Ottokath's Journal #28

General Summary

Art and Tanz leaving gave perspective. As much as I might want to forget the world, the world has yet to forget those I share my journey with. And they in turn find themselves incapable of forgetting. Mavis may well be the only exception to his. She much like myself feels like she lacks a home to return to. A sobering, albeit grim sentiment.
Bringing Mutt to Skysplitter Mountain was more important than ever now. A common goal we could all agree to. And a direction to move. We set off the next morning. Hamood and Cal needed time, send letters homes. If only... Mavis and I went ahead, on a guarantee from Hamood. He would catch up. As we passed by where we found the cursed sword, Mavis insisted we refill our rations at the merchant we had opted to ignore every time we had passed the spot. Relenting, I opted to interact with the individuals gathered there.
Two stood out to me. A human, like by the komada and sylphs and a humanoid cloaked in armour and veil. The human went by Frank, insisting he was normal, though the only normal thing about him might have been his name. The other, a female challenged in sight, either by veil or physiology, spoke little of themselves, but introduced themselves as Eilith. Yet I could at least tell the martial purpose in their form. And the potentially religous icons around their neck. Yet the spirits seem to dislike them. An unrest within their soul, I suspect, but of what form, I have yet to tell.
Conversation was had and we concluded a shared destination. I was reluctant to trust these individuals, especially one being human. But two makes for dangerous travel even if four adds uncertainty. And Cal arriving shifted odds in our favour, should matters come to blows. We soon agreed joint travel would be best. I invited Frank to lead our band. I would not have these individuals at my back.
We soon came upon the checkpoint we had passed before. Frank spoke a surprisingly strong variant of orcish and the guards seemed impressed. I might not speak the language, but I have certainly learned a thing or two about their demeanours in my travels. Curiously, Eilith knew of the customary bow of the region, but the form was off. I thought to inquire and they claimed to have passed the area twenty or so years ago. Technically long enough before I arrived for the customs to have different, yet that seems unlikely. Yet the motions were correct, implying it to be the bow I knew of in essence. Something to remember going forward.
Frank turned out to be a rather deep thinker. At least more so than the humans I had met so far, maybe excluding Tanz. He does not seem to understand the finer details of the world and he can most certainly not hear the spirits clamour, yet he does influence their gait and feel their effect. Among other effects, the sylphs guide his bow. This is the first time I have seen this in a human. Tanz was merely surrounded by death.
We came upon a broken cart, guided by soldiers of the Sandan Emirates. A bad start, so deep into the Amethyst Dynasty. The Sandans and Amethyst orcs have been at odds for years and, if not for Tellurian aggression, war would be of presence even here. Yet soldiers so far in spelled trouble.
They told us to halt, but Mavis convinced them of our identity, using Hamood's family seal. Quite useful, albeit somewhat dishonest. Now thinking to know who we were, and being somewhat correct, they requested our aid instead. I am no carpenter, but the komada can be of great help when finding the true form of trees. They can even help change it. As such, I offered my eye, which they accepted. I would have probably refrained from interacting with these humans so. I suspect greed, envy or pride at the core of this interaction. Yet the sylphs clamoring to open the hatch on the cart had my curious. What would be so loved by the sylphs as to have them distressed so.
More curiously was the cart itself. If this were a good transport, stolen or not, it was rather heavily fortified. The outer shell was made to look like wood, but the tange of metal could be smelled and, if one looked closely, metal plates reveiled themselves below the wood. No wonder the axel gave out.
I am a rather perceptive individual, even among elves. And across our journey, my eye for detail has grown. For example, I could not help but notice the intermittent perceptiveness of Eilith. She is keenly aware and able to catch objects thrown at her, yet seems surprised when an individual that has not passed her suddenly speaks. I suspect they may be blind to an extend. And that this blindness has unlocked something greater. i have heard of such stories, the loss of a sense boosting others beyond their limits. Such aptitude could aid me here. And I suspected a pretense of a mending spell would cover the decpetion neatly. As such I called her to me, telling he to lift the cart. She soon noticed something living shift within. Mavis joined, to complete the deception, or so I thought. Having been deceived into thinking she actually had a manner to mend the cart I had to improvise. When the guard showed, after Cal refused to engage in conversation, the deception was limited. I told him to help hold the cart. We needed time. When Eilith lowered the cart, I noticed my chance and tugged on the wheel, tearing it back off, causing the cart to crash to the ground.
Growling exploded from within. There was no hiding it now. Something living occupied that cart. This alone sickened me. Nothing should be trapped so, bereft of will. When I learned it was the wyrmling of a crystal dragon, my anger was complete. Yet before I could act, before I could even think to act before thinking, Eilith's sword was burried in the shoulder of the closest guard. No time for idle thoughts now.
The fighting was swift. Sprites answered my summons for aid, their poison helping to subdue one guard. Mavis subdued another. It took all I had not to be eliminated by the elite guards that rushed to meet me. Frank and Eilith turned out very capable. I could hear the sylphs sing as the fighting went on. They were carrying Frank aloft, guiding his movements. Eilith's strikes were filled with a curious aura. I would name it anger, if not for the intensity of it.
As the fighting came to a close, one of the soldiers released a message. Hamood would find himself quite troubled. Yet surprisingly it was not me to blame. The thought was refreshing, if not rather grim. And I could not disagree with the cause of freeing a dragon. Warning him seemed important, so I have a bird deliver my warning. When I got back to the others, one of our captives was dead and the other only alive by the vigil of my sprites. I had interest in this individual's escape. His full report would serve better than the fragmented message that the Sandans received. Hamood had little to do with this. His family at least, did not deserve their country's wrath.
I was midly disappointed with my companions. Killing a captive is exactly why we had issue with some of our first companions. Yet I did understand their sentiment. I too wish to hurt those that would hurt others sometimes. Yet I cannot recall... why is it I seem to remember hurting one for nothing but vengeance? Did that captain truly deserve to be slaughtered so? Why did I let them callously? A headache claims my thoughts, I shall resume my writing another day.

Report Date

15 Jun 2021