Heart & Stone - 10/10/2023 - A Kavel Perspective

Part 3

The Summer Court

The seed Cay gave the portal attendant did the trick. We arrived in the Summer Court of the Feywild. As expected it was as warm as summer despite it being autumn time on the Material Plane. Another expected matter, upon arriving in the Feywild, my impassive demeanour was tested by the magical weirdness of the Fey realm - ‘fey fuckery’, as others put it.

I was very excited at the thought of seeing my fiancee Nathalie, and excited to figure out how we would be able to see each other regularly. But, with the stoicism I learned from my father, I knew not to let excitement (or any emotion) lead me when calm decision making was needed. However, fey fuckery. So, despite my usual emotional control, if I were a dog, you would have seen my tail wagging along happily and incessantly, as I excitedly thought about my fiance. Still, it is better to be led by excitement rather than fear or anxiety. I felt like I was full of ‘rizz’ as the younger adventurers are saying. This was good.

Derthaad on the other hand, looked like his ‘rizz’ levels had dropped. The Feywild air had done a number on him. He was probably worried about how he was received in the Damphenite Tangle last time, when everyone discovered the mark of Air and Darkness on his hand. My dragonborn friend was a hero to the Tangle, until that mark was discovered, and then all the damphenite people took a big dislike to him. You see, the mark was a magical boon that we learned came from the enemy.

Derthaad got the mark removed later, because he is a great comrade and a champ. Now, removing the mark did involve accidentally helping someone make progress in bringing back the Wild Hunt - something horrible. But, we didn’t know that at the time… this thought should have reduced my excitement a little bit, but it did not, again - fey fuckery.

My other comrades seemed fine. Lolli was actually way more excited than me. When we all looked over the hills and saw the giant, glittering palace of the Summer Court, Lolli’s nose twitched with happiness.

Lolli is from a harengon land called Fluffleton, it’s in the Summer Court. So, Queen Titania is Lolli’s queen. When I told Lolli back at Fitzgrove Fashions, that Sterel had spoken to the Queen, Lolli’s nose started twitching. Arriving at the Summer Court; Lolli was jumping up and down with joy.

When I caught sight of Nathalie coming over the hill to greet us, my heart jumped up and down with joy, too.


Together Again

Nathalie was accompanied by Sterel and a retinue of the Damphenite Tangle’s spiritual warriors. We were, however, not visiting the Tangle, the home of the sprites, so there were no special potions to be drunk to reduce our size. So, when my love flew toward me for an embrace, she was her sprite height, and I was my goliath height. She gripped my face and head with her body tightly, as I pressed one hand around her legs, and the other hand’s fingers stroked her hair at the top of her head.

Sterel explained that she had only recently finally been able to put a case forward to Queen Titania, explaining mine and Nathalie’s situation. Sterel had asked for a boon from the ruler of the Summer Court, to provide a solution for us. Sterel said the queen was inspired by what she was told, and so instead of inviting us to the palace, there was a fete, or funfare of sorts set up for us instead. The Queen, it seemed, wished for our request to have some pomp. We were to present ourselves to her, and make our request in front of her court, and vassal court representatives. This was going to be a big affair. So much so, the Queen had her Master of Revelries, Kruxerhal, involved.


A Potential Snag?

The news of Kruxerhal’s involvement almost made my levels of excitement disappear. I explained to Nathalie and Sterel, as best I could, how Zola and I never intended to kill Kruxerhal’s father. We didn’t know our target was Kruxerhal’s father, nor that he was enthralled by the Wild Hunt. We just saw an enemy target that needed to be stopped. Nathalie and Sterel hadn’t met Zola before - this was a terrible introduction for Zola.

Sorrel, Lolli and Derthaad were familiar to the Damphenite people. Zola was the only new person to them. One of the hopes that I had was that by bringing Lolli and Zola with me, two fey friends, it would show the Damphenite Sprites that they could build relationships with the Dawnlands, like other fey have. Right at that moment though, it felt like maybe I had just introduced Zola with a mark of Air and Darkness painted on her face.

