Nashkel

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Xan

Araklusta

Mar 14, 2023 9:24 pm
Mar 14, 2023 9:24 pm
Nashkel
Xan offers a conceding nod at Aiwë's optimism. "I last heard from Erevain a month ago, via a sending spell, telling me of you and your intention to travel so far south. Before that... why, it must have been some 50 years ago. When he left the service of the Greycloaks and struck out on his own." He absently puts a hand on the moonblade's pommel, as though reminding himself it's there. "Not so long, in the life of an elf, but long enough for him to marry and start a family, apparently!"

He settles back against the bed's headboard. "How many are you? I mean to say, do you have any siblings?"

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Mar 14, 2023 9:48 pm
Mar 14, 2023 9:48 pm
Nashkel
Aiwë laughs. "Yes, long enough! Once my father convinced my mother to marry him he had to act fast so she wouldn't change her mind. And then children quickly after, lest she die young and leave Ada alone. She can be dour like that." She winks at Xan.

"We are four. I'm the oldest, Aiwë Shelur, and then after me is Morruhl Estel, and then the twins, Ellis and Simeon. The twins have Elvish and Orcish names as well, but it gets unwieldy." She laughs. "We are all healthy and well, and so are my parents, and the tribe."
Last edited March 14, 2023 9:49 pm

Xan

Araklusta

Mar 15, 2023 5:20 pm
Mar 15, 2023 5:20 pm
Nashkel
Xan closes his eyes. "How very unfortunate that your mother not be an elf. It seems to be a curse that sometimes takes elvenkind, to fall in love with one of the shorter-lived races. How very unfortunate... for such love to bloom in the light of dawn, and yet be doomed to the inevitable fall of dusk's mantle. How I pity your father. And how I envy him!"

He opens his eyes and gives Aiwë a soft smile of surprising warmth. "I may never know the joys of true love or of raising a family. But your presence here is a sunlit window in the chamber of my barren life. I take comfort in the knowledge that though I am destined to live a lonely existence, at least there are others for whom happiness might be a reality, for however long the fates decide."

His pale hand lifts to remove a strand of dark hair from his face. "There are some who would disparage the blood that runs in your veins..." The elf glances meaningfully over to the moonblade. "But just look at you! I see only a union of mutual love, as much in your character as your physicality. Perhaps give the sword some time, and it will come to see you as I do."

Stella

Carcabob

Mar 15, 2023 9:35 pm
Mar 15, 2023 9:35 pm
Nashkel
Stella gasps and puts a hand to her mouth, seeing Sheemish's scale- and acid-ridden arm.

"They abducted you and tried to... turn you into a half dragon?" she guessed, abhorred.

His story made sense. She would have never guessed the guantlets were there to *hide* something.

She listens and nods along, eye stars a searching cyan as she looks up into the artificer's eyes.

She chuckles at his question, eye-stars turning yellow. "No, but Mama threatened turning me into a mouse once." She cocks her head and frowns. "Though I bet I could turn into one now if I tried..."

She shakes her head, refocusing. Eye-stars returning to cyan.

"I'm...so sorry I forgot about your past when I summoned that familiar...I wasn't thinking. Why do you wear the gauntlets?" she asks. "Keeping acid off things aside. What would others not understand?"
Last edited March 15, 2023 9:39 pm

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Mar 15, 2023 10:15 pm
Mar 15, 2023 10:15 pm
Nashkel
Aiwë braces herself as Xan begins, but visibly brightens as he continues.

"Their love is so tragic, isn't it?" she sighs romantically. "Khanna was able to extend her life, but she still won't live as long as he will, and now she and my father both are doomed to watch her grandchildren's children be buried before they are. Yet, it's all worth it, for their time together."

Brushing off her dreamy attitude, she puts her hands on her hips. "Your sword can keep moping if it wants, but Gruumsh is dead and the orcs can be new people now. We are! I'm much more invested in your opinion, anyway."

"And my opinion is that I don't think you're doomed to anything." She smiles widely at Xan. "My mother was certain she would spend her days hiding her orc blood until she inevitably snapped, and Father was as lonely as you are. Now they proudly lead an entire tribe—a nation! Fifty years isn't long for an elf, but it only took one day for my parents to meet, and mere months for their lives to change forever. Dusk will come, but so always will the morning."

Shelur clasps her hands under her chin and steps forward, brown eyes nearly as starry as Stella's. "Will you come to Icewind Dale to visit? You don't have to be lonely all the time, you have a family!"
Last edited March 15, 2023 10:31 pm

Stella

Carcabob

Mar 16, 2023 9:14 pm
Mar 16, 2023 9:14 pm
Nashkel
OOC:
Before leaving Naskkel, Stella buys a brass brazier for 3 gp (price set by GM), and five Healer's Kits for 5 gp each.
Last edited March 16, 2023 9:20 pm

Jabbbahut

Mar 17, 2023 6:17 am
Mar 17, 2023 6:17 am
Nashkel
"Its not as much turning one into a dragon, its more an after affect of being in their presence. Like getting burned by fire rather than becoming it." Sheemish shudders briefly. "Though this particular . . . [i]burn/i] has been spreading lately."

