The Summer Storm - Arkadius Hogg - 21/04/2021
Apr 28, 2021 18:20:15 GMT
Queen Merla, the Sun-Blessed, WillJ, and 1 more like this
Post by Arkadius Farcleaver-Hogg on Apr 28, 2021 18:20:15 GMT
Notes from the diary of Arkadius Hogg
I elected to join Merla in her travels from Daring Heights to Fort Ettin, given I had already explained to her that I had wanted to see the fort first-hand. That, and after my brief stay in Daring, it was very much time for me to make my way towards Port Ffirst. The city I had previously called home. But of course, the moment I arrived at the fort I was... otherwise distracted. By Fire Whiskey. The next morning, Merla insisted on an early wake-up call. The sights, sounds and smells of Fort Ettin were calling, and no they could not wait another second more. Damned that woman, she is strong-willed... It was impossible to fight her off, and I found myself dragged unceremoniously right around the fort.
Well. Mostly around the fort. An interruption came that Merla herself seemed called to, horns and music from outside. Of course, it only turns out to be a bloody squadron of sprites, which Merla seemed to recognise. Didn’t take long to realise why... “Friends of Summer! Queen Titania, rightful ruler of the Feywild, is calling for volunteers to join her mighty effort to banish terrible Winter from this land! Join her glorious armies and ride to battle – for honour and treasure! All who choose to stand with the Queen of Summer today will be called her friends and allies. To war, my friends! Honour and glory await!”
I groaned, muttering under my breath loud enough for Merla to hear beside me, “It’s bad enough you woke me up so bloody early, now there are people from your home shouting at me.” She grinned at me as she replied to that, “Why, Arkadius, those are the first words you have spoken besides ‘Ugh’ and ‘Hmmm’. Clearly my tour was keeping you asleep. This,” she nodded in the direction of the sprites, “will certainly wake you up. Come.”
There was a brief period of chatter between myself, Merla and the pixies, shortly followed by additional persons, including an older tiefling fellow named Faust, a young shopkeep named Celina, and a fellow named Osborin who I need to remark was still in his pyjamas... and then the pixies blew their horns in unison, and we were not in Kantas anymore.
The fellow named Faust seemed to have trouble acclimatising to the sudden change of plane. Celina sneezed, sure I picked up on that subtle tell, but with Faust it was obvious he struggled. Merla had to do some cleaning magic to make sure he was presentable. Perfect timing too, as Queen Titania was present to make us feel all welcome. She was eight-foot tall and had a sword taller than I was. It was clear she wanted to make an “impression”.
“You are the ones who have answered my call. I welcome you to my realm,” she exclaimed, looking over us and acknowledging the presence of her daughter, Lady Merla. “Ah, my daughter. I see you have gathered a band of warriors to accompany you.”
A brief conversation ensues, where Merla introduces each of us to her mother, including myself who Queen Titania seems to remember from my previous introduction... I will be honest; I don’t remember much of that party. I remember getting drunk, dancing, being embarrassing, and breaking a bottle of ink for no reason afterwards.
"Perhaps this group is just what is needed at this pivotal moment," she says, before pointing in the direction of a nearby camp and walking in said direction, shrinking to a more comfortable height of about six-foot, making it easier to communicate with us. In the distance was what appeared to be a well-organised war camp, tents and pavilions as far as my well-trained eye could see. This made me uncomfortable. Veeery uncomfortable. The last time I stepped foot into a camp like this, things ended... Well, not very well.
In the distance, were what seemed to be a collection of Flower Warriors. Warriors with flowers growing on them. It would seem Celina has seen one before, as she showed with a brief “Oh godsdamn it”. Another conversation ensued, where the shopkeep seemed to be talking in circles. I leaned over to Merla, and said quietly, “The shopkeep certainly talks a lot, and seems to go in circles with her sentences.” Queen Titania explained that none of her soldiers were deployed to the Material Plane?
(Scribbled at the side of the page is a short note: This could be bad and requires further investigation. I’ll follow up with Merla...)
Queen Titania explains that the Winter Queen has openly challenged the Summer Court and Queen Titania, and us by association (and by us, she mostly I imagine meant Merla). Storm clouds started gathering as the Queen spoke, "The Snow Queen must learn her lesson. The campaign shall start today, and we will teach the Winter court that they too will accept the inevitable. Can I count on you?"
Merla immediately said yes, shortly followed by the rest of us, and Osborin added ”For the right price.” On mention of payment, I again whispered to Merla that any magical items received should be checked first, who reassured me “that particular problem won't happen again”.
