The Tempering Chapter 3: Adjustment

Laith had been alone in the woods all this time. His woodcraft made life for him easy, and he knew he needed the solitude to set his thoughts in order. Laith had always been a weak man when it came to dealing with difficult decisions, and he hated himself for it. Laith dreamt of Feryl nearly every night. His dreams of her were bittersweet. In them she was traveling and adventuring and growing and he was glad for it, yet he was saddened that she seemed to be doing so well without him. He tried to tell himself that they were simply dreams, but a part of him could feel that it was a deeper connection, and whether they had wanted to or not, their spirits had chosen to bond on their last night together. He wondered if Feryl could sense it too.

Laith began to perceive a direction to his aimless wandering. He did not even realize he had headed in any particular direction until the forest around him grew more and more familiar. His heart nearly stopped when he heard Elvish laughter in the trees ahead of him. The hairs raised on the back of his neck, and Laith knew he was discovered and targeted by at least a dozen bows.

“Speak you name stranger,” said a hard voice. “what is your business here?” Laith swallowed hard, and paused a moment before he answered, “My name is Egren Laith, and I have come home.”

The village was abuzz with gossip as Laith entered town amidst a small groups of scouts from the outer guard. The guards had told him he must speak with the Village Elder in order to be given permission to roam freely in the woods. Laith was led up and into a small waiting area where he was told he would be seen when the elder was free.

Laith waited for what seemed like hours but was likely less than half of one. Then door opened slowly and a voice tentatively said “I was told someone wished permission to enter the village,” the man spoke, he was about to continue when his eyes settled upon the guest. ”Laith?” he exclaimed, and Laith did not know which of the many jumbled feelings to express when he looked into the aged eyes of his Father.

Laith and his Father stared at each other for a while, neither knowing how to proceed, finally his father came forward to embrace him. Laith was immeasurably touched when his Father’s voice cracked with emotion ”Laith, my wandering son, how long you have been gone, and how my heart has longed to see you home. Welcome, welcome my beloved son. May your wandering spirit stay within our halls as long as you can bear.”

Feryl had never been on a ship for such an extended period of time. She had spent a majority of the first week quite ill. Although it sailed on air rather than water, the motion was quite the same. She was beginning to get used to the constant swaying motion, but nights were still very hard. The gentle swaying sensation while she laid still made her ill. Lana had mixed up a potion for her to take which helped a lot. It was made of a variety of common herbs and tasted and smelled strongly of mint. Feryl would hold off taking the potion as long as she could, hoping to increase her tolerance for the ship, and decrease her reliance on the labor heavy potion. She sipped a small amount of the potion and lay back down. It was not long before her eyes were closed and she was far away in a deep ancient forest. Feryl dreamed of Laith that night, and was relieved to find him among friends or family, but the turmoil and jumble of feelings Laith was feeling, left her restless, and she tossed and turned throughout the night.

Laith was amazed at life in the forest. He had completely forgotten the way it felt to be in a place filled solely with the Elder people. His Father had asked him to stay in their old home, and he had reconnected with his sister as well, but it was his little niece who had stolen his heart once again. While no longer a child, she had not fully blossomed into womanhood either. She had a playful sense about her, and her golden hair and nut brown eyes complimented her golden skin. She had a sprinkling of freckles on her nose, which gave her a childlike quality, and her effervescent personality won her the hearts of nearly everyone she met. Laith’s sister said that the girl was too much like her Uncle, but Laith brushed it away as a compliment he wasn’t worthy of, which only made his more formal sister shake her head. It was good to be home.

Feryl awoke with a start as an alarm sounded above the deck. All about her crewmates scrambled to dress and grab their weapons. Feryl did the same and they raced up top. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the light, but when he eyes did, she saw Kennus and Winchell who had been on watch facing off against a half dozen creatures that Feryl had never seen before.

The creatures were black with a blueish cast to them. They resembled large scorpions more than anything. A wicked looking blue fluid oozed from the tips of their barbed tails. They stood nearly three feet off the ground on four paid of sinewy legs. Large razor sharp mandibles protruded from their head, and a smaller set of pinchers directly in line with its mouth. The eyes were jet black and arranged one of each side of their bulbous heads.

Winchell and Kennus were encircled now, and stood back to back to prevent having more than one side open to those dangerous looking tails. They circled as they parried, trying to keep an eye on each of their opponents. One of the creatures suddenly decided to break for Kennus. Before Kennus could ever raise his sword, the thing was swatted away like a fly by a might sweep of Win’s hammer. A bluish fluid oozed from the cracks Win’s hammer had made, as it smashed into the railing of the ship. It started to raise unsteadily, but fell back with a hiss as the crack opened up and stinking blue organs spilled out.