"As for hiding it," Sheemish shrugs, "You saw the effect it had when I showed it to our dwarf captive back in town, when he wouldn't speak to anyone else, as well as the side glance I got from Aiwe just speaking draconic. Or even now when she referred to scales being a good fit for me . . ." Sheemish clenches his left hand for a moment once more. "Many fear and distrust dragons, myself included." He says flatly. "Maybe I'm hiding it from myself as much as from others. One less reminder of ones past, or possible future for that matter." His voice trails off, but his hand stays clenched. "In any case, I think its safe for all staying hidden, though you can tell the others if you think it wise."

Stella

Carcabob

Mar 21, 2023 4:13 am
Mar 21, 2023 4:13 am
Nashkel
OOC:
"Its not as much turning one into a dragon, its more an after affect of being in their presence. Like getting burned by fire rather than becoming it." Sheemish shudders briefly. "Though this particular . . . burn/i] has been spreading lately."
She nods, understanding. "Still...it sounds terrible. And [i]looks terrible..." She could treat regular wounds, but not this one. Could Runeson's powers drive it away, or was it a curse, more than a disease? she wondered.
OOC:
"You saw the effect it had when I showed it to our dwarf captive back in town, when he wouldn't speak to anyone else, as well as the side glance I got from Aiwe just speaking draconic. Or even now when she referred to scales being a good fit for me . . ."
"Is that what happened..." Stella remarks. "She was probably just surprised, or confused as to why you were speaking Draconic. Her own mother has a dragon's heart in her chest," she points out, then points at him, eye-stars an accusatory orange. "And as for that last comment, you really riled her up---she didn't really mean that. When you strike where it hurts, she strikes back."

Stella lowers her voice and gives him a sideways look, "She was trying to keep him from hiring actual assassins, and you made it pretty difficult. I was about to ask you if you were willing to come help when he interrupted...

"But I'm sorry you felt dragged along without knowing what we were getting into. And I appreciate you trying to stand up for me as well. Just don't express it so...angrily in the future?" she asks the armorer. "I could have left with Wirrow and Kreguk, but I've stayed...and so could you have. We've each been deciding our own paths now. Protagonists in our own stories," she echoes Aiwe's words.

She sighs. "I'll share about your...disease?...Curse?...only if it becomes relevant." She nods. "But yes, otherwise, that's up to you."

Stella looks up at him in the eyes. "But for now...will you come to help Minsc?"
Last edited March 21, 2023 4:16 am

Xan

Araklusta

Apr 3, 2023 7:10 pm
Apr 3, 2023 7:10 pm
Nashkel
Xan stares at the far wall as though counting the grains in the wood. "It can all change in a day... Come morning..." His voice is soft, but meandering. Lonely. Lost.
Quote:
"Will you come to Icewind Dale to visit? You don't have to be lonely all the time, you have a family!"
The elf blinks after a long moment, then meets Aiwë's brown eyes with his gray-green ones with another small smile. "I would like that. Very much. Perhaps after this Iron Crisis business is sorted out, I can ask for some leave from the Greycloaks and return north with you."

He eyes the moonblade for a moment, then shakes his head slightly and rolls his eyes. "Nevermind that. Tell me more about you and your companions. How did you come to be tied up in this Iron Crisis mess? Not that I'm complaining, but you're the last person I expected to come to my rescue down in those mines."

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Jun 8, 2023 1:02 am
Jun 8, 2023 1:02 am
Nashkel
Aiwë sits on the floor. "A number of us came from Icewind Dale on a trip. See the coast, meet you, play some shows, make a little coin, go home when we felt like it. We teleported to Candlekeep with my Uncle Keggruk and had a good few days there. Stella loved the books and I learned some wonderful new songs. We planned to stay there much longer, but then the assassins came."

Aiwë drummed on the floor absent-mindedly. Thrum-drumma thrum-drumma.

"We fled into the forest, but they were waiting. Ogres, hobgoblins, and a spiked knight. They gouged Keggruk's eye out and crushed Dieter, and sent the rest of us running." Thrumma-drumma thrumma-drumma

"In the morning we looped back around to recover their bodies, and marched to the Friendly Arm Inn for safety and a chance to revive them. We took a job from a couple of folks to pay the cleric's fees." Her drumming stopped and Aiwë grinned, relief still plain.

"Keggruk and Dieter came back! But the assassins came again and tried to kidnap Sheemish." Thrumm. Thrumm. Thrumm.

"The folks we took the job from said that if we helped them look into Nashkell, that they could help us find out who these assassins are and why they want us dead. We wanted to help, and we wanted to know, and so here we are." Thump THUMP. "At least, Stella and I want to help and to know. I'm not sure why the others are here." She keeps her face mostly free from irritation at a certain blacksmith.

"And a good thing too!! That wasn't how I expected to meet you either!"
Last edited June 8, 2023 1:03 am

Xan

Araklusta

Jun 10, 2023 2:39 am
Jun 10, 2023 2:39 am
Nashkel
The pale elf listens intently, though his gaze seems to be picking out inconsistencies on the far wall.