We are then sent in the right direction to meet with Queen Titania’s Constable, who is waiting for us at a river up the mountains in the distance. Osborin took the time as we were walking to ask Merla about her royal title. Of course, she immediately gave me a side-glance, given I was a pace or two beside her and giggling at the exchange. I couldn't help but return to our usual way of conversing, "Ah, don't worry. It isn't the shopkeeper who is embarrassing our darling Princess Merla, isn't that right Princess Merla?"
The ground beneath us was hilly, and it was obvious that Osborin was not enjoying the walk, he was audibly complaining enough. Meanwhile... I was fluttering my wings every so often, crying out for the freedom of the air.
We approached the Amber Duchess where Queen Titania told us to expect her. She looked rather resplendent, in her red cape, holding a spear and a wooden shield. "Ah, the reinforcements, the specialists promised... and no less, the Princess herself." Merla began to do a courtly bow when Amber thrust out her arm and grasped Merla’s in a warrior’s welcome. It was enough to make me roll my eyes, a simple hello would surely have done. So much pomp and circumstance. I’m getting older, I don’t have the time for it at all...
“Now that you arrived, we can get started. Look here,” Amber exclaimed, pointing out over the river. In the distance, at the bend of the river, there is a castle rising, “See that? Fort Coldstream, Summer and Winter have battled over it for longer than anyone can remember. Forces of Winter hold it, trespassers. We will expel them; this is our goal. The opening gambit of the campaign, it will be quick and decisive.”
A plan of action seemed to be formed. We’d infiltrate the fort, open the gates (or keep them open), and let the forces of Summer rush in, and then hopefully they’d will surrender. Perfect. But we’d need backup. ...Which promptly arrived, in the form of some of Merla’s... friends? Roxane, Crios and Antheia. "Friends of yours?", I asked Merla. "Of a fashion," came the response. "The best," Roxane says. "Debatable," I answered, putting that argument to a close. There was some further discussion, including the group accusing Merla of Murder. I felt compelled, and was entirely happy, to defend my friend, “I was there that day,” I said, my voice dropping low. “Merla is no murderer.”
The Amber Duchess put the whole conversation to a better close a few moments later by interrupting, saying that we had other, more important things to do. Roxane says let us make things more interesting, but I was having none of that and interrupting myself.
"Before we go and make things interesting with bets and challenges, how about we have this thing called, y’know, a plan?"
We needed to cross the river, and Faust was not really prepared to swim much, but did volunteer me and Astra to go scout a way across. I grinned; I had a witty response all prepared. “Almost like seeing things is my speciality.” Faust offered some inspirational poetry for me, before I took to the sky to scout out the river, where I was able to find a spot where it ran slower and shallower, it would be easier for the others to cross here. It was still going to be a challenge, however... one which everyone plucked up the courage to do, after some encouragement.
The fort loomed ahead of us, an imposing sight. While trying to stealth, Osborin starts 'whispering' not very quietly, "Hey Merla... hey, do you hear me?! Yeah, so do you happen to know whether the Amber Duchess is single?"
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at this, but I did manage to remain quiet and not butt into the conversation.
When we were at a decent distance away, we started discussing how to keep the fort inhabitants distracted, and how to keep the gates open. Merla and I are to be the distraction, and the others will sneak in the gum up the works.
Faust tries to be motivational, saying that Roxane and her people are not as good as Merla and me, and Merla says "I've fought against them, they are good..."
It took me a lot of effort to not say we’re definitely better. Merla gave Celina some Dust of Disappearance, and I gave Ida over to Faust. "Good luck... stay safe... and have fun," Merla says to me. I grinned, expecting such encouragement from my best friend. "That's the bit I was waiting for."
Merla and Astra flew on up to the fort, while I nipped through the undergrowth the other way, to the east. Hearing a twig snap behind me as one of their companions fail at Stealthing right behind, I decided to bolt from cover and try to banish the guard who had turned to face our direction; however, the guard is more fortified than he expected, and the spell fails. I remember taking an arrow bolt which scratched my wing. It was painful, but I was quickly distracted by the sound of a lion coming from the fort gate, and I suspected that they’d start to close the gate very soon. I had to keep acting.
