Independence Day – Marto Copperkettle – 14&28.05.2024
Jul 26, 2024 14:33:11 GMT
Velania Kalugina, stephena, and 3 more like this
Post by Marto Copperkettle on Jul 26, 2024 14:33:11 GMT
Dear Ma & Pa (& Merla),
I know, I know. I said part two of the tale of Sorrel and her sisters would be sent to you “in a day or two” but then a new family moved into the village — well, not into the village, but close enough to be part of it. It’s a whole story, one I will share with you in another letter. Just been helping them get settled a bit more, now that their house is safe and secure.
Anyways.
My side of things started in the wee hours of the morning with my fairy friend, Beets, pounding on my door. This was just after returning to New Hillborrow, after finding out what happened to Merla and… all of that. One of Sorrel’s sisters got a vision that now was the time and she needed those she trusted most to help her face the organisation that had taken her in as a young woman. The same one that was sending assassins (or “specialists” as they were called) to kill her and kidnap her sisters.
There’s one thing you gotta understand about Sorrel. She isn’t the type to ask for help, even when the odds are so stacked against her. She has Chronic Lone Wolf Syndrome. She has gotten leagues better than she used to be, but Sorrel still had to ask us (with a show of hands) if we were “absolutely sure” we wanted to help. Spoiler alert: everyone — Kavel, Velania, Veridian, Beets, myself, Fionn, even Gwen raised our hands and paws. That woman was not going to face anything on her own.
We made our way to an elvish/celestial temple called Minas Ithil where Sorrel’s sister were to be kept safe whilst we then hopped over to Faerûn (Baldur’s Gate, specifically) to find Sorrel’s father’s house.
We found him and… it was not good. He wasn’t going to make it, and though Velania could have healed him, Sorrel’s father did not want to stay anymore. Not after everything he had done. And he missed his wife. Sorrel’s mom, you see, had been killed trying to protect Sorrel’s sisters, and she had done that on her own. Don’t know what her father was doing but… Ah, well. He’s gone now and Sorrel, for all the anger she had towards him, found the courage and strength to forgive him. That couldn’t have been easy for her, but it was clear to all of us that he was remorseful for how he had treated her and her sisters.
In and around all of that though were some Specialists that had come to, uh, “talk” to Sorrel. Kind of like last time, except these guys were a lot more trained and well harder to beat. They surrendered when they realised we weren’t going to be defeated but — and this is something I know you won’t like to hear but different people have their ways or creeds — they could not be let go. The one that spoke to Sorrel before ending things said “they did not believe the propaganda about her”. It was clear that whatever family debts were owed or ties were being pulled on were also being manipulated by someone looking to use Sorrel as a means to an end.
After taking the time as was right to bury Sorrel’s father, Veridian teleported us to the place this organisation resides. We were greeted by Specialists again, but this time they were not hostile. In fact, they were expecting us.
It will take way too long for me to explain all the nuances but I’ll do my best to summarise what I understood things to be. Sorrel was trained in a place that has different colleges, shall we say, and each college specialises in a certain style of “doing things”. For a time I know not how long, there has not been a Headmaster. Of course, this means that the Leaders of the colleges can vie for the seat, but doing so can cause… disruption for the whole organisation. Which, as it turns out, is exactly what’s been happening. Certain Leaders of the colleges had been dragging the entire “school’s” name through the mud, and it was high time things were settled so a new Headmaster could be chosen. There were two possible candidates for this position: On one side was a Sorrel’s mentor and one of her adoptive father figures. The other was her mentor’s nemesis, the same person who had been vying most fervently to capture Sorrel’s sisters, who sent those who killed Sorrel’s father and mother, and who was trying to kill Sorrel herself.
So now that we were there, it came down to a challenge between the champions of Sorrel’s mentor (us) versus the champions of the one who had been trying to do Sorrel harm.
It was a tough fight. There was a moment when I swear Sorrel was about to sacrifice herself to end the opposition. She had taken a lot of hits and it wasn’t looking so good for her. But that’s where the team came in. We supported her. Helped heal her, take care of those who were trying to attack her, and cleared a path so she could do what needed to be done.
Ya know, writing all that, sometimes I feel a little self conscious of it. Guess in a way I’ve started to become the knight I used to dream I’d be as a little ’un. And I’m happy with that. I’m proud of that, in my own way. But some of the people that I’ve had to face, some of the things I’ve done, it’s hard to tell you guys. I… I don’t want to worry you. And, you know it is, it’s always easier to tell a story in person, than write it down. Perhaps, when I come again for a visit, I can tell you properly.
As for Sorrel, she’s still here in the Dawnlands. In Daring Heights, that is. Her sisters have moved into her house, her home. I try to visit her whenever I go to the big town. Haven’t been for a little bit actually, which means I’m due for a visit soon. I’m so glad to see her happy, finally. At peace. She deserves it.
Wow this one turned into a long one. Best leave it there for now. I hope Merla’s enjoying hearing these tales, too. She may not know everyone I write about, but I hear there are quite a few folks over here helping her oath sworn find a remedy. So don’t lose hope Ma, Pa. We’ll get her back. I know it.