Nathalie and Sterel were alarmed by the news, but they both felt they could rely on the Master of Revelries taking his direction from the Queen. As such, his personal feelings would not interfere or lead him to cause us a setback with our request. The Master of Revelries would be a professional.

After the unexpected concern was aired, I gave Zola a better introduction to Nathalie and her people emphasising how Zola herself is something of a spiritual warrior, but for the Witching Court, and the goddess Ellistrae. It was enough for Zola to simply agree that she was here to help me, for her to receive Nathalie’s gratitude. This was good.

Nathalie apologised to Derthaad about the vehement reaction to his mark the last time he visited. She expressed that she wouldn’t want that experience to prevent him from returning. His reassurance that he was here for me, and by extension Nathalie, also earned him Nathalie’s gratitude. It seemed like I could maybe invite Varga to the Summer Court now. But, I will still hold off on that - Varga wears her mark of Air and Darkness with pride! I don’t think anyone is ready for that in the Summer Court.


To See the Queen

It was a quick journey to reach the location where the festival of sorts was being held near some mountains.

For a good portion of the journey, Nathalie sat on my shoulder, playing with my beard as we spoke. When we got closer to the funfare, and we could see many fey from the main court, and vassal courts all gathered, Nathalie rose from my shoulder, stretched, and then began to fly alongside me.

When Nathalie rises from a position of rest, and then stretches, not only does she tense her arms and legs, but her six wings too. Afterall, each wing is attached by a muscle to her back, so it makes sense that her wings would tense as well when she stretches her whole body. I love watching her wings extend when she stretches. It was one of those little things about Nathalie that I really missed for the last few months of our separation. And when she would come back to my shoulder to sit and play with my beard, her wings would fold in, which meant she was comfortable, comfortable with me. It makes me feel very happy when she spends her time with me and is at ease.

There were many people. There were many eyes on my party. To be fair, there would be - we were most likely the only non-fey group in the very large gathering. And if the people here had been informed that the main attraction of the event was the union between one of their sprites and a goliath, then they had just seen the main attraction walk in.

I overheard some people talking about a competition for the mortals. A test of strength that the Queen had prepared. I was cautious about the veracity of what I was hearing. But if true, awesome; a test of strength is my forte.

Nathalie mentioned that although Sterel asked Queen Titania what would be required of us, other than that we would have to explain ourselves to her, anything else was kept secret. However, something was being grown for a spectacle, and whilst it isn’t unusual for the Queen to request damphenite rock from the Damphenite Tangle, a sudden request had been fulfilled only a few days ago, and the amount requested was different than usual.

Sorrel talked to Sterel as we walked. Lolli was really keen on us all looking our best when meeting the Queen, so she was constantly casting the Prestidigitation spell and magically cleaning, and removing creases from our clothes. She was very dedicated, even blades of grass and bits of earth were removed from the soles of our shoes - and we still had a fair bit to walk before reaching the central tent, where the Queen waited and court guests were gathering.


Presentation for the Queen

Queen Titania was her name, and given she was giant in size - around thirty feet tall - the name suited her. Despite feeling more confident than usual - fey fuckery - I made a note not to refer to myself in the Queen’s presence as a half-titan. It might have amused her the wrong way.

Cay, reunited with his friend May, and brought my party to Queen Titania. The many people inside the royal pavilion spread out of the way, giving the party the floor in front of the Queen. Before we knew it, we were making our request to the Queen of the Summer Court.

Holding Nathalie’s hand between my index finger and thumb, I introduced myself to Queen Titania, and thanked her for agreeing to hear our case. I explained my love for Nathalie, and the connection we once had with the soul bond. But also how the unexpected side-effects of the connection was ruinous to Nathalie’s position as spiritual leader and her people. I told the Queen how we had to be responsible, and let go of the soul bond. And now, we have no soul bond, but also no means to see each other. For the sake of my love, for the Queen’s vassal court leader, I asked the Queen that with her power, she grant us a way of being together.

