Ye Who Enter Here - Glint - 09/09/2021
Sept 11, 2021 8:54:11 GMT
BB, Celina Zabinski, and 2 more like this
Post by Varga on Sept 11, 2021 8:54:11 GMT
My dearest Root,
I hope my sudden departure did not upset you. I want to assure you it had nothing to do with you opting to stay indoors again the other day. I simply got summoned to the academy to return that book we've been reading on your roof terrace last week. Isn't it ironic that the very thing that led to our acquaintance is also the reason we part ways? Oh, and that page on mandrakes still smells of lemon tea, but rest assured I will do my best to cover it up.
I'm back at my office at the Academy, and the book is who knows where in the library archives. But my journey here was more eventful than I expected. I meant it when I told you I understand where you're coming from, opting to minimize your venturings into the outside world. But I failed to substantiate why I did not share your outlook. I believe my short travel back to Daring Heights provided me with an opportunity to explain myself.
I caught a ride on a passing caravan. It was full of ducks. They were quite plump and I regret to say I wasn't able to refrain from roasting one for my fellow travelers, quite traumatizing the others in the process…
We were passing the swamps, and I was looking for a particularly rare flower I read about recently. I wasn't able to find anything, but as soon as establish its location, I will let you know. Unfortunately, this time I saw nothing but a few calla lilies. They were large, but nowhere as luscious as the ones you have near the pond on the terrace.
We were resting. Sparks, a kenku with a mean-looking familiar raven, was particularly enjoying my cooking, when a distressed pixie appeared from a nearby grove and called for help. Her friend, a six-feet rabbit, was trapped by some sort of shadow imps. Kavel, a stocky goliath, immediately ran to the rescue, and the rest of us followed, myself and Gerhard, a fellow geographer, at the back. Sparks stayed behind, perhaps to guard the caravan.
Although we found the imps quickly, there were a lot of them. As soon as I cast my first spell, the pixie, named Pixy as we later found out, decided I am not impressive enough in a fight, and opted to turn me into an elephant. Let me tell you, it's an interesting experience. Although I tried not to kill the pests, I had very little control over my newfound strength, and it felt rather strange to have no magical ability whatsoever.
Others joined the fight immediately, of course. Gerhard decided, for the lack of a better turn of phrase, to ride me, and although I generally prefer a bit more agency in these matters, you understand I didn't object given our situation. Barbotin, a rather friendly furbolg, turned into a monstrous bear and attacked the imps. I believe that Kavel and Sten, who was remarkably soft-spoken for a half-orc, were the only two who were still fighting in a conventional way. Half-way through the fight, Sparks and his familiar Mac joined us, apparently done with their meal. Sparks acted very composed for somebody who has discovered two of his fellow adventurers have become wild beasts over the course of one lunch break.
I cannot help but think how we must have looked, and what you'd think if you were there. You'd probably have a good laugh at our expense. A raging barbarian running across the meadow throwing javelins at shadow imps, a bear tearing others apart, a Kenku warlock shooting dirty pigeons at the teleporting fiends, and a stampeding elephant sending the imps flying left and right, to be finished off by said elephant's rider and his bow, while a half-orc knee-slid between the elephant's legs to banish whatever remains. You'd probably think a whole zoo has escaped and inhaled a meadow full of catnip.
You must be surprised how easily I talk of killing those imps, especially given the wreck I've been when you've met me last month. It is not with ease, but with a sense of closure that I relay all this to you. We, unfortunately, could not save Pixy's rabbit friend. She was devastated, but still mustered the strength to give us its feet as a reminder that while you cannot save everyone, you can still try to save at least someone.
After an encouragement like that, you probably won't be surprised to learn that I left Stryx with Pixy for a while, until she finds new friends. They seemed to get on with each other well. I've also bought out half the ducks we were transporting. Perhaps life on the Academy grounds will alleviate their trauma. They are a bit strange, although I suspect that any unfortunate qualities they have is my own doing.
You probably wonder why am I hoping that such a morbid tale will help you see the appeal of outdoors. If I told you the outside world is all sunshine and rainbows, I'd be lying. There are distressing episodes, like fights, and cruelty, and slaughter. But along with them, there are also good times to be had, the kind you could never see without leaving your house. The life out here is rich, for better and for worse. I hope one day you will, if not share my appreciation for this life, then at least give it a try. And I certainly hope to be there when you do.
Yours truly,
Glint.
