Open Chronicles The Miracle at Landisford

[Kristen Pirian]

(Art Credit)​

Fine rest, refreshing drinks, and good cheer could always be found at Landisford Inn.

Yet tonight would be different. Horrifically so.

As a powerful servant of the Dark One Abbon blended in seamlessly with the crowd. Ready to enact the will of the master.

* * * * *​

Landisford was a popular inn stationed at a major crossroads. Situated along the Border Road which coasted along the divide between the Falwood and the Aberresai Savannah, Landisford was a central point for adventurers and travelers of all kinds. To the east was Alliria, to the west Vel Anir, to the north Oban, and to the south many of the disparate towns and communities of Falwood elves. Conflicts raged across Arethil upon any particular stretch of land and throughout history, yet Landisford was one of those lovely places were people from all walks of life could put aside their differences at least for a night. By some sort of unspoken yet enduring truce, Landisford, in all the years it had been standing, was a neutral ground. A respite for the weary of all kinds.

Indeed, it helped that a good portion of the Landisford Inn's patrons were hardy adventurers, traveling soldiers, caravan hands, rough and tumble types who didn't want to spend a night under the open stars in the creeping cold again and just wanted some peace. Weapons weren't checked at the door. And, well, if you caused trouble, you were likely to end up with a group of irritated folks—hard men and women all—standing in line to put a boot up your ass before you got kicked out. The peace was everybody's responsibility, and everybody took that to heart.

Seldom were such measures needed though. Things could get a little rowdy, drunk people would be drunk people, but usually not so out of hand.

If only it were so tonight, that the most any of the Landisford patrons had to worry about was a drunken brawl.

* * * * *​

Kristen Pirian sat in the Reading Room, listening to the steady patter of rain against the window behind her. A delightful surprise, this Reading Room—certainly not a common addition to many inns! Yet at Landisford the entire first floor was dedicated to various common rooms: a Tavern Room, of course; the Reading Room, whose relative quiet and crackling fireplace Kristen currently enjoyed; the Game Room, hosting a variety of favorites across the various cultures which intersected here at this crossroads; even a Bath Room, a large communal indoor bath (heated by a fire mage who worked for the proprietor!) for those who, ahem, weren't so shy, to say the least.

Kristen, a Dreadlord Initiate of Vel Anir, had been returning from a mission in the area. Proctor Culgrin, one of the newer Proctors at the Academy, was with her, but presently he was in the Tavern Room.

Her stomach rumbled, and Kristen looked from her book of Celestialist verses down to her gut. Oh, she wasn't particularly fond of taverns, of the raucous atmosphere brought on by collective drunken stupor, but...well, her stomach made a fine point. Skipping supper just because the Tavern Room was loud wouldn't make for a very pleasant night.

She stood. All of her armor was stashed in her room on the third floor, so there was none of the usual clanking of her plate pieces nor clinking of her mail hauberk. Comfortable was she in her arming doublet and pants.

Kristen walked through the Game Room, where a number of men were gathered around two people playing a high-stakes game of Dueling Dice. From the Game Room she passed into the Lobby and finally into the Tavern Room, the din of jovial commotion hitting her as soon as she pushed open the door. The loudest among the crowd were a female Falwood elf and an Obanese man trading insults and jests back and forth—yet after particularly witty exchanges laughter from those watching and gracious smiles from the elf and the Oban man gave the banter some pause before it resumed.

Kristen began to weave her way through the tables toward the counter with the barkeep.

But, inadvertently, someone's leg kicked out and she accidentally tripped over it.

 

[Taayi]

In this bustling tavern, Taayi moved through the crowd. Her eyes read the room, scanned faces. The cacophony of the tavern filled her hears. Even the jeers the elf and man threw at each other were almost drowned out. The smells of unwashed travelers and smoke invaded her nose. Yet, her face appeared to be that of stone-cold indifference.

By chance, Taayi was not the one to have accidentally trip Kristen Pirian. Instead in her movement across the tavern, Taayi ended up standing just ahead of the Anirian.

Taayi stretched out an arm to catch Kristen by the front. She kept her feet and most of her body in place. Gloves covered her less than solid hands.

If Kristen fell into Taayi’s arm, Taayi would give solid support to the woman that stood just slightly taller than Taayi herself.

Solid black eyes looked over Kristen, at first. Her face turned to a moment to the book of Celestialist verses. Then, Taayi turned her focus to Kristen’s face.

A slight smile.

“Stand. Child,” a stolen voice crawled out of Taayi’s mouth.

