#noble/servant storyweaver

[dildemma]

Can’t do anything but sketches these days. Too deep in exam stress.

[firelight-tales-of-exandria]

Firelight Tales of Exandria, Ch.13 - “Refugitive”

Thank you all for coming, and let’s tell some stories...

“When we last left the party, there was a palpable sense of tension in the room: Certain figures from various party members’ past resurfaced in ‘complicated fashion.’ The party had met Ghurvoon, a colleague of Cezika’s, who was in Westruun because of another past acquaintance involving the real reason the thief had moved to Tal’Dorei, and Song had discovered one of Nakiya’s stress outlets in beating

“Reconvening in a private room at the Sloppy Satyr, and as dirty laundry started being aired, a recurring motion arose once more: despite putting their trust in him, the reason for Song wishing to stay out of the investigation in their claim on the bounty seems to be raising more and more complications. It seems that exploring this part of Song’s past, that he has been so reticent to address, is on the verge of inevitability. As Ghurvoon takes his leave, journeying to the west to tug on the strings of Cezika’s past, we are left with another dangling thread...”

Song briefly leaves to change out of his flower girl outfit. After changing, but before ducking back to meet the others, he sees Aeden (the owner of the Sloppy Satyr) exchanging words with Dren Kilgannon (high priest of the Platinum Dragon temple in Westruun). Song can’t quite make out their conversation, and Dren quickly departs as he noticed them being watched.

Song tries to reach out to Aeden, but the bartender kindly dismissed his concerns, so the bard rejoins the group.

Song: “You know you could always come drink with us. I”m sure that’s a great way to run an establishment. I did work for someone who was drunk most of the time.”

Aeden: “Truth be told, not much of a drinker these days.”

After much stalling and nervous dithering, Song says he is on the run from powerful figures in the Syngorn military and tries to blow past the party’s prodding for details. His mother was a prospective Dreamweaver who had a dalliance with a passing human, leading to Song being born. The elven prejudice against half-breeds alienated Song’s mother from her family and social circle, until a young Song managed to rescue a traveling noble elf-child.

In gratitude, the noble family agreed to bring Song’s mother back into the Syngorn fold provided Song become the attache to their child, Oryen Teyr. Song then grew up as Oryen’s shadow, trying to keep the reckless elf out of the constant trouble he was looking for. Song always shouldered the blame for Oryen’s hellraising, trying in vain to prove himself of value to the family.

Song: “Everywhere we went it was, y’know, ‘Oh, look, look how merciful these generals are! They took in this half-elf bastard out of the goodness of their hearts, and how nice it is to have a little mongrel around to do anything for the family!’ And I would have. I did everything for them. And for Oryen.”

Despite the suffering and humiliation of being their personal whipping boy, Song held out hope that they would hold up their end of the bargain and send him off to a prestigious elven university; which they did, but as Oryen’s servant.

One day, while in Emon, Oryen went off to explore the dark undercity. Song refused to accompany him, fed up with his bullshit and knowing the Clasp called those tunnels home. The next day, Song heard the news that a young elf had been found beaten to death near a Clasp hideout. Fearing being tracked down by the Teyrs, Song vanished and has been on the run since.

The party tries to speak some sense to Song, saying it wasn’t his fault that someone so self-absorbed and reckless got themselves killed, but it proves extremely difficult for him.

Ladryssa vows to protect and avenge Song if the Teyrs come for him, which he quickly tries to discourage. Shadow says that since Song was not there, he doesn’t even know for certain that it was Oryen who died.

Song: “Ah-uh-whua...”

Shadow: “There are no other elves in this Emon place?”

Song: “Look, you’re starting to freak me out here. If I’ve been on the run for ten years [for nothing], I am absolutely going to shit a brick.”

Shadow: “That sounds painful.”

Shadow fails to see the link between the Teyrs and the Margrave. Song admits his paranoia isn’t healthy but it has kept him alive for a decade, and refuses to let others be put in danger for his sins. Shadow says they know much better than Song understands.

Shadow: “You are not dragging us. I take that back: I cannot speak for everyone else. You are not dragging me along. In fact, I run. I always run. I always run alone. I do not want to continue to run alone. It is an invitation.”

Nakiya: “It seems that most of us here seem to be running from something. It would make sense to start running together.”

The group hears the faint ringing of a bell hidden in the wall of the room. At first they think it was the bell that rings the time of day but are certain not that much time has passed. Cezika instead thinks it may be a signal.

Cezika: “A sign in a metaphorical sense, in terms of a code or communication method. You ring the bell so many times, so you know to drop your stash and run.”

Leaf: “If we do not understand what they are trying to tell us, why are they trying to tell us in a way we do not understand?”

