2nd of Flamerule (Summertide) - Meeting with Birchnor
Early on the morning of the 2nd, just after Dawn, Ursus quietly steps into the clearing and blows softly on his pipes. A soothing sound washes over the sleeping group (including a snoring Caurus). The sound of the music calmly wakes everyone in the group.
Seeing everyone is now awake, Ursus, clears his throat and speaks, "The ancient and wise Birchnor will gladly see you over a breakfast meal. If you will gather your things and follow me, I will take you to him."
The party quietly gathers up their bedrolls and gear and follows Ursus through a winding path away from the clearing. After travelling only several minutes, the group is greeted by a familiar presence.
There in the center of a large glade, is a towering birch tree. The "trunk" of the tree seems to twist about and begin speaking.
"Greetings Regulators. I trust you are well rested from your trip yesterday." A large limb sweeps down from above and the air seems to sparkle in front of your eyes for a moment. From out of nowhere, a pile of fresh fruit and nuts appears on large flat leaves. Next to the fruit is a bowl containing what appears to be fresh water.
"We can discuss why you have come while you are eating."
Seeing everyone is now awake, Ursus, clears his throat and speaks, "The ancient and wise Birchnor will gladly see you over a breakfast meal. If you will gather your things and follow me, I will take you to him."
The party quietly gathers up their bedrolls and gear and follows Ursus through a winding path away from the clearing. After travelling only several minutes, the group is greeted by a familiar presence.
There in the center of a large glade, is a towering birch tree. The "trunk" of the tree seems to twist about and begin speaking.
"Greetings Regulators. I trust you are well rested from your trip yesterday." A large limb sweeps down from above and the air seems to sparkle in front of your eyes for a moment. From out of nowhere, a pile of fresh fruit and nuts appears on large flat leaves. Next to the fruit is a bowl containing what appears to be fresh water.
"We can discuss why you have come while you are eating."
posted by GM/Brannic | 1:13 PM
11 Comments:
:::Speaking in Sylvan:::
I am honored again to be in your presence ancient and mighty tree of the Whispering Woods.
:::Changing to the common tongue:::
We thank-you for meeting with us again. We have come primarily to bring you more horns from your friend Knipnally and remnants from the silver Cassiuse.
:::With that Seraph removes from his backpack the silver bracers:::
These bracers were found by one of my companions. A dwarf named Vig Killug. Unlike many of his kind, he is not built solely around greed. He could not be here but wanted us to give this to you in his absence, a token of our budding friendship.
:::Seraph hands the bracers to Birchnor and steps back, bowing slightly. Seraph then motions to Brannic:::
Brannic steps forward and offers his Brass Dragon horn to Birchnor.
He graciously bows and then steps backward.
:::Hesitating for a moment, Seraph changes languages once more to Sylvan and continues:::
I wanted to take a moment to warn you of one of my companions. He is a chosen of Shaundukal and a young, very proud follower of the Rider of the Winds. Please, wise and prevailing tree, please keep this in mind while conversing with him. His words can be harsh at times and said without much forethought, but his actions have thus far always proven to be honorable.
:::Seraph then motions to Caurus and speaking in the common tongue:::
You can speak to Birchnor, but please choose your words sensibly.
Birchnor's voice takes a very low tone.
"Kipnally was a friend of mine who lived in the hills just north of here. He was a young dragon of not less than 50 seasons. He would often come down from the hills and we would speak at length about the world and philosophy."
Birchnor lets out a heavy sign and seems to stare upward to the sky before beginning again
"He was a good friend with a wonderful sense of humor. He wasn't a violent soul and certainly didn't deserve to be taken from this world so soon."
A small stream of liquid seems to ooze from the upper part of his trunk. He stares quietly upward for several moments before continuing again.
"Cassiuse was a different sort altogether. I didn't speak much with him often. He spent most of his time in the colder spires of the far western part of the mountains. He was always so serious and focused on his 'stewardship' as he called it. Watching after you little ones was all he seemed to do. A bit of a waste if you ask me. He wasn't helping you by protecting you, he just made you weaker and less prepared."
