Midnight RPG - Chapter 18.51

Steve/Eranon

One day, early in the journey to the Hamlet, Eranon will approach Alamath, just before the group goes to sleep

Eranon: "My sister, I hope you are comfortable in your travels with us. It has been too long since I have seen you. I am overjoyed that we encountered you and were able to rescue all of those innocents. In addition to being a just thing to do, they may now be an asset in the future."

"It is my hope that we will be able to bring much-needed releif to Three Oaks. If this can be accomplished, perhaps the tide can turn. It is on these thoughts that my mind now dwells."

"There are a few things that yet trouble me. The first is that you seemed to imply that my friends and I saved you because I recieved word. It is with shame that I must admit, I recieved no such word, neither from The Lady, nor from the trees themselves. Perhaps my connection is weak. You travel with Aryth as an ally, for me she is simply a tool. As my elder, what words of guidance can you offer, if any?"

Alamath

"oh my unfeigned brother, I so charish the memory of your wide, wild-eyes... You are a site to my weery eyes. For all the past, I still hold your council true and unfettered. It is hard to hold my head so high these days brother..."

...Alamath's royal vigor drops for but a moment and her back is less straight, as she looks yonder to the young apprentices she travels with - it is obvious that she's relaxed to be able to lower her guard for the first time in what must be decades... knowing that she is safe, as she might be with your father, now that you're here. You might also feel this safety because for all the family pains, for all the "distance" both literally and figuratively, you still know that she, you know that they (your siblings) would die for you.

"...it has been hard to stand so tall over the decades, seeing... knowing what I've come to be knowledgable of. For all the glory and power that SHE* holds, exudes and gives - there is equal pain and suffering that only we within her court can live with. For all the power of foresight and hope, the continued reports from across the wilds of the death of innocents (referring to soldiers, wildlife, and the forestation of Aryth herself) is a burden that we among the Elder Tree court share to bare.

Pausing for a moment, kneeling down Alamath cups the first wildflower that Eranon has seen in weeks of walking within the Dead Marsh. Her skin is illumiating in the light of the day. Alamath, your sister, is beautiful. She... she reminds you of home. She reminds you of your mother. She reminds you of a life before the weight that you now bare.

Alamath slow stands, taking your hand and brushing up against Eranon's arm then shoulder to find a spot to rest her head. How long has it been since Eranon has been comforted by unconditional love? Your sister's hug, reminds you of why you wade the pits of dispair that took Valendil, that took your father, your mother, that burned your relationship with Sijandi.

And you glance down to her hand... Anyone else would have picked the wildflower to hold and charish for a brief moment. Not your sister... Alamath pulled the weeds around it, so that it could live free.

... your companions have treated my apprentices and myself with acceptance. Eranon it worries me that you have not found the companionship of friends to journey with... Am I incorrect, that it seems this band is a motley crew with little in the way of true kinship? Why is it that Valendil and his Wilders do not accompany you? Is that wood below the swamp not theirs?

Certainly these favored few have something of unlove for the Enemy in the North, I can see that, but it wounds me that you are alone brother. I only wish we elf-kin could relate enough to mankind or even the brave orc that turned against the tide, so that you could come to be friends with one of them. If nothing else, they seem to have fair minds and fearless thoughts that can match your own wild nature.'

...am I comfortable? The journey will be adequate. I would ask that you thank them for offering companionship through the dangers of the road.

Looking toward the others in the travelling company, Alamath subtly shakes her head. This is likely one of her first times "dealing" with non-elven resistance. She's obviously less inclined to believe the nature of their intentions. Alamath knows the stories that some of the grudge-holding councillors within the court have told of the many battles that faltered due to the lack of oath's followed through by the other races. The breaking of promises remembered still taints many of the pessimists within the woods, Alamath has yet to see opposition to those broken promises... Perhaps a point of difference between the siblings?