 

[Thror Firemane]

It was thror's leg that had tripped the woman. The ginger-blonde haired dwarf was attempting to get up from his chair as the unfortunate incident unfolded. Her body tipped over and Thror, with all the graces of a ox, tried to reach out and catch her. Instead his belly knocked the table spilling not just his drink but the three other patrons as well. His 'heroic' attempt to save the damsel in distress failed, yet she was saved non the less. Another woman had reacted much faster than the ranger adding a pinch of insult to his already bruised pride.

"Bugger me!"He gruffed at the two woman "sorry lassies fur mah graceless foot!" The deep tough voice was rich with the brogue Belgrathian accent and the apology was barbed with annoyance. "Bit ye best be traivelin mair canny wi' they giraffe legs o' yers!"

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Falling over always induced, if not panic, then certainly a keen sense of immediacy. All of one's awareness became hyper-focused on the problem at hand. The body moved, arms firstly and legs secondly, the former flailing for purchase and the latter scrambling for a firm standing.

But it wasn't these efforts which stopped Kristen from falling flat onto the floor.

She was caught. Surprised, she looked up. And the face of who caught her was...ostensibly human. Quite pallid, and the woman's eyes were an unnerving black (though the possession of magic often brought forth unnatural characteristics in the eyes). A faint scent about her, stinging in its sharpness. But Kristen had to be mindful that she was not yet back within Anirian lands, and there would indeed be sights her eyes were unfamiliar with.

"Thank you," she said, doing as it so happened as the woman said and righting herself, standing on her own two feet again.

From behind her, a dwarf. Yes, that's right, there had been quite a commotion as she was falling, the sound of tankards and glasses clattering and a heavy THUNK of wood as the table had been struck during it all.

Giraffe legs? Kristen flushed, embarrassed. Yes, it did make sense for a dwarf to comment so, but her height had always been a source of bashfulness for her.

She focused on his apology. "Oh! 'Twas only an accident." She did, however, pick up on the tinge of annoyance in his tone. "Might I...purchase a drink for you, perhaps?"

And then including Taayi. "Both of you."

Finishing with, "Such that we might all be acquainted on a better footing?" That was an unintentional pun. "Standing." Goodness, her knee-jerk correction to better footing was better standing, even worse. "I...well, how about those drinks?"

Taayi Thror Firemane

 

[Taayi]

Warmth appeared absent from Taayi’s arms. She stood still as Kristen stood herself up.

Taayi’s gaze then slowly shifted toward Thror as the dwarf spoke. Her faint smile remained unchanged. A tiny tilt of the head.

A tilt back toward Kristen followed. Taayi heard Kristen’s offer of a drink. She glanced at the book of verses.

Softly, Taayi replied with, “Yes.”

 

[Thror Firemane]

This woman was a dwarf whisperer, knowing exactly what words could trigger a positive reaction. "Free" and "drinks" or anything close to that was a near guarantee to sooth even the most heated of long beards. The very offer sapped the annoyed disposition right out of Thror, taking him off balance with the quick generosity.

"A dwarf ne'er turns doon a free dram. Ne'er ken if it wull be yer lest!" He replied, intriguingly running his meaty fingers through his beard.

Thror then turn his head to look at the three patrons that shared his table, all with wide grins at the prospect of free ale. "Pick a windae, yer leavin'!" he snarled at them through gritted teeth and furrowed brow. Though his harsh accent was hard to comprehend at times, the three did not mistaken the body language making quick to vacate their seats.

Proud of his successful intimidation, The dwarf sat back down in his previous chair. He signalled for the pair of human women to sit with him. That was the first time he noticed that the other tall woman, the one that saved the clumsy two legged giraffe, had something off with her. In all his long years, he could not recall a time he saw a living human with black eyes. The very sight sent chills down his back, tingling all his danger senses deep within his guts.

A quick thought to confront the off looking human came to mind but was quickly suppressed by a more pressing instinct. The racially inherited unquenchable thirst for ale that afflicted most dwarves was strong with Thror. So he bit his tongue, ignoring the dark eyes.

"I'am Thror Firemane o' clan Firemane!"

Taayi Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Succinct. Yes, that was perhaps the black-eyed woman's defining feature at present.

And the dwarf was certainly of the boisterous persuasion. Not shy was he in declaring to the world (or, to be specific, the three lads who had been at his table) what he wanted, and he did not mince his words in the slightest. Kristen had an unfostered interest in dwarves and dwarven culture (what wondrous inventions they crafted!), but said unfostering left her without much experiential knowledge. The dwarf had a thick accent to be sure, yet she couldn't know what clue it held as to where he was from.