Feryl and the others had reached the circle now, and fought to make a break in it for Win and Kennus to retreat. Tobius surprised Feryl by rushing through the creatures to join Win. They shared a smile and the 3 friends moved forward as a circle within the circle, sending out as many hits as they parried.

The creatures began to retreat, and Thrym yelled to her to let none escape, she ran to take down one trying to escape over the prow, while Thrym went after 2 more trying to escape over the side. “They’ll bring back reinforcements.” Thrym shouted, “Scorpyons they’re called, act like bees, one finds some honey and sends for his buddies.” He finished that sentence by using his heavy broadsword to behead the struggling creature he has holding down with his feet.

Win, Kennus, and Tobius finished off the remaining Scorpyns. The deck was stained dark blue and reeked of ammonia. Lea shimmied down from the crows nest to announce the coast was clear, and everyone leaned back to take a well deserved breath of air. “Fine job,” beamed the Captain whom Feryl had not realized had been watching from the upper deck. Everyone started and rose to attention. The captain smiled and retreated to her quarters. Feryl was thinking it was odd that the Captain had not joined the fray, and thought to ask the crew, but the words died on her lips as the door to the Captain’s cabin closed to reveal no less than four of the scorpyons hacked to bits.

Kennus bit back a smile as he noted her reactions, and the crew went to work cleaning up the deck. Thrym and Win tossed the bodies overboard, and Tobius, Feryl and Lea mopped up the deck. Lana created a potion that smelled of lemons and cinnamon and she and Kennus worked the fragrant oil into the deck.

The crew stood around admiring their work, and their fortune that no one was injured, when Feryl’s stomach chose to growl. Everyone shared a laugh and moved to the galley. As they shared cold meats and cheese and bread they all noted the lack of a cook, and resolved to find one at their next stop.

Dastrius awoke alone in a cold tower somewhere he did not recognize. His entire body hurt, he moved to sit up, but found his left leg and his right hand did not seem to want to work properly. He reached his left hand down to massage his leg, and froze in place when he felt nothing.

Datrius looked down at himself, and saw that a wooden stump had been left next to him to serve as his leg, and a darkmetal hand had been grafted on to him. It was then he remembered him battles and reached up to touch his face in a panic, but his worst fears were relieved when he felt both sides of his face were smooth and normal.

He had lost rank in the eyes of the Lady, but she had let him live, so he still had hope. While the leg and hand would give him challenges, his handsome face had always been his most powerful weapon. Datrius could have wallowed in self pity, but such things were not what drove men like him. His will was like steel and he would learn to work his new hand to his advantage.

After a few days of adjustment, he was able to move around well enough. He had no idea where to go, or where he was, but he knew his Goddess would guide him when she was ready, she liked to keep her secrets. He must start over in his strides to please the Lady and gain her favor and gifts. His magic was weaker, as was his body, and it annoyed him to lose time more than anything. He would make them all pay for this one day, but not until the Lady commanded, for their destruction would be but part of his reward.

Dastrius had been born into a noble family on the coast of the sea. He was proud and spoiled and ill tempered like the rest of his family. Greed ran in their veins as surely as blood, and their constant lust for more brought his family to unsavory dealings. It eventually brought about their ruin as well.

After having lived in the lap of luxury for so long, the destruction of his families riches left Dastrius was turned out on the street with no where to go. Everyone in his town knew him, and he could not bear their self indulgent looks of pity or righteousness, they gave him, so he moved as far away from the sea and her reflections as he could go.

It was not difficult for a man of Dastrius’ looks and skill to fall into a new career. Dastrius, like Feryl, began working as a sell sword, though it was not his skill, but his penchant for violence that brought him attention. Soon he was being asked to kill, and the assassins guild was angered by his work.

They guild sent assassin after assassin to put an end him, but each one returned home in pieces, if they returned at all. Assassins though, are nothing if not practical and the guild knew an opportunity when they saw one, and so they worked to recruit Dastrius, rather than waste anymore lives.

Dastrius penchant for murder became well known within the guild, and he soon grew in rank because of it. Those above him feared they would be next on his list, and they were right. Given his penchant for creative and painful murders, it was not surprising that he rose in the guild very quickly.

One night Dastrius was given a special assignment. He was to seek out a hidden temple and assassinate all within. When Dastrius arrived he saw that the temple was filled with the ill, the elderly, women, and children all refuges of plague and warfare. Dastrius did not even pause for a moment, he set about slaughtering everyone there. Many people pleaded for their lives, and those, whom he saw as weak, were the ones he made suffer the most.

