Felwood Follies
H01: Kultari Road (Spot of the Day)
It's Korday, Eatonis 08 18:55:39 1020. The full moon isn't up. The tide is low and ebbing. Oranges, reds, and golds light the fair weather clouds, shadowed in purple, around the setting sun. A soft breeze blows from the west.
"I see." Etan's words a bit distant as he shifts to look at the felwood, listening to Felicia's words. "You speak of that evil festering, but what of those who tend the wild? They have sought to cleanse it I am sure, but why make your plans alone?" he muses. "A dream?"
Felicia says, "It's just one, eventual, plan, Etan. but there's more to it than that. Even if we cut down all the trees and animals in the woods there...the evil tain would still be there. So there's something corrupting it all.""
Ga'Elian emerges from the arch marking the entrance to the Waystation, riding on the back of a griffon. Catching sight of the conversing pair, he guides his mount toward them and calls, "Well met, friends. Fare you well this day?"
"I know some, but not all of the story. It is just the privacy you chose for such thoughts." Etan's hands rubbing against one another as his ears hear Ga'Elian's greetings, smiling as he turns to respond. "Ah, the wild one. See how people begin to gather? Greetings, Friend." his chuckling coming from within his chest, as his glance flicks back to Felicia with a smile. "My meaning... is that you seem to have something personal in your desire. Stakes are not bad things, but I often wonder what ties you to wanting to cleanse what has been corrupted for so long."
Felicia takes a deep breath. "the Arvek nar are a fairly young race, Etan. Even humans in their short lived lives had generations of free will before th Arvek Nar did. We're still looked at with dread because of those times where we marched upon dwarven homes and razed them to the ground. it wasn't until Blar was liberated that we actually gained our freedom. And we're still fighting for that. So......You'll understand if I wish to fight for other's freedom of will." She then looks to Elian as he approaches. "hello there......"
Ga'Elian looks from Etan to Felicia. Says, "I most heartily agree that steaks are not bad things, especially when served with a good green salad, but I don't see what that has to do with cleansing anything, nor with the coming of rationality to the race of Arvek Nar."
"Those kind of steaks are good too." Etan agrees with Ga'Elian's first words, but a passive glance is again cast to the Felwood. "Vangaurd, your words are comforting. I don't mean to seem insensitive, but I only ask because what people say is not always what they feel." sighing at his own words. "It is your sincerely I see, and because of it I will always offer what I can." looking at the small group with a shrug. "I don't think now is the time, but I do agree that such slavery falls against the natural order."
"Exactly. This is a battle that will take a long time, but the balance of that part of the woods must be restored. Instead of being allowed to fester." Felicia then looks to Elian. 'Steaks are good as well, but those aren't the stakes Etan was referring to.
Ga'Elian looks lost, which is entirely normal for him in social interactions. He lets all this talk of steaks and Arvek history and cleansing and slavery wash over him, and says, "Well, I'm headed off to patrol a little ways into the Felwood tonight. Can't overcome all that's in there, but can at least keep it back a way's off from threatening who travels this road."
In the waning sunlight of day, a rider appears on the road, moving towards the waystation. An orange-haired Gnome, astride a giant beetle. Rider and mount slow as they approach, and she glances about, waving to Ga'elian with a smile when she recognizes him.
"Safety is all I ask you take when in the wilds." Etan's words to Ga'Elian while he shifts, his thoughts causing wrinkles against his worn face. "I have much to contemplate during my meditation." speaking mostly to himself, but quickly adding. "If either of you have need of me, I ask you call." his eyes catching sight of the gnome and that beetle, offering a raised hand.
Felicia turns and waves her hand to the gnome as she approaches. "Same as I, Etan." She then offers her hand to him. "Are you leaving?"
Ga'Elian turns to return Tawyse's salutation with "Again we meet, Essense. Has your day gone well?" Turning to the others he says, "Should you wish, I am quite pleased to offer help as well. I have made guiding travelers through the wilderness something of a vocation, among other things."
Tawyse offers a nod to the others as they wave, and she nods to Ga'Elian. "Certainly better than yesterday. Getting rained on always dampens my spirits." The beetle lays out on the ground, letting the Gnome dismount. She pulls a number of rotted sticks and small logs from one of the packs on the insect's back, and offers them to the beetle. It busies itself with munching as she turns away. "Essence?", she wonders of Ga'Elian. "You have said this a few times."
