Captain Carmla
Falgrieg approaches Captain Carmla.
Captain Carmla of the Guard, for tonight anyway, is not dressed in her normal multi-colored lacquered armor. For tonight, she is in blue robes, content with the ability of the lesser guards surrounding the village to offer adequate protection. Carmla herself is tall for an elf, nearing seven feet. Very lithe of body, it can be seen from her bare arms that she is all tight muscle and no fat, the tight muscle of an endurance runner. And older elf with greying hair, she smiles very little as Falgrieg approaches. A serious demeaner is all anyone has ever seen of her. A sadness seems to be part of her character. She greats him cordially and with respect, her attention now fully on him. Almost fully anyway, as she does seem slightly distracted as she is keeping an eye on the elven child, Kinsi, nearby chasing a chicken. Everyone seems interested in the recently found child wondering alone in the jungle. Captain Carmla has taken up the responsibility of caring for the orphan.
“Well met Falgrieg. Did you know, that outside of your taciturn companion, I am possibly the only elf present who has ever been to Chrailis? It was, let me see, close to 200 years ago in my youth. I even served on the Rangers for a few years during my stay. I see the emblem of the Wily Warders you proudly wear. I did serve alongside the Warders with the Green Kestrels. Tell me, what of my old unit – are they still running mail throughout the outlands of Chrailis?”
Sadly – Falgrieg knows the history of the Green Kestrels. About 75 years ago, scandal broke them apart as they started using their mail service to control information in such a way to attempt a coup of the rangers and possibly the entire military structure of the city. What was left eventually reformed under another bird of prey and are called the Merlins. Serving with the Merlins is not a distinguished post, nor has it ever been.
At this time, Falgrieg uses his knack for getting a cold read on someone. Focusing on Captain Carmla, he is trying to discern the following. #1 - Would she rather know the truth or a candy-coated version of the truth re: the Green Kestrels? #2 - Does she trust the elven child? #3 - Is she telling the truth about her time in Chrailis
Determining that she would rather know the truth, that she trusts the child, however, has reservations about her history, and she is quite truthful about her time in Chrailis.
Falgrieg responds, “Captain Carmla, I regret to tell you that your Green Kestrels went down the darker path and tried to use their power to gain control of the Rangers. That have now split up and the name Green Kestrel is anathema to most Rangers. What can you tell me about the child?” (edited)
Carmla seem disheartened by the news and somberly reflects on it. “I am glad you told me, though saddened. It lessens my memory some. However, I shall always cherish the good years I spent in that beautiful city. I miss seeing the dragon soar the skies with her brilliant emerald wings. Will you come over with me and share a drink in the honor of my old ranger band?”
Falgrieg joins her in a toast.
“Thank you for sharing this drink. You know, my companion went blind over a century ago. Healers said it was just the way his body was made and the way it is supposed to be. And that is why curative magics could not help. But he tells you it was one of the most blessed events of his life, because no matter how old I get, or how grey, when he hears my voice, he always sees me when I was barely 80 years old. I am forever beautiful in the eyes of his mind.” She is getting a little emotional. “My memories of the Green Kestrels and Chrailis should be that. Fond memories and nothing more.” She finishes her drink.
“Please, dear gnome, let's speak no more of the past.”
“You ask of the child. She is an odd one. Some of the elves thinks she might be cursed and are scared to go near her despite what Mugan has assured them. She knows how to play like a child, yet, seems different. And she won’t play with other children, or at least interact with them. She quickly wonders off to do her own thing. She doesn’t remember anything before three weeks ago. Poor Amrivash and Rory are the only two survivors of their village when the harbinger struck. They were three weeks foot travel away when it happened. About two weeks ago is when they come across this girl idly playing by a stream – not a care in the world they say. As odd as she was, no self respecting elf is going to leave a child to find for themselves. Unable to find any family for her, they continued on, through the lands of three other tribes – none of which knew the girl. Even now, the girl doesn’t seem to be bothered by anything or the fact that she has no family. She’s a good girl and very well mannered I must say – whoever did raise her did a good job. Amrivash and Rory have somewhat adopted her, however it is obvious that they are wanting time away from the responsibility to grieve for their slain tribe members. With all four of my children raised and members of other tribes, I volunteered. It is good to have a child in my house again.”
