Nearly twenty years ago, a silver-haired wizard stepped foot onto one of the hundreds of small rocky islands found within the Korinn Archipelago. Little more than a massive rock jutting from the sea, this island was to be the wizard’s respite and home for the remainder of her days. Long had Dahlimé studied the arcane and called upon her knowledge and skill to help the people of Faerûn in their efforts to defend the weak, strengthen the brave, and stand against the wicked. The time had now come, she thought, to withdraw from the world’s affairs and allow the next generation to fulfill its role in shaping the future of the North. Remote and uninhabited, the island that Dahlimé had chosen would be the ideal place to live out her final days peacefully, uninterrupted, and surrounded by the sublime beauty of the sea. But not even the sagest of wizards can foresee all things.
During low tide a cave entrance was visible on this island, and on one warm, bright summer day Dahlimé entered the cave, curious to see what she might find within. After following a narrow, winding tunnel for a few minutes, the wizard came to a sudden stop. She gazed upon something wholly unexpected; before her was a large translucent rock and trapped within it were several indistinct shapes. She divined the presence of magic but could not discern if its source were the items within the rock or the rock itself.
The wizard reached forth and lightly placed her hand upon the nearly transparent mass of stone. Immediately it vaporized with a barely audible hiss and gently deposited six objects on the cave floor. Five of the objects were nearly identical: large, heavy eggs with iridescent metallic shells that shimmered with gold, silver, or copper, depending on how they were struck by the light. The sixth and stranger object was roughly the size of a human fist—a perfectly smooth obsidian sphere engraved with words in Draconic inlaid with gold. Dahlimé scrutinized the sphere, carefully reading the script that encircled it. She then placed the obsidian stone in her pocket and later that day hid it, making certain that she alone would be the only soul ever to know its location.
After a fortnight, the mystery of the eggs was revealed. Fascinated, the wizard watched as each egg began to tremble and crack and, eventually, break open completely, revealing a tiny, scaled humanoid. A few hours later, five dragonborn younglings were clambering among the rocks on the shore as Dahlimé set to catching some fish that would serve as their first meal. The old wizard who sought solitude and serenity was quite suddenly the matriarch for a brood of dragonborn.
As dragonborn do, the five matured quickly. The island, along with several islands nearby, was their home. They learned where to hunt and fish, which plants to grow and eat, how to read the sky and weather, and how to navigate the sea with their small, sturdy, hand-built boats. They never questioned that Dahlimé was their mother, and they never doubted that they were siblings even though each one had scales of a different color. Dahlimé was certain that finding five dragonborn who corresponded with each type of metallic dragon was no mere coincidence.
Dahlimé knew that the islands had served well as a place to raise her unusual family, but the time came for her to nudge the five dragonborn into the bigger world, despite all its dangers and uncertainties. She sensed that all of them had an important role to fulfill and preventing them from doing so would be deeply wrong. So, nearly three years ago, she tearfully wished them well as they set sail from their island home, each one headed to a unique set of experiences and adventures. All five dragonborn promised, however, that in exactly three years—on the sixteenth of Marpenoth—they would return to her, for she solemnly told them that she had something important to tell them on that day.
And, now, those three years have passed, and the five dragonborn, true to their word, are eagerly making their way toward the humble home of their childhood years. Upon arriving there, they hope to sit, talk, and eat with the wise and kind wizard who raised them. They hope to hear of all that their siblings have been doing since their parting. And, most of all, they hope to learn just what it is that Dahlimé must tell them.
CHAPTER 1
16 Marpenoth
It is one of those mild autumn days that nearly feels like summer. The journey to the island within the Korinn Archipelago has taken place under the blessing of unclouded skies, a balmy breeze, and plenty of sunshine. Stepping onto the rocky shore of their childhood home, each dragonborn is greeted by a host of memories--some simple, some profound, some poignant, but nearly all of them pleasant. Each sibling, curious to learn what has become of the others during the past three years, is also eager to tell his or her own story to the old wizard.
The excitement to see siblings and Dahlimé , however, is somewhat overshadowed by one nagging question: just what is it that the old wizard must tell us? All the dragonborn had forged friendships and carved out a living for themselves since leaving the island, and they placed all of that on hold for this one purpose. With each step taken from the shore to the wizard's house, curiosity grows stronger.
The order in which all of you respond to this opening post will determine the chronology of your characters' arrival on the island. This should allow for some role-playing that introduces the siblings to one another in whatever ways you see fit.
