Private Tales Lost in the Bowels of Dryadalis

[Rainer]

"Take this amulet. Find my daughter, do whatever it takes! Make those knife-ears pay for stealing my girl. Make them regret the day they crossed the hatched crest!"
-Lower Council Member Frederick Chermain, unnamed house of Vel Anir
​

Hate was a difficult emotion, requiring a certain level of investment to truly precipitate into something even remotely resembling the frothing spittle with which humanity was so often encumbered. But if he had to put his finger on it, on that particular subconscious response to the conversation with the illustrious Frederick Chermain, Rain imagined that hate would get him pretty close to target. It was the airs - superiority, holier than thou, and that notion that money could, in all its absolutism, buy anything. It was simply a matter of which numbers came after the currency symbol.

If he were being entirely honest with Chermain, he would have admitted that he held elves, and particular elves even more so, in far higher regard than the majority of humans. The idea that there was a roving band of feral elves, running off with the barely adult children of lesser house members of Vel Anir for the sake of a pittance of jingling metal, was a difficult serving to swallow. And yet he took the assignment, and the assumed fallacious explanation, with a nod and grunt because that shining metal was something of which he was in terrible need.

Vel Anir stood as a monument to the impenetrable nature of the Falwood, residing south and east along the ever gentle slope of the continent that eventually bled off into the coast. Where the mature woods resisted the buffeting arid push of the northern savannah and ravenous humanic need to plant a flag in something unclaimed, it had no such power over the temperate rains. Thousands upon thousands of years of natural development, plus the failed attempts of ambitious humans to develop polders along the north and west borders of the Falwood, had left scars and cuts across the vast expanse of hardwoods and evergreen forests. The sort of scars and cuts that mobilized and concentrated water.

Chermain had called the extensive wooded complex by the derogatory term, established in Vel Anir by the elite and beggars alike. The Bowels of Dryadalis. The shit remains of the Fal'Addas. When the gods bent down to inspire Vel Anir in service to humanity, what came out of the other end was this place, mired in shit and the stench of the Dryadalis. Rain was certain there was a far more eloquent old-world name for the location, but he didn't keep the sort of company that would make him privy to it. Instead, he was forced to partner with someone of a similar occupation as him on account of perceived difficulty of task. Whatever the reason, he wasn't a fan of being told what to do or how to go about practicing his craft.

The still waters of the slough stirred and swirled, pulling together a convection of verdant algae that eventually billowed out into a sphere. Once it couldn't take it anymore, the bubble popped and the algae curled back, releasing a belch of methane that was indistinguishable from the odors of the rest of the swamp. Eventually, the bubble capsized to the disturbance of a diving snake, bolting off from an overhanging cypress tree. The water was only currently knee deep but the hazards of the Bowels paid little mind to the depths of the water - everything presented a risk. Their movement so far had been slow, forced to wade between high points in the topography as they navigated the thick and clinging fog. The sort of the fog that wasn't likely to burn off in the morning sun.

"The amulet is quiet..." Rain had no sense of the range on the item but based no Chermain's accounting of the family relic, it would hum or throb when they got close enough. "We should look for a scouting point out here, something with a better view."

Plop

Another snake.

Gannis
​

 

[Gannis]

Gannis had never been one to turn away from a job because of the working conditions. He was often seen as the runt of his family. A small and ugly tracker with little of the finesse of his closest peers and a fraction of the size and power when shifted.

The marsh smelled so badly that Dog had decided that Gannis could go on alone. The scent lingered on the nose. The mud clawed at his boots. He couldn't tell if he felt creatures moving beneath the surface or if those were figments of his imagination.

Having a partner from outside the Venari meant that he was even more determined to see this through. At some point he was certain he could let the mercanry go chasing after elves whilst he tried to tackle whatever had actually taken the girl.

Elves were not the the business of blackmailing human Council members of Vel Anir. Other humans were.

He had yet to realise that Rainer was of the same mind.

Gannis grunted and nodded in a direction.

"Hope she's beyond this. Can't think of many creatures live in a place like this that would keep a human alive more'n a few hours."

 

[Rainer]

There was a distant sound of wings flapping, like an unkindness pushing over the upper canopy. It was hard to make out the number; the fog and understory seemed to amplify and dull noises, all at the same time.

Gannis spoke true. This wasn't a suitable place for civilization. But from Rain's perspective, an open swamp that bled into countless bogs and sloughs would make for the perfect protection from outsiders, incapable of navigating the difficult and treacherous terrain. In some ways, he suspected that the development of fortress and keep moats somewhat mimicked this natural formation.

