain Conri, Gunthar comes up beside me and ask me quietly what we should do about Slinger just as I spot the Captain he sees me as well. As I look up at him I tell him I am working on that right now, and ask him to take the others to the inn while I speak with the Captain. Conri watches me as I approach once I am close enough I tell him that I need go back to where they found us, to this he tells me he could have someone take me but he would need a good reason as to why. Even though I am hesitant I know he would be safer with us here then out on the plains alone at night so I tell Conri about Slinger. He agrees that he should not be out there alone at night and he calls over one of the other guards and telling him to take me. As the other male mounts up on a worg I have just enough time to think the captain before the guard offers me a hand up and we bound out the gate.
Thankfully it does not take too long to find Slinger but had I not been actively looking for him, I might have missed him entirely. The only thing that I saw was a slight movement in the grass and hoping that it was him I called out, watching him pop up out of the grass was such a relief. I quickly dropped from the worg and rush to him dropping to my knees, and looking him over to make sure that he is alright once satisfied I pulled him into a hug. I fill him in on what happened and that the others are waiting for us at the inn in town. I rise to my feet and motion for him to come with me towards the guard who is still mounted. He shakes his head no as he looks to the guard and his mount cautiously and says that he would prefer to walk. Knowing that it would take some time walk and not wanting to be away longer than necessary I come to a decision. I ask him how much he trusts me, and I am happy with his answer I just hope after this that he still does. I take several steps back away from him so that there is a good distance between us and I change shape, into something large enough for him to ride and fast enough to keep up with the worg. I become a dire wolf. I try and keep eye contact with him through the change and hope that he realizes that it is still me and that I have not frightened him.
My fears are unfounded though for looking at him all I see is wonder and he slowly reaches a hand forward as I draw closer. I place my muzzle in his hand and slowly turn to keep contact so that his hand stays on my side as I turn and lay down offering my back for him to climb on, to my joy he does not hesitate. We make it back to town fairly quickly as soon as we are safely within the gates I lay down and let Slinger off my back and take my normal form, it's here that I ask him to keep secret what I can do. I tell him that I will tell the others I just have not found the right moment yet, and explain that more often than not people react badly when they find out what I can do. When we get to the inn everyone is relieved to see Slinger is alright. As we proceed to order food and drink it is here I find out that Isaac will only drink water so i give him my skin. Then when Slinger orders a drink the bar keep ask if he's even old enough to drink, he says yes telling her he is 19 and as been drinking for ages now. But the look she gave him said that she didn't believe him but then she said coin is coin and served him his drink. As we wait for our food Rowan attempts to serenade in elven female. Long story short it did not workout so well for she is mated it to another. As we finish our food and sip on our drinks enjoying each other company. We begin to discuss that we don't know what will be accepted as proof that we were truthful of mission, I resolve to ask for a meeting in the morning with Gashakto find out what he will accept as proof.
Our moment of relaxation is interrupted when several guard and the orc female enter the inn and head right for me. Before anyone else can react Gunthar on his feet between us and the guards. I quickly moved to his side to try to keep things calm and find out what it is that they want, orc female wants to speak with me privately. Gunthar tells her no and looking at the others I see that they are apprehensive as well. Despite my own nerves about the situation I calmly agree to go with her, and reassure them that it's alright. As I follow her the guards fall in around us almost as an honor guard. After a few moments of walking we come up to a building to which she opens the door and gestures for me to precede her inside. As I cautiously step into the room I am greeted with the modest common area of a home, with a fire going and a stow cooking in the fireplace with two chairs in front facing each other. Looking around the room as the female closes the door behind us, I notice the male adviser that we had met at the gate seated at the table. As we perceive further into the room the female offers me one of the seats by the fire the male stands and says that he will leave us to talk as he heads for the door.