Kristen sat down at the table. She waved over a barmaid, who had to weave through the packed Tavern Room to reach their table and take her order of three ales. Normally...Kristen wasn't much a fan of drinking. Indeed, it had only been her intention to have some supper before retiring to her room. But she would at least drink (lightly) alongside her two new acquaintances in the interest of politeness.

"Thror, it is a pleasure." Kristen placed a hand to her breast and introduced herself, "I am Lady Kristen Pirian of Vel Anir. Seeing as we are all quite far from the lands of my House and are all in relaxed company, simply Kristen will be more than enough."

She glanced to the black-eyed woman. Two years ago, when Kristen had only just departed from the pampered life of nobility as the "Darling Daughter" of House Pirian to enter into the Dreadlord Academy, she would have shown her nervousness over the black-eyed woman's overall presence clearly upon her visage. Now though, after enduring many hardships and growing in many more ways, she contained it.

And she offered the woman a smile. "And you?" Even added with a touch of lighthearted mirth, "You of the quick reflexes and deft hands?"

Taayi Thror Firemane

 

[Taayi]

In silence, Taayi watched Thror aggressively clear the table’s seats. Upon the dwarf’s signal, Taayi gently took her seat. She listened to both Thror’s and Kristen’s introductions – simply turning her focus toward each as they spoke.

When prompted, she answered with, “Taayi, of Hwen.”

Taayi returned a smile to Kristen.

Gaze then shifted toward the bar as the barmaid walked off to complete the order.

“Far is. The Spine,” Taayi commented.

“And Vel. Anir,” she added as she panned toward Kristen.

 

[Thror Firemane]

Kristen wasn't just some highborn bird, she was taller than the average woman but it was her athletic build that set her apart from most other woman of similar station. If she had not announced her self as a Lady, The dwarf would of pegged her for a farm girl that worked as hard as the men if not harder. But, she was a lady and rare does a lady do the work of peasants. She being Vel Anirian, could make her a dreadlord or just a noble lady well trained in self protection. Either way, Thror will not be underestimating her any time soon.

The other woman, Taayi, was of strange sorts. The dark eyes were unnerving and her taciturn manner of speech made her that much more alien to the dwarf. He could not bite his tongue any longer "what in arethil urr ye? a de'il? a demon? sure as hell nae human, nae wi' een lik' that!"

Kristen Pirian Taayi

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"Hwen? Oh, I'm afraid I've not heard of such a place," Kristen said. Not particularly well-traveled, what Kristen knew of lands outside of Vel Anir all came from her noble education, texts on geography and history and the like. Often these did not include the myriad smaller towns in the shadow of places like Elbion, Oban, or Belgrath.

Well. She couldn't imagine that all the people of Hwen spoke in the clipped, laconic way that Taayi did. A peculiarity, yes, and somewhat reminiscent of a fellow Initiate of a similarly odd disposition. But Taayi remained a polite and pleasant person thus far regardless.

Thror, however, was quite bold in his appraisal of their odd third person at the table (did not mince his words indeed!). Perhaps he didn't mean it to come off in some accusatory manner, yet Kristen was taken aback slightly by it nevertheless.

"Thror," she said gently, trying to radiate a calm for both him and Taayi, "mayhap such an inquiry is a touch forward, wouldn't you say?"

And Kristen glanced toward Taayi, seeing how she reacted.

* * * * *​

Devils. Demons. One might say in a figurative sense that these were indeed in Landisford.

On the third floor of the Inn, in one particular room, the Servant and the Sacrifice stood on opposite sides of a circular symbol painted on the floor in blood: the dark symbol of Abbon. The Sacrifice was barely standing, his legs shaking, his skin pale. It was his blood by which the symbol had been made.

"Will I see the Dark One?" the Sacrifice asked in a hoarse voice.

The Servant walked around the curve of the symbol. Touched the Sacrifice. Laid him down into the center of the symbol and spoke softly to him.

"Your pain will be over soon. Let us begin."

Taayi Thror Firemane

 

[Taayi]

“Hwen lies. North,” Taayi quickly replied to Kristen before Thror spoke.

Then, the dwarf began his aggressive accusations.

Taayi slowly panned her head toward Thror.

Kristen chastised him.

A smile painted Taayi’s clear, pale face.

Her dark eyes looked over him.

A blink followed.

“I’m. Human,” Taayi softly replied.

A gloved hand gestured toward Kristen.

“Just as. Her,” she added.

Then at that moment, the barmaid arrived with three drinks for the group. Ale with a thick foam at the top in wooden mugs. Taayi’s gaze toward Thror broke at that moment as she looked toward the mugs. She did not reach for a drink unless Kristen reaffirmed her offer.