Curious, Falgrieg asks, “What do you know of the Harbinger?”
“Yes, the harbinger. That name – the harbinger – is somewhat of a misnomer. It refers more to the vague shadowy being which various peoples with magical sensitivities have been seeing in their visions and dreams. One of the reasons for this feast is to gather several of the local elf tribes but also gather some of our neighbors, like the Grey Apes and the Centaur herds and some of the local fey folk to see if we can glean new information."
“To get specific, many of our people are referring to the destruction of the villages and the harbinger as the same thing. Unfortunately, the only connection we have is that the visions and dreams seem to grow in intensity just before the village is wiped out. When that happens, many are saying that the harbinger has come. However, the harbinger may actually be the warning and benevolent in nature and the destruction is caused by something else entirely. Maybe Chief Gerlaylis will be able to figure something out. His wisdom is legendary and if anyone can piece it all together, I know he can.“
Continuing the conversation, Falgrieg pursues his line of inquiry, “If the Harbinger is simply a foretelling, what are the thoughts of the people on who or what is causing the destruction?”
“In my youth, I traveled a lot. I had actually visited Canton about 150 years ago. About 100 years ago I went west and saw where the ground reaches up toward and touches the sky with great rocks. Yes – that really is a thing, I am not exaggerating – just go west. As such – I remember some of these villages which are now gone. For a joyous occasion, this day is bringing up a lot of sad memories.”
“Unfortunately, what little I have heard is it is best to describe the effects. No one seems to know the cause. When it arrives, it is complete death. The entire town or village dies. The trees, no matter how ancient, die to their core. Even the soil dies – some of our oldest reports say that it takes months for even weeds to start growing again. Even the process of decomposition breaks down – the bodies just lie there and don’t even start smelling for several days. “
“Whatever the cause – it isn’t from extreme heat or cold. There are no signs of how the death occurs. The only survivors are those who aren’t in the village at time. It all happens in the matter of minutes it seems. And it seems to have started farther away. Kordo Lordo is from some minotaur tribes far out west. Many of his peoples have been destroyed by this thing. They make references to the Harbinger, that term also seems to have come from far to the west where this death originated. And they call the actual destruction the Harvest. I expect after this meeting, the Harvest will become common terminology. If you do talk to Kordo – beware. He is convinced that some evil gods are behind the Harvest.”
Captain Carmla suddenly cuts the conversation off. Kinsi has finally caught her chicken and got scratched on the face in the process bad enough that there is some blood. Kinsi is on the ground crying when Captain Carmla makes it to her to console her and starts telling her it well be okay, advising that chasing chickens can be dangerous. She waves off Rory and Amrivash - telling them to enjoy the feast and to let her enjoy this time caring for a child.
Amrivash and Rory
Amrivash and Rory wander toward one of the tables laid out with the foods of the feast. Rory quickly stops by one of the large barrels to get some ale, while Amrivash starts filling a plate. Falgrieg knows little about them except that they arrived about three days ago and are brother and sister. They look like they have experienced some hard times. They move slow, look somewhat weak as if they have been half starved, and are still showing signs of scratching and bruising on their arms and legs from their ordeal. Life in the jungle is deadly if you are not prepared. Of all the elven villages Falgrieg has visited, Kerlostra's peoples are dressed the brightest in the most festive of colors. Both Amrivash and Rory are wearing plain fibrous clothing with little to no color - all a drab tan. For whatever reason, they prefer their native dress to the new clothes the peoples of Kerlostra could provide. Neither smiles and neither seems overly interested in conversing with others. However, when Falgrieg approaches, they both nod at him. Amrivash smiles meekly, barely making eye contact for more than half a second. "Greetings gnome. Please do tell me, isn't your kind which lives below the surface hiding from the suns? I am curious, does the curse of the Harbinger afflict those who live below?"
Answering, Falgrieg says, “The curse has not yet reached my folk, and hopefully that will not change. It is my hope that we can learn the cause and either destroy the cause or appease the gods that have been offended. Can you tell me the story of finding the child?”