When he was done with the murders, he desecrated the temple, and stepped back to look at his work and smile. It was then that a voice spoke to him from the altar. At first he was afraid that the goddess whose temple he had just desecrated was seeking retribution, but it was in fact that goddesses nemesis who had come to Dastrius seeking a champion. Since that day, Dastrius had faithfully served the Night Lady, and he soon brought the assassins guild under her control as well.

The Tempering Chapter 2: Life on the road

Feryl traveled through the badlands to the Eastern coastal cities. The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes were all foreign to her. There were many elves in this area as well, and each time she saw a male elf with golden hair, despite herself, she would hope it was Laith. Though it had been months since she woke up alone in Devil’s Deep, her heart longed for him and she felt a sadness in the pit of her stomach each time it was not him. Sometimes she would have dreams of him wondering alone in the woods, lost, and lonely.

Feryl was working as a sword for hire, and was winning herself some notoriety. She felt a pride in herself and her work that she had never felt before. When she lived in Sparrows Haven, she was privileged, but that privilege came with a price tag, and she always had to play the part of the respectable young lady, at least despite everything, she was free from those burdens now.

Although Feryl had started out with simple tasks such a ridding someone’s cellar of a rat problem, she quickly was assigned more difficult tasks as word spread of her usefulness. She was on her way to negotiate her latest assignment, a guard on a ship that sailed not through water, but through the desert and the badlands on the hot drafts of air.

Feryl was told to go to the Brass Uncle Tavern. She knew it was a bit seedy, but clients often asked potential hires to meet them at places of that sort to test their nerve. They also often had some pre-arranged rowdiness set up to test their physical prowess.

As Feryl suspected, the moment she walked into the bar, she saw a fat whale of a man in the corner sneer and say something to his comrades who all laughed and turned towards her. She did not want to give off the air that she easily resorted to violence, so she ignored it, even though the thought of that fat bastard thinking he could ever hope to beat her grated on her nerves. So she sat down, and ordered a cup of ale. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a nervous looking man jotting notes down in the corner. That must be her employer. She was about to walk over and introduce herself, when she felt a fat paw rest itself on her shoulder. “Aye aren’t ye a pretty one,” the fat man drawled. Feryl looked at him, disgust plainly written on her face. “I ain’t one whose to be trifled with honey, you wipe that look off your face and give me a kiss er I’ll show ya why ya better be careful how ya treat a real man like me,” Feryl almost laughed at the stilted way the man said the words to her, as if he had memorized a script. She promptly looked at him, batted her eyelashes, and then head butted him smashing his flat ugly nose even flatter. “Ow!” The big man complained, “Whatcha go an do that fer, I was only playin..” and he grabbed a napkin and went sulking back to his corner where a ratty looking man came to lead him away. Feryl felt her face flush, maybe she had been working too hard lately.

Her potential employer walked up to her with a grin on his face, “Very nice, very nice indeed, oh, of course I will have to see to Winchell’s nose later, but my my, very nice indeed.” Feryl was surprised she hadn’t noticed how short the man was when he was sitting down, but as he came close to her, it was quite apparent that the nervous little man was a gnome. He was small and impeccably dressed in a bright blue robes with complimented his blue eyes and curly blonde hair. He had a long pointed nose which gave him a bookish look, but stood just a bit over 3 feet tall.

Feryl had never met a gnome before, but she tried to be polite and not stare. “Please excuse my manners Miss Feryl, my name is Phinneus and I am First Mate and First inventor of the fair ship the S.S. Solaris.” The little man sketched a very formal bow which Feryl found almost comical. He came up all smiles, “ I was very impressed with your performance tonight Miss Feryl, very impressed indeed, and I think, that is, should you accept it, that you will make an outstanding addition to our crew. It is likely you will have to apologize to Winchell over the bit about the nose and all. I mean to say you did nothing wrong, it was I who put him up to bullying you after all, for which I also should apologize, but he is all talk that one, he is as sensitive as a baby lamb and he’s likely to mope if you don’t at least say you are sorry.” He paused to take a breath and before the little man could start again, Feryl said, “I agree to take the position, and I will start making up with Winchell by buying he, and the rest of the crew if that is who he is sitting with over there a drink. May I buy you a drink as well?”

The little man starting going on about how he does like the drink, but tries not to imbibe in it too much, and while he would like one he wouldn’t want Feryl to think her new employer a lush, but at the same time he doesn’t want her to think him a prude if he declined. Feryl flagged down the waitress, she had counted 6 men at the table, so she ordered 8 drinks and gently led Phinneus to the table to await their drinks.

