The First Hurdle – Marto Copperkettle – 30.11.2021
Dec 13, 2021 14:45:46 GMT
Henry (Felix/Sterling) likes this
Post by Marto Copperkettle on Dec 13, 2021 14:45:46 GMT
Marto quickly makes his bed, checks the lock is secure on the trunk at the foot of it, gather’s the parchment, ink, and paper on his side table, and begins to make his way through the bunkhouse – also known as the dormitories. From the moment he had set foot in Fort Ettin, he had been awestruck and fascinated by what he saw. It was everything he had heard it was. Floating tabards (Unseen Servants), colourful and varied people (the staff as well as the adventurers), and the amenities. Not to mention the size of it! There was always something interesting going on, either in the halls or outside in the yard, and that thrilled him to no end.
He was passing some other early risers, giving them a friendly nod good morning, when he noticed one of them was strapping on a sword, whilst the other picked up a mace to attach to their belt. Marto hadn’t noticed it the day before having only arrived just before Coll sent him and the others on that bizarre “mission”, but thinking back all of the residents here seemed to have at least their basic weapons – be it steel or something arcane – on their person at all times. He made a note of asking Coll about it later when he went down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
It was still dark outside, the wind howling against the stonework, trying to push its way through non-existent cracks as Marto entered the Chapel. It was one of the things he had heard in passing from another table during last night’s post adventure drinking party. Apparently, this place holds shrines to any gods worshiped by those who live in the Fort. Merla had explained the Fort itself was magical, and though he had read his fair share of magic tomes and this history of magic over the last couple months, he had not heard of a place like Fort Ettin before.
There were more shrines than Marto was expecting. The first one that caught his eye was of a pair of white hands bound with red cord. Clearly an Ilmater shrine. Beside it was a gauntlet placed upright with an eye staring out of it. Totally not creepy at all – and entirely dedicated to Helm. There was a shrine with a raven’s head in profile – clearly the symbol of the Matron of Ravens; a stand draped in garlands of flowers – this one was a bit obscure but Marto thought it might be one of the giant pantheon; and what appeared to be a stone snake sleeping, curled around a freesia and alstroemeria flower. That one he did not recognise at all but it had a certain dreamy quality to it that he liked.
He walked around the room, studying each of these shrines, but also looking for the one he hoped would be there. Marto had to circle around twice before he saw the one he was looking for.
Between the tapestry of a quarter moon on a starburst background and the literal hammer and anvil, was a tiny plank of wood not much bigger than his forearm, with a carved picture of a cornucopia. Though Marto was sure the gap between the shrine to Corellon and Moradin had been too close for there to be room before, he smiled now, taking comfort that this strange and magical Fort in this strange and wonderful land had allowed for a small shrine to Yondalla to appear.
He kneels down in front of it, reaches out, and lightly brushes some loose splinters of wood from the woodcut depiction. Maybe in the coming weeks he could make something a little bigger, something that can hold an offering or two. Or at least build a table so the plank of wood wouldn’t be on the floor.
Marto feels a hand alight on his shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze.
He turns to look, but he is by himself, the chapel quiet. His brow furrows but he doesn’t feel scared.
“Perhaps I had too much to drink last night,” he mutters, shaking his head as he stands. Marto gives one last, linger look to the small shrine, nods, and departs the quiet calm of the chapel.
He was passing some other early risers, giving them a friendly nod good morning, when he noticed one of them was strapping on a sword, whilst the other picked up a mace to attach to their belt. Marto hadn’t noticed it the day before having only arrived just before Coll sent him and the others on that bizarre “mission”, but thinking back all of the residents here seemed to have at least their basic weapons – be it steel or something arcane – on their person at all times. He made a note of asking Coll about it later when he went down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
It was still dark outside, the wind howling against the stonework, trying to push its way through non-existent cracks as Marto entered the Chapel. It was one of the things he had heard in passing from another table during last night’s post adventure drinking party. Apparently, this place holds shrines to any gods worshiped by those who live in the Fort. Merla had explained the Fort itself was magical, and though he had read his fair share of magic tomes and this history of magic over the last couple months, he had not heard of a place like Fort Ettin before.