Once he is left she turns to face me fully before saying in druidic that she has let my mother know that I'm here and safe, it is with those words and the language which they are spoken in that I relax completely and continue our conversation in the tongue we don't get to use often. It is after she tells me her name is Uhnf did I remember who she is and apologize to her for not remembering sooner. She accepts the apology but tells me that it is unnecessary and tells me that she was surprised to see me this far from home. I tell her that mother set me to Orthon with not much instruction as to what to do when I got there, to which she tells me that I am on my gauntlet, a test of leadership for druids. For a moment I'm left speechless, to know that my mother has that much faith in me to send me on a gauntlet I hope that I can make her proud. I tell her that she had me a little on edge with the guards at the inn to which she replies that her son wants to keep mother safe, to which I ask her if Gashak is her son. She confirms this and tells me that I am very observant and as I decide to ask her the questions that I would have asked her son. The door open suddenly and there stands Slinger ,Uhnf gives him a look and i just smile, he must have followed and gotten past the guards without anybody seeing him.
He strides confidently into the room and takes up a spot next to me much as a bodyguard would do. As we continue our conversation where we left off I ask her what proof her son would find acceptable. She tells me to look for any documentation of what could potentially be going on, scrolls , papers or if one of the villages we are looking may have heard something to bring them there first. She also shares with me that the outpost that we were looking for is not as it sounds but is in fact a cave system south-east of here. As our talk comes to a close I thank her for all the information she is provided. As we rise to leave she tells Slinger to keep me safe to which he replies that's why I'm here, halfway to the door the human male return and greets Uhnf with a kiss on the cheek as he heads for the stew over the fire while she sees Slinger and I the rest of the way to the door. As we walk back to the inn I wonder if that male is her mate and Gashak's father. Before I have anymore time to ponder this further we arrive back at the inn and as soon as we enter Gunthar comes up to show me that he is won some money in a new game, I ask him what the name of the game was and he told me gambling. I spend the next few minutes explaining to him what gambling is and then ask him who taught him how to gamble, it's in this moment that I realize Gunther is terrible at deception and eventually get him to tell me that it was Isaac.
The next morning after we woke up we come into the common room for breakfast only to see that there are about 50 copies of Rockwell in different shapes and sizes scattered throughout the room and Rowan has return from his night out. During breakfast none of us acknowledged or even looked at the rocks scattered around the room. After breakfast we head out to resupply and see what we can find anything else we might need. It is during this time that Isaac tells me that is putting together a disguise of a Cyric priest in case we need it, as we look around for anything else that he might need Gunthar comes around the corner very quickly. He tells me that the blacksmith is a dragonborn female and there's a weapon that he wants to show me, Isaac asked to come along because if he can get a hold of the weapon for a few minutes he might be able to see if it has any magical properties to it. When we reach the blacksmith I see that she is beautiful with bronze coloring and stunning blue eyes. Gunthar approaches and asks for the weapon so he can show it to Isaac and myself, as Isaac start examining the maul I watch Gunthar interact with the blacksmith. I get the feeling that he might like her and he does not know what to say, so to try to help him I wave him over and have him bend down so I can whisper to him quietly to compliment her eyes to tell her that her eyes rival that is most beautiful sapphires. I did not realize that a dragonborn could blush but she does. Their talk must have gone well for after we purchased the maul that Isaac said had something magical to it, they made plans for when we come back through here to have dinner together.
Entry 5
The last few days have been very hectic we did manage to get everyone safely to Faribyr with some help from two other druids I had not seen in some time, Uthran and his younger sister Eifendry. I wish they had only been there to help but they where looking for me to deliver a communication bowl, on the other side was Queen Cerrydwen and Archdruidess Celote. They had received reports of undead in the area, I filled them in on what little we knew. Cerrydwen then told me that Lachlan maybe headed this way, he was last seen between Wamor and the twins and if I did find him she asked that I render what aid I could. I need to speak to the others to let them know that they are not obligated to help me but ask if they will help me should Lachlan appear. A days walk from Faribyr as Gunthar and I setup for first watch I spotted campfires in the distance and they were directly in our path to Faribyr. After pointing them out to Gunthar, we alerted the others and come up with a plan for Slinger and I to leave ahead of the others to find out who the fires belonged to. Knowing what I had to do to prepare I left to take my rest as the others decided if the would stay here or follow a few hours behind. When I awoke a few hours later Gunthar told me that he knew what was in the camp and that we did not need to go but would not give more details in tell everyone was awake, so I let Slinger sleep.