I flew up to the ramparts of the Fort, and lo and behold the guard who shot me before was still there. I balanced on the edge of the wall and pointed my Wand of the War Mage towards him, a blast of fire coming out of the end hitting the guard squarely in the chest. Merla, I saw out of the corner of my eye, was wizzing and flying around the other end of the fort. At that moment, Ida perked up. She starts reciting something in my head, saying something about the older Tiefling poeting, as another archer fired at me. Another spellcaster the other side of the fort fired some kind of spell in my direction, which somehow thankfully, I manage to fight off...
I carefully tiptoe around the archer near me, and peer over the edge of the rampart down at the ground team. "Hey, sure, poem at him... that'll have a lot of effect, yes," I sarcastically shout, as I again point my Wand, this time at the errant spellcaster... which as I let loose one of the hottest and brightest fireballs I can remember, I notice that Merla and Astra are now stood nearby to the spellcaster. I swore, adjusting the magic to ensure my friends are barely affected. A nearby guard is also stuck full force by the fireball, and the spellcaster seems to take quite a blow too, nimbly dodging out of the blast zone. As this was happening, it didn’t take long for the ground team to thoroughly destroy the gate’s mechanic wizardly, and the gate was stuck open. That called for the end of the battle. I threw some healing magic over to Merla and Astra, as the forces of Summer strode into the fort.
I remember that the Amber Duchess did some kind of blood ritual on the river, and said that it is now a guardian for Queen Titania? I’m not sure on that, but... hey, the matters of the Feywild are lost on me.
The Amber Duchess offered us all some exquisite, special items. A bone whistle for Celina, a battle horn for Faust, Armour of Gleaming for Osborin, and a Mask of the Beast for Merla. As the Duchess approached me, she said that such items would not befit a man of my style, and proffered a crystal Bottle of Never-Ending. Of course, my immediate response? "I never have to pay for Fire Whiskey again! YES!"
I feel most sorry for the inns of the Material Plane.
Merla Plane-Shifted us back to DH, and as we arrived and we were all saying our goodbyes, I turned to Celina to ask, "You have a store to get back to in Port Ffirst I sense, my dear Celina... I remember what it was like, being on the clock to get back to your business all the time... let me just draw this circle here... and... if you just step inside the circle into this portal, that'll take you back to the fair city of Port Ffirst in a blink of your eye," he said, preparing a Teleportation Circle for her back to Port Ffirst.
I did not join her. I stayed in Daring Heights. Port Ffirst can wait for a little while. It seems there are other matters that require my attention, and I owe it to Merla to help her with whatever troubles the Feywild.
I elected to join Merla in her travels from Daring Heights to Fort Ettin, given I had already explained to her that I had wanted to see the fort first-hand. That, and after my brief stay in Daring, it was very much time for me to make my way towards Port Ffirst. The city I had previously called home. But of course, the moment I arrived at the fort I was... otherwise distracted. By Fire Whiskey. The next morning, Merla insisted on an early wake-up call. The sights, sounds and smells of Fort Ettin were calling, and no they could not wait another second more. Damned that woman, she is strong-willed... It was impossible to fight her off, and I found myself dragged unceremoniously right around the fort.
Well. Mostly around the fort. An interruption came that Merla herself seemed called to, horns and music from outside. Of course, it only turns out to be a bloody squadron of sprites, which Merla seemed to recognise. Didn’t take long to realise why... “Friends of Summer! Queen Titania, rightful ruler of the Feywild, is calling for volunteers to join her mighty effort to banish terrible Winter from this land! Join her glorious armies and ride to battle – for honour and treasure! All who choose to stand with the Queen of Summer today will be called her friends and allies. To war, my friends! Honour and glory await!”
I groaned, muttering under my breath loud enough for Merla to hear beside me, “It’s bad enough you woke me up so bloody early, now there are people from your home shouting at me.” She grinned at me as she replied to that, “Why, Arkadius, those are the first words you have spoken besides ‘Ugh’ and ‘Hmmm’. Clearly my tour was keeping you asleep. This,” she nodded in the direction of the sprites, “will certainly wake you up. Come.”
There was a brief period of chatter between myself, Merla and the pixies, shortly followed by additional persons, including an older tiefling fellow named Faust, a young shopkeep named Celina, and a fellow named Osborin who I need to remark was still in his pyjamas... and then the pixies blew their horns in unison, and we were not in Kantas anymore.
The fellow named Faust seemed to have trouble acclimatising to the sudden change of plane. Celina sneezed, sure I picked up on that subtle tell, but with Faust it was obvious he struggled. Merla had to do some cleaning magic to make sure he was presentable. Perfect timing too, as Queen Titania was present to make us feel all welcome. She was eight-foot tall and had a sword taller than I was. It was clear she wanted to make an “impression”.