A small and scrawny silver scaled young dragonborn sits clutching a bundle, wrapped in cloth, tightly but delicately in her clawed hands. Her eyes are wide and nervous as the oarsmen rows her toward the rocky shores of her island home. She closes her milky white eyes briefly, reminiscing about running out of breath while playing tag with her siblings on the rocks, the waves crashing down among them as the five of them jumped away laughing and shouting. She waits for the oarsmen to drag the dinghy up into the shallows, and one of them offers her a hand which she takes and gingerly steps into the cold, ankle high water. The cold always bothered her less than most.
As one of the oarsmen hands her her pack, she gives them their payment and thanks them for their service with the best curtsy she can manage with all of her items in hand. The oarsmen nod courteously and make their way back to their vessel, and Elsewhere throws her backpack over one shoulder, then pulls back the cowl of her coat. She waves to the oarsmen in gratitude and starts the climb to her mother's home.
She walks slowly but with purpose, her back straight and her chin held high. In her youth, Mother had always scolded her about her posture, and she is determined not to let their first meeting in three years be marred by such trivialities. Her body shivers almost imperceptibly as she walks, but from anxiousness not from cold. She wonders how her siblings fare and if she will be the last to make it home, or worse... the first (who likes a bard who arrives early, or on time.) And still there is the quaking in her stomach, something that she cannot quite shake. Why is the sixteenth of Marpenoth so significant, any why on their fifteenth year?
She looks up and sees her mother's house, the house she grew up in, and she hesitates. She stoops to dust off her dress, then finds a place to sit just outside the door, then unwraps her bundle to reveal a worn and plain looking lyre, which she begins to play softly in in the morning light, the waves punctuating the rhythm as she plays a song of home.
As it turned out in the end Lucky was not the first to arrive. When he first stepped foot onto the sand and stood there, letting the water wash up against his ankles, he closed his eyes and he remembered times from his distant past. He remembered his stern, yet kindly mother, and his siblings and if the times and bonds they had forged in their childhood. Each of them bonded together yet inherently unique. For him, Lucky by name as well as nature, he had inherited the colour brass from his draconic ancestor. The others each had a different colour — one for each metallic dragon ancestor. Did it mean anything? Lucky was not sure whether it did or not.
He moved slowly upwards, tracing an imaginary path recreated by ghostly images of his past memories. On his shoulders his dark woollen shaw was pulled up, concealing his brass coloured features underneath. Such affectations were perhaps not needed here, yet habit was the hardest thing of all to shake. Back on the coast, Lucky had learned very quickly that in dealing with other races it was perhaps not entirely the best thing to do to declare one’s heritage from the outset — you wait until it provides you the greatest advantage in doing so.
As he walked further in, the cool breeze swirled around him. Although overheard the sun was shining, albeit obscured slightly under one of the prevalent white clouds in the sky there was a definite tinge of autumn in the air, despite the pleasant and warm temperature. Coming closer to home, the first thing that he heard was the sound of a song, faint at first but definitely there. A small smile stretched across the dragonborn’s lips and at the affectation.
I am not the first.
His smile grew slightly wider at the thought. Although he had certainly forged his own place in the world in the last three years, and indeed it had been with no small amount of sadness that he had said goodbye to his life before, if only for a time, he also found that he had missed his kin.
Finally creating the rise, he saw his home. And sitting just next to the door was the source of the sound. Lucky would have recognised the figure and the dress anywhere, not to mention the sight of those strange milky white eyes — eyes that had marked his sibling from the moment of her birth.
Bowing his head to her, he came over to stand next to her.
”Elsewhere,” he said, smile growing deeper as he regarded her. “Time has not dulled your passion for all things musical I see.....”
A small laugh, and then finally he added. “I’ve missed you.....”
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Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
So engrossed in her music, Elsewhere doesn't even notice her brother approaching. When he speaks she looks up at him. She sets the lyre gently atop its cloth wrapping and stands slowly.
"And I you, brother." She says embracing Lucky deeply, her face buried in his chest, her silver scales contrasting sharply with his dark clothing. As she lets him go she pokes him in the chest. "How is it that you let me arrive first hm?" She says, chuckling melodically. "Come sit with me, I'll play something we both know while we wait for the others."