As dawn breaks and everyone begins to stir, I first wake Gunthar and then Slinger. Slinger seems confused as to why I have woken him so late I quickly explain that something happened last night that changed our plans and Gunthar wanted everyone awake before he explained what had occurred. What he tells us is that last night in emissary of the platinum dragon Albacur visited him and showed him what we would find in the camp, as well as the fact that Paburh had already fallen, and that Albacur had a message for Kuldak as well. With this new information we replanned what we were to do and decided that our best course of action would be to head northwest to circle around Faribyr add approach for the northgate. The day goes by rather uneventful and just as I believe we will get to Faribyr with no problems I see Slinger, who is being are forward scout suddenly crouch down and I quickly call halt to the children and have everybody crouch low in the grass. As I look ahead I see the southerns gates of Faribyr as well as 4 ogres and 10 hobgoblins assaulting the walls with a battering ram. The decision is quickly made to hide Ithren, Rainan, and the children to render aid as the gates crack open. As we're moving into position I see the gates open and Sila, Uhnf as she takes the form of a brown bear as I did, and Gashak take the field and I see Uhnf's mate the Ranger up on the wall with his longbow ready. We decide to creep up on the attackers flank and get as close as we can before we launch the attack on Gunthar signal, and with the help of a spell I was going to use with the children we are able to get within striking distance undetected.
After the battle Gashak leads us to the main long house and has Isaac, Gunthar, and myself follow to a back room. He asked a question that I do not think any of us were truly prepared for but we all answered the same. The question was what we call ourselves and we answered The Raven Alliance, he then asked who was the leader and Gunthar answered all of us, that we make the decisions together Gashak seems please with this answer saying as it should be. as we continue talking we share what we learned in the cave and what I was told by Queen Cerrydwen and Archdruidess Celote and that Lachlan may be in the region. With our talk over I believed we would return to the others but it seemed Gashak had something else in mind as Uhnf approaches me with rope and a clothe blindfold and I see Gashak go to Gunthar and the ranger to Isaac. She asks for my hands and trusting her I hold them out letting myself be bound and blindfolded. I hear the others do the same as we are lead back to the other I can not help but wonder what he has planed. To say it did not go well would be putting it lightly, even with us reassuring them Slinger sounded scared and disappeared, Kuldak drew his weapon and left, Rowan was the only one who stayed, he played his dulcimer and started to sing. After we where freed I tried to find Slinger but could not, so I followed the others as Gashak, Uhnf, and her mate lead us to a building and he tells us that it is now ours and to rest for the night but I want to try to find Slinger and I need to speak with Gashak about a few things before I take my rest and there are many things I need to think about like how I did not take notice that Gunthar was hurt or the strange feeling I get when I look at.... someone. I need to figure out what this feeling is I have not felt it before, maybe tonight after everyone is asleep I will go to Uhnf's grove to meditate and pray for guidance to try to figure it out.
Uncertainty
You think with everything that has happened over the last few days between trekking through the swamps, finding the cave, and nearly losing Gunther and Isaac not once but twice each. That between the orcs, orc chieftain, the half ogre's, the undead, and the retreat from the cave. Of the undead coming out of the cave, being injured, and finding a new potential ally, and finding sadly only some of the villagers but what appears to be all the children and two women, the man being sent East and the secret that I have guarded from my companions coming out. That the only thing that I can think about is the first time but I saw brown bear. Her name was Tika and I was about 5 years old at the time, it was springtime probably a couple of months out of hibernation for her and her two cubs. I don't remember why we were out there just that my mother had to do something what I do remember is just running around and playing with the two bear cub while our mothers walk side by side. You think with everything that's happened and as I sit here and watch everyone sleep that I be thinking about the trip back and making sure that the children stay safe on the trip back to Faribyr but all I can think about is that day spent playing in the warm spring air with Tika's cubs. I need to talk to the others in the morning try to explain why I kept secret what I can do and see what happens from there, I hope they will understand and let me stay. I do not want to lose this friendship that I have with them, at least I believe this is friendship growing up the way that I did, with my mother being who she is, I only had one friend growing up so I hope that they do not see me like others do when they find out that I can become something totally different from what I actually am, and that they do not believe where I am just a wild animal that can take a elvin form. I think I will try to talk to Gunther first and I just hope that he still trust me even just a little bit.
