Summer Court Lovin’ - 01/09/2022 - A Kavel Perspective

Daring Height Errands

• Treats from Paradise Frost? Check.
• Hamper from the Gilded Mirror? Check.
• Walnut wood carved statue of Nathalie made by me? Check.
• Stone chiselled ‘me’ statue, also made by me? Check.
• Lighter clothing for the Summer Court? Check.
• Sister (human, stealthy archer) minus hidden axe accessory? Check.
• Frequent blue dragonborn (magic and brains) companion? Check.
• Increasingly frequent dwarf bard companion? Check.
• New red dragonborn (very fighty) companion to talk carpentry and ships with? Check.
• Close location of Damphenite Tangle to teleport to? Check! (I was smart to ask the Portal operators about the Damphenite Tangle the previous week!)

My comrades; Sorrel, Derthaad, Felix and Taz joined me at Portal Plaza. They were here to accompany me, as I went to see a most awesome woman who I am romantically involved with.


The Spriteland Valley - Close to the Damphenite Tangle

I remembered the Phlegethos-light heat that the Summer Court hits you with as you arrive. I forgot about the music that seems to be everywhere and somewhere in the background. I was pleased to see my comrades had all lightened up their dress for the Summer Court - Taz, however, was dressed in full-plate. Here in the Court, I was grateful my armour was my body itself.

There was no little, sugar-addicted fey-dragon to guide me to the Damphenite Tangle this time. The treats from Paradise Frost will go wasted. Fortunately, the weird magic of the fey-realm had not disorientated me. I recognised where we had emerged.

I led my comrades towards a cavernous ledge. We all peered over it. The ledge, just as I remembered, sucked in the air around us. Below in the wide chasm was a dense, dizzying labyrinth of gorges and other chasms. Looking towards the other side of the large fissure, we could see the warm, yellowish ground of the top rock. But as our eyes went back down, you could see the colour of the earth change to deep purples and vibrant magentas. As a person who had been here before, I should have remembered how dizzying this view was… a few of us felt dizzy as we took a step back.

“What should we look for Kavel?” Derthaad asked.

“Comrade, we are here,” I was pleased to say, although, “ last time guards came straight up to us to assess if we were friend or foe.” It was strange there were no guards right then..

Derthaad saw a small encampment a 100ft away. We went to look. Uncertain if this encampment was friend or foe to the Sprites, we opted for a stealthy approach.


The Encampment

And just like that I couldn’t see Sorrel. Is my sister using the Invisibility spell?

An Eladrin warrior stepped out of the encampment, armed impressively and dressed in a deep green leather armour. I did not know who this was.

“It’s me! Kavel!” I announced. The guard eyed me up.

“So. You are him. Did she send for you, big man? Stay here. All of you,” and with those words she went back into her tent. I tried to look for Sorrel - no luck. I could see the others. I could also feel the presence of other people, but could see them no more than I could Sorrel.

The Eladrin returned with a bag of small glass bottles containing a liquid content that shimmered in a light purple colour and sparkled in blue. A tiny bead inside each vial of magenta expanded and contracted - I recognised this potion.

I asked where the Sprite guards were. The lady, who after some troubled pleasantries between us mortal tourists introduced herself as Antheia, and explained that her encampment were the guards, and I should just go down into the Tangle, if I wanted to know what was going on. Apparently I was expected - but to my knowledge this was a surprise visit?

For the benefit of my comrades who had not been here before, Antheia advised we drink the shrinking potion at the chasm, and not right here. In addition - do not aggravate the Sprites, do not start a fight with them. Taz exchanged a few words with Antheia about Merla. I’m pretty sure that’s Marto’s sister. He also politely responded that we would take Antheia’s warning under advisement.

“Oh big guy,” Antheia said, as we were about to walk back to the chasm, “good luck with Nathalie.”

“... thank you,” I said in response. But, I felt very much like there was something I was missing.


Down In The Damphenite Tangle

We downed our potions and shrank to Sprite height. We stepped off the ledge and drifted down the chasm safely, as if under the effects of the Feather Fall spell.