Irthos was deeply focused on reading his pristine copy of "Pervorius' Study of the Higher Planes" when suddenly he found himself startled back to the rest of the world. It was the captain of merchant ship he had managed to find passage on, it seemed it was time for him to disembark. After thanking the captain and his crew he boarded the tender and waited while he was rowed ashore.
So I'm home again.
Taking in the familiar scenery as they approached it felt like he had hardly been away for a day somehow...and yet it was different now, he was all different now. His eyes had been opened to a great many secrets and he understood a great deal more about the world than he did when he had last set foot upon the island. And yet the mystery of himself and his siblings still eluded him, much to his frustration. Why had they been asked to return? Would any of the others? It had not been an easy choice for himself. Surely Elsewhere would, but the others?
I guess there is only one way to find out. Regardless your secrets shall be known to me soon Mother.
After getting ashore he waited for the tender to return to the ship, watching as he realised that this was the moment that he had truly left the life he had built over the last three years behind. Pulling back his dark coloured hood he let the sun shine on his face, the light sending his copper scales into a dazzling array of hues and glinting brightly as it swept across him. With a last look out to sea he turned and began the journey in land to his mothers house.
As he drew nearer the sound of music met his ears. Curious he wondered if his mother had discovered a new hobby in the years he had been away. As he got close enough to see the two figures outside his mothers house however he realised the answer. Seeing the brass and silver scaled figures he wasn't quite sure how he felt. Perhaps it was relief that he wasn't the only one, but maybe it was more. He knew there was something more between the five of them, Gorrant had let slip on a couple of occasions that some sort of fate hovered over him and he was almost certain he wasn't alone.
As he saw the two of them begin to converse a sly smile crossed his face as an idea came to him. Uttering a quick phrase and making the right gestures he used a simple disguise self enchantment to alter his appearance to that of a human man, dressed in all the same travellers clothes as himself but without his draconic heritage on show. With that he simply strode towards the house and waited to see how his siblings would react to such a sight.
Returning the embrace, Lucky leaned his head onto Elsewhere's shoulder, closing his eyes and enjoying the reunion. It hadn't particularly occurred to him how much he had missed them until now. But then, before the last three years, he'd never been separated from them. Letting go, he chuckled softly at Elsewhere's mock rebuke.
With a graceful bow to her, he responded, "Elsewhere my dear, when have you ever known me to be anything but tardy, but still...…" he gestured around to the empty space before continuing, "......I'm not as late as some others I could mention."
Sitting next to her he crossed his legs while looking to her. "You know I would love to hear you play, as always," he said with a smile.
"So.…..where did you go then? The last three years. I bet you have some stories to tell," Lucky laughed again, genuinely glad to be home.
But before he could say anything more they were interrupted by the sight of a human male (of all things!) dressed in traveller's clothes walking brazenly up towards them. Lucky cocked his head in curiosity, studying the newcomer.....
12 - Investigate.
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Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
Lucky is struck by the strange sensation that he should know this person who is approaching. His gait and bearing seem so familiar. After a few moments, the rogue's mind unravels the mystery: it is no human male. It is, rather, his brother Irthos.
Preah leaps over the side of the small rowboat, biding farewell to the young men that ferried her from the larger ship to the island. As she wades ashore among the surf, she takes a deep breath and then sighs in contentment. This, I missed. The smell of the sea in the air, the sand beneath my feet. The sea spray glistens on her golden scales.
She steps ashore to hear the sound of music. So Elsewhere has arrived. She has improved. But then, I’d say that we all probably have. She crests the ridge to see two of her siblings sitting together, one quizzically studying a human male. She studies to posture and clothing of the newcomer before chuckling softly. She approaches the three, staying behind Irthos. She comes up behind him, grips his shoulder, and speaks up to her siblings for the first time in years.
Her voice takes on a foreboding tone, hardened by her years working on the streets. “You know, I’ve been given a charge to bring in tricksters and troublemakers like you.” However, it’s hard to keep a straight face, and she lets out a small giggle. “It’s good to see you haven’t changed a bit, brother. And you two. You look well. It’s good to be back with you all. Where’s Gale?”
Gale stands on the deck of the Amphion with the captain and an old hunched human man. The captain is speaking, "... and when you come back, you look for me for work. I'll be keeping Bisne with me for extra incentive. And worry not, we'll make sure he lives when you return."