"No. This is a place for gods and monsters...and the occasional well guarded encampment, sitting on some hill." Or a world build on stilts and bridges, swinging vines and bark mounted lanterns.

He stopped to quietly survey for a moment. For the most part, the canopy was fairly uniform, composed of maples, gums, cypresses, and the occasional lone pine, sitting on a hummock. But as he focused his vision, doing his best to cut through the fog, he spied what looked to be a tree without equal. Perhaps a redwood, which would imply a decent hill on the interior of the Bowels.

Rain pointed a gloved finger at the tree. "How are your climbing skills?" The trunk was, from a distance, monstrous in width and relatively unencumbered by branches. In fact, within the shaded canopy, he couldn't see a single point for purchase. Just a trunk ascending to the heavens of patchworked leaves and the cats cradle of thick grape vines beneath, giving the first signs of blue and purple berries.

If they could fashion some crampons, or something of similar effect, it was potentially doable. But otherwise, he was certain hands and feet wouldn't be enough. "Fog like this..." His nostrils flared, taking in a mix of methane and coal. "Probably obscures any fire an encampment might have..."

Gannis ​

 

[Gannis]

"Climb any-fucking-thin' right about now," Gannis replied.

The man had a point. His delicate sense of smell couldn't stand the boggy landscape, but it would be a good place to hide from the authorities. Especially when those authorities liked to show their power with trained knights in plate armour and battle mages.

Gannis made his way to the tree and jumped for a knot that was the closest thing to a handhold. That had been the plan, at least. He hinged and snapped forwards, but the ground held him tight.

He muttered a few choice curses as he sloshed closer to the tree and slowly dragged himself up. His fingers curled at odd angles, nails digging into the bark to find purchase. His heart quickened at the prospect of a full transformation, but his spirit was kept in check.

"What am I even gonna see then?" he called back. It was hard going when his clothes were soaked through and only his hands could find purchase. At least the landing would be soft.

As he ascended, the fog began to disperse. The rough haze of a sun finally took on the shape of a hazy circle.

 

[Rainer]

It was a tale fair older than him. The wilds are kept wild by the hindrance of development, keeping order at bay. Whether that be by the sheer impenetrable nature of the location or by design of the inhabitants that were willing to compromise with the world around them, the result was the same.

Portions of the Iuk-'u Delta, bogs and bayous bleeding out from Alliria, and even established locations like mire villages, could all erect defenses that hinged on superstitions and farmer spread folklore. Demons, monsters, and portals to otherworlds all laid in wait for those who would trudge into the Bowels of Dryadalis. In most circumstances, the façade was exactly that - a façade. But for some places, where the world was still old, Rainer truly wondered what lurked in the shadows and still waters.

Another cacophony of wings, like crows fighting, gave Rain enough reason to turn and look over his shoulder.

"You may see anything...or nothing at all." He turned back to Gannis as the hunter scaled the bark of the redwood. "But you could hear something or smell something. Something not baffled by the canopy and fog." The smell of methane and detritus was potent but Rain suspected that the odor had been concentrated under the canopy on account of the listless air. Without the hardwood walls to contain it, smoke might rise. The sound of metal against metal, or bridges swaying between trees, might give way to a direction.

"Maybe you'll get a chance to dry off while you're up there." ​

 

[Gannis]

"I like that last one the most," he muttered under his breath.

He didn't think his boots were going to be drying out any time soon. At this precise moment, he couldn't even imagine a time when the stench of this place was not overpowering his sense of smell.

There were no branches within reach for a rest. Gannis grit his teeth together and continued upwards. The pattern of the bark provided just enough ridges for him to get some traction with his feet.

The fog started to dissipate earlier than he had expected. The pain in his arms made him feel as if he had climbed straight up for a mile, but he had barely reached the height of a common hill giant.

Behind them, he could see distant sliver of darkness that marked the trees before the wetlands. Ahead of them...

"Fuck," he muttered, because his partner had been right. "I can see smoke from a fire," he called down. He started to climb around the tree to go straight down with his back to the climbing tendrail of dark smoke. He did not want to have to climb again.

 

[Rainer]

Another flutter of wings, like a cacophonous applause, seemed to pass just behind Rain. He grunted and with a single swift movement, slowed by mud and roots, he turned to face the darkness of the swamp with a shining sword in hand. He felt a shutter come over him, as if the world around them had suddenly cracked open and released something dormant and old. He could feel the presence, drifting in the understory.

