Knightly Letter: Ileas 12

by Alistan De la Roost

Ileas,

We learned some interesting things about Gael's life but it does require some discretion so please keep this to yourself.

When we returned to Wolf's Rest we were delighted to find nothing happened in the days that we were gone and slept comfortably in our own bed. But the next day Gael sprung some news on us: it seems that when he talked to Tommel he learned about Tommel's connection to Sylvesse. How Tommel was saved by Sylvesse when he got lost in the forest and brought to a cabin in the Lorewood to recover. He then got a knife from Sylvesse that he now passed on to Gael on the request of Sylvesse. And this knife hid a key that apparently perfectly fit on a box he was found with by his foster parents.

So for one, Gael did not want to open the box yet, as he now suspects it's the thing Cornu was after and thinks it could have something catastrophic in it that could draw calamity towards us. Gael always did expect the worst but he might not have been too wrong here, at the very least it wouldn't hurt to check this cabin out that Tommel was to bring Gael to. And Gael wanted us to come with him since there's no telling what they'd find.

So a few hours later we convened with Tommel and set out into the Lorewood. There was a tinge of nostalgia as we were all together and stomping around the Lorewood like all those years ago. Though Dorr, E.J., Elsa, Onvyr and of course, you are thoroughly missed. We asked Tommel for some more details of the place he was bringing us to. He could only tell us the couple living there were elves but were incredibly careful and did not even share their names with him.

The travel itself was rather uneventful, as the most noteworthy thing were some clearings where something was dug out of the ground. Gael thinks it might have been menhirs like those in Hillfield but who knows. We also saw some tracks from a large group traveling through the forest, and another track of something that's killing all plants it comes into contact with. Like some line of death. But neither were going in the direction we were so we just kept going.

By the end of the second day of travel Tommel declared he thought we were getting really close and we heard voices from a nearby clearing. After Gael and Hayley's raven went scouting they reported a bunch of Hobgoblins had set up on the clearing in the ruins of some fortification. Putting my memories of my mother in a Hobgoblin mask aside, we decided it was best to just talk to them as night was approaching and we wanted to avoid a conflict through misunderstandings.

As we walked up the clearing a horn was sounded, clearly intended as an alarm that we were spotted. Since Hayley spoke Goblinoid she stepped up and negotiated that we could sleep in their camp for the night. Now, you probably are thinking: This is obviously a trap. And don't worry: we were also convinced this would be a trap. But at least it got us into their fort and we could set out guards and sleep in our armor. For good measure I played some music for them while the others looked around and exchanged some alcohol. Tommel mentions the ruins definitely were where the house was that he was supposed to bring us to, but all that's left is some remnants of a wall, and a broken gateway that looked a lot like the portal to the Immerglade we saw around the Bramble back in Tarn.

Now, after we went to sleep it did not take long before Liliana and Dadroz woke us all up, triggering the attack the Hobgoblins had prepared. Now the fight itself went okay, their armor was very thick but nothing we couldn't overcome. We managed to knock one out but one was escaping as Gael froze and noticed Cornu emerging from the forest, charging at our position. Attacking us during a fight did seem like something Cornu would do, but his fighting style had completely changed. His transformation into an undead with a wolf's head made him more feral. And he could use magic. Regardless, we managed to defeat him though instead of falling down on the ground he let out a grueling howl and was vanquished into the night. Seems like beating Cornu would be more complicated this time.

Collecting ourselves after the battle we set to wait until our new Hobgoblin captive would awake, but others took time to investigate the ruins and found a gravestone to a certain Vincent, his epitaph read:

"Here rests Vincent, born under a different name.

Hero to the people who hate him.

May his soul finally find the rest denied to him in life.

Your loving wife, Reeva & Forever loyal shadow. Sylvesse"

Sadly, none of these names really meant anything to us, besides Sylvesse of course. Anyhow, we hoped to get more from our Hobgoblin captive. They managed to tell us they worked for High King Ulther, that they were tasked to patrol this area since we were apparently expected (or at least, a group was supposed to come to this place). They were supposed to bring back something we carried but did not know what, it's probably the box Gael carries though. Leaving our captive to be found by his friends tomorrow we set ourselves aside and Gael finally decided to open the box, revealing a hidden latch with the elven word "Revanche" which means Revenge. But after Gael traced the name Reeva over the letters it did open up, revealing a mask that was cut in half.

When Gael put it on, it melted into his appearance except he now looked like a human version of himself, ears decidedly less pointy. Of course I immediately asked to test if the opposite could happen and after I put it on, it did change me into an Elf, ears decidedly more pointy. Seeing its effect made some of us think of the Leper revolts of decades past, and how Darius the Leper was said to have a similar mask. If it would be this same mask, or maybe its other half is of course unclear as of now. Would that mean this Vincent or Reeva were involved? Or is it maybe whoever has the other half? And what does Ulther want with it?

Regardless, High King Ulther would now know it is us he is after. And who knows how that complicates things with Gallaron and Vivienne, who both work for him. Not to mention my family's dealings with Ulther, and any plans I have to end those dealings.

But for the time being, we were going back to sleep and leave the place early in the morning. Which was a good idea as in the morning we heard distant barks and saw smoke of what are probably bands of Hobgoblins coming to our position.

As we ran through the forest, Gael and Tommel were busy erasing our tracks which left Dadroz to find our way. And though we did lose anyone that might be following we did have a sudden question:

Where the hell were we?

So once again, trapped in the Lorewood with Hobgoblin bands looking for us and no immediate idea of where to go. Once again, there's a tinge of nostalgia to it.

To be continued,
Ali

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Knightly Letter: Ileas 12

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