With love,
Marto, Fog, Fionn & Gwenaël
I know, I know. I said part two of the tale of Sorrel and her sisters would be sent to you “in a day or two” but then a new family moved into the village — well, not into the village, but close enough to be part of it. It’s a whole story, one I will share with you in another letter. Just been helping them get settled a bit more, now that their house is safe and secure.
Anyways.
My side of things started in the wee hours of the morning with my fairy friend, Beets, pounding on my door. This was just after returning to New Hillborrow, after finding out what happened to Merla and… all of that. One of Sorrel’s sisters got a vision that now was the time and she needed those she trusted most to help her face the organisation that had taken her in as a young woman. The same one that was sending assassins (or “specialists” as they were called) to kill her and kidnap her sisters.
There’s one thing you gotta understand about Sorrel. She isn’t the type to ask for help, even when the odds are so stacked against her. She has Chronic Lone Wolf Syndrome. She has gotten leagues better than she used to be, but Sorrel still had to ask us (with a show of hands) if we were “absolutely sure” we wanted to help. Spoiler alert: everyone — Kavel, Velania, Veridian, Beets, myself, Fionn, even Gwen raised our hands and paws. That woman was not going to face anything on her own.
We made our way to an elvish/celestial temple called Minas Ithil where Sorrel’s sister were to be kept safe whilst we then hopped over to Faerûn (Baldur’s Gate, specifically) to find Sorrel’s father’s house.
We found him and… it was not good. He wasn’t going to make it, and though Velania could have healed him, Sorrel’s father did not want to stay anymore. Not after everything he had done. And he missed his wife. Sorrel’s mom, you see, had been killed trying to protect Sorrel’s sisters, and she had done that on her own. Don’t know what her father was doing but… Ah, well. He’s gone now and Sorrel, for all the anger she had towards him, found the courage and strength to forgive him. That couldn’t have been easy for her, but it was clear to all of us that he was remorseful for how he had treated her and her sisters.
In and around all of that though were some Specialists that had come to, uh, “talk” to Sorrel. Kind of like last time, except these guys were a lot more trained and well harder to beat. They surrendered when they realised we weren’t going to be defeated but — and this is something I know you won’t like to hear but different people have their ways or creeds — they could not be let go. The one that spoke to Sorrel before ending things said “they did not believe the propaganda about her”. It was clear that whatever family debts were owed or ties were being pulled on were also being manipulated by someone looking to use Sorrel as a means to an end.
After taking the time as was right to bury Sorrel’s father, Veridian teleported us to the place this organisation resides. We were greeted by Specialists again, but this time they were not hostile. In fact, they were expecting us.
It will take way too long for me to explain all the nuances but I’ll do my best to summarise what I understood things to be. Sorrel was trained in a place that has different colleges, shall we say, and each college specialises in a certain style of “doing things”. For a time I know not how long, there has not been a Headmaster. Of course, this means that the Leaders of the colleges can vie for the seat, but doing so can cause… disruption for the whole organisation. Which, as it turns out, is exactly what’s been happening. Certain Leaders of the colleges had been dragging the entire “school’s” name through the mud, and it was high time things were settled so a new Headmaster could be chosen. There were two possible candidates for this position: On one side was a Sorrel’s mentor and one of her adoptive father figures. The other was her mentor’s nemesis, the same person who had been vying most fervently to capture Sorrel’s sisters, who sent those who killed Sorrel’s father and mother, and who was trying to kill Sorrel herself.
So now that we were there, it came down to a challenge between the champions of Sorrel’s mentor (us) versus the champions of the one who had been trying to do Sorrel harm.
It was a tough fight. There was a moment when I swear Sorrel was about to sacrifice herself to end the opposition. She had taken a lot of hits and it wasn’t looking so good for her. But that’s where the team came in. We supported her. Helped heal her, take care of those who were trying to attack her, and cleared a path so she could do what needed to be done.
Ya know, writing all that, sometimes I feel a little self conscious of it. Guess in a way I’ve started to become the knight I used to dream I’d be as a little ’un. And I’m happy with that. I’m proud of that, in my own way. But some of the people that I’ve had to face, some of the things I’ve done, it’s hard to tell you guys. I… I don’t want to worry you. And, you know it is, it’s always easier to tell a story in person, than write it down. Perhaps, when I come again for a visit, I can tell you properly.
As for Sorrel, she’s still here in the Dawnlands. In Daring Heights, that is. Her sisters have moved into her house, her home. I try to visit her whenever I go to the big town. Haven’t been for a little bit actually, which means I’m due for a visit soon. I’m so glad to see her happy, finally. At peace. She deserves it.
Wow this one turned into a long one. Best leave it there for now. I hope Merla’s enjoying hearing these tales, too. She may not know everyone I write about, but I hear there are quite a few folks over here helping her oath sworn find a remedy. So don’t lose hope Ma, Pa. We’ll get her back. I know it.
With love,
Marto, Fog, Fionn & Gwenaël