Birchnor voice becomes stiffer and he looks back towards the gathered group.
"It was no doubt his efforts to protect you which got him killed. Now without him you are seeing greater activity in the valley."
Pointing a large branch at each of you in turn
"As you struggle to defend those others in your village you have grown stronger. It is only through conflict and adversity, that fight to survive, in which you can achieve your true potential. Cassiuse didn't see that and for that paid with his life."
I will speak no more of them to you. The rest of my memories of them I will keep to myself."
He move his trunk and branches to face just Caurus.
"I see you wear Cassiuse's skull atop your head and hold one of Kipnally's horns at your side. Are you to deliver these items to me as your friends have as well?"
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Staring ahead, Caurus quietly takes the helmet from his head and turns it upside down. He then slowly removes the horn from his side and places it inside the helmet.
He steps forward and offers it to Birchnor and says, " I will no longer need these items. I have a long journey ahead of me and these items will not be needed. Do with them what you think best."
As a perplexed Birchnor takes the items from Caurus' hands, Caurus turns to the rest of the Regulators and says, "My friends, I will no longer be able to travel with you. I am being called on to walk a different path. I'm sure you are no doubt confused with the suddeness of this, but it is something that must be done. I have treasured the time I have spent with you and wish you all the best of what is to come."
With that he bows before the group and in a strong breeze disappears into a cloud of mist and fog.
:::Seraph lowers his head and whispers:::
Good-bye my friend. I have no doubt that our paths will one day meet again. Until then, may you find joy everlasting and sunshine on your path.
:::Not wanting to go on but knowing that giving in to pain and sorrow would be worse, Seraph lifts his head:::
We must continue on my friends even though things seem bleak without our companion and friend.
Nimbus steps over to Vig whose wiping the bear foam from his beard and says, "Well little one your powerful stamina still needs some improvement. You've gotten better with your Warpike, but you still leave gaps that allow me to sneak in."
He tilts his head to one side, apparently in thought. Then shakes it. Looking around the room in the ruins he says, "I cannot leave here. My master will return someday. I need to reconstruct as much of this place as I can."
"Take a break for a while. Jode and I will spar a bit now."
With that Nimbus motions for Jode to finish his snack and draw his weapon and approach.
::: Jellen sullenly looks to where Caurus was once standing, shock and disbelief on what has just occured and speaks to the fading mist ::::
My friend Caurus, you were family to all of us and we wish you well on this very unexpected journey. We shall see each other in due time when god allows it. When that day finally occurs again we will all be happy to enjoy each other's good company and share many bountiful stories. For now good journey and we honor the time that we got to become good friends with you Caurus. We will miss you greatly!
Birchnor takes a moment to compose himself and clears his throat.
"Some very kind words you have all spoken for your departed friend. It is words like that which make me believe maybe all you humanoids aren't all bad."
He gestures to one of his nearby companions, a small badger carrying a leather pouch in his mouth. One of Birchnor's "branches" takes the pouch and opens it up. He carefully pulls 5 necklaces from the pouch. Each one has a cord of woven grass which holds an acorn apparently made of silver. He presents these necklaces to Seraph, Jellen and Brannic.
"These necklaces are for you. They don't have any monetary value from the world in which you come, but they serve as a notice to all those in the forest that you carry my blessing. As long as your acorn remains silver you can call upon the aid of those who live in these woods."
He then reaches into the pouch and pulls forth a strange lump of what is apparently gold.
"Seraph, I entrust this task to you and your companions. In memory of Pyril, I would like you to plant this seed in the center of your town. It must be planted in the morning at dawn's first light and you must provide it with 2 wineskins of the cleanest water you can find."
He pauses a moment after saying this to let the words sink in.
"If you have any final questions for me, please speak now."
With no additional questions, the Regulators are escorted out of the grove and Ursus guides them back to the edge of the forest.
He waves them goodbye as they begin the journey back to Grey's Deep.
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