...as to the innocents in the slaver band, yes - I too am overjoyed. Aryth has a canny way of reminding us of the roads ahead, she's waiting for us my brother. She wants to heal the wound, the scar of the sundering - this is one of her ways to tell us that she will offer aid... If we listen. Alamath, tips up on her toes to whisper in her brother's ear - as she grins, you can literally feel the smile on her face and in her heart. ...besides little brother, the wind told guided my hand in this. It MUST too have guided yours. Have you come to hear the whisps in the wind? She lowers back to her heels and clasps her hand in yours, rocking it back and forth as she begins to walk, stepping so lightly on the remainder waters of the swamp that the muck does not even ripple. ...if I remember the wild-wide-eyes of my little brother Eranon, you must have been eager to free the slaves - if not for the joy of making men free, then surely to whomp the goblin-kin...'

Alamath laughs... How long has it been since Eranon heard a laugh? Can you remember the last time?

...I remember, do you not? Your little practice bow that papa gave you on your fifth year, how you and Valendil tracked those foxes SO SURE that they were Bugbear...' Laughing aloud... ...you and your brash unapologetic bravado. No... I knew someone would come to us and give me the opportunity to fell the slavers from within, I am just surprised that I didn't need to act so quickly. I am surprised that it was you that swept out of the forest. Aryth, she did not tell me this. She keeps her secrets well, sometimes I think only to lift our spirits even more.

Walking with you she motions to her apprentices to begin their practice rituals, weaving their magics with aid of the wilds...

...You are wise to think of the sturdy trees. They are too a concern for HER. There are very different situations for the races and all hope of allegiance is around local effort, around key point on the coming offensive, on this many among the council agree - Three Oaks, The Gamaril Delta and Silver Thorn are our elf-kin key points. The dwarven points are largely unknown to us, it is rumored that they are covered by hammer with a strong leader for the southern effort, however if all that is known is true the north is lost beyond hope, in my opinion. Those poor men of stone could use any help they can muster though, if it is only that they might have their honored deaths. More on the minds of many of our councilors is whatever can be used to reduce Arynix to a lesser threat than it is now meaning a lot more lives to use later. Southern Erenland is a chaotic and only a favored few believe we elf-kind should be considering its fate, I want to believe the best intent that I see in our Witch Queen's eyes now and again. I believe the man of the south could better be sought for support, the Erenlanders might be the last key thing to change the current tide, by unlocking their current state and make them stand for freedom, on the north - those Dorn-men, I would say they are lost, support is all they have left as well, but they are even of less hope for survivability than the horse-men, but they are the closest of our non-elvin neighbors - they are also more desperate, helping Three Oaks and the Dwarves might be the north-men's last hope for victory. So too, using all the man power that can be mustered on the Sea of Pelluria could make the Shadow troop movement and more importantly the Orc supply routes a real concern for the Enemy of the Wood. The Orc are as ocean tides trumped by the wild storms of Shadow hate, they seem to be endless - but they survive only on their stomachs and support. If that leash were cut... We could begin building a resistance rather than continuing a stalemate guerilla war. Three Oaks is the best example of such. The braves on the line have not given ground in over a decade since the Feykiller set his sites on those trees...

You can see Alamath has had much training in the ways of war... the making thereof, if not the act of battle. She lets loose your hand and steps between the trees now and then coming close then far then close again... She continues.

• Commander Belark the Blackheart an Oruk. Along the Gamaril River, the Blackheart commands 40,000 orcs that have tried to secure the river basin and cut off the Caransil villages north of the river.
• Commander Jorg Kinslayer an Orc. In the Darkening Wood, the Kinslayer besieges the elven stronghold of Three Oaks and deals with a forest gone insane, although it is rumored among the orc troupe that Kulos has been given command of Cambrial's great host (in definance of Jorg's efforts) to finally break the stalemate in the Darkening Wood.