As we descended, there must have been many hundreds, if not thousands of eyes on us. Every Sprite had some form of weapon on them - admirable really. But also a little worrying. If we were a foe, any number of them could have killed us many times over as we descended so openly in front of them.

We landed on a cluster of criss crossing bridges made from the magenta rock all around. We were on full display, surrounded by the war-like Sprites. This was not the warm welcome I was expecting for putting on a great exhibition fight with their Spiritual Leader last time I was here…

“Hello! It’s me,” I announced to the on-lookers, “Kavel Castiron! I was here for the Salivsuli Veranal!”

I was met with groans.

Derthaad later informed me that I most likely butchered my pronunciation of the Summer time holiday. He said I likely put the emphasis wrongly on ‘Veranal’. Instead of ‘Veran-al’, I said, ‘Ver-anal’?

Amongst the groaning Sprites, I could not see Nathalie.


Second In Command

“I recognise you,” said a warrior sprite walking towards us. Her armour, much like the other soldier Sprites, seemed to be made of hardened, natural material with a leaf motive design. They all had war paint too. The woman who approached us had a more unique looking collection of painted marks. She looked like she was in command.

“You celebrated Salivsuli Veranal with Nathalie. She speaks very highly of you. I am not familiar with the others.” She paused before continuing, “we were wondering if you would keep your promise.” I was pleased to hear Nathalie spoke highly of me. I also noted the commander’s pronunciation of ‘Veranal’ - Derthaad was right.

I did indeed make a promise to return and see Nathalie. “I meant to come back sooner,” I began to speak, “I told Nathalie about the invasion from Githyanki invaders to my home in the Dawnlands. We succeeded in defending our home, but there was fallout that needed to be taken care of before I could return here. Now was the soonest I felt I could return.”

“We are familiar with war,” Steler the woman addressing me said sympathetically.

My comrades introduced themselves. Poor Felix seemed to not get the applause he is accustomed to when making an entrance. His introduction was received coldly, whereas my ‘thicc-er’ comrades; Taz and Sorrel were silently recognised as note-worthy. It appears the Danphenite Tangle is a tough crowd for Bards. Hard luck comrade Felix.

Steler, it turned out, is the second in command to Nathalie. See directed us to follow, and suggested that it may be providence that we had arrived.

There was a thread of tension about the people as Steler led us. Not about our arrival. We did not appear to turn people’s faces. It actually seemed like a hopeful tension.

“How much did Nathalie tell you about all this?” Steler asked me, as she walked us, and she pointed up towards everything when she said, ‘this’.

“Not much really. I asked questions, but we only had so much time together. I know a little about your people being warriors. This is all.”

“Smart - not giving away everything on the first romp,” the commander replied. My mind wandered slightly when Steler said, ‘first romp’. I began confirming that if the term first was used, then this implied a second romp was on the cards. I observed quickly that my focus had been redirected by my optimism and frankly horniness. By observing in the present, I was able to refocus on what mattered and push the intruding thought away. At present, all that mattered was to follow Steler in order to find Nathalie.


Deeper Into The Damphenite Tangle

All around, the magenta, special rock refracted the sunlight from way above, outside of the chasm, and managed to light up the depths of the Tangle where we were. Steler gestured to the rock around. “This is our guide and our protector,” she said. Steler explained that there are stories amongst her people about previous spiritual leaders being so attuned to the rock that they can travel the realm, not like a teleportation, but more of a spiritual plane shift. As long as their bodies are in the ritual, meditative circles, everything will be fine. Steler pointed to some meditative circles we passed by, where people seemed to be training. “You cannot have a weak spirit, if one is to become one of our warriors,and you do not travel alone,” Steler punctuated.

We came to a halt in front of another chasm. This time potions would not help us. We would have to climb down if necessary. However, I and Felix both have Feather Fall rings, and Derthaad can actually cast the spell. I was actually eager to combine my newly acquired jump-flying with rock climbing. But, once again, by being present in the moment, I did not let my fancy for testing my strength interfere with my objective. Derthaad casted Feather Fall, and some of the Sprites helped nudge our descent where we needed to go.