Feryl listened as Phinneus introduced her to the motley crew he had gathered. There was the huge, but soft hearted Winchell, a thin ratty looking man by the name of Tobius, a older man who had the look of a sailor named Thrym, a pair of fey looking women with almond shaped eyes and jet black hair named Lia and Lana, and a handsome man with an easy grace named Kennus. Feryl was content to listen as they chatted, and by the end of a long evening involving several rounds of drinks, she was sure she was going to like being part of the crew.

Feryl had a week to prepare herself for the journey ahead of her. They planned to be gone for 3 months so Feryl informed the innkeeper at the place she was staying of her impeding departure. Feryl enjoyed the freedom of living from a ruck sack. While her prior home in Sparrows Haven had provided her with lots of comforts, the upkeep and responsibility of such times kept her tied down and unable to travel. A small part of her felt a sadness as she knew the next three months would only take her further from Laith and her chances of ever seeing him again. She tried to tell herself that it was over, and that she was just being foolish, but her dreams of him continued each night, and she could not help but wonder if he was dreaming of her too.

At the end of the week, Feryl had all her affairs in order. The innkeeper would be storing her goods, and she had sent word to her family in Harpsail of her impending adventure. She found herself walking to the harbor with a mixture of anticipation and sorrow. Phinneus greeted her happily at the docks. “Welcome, welcome Miss Feryl we are so pleased, so very pleased to have you aboard.” Feryl nodded politely, and followed Phinneus aboard the ship. Feryl was greeted by most of the other members of the crew she had met previously.

Thrym was a just past the prime of his life, but he had a rugged, handsome quality to him despite his middling years. His skin was weathered and tanned like leather from years of sun and sea salt. His eyes had a merry sparkle and his smile was both warm and wry. He had an easy way of speaking, and while his speech was not refined, it did not seem harsh either.

Kennus was a bard, and he was everything a typical bard proved to be. He was hired on as a guard as well and reputedly was skilled with the blade. Kennus had copper red hair and skin that was touched with hints of pink and bronze. His green eyes sparkled with mischief and his laugh was like music. When he spun a tale, even the dour Tobius listened with rapt attention.

“Ahem,” Thrym signaled and Kennus nodded towards the Captains cabin. Feryl had met Captains before and pictured a weathered salty old man, but what stepped out was quite different.

“Good Morrow Captain,” everyone but Feryl shouted in unison and they saluted her with a fierce smile. That the men and women of the Solaris loved their Captain was obvious. “Good Morrow mates,” said the Captain in a voice strong and sure “and welcome to our new crewmate Feryl, my name is Captian Kym, Phinneus has told me much, about you, I look forward to seeing you work.” With that the Captain smiled and turned back to her chamber.

Feryl didn’t know what to think. The Captain was nothing she had expected. Captain Kym was a short woman, with a muscular build. She had deep red hair and fierce blue eyes. Her crew had confidence in her though, and Feryl felt sure she would be in good hands.

The men and women of the crew all shared the same living quarters, with the exception of Phinneus, who as first mate, got the suite next to the Captain. More for convenience than modesty, Lea and Lana had set up their bunks at one end, and asked Feryl to join them. Kennus of course stayed closest to the ladies with Thrym there to keep him out of mischief, and Winchell and Tobius taking up the opposite end.

Lea and Lana were sisters and came from a distant land Feryl had never visited. Their looks were exotic and almost elvish. They had trim, narrow faces with dark almond shaped eyes. While Lea had long smooth black hair, Lana kept her curly black hair short. Feryl felt very plain in their presence. While it was not polite to say, it was obvious Lea was employed as a thief, her slim body and the cat like grace with which she moved betrayed her. Lana on the other hand was a scholar, the treasure she sought on her quest was knowledge. She worked for Phinneus, helping him with his research, and she also knew a lot about flora and fauna from all across the worlds.

Tobius was a thin wisp of a man with small dark beady eyes. When Feryl had first met him, she got the feeling he did not like or trust her, and truthfully, the feeling was mutual. When Feryl watched Tobius with Winchell though, she could see past his appearance. Tobius cared for Winchell like one would care for a child. While Winchell was not slow, he was not very bright and he wore his heart on his sleeve. Tobius was truly a friend to Winchell, and if he seemed unhappy or unpleasant, it likely stemmed from the fact that he disliked ships and had only come along because Winchell had begged him yet again.

The ship was scheduled to sail up the river as far as it would reach, and Feryl was happy to know she would briefly be docking in the town where Grenwyn had set up shop. She looked forward to seeing her friends again and only a small part of her held out a nervous hope that she would once again see Laith.