Amrivash is the one who answers now, “We found her alone in the woods. She didn't seem to be wanting for food and wasn't at all afraid. She was just sitting by a stream, stick in hand, playing in the water. She had cornered a little crawdad in little corner in the edge of the stream. When we approached, she just looked up and smiled. We approached cautiously, not out of fear of her or anything, but not wanting to startle her.”
“Looking back, we didn't need to bother, she doesn't seem to have any sense that strangers could be dangerous. We talked to her, asking her about her parents, where she was from. She just looked at us and didn't talk at first. We had just about given up, deciding we needed to take her with us rather than leave her there. That's when she blurted out, "My name is Kinsi."
“After that, she would only respond in single or two word answers. After a day of following us, she started asking little questions you might expect of a child, like, 'what is this, what is that?' She didn't seem to get tired or hungry, however she ate normally when we did, and slept soundly when we stopped for the night. As we would ascend into the trees for the night to sleep, she followed quite nimbly. She knows how to climb trees well enough, as well as any elf.”
“As this was only 8 days ago that we found her, we were hoping to learn more about her history, however no one here even knows where she might have come from. Kinsi doesn't seem to remember anything from more than a day or so before we found her. She says she was just wondering around, eating a few bugs here and there as she got hungry.”
“From the location we found her, it was almost halfway between this village and the Levgorsera tribe. There's more than a few from that tribe here now, and none of them know of her either. She is a mystery. Mugan - the village shaman here, seems to think that maybe she is a gift from the gods. He even said that one of the elves here is a holy warrior for the gods and has been praying for guidance and answers. “
Finishing up his conversation with Amrivash and Rory, Falgrieg begins to mingle again. As he has a chance, he moves near Aja and uses talking to her to cover his attempt to detect evil on the child. She doesn’t radiate anything evil in the slightest.
Falgrieg, now curious about the child decides to strike up a conversation with the one everyone is calling Oracle Zara and makes his way over to her.
Oracle Zara
Zara the Oracle, while not fat, is definitely over weight when compared to most elves. She is also of shorter stature than many elves, barely 6 feet tall. Her clothing is all tans and red, possibly signifying that she comes from a different tribe/village other than Kerlostra. As Falgrieg approaches, he can hear her muttering to herself, at least he thinks it is to herself. She seems to be critiquing the choices of food on the table in front of her, "Now why would anyone serve sazberry sauce with any delicate white meat - it is much too tart and simply overpowers the taste. And then to have their choice of ale, way to bitter if you ask me." Despite her words, her actions are not heeding her advice as she fills up a plate and heaps on some of the dark red sauce.
Falgrieg boldly steps up then bows, “Hail, Oracle. I have heard wonderful thing's about your abilities during my stay here. Might I ask what portents have you seen regarding the actions of the Harbinger?”
"Well, I have no idea who is saying such things as much as anyone listens to me. I keep telling them, whatever it is, it only attacks clusters of a race. We have found absolutely zero dead spots in the Jungle from this thing if it wasn't a tribal or village center. If the dreams increase significantly, we just need to scatter. What portents do I have - I'll tell what portents I have. If the Harbinger starts giving more warnings - move. It's not going to suddenly stop."
"But yeah, you asked. I have had a few portents." Throughout this whole conversation, she has barely looked at Falgrieg. She keeps looking around the table for something. "I have seen in my dreams a winged shadow coming from the sunset (West) heading down the Zygarosse going toward the sunset. (East) I believe this has been going on far longer than anyone here realizes, it is just that it was so far away years ago." She suddenly moves toward the end of the table, "There you are, who hides the honey this far from the bread. No planning whatsoever." Then she finally turns to look at Falgrieg. Looking back up at her, he is fascinated by her milky white eyes.
She seems to go rigid, her eyes transfixing Falgrieg briefly as they start to swirl with tiny blue motes in them. Then the spell breaks, "Well now - that is interesting. Fitting you have questions, you may have answers? Ever been on a boat on a great land of water?" Falgrieg says replies no. "How odd, I see that you have." She peers at him closer, "Ah, a memory block. Crude, but a block just the same. Make sure and find me before feast's end, I have a simple concoction I can brew which should help remove that block. Then more answers you might have."