We reached the bottom to find it was quite misty down here. There was evidence of what used to be a river, where we stood. But now, barely a trickle. We were guided towards an opening in the rock face. More Sprite warriors with arms and war paint, these appeared to be the strongest soldiers.

There were words of protest directed to Steler, which she put an end to, and then turned and pointed to me, “this is Kavel Castiron.” Everyone’s eyes were on me. “Will you help us, help Nathalie?”

“Yes,” I responded, “can I see Nathalie now?”


Nathalie

We stepped into the room. In the centre was Nathalie, knelt on the floor in a meditation circle, alone. There were many things different about Nathalie.

Nathalie had war paint on like the others. This was different to when I met her. She also had a different set of armour, and her hair was better prepared for battle in braids. These were aesthetic differences. Worryingly, her bright wings appeared dull. This was not a good sign. She was very still, but I did notice some very shallow breathing. In her hands, she tightly gripped a pair of battle-sharp longswords.

“What is happening here? She doesn’t look good. Is She okay?” I asked with steadied concern.

Steler explained that Nathalie, their Quarlinay Omar, or Spiritual Leader, awoke two days ago sensing something coming, feeling it in the stone. Nathalie then came to the meditation circle by herself to walk the stone alone - this was dangerous. Steler said they had tried to join her after the fact, but something was preventing them from doing so. It was likely that Nathalie herself was blocking them, which was unusual. People with strong connections should be able to join others in the circle, but they couldn’t..

Derthaad enquired what might be going on. Steler explained that before the Damphenite Tangle joined the Summer Court they were at war with the Wandering Court. The Wandering King has been trying for centuries to wash the Damphenites away with his control over rivers. He tries to raise the waters, but the Sprites hold their own. Since joining Queen Titania, the Sprites have remained unchallenged. But, it was speculated that the Wandering King may have found a new way of attacking.

The spirit roads aren’t safe, Steler urged. It is their duty to patrol the roads, protect them, and prevent alteration. Her people have been trying to scour their history for an answer to their current predicament, but could find nothing.

“You can give us access to the spirit road, Steler?” I asked. “To all of you,” Steler confirmed, “you, Kavel, have a connection to Nathalie, and they - your friends - have a connection to you.”

“Will you help me, comrades?” The responses from my comrades were all positive - I brought good comrades.

Steler commanded her people to prepare us for the meditation circle.


Accessing the Spirit Road

We sat around the circle as instructed. We were told that if we wanted to carry anything into the Spirit Road - like Nathalie - we would have to hold those items in hand, or in our belts. My comrades made their choices. Sorrel held her bow and quiver, and a dagger by her side. I looked at my tattoos - I was already set. But, just in case, I took a javelin and my Halo knife.

Soft drumming began around us. Steler led the procession and we began to drift away.


The Spirit Road

I could hear words that sounded muffled at first. Soon, the words became clearer, and I recognised them as my Giant-tongue.

“Is building an army. Can’t change the story,” is what I heard, but did not understand.

I found myself surrounded by a thick fog. I couldn’t see anything beyond it. My comrades, I could not hear them. All I could hear now was the roar from a great beast.

My Dwarven, Stonehand Fighting Technique tattoos on the back of my hands and wrists were glowing strangely. I had the sensation of needing to urgently get to someone important. But where, and who?

I tried to push through the fog, but to no avail. The sounds seemed to be coming from everywhere. My glowing tattoos began to fade, and I felt my knowledge of Dwarven MMA vanish from my mind, much like how my Polearm mastery did, when Joon removed those memories. I was experiencing one of my greatest fears - to lose a skill I had acquired. This was both upsetting and incomprehensible. No one was sucking the memories out of me,like before. I would be less useful at helping who I was looking for, without my unarmed prowess. But, in remembering the person I had to find, I was able to re-centre myself. How I lost my fighting knowledge was not the highest priority. The person in need was the priority. I could concern myself with fighting when I got there.