The old human man harrumphs at the captain's words, "I'm the one that will be making sure everyone lives. Look here lad, you are firmly on the path. You have communed with your deity and forged a bond. You no longer need me to teach you. Just don't waver in your faith. Now gather that new shiny shield of yours and go impress your brothers and sisters."
With some heartfelt parting words, Gale climbs down the rope ladder into the rowboat and the crew makes for the shore. Once on shore, Gale bids the crew farewell and helps propel the rowboat back to the ship with some timely gusts of wind, to the relief of the rowers battling the surf. Turning his back to the sea, Gale makes his way to his childhood home, reminiscing about the stormy days and nights when he would stand out on the beach and revel in the power of storms.
Prior to rounding the final corner in the path to Dahlimé's abode , Gale can hear his siblings before seeing them. Donning his shield with a dolphin emblazoned on the front, he gestures in the air and speaks a word of prayer to manifest gusts of wind to accompany him the remainder of his approach.
Speaking to the others as he approaches, Gale says, "The sea and the skies are calm and at peace. It seems our reunion is meant to be joyful." Then, with a smile widening across his scaly bronze face, Gale asks, "How have you all fared in the world!?"
As his sister grips his shoulder Irthos tries his very best to hide his surprise. Turning to face her he waves his hand and lets his disguise vanish, the human features fading and his copper scales glinting in the sun once more. With a knowing smile that tells her he is pleased to see her but disappointed she spoiled his fun he says in a mocking tone pretending to be annoyed: "Ah dearest sister, it sounds as if you haven't either...although I don't remember you being quite so large!"
Turning to Gale as he approaches, and noting the wind following behind him, Irthos greets his brother with a wide smile: "It certainly seems that you have fared well brother, even wind is pleased to see you!"
Gale replies, "I have learned much and found my path. The wind and I were always fond of each other." Then with some mirth, "It is a shame you did not hold your illusion. You looked better that way."
As the greetings and conversations continue, the five dragonborn begin to wonder why their presence hasn't yet been discerned by Dahlimé. Surely, the old wizard has heard Elsewhere's melody on the lyre and the sound of several familiar voices just outside the house? Also of note is a slight lack of tidiness about the place. The stone path to the front door needs sweeping, and the potted flowers and herbs are wilted. Such signs of minor neglect are out of character for Dahlimé.
Elsewhere stands, and puts her lyre down gently as Irthos approaches in human disguise.
She jabs Gale in the bicep. "Now now, brothers," she smiles gently, her milky white eyes blinking to hold back tears. She embraces each of her siblings. The runt of the litter, she stands a full foot shorter than most of her siblings, and with them all standing around her she feels small as ever, but safe.
"It's such a beautiful day and it is wonderful to see you all and to be home. I can't wait to hear all of your stories, that I can turn your deeds into song! But surely Mother already knows we are here, I wonder why it is she has not yet come to greet us?"
Elsewhere moves to the door and knock gently first, then after a moment opens it.
Irthos simply lets out a snort at Gales retort, but he embraces Elsewhere warmly when she comes to him. As he looks over her shoulder however his gaze catches the state of their mothers house. As she goes to the door his tone turns much more serious as he speaks:
"Speaking of things that have looked better it's not like mother to leave the house like this, it looks to me like she hasn't been here recently."
Eager to get to the bottom of his discovery he wastes no time, striding to the front door after his sister.
Elsewhere pushes the door open and is greeted by another piece of evidence that things are amiss. Tib, one of the wizard's half dozen chickens, is roaming about the house. The back door is ajar, indicating how the fowl gained access to the indoors.
Preah smiles and hugs Elsewhere as she comes around, but is slightly disturbed by the surroundings as she examines them more closely. As her smaller sister goes tearing through the house, she takes a deep breath and then focuses. “Bahamut, open my senses. Help me see.” She expends a use of divine sense, focusing on the environment around her for taints in the natural order.
”You are a troll Irthos. A complete and utter troll,” Lucky stood, his mouth stretching into a broad grin as he finally pushed the cowl on his head down.
Reaching out, he clasped his brother’s forearm in a firm grasp as he nodded. “It is good to see you again brother.”
And as the final two, Preah and Gale joined them, Lucky was in no doubt that each of them had their own tale to tell of the years gone by. Except that this time there were no tales to be told. Something was amiss — and it became obvious when Dahlimé did not appear to greet her children. Elsewhere went up to the door, first gently knocking on it before finally opening the door and entering.