P.S. Pet Bark for me please, I'm afraid she's my favorite. Perhaps because she's harder to set on fire accidentally.
I hope my sudden departure did not upset you. I want to assure you it had nothing to do with you opting to stay indoors again the other day. I simply got summoned to the academy to return that book we've been reading on your roof terrace last week. Isn't it ironic that the very thing that led to our acquaintance is also the reason we part ways? Oh, and that page on mandrakes still smells of lemon tea, but rest assured I will do my best to cover it up.
I'm back at my office at the Academy, and the book is who knows where in the library archives. But my journey here was more eventful than I expected. I meant it when I told you I understand where you're coming from, opting to minimize your venturings into the outside world. But I failed to substantiate why I did not share your outlook. I believe my short travel back to Daring Heights provided me with an opportunity to explain myself.
I caught a ride on a passing caravan. It was full of ducks. They were quite plump and I regret to say I wasn't able to refrain from roasting one for my fellow travelers, quite traumatizing the others in the process…
We were passing the swamps, and I was looking for a particularly rare flower I read about recently. I wasn't able to find anything, but as soon as establish its location, I will let you know. Unfortunately, this time I saw nothing but a few calla lilies. They were large, but nowhere as luscious as the ones you have near the pond on the terrace.
We were resting. Sparks, a kenku with a mean-looking familiar raven, was particularly enjoying my cooking, when a distressed pixie appeared from a nearby grove and called for help. Her friend, a six-feet rabbit, was trapped by some sort of shadow imps. Kavel, a stocky goliath, immediately ran to the rescue, and the rest of us followed, myself and Gerhard, a fellow geographer, at the back. Sparks stayed behind, perhaps to guard the caravan.
Although we found the imps quickly, there were a lot of them. As soon as I cast my first spell, the pixie, named Pixy as we later found out, decided I am not impressive enough in a fight, and opted to turn me into an elephant. Let me tell you, it's an interesting experience. Although I tried not to kill the pests, I had very little control over my newfound strength, and it felt rather strange to have no magical ability whatsoever.
Others joined the fight immediately, of course. Gerhard decided, for the lack of a better turn of phrase, to ride me, and although I generally prefer a bit more agency in these matters, you understand I didn't object given our situation. Barbotin, a rather friendly furbolg, turned into a monstrous bear and attacked the imps. I believe that Kavel and Sten, who was remarkably soft-spoken for a half-orc, were the only two who were still fighting in a conventional way. Half-way through the fight, Sparks and his familiar Mac joined us, apparently done with their meal. Sparks acted very composed for somebody who has discovered two of his fellow adventurers have become wild beasts over the course of one lunch break.
I cannot help but think how we must have looked, and what you'd think if you were there. You'd probably have a good laugh at our expense. A raging barbarian running across the meadow throwing javelins at shadow imps, a bear tearing others apart, a Kenku warlock shooting dirty pigeons at the teleporting fiends, and a stampeding elephant sending the imps flying left and right, to be finished off by said elephant's rider and his bow, while a half-orc knee-slid between the elephant's legs to banish whatever remains. You'd probably think a whole zoo has escaped and inhaled a meadow full of catnip.
You must be surprised how easily I talk of killing those imps, especially given the wreck I've been when you've met me last month. It is not with ease, but with a sense of closure that I relay all this to you. We, unfortunately, could not save Pixy's rabbit friend. She was devastated, but still mustered the strength to give us its feet as a reminder that while you cannot save everyone, you can still try to save at least someone.
After an encouragement like that, you probably won't be surprised to learn that I left Stryx with Pixy for a while, until she finds new friends. They seemed to get on with each other well. I've also bought out half the ducks we were transporting. Perhaps life on the Academy grounds will alleviate their trauma. They are a bit strange, although I suspect that any unfortunate qualities they have is my own doing.
You probably wonder why am I hoping that such a morbid tale will help you see the appeal of outdoors. If I told you the outside world is all sunshine and rainbows, I'd be lying. There are distressing episodes, like fights, and cruelty, and slaughter. But along with them, there are also good times to be had, the kind you could never see without leaving your house. The life out here is rich, for better and for worse. I hope one day you will, if not share my appreciation for this life, then at least give it a try. And I certainly hope to be there when you do.
Yours truly,
Glint.
P.S. Pet Bark for me please, I'm afraid she's my favorite. Perhaps because she's harder to set on fire accidentally.