"That's great..." He yelled back, his back now to the redwood. "May want to spot out a swift means of escape while you're up there."

Whatever it was, it didn't matter. As a Vedymin, he relied on his agility and ability to move in order to fight. And this was not the arena for that.

In the distance, he heard a trunk crack, split, and slam into the water. And in its place, he spotted the shadow of a 16-point deer skull, wreathed in a crown of half-dead grape leaves, floating near the tops of the canopy. Whether it was a disembodied ornament or the head of something sinister and ancient, it was difficult to tell. And he wasn't sure he wanted to stick around to find out or if he even had a say in the matter.

The skull moved and from the shadows, a gnarly figure of bark and bones revealed itself from beneath it. He exhaled and gripped the sword with both hands, preparing to defend himself.

"Fuck."​

 

[Gannis]

There was something foul in the air and it wasn't just the big water. As Gannis heard the crack he tried to pull himself around the tree for a better view.

The maneuver was taxing on his already tired limbs. All he saw from above the thickest mist was a shadow and the vortex swirls of something tall passing through quickly.

A silhouette finally revealed itself. His eyes went wide. Gannis had half a mind to climb higher and leave Rainer to his fate.

"Was that a fucking Leshy?" he called out. "North is as good as any!" he shouted. The line of trees he could see might have meant better ground or at least roots to run across.

Gannis tried to rush down to join Rainer. He pulled away a piece of loose back and felt himself fall. He braced to hit the solid ground on instinct, but didn't prepare himself for being plunged into darkness as he was submerged.

Gannis flailed as he pulled himself back up. He snorted stagnant water from his nose and shook his head.

"Fuck."

 

[Rainer]

No. That was the first thought that occurred to Rain. Something deep inside of him felt that the blanket characterization of a Leshy would not have been enough. They were rare creatures but based on the response, both hunters had experienced them in the past. But this felt bigger and more pronounced, akin to calling a great fighter or wizard simply by their genetics.

The thing took a slow and meandering step forward. Or, at least, step was the best word that came to mind. For Rain, it was impossible to tell whether the creature was moving in a traditional bipedal format or if it's roots were digging deep and dragging it along. The mud and swirling water only helped to strengthen the mystery.

And just as soon as Gannis hit the mud and water, Rain felt a trimmer and step forward. With the sword spun downward, Rain crossed his arms over his chest just in time to intercept a mass of roots shooting out from the Leshy's outstretched claw. The roots didn't fully make contact, instead deflecting off a barrier that seemed to extend outward and formed a nearly translucent star of tendrils.

The Leshy retracted the roots and let out a long howl, though it more closely resembled a wheeze mixed with a scream. And just like that, it was gone, leaving a plume of black feathers and particles in its wake. Rain dropped the cross guard and held the sword with both hands, low.

"Yes, it's a fucking Leshy. It stepped away for a moment but it will be back." The Bowels had teeth, it seemed. Rain was starting to wonder what exactly they had wandered into.​

 

[Gannis]

Gannis spat out stagnant water and drew his sword. It was a simple, single edged blade. He had lost many swords just like it, but always he returned to the same simplicity and weight. It was an oversized cleaver for a man who didn't know the subtle sword arts. He was a tracker first and foremost.

"Took four venators to bring down a Leshy few months back," he growled, backing away from where it had been.

"Might be able to get clear of its territory. Least it won't have a pack of wolves close by to come after us."

As soon as he said it, he started to think of what horrors could lurk in these waters that the spirit could command.

The water had seeped deep into his layers of clothing. It was heavy, clawing. He wasn't in good shape to get anywhere fast.

Gannis dared to turn his back, heading towards his best hope of firm ground.

"Fucking thing could get your ankle in roots under the water and couldn't do a damn thing about it," he reasoned, starting to hurry. The water swirled about in his wake, disturbing small insects that lived on its surface.

 

[Rainer]

There was something to be said of Leshy's, particularly in their capacity to do legitimate and real harm. There were few creatures, if a Leshy could really be defined as such, that held as much power as an animated tree with the ability to fling roots, summon beasts, and transport through the ethereal. At least from a rudimentary perspective, that was how Rain assumed it worked - there was probably a number of coal twiddling scholars in Elbion that would have been eager to correct him.