There were more shrines than Marto was expecting. The first one that caught his eye was of a pair of white hands bound with red cord. Clearly an Ilmater shrine. Beside it was a gauntlet placed upright with an eye staring out of it. Totally not creepy at all – and entirely dedicated to Helm. There was a shrine with a raven’s head in profile – clearly the symbol of the Matron of Ravens; a stand draped in garlands of flowers – this one was a bit obscure but Marto thought it might be one of the giant pantheon; and what appeared to be a stone snake sleeping, curled around a freesia and alstroemeria flower. That one he did not recognise at all but it had a certain dreamy quality to it that he liked.
He walked around the room, studying each of these shrines, but also looking for the one he hoped would be there. Marto had to circle around twice before he saw the one he was looking for.
Between the tapestry of a quarter moon on a starburst background and the literal hammer and anvil, was a tiny plank of wood not much bigger than his forearm, with a carved picture of a cornucopia. Though Marto was sure the gap between the shrine to Corellon and Moradin had been too close for there to be room before, he smiled now, taking comfort that this strange and magical Fort in this strange and wonderful land had allowed for a small shrine to Yondalla to appear.
He kneels down in front of it, reaches out, and lightly brushes some loose splinters of wood from the woodcut depiction. Maybe in the coming weeks he could make something a little bigger, something that can hold an offering or two. Or at least build a table so the plank of wood wouldn’t be on the floor.
Marto feels a hand alight on his shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze.
He turns to look, but he is by himself, the chapel quiet. His brow furrows but he doesn’t feel scared.
“Perhaps I had too much to drink last night,” he mutters, shaking his head as he stands. Marto gives one last, linger look to the small shrine, nods, and departs the quiet calm of the chapel.
Dear Ma & Pa,
I’m writing to you from the library in Fort Ettin – that big adventure’s hub just outside of Daring Heights. I know you said you wanted me to stay in the city, and I did for the first month or so, helping Merla build her theatre – it’s nearly complete, just got another week’s worth of construction then it’ll be ready for it’s first play or concert! – but I got curious. I wanted to see this magical fort for myself and, well, if you thought Daring Heights was amazing, let me tell you this place is all of that, concentrated into one huge building!
So maybe not your kind of place, haha!
But it’s been a great few days here so far. I’ve been meeting so many new people, some of them the Folk, most of them just regular people like you and me. A halfling fellow, goes by the name Sterling, is a tinkerer, had a mechanical bird that could cast magic and everything! I’m still learning what I can but Sterling was on a whole nother level. Then there are others like this kobold lad – seems rather young but kobolds mature faster than us so he’s an adult by all account – Gutts, who just went into a bush and pulled out a gigantic sword, claiming it was a ‘gift from the Lady’. He seems a nice enough guy, though rather chatty. Complete contrast to Stirling though, who was all ‘Be proficient. Be polite. Be professional.’ He and Burton would get along swell. Another fellow I met goes by the name Knock. Not sure why though and I didn’t get a chance to ask him about his name. Very good with a bow and arrow though.
Speaking of, this human lad, Gerhard – who’s apparently been to the Feywild a couple of times, has a fascination that might just rival my own, and is really into ancient civilizations and things – was absolutely amazing in this fight we had against a giant awakened oak tree. Now, before you start to worry, this ‘fight’ although real wasn’t anything serious. Turns out, when I arrived here early yesterday morning, the proprietor of the Fort had a “very serious mission” for us newbies. Something about taking care of an “evil sorceress who’s come in to roost, threatening to cause trouble” and all that jazz. Beets – a lovely fairy lass who has beetle legs and is super strong – was suspicious of the job almost from the get go. I will admit, it wasn’t until we got to the cave lair of ‘Arch Jen, the Fire Vortex’ that I started suspecting anything. It was really fun to play along though and I think Merla would have been proud that I kept the charade going. Jenna – the person playing the role of the ‘evil sorceress’ – is actually the daughter of the Daring Heights councilwoman Aurelia and she has a red dragon as a companion! So there was no true danger to any of us. We defeated the nefarious Arch Jen and won the day as the young heroes we are!