The signs of neglect were evident, and as he stepped inside slowly, Lucky’s features creased in a look of concern. As Elsewhere went out the back, his eyes scanned the interior as his hand dropped to the hilt of his sword instinctively. This......this wasn’t right, and Lucky did not like it.
”Mother,” he called out softly, his voice echoing eerily across the interior of the house. “Are you here mother?”
Lucky began to sweep through the interior of the house slowly, looking for anything that he could find that would help him work out where the woman who had raised them had gone to.....
Investigation: 4
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Gale's smile fades as the scene unfolds. Seeing his siblings giving the interior particular attention, Gale decides to follow Elsewhere out the back to watch her back. As Gale wanders out, he'll look for signs of foot traffic, hopefully able to discern the last tracks, otherwise at least glean an idea of how long it has been since fresh tracks have been made.
PROLOGUE
Nearly twenty years ago, a silver-haired wizard stepped foot onto one of the hundreds of small rocky islands found within the Korinn Archipelago. Little more than a massive rock jutting from the sea, this island was to be the wizard’s respite and home for the remainder of her days. Long had Dahlimé studied the arcane and called upon her knowledge and skill to help the people of Faerûn in their efforts to defend the weak, strengthen the brave, and stand against the wicked. The time had now come, she thought, to withdraw from the world’s affairs and allow the next generation to fulfill its role in shaping the future of the North. Remote and uninhabited, the island that Dahlimé had chosen would be the ideal place to live out her final days peacefully, uninterrupted, and surrounded by the sublime beauty of the sea. But not even the sagest of wizards can foresee all things.
During low tide a cave entrance was visible on this island, and on one warm, bright summer day Dahlimé entered the cave, curious to see what she might find within. After following a narrow, winding tunnel for a few minutes, the wizard came to a sudden stop. She gazed upon something wholly unexpected; before her was a large translucent rock and trapped within it were several indistinct shapes. She divined the presence of magic but could not discern if its source were the items within the rock or the rock itself.
The wizard reached forth and lightly placed her hand upon the nearly transparent mass of stone. Immediately it vaporized with a barely audible hiss and gently deposited six objects on the cave floor. Five of the objects were nearly identical: large, heavy eggs with iridescent metallic shells that shimmered with gold, silver, or copper, depending on how they were struck by the light. The sixth and stranger object was roughly the size of a human fist—a perfectly smooth obsidian sphere engraved with words in Draconic inlaid with gold. Dahlimé scrutinized the sphere, carefully reading the script that encircled it. She then placed the obsidian stone in her pocket and later that day hid it, making certain that she alone would be the only soul ever to know its location.
After a fortnight, the mystery of the eggs was revealed. Fascinated, the wizard watched as each egg began to tremble and crack and, eventually, break open completely, revealing a tiny, scaled humanoid. A few hours later, five dragonborn younglings were clambering among the rocks on the shore as Dahlimé set to catching some fish that would serve as their first meal. The old wizard who sought solitude and serenity was quite suddenly the matriarch for a brood of dragonborn.
As dragonborn do, the five matured quickly. The island, along with several islands nearby, was their home. They learned where to hunt and fish, which plants to grow and eat, how to read the sky and weather, and how to navigate the sea with their small, sturdy, hand-built boats. They never questioned that Dahlimé was their mother, and they never doubted that they were siblings even though each one had scales of a different color. Dahlimé was certain that finding five dragonborn who corresponded with each type of metallic dragon was no mere coincidence.
Dahlimé knew that the islands had served well as a place to raise her unusual family, but the time came for her to nudge the five dragonborn into the bigger world, despite all its dangers and uncertainties. She sensed that all of them had an important role to fulfill and preventing them from doing so would be deeply wrong. So, nearly three years ago, she tearfully wished them well as they set sail from their island home, each one headed to a unique set of experiences and adventures. All five dragonborn promised, however, that in exactly three years—on the sixteenth of Marpenoth—they would return to her, for she solemnly told them that she had something important to tell them on that day.
And, now, those three years have passed, and the five dragonborn, true to their word, are eagerly making their way toward the humble home of their childhood years. Upon arriving there, they hope to sit, talk, and eat with the wise and kind wizard who raised them. They hope to hear of all that their siblings have been doing since their parting. And, most of all, they hope to learn just what it is that Dahlimé must tell them.