To share a secret
I guess I should give an explanation on why I did not want to tell my companions that I could change my shape. It is not a long explanation but I think it is justified. Since I started the path of the druid, there have been several different reactions to my ability to change my form into that of animal. The first being curiosity usually from nobles or Wizards and in my opinion not the good kind of curiosity. They did not just want ask questions to better understand the ability. But wanted to for lack of a better expression poke the bear and see what would happen as if I was no longer myself but a true bear, or study me as if I were some curiosity they could take apart to see how it works.
The second was fear this usually from the more common people. Whether I use the shape to try to help them with a task like moving a heavy object is a bear, or even save their life from a group of bandits as a direwolf. It was almost always the same they would run from me in terror or plead for me not to hurt them, as if I was suddenly some bloodthirsty unthinking monster. Then there is the last which is more of an extension of fear, violence. For sometimes the ones that would run would come back with others and those that were frightened would stop begging and attack. Whether I was still in animal form or back as myself, not understanding the difference between me and some wild animal.
After a short time I became hesitant to reveal my abilities to anyone who did not already know them or that knew the difference such as other druids or even rangers. People who would not attack on sight or want to keep lock me up somewhere for study, if I were to use the ability. I guess when it comes to my companions my main fear is it they will either look at me differently and not trust me, or not want to be anywhere near me after finding out thinking I may suddenly turn on them. But I need to tell them for it is not fair to Slinger to have him keep this secret from everyone just for my sake. Now I just need to work up the courage to do so.
Entry 3
The council members have provided us rooms for the night and anything else that we might need for the journey ahead. For the most part everything was quiet for the night and I was able to find some ingredients to make us some stew.
Rowan did his best to lift the spirits of the townspeople and it seem to help quite a bit, as Gunther talked with the guards and helped make sure that everything was secure for the night.I also saw Isaac talking to Brother Gundar about something before being lead out of the cathedral by a guard, he return not too long after so I assume it wasn't anything bad, I need to remember to ask him what it was for.
After the stew was finished and we went to retire for the evening I notice that Slinger still had not returned and set him aside some food. After we are shown our room Isaac sets up an alarm with Rockwell on guard duty, the more time that I spend in Isaacs company I have to wonder about the rock if it is more than what it appears to be.
I am still not sure what Slinger did for the night but when I awoke I found him asleep on the lounge in my room, he is very skilled for one so young. I decide to leave him to his rest and head down the library to see if I can find any information about the possible train we are headed into. We are to head East and we should encounter forest and hills before we make it to the swamplands that we believe the villagers may have been taken to. With that task completed I turned to see if I can find anything else of interest to read, when I come across The Tales of Rothgar the Stout it appears to be the only book that has nothing have to do with laws and such.
So I take it back upstairs, as I start to read the book turns out it's a book better suited for the fireplace in my opinion. I don't understand how it came to be in the library of the cathedral, perhaps somebody left it there by accident. After I quickly close the book and push it away I decide to meditate instead, trying to get the images of the book out of my head. I eventually succeed and soon I hear Rowan and Gunthar awaken followed closely by Isaac for I here him it the hall talking with Rockwell, I decide to stay and wait for Slinger to wake up before joining the others downstairs.
When he does wake he seems nervous for the fact that I had woken before him. After a short conversation he seems surprised but I did not mind that he was there, and he informed me that most would have been upset if in my position. After reassuring him that I was indeed not upset we preceded to head downstairs to join the others. The scene in the kitchen was....interesting to say the least.
As Slinger and I walk into the kitchen it it looks like a small whirlwind came through and pulled everything from the cabinets and flung it around. We see Rowan sitting at a table that has Rockwell with an Apple in front of it, and Gunthar with bacon hanging out of his mouth playing tug of war with Isaac for the rest of the bacon as Isaac states that Rockwell wants some too. Thankfully I am able to calm things down fairly quickly and it was quickly decided that stew was wanted again for breakfast. Part way through making breakfast Brother Gundar enters grabs an apple as he takes in the state of the room and informs us that they will be ready to leave within the hour.