"I do not know if I am ever coming or going, Vanguard." Etan's words coming with a small smile as he give Felicia's hand another firm shake. "My mind is elsewhere, despite my feet and heart being here." his words brushed aside with a wave of his hand after the touch breaks. It is as Tawyse and Ga'Elian make their greetings he steps away and bids them farewell. "Be safe friends of the forest. Few of you I have." teasing toward Ga'elian as he take his leave.
Felicia waves to Etan as he leaves. She then looks towards Tawyse and Elian. "Essence is one of the titles earned by the Druids of Dana....and the clerics of Dana as well." She then shrugs. "I think you earn that title when you use your first blessing."
She comes from the Felwood; likely having visited for some herbs and other ingredients - or likely just looking for trouble. The red-haired druid with those decorating antlers steps at an even pace towards the grouping of people and towards the city. Taleth wears simple hide armor and a cloak of fur to keep her warm. She raises her hand when she recognizes Ga'Elian and offers a warm enough smile, "Good evening!"
Ga'Elian opens his mouth to answer, but shuts it again. Then he waves to the departing human. The griffon suddenly perks up, jerking its aquilene head to the south as he begins to purr from deep within. He rises up momentarily on his powerful hind legs and extends his wings to almost their full 25' span then folds them against his leonine body again as he comes back down on all fours. At this sudden, unusual action, Ga'Elian leans forward and pats the beast on his neck feathers and asks, "What' got you so eager, my friend?" The griffon chirps. The elf says, "I think he smells something from off toward the Felwood." It is then that Taleth comes into view. He chuckles and says, "Well, halloo there. This is quite the gathering."
Tawyse looks to Felicia and ohs. "No one has addressed me as such before. But then I am a new adherent." She runs a hand through her hair, pulling free a few leaves that had lodged themselves in her hair. The orange-haired Gnome looks over as Taleth makes her appearance. Tawyse grins at Ga'Elian and shakes her head. "Or perhaps he likes her, hmm?"
Felicia says, "You never know." She says with a chuckle. "Meanwhile, I'd better head back to the city and give a report to the guard on the felwood." She says starting to walk back."
"Oh, I'm certain he likes me." Taleth lifts her hand towards the beast and lays her hand down upon his beak and strokes between the eyes. "Quite dangerous back there - someone should have warned me." She laughs softly and inclines her head to Felicia when she begins to make her exit.
Ga'Elian turns abruptly to Felicia, "Report? As I was just on my way there, may I inquire what you have to report, Vanguard?" He turns to Tawyse, and says with a coy smirk, "Perhaps you're right."
Tawyse offers Felicia a wave and then looks to Taleth. "Dangerous? What did you run into? Are you injured?" The little druid moves closer to the half-elf woman, and seems to be checking the woman's hides and leather. "You don't seem wounded. You have bested what troubled you?"
Felicia says, "Nothing you should be worried about Ranger." She says waving to Elian. "And I imagine nothing you haven't seen before." And she continues to walk"
Lofting a brow and turning her attention to Tawyse when she approaches, "Bested? If fleeing in terror means bested, then yes... I bested it." Laughing softly and drawing back some of her braids and feathers to regard the gnome closer, "I don't believe we have met. I'm Taleth." Offering a slender hand down to the Gnome.
Ga'Elian relaxes a touch at Felicia's reassurance. Then says, "Very well. The gentle gleam of Eluna guide you in your travels." Then to the druids he says, "In the Felwood are many dark things. There is a great rent in the sky from which foul things are often reported issuing. I have battled demons therein, tracked werewolves, and heard the keening of the mournful spirits of the dead who haven't found their way into Vardama's halls. And then... there's the spider ranch of the witch Alba."
Tawyse offers Felicia a wave, and then she looks up at Taleth, gently taking the other woman's hand. She squeezing daintily, and lets go. She smiles. "Fleeing is always an option. Staying alive is generally preferrable." The little woman blinks at Ga'Elian. "S-s-spider.. ranch?" Blink blink. "EWH!"
Ga'Elian laughs, "Here I describe demons and undead and werewolves, and what gets your dander up is the ickiness of spiders? My, my. How intrepid you are."
Tawyse suppresses a shudder, her cheeks now turning a bright red. She looks away with a hmmph. "I would be just as put out if you had said demon ranch.", she says quietly, crossing her arms. Another shudder. "Spiders are just icky."
"Yes. Well. Not a place I would build a summer home. Would not go again." Taleth offers and returns to petting Ga'Elian's beast. "I think if I go again, I'll take a friend."
Ga'Elian nods. "No, not good for a home in any season, as far as I'm concerned, but if you should require more of the peculiar herbs of that place, I can watch your back."