CHAPTER 1
16 Marpenoth
It is one of those mild autumn days that nearly feels like summer. The journey to the island within the Korinn Archipelago has taken place under the blessing of unclouded skies, a balmy breeze, and plenty of sunshine. Stepping onto the rocky shore of their childhood home, each dragonborn is greeted by a host of memories--some simple, some profound, some poignant, but nearly all of them pleasant. Each sibling, curious to learn what has become of the others during the past three years, is also eager to tell his or her own story to the old wizard.
The excitement to see siblings and Dahlimé , however, is somewhat overshadowed by one nagging question: just what is it that the old wizard must tell us? All the dragonborn had forged friendships and carved out a living for themselves since leaving the island, and they placed all of that on hold for this one purpose. With each step taken from the shore to the wizard's house, curiosity grows stronger.
The order in which all of you respond to this opening post will determine the chronology of your characters' arrival on the island. This should allow for some role-playing that introduces the siblings to one another in whatever ways you see fit.
Elsewhere
A small and scrawny silver scaled young dragonborn sits clutching a bundle, wrapped in cloth, tightly but delicately in her clawed hands. Her eyes are wide and nervous as the oarsmen rows her toward the rocky shores of her island home. She closes her milky white eyes briefly, reminiscing about running out of breath while playing tag with her siblings on the rocks, the waves crashing down among them as the five of them jumped away laughing and shouting. She waits for the oarsmen to drag the dinghy up into the shallows, and one of them offers her a hand which she takes and gingerly steps into the cold, ankle high water. The cold always bothered her less than most.
As one of the oarsmen hands her her pack, she gives them their payment and thanks them for their service with the best curtsy she can manage with all of her items in hand. The oarsmen nod courteously and make their way back to their vessel, and Elsewhere throws her backpack over one shoulder, then pulls back the cowl of her coat. She waves to the oarsmen in gratitude and starts the climb to her mother's home.
She walks slowly but with purpose, her back straight and her chin held high. In her youth, Mother had always scolded her about her posture, and she is determined not to let their first meeting in three years be marred by such trivialities. Her body shivers almost imperceptibly as she walks, but from anxiousness not from cold. She wonders how her siblings fare and if she will be the last to make it home, or worse... the first (who likes a bard who arrives early, or on time.) And still there is the quaking in her stomach, something that she cannot quite shake. Why is the sixteenth of Marpenoth so significant, any why on their fifteenth year?
She looks up and sees her mother's house, the house she grew up in, and she hesitates. She stoops to dust off her dress, then finds a place to sit just outside the door, then unwraps her bundle to reveal a worn and plain looking lyre, which she begins to play softly in in the morning light, the waves punctuating the rhythm as she plays a song of home.
~♡~
As it turned out in the end Lucky was not the first to arrive. When he first stepped foot onto the sand and stood there, letting the water wash up against his ankles, he closed his eyes and he remembered times from his distant past. He remembered his stern, yet kindly mother, and his siblings and if the times and bonds they had forged in their childhood. Each of them bonded together yet inherently unique. For him, Lucky by name as well as nature, he had inherited the colour brass from his draconic ancestor. The others each had a different colour — one for each metallic dragon ancestor. Did it mean anything? Lucky was not sure whether it did or not.
He moved slowly upwards, tracing an imaginary path recreated by ghostly images of his past memories. On his shoulders his dark woollen shaw was pulled up, concealing his brass coloured features underneath. Such affectations were perhaps not needed here, yet habit was the hardest thing of all to shake. Back on the coast, Lucky had learned very quickly that in dealing with other races it was perhaps not entirely the best thing to do to declare one’s heritage from the outset — you wait until it provides you the greatest advantage in doing so.
As he walked further in, the cool breeze swirled around him. Although overheard the sun was shining, albeit obscured slightly under one of the prevalent white clouds in the sky there was a definite tinge of autumn in the air, despite the pleasant and warm temperature. Coming closer to home, the first thing that he heard was the sound of a song, faint at first but definitely there. A small smile stretched across the dragonborn’s lips and at the affectation.
I am not the first.
His smile grew slightly wider at the thought. Although he had certainly forged his own place in the world in the last three years, and indeed it had been with no small amount of sadness that he had said goodbye to his life before, if only for a time, he also found that he had missed his kin.
Finally creating the rise, he saw his home. And sitting just next to the door was the source of the sound. Lucky would have recognised the figure and the dress anywhere, not to mention the sight of those strange milky white eyes — eyes that had marked his sibling from the moment of her birth.