Changing subjects, Falgrieg presses on, “I see the Elven foundling and am conflicted. I feel sorrow for her loss, but also great curiosity about her origin. Have you any thoughts on the girl, or her past?
Between sweets, Zara states loudly with enough air, making sure that anyone nearby will overhear her wisdom, “I see trouble. She can’t represent anything good, whether it is the child or not, her presence cannot be overlooked. When I see her, I see a child in need. I see sorrow in her future – she is blissfully unaware, but unless she is helped, and helped soon, she will know sorrow. And she is not alone, other children will share the same fate.”
Falgrieg asks, “You said you see answers hidden from me, any relations to the child?”
More quietly, more to Falgrieg now than any potential audience, “I don’t thinks so, though I see nothing that says that this is not true either. However, I will tell you this – you have less than five cycles of the Night’s Fire if your fates are interconnected. I however urge you to leave well enough alone and forget the child. You have enough worries with your ailing father. The poison is slow, but it is certain." She pauses for effect, turns around and with a flourish raising her arm as if to present, "Listen to Zara, she guides well those who listen – fools be all the rest. ”
With heart pounding, Falgrieg tries to stay calm. “Can you expound upon the idea of our fates being tied and there only being 5 cycles left?” (For reference: Night’s fire is a moon – and one cycle of the moon is 8 days.)
"Zara has told you what Zara will tell you," she quips. Falgrieg gets the sense not that Zara is tired of talking to him as much as she is saving face because she has no more information to impart.
The next evening on the 2nd night of the feast, Oracle Zara tracks down Falgrieg. "I've think I drank a little too much last night, woke up way to early. Zara's misfortune is your fortune - Mr. Gnome. I promised you a concoction, so starting early this morning. I brewed it up. All I need is a little material from you," she reaches out quickly and grabs several hairs from Falgrieg's beard. She then sticks them in her mouth and starts chewing them. Muttering between chews, possibly saying some form of incantation - Falgrieg can't tell - she reaches into a side satchel and pulls out a small vial.
Shaking it up, she then uncorks it allowing a foul red mist to escape. "Almost complete, it only needs a final infusion of Zara." She then clears her throat and spits in the in the vial. "All ready now." She smiles as she hands it to Falgrieg.
Grimacing, he warily looks at the vial before taking a deep breath and drinking the foul tasting liquid. Feeling slightly sick to his stomach, Falgrieg waits for several minutes, with nothing happening. Then he gets more than a little sick - something doesn't feel right in his lower bowels, something just moved. Running quickly, Falgrieg finds some privacy away from the feast in the jungle to relieve himself.
As he is returning, feeling much better now, the memories of journeys across First Dawn Lake with Pirate Rafe come rushing back.
He later finds Oracle Zara, thanking her. "The side effects - are um - rather intense." Oracle Zara smiles with a slight chuckle, "Yeah, never worked that kink out. Of all my sisters and mother, I am the only one who never could get that potion down correctly."
"There is a less reactive version? Would any of your sisters or maybe you mother be present?"
"My sister is here somewhere, Mezra is her name. She should be near her husband the chieftain. Ah - Zara sees the truth. You should be thankful - I have seen her potions turn one's hair blue right before it falls out."
Falgrieg very politely thanks Oracle Zara, however just before walking away, he has a final thought, "Oracle Zara, could I trouble you for two more of your concoctions. I can get you the samples of hair if you could complete them for me."
Zara harumphs, "Yes, I can do this - however it will only remove memory wipes - it won't create memories you understand? And once I finished the concoction, it must be drunk in a matter of minutes."
Falgrieg smiles, "I can arrange that." While Falgrieg doesn’t wish to put his friends through the distress he just experienced, he believes it is well worth the cost needed for them to retrieve their memories. And he calculates that if it doesn't work, Tars anger will be less for momentary discomfort than if he is suddenly a hairless orc.
By the end of the feast, Oracle Zara has come through with two additional potions. *Both work, and Graykar and Tars have regained full memories. Before the end of the feast, Graykar, Tars, and Falgrieg all drink a toast to their friend Captain Rafe.* Tars is in the best mood that any of the party has seen, he may have even joked humorously with a few elves. Should the party ever find themselves in Crimson Blade territory, they know of one pirate ship they can count on as being friendly.