The Tempering Chapter 1: The Road Goes Ever On

Chapter 1

The Road goes ever on….

Laith had awoken that morning Lady Killer was forged and saw Feryl sleeping and as he watched her he thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. That night, he knew she would overcome the darkness in her, but it was his own cowardice that made him leave. When she laid there, she seemed so delicate and fragile, he closed his eyes and saw her laying there in death, and he nearly stopped breathing. His heart would not be able to stand that loss, so he gently rose from the bed, packed his things, and left.

Laith wandered in the woods for some time, not really having a sense of where he wanted to go. The dryads searched him out and approached him several times, but while he enjoyed their time together, his mind was too full to succumb to their charms. He thought about going back to Taylia’s but the memory of her fading life caused him too much pain as well. He knew where he needed to go, but like many important things in his life, Laith could not find the courage to do so.

Laith thought often of his sister, and his baby niece whom he had kissed before leaving his home forever. He thought of his Father’s disappointed gaze, and his Mother’s care worn smile. He missed the sympathetic way that an elf could attune themselves to the emotions of their fellows. In the woods, Laith felt alone as he never had before, and not a day passed when he didn’t think of Feryl.

Feryl, while happy with her news friends and family, knew that she was just not made for a comfortable life. Her spirit longed to be free, and to roam the worlds in search of adventure. She enjoyed too much the feeling of danger, of living on the edge, and to ask her to be other than what she was, would be the same as caging a eagle. Plus there was the matter of putting her new sword to the test.

It had been nearly a year since the incident at Lithear. Grenwyn had enjoyed his time back in Devil’s Deep, but his heart longed for the outside world that he was so accustomed to now. Grenwyn headed back to his little shop with Ambre, Morwyth, and Morwyth’s wife Sterling in tow. Morwyth’s son Drogul stayed behind to run that ed of the family business. They were going to set up a trade route between Devil’s Deep and the surrounding towns. Mynix came along too, and she brought Rockhead with her. Grenwyn was going to help them set up a market for their potions, but though they did not tell him, their hearts were set on adventure.

Feryl had followed Grenwyn and company as far as the ruins of Sparrows Haven, but there, she parted ways, promising to return to visit soon. Feryl had a new enemy now, and this time she set her sights much higher than a pathetic pig such as Dastrius. Her new enemy was the Dark Lady herself, and armed with Lady Killer, her boneblade, she was specially suited to fight the undead and other enemies of darkness.

Feryl camped in the last standing corner of what was once Sparrow’s Haven, her home. As she sat staring into the fire, she remembered her life there, how comfortable it seemed, and how very long ago as well. Though only about 2 years, it seemed a lifetime away. She started to fall asleep and as she stared into the fire, a black mist began to coalesce into vaguely human forms. She could count three of them that she could see. They seemed to fear the fire, but they leered at her and hissed words in a sibilant tongue. They moved closer, and Feryl unsheathed Lady Killer. The spirits hissed and whined. An unnatural breeze sprang up and put out her fire. The spirits moved on her at once. There were the 3 she had seen and 2 more had moved up on her from behind.

Since she was encircled, her first priority was to change her position. As two of the creatures soared towards her, she dove into a roll beneath them and placed them behind her, along with the other three haunts. The first one made its move and Feryl arched her sword in a diagonal swipe from over her left shoulder down towards her right knee, when Lady Killer hit the spirit, it flashed a bright light, and the spirit was gone. Feryl grinned and moved towards the other four spirits menacingly. They all rushed her at once. Anyone observing from a distance would have seen 4 bright flashes of light in under a minute, and may have heard a satisfied snoring for the rest of the night.

Back in Harpsail, business was booming for Grenwyn and company. After Feryl had fled the city, the notorious Black Cloaks had left as well and the city felt itself again, only harder and stronger for the lesson. Everyone now kept ready blades and it was all he and Morwyth could do to keep up with demand. Not only were the high quality items from Devil’s Deep in hot demand, but Rockhead and Mynix’s potions were selling like hotcakes. Grenwyn was glad for the addition of Sterling as she was a good cook and a clean house keeper, and an even better book keeper. She delivered a lot of scoldings, but to be fair, they were all well deserved.

Ambre on the other hand felt very out of place. She didn’t enjoy doing the housework or cooking, and she didn’t like the hot sweaty work of the forge. She had settled for acting as a scout for the troops of dwarves that brought goods to and from the city. Ambre knew she wanted more, but she had no idea what that was, so she continued doing what she was doing. Aside from that, she felt like she couldn’t leave her Father after being so recently reunited with him. Like her Father, Ambre was restless.