16th Letter Home: Unelaborated Escapades, Plans & the Lack Thereof, Wisdom Shared, But Wisdom Received?

General Summary

We rested after our battle and headed out the next morning. Vessyr and I walked side by side in silence. Vessyr is not easy to talk to, mother. He always seems to be angry about something. His daughter maybe? I'm not sure. No way am I gonna ask him, either. He just looked ahead, scowling.
I looked ahead as well, scanning with my goggles. We had left the warm comfort of the jungle. A light forest surrounded us, full of green trees and shrubs. Not nearly the range of greens and other colors as the jungle, but beautiful nonetheless. Birds called warnings to each other as we advanced, and other animals gave the road a wide berth. And I saw an owl fly near us.
I could immediately tell that it was not an actual owl! It wasn’t the same owl, I don’t think, as the owl the Sylvan mage had, but it was clearly a mage’s owl. As soon as the “owl” saw us it turned and flew back the way it came. No hesitation, it simply turned and headed back.
A real owl would have watched us, curious.
Vessyr and I looked at each other and his eyes told me that he had seen the same thing. Baermak, behind me, whispered “Get it” and I did.
I leaped into the air and took off following it. Getting a better look with my goggles I could tell that it was not, in fact, the same owl. But it was not behaving remotely like a real owl; it was heading straight along the road. Back to its master!
It was not looking back, so I kept low, out of sight just above the treetops, and followed it. When it dipped below the trees I did too. I slipped behind some foliage and listened. And heard.
Four mounts, one of them clearly a horse and the other three smaller, perhaps pack animals. I waited till they got close enough to see, hiding myself. A large greenish warrior in plate mail rode the horse. He was well-manicured, contrasting interestingly with his off-kilter tusks and general rough appearance. Behind him his three smaller companions rode ponies.
One of them bore the owl, riding his shoulder.
I decided to simply wait for them to pass, and then follow them. If they meant us harm, they would find an unwelcome surprise at their back.
As they got far enough ahead, I crept out from the cover of the trees and strode down the road. I had no need to catch them, only to be close enough behind them that I would know if an altercation erupted.
It didn't.
I could hear them all talking as I approached.
Arriving back at the group, Vessyr stood in the middle of the road with his spider and conversed with the owl group. Our conversation started warily, but as we each determined that the others posed no threat, we each became more genial. Fellow travelers. Baermak recounted the story of the huge blue man and his strange beast, and we warned them of the undead dangers ahead, especially the will o’ the wisps. They told Vessyr to hide his gun before we got to Yelahn, as it would indicate that he had taken it from a Sylvan. Nobody else carried them.
After a very long, and friendly, conversation, we parted ways and headed for a nice camping spot. So close to our destination, and without walls or doors to narrow down avenues of approach, we decided to double up the watch. I stayed up that night, to share watch with Alyonna. It was fun testing my goggles. Even at night they make things clearer!
I could see the evening predators going about the hunt, watching us as they crept past, not knowing that I was, in turn, watching them watch us.
No travelers navigated the road at night. Prey hid, and hunters either caught their quarry or headed to better grounds. It grew boring, so I climbed down out of the tree to sit near Alyona.
She does not have her grandfather's demeanor. Well, I guess she kinda does. But maybe not as bad. I'm afraid of talking to him. He's so old! Maybe being so old makes you angry that you haven't died yet.
Unsure of what to ask her about, I asked her about the glow. This is something so foreign to us. Such a drug. She described it as like flying. She has no wings; no ability to fly. But if she can imagine flying, I can imagine glow. I think it feels like have the wind in your face and the sun on your back. It feels like riding a thermal into the clear sky, turning in an arc, and soaring back down to the sea. It feels like the salty spray making you close your eyes as you skim the wave tops, letting yourself just--barely--graze--the white foam--
And then it stops. And to get it again you must again use the glow.
And that is why she wants it so much. Why everybody wants it so much.
It was good to learn, to understand.
We talked a little about the Sylvans, too. She hates them as much as I do. Maybe not as much. No. But she does hate them. She wishes them dead, as I do. But she is more cautious, more measured. I try to be, but then I cannot. In the moment, I lose my measure.
When I killed Elyorman I was so happy. I had ended a horrible cycle; made the world better. But when the magic faded and he became a Sylvan...thinking about it even now...
I mentioned that to Alyona and I could see her flinch. I knew to avoid that subject for a little while longer. She still suffered the scars, the addiction, the memories. Her grandfather seems angry that I killed Elyorman and not him, but Alyona is grateful. She tried to explain the need for patience and planning when dealing with Sylvans, but...
We stared at the fire for a bit. I still had questions, but also...we kept watch, then got as much sleep as we could before the sun rose.