But what made Leshy's so deadly and frightening was their almost otherworldly motivation, as if moved to purpose by some godly mission that moved beyond time and place. They had a territory, as Gannis indicated, and that territory was a sacred as any of the Pantheon.

This wasn't a fight that they could win. Not without mobility.

"Yeah..." He grimaced. "It's on the move right now..." Rain shifted, disturbing the mud and water with the tip of his sword in a semi circle. "We can either run now or wait for the next attack, then run for it as it gathers itself for another attack."

There was a noise that followed. A series of howls that echoed from a distance, in the direction pointed out by Gannis while he was scouting. "Or...we can fucking run now! Go!" He wasn't in a position to command anyone but now felt as good a time as any to be decisive.​

 

[Gannis]

There wasn't even a hint that Gannis felt aggrieved at the sudden command. There was only vehenement agreement.

The ground they were in would not make sure footing for a pack of wolves to attack, but Gannis was worried they were being flanked.

"If we're heading to higher, solid ground and there's a pack of wolves waiting for us, we're fucked!" Gannis declared.

If he shifted, he could throw himself into a chaotic frenzy against the pack. They wouldn't behave as a regular pack and retreat. If the leshy willed it, they would fight to the last.

Swearing and grumbling under his bread, with his head held low, he leaned into the march. Soon he was starting to be able to pick up his legs and accelerate forwards.

Shadows moved through the fog, but at least he had some footing now. Gannis stopped letting his sword hang down and raised it ready for something to emerge.

 

[Rainer]

Rain agreed with the statement but was too busy trudging through the muck and stagnant water to bother with a response. His movement spoke to his immediate thoughts. Just keeping fucking moving.

Once their movement picked up, it felt as if the process was getting easier. And despite not really hearing the Leshy behind them, he had the distinct impression that it was close behind. And in front of them, something was approaching. Not just something, but a group of something.

"Incoming!" Rain screamed as he came to a sliding stop with sword lifted in a guarded position. In the forest ahead of them, several wolves came out from the underbrush. Some were bluish in tone, others were metallic silver. Without hesitation, they charged forward and Rain prepared for an incoming attack. But, to his surprise, they charged past and straight towards the Leshy - who had materialized in the hunters wake.

One of the wolves stopped before the duo and almost seamlessly, it transformed into a tall and particularly perfect looking elf. "Stand aside, Feredir..." His silver eyes looked over the two before stepping past them, materializing a staff in hand. "The Beleg Nimloth is for the Virvyre to manage." He seemed like he was there to help but Rain couldn't help but pick up tones of scorn.

 

[Gannis]

"Yeah, you're welcome to it," Gannis grunted, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder.

He had no clue what was happening. Gannis had crossed plenty of stories of animal shifting spells, but not crossed anything quite like this.

A leshy normally commanded the animals within its territory, so his heart was still pounding from readying himself to fight through towards the trees.

Gannis made sure to politely keep the point of his sword pointing down. His tone was less polite.

"We weren't here for it, just stumbled across it. Which is...why we were running that way."

 

[Rainer]

The elf stopped in his tracks to stare down at the hunter. "Not here for it?" His voice was regal and his eyes spoke of an age far beyond his physical presence. "If you are not here for this, then why have you wandered into our realm?"

Rain's attention drifted off from the elf to the wolves who, as they spoke, were shifting in their fight against the Leshy. In one moment, they were animals, biting at roots and dodging flung debris. Other moments, they were elves, rebounding from attacks and regathering themselves before swiftly changing back.

He had the distinct impression that these...things...were not fighting to do harm. Instead, he suspected they were simply trying to drive it off.

"Speak!" The elf commanded.

 

[Gannis]

"Oh bollocks," bemoaned Gannis.

The elf's expression immediately gave the impression that this was not what he was demanding of the pair

Gannis was content to risk some ire to let them underestimate him. They held all the cards and he would rather not come across as a threat.

Not that his expletive had been planned.

"Someone led us to believe a kid had been stolen," Gannis said, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder. Led to believe was a statement that distanced him from the belief that it had been elves. "Thought who took the kid came this way. Haven't had anyone else pass through 'ere?"

 

[Rainer]

Rainer watched for a moment longer, attention still not pulled from the Leshy, as one of the wolves transformed back to an elf. As the other wolves continued to harass the Leshy, the Elf held a staff up high and began chanting.