Looking toward Kristen’s book of verses, Taayi asked, “Your book. What does it. Tell?”

 

[Thror Firemane]

The anerian woman tried to temper the bluntness of the dwarf's blatant inquiry to no avail. The black eyed so called human responded in the most nonhuman way possible insisting that she is indeed a human. Thror, who has spent a few years among humans and picked up on telltale signs if they were lying or not, could not read the her and that angered and concerned him even further.

"'n' a'm a bearded elf!" Thror grumbled with annoyance. It was then the drinks arrived, the frothy amber liquids making the dwarf divert his attention from his curiosity of Taayi.

"Aboot time!" He reached out grabbing his cup placing a few extra gold coins on the barmaids tray while the ladies were talking about a book "Keep thaim comin'!"

Taayi Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Thror, perhaps in a way living up to his surname, was possessed of a fiery temperament. Yet that flame of his was not a wildfire scorching all those around him. No, he was outspoken, of that there was no doubt, but he had himself well under control, and for that Kristen was thankful. Being caught in the epicenter of a brawl would not do well for propriety's sake.

Drinks arrived. Kristen offered the barmaid a pleasant smile and paid her (oh, Thror gave her a little extra, well that was generous of him!) and then regarded the ale. Certainly not...her first choice of beverage, that much could be said, yet it was ubiquitous enough to leave scarcely any other choice for breaking bread with strangers. But she took a polite sip of hers and suppressed any reaction to the taste which she found to be disagreeable.

Taayi inquired of her Celestialist book of verses.

"Oh, my book? Well, many things of Celestialist canon, wisdom from a time long past. These are ancient parables from when Astra and her Pantheon lived on Arethil, and through the morals of these stories one can interpret how to live a good and godly life."

Taayi Thror Firemane

 

[Taayi]

No further response came from Taayi’s mouth to Thror. She watched him eagerly take a cup. Her lips maintained a slight smile. She then looked over to her own mug, reached out with a glove hand, and pulled it toward herself.

Taayi neglected to take a sip of the alcohol.

When Kristen spoke, Taayi turned her head toward the Anirian. No change in expression as Kristen gave a couple sentence summary of Celestialism.

Once Kristen finished, Taayi returned her focus to Thror, “Do dwaves. Have something similar?”

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Dinner arrived after a short while. Kristen didn't know where the proprietors of Landisford were keeping the chickens, but she was happy to order some roasted chicken and a few accompanying side dishes. Famished, she partook eagerly until her manners passed along a reminder that she was sitting with an acquaintance.

She put down her fork. Took out her handkerchief and dabbed at the sides of her mouth.

"I hope I am not speaking out of turn by mentioning this, but..." she smiled a little and lifted a finger and briefly pointed it toward Taayi, "...you remind me of someone that I know. Well, perhaps 'know' is a touch strong of a description, but I have had interactions in passing. Her name is Soleil Verdane, and you speak very much the way she does."

Kristen laughed lightly.

"Mayhap I ought to, as they say, 'take a page out of your book.' I have on occasion been criticized for my loquacity from others who are more sparing in their words."

Elsewhere in the Tavern Room, a loud argument was brewing between two men, one accusing the other of cheating at the card game they had been playing. Kristen ignored it for now.

Taayi

 

[Taayi]

Taayi turned her head toward Kristen. She greeted Kristen’s smile with her own.

“I. See,” Taayi replied to Kristen’s first comment.

And then Kristen continued to talk as a loud argument began to brew in the background.

“Knowing to. Speak... the shortest. Sentence needed... is learned. Child,” Taayi added.

Taayi continued to hold the drink she received closed. While she had brought the mug to her lips before, she did not appear to be gulping it down like a thirsty adventurer.

After a few moments, Taayi asked, “What is. Your standing. In House Pirian?”

 

[Kristen Pirian]

An unexpected but delightful question from Taayi. Her demeanor didn't lend itself naturally to Kristen thinking she would have an interest in noble affairs at any level. Mayhap Hwen was a small and remote village or town, far removed from the dealings of kings and aristocracy and all the like. It could be, for all Kristen knew.

"Oh! Well, I am not a personage of significant standing, though this is nothing of which to be ashamed, for am I young and House Pirian is large. I suppose though that my greatest fame comes from a title bestowed onto me in my earlier years, the 'Darling Daughter' of House Pirian." She laughed lightly. "Seemed my precocious nature garnered something of an adoring crowd back home."

Though in more recent times, Kristen thought herself distant from that title. She carried not that same innocence as she did when she was truly the Darling Daughter.