The next day we encountered a Sylvan patrol from Yelahn. I guess maybe they encountered us. They were very interested in me. They stopped, 10 of them on horseback, and all looked at me. All of them. Asking where we were headed, they looked directly at me. Not really asking where we were headed. Where I was headed. They did not take their eyes off of me.
The anger mother.
It rose.
Simply seeing them, and remembering. Sylvans.
I stared at their leader, wanting violence.
Surely he could see it.
Surely I could not hide it.
They asked again, and I looked at Vessyr. Carefully responding, he told them that we were headed to the city.
I wanted to draw my bow. I could kill three of them before they even blinked again! I know I could!
Unsatisfied, they asked again. Me. They asked me.
I could not respond. If I tried I would certainly betray my intentions.
Again, I looked at Vessyr.
Who carefully responded.
Still unsatisfied, they explained that our people have been raiding their fishing villages. Vessyr assured them that I had been with the party for over a month. I could not be one of the raiders. Somehow, he was able to convince them.
Watching them vigilantly, I saw them looking back, glancing at me, discussing. Vessyr thanked them for keeping the road safe, and they finally went on their way.
Over the next day this same bit of theater played out again, and again. Always variations, always the same. Looks dripping with venom.
In both directions.
Until finally we approached the vast city. Given the undue attention I had received, we decided that it would be best if I stayed outside of the city while they found lodging. As much as I disliked separating the party, I agreed that it was the better decision. I was drawing attention. Aggressive attention. As much as I wanted a confrontation, I did want to survive the confrontation.
Vessyr, Ingoria, and I hid ourselves away from the road and waited while Baermak and Alyona headed to town.
When they returned several hours later, they had secured lodgings. Vessyr made me invisible so that I might enter the city unseen. While absolutely the wise choice, and while I am clearly unwelcome in this city now, I am still frustrated. I feel as if my wings are clipped. “If you cannot fly, you cannot soar.”
Discussing our options we agreed that the best path was smugglers. The fishermen would most certainly not want to approach our island. And neither would any commercial or tourist vessel. But smugglers? Smugglers.
Vessyr, Alyonna, and Ingoria headed out to find the local organization: the Midnight Watch.
I, again, waited. I stayed in the room. Mostly I sat near the window through which I entered. This unfamiliar area of the city was much less desirable than the places I visited before. Rundown houses lined the street; businesses at the street level, lodging above. Many people walking about, hurrying below me. Markets abounded, many of them fishmongers.
No Sylvan patrols passed below, nor did I hear the clank of their armor. They clearly avoid the area. Which suited us well.
When the ‘Baxi and Drow family returned, they had made contact and had a line on possible transport. A return visit would be necessary to secure passage, and till then I had to stay hidden.
I can’t tell you mother. The feeling! The feeling of being in that room all day, that tiny room, with nothing inside.
Their adventure in the city, meeting the Midnight Watch, even sounded exciting to me. Anything would! Because all I did was stare out a window.
On watch that night I sat with Alyona again, and she decided to occupy us by teaching me some card games. It reminded me of when Koriin would teach me new games: always he would win! It would seem close, and like I maybe had a chance, and then BAM the perfect card to defeat me.
I must admit mother, I was getting very bored. All day. In this room. And now I have to stay up at night. In this room.
So far on our journey Alyona and her grandfather have kept watches over us as we sleep. They can meditate, instead of sleeping. It's something they do, I guess. This was the first time that others had had to keep watch, and I now appreciated all of the times they've kept watch for us.
I asked her about the glow. Now that we're in a big city, the biggest city anywhere, perhaps she might be able to get some? But she tells me that it's mostly available underdark, and not really up here as much. I remember that that was the plan: manufacture more glow and spread it topside.
I hope you get to meet Alyona mother. She is so wise! Not as wise as you. Nobody has that wisdom, but she understands things. I know she's trying to explain them to me, but I just, I have a hard time...there are things I want so badly, and things I want to do. She has the wisdom to see those things and understand how to get them. I think you would like her. I am glad I can talk to her about these things.
She greatly appreciates my ability to so precisely place arrows in enemy weak spots. The amount of damage I can do, and quickly, sometimes surprises her. But she tries to get me to, I dunno, focus maybe.
She also worries about the Sylvans and what they want with our land. We know they're after artifacts, but why? I just want to stop them, keep them away from our home. She wants a grander plan.
I think she got frustrated with my inability to understand her wisdom. She set down her cards and went to the restroom.
I wanted to leave. I wanted so badly to leave! But my duty was to remain on watch, so that is what I did. I stayed by the window, alert, using my goggles to spot danger. Very few people were on the streets at that hour, and those that were had no interest in being seen. There was no chance they could see me.
The sky tugged at me, beckoning. To spread my wings, feel the wind, soar through the updraft!