Re-focused, I steadied my breath, and began breathing quickly to enter my battlerage. I felt my muscles feel stronger, as oxygen pumped quickly throughout my body. I squatted low in this blinding fog, and then propelled myself up in the air with a powerful squat jump. At 60ft high, the fog was still thick, but I could see some figures, and decided to head towards them.
I ran towards my goal. The surrounding mountains, it seemed, began speaking to me in Giant, “the pieces fall together the way they want to,” and the fog swallowed me whole.


Challenging the Spirit

The thick fog had dissipated some, so I could see better.

I was now standing on the eastern wall of Fort Ettin. Silvia was here with me. She was telling me, “you’ve got this brother!” This was the day of the invasion. Silvia is about to fly towards the Githyanki commander. In her haste, she will be disintegrated before my eyes, and I will relive the regret that I didn’t take the impact of the spell myself, in her defence. The fact that she is revived goes some way to reducing my regret. However, knowing I am conditioned enough at full health to spit back in the face of whoever tries to disintegrate me - it still eats at me - I could have shielded Silvia, but failed.

When this event all happened before I turned to kill the dragon that landed on the wall, as Silvia encouraged me to do, before flying off. Now, there didn’t appear to be a dragon behind me. Now, I was more aware of what was happening on the ground to my right, in the centre of Fort Ettin.

I knew Tim and Sampson were defending the Fort from anyone who managed to breach the entrance. I never saw them during the invasion. But The Spirit Road was letting me see them. They were about to face a dragon, and they were not doing too well.

Silvia will die to the left of me. Tim and Sampson will die to the right of me. This time, I could make a difference. But not to both groups…


I wanted to save everyone. My heart rate was pounding. I was indecisive. I wanted to save everyone, but if I followed Silvia; I couldn’t then stop Tim and Sampon being slain. If I fought alongside Tim and Sampson; Silvia would die, again.
It would be impossible to win the way I wanted and reverse both regrets. I could go left or right, but whatever I did I would have to accept, and relive a big regret.

I looked to my left; Silvia is halfway to the Githyanki mage. I turned my head to the right, and in doing so, was reminded of the fog by my feet, as I saw Tim and Sampson brace for an attack. The thick fog that brought me here was focusing my attention and emotions on two of my biggest regrets. But, in seeing the fog, my focus was brought back into perspective; I was not on the eastern wall of Fort Ettin. I was travelling the Spirit Road to help Nathalie - I had returned to the present, and by doing so, I was then able to observe my emotions as they appeared; frustration, sadness, fear. I was able to observe the raw emotions, and by doing so; not let them control me.

Re-focused, I saw the truth. I could have been paralysed into indecision and not made a choice whether to go left or right. But, I will actually choose to stay put. These events have happened. Saving my friend or brothers here at the expense of the other will not save anyone for real. So, I chose not to move.

I witnessed Silvia’s death, and her alive again back at her home. So, though I didn’t move, I did choose to face my Iron brothers. Fake or spiritual, I would not see them ever again. I wasn’t sure how the Spirit Road would portray their deaths. I was certain though that whatever I would see, the reality is they died bravely.

I rested my hands on the eastern wall as I looked down at my brothers. “I know you are about to die; Tim, Sampson!” I began saying, “I didn’t see it happen before. But, I know it is certain, like Silvia’s death behind me.” I paused to acknowledge my sadness. I looked at the fog by my feet, breathed, and looked back at my brothers, “I am very proud that you both stayed to defend the home I brought you to. I would want you to know that me and Kruger are doing well, and the someone special I told you about; I am here to help her.”

The giant voice from all around appeared again, “sorry. Do better next time.”

As the view of Fort Ettin faded, I could hear the footsteps of my comrades joining me. I wondered what mental scars the Spirit Road had made them revisit? But, if that conversation was to be had, it would not be had right then. The present, at that time, demanded we help Nathalie.


Comrades Together Again

I could hear a fight happening from somewhere. I could hear Nathalie’s voice!

My comrades, some more than others, had clearly seen something on the Spirit Road that was on their mind. I looked at them, and gently punched Taz and Derthaad in the shoulder. I gave a little massage to Sorrel, and Felix - I felt he just needed a thumbs up and a smile. Felix seemed cathartic.