Zola walked forward to mine and Nathalie’s side and knelt before the Queen. When she rose, with the eloquence and lyrical majesty of a court bard, she spoke of Nathalie and I being soulmates.

Sorrel came forward and knelt. When she rose, she explained Nathalie’s willingness to shoulder all the side-effects of the soul bond to spare me any changes, and how as my sister, she was here for my happiness, and Nathalie’s happiness. My sister made me proud. I also noted that both her and Zola knelt before the Queen, while I didn’t. Fortunately, that did not negatively affect the Queen’s opinion of me, I think.

Lolli, perspiring all over through her fur came next, she knelt, too. When she rose it was the quietest I had ever heard Lolli speak, but also the fastest, too. There were words about me being the bravest and strongest person she knew, and also having the biggest heart, and that watching Nathalie and I have to sever the soul bond was very upsetting, and the heartbreak she witnessed meant our love must be pure love. It was very touching to hear. But next time Lolli, louder; so the Queen can hear it without having to tilt forward.

Derthaad then knelt. He spoke of once being in love himself, and his heartbreak. He spoke on seeing the joy in his comrade’s eyes being in love, and how he did not want to see sorrow in his friend’s eye, he did not want to see a connection denied.

Lastly, Nathalie, squeezing the space between my fingers where her hand rested, spoke. She flew forward and bowed before Queen Titania. Nathalie emphasised how even though our souls are no longer intertwined through ancient magic, our love still bonds us deeply. Nathalie spoke of how as leader of the damphenite sprites, news had reached the Tangle - Nathalie was aware of something coming - and she wanted me by her side. Our strength combined, she felt would be key. But with politics aside; she said that I am her happiness.

I looked at my Nathalie, a sprite standing tall in front of a giant, saying that I am her happiness. I breathed in the happiest of breaths.

Something seemed to settle in the air. There was a new warmth in the pavilion. Queen Titania smiled. The Queen then spoke of her court being a court of revelries, but also; heart, strength and bearers of Corellon’s light. The Queen was touched by our words. But, now she wanted a display to complete for her the story of the love between a fey sprite and a material-world goliath.

Queen Titania rose, and clapped her hands. The ground outside the pavilion changed, and the party were led towards the entrance of a plant grown labyrinth.


Exhibition for the Queen

Kruxerhal, the Master of Revelies, was professional. He announced the ‘test’ to the spectacle viewers. Somehow, all the people gathered had a view of the maze, and Kruxerhal, with his presence and voice built up anticipation and excitement in the crowd. And then the party were teleported to individual starting points in the maze.

We had a very simple instruction. All of us were to find each other, and reach the centre of the maze. At the centre, we would find a special tree, and then if we touched the tree, the contest would be over.

Now, you have to test it, so I did. The dense thicket walls rose twenty feet high. I jumped straight up and was repelled back down by a magical force - as expected. I was certain there would be a magical prevention against jumping over the maze walls, but I would feel a foul, if I didn’t check, and later was told it was possible.

Now, if you are strong enough, there is another test you can do, and to increase my grip size to enhance my chances of success, I drank one of my Potions of Growth and grew to fifteen feet tall. With actual giant sized hands, I grabbed large fibres of the thicket and started ripping them away, creating my own personal route through the maze walls. The thicket tried to fight back, swotting my hands, as if trying to prevent its opponent from establishing a grip, but in the search for my love, Nathalie, my grip is both unstoppable, and unbreakable.

My hand carved holes were great - not only could I go wherever I wanted, it was going to be easy to note where I had and hadn’t already been. As I tore my way through the maze with mountain-moving grip strength, I wasn’t sure why it was, perhaps it was the fey-fuckery, but I felt confident that I was tearing a path towards Nathalie, as if I was guided by something intangible. It wasn’t the soul bond, but it was something.

A few hedge doors later, I could hear the warrior rage of my Nathalie attacking the thicket from the other side until she cut all the way through, and wrapped her arms around my head once again. It brought me immeasurable joy to see her.