"Someone led you to believe..." The supposed leader replied, looking over the two hunters with a discerning gaze. His silver expression seemed to vary from amusement to irritation. As his eyes flicked back and forth between the two, a verdant tone seemed to wash over his eyes before returning to a metallic haze.

A green aura took over the fog laden understory as the chanting of the elf was mimicked by his comrades who had taken up positions in a circle around the Leshy. The last echo of a flock of crows could be heard before the chanting stopped in a deafening gust of silence. The Leshy was gone.

"Frederick Chermain." Rain replied as he turned back to the elf with his silver gaze.
"Ah yes." The elf replied, knowingly. "Thou shall not cross the hatched crest. His a family of bigotry, dating back to the early scheming of pogroms and dryadic genocide. I presume he believes the...knife-ears are to blame?"

Rain nodded without responding.

"There is something amiss in these woods but you will not find this child among our ranks. Follow us to our encampment, that ward is not perennial and the Beleg Nimloth will return to it's domain. Such is its ways, even when under the thaw fána."​

 

[Gannis]

Gannis decided to keep his mouth shut for a while. This had become a delicate matter . The last thing they needed was for him to utter a misplaced word that got the elves riled up.

He had never seen a leshy dealt with so swiftly. Not just dealt with, but removed from an area safely. The hunt with Gottfried, Grinnel and Baeshor had become a blur in his memories, but none of them had come through the encounter unscathed.

Not that Gannis had many smooth, unblemished patches of skin left to scar. The scars were now layered on top of one other.

He followed the group, surrounded on all sides by elves. They weren't being treated as prisoners, but outnumbered by the pack which had spread out around them meant he knew the balance of power.

At least he had been right about the direction. North took them to slightly higher ground. It was firm - or close to it - underfoot. The roots were like planks laid along the ground to make it easier to traverse. Gannis still had to trudge along, soaked to the bone with the cold mist making every step worse.

When he spotted a guard watching them from ahead he decided to speak up.

"Never thought your lot would go about stealing the children of a Baron," Gannis said, "But we did take a contract to find him. No one else come this way?" he risked asking again.

 

[Rainer]

The compatriots of the leader followed along in silence though they walked in a particular fashion, as if there steps were guided by some unseen force that the hunters were not privy to. Boards beneath the water, age-old knowledge of the foot traps and sink holes that hid beneath the still waters, or even peaty caverns obscured by pools of green water that stood as temporal homes for the more transient monsters of the bowels. Rain's imagination ran amuck of what lurked within the canopy of this world but did his best to follow in their footsteps to avoid any further perils.

"There is little value in hostage taking from Vel Anir." The silver eyed one spoke out, speaking to the act in a more amoral tone than outright dismissing the nature of kidnapping children. "If we were to take to such practices, it would just lead to more Randir (Wanderer) such as yourself, invading our woods...Glad Tovon Eithel (Forest of the Deep Well)." He stopped as they seemed to be approaching the guarded home. The forests seemed to give way to a thinned but still relatively mature woods. Bridges encircled trees in concentric rings that were further connected by slack bridges, spanning distances at various elevations beneath the canopy. The ground seemed to be lifting upwards and away from that the shallow water table as their footpath was no longer led along wooden slates and y-braced bridges through the swamp.

At differing levels, not unlike a hotel, the old trees were adorned with small vestibules that were lit with orange and red fire light. And as if the understory scrub had some deafening affect, it was no longer the case. There was sounds of music and talk, vendors, and the smell of food within. Rain could only look on, in some wonder.

"Calen Duin...(Green River), home of the Virvyre. Come in, let us find some food and warmth next to the fire and we shall speak of where I suspect your child has run off to." With that, he approached the guard who stepped aside without a sound.​

 

[Gannis]

Gannis turned and offered Rainer a nod. Short and sharp, it conveyed the encouragement he felt at the offering.

With the elves once again making the case for the innocence and showing some affront at notion, Gannis had started to fear the worst.

As fast as he could run, he knew that he would not have made it very far if they had decided to turn on them both.

"I didn't expect you to have quite such a large settlement," Gannis said. He sile tly cursed himself. Even that comment would draw attention to the fact that they had some knowledge of mild use to the Baron and his racist agenda.

"I got soaked through," he said quickly. "Fire would be most welcome thank you."

He always had at least one change of clothes. A venari never knew when they might need to shift and ruin an entire outfit.