I told my comrades I needed them now, because I could hear Nathalie. Felix reinforced my need with his prowess as an orator, and I could see we all felt inspired by his words to win.

Reinvigorated, we ran towards the sound of fighting. Towards Nathalie.


Fight on the Spirit Road

Nathalie was bloodied, and fighting an obscured opponent hidden in protective magic and teleporting in and out of range. Of what I could see, this adversary was no bigger than me.

Sorrel loosed arrow after arrow at the elusive opponent, striking with each one. A burst of lightning arced out of the first arrow causing immense damage. The third arrow seemed to piece the neck of the creature.

The mystery enemy teleported near to me and struck me with a polearm weapon. A glaive perhaps, as I felt its tip slice down my front, bleeding me. I went to engage the foe, but felt myself to be a little stiff as if frozen. Felix shuffled around me to get a good vantage point and unleashed his biggest Lightning Bolt spell I’ve even seen him perform. The smell of burning and smoke emitted from the mystery foe where Felix’s bolt struck. In response, and with rapid speed, the foe’s glaive slashed out at me, Felix and Sorrel. A matching slash to my front for me, and the feeling of being frozen intensified.

Despite the sensation of cold on my body, and fortunately the foe was nearby, I rushed him. I palmed his glaive’s tip out of my way and collar-tied his neck with my left hand, cupping his left tricep with my right hand. With my grips, I pulled the foe towards me and to the left, this brought his right leg forward and I tripped it with my left heel, sweeping the ground with his ankle, and sending him to the floor. I held on, pinning the opponent. A large, gemstone dragon - Ulhar, Derthaad’s summoned dragon - joined me by my side, and slashed its claws down at the mysterious opponent, and three for three; breathed his own lightning attack on the opponent. Smoke went up into my face, but I maintained my grip.

Alas, however, I cannot pin someone if they teleport, and the enemy vanished from my hold, and went back to Nathalie who was alone, and managed to pierce her side by surprising her.

However, Nathalie was waiting for the foe to return, she may not have evaded the attack, but she did time her own with precision impact. Her two longswords, swirled round in a whirlwind of vicious blades cutting the adversary three times deeply. The adversary dissipated horribly. This was no teleportation, it was just gone.

Nathalie, still very much combat alert, looked over to me:

“Kavel?! What are you doing here?!”


Nathalie Found

“I came to see you!” I replied, “Steler let us in here.” I jogged over to Nathalie to assess her wounds. My comrades joined, and Felix cured Nathlie’s wounds. She was still on alert and a little confused.

“How long have I been gone?”

“Two days,” I said.

“Holy shit!”

“Yes, everyone was worried.”

“Well, this was the last of something that was passing through. It wasn’t an invading force… we need to leave,” she advised before looking at me and saying, “I’m glad you came,” and then to everyone, “all of you.” Nathalie’s eyes returned to me, and lingered. It was not the moment to enjoy each other's company, but I could have stayed and stared in her eyes a little longer.

I kissed Nathalie on the cheek and held her round her waist, “how do we leave? Oh, and you look good in battle braids” Nathalie had her own observation about me to make, “is that a beard?”

“It is,” I confirmed for her. I asked if she liked it, she said it looked good on me. Since she liked it, I said it stays.

Taz admonished Nathalie for coming alone to the Spirit Road. I grew more curious about what my comrade saw when we were separated. Nathalie did not bite back, however, she instead looked at us each and seemed to read our recent, spiritual experiences, and she agreed with Taz that she shouldn’t have come here alone.

“Come!” Nathalie said to us. But, at that point, something caught her eye about comrade Derthaad, and she broke away from my hold.

“You did come here to help, didn’t you?” She asked with piercing eyes and alarm in her voice.

Nathalie was not at all happy with the tattoo she saw on Derthaad’s left palm. Him and a few other comrades I know (none of the others were here thankfully) all have a tattoo from some Queen of Air and Darkness. This queen is not a welcomed individual to the allies of Queen Titania. I only learnt this after the fact. I advised my comrade to cover his hand - we were very lucky this went unnoticed until that point!

As we left the Spirit Road, Nathalie held my hand, but made sure she was distant from Derthaad.