As we gather last minute supplies and bid farewell to the council members and villagers, with promises to do what we can to return their loved ones. The journey start out interestingly enough as we learn that apparently Rowan was taught directions incorrectly, as he first starts to lead us North where apon I reminding him we are supposed to be headed East he turns and tries to take us South. After that Isaac decides to lead the way and is better then Rowan was but still needs minor course correction. We pick up the tracks of the attacking force fairly easily making it a little easier.
As we are about to enter a forest I catch a noise on the wind that sounds like a woman singing. I stop and alert the group to what I hear and Isaac hears it as well. Rowan makes a suggestion for Slinger to go ahead and take a look for how quietly he's able to move. After a few moments we see him come running back through the trees, as he gets closer to us he calls out that its ladybirds. After he describes them to us I realize that they are harpes I give out a warning to my companions that their song can be hypnotic and try not to listen.
As the harpes charge and the battle commences Rowan is taken in by the first harpes song. Thankfully within a few moments we have the upper hand as Isaac strikes a fatal blow on the first freeing Rowan, as moments later Gunthar cleeves the second in half. At this point I find that Isaac heard Slinger wrong when he called out ladybirds. He believes that these creatures are a new type of ladybug even after I explained it to him that it is a harpy, and proceeds to take one of the heads for further study.
That night while Isaac is on last watch I hear something move around in the camp, as I precede to investigate I find it is coming from one of our packs. As I approach it pulls it's head out of the bag, and I'm surprise that I recognize the creature for it is one of the fairy Dragons we met on our way to Drafalls. I wake Slinger to show him as Isaac joins us, and see if he remembers.
As I converse with her I come to find out her name is Mawinia and she has been looking for us, specifically for Slinger who she wants to protect her. It turns out not too long after we had come across them so did some of the orcs working for the black priests, and killed the other who was her child. The next evening as we set up camp Slinger and I go hunting with Mawinia, and with her help are able to take down two antelope.
As we return to camp with the spoils from our hunt Gunther is so enthusiastic in his congratulations for a successful hunt, that he pats me on the back with enough force to send me to the ground. This did not sit very well with Slinger.
The next morning it seems that Isaac and Gunthar got into a little bit of a contest, that ended up with Gunthar's urine on Isaac's boot. It is also at this point that it is realized that Gunthar and Rowan had not noticed that Mawinia had joined us 3 days ago.
Entry 2
The first night we camped on land started peacefully but in the early morning hours just before sunrise Gunther gave out a warning shout of an attack as we were set upon by hobgoblins.The fight did not last long as Rowan, Taiah, and Slinger struck the final blows in the battle.
As we when to check on the other passengers find that some were injured but thankfully nothing serious and the captain arguing with an elven man that the captain introduces as Brother Gundar a council member of Drafalls, who is trying to convince the captain to continue on to his village instead of turning around. Most of us agree to make the journey on foot with Brother Gundar to try to help with the pirates that have been plaguing that stretch of river.
Unfortunately by the time we arrived the village had been attacked and we learned that at least 50 people had been taken by a group working with or for the Black Priests of Cyric.
We have agreed to try to track down the missing people and do what we can to free them, while Gunther has sent word to his order asking for assistance, I can only pray that they can send help in time but until then we will do what we can to help these people.Plus I still have a few tricks that might just help us pull this off
Entry 1
I received a letter today from my Archdruidess with a leather bound journal and a few coins seems the eagle was a little late getting to Orthon and had to track me up the river thankfully he showed up on my first watch and was quiet or he would have probably scared someone. It seems she wants me to keep a journal about what i do from here on out, I do not understand why she wants me to do this or why she sent me to Orthon. I am currently traveling with a group to Wamor to help a young halfling named Slinger find a god to help guide his path.
The other with us are Taiah who is a halfling who was kind enough to purchase food for me when I arrived before Rowan a gnome bard was able to get us rooms and food for our stay at the broken arrow, Issac is a tiefling with qn interesting relationship with a rock by the name of sir Rockwell, then there is Gunther a dragonborn paladin that was able to get us passage on a ferry going up river.
They have been very kind to me so far and do not seem to mind that I am quite most of the time and just seem to listen when conversations start. It is strange being around people again and I hope that ill be able to find my voice again soon, if my Archdruidess could see me now she would think I was ill for she could never get me to be this quiet around others before my journey.