Our braves fighting along the Gamaril front, trying to crush Belark's legion before the Shadow's renewed offensive, I fear may not be able to hold the line much longer. Time is of the essence to cut supplies coming down the Gauntlet drastically. The wind tells that Belark has ordered a renewed offensive directed Northward, with the eventual goal of taking and fortifying the ruins of Althorin to use as a harbor/waypoint for his supplies. It is our hope that Shadow is unaware of the resistance and elven presence in Althorin for now, but their advancing warbands will eventually figure out that something is amiss in the ruins of the city. And that brings us to the plight of the council currently, the elven forces commanded by Alashal don't know what Belark's plans - the protectors of Three Oaks have only cursory knowledge of the coming offensives. But many worry about Althorin when Belark and the Kinslayer moves north in force, we seek to discover what the legions orders are and determine if Althorin is in danger.

Alamath, looks up at you as she walks toward you...

... So much has happened since we walked the wild little brother. The Lady, she speaks to you. I'm sure of it. She's told me. My advice. I fear that I can give none just yet. You must accept that the land is just as important as those that walk it. The trees they have burned for ages.... as she looks toward the Burning Line. ...is that a "tool" little brother? now pointing up toward the Burning Line. '...Your thinking is flawed little brother, when you stop thinking of Aryth as a tool, then you will STOP travelling ON her and travel WITH her. She has much to offer, and I can aid with that understanding if you wish it. To be one with the wood is to truly live free... Then you won't see the slaver's band as only a group of innocents to be saved, you will see any innocent in danger as a son or daughter of Aryth - when you begin thinking as such you can save yourself, little brother... Eranon, when you see the truth you can SAVE THE WORLD.

Looking up to you, Alamath reaches out her hand... Something is cupped in her palm.

As she turns it over she asks...

Are you ready to save the world, little brother?

and in your hand she lays a twine of grass that feels like satin, the form is that of a heart - and you realize... Your sister has turned the weed that choked the wildflower into a thing of beauty. Hope... springs.

NOTE: This grass twine is a Greater Charm: When used you can immediately recover from being shaken, sickened, or dazzled.

NOTE

* "SHE" can only be reference to Aradil, the Witch Queen.

Eranon

OOC: Since there are a lot of threads of thought here, I will take a cue from Adam and break it up into several conversation threads so that it will take less responses from each of us to deal with. Mostly because I'm very interested in all of these threads.

Fellowship

"I am not sure that you can judge our small group so quickly, though I will always honor your opinion. We do have our friction, and it is true that we have been held together by great tragedy, I do trust each of these, my companions, with my life. We have only been together a short time, and yet, bonds of true friendship begin to bud. I know you have not much love of men, and even less so of orc-kind, I assure you they are good men. Closest to me is Durgaz, whose watch I was charged by Valendil, who trusted the orc as I do. I hope that my bond can show the way to our kin."

"As for Valendil, I have ill news indeed. When we reached the top of the Spire, we found our cousin." *Eranon begins to tear up, choking on his words* "The Vile had. . . the vile had end. . . he's gone, Alamath, at the hands of the Vile."

• Choking back some more tears* "If you doubt the heart of the orc, speak with him of our cousin, I cannot bear speak more of it."

Battle Plans

"Tell me, do we have enough free-roaming elven warriors to put up a fight, or are all of our kind tied up with defense? I ask because my companions and I seek to free all our kind of the constant attack they find themselves under. We must find an army, your counsil is needed. It is good to hear about the supply lines to the Gamaril delta. This would free our kind for an offensive. How many men would be required for this task? or is information all you need?"

"As far as Three Oaks, I must confer with my companions, we all heard a large amount of information in our time in the Spire, Zal'Kazzir most of all. I do know that Vrolk had supplied a fell army to work with Jazzir's army to take down Three Oaks. Jazir hopes to fell the Great Ones (the three trees) by the end of spring. This does not give us much time. I will find out what information I can."

Personal Growth

"Yes, I see your point, Aryth is with us. Her cries are still dim to me, dear sister, I cannot hear HER clearly. Please, teach me how to listen, trust me, show me how and I WILL save the world. Sure as I chased those "Bugbear" so many years ago, I will have it. I am ready."