Other patrons of the Tavern Room, hardy adventurers all, had stood up then and were making sure to keep the two bickering men apart from one another. Even as one of them shouted, "THERE! I knew it! You did have that card up your sleeve!"

Again, background noise for Kristen.

"What of your home in Hwen, Taayi? Have your travels taken you far?"

Taayi

 

[Taayi]

“Hmmm,” hummed Taayi as Kristen explained her status with House Pirian.

No attention was afforded to the cheating scandal in the bar.

Asked of Hwen, Taayi tilted her head to tell Kristen, “Hwen was. West of. Dornoch. The usual farming. Village.”

With a smile, Taayi added, “Nothing like. Vel Anir.”

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"My, that is quite far." Kristen quickly finished her chicken, then said before she started to work on polishing off her sides. "I've not truly been across the Allirian Strait, not even to Oban much less to Dornoch. I suppose the closest that I have come is Elbion, and still that is on the wrong continent."

Two little exceptions, one being her trip to Alliria and the adventure with Dauner of the Sovereign Order which followed and her mission to the Eretejva Tundra, but neither were worth mention, both being even farther away than Elbion.

"I've thought much about how idyllic life in a small village must be like. 'Tis something I can only imagine, unfortunately, being as I am from the city of Vel Anir and, as you have said, much difference is there between these two categories of settlement! Though my House does maintain a—"

Then came the unmistakably meaty sound of a fist smacking a face. The argument across them in the Tavern Room had escalated, and the man who accused the other of cheating threw a punch. He only got the one in before he was wrenched back by the other adventurers and travelers. "Alright, that's enough of you," said one of the men restraining the brawler, "out you go, you knew the rules."

"And that fucking asshole gets to stay!? You know what? Fuck this place! I'd be better off sleeping under the stars anyhow!"

"Yeah, yeah."

Three men were all but dragging the infuriated brawler along the Tavern Room and toward the lobby where they intended to eject him from the premises.

Kristen, much like the other patrons having gawked for a little during the height of the scuffle, looked back to Taayi then and remarked, "Well...here I was, hoping to have some supper without things becoming too lively. I suppose it is an immutable fact that taverns the world over simply invite the most...excitable of people."

Less and less thrilled was she with the idea of taverns altogether with each one she happened to visit.

Taayi

 

[Taayi]

The chaos involving the cheat continued in the background. Taayi remained unmoved and unphased by it.

“Life in a village is not idyllic,” Taayi said in a full sentence. Her smile faded.

“Life there. Is short,” she continued.

“Painful. Half your. Children... Die. Before weening,” Taayi revealed.

“City walls? Non. Existent,” she continued, “Defenseless to. Marauders.”

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen had, admittedly, been thinking more on the side of community, thinking life in a small village to be something like an extension of living as a member of a Great House among nobility. All this to say that there would be an intimacy among your fellow villagers that living in a larger town or city would lack. Everyone would know everyone else.

What woeful condition, though, that Hwen suffered! The tragedy of early childhood deaths and stillbirths was not unique to small towns, but all else Taayi had said?

Somberly, she said, "I forget that not all lands are as secure as Vel Anir. We've scarcely any problem with roving marauders." The city of Dornoch itself might be secure, but the lands of the Steppe which surrounded it were still untamed, and it was clear that their military lacked the capacity to pacify those savage elements.

"As bleak a picture as you paint, I can see why you've—"

"What the hell is that?" came a bewildered exclamation from the Landisford lobby, just loud enough for the keen ear to pick it out over the din of the Tavern Room. It had been one of the men escorting the brawler out to the front door.

Kristen looked that way, and though the door from the Tavern Room to the lobby had been left open she could not from her angle see anything close to the front door. She could not see the brawler, the three adventuring men who had stopped in their dragging him out, all four of them gawking. She could not see that the front door stood open, and that everything outside of the Landisford Inn was but thick, impenetrable darkness, as if the whole of the Inn had been encased in a sinister shell.

Kristen glanced back to Taayi. Puzzled. Slightly concerned.

Taayi

 

[Taayi]

As Kristen spoke, Taayi’s face remained blank.

Then, her smile returned just as the other patrons interrupted Kristen’s words.

When Kristen turned back around after looking toward the tavern room’s door, she would be able to see Taayi adjusting a glove. With her long sleeves, nothing much of Taayi’s arms and hand could be seen. Yet, a sliver of a gap between Taayi’s gloves and sleeve would not reveal pale skin similar to what was on her face.

“What are. They concerned. About?” Taayi asked.