We only embraced momentarily though. We had a task to achieve. Nathalie was the far better flyer, so as we heard Zola nearby, I followed Nathalie’s flight path, as best I could fly-jumping off of the thicket walls with my powerful flight legs.

Eventually we were all reunited. Lolli looked like she had had a rough time with the thickets - I would suggest that she could do with working on her grip strength.

Zola was first to the tree, she pointed out something that she had never seen before, as she had never been to the Damphenite Tangle. There on the tree, all around, intertwined with the roots, the bark, the branches and seemingly even the leaves - damphenite crystals were part of the tree.

Nathali and I held hands, and touched the tree together. Wherever the crowd were, we could hear its cheer.


The Damphenite Infused Crystal Tree

Sterel and Nathalie confirmed that this must be what the emergency shipment of damphenite stone was for. They then had a joint realisation. With my talents as a mason and carpenter, and Nathalie’s mastery of the damphenite rock, and of course not to mention the magical properties of the feywild; we could make doors that connect the material world to the feywild with the wood from this tree. Instead of joint damphenite bangles bonding our souls together, and allowing us to travel the Spirit Road to each other, the doors made from damphenite wood, would provide the planeshifting ability.

Queen Titania appeared before us, as the maze walls sank into the ground. She congratulated us, and confirmed that the tree infused with damphenite rock was her gift to us. But, it was emphasised that the doors we would make were for personal use only. The doors should not be a permanent travel way to the Summer Court for just anybody.

Queen Titania had one more gift for me personally, a sort of welcoming into her court. With her powerful, giant-sized sword, she unlocked in me, a physical enhancement to my combat skills, so I might better use my mountain strength when I fight. This time, I knelt and bowed my head to the Queen, as I thanked her for everything she had done for me, and for Nathalie.

As I stood flexing and feeling the change inside of me, I soon found myself coated in the embrace of not only my love Nathalie, but Sorrel, Sterel, Zola, Lolli and Derthaad. I wore a coat of happiness.


The Damphenite Doors

Nathalie and I went back to the Damphenite Tangle, and worked on our doors. Hers was the first to be used, as we needed it to transport my door to Daring Heights, with us along for the ride too. The doors have the added benefit of giving us a potion-free height equaliser. When you go through my door, you shrink to sprite height. When you go through Nathalie’s door, you grow to a regular humanoid size, which in Nathalie’s case is actually goliath-size.

Archie and Mendal were very happy for me. Timor too - quick easy access to tiny, flight people that will fuss and play with him. My little tamarin friend was soon about to be spoiled.

I announced to my long time friends that I would need to find a permanent location for my door, which meant having my own property, that they were more than welcome to come visit regularly. I had a view to stay in the Dwarven Quarter to facilitate that. But, if I could buy or build a place with an internal courtyard, that would be a great location to put my door. At the moment, it stood in front of my bed, and Mendal gets a kick out of going it the, ‘express fuck door’. “Really puts the ‘fuck’ in ‘fey fuckery’,” he says.

I came to Kantas to find a mysterious, moving mountain. That mountain was no mountain, and as such it did not house strength enthusiasts, like me, whom I was looking for, to create my own Iron Strong Company. But through my adventures, I found fellow strength enthusiasts - the thicc-bois! It has been a blast with them, and will continue to be. But also, I meant some strong magic-user comrades too, and I am very proud to have them as comrades as well. I have also built a couple of great places dedicated to strength and conditioning. I achieved peak physical condition with help from the Metal Bros, an original thicc-boi; Ghesh, The Bear King; Messikammen, and now also Queen Titania. I have gained the best of comrades, the best of mentors, and also the best of sisters in Sorrel. I also, in the most unexpected of locations, found my greatest source of strength, the love of my fiance, Nathalie, and my love in return for her.

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End

I'm so sorry I missed it, but Velania was there in spirit, and will always be looking out for Kavel and Nathalie 💕