When Aiwe finishes, he nods woefully. "And now you and the others find yourselves embroiled in a conflict of shadowy powers at play." Xan sighs. "I should be of more help to you. I ought to travel alongside you and keep you safe from harm... But I know the fate allotted to me, and I do not wish you to share it. You will certainly be safer with your capable friends. The bonds between you will grow, and together you will accomplish great things."

He leans his head back against the wall in resignation. "I must be about my own efforts, once I have regained my strength." He reaches out to rest his hand on the hilt of his moonblade once more. "But I am not alone. Never that!"

Xan's eyes close and he seems ready to drift off to reverie once more. "Our paths will entwine again, cousin. Should you pursue your investigations into the dealings of this region, I am quite sure that we will see each other again."

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Jun 10, 2023 2:46 am
Jun 10, 2023 2:46 am
Nashkel
Aiwë rests her chin on her hands. "Can I not help you with your fate? How did you come to know it?"

Xan

Araklusta

Jun 11, 2023 3:14 am
Jun 11, 2023 3:14 am
Nashkel
Xan shudders slightly, but opens his eyes once more to regard his cousin. "You bear Erevain's likeness, as well as his blood. Do you trance, Aiwe? Or is your sleep the blessed emptiness of your mother's?" His lips seem bloodless as he allows himself a small, wry smile. "Most elves see their past lives. For whatever reason, I... Well. What I see are my failings. Whatever life, whatever my name or occupation, there is always failure." The elf coughs to clear his throat, and when he meets Aiwe's gaze again his eyes shine with unshed tears. "Always. And yet, still I am driven to pursue these challenges; just as a comet is followed by its tail, so do I chase vainly after a future that will never be mine. So close, but always a step behind."

His gray-green eyes turn once again to stare at nothing. "Yet I cannot sit idly by while the land is threatened. I have a duty to uphold, and I will not let evil strengthen its grip while I draw breath. My failure will not be for lack of trying."

Araklusta

Jun 12, 2023 12:16 am
Jun 12, 2023 12:16 am
Nashkel
OOC:
The story picks up here as the party returns from helping Minsc and Dynaheir (and Boo!) at the gnoll castle.
There's been some change to Nashkel since the party was here last. As the party approaches the town, they find the Amnian garrison swollen to perhaps three times its usual size. Orderly lines of colorful tents have been put up just outside of the town, along with a large corral for horses. The vegetation around the town has been stomped flat from the parade of armored boots.

A small contingent of soldiers rides out to meet the party, but they smile through their helmets at the companions. "Heroes of Nashkel! Welcome back. Major Bardolan sends his regards, and says there's some folk locked up in the prison who want to have a word with you. At your convenience, of course!"

Message given, the soldiers turn and ride back to their tents. The town is open to the party!

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Jun 12, 2023 5:10 am
Jun 12, 2023 5:10 am
Nashkel
"A word with us, huh?" Aiwë elbows Sheemish. "Do you think it's those Dwarves again? They seemed to like your draconic. You wanna take point on this one?"

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Jun 12, 2023 5:13 am
Jun 12, 2023 5:13 am
Nashkel
"I sleep," Aiwë says in response to Xan's question. "I wouldn't call it empty though... Lately... lately whenever I close my eyes I see Gruumsh's eye staring at me out of Keggruk's face, full of anger and flies." She frowns at her cousin.

"Ada makes the trance sound so vivid. What you must deal with sounds so terrible. I'm sorry, Xan."
Last edited June 12, 2023 5:14 am

Stella

Carcabob

Jun 12, 2023 5:56 pm
Jun 12, 2023 5:56 pm
Nashkel
"I'm...going to do some shopping," Stella says, uncomfortably. "Good luck with the talking! Um, Imoen, can you accompany me?" She glances around nervously and lowers her voice. "It's been few days. There...may be more people here after us..."

Stella searches and asks around town, trying to find inks and components she can use to copy and practice new spells from Bently and Edwin's spellbooks.

Dieter

Victor.StrokovInactive for 4 months

Jun 12, 2023 7:11 pm
Jun 12, 2023 7:11 pm
Nashkel
"I’ll go with you Stella" Dieter says picking up his shield and spear.

Montaron

Araklusta

Jun 12, 2023 9:36 pm
Jun 12, 2023 9:36 pm
Nashkel
Aiwe (and whoever accompanies her) finds two familiar faces in the town's prison.

A human man in a dark green robe poses in the middle of a cell, one arm lifted artfully toward the ceiling. He seems frozen in place. Behind him, a grumpy halfling lounges on an oversized cot, a piece of hay stuck between his teeth.

"Bah! I seen better moves on a snapple gob! Quit your dancin', ye durned wizard." Montaron spits.

Xzar

Araklusta

Jun 12, 2023 9:39 pm
Jun 12, 2023 9:39 pm
Nashkel
Xzar lets his arm drop and turns to his surly companion with a scowl. "Well why don't you try it, my dear Monty? I-" He shivers suddenly at some unseen breeze, then notices Aiwe. "Ah! Ah, ah... my friends!" He speaks with a child's voice now. "I thought you would never come! I don't want to be in the dark anymore. Please, take me away!"
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