“You are the ones who have answered my call. I welcome you to my realm,” she exclaimed, looking over us and acknowledging the presence of her daughter, Lady Merla. “Ah, my daughter. I see you have gathered a band of warriors to accompany you.”
A brief conversation ensues, where Merla introduces each of us to her mother, including myself who Queen Titania seems to remember from my previous introduction... I will be honest; I don’t remember much of that party. I remember getting drunk, dancing, being embarrassing, and breaking a bottle of ink for no reason afterwards.
"Perhaps this group is just what is needed at this pivotal moment," she says, before pointing in the direction of a nearby camp and walking in said direction, shrinking to a more comfortable height of about six-foot, making it easier to communicate with us. In the distance was what appeared to be a well-organised war camp, tents and pavilions as far as my well-trained eye could see. This made me uncomfortable. Veeery uncomfortable. The last time I stepped foot into a camp like this, things ended... Well, not very well.
In the distance, were what seemed to be a collection of Flower Warriors. Warriors with flowers growing on them. It would seem Celina has seen one before, as she showed with a brief “Oh godsdamn it”. Another conversation ensued, where the shopkeep seemed to be talking in circles. I leaned over to Merla, and said quietly, “The shopkeep certainly talks a lot, and seems to go in circles with her sentences.” Queen Titania explained that none of her soldiers were deployed to the Material Plane?
(Scribbled at the side of the page is a short note: This could be bad and requires further investigation. I’ll follow up with Merla...)
Queen Titania explains that the Winter Queen has openly challenged the Summer Court and Queen Titania, and us by association (and by us, she mostly I imagine meant Merla). Storm clouds started gathering as the Queen spoke, "The Snow Queen must learn her lesson. The campaign shall start today, and we will teach the Winter court that they too will accept the inevitable. Can I count on you?"
Merla immediately said yes, shortly followed by the rest of us, and Osborin added ”For the right price.” On mention of payment, I again whispered to Merla that any magical items received should be checked first, who reassured me “that particular problem won't happen again”.
We are then sent in the right direction to meet with Queen Titania’s Constable, who is waiting for us at a river up the mountains in the distance. Osborin took the time as we were walking to ask Merla about her royal title. Of course, she immediately gave me a side-glance, given I was a pace or two beside her and giggling at the exchange. I couldn't help but return to our usual way of conversing, "Ah, don't worry. It isn't the shopkeeper who is embarrassing our darling Princess Merla, isn't that right Princess Merla?"
The ground beneath us was hilly, and it was obvious that Osborin was not enjoying the walk, he was audibly complaining enough. Meanwhile... I was fluttering my wings every so often, crying out for the freedom of the air.
We approached the Amber Duchess where Queen Titania told us to expect her. She looked rather resplendent, in her red cape, holding a spear and a wooden shield. "Ah, the reinforcements, the specialists promised... and no less, the Princess herself." Merla began to do a courtly bow when Amber thrust out her arm and grasped Merla’s in a warrior’s welcome. It was enough to make me roll my eyes, a simple hello would surely have done. So much pomp and circumstance. I’m getting older, I don’t have the time for it at all...
“Now that you arrived, we can get started. Look here,” Amber exclaimed, pointing out over the river. In the distance, at the bend of the river, there is a castle rising, “See that? Fort Coldstream, Summer and Winter have battled over it for longer than anyone can remember. Forces of Winter hold it, trespassers. We will expel them; this is our goal. The opening gambit of the campaign, it will be quick and decisive.”
A plan of action seemed to be formed. We’d infiltrate the fort, open the gates (or keep them open), and let the forces of Summer rush in, and then hopefully they’d will surrender. Perfect. But we’d need backup. ...Which promptly arrived, in the form of some of Merla’s... friends? Roxane, Crios and Antheia. "Friends of yours?", I asked Merla. "Of a fashion," came the response. "The best," Roxane says. "Debatable," I answered, putting that argument to a close. There was some further discussion, including the group accusing Merla of Murder. I felt compelled, and was entirely happy, to defend my friend, “I was there that day,” I said, my voice dropping low. “Merla is no murderer.”
The Amber Duchess put the whole conversation to a better close a few moments later by interrupting, saying that we had other, more important things to do. Roxane says let us make things more interesting, but I was having none of that and interrupting myself.