Bowing his head to her, he came over to stand next to her.
”Elsewhere,” he said, smile growing deeper as he regarded her. “Time has not dulled your passion for all things musical I see.....”
A small laugh, and then finally he added. “I’ve missed you.....”
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
Elsewhere
So engrossed in her music, Elsewhere doesn't even notice her brother approaching. When he speaks she looks up at him. She sets the lyre gently atop its cloth wrapping and stands slowly.
"And I you, brother." She says embracing Lucky deeply, her face buried in his chest, her silver scales contrasting sharply with his dark clothing. As she lets him go she pokes him in the chest. "How is it that you let me arrive first hm?" She says, chuckling melodically. "Come sit with me, I'll play something we both know while we wait for the others."
~♡~
Irthos was deeply focused on reading his pristine copy of "Pervorius' Study of the Higher Planes" when suddenly he found himself startled back to the rest of the world. It was the captain of merchant ship he had managed to find passage on, it seemed it was time for him to disembark. After thanking the captain and his crew he boarded the tender and waited while he was rowed ashore.
So I'm home again.
Taking in the familiar scenery as they approached it felt like he had hardly been away for a day somehow...and yet it was different now, he was all different now. His eyes had been opened to a great many secrets and he understood a great deal more about the world than he did when he had last set foot upon the island. And yet the mystery of himself and his siblings still eluded him, much to his frustration. Why had they been asked to return? Would any of the others? It had not been an easy choice for himself. Surely Elsewhere would, but the others?
I guess there is only one way to find out. Regardless your secrets shall be known to me soon Mother.
After getting ashore he waited for the tender to return to the ship, watching as he realised that this was the moment that he had truly left the life he had built over the last three years behind. Pulling back his dark coloured hood he let the sun shine on his face, the light sending his copper scales into a dazzling array of hues and glinting brightly as it swept across him. With a last look out to sea he turned and began the journey in land to his mothers house.
As he drew nearer the sound of music met his ears. Curious he wondered if his mother had discovered a new hobby in the years he had been away. As he got close enough to see the two figures outside his mothers house however he realised the answer. Seeing the brass and silver scaled figures he wasn't quite sure how he felt. Perhaps it was relief that he wasn't the only one, but maybe it was more. He knew there was something more between the five of them, Gorrant had let slip on a couple of occasions that some sort of fate hovered over him and he was almost certain he wasn't alone.
As he saw the two of them begin to converse a sly smile crossed his face as an idea came to him. Uttering a quick phrase and making the right gestures he used a simple disguise self enchantment to alter his appearance to that of a human man, dressed in all the same travellers clothes as himself but without his draconic heritage on show. With that he simply strode towards the house and waited to see how his siblings would react to such a sight.
Returning the embrace, Lucky leaned his head onto Elsewhere's shoulder, closing his eyes and enjoying the reunion. It hadn't particularly occurred to him how much he had missed them until now. But then, before the last three years, he'd never been separated from them. Letting go, he chuckled softly at Elsewhere's mock rebuke.
With a graceful bow to her, he responded, "Elsewhere my dear, when have you ever known me to be anything but tardy, but still...…" he gestured around to the empty space before continuing, "......I'm not as late as some others I could mention."
Sitting next to her he crossed his legs while looking to her. "You know I would love to hear you play, as always," he said with a smile.
"So.…..where did you go then? The last three years. I bet you have some stories to tell," Lucky laughed again, genuinely glad to be home.
But before he could say anything more they were interrupted by the sight of a human male (of all things!) dressed in traveller's clothes walking brazenly up towards them. Lucky cocked his head in curiosity, studying the newcomer.....
12 - Investigate.
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
Lucky is struck by the strange sensation that he should know this person who is approaching. His gait and bearing seem so familiar. After a few moments, the rogue's mind unravels the mystery: it is no human male. It is, rather, his brother Irthos.
Preah leaps over the side of the small rowboat, biding farewell to the young men that ferried her from the larger ship to the island. As she wades ashore among the surf, she takes a deep breath and then sighs in contentment. This, I missed. The smell of the sea in the air, the sand beneath my feet. The sea spray glistens on her golden scales.
She steps ashore to hear the sound of music. So Elsewhere has arrived. She has improved. But then, I’d say that we all probably have. She crests the ridge to see two of her siblings sitting together, one quizzically studying a human male. She studies to posture and clothing of the newcomer before chuckling softly. She approaches the three, staying behind Irthos. She comes up behind him, grips his shoulder, and speaks up to her siblings for the first time in years.