The nice thing about this Fort is there’s so much to do that I can even do some ‘regular’ work when I’m not doing my studies. There’s also this really neat chapel with shrines to all manner of gods. There’s one for Yondalla but it’s a little small. Going to see if I can find something to help make it a little better.
Anyway, I hope you are both well. Give my love to Eina, Yoara, Burton, and the rest. I’m sure Merla will let you know when the theatre’s first performance is happening so you can come for a visit if you’d like. Oh yeah, that’s another thing – there’s also a fairly decent sized apartment for her to use when she’s not in the Feywild doing her queenly duties. I’ll ask her if you can stay there when you’re in town next time. I’m sure she’ll be happy to have you there.
Love you both.
Marto
I’m writing to you from the library in Fort Ettin – that big adventure’s hub just outside of Daring Heights. I know you said you wanted me to stay in the city, and I did for the first month or so, helping Merla build her theatre – it’s nearly complete, just got another week’s worth of construction then it’ll be ready for it’s first play or concert! – but I got curious. I wanted to see this magical fort for myself and, well, if you thought Daring Heights was amazing, let me tell you this place is all of that, concentrated into one huge building!
So maybe not your kind of place, haha!
But it’s been a great few days here so far. I’ve been meeting so many new people, some of them the Folk, most of them just regular people like you and me. A halfling fellow, goes by the name Sterling, is a tinkerer, had a mechanical bird that could cast magic and everything! I’m still learning what I can but Sterling was on a whole nother level. Then there are others like this kobold lad – seems rather young but kobolds mature faster than us so he’s an adult by all account – Gutts, who just went into a bush and pulled out a gigantic sword, claiming it was a ‘gift from the Lady’. He seems a nice enough guy, though rather chatty. Complete contrast to Stirling though, who was all ‘Be proficient. Be polite. Be professional.’ He and Burton would get along swell. Another fellow I met goes by the name Knock. Not sure why though and I didn’t get a chance to ask him about his name. Very good with a bow and arrow though.
Speaking of, this human lad, Gerhard – who’s apparently been to the Feywild a couple of times, has a fascination that might just rival my own, and is really into ancient civilizations and things – was absolutely amazing in this fight we had against a giant awakened oak tree. Now, before you start to worry, this ‘fight’ although real wasn’t anything serious. Turns out, when I arrived here early yesterday morning, the proprietor of the Fort had a “very serious mission” for us newbies. Something about taking care of an “evil sorceress who’s come in to roost, threatening to cause trouble” and all that jazz. Beets – a lovely fairy lass who has beetle legs and is super strong – was suspicious of the job almost from the get go. I will admit, it wasn’t until we got to the cave lair of ‘Arch Jen, the Fire Vortex’ that I started suspecting anything. It was really fun to play along though and I think Merla would have been proud that I kept the charade going. Jenna – the person playing the role of the ‘evil sorceress’ – is actually the daughter of the Daring Heights councilwoman Aurelia and she has a red dragon as a companion! So there was no true danger to any of us. We defeated the nefarious Arch Jen and won the day as the young heroes we are!
The nice thing about this Fort is there’s so much to do that I can even do some ‘regular’ work when I’m not doing my studies. There’s also this really neat chapel with shrines to all manner of gods. There’s one for Yondalla but it’s a little small. Going to see if I can find something to help make it a little better.
Anyway, I hope you are both well. Give my love to Eina, Yoara, Burton, and the rest. I’m sure Merla will let you know when the theatre’s first performance is happening so you can come for a visit if you’d like. Oh yeah, that’s another thing – there’s also a fairly decent sized apartment for her to use when she’s not in the Feywild doing her queenly duties. I’ll ask her if you can stay there when you’re in town next time. I’m sure she’ll be happy to have you there.
Love you both.
Marto