Cezika: “Because some things are universal.”

Leaf: “A bell ringing four times is not universal.”

Shadow points out the sound of voices coming form outside the room, and Song says it could be Dren and Aeden arguing again, worrying Leaf.

Peeking out from the room, the party sees a small squad of Westruun Shields questioning Aeden.  Realizing Nakiya vanished from under guard while the barracks was in lockdown after a murder, the group believes they are in danger.

The group tries to come up with some form of escape plan. Song mentions they have a couple pinches of dust of disappearance, so he wants to try smuggling Nakiya out. Leaf and Shadow also mention they can turn invisible. Ladryssa says that making a distraction means only Nakiya has to be invisible.

Cezika: *out of patience* “Song, I know you are using humor as a deflection device to hide you pain, and I appreciate and acknowledge that; but please tell me you know not to snort or eat this powder.”

Song: “..........you have really pretty eyes.”

Shadow: “This is not the time!”

Cezika, Ladryssa, and Leaf loudly exit the front, through the group of troops, as Shadow and Nakiya try to invisibly navigate the tavern. Song, attempting to provide further distraction, exits the room last, drawing the attention of one of the Shields.

Two of the Shields flank Song, attempting to magically examine him. Before they have a chance to arrest him, Shadow blankets the tavern in a cloud of darkness and ushers Song out, followed by Nakiya and the rest.

Song makes a dash for the nearest passageway to the Underwalk Ward, and Nakiya (still invisible) follows after him. Shadow keeps a watch on the roof of the Satyr, making sure everyone has gotten away safely. Everyone manages to duck out just in time before a new squad of Shield arrives, and one of their spellcasters easily dispels the darkness. Shadow goes invisible once more and then follows after Leaf.

Leaf, Cezika, Ladryssa, and invisible Shadow visit the Temple of the Platinum Dragon, mostly empty but for the clergy cleaning the hall. Leaf asks Dren why we was arguing with Aeden, and the rest of the Scales make themselves scarce before Dren invites the group into his rectory for tea.

Dren quietly explains that he, his sister Adorah, and Aeden were childhood friends and all joined the Order of the Platinum Dragon long ago. They were especially close, and Aeden and Adorah actually fell in love. When a great calamity erupted across the Ozmit Sea, Aeden talked Adorah into leaving to help while Dren stayed behind, after marrying the two them. After the crisis, Aeden returned a broken man but Dren never forgave him for taking his sister off to die far from home. Aeden crawled into a bottle and wandered the world for years before returning to Westruun and building the Sloppy Satyr as a refuge for the hurt, broken, and homeless the world cast off.

When Zeal began acting upset and closed off recently, Dren approached Aeden, for the first time in years, since he knew she frequented the Satyr. Zeal reminds Dren greatly of Adorah but feels powerless to help her when she needs it most, and reached out to his estranged friend to keep an eye on her.

Dren: “I lost my sister and I drove my brother away, I don’t want to lose my-- my...”

Ladryssa: “Daughter?”

Dren apologizes for being a bad host, but Leaf reassures him that since they came to take care of him, Dren is doing exactly what he is supposed to. Moved, Dren offers Leaf a job in the clergy.

The priest reports that the Shields had come by asking about them, asking about a “Storyweaver”, and Dren did his best to protect the party, but warns against twisting or hiding the truth too much, because even if it is the right thing to do it has a bad habit of making things worse.

Trying to compose himself, Dren offers some sparse treats to the group while Ladryssa pours tea. As they toast “to family”, Dren realizes that Ladryssa accidentally brewed a pot of TranquiliTea (a peace offering from Aeden), mellowing out he, Ladryssa, and Leaf.

Leaf: *head in Cezika’s lap* “Eye-lee...”

Cezika: “Aile.” *kissing Leaf’s forehead*

Meanwhile, Song runs away from the Satyr through the Underwalk before collapsing onto the wet, dank stone. Nakiya reappears before him, nearly scaring Song to death, but reassuring him that everyone got away okay.

Song advises Nakiya to return to the Garrison before it gets much worse, since they seem to be looking for him. She offers to stay, regardless of the danger, but Song won’t risk it.

Trying to distract himself from the oppressive gravity and stress of his current situation, Song messes around with a painted stone Aeden gave him yesterday, trying to figure out what it does. Giving up on that, Song re-disguises himself as a disgusting, ragged beggar before setting off through the Underwalk.

After walking long enough to be sure he missed his destination, Song comes across an old open chamber in the Underwalk Ward. The walls of the chamber are covered with carved names and pictograms depicting some kind of important history. It is in this chamber that Song contemplates his own history and his futures: the future he thinks he deserves, and the future he actually desires.