"Before we go and make things interesting with bets and challenges, how about we have this thing called, y’know, a plan?"
We needed to cross the river, and Faust was not really prepared to swim much, but did volunteer me and Astra to go scout a way across. I grinned; I had a witty response all prepared. “Almost like seeing things is my speciality.” Faust offered some inspirational poetry for me, before I took to the sky to scout out the river, where I was able to find a spot where it ran slower and shallower, it would be easier for the others to cross here. It was still going to be a challenge, however... one which everyone plucked up the courage to do, after some encouragement.
The fort loomed ahead of us, an imposing sight. While trying to stealth, Osborin starts 'whispering' not very quietly, "Hey Merla... hey, do you hear me?! Yeah, so do you happen to know whether the Amber Duchess is single?"
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at this, but I did manage to remain quiet and not butt into the conversation.
When we were at a decent distance away, we started discussing how to keep the fort inhabitants distracted, and how to keep the gates open. Merla and I are to be the distraction, and the others will sneak in the gum up the works.
Faust tries to be motivational, saying that Roxane and her people are not as good as Merla and me, and Merla says "I've fought against them, they are good..."
It took me a lot of effort to not say we’re definitely better. Merla gave Celina some Dust of Disappearance, and I gave Ida over to Faust. "Good luck... stay safe... and have fun," Merla says to me. I grinned, expecting such encouragement from my best friend. "That's the bit I was waiting for."
Merla and Astra flew on up to the fort, while I nipped through the undergrowth the other way, to the east. Hearing a twig snap behind me as one of their companions fail at Stealthing right behind, I decided to bolt from cover and try to banish the guard who had turned to face our direction; however, the guard is more fortified than he expected, and the spell fails. I remember taking an arrow bolt which scratched my wing. It was painful, but I was quickly distracted by the sound of a lion coming from the fort gate, and I suspected that they’d start to close the gate very soon. I had to keep acting.
I flew up to the ramparts of the Fort, and lo and behold the guard who shot me before was still there. I balanced on the edge of the wall and pointed my Wand of the War Mage towards him, a blast of fire coming out of the end hitting the guard squarely in the chest. Merla, I saw out of the corner of my eye, was wizzing and flying around the other end of the fort. At that moment, Ida perked up. She starts reciting something in my head, saying something about the older Tiefling poeting, as another archer fired at me. Another spellcaster the other side of the fort fired some kind of spell in my direction, which somehow thankfully, I manage to fight off...
I carefully tiptoe around the archer near me, and peer over the edge of the rampart down at the ground team. "Hey, sure, poem at him... that'll have a lot of effect, yes," I sarcastically shout, as I again point my Wand, this time at the errant spellcaster... which as I let loose one of the hottest and brightest fireballs I can remember, I notice that Merla and Astra are now stood nearby to the spellcaster. I swore, adjusting the magic to ensure my friends are barely affected. A nearby guard is also stuck full force by the fireball, and the spellcaster seems to take quite a blow too, nimbly dodging out of the blast zone. As this was happening, it didn’t take long for the ground team to thoroughly destroy the gate’s mechanic wizardly, and the gate was stuck open. That called for the end of the battle. I threw some healing magic over to Merla and Astra, as the forces of Summer strode into the fort.
I remember that the Amber Duchess did some kind of blood ritual on the river, and said that it is now a guardian for Queen Titania? I’m not sure on that, but... hey, the matters of the Feywild are lost on me.
The Amber Duchess offered us all some exquisite, special items. A bone whistle for Celina, a battle horn for Faust, Armour of Gleaming for Osborin, and a Mask of the Beast for Merla. As the Duchess approached me, she said that such items would not befit a man of my style, and proffered a crystal Bottle of Never-Ending. Of course, my immediate response? "I never have to pay for Fire Whiskey again! YES!"
I feel most sorry for the inns of the Material Plane.
Merla Plane-Shifted us back to DH, and as we arrived and we were all saying our goodbyes, I turned to Celina to ask, "You have a store to get back to in Port Ffirst I sense, my dear Celina... I remember what it was like, being on the clock to get back to your business all the time... let me just draw this circle here... and... if you just step inside the circle into this portal, that'll take you back to the fair city of Port Ffirst in a blink of your eye," he said, preparing a Teleportation Circle for her back to Port Ffirst.
I did not join her. I stayed in Daring Heights. Port Ffirst can wait for a little while. It seems there are other matters that require my attention, and I owe it to Merla to help her with whatever troubles the Feywild.