Spirit and Body Together Again

Once we were back up to the regular depths of the Damphenite Tangle, my comrades and I were escorted to a waiting area, while Nathalie had a meeting with her top warriors. Nathalie’s meeting was short. She then sought me out immediately afterwards to speak to me alone. I I took my bag with the gifts, and Sorrel passed me the box of chocolates she bought for Nathalie. As I walked I snuck a look at the chocolates, they had melted together in the hot Summer Court air…

Talking to Nathalie, my ignorance about matters relating to the Courts and the Dawnlands biggest threat a year ago, was plain to see. I defended comrade Derthaad as being ignorant about the Queen of Air and Darkness - when he later revealed two adventurers refused the gift, it did make me raise an eyebrow why he didn’t. I was, in a funny way, less concerned that my fellow thicc-boi, Varga accepted the mark, and Sparks (my working-on-it thicc-boi) too
.
Nathalie accepted mine and Derthaad’s ignorance. She also said my comrades could stay the night, even the Queen of Air and Darkness ‘stan’. I apologised for any inconvenience I had caused Nathalie by bringing someone with the mark here (she had to report Derthaad and his mark to the higher ups).

Nathalie initiated a change in conversation and came into my personal space. I reciprocated and initiated the kiss (although, you could say that she in fact initiated the kiss by first entering my space).

Nathalie had an idea so that we could see each other more regularly - I was all in!

We had to go back down to where the ritual circle was - it had been cleaned up and readied for another ceremony. A bonding ceremony. Nathalie proposed that after the ritual, we could partake in ‘personal training’. I was keen! I did, however, suggest she must be quite exhausted having been in the Spirit Road for two days. So, I said I would be perfectly happy just comforting her, if she wanted to take things easy. She suggested an evening in the hot springs might be best - my comrades could enjoy the springs too, even Derthaad (with guards’ eyes discreetly on him at all times).

The ritual foreign to me, as I know very little about the fey. But, it was special, and the most wonderful of times. Me and Nathalie exchanged these bangles made of the Damphenite rock during a special dance, and now we are bonded. We had to exchange words as we exchanged the bangles and placed them on each other’s forearms. The words started with, "with this I bind myself to you. With this I give myself to you.” I later asked Nathalie if this was a marriage. Marriage is a material plane concept it seems. She didn’t think it was the same, but she did think the bonding was more special than how I seemed to describe marriage. Marriage or not - I do feel bonded to her now, and I feel like I’m the luckiest man there ever was.

At the end of the ceremony, we held each other’s gaze. Nathalie whisked us off elsewhere, and despite Spirit Road fatigue, we got in some ‘training’ before hitting the hot springs. Nathalie is the best.

The next day, I was given rewards to share among my comrades; an Ioun Stone of Self-Preservation, an Efficient Quiver, a Potion of Vitality and enough gems to divide equally between us for 700gc each in approximate value.

I was sad to leave, but my new bangle was such a pure source of happiness for me, it overshadowed the bitterness of having to leave Nathalie. The bangle was also a reminder that I would see Nathalie again soon.


Back In The Dwarven Quarter

I had shown Nathalie the wood statue I made of her, and given her the stone statue I made of me. I did this before I gave Derthaad the good news he wasn’t about to be booted from the Damphenite Tangle, and could in fact enjoy the Hot Springs. I did very well making those two statues. Nathalie was impressed with my artistic skills, and although she seemed a little tongue-tied with how to respond, I’m sure she liked them. My two old friends said reassuring things. Archie said, “of course she loved them! The thought alone was impressive.” To that, Mendal added, “we could get you Clan Crafter status in masonry, my boy.”

I explained the bangle to my friends. Archie was fascinated in how the bangle’s spells for spiritual and corporeal teleportation worked. Mendal was more interested in the craftsmanship. Or, as he put it himself, as Archie was casting the Detect Magic spell:

“Who cares about the magical specifics?!”

Mendal started gesturing to explain how he understood how the bangles worked, “Look, Archie - very simple - the bangle glows on a new moon every month and teleports one of them over to the other, so they can bonk. There - that’s how it works!”