Master Varian and Sercy
Toward the end of the 2nd night, something catches Falgrieg’s ear. Hearing the familiar clanking of fencing, Falgrieg makes his way over to see Master Varian training an elf youth in the finer points of fencing. Both are armed with sabers, and to Falgrieg's eye anyway, the youth is no mere beginner.
"You've done well so far, young Sercy," Master Varion says to the youth, "but if you keep dropping your tip just before you lunge Prelado will skewer you in the finals tomorrow. Prelado's won some tough competitions today while you faced weaker opponents, so his confidence will be high."
"Oh - I have a plan, just when I am about to lunge, I will slightly withdraw with a loud yell. He won't expect that and half a second later, I will lunge hard," the youth cockily states.
"Will you now? I look forward to seeing how this works for you. And if you lose - well - don't come to this old fool for advice. Of course, I do have advice to give should you wish to listen tonight."
Master Varion now notices Falgrieg. "Falgrieg, isn't it? Well met. Are you familiar with the finer points of dueling?"
Falgrieg inclines his head, “Well met to both of you. Sadly no. I worked a bit with a long sword during my training as a Ranger, but I have found that lighter blades serve my smaller frame much better. I would like to find a dagger that suits me but have yet to see one that truly moves me. This has been quite an interesting time. What has piqued your interest over the last few days?
"A good dagger is invaluable. It's not always appropriate to go around carrying an unsheathed blade, but now, a good little dagger” he pauses for emphasis “can be unsheathed in an instant, or if you are on the alert, can be held concealed. We give all these lessons on how to use larger blades, but outside of war, I would daresay a dagger has saved more than a few lives."
"What has my interest, I am sorry to say good gnome, but my interest for all these feasts is the games of martial combat. Yes, I know of your recent accomplishments, and I daresay - Bravo - job well done. I even know that there is some darkness going in some of the neighboring tribes. However, I don't let that concern me, not much I can do if I was concerned, so why worry. I trust in those who I have chosen to follow to worry for me. If the time comes when I need to pick up a blade in defense, then I am ready.
“I have been a trainer for many decades and it is these feasts where I get to see the fruits of my work. You see - for a trainer - success is never in one's own accomplishments, it’s when you see one of your many students excels to levels of excellence which they didn't know was possible. Your success is defined by the success of those around you. When I see a child here grow into greatness as a master of the blade, and then I look out on the feast and know that more than a few elves present are alive in part because of the skills I imparted, that is the trainer's truest reward. Not pride, but a sense of purpose and belonging. I made a difference in the life of someone else. Those are my most valuable riches."
Falgrieg then turns to the young elf, “Young Sercy, I wish you the best in your competitions tomorrow. In fact, I plan on wagering a fair amount on your victory. Master Varian, it is also my dream to some day instill pride and purpose into those who may choose to follow me. As my leadership skills continue to develop, I hope to one day form my own school for training and developing warriors and spellcasters to continue my work as a Ranger. Possibly even founding my own branch of Rangers, who would serve the nobility of my fine capital city. It is always a joy to speak with others that find the development of youth more important than gaining power solely for the sake of gaining power. Master Varian, in the years that you have served and trained, have you developed any opinions about how to resolve the threat that we now face?”
Master Varian pauses and really considers the answer before responding. "Well now, I assume you mean this harbinger business? Sorry to say, I don't have many thoughts. Just be ready when the time comes to act. That's what I plan on doing, what I advise. One of the practices I teach in fencing I call 'Change is Stability.' By it, I mean expect difficulty, but expect finding a way to overcome. Be vigilant - you've made a good offense, ease off a little and examine the situation. By focusing your defense briefly, you will find your opening. And then act!"
The final day is double elimination in the fencing. Sercy loses a bout early, however, he focuses after a rousing speech by Master Varian. Sercy carries on and wins his final two bouts easily. Falgrieg made a wise bet as promised and wins 10 gp from one of the Tengu. Just to be fair, he gives Sercy two of the gold – who seems pleased to have two shiny coins as trinkets.
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Author's Notes
Events occur late in the summer, 920th Year of Her Prominence. (1228 AC) The events happen from Saylo 17th through the 19th.