 

[Rainer]

The silver eyed elf responded with a knowing smile and gestured towards the entrance and the simplicity of the interior Calen Duin. "Please excuse me for a few moments, as you warm yourselves by the fire. It's within the village center and burns an exquisite magenta hue. We are having..." He looked towards another elf, who spoke up.

"Braised deer with mashed yarrow, seasoned with Monarda and wood sorrel." The woman smiled as she spoke, her accent sounded almost foreign, as if it was peeled directly from a textbook. High Elf. "Please..." She continued. "Follow me to the fire and we can continue this discussion. I am Elenaril." With that, she placed her hands behind her back, which nearly met the ends of her mid-back length auburn hair, and began to walk into the village.

Rain held back for a moment and followed alongside Gannis. "This is a not a place that is often seen by our kind." That kind being that of wanderers and vagabonds. "I have heard the name Virvyre before...but I can't seem to place it." They passed what appeared to be a large council building, carved from the massive protruding gnarl, grown naturally from the redwood bole. Fire was lit within but it seemed to be currently vacant.

"I wouldn't drop my guard just yet but...I believe them to be good people."​

 

[Gannis]

"An exquisite...magenta hue..."

He wasn't repeating the phrase because he was looking for the fire. He repeated it because he was still rolling the phrase around in his head.

"Good people? Definitely not what I expected on first meeting," Gannis replied.

He had met elves of many sorts, from the most civilised to the most wild. He was expecting something on the wilder end of that spectrum, not a group having a feast of braised deer.

Gannis felt like a crude, ugly creature among men. He felt more out of place here, not that he ever let such thoughts cut deep.

He found a spot close to the fire and opened his pack to see if his spare clothes were still dry.

"Think they'll really have an idea?" he asked.

 

[Rainer]

"I don't expect they would lie about it..." Rain responded as he sat down, pulling off a boot. Turning it over, water gushed out from the interior. He proceeded with the other side and afterwards, turned them to face the fire. It was, as the others had stated, a particular hue of magenta.

"But it could also just be theory or notions with no hard facts. I imagine that's what we'll be eventually chasing."

"But not right now." Elanaril approached with a plate in hand and offered it to Gannis. Turning her emerald gaze to Rain, her brow furrowed. "You wouldn't eat this if I offered it to you, would you?"

"No." Rain replied. "I mean no offense. It smells delicious."
"Offense not taken." She smiled as she waited for the other hunter to take the plate. It was lined with the items as indicated, though it looked like a simple dish of meat and carrots.
"When he returns." She continued. "We can speak of these notions."​

 

[Gannis]

Gannis sighed with disappointment to find that his bag hadn't remained watertight during his plunge. He drew out his spare items of clothing and laid them out in the light and warmth of the fire.

He nodded along to Rainer's musings. For the most part, he agreed. If they let them leave with even a vague idea of where to look next he would be content.

"This is fuckin' lovely," Gannis said, still chewing on venison.

There was strain on the elf's face as she replied with a polite nod.

"Way I see it," Gannis proclaimed to Rainer. "Is that this is much better 'an I hoped to end up after being ambushed by a leshy."

 

[Rainer]

Rain felt his stomach grumble and quietly hoped that no one could hear it. A thought occurred to him to pull out his ceramic jar, feed on the ruminate blood within, and move on. But given the general observance around him, he expected that the act of drinking blood wouldn't go unnoticed. He would punch down the hunger for a bit and find some time to slip away later.

"Agreed." He replied, as he resituated his sodden boots and did his best to get comfortable. "That was a big Leshen too, don't imagine that fight would have left us unscathed." It was indeed extremely fortunate timing. Part of him felt that it was almost too fortunate.

Just then, the silver expressioned elf moved through the group and took a seat on a log, raising a chalice. "On- mel na hi aras a ha's ráw. Hi tur- on- na ammen an an uir." He looked over to the two hunters. "We rejoice in the nourishment provided to us. We are forever in debt to what the Calen Duin provides. I am Filvendoor Biven, of the Virvyre clan. As you well know, we are elves...obviously." He said with a smile. A couple of chuckles were heard around the campfire. "But what you may not know is that we are an excommunicated group of the Fal'Addas elves, once thrown by the wayside for our views of time and our rare lineage. We can discuss that later as there is far more concerning matters. Corruption and your missing child."

The chatter around the magenta campfire died back as his expression darkened. "And an Ebony tower, erupting from the heart of Glad Tovon Eithel. We have grown to call it the Gwathren Mindon. The Shadow Tower - Tell me Randirs, what do you know of dark magic?"​