(055) Wildwood/The Ivory Wold

[waysoftheearth]

Southchase to Southwatch : The Main Company

Now the rest of you make a brisk pace under the stewardship of the Elvish patrol, doing your level best not to falter. To be fair, there is a bit of stumbling and tripping as the terrain gets difficult, and you are all feeling famished and light-headed.

"Save your strength," the patrol Captain tells Ulric as they march, "There will be time for council at the Warder's Hall."

The Elves offer you waterskins on the move--the content of which is clear, cool, and refreshing--and a few handfuls of trail feed comprising nuts and berries and dried fish--it isn't much, but it's all they are carrying--and you devour it hungrily.

Within an hour of entering the woods they have led you via they most direct route (unlike Wen and Gustave's amble) to a densely covered, rocky hillock upon which sits the holding of Southwatch with its great Watch Tree. Looking up at it from below you (other than Highbough) would never have recognised it as a settlement; but that it is, and you gradually climb the winding path in a single file now, with the Elves ensuring you don't slip or lose your way.

After an exhausting half hour climb, our weary, half-starved, bedraggled bunch drag themselves into the Elvish occupation...

...it really doesn't look like much at first glance; a half dozen or so halls built into or onto the sides of huge trees, and all surrounded by a brambly wall of great, mossy logs and stones. But then you gradually become aware that there is perhaps more going on above the ground than on it. The "watchtower" itself is a great, sprawling tree that supports a number of suspended platforms; these--and others like them in nearby trees--being interconnected by rope bridges and gantries. Several of the largest trees seem to accommodate halls and dwellings within their living trucks...

You spy a number of Elves posted high up in the canopy, overlooking the surrounds of the Ivory Wold--but still, it doesn't seem there could be more than a few score Elves here. Could there be?

[waysoftheearth]

Southwatch : Everyone Is Here

And so the main part of the company are escorted into the Warder's Hall, disarmed, only to find Gustave and Wen are already sitting along with half a dozen other Elves tucking into a lavish spread of Elvish wine and food that has been laid out before them on a great round table.

"Welcome!" says one of the silver haired Elvish noblewomen present in perfect Illiberal; but the new comers hardly noticed here as they have only got eyes for the food!

"You are a curious band, indeed. Wen here speaks well of you, so pray, come eat at my table and refresh yourselves so that we might then make some sense of all this."

And then all you can recall for a time is eating and drinking Elvish wine which is both good and abundant...

[coffee]

Dieter, with the last few wits he has, restrains himself on the wine. Even normal human wine would knock him over in his present state (which he knows from experience). Likewise, he attempts to resist the lure of the food. It would be too easy to eat too much in these circumstances -- and indeed, this is what happens.

At last, groaning, he pushes himself away from the table and accepts one more single glass of the wine. Now for the toughest battle of his life -- staying awake!

[mgtremaine]

Wen chats merrily about his travels and what he has seen, recalling how Master Cefeasgar told him, putting on his best Master Wizard Voice he mimics "All your questions are well meaning young one but nothing beats experience, go out and ask the WildWold why, ask the Stars how, and wait for the moon to tell you when. "

"Of course he was right and I've learned more about practical magicks in the last few months then I had before." Wen would pause and laugh, and then his eyes would light up. "Have I told you about the grell?" and so it would go long into the day and night as Elves are likely to do.

Wen ask at some point "I must speak to the Sword Master, if he has time one such as me. The way of the wondering scholar is all well and fine but I seem to have wandered into a war zone and as well as know we Elves had to come to a party unprepared. It's been 50 years since I held Sword and Shield but with some pointers I think I remember the basics."

[mushgnome]

Highbough keeps his head down, picks at the offered food, and does not speak unless addressed directly. Does he recognize the ranking Elvish Lady?

[danhem]

"Thank you for your hospitality my Lady," Ulric says with a bow to the noblewoman before sitting. "You have our gratitude."

Ulric eats heartily but drinks mostly water, having only one or two cups of wine. Their hosts would certainly want information from them and at least a few of them would need clear heads; nothing was free after all.

"The tidings from Ket are grim. An army of goblins, hobgoblins, and even giants have taken control of the city. We were returning to Ket when we discovered that the surround farms had been burned to the ground. We were seeking shelter away from Ket when we were attacked by almost 20 goblins riding wargs. We slew many of them and routed the rest. Our elven friends told us of this watchtower and suggested that we may find sanctuary here."

[doctorx]

Josiane is grateful for the consideration the patrol show to them on their way to the Watchtower and thanks them for it, albeit weakly.

Her weariness and the ache from her wounds abates, if only briefly, when presented with food, drink and a warm welcome.

"Lord Ulric speaks for us all, my Lady. Tamarae's blessings upon you."

She falls to with gusto, although she will observe the appropriate table manners - etiquette is important to a knight-errant. She will sample the wine, though she will attempt not to over-indulge, (although, in her current state, one cup is probably more than she can drink. )

[waysoftheearth]

The Southwatch Council Chamber

The famished company partake hungrily of the proffered victuals--as politely as they are able in some cases, or with gusto in others. The Elves are perfectly hospitable, bringing all that the voracious company can devour and more. As the most urgent eating passes into a more relaxed phase of consumption the Lady of the Hall--the Warder of Southchase--introduces herself.

She states without fanfare "I am Gallaine of Wildwood, and I welcome what tidings you bring. The goblin interests in Ket have long concerned us, and it appears they have now revealed their hand!" She moves above the chamber easily, a glass of wine in one hand, and a tall, straight white staff in the other.

Highbough notes that she is a good deal younger than he--which is probably well. He hazards she might be a daughter or niece of one of the Elder nobles... but he's sure the patrol Captain was an Elf of zeal and antiquity; someone he should be wary of.

"But I see some among you bear a bleak ensorcellment. That magic has no true power here--wake them!" and with that some of the Elves offer wine to the lips of our sleeping fellows, and Torben, Guntram, Beringer, and Armando are all roused to their senses! They are confused for a moment--seeing the Elves and the living council chamber for the first time, and being wracked suddenly by the great, gnawing hunger in their bellies.

"Hello there," Gallaine says to them, "Come, join your friends and sate your thirst and your hunger..."

And so our formerly Giant Fellows join in the dining and the talking. In fact, these four are now the only ones who are not about to fall asleep from an overwhelming weariness.

[ehiker133]

Desmond and Mondes make no move to hide their two heads. Indeed, they eat and eat and eat, occasionally pausing for a sip of wine or water, and act as if there is nothing at all wrong with having two noggins.

It is easier to affect this presence when they cannot see who is looking at them, if anyone even is...

Once they've eaten their fill, the lay down where the are, resting heads on their forearms, and fall fast asleep, content to let others speak and worry and plan. In fact, he doesn't plan on doing much of anything until someone figures out how to restore his sight...

[waysoftheearth]

"And you are a curious pair of creatures," Gallaine says to Desmond/Mondes, "Melui, come return to them their rightful sight." and another of the Elvish noblewomen approaches Desmond/Mondes and, placing her pale hands over his sightless eyes (one pair, then the other), sings a soft but eerie hymm.... and LO! Desmond/Mondes' sight is returned!

And what a glorious sight he beholds!

"It's Elfs," snorts Mondes, and belches.