But my duty was to remain watchful, keeping the party safe, and that is what I did. I opened the window and watched. And it's good that I did!
Because while I watched over the party from within the room, I saw a shadowy figure leaping from rooftop to rooftop, finally stopping on a rooftop across from our lodgings. He hid behind a chimney, watching. Watching us!
Alyona had just returned from the restroom, so I grabbed her and told her about the lurking spy. “Let’s go get him, quick!”
But she was worried that there might be more, that separating the party would be bad, at night in the strange city. And she was right.
I alerted the team. Immediately.
Vessyr made Ingoria invisible and I snuck out the window. I told her where I saw the rooftop spy and headed into the air, watching her. It felt so wonderful! I stayed high enough not to be seen, but close enough to keep an eye on both her and her quarry (though I couldn’t actually see her, I knew where she should be).
The spy jumped suddenly and sped to the other side of the chimney. I assumed Ingoria must have confronted him. After a few minutes Ingoria appeared, the two of them engaged in an intimate conversation. I flew a little closer, in case she was in danger, and saw that they both smiled, and seemed to be on very good terms.
Friendly.
Like old friends, in fact.
And then they headed back to our inn! And entered! Ingoria walked the spy right into our inn!
I guess they really were old friends! She must have recognized the man when she approached.
Of course I joined them. When I alighted the entire party was animatedly discussing the Midnight Watch, the dwarven resistance, all manner of things! Ingoria's friend Dario talked about the significance of the inn in which we stayed, and how it must be important to that dwarven resistance, the Old Guard. Baermak seemed to be able to get a lot of information from the human. He is so good at that!
The spy was quite animated and forthcoming, telling us all incredible things, including that there was another spy watching our inn from the other direction. They were really only interested in us because we’re new. So it was good that I didn’t just kill the spy.
Also because he was Ingoria’s friend.
He suddenly seemed to snap out of his reverie and looked at us all with a bit of skepticism. We assured him that we had only good intentions and were simply concerned about being reconnoitered. He left by the front door, so that his partner would see him leave.
The next day the innkeeper visited us. He was part of the dwarven resistance to the Sylvan occupation, and he had a job for us. Apparently some of their comrades had been captured and interrogated by the Sylvans, and were about to be shipped out to the mines. To the mines! The same mines!
We agreed without hesitation. We would rescue their friends and see them to safety. The plan was to intercept them on their way to the mines. We would have two days. The innkeeper would notify us when the group departed, and our mission would begin.
While we waited for the trigger, the ‘Baxi and the Drow family went to chat with the Midnight Watch and see if perhaps they had another job for us. And they did! Daroth Triskian, the Sylvan merchant pushing fishing toward our island. They wanted us to break into his mansion and steal from him. We don't know their motivation, but they would share the profits with us in return.
Robbing a wealthy merchant is not a quest I would typically undertake willingly, but this particular merchant had clear animosity toward our people. The rest of the team agreed, and I felt like harming him would also be helping our people.
That job was immediate, so we decided we could at least check out Daroth’s mansion. Vessyr and Ingoria disguised themselves and headed out to scope the target. They went during the day, and saw lots of staff and magicks, probably some kind of protections.
We decided that I would scope it out at night. Which I did.
That night. There were patrols on the grounds, and I could see that there were many valuables in the main tower; the tower would be our target. Vessyr had used some magic to get himself and Ingoria safely there and back during the day. So we decided to make our move the next night, allowing the party to rest.
At dinner, it seemed that Vessyr and Alyona had had a fight. He wouldn’t let her sit with him. Not wanting her to eat alone, I went and sat with her. It worked out, because we decided to rotate watch shifts anyway, so Alyona and I would no longer have the opportunity to chat at night. They wanted us each on a separate watch shift, because we were the best at spotting danger.
Her wisdom has been so helpful to me. I talked to her about my anger, because I don’t have you. She told me about her ring, which was stolen from her. It was her mother’s ring, and it was stolen. I try to imagine what that might feel like. And I want to help her retrieve it.
She describes the anger she feels at the woman, Kisha, who stole it, and I understand.
I will help Alyona find Kisha and get her ring back. I will help her quench her anger at having something so precious stolen.
That is the anger I have. Alyona, she is older than you mother. Much older. She has gained much wisdom in her travels and travails. Yet she is also young. So young!
For a Drow.
For a Human.
For a Sylvan.
Somebody stole her ring, but the Sylvans stole our lives. All of our lives. They stole the lives of every one of our people. They stole the life from me. They stole the life from you.
And she taught me a word for that anger. An Elven word, meaning a deep anger that has hunger. A hungry anger
Nenavist.
I feel nenavist.
I feel love for you mother, love for our people. And nevavist for the Sylvans.

Report Date

27 Aug 2022