Her voice takes on a foreboding tone, hardened by her years working on the streets. “You know, I’ve been given a charge to bring in tricksters and troublemakers like you.” However, it’s hard to keep a straight face, and she lets out a small giggle. “It’s good to see you haven’t changed a bit, brother. And you two. You look well. It’s good to be back with you all. Where’s Gale?”
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Gale stands on the deck of the Amphion with the captain and an old hunched human man. The captain is speaking, "... and when you come back, you look for me for work. I'll be keeping Bisne with me for extra incentive. And worry not, we'll make sure he lives when you return."
The old human man harrumphs at the captain's words, "I'm the one that will be making sure everyone lives. Look here lad, you are firmly on the path. You have communed with your deity and forged a bond. You no longer need me to teach you. Just don't waver in your faith. Now gather that new shiny shield of yours and go impress your brothers and sisters."
With some heartfelt parting words, Gale climbs down the rope ladder into the rowboat and the crew makes for the shore. Once on shore, Gale bids the crew farewell and helps propel the rowboat back to the ship with some timely gusts of wind, to the relief of the rowers battling the surf. Turning his back to the sea, Gale makes his way to his childhood home, reminiscing about the stormy days and nights when he would stand out on the beach and revel in the power of storms.
Prior to rounding the final corner in the path to Dahlimé's abode , Gale can hear his siblings before seeing them. Donning his shield with a dolphin emblazoned on the front, he gestures in the air and speaks a word of prayer to manifest gusts of wind to accompany him the remainder of his approach.
Speaking to the others as he approaches, Gale says, "The sea and the skies are calm and at peace. It seems our reunion is meant to be joyful." Then, with a smile widening across his scaly bronze face, Gale asks, "How have you all fared in the world!?"
As his sister grips his shoulder Irthos tries his very best to hide his surprise. Turning to face her he waves his hand and lets his disguise vanish, the human features fading and his copper scales glinting in the sun once more. With a knowing smile that tells her he is pleased to see her but disappointed she spoiled his fun he says in a mocking tone pretending to be annoyed: "Ah dearest sister, it sounds as if you haven't either...although I don't remember you being quite so large!"
Turning to Gale as he approaches, and noting the wind following behind him, Irthos greets his brother with a wide smile: "It certainly seems that you have fared well brother, even wind is pleased to see you!"
Irthos for you all
Gale replies, "I have learned much and found my path. The wind and I were always fond of each other." Then with some mirth, "It is a shame you did not hold your illusion. You looked better that way."
As the greetings and conversations continue, the five dragonborn begin to wonder why their presence hasn't yet been discerned by Dahlimé. Surely, the old wizard has heard Elsewhere's melody on the lyre and the sound of several familiar voices just outside the house? Also of note is a slight lack of tidiness about the place. The stone path to the front door needs sweeping, and the potted flowers and herbs are wilted. Such signs of minor neglect are out of character for Dahlimé.
Elsewhere stands, and puts her lyre down gently as Irthos approaches in human disguise.
She jabs Gale in the bicep. "Now now, brothers," she smiles gently, her milky white eyes blinking to hold back tears. She embraces each of her siblings. The runt of the litter, she stands a full foot shorter than most of her siblings, and with them all standing around her she feels small as ever, but safe.
"It's such a beautiful day and it is wonderful to see you all and to be home. I can't wait to hear all of your stories, that I can turn your deeds into song! But surely Mother already knows we are here, I wonder why it is she has not yet come to greet us?"
Elsewhere moves to the door and knock gently first, then after a moment opens it.
~♡~
Irthos simply lets out a snort at Gales retort, but he embraces Elsewhere warmly when she comes to him. As he looks over her shoulder however his gaze catches the state of their mothers house. As she goes to the door his tone turns much more serious as he speaks:
"Speaking of things that have looked better it's not like mother to leave the house like this, it looks to me like she hasn't been here recently."
Eager to get to the bottom of his discovery he wastes no time, striding to the front door after his sister.
Elsewhere pushes the door open and is greeted by another piece of evidence that things are amiss. Tib, one of the wizard's half dozen chickens, is roaming about the house. The back door is ajar, indicating how the fowl gained access to the indoors.
“Tib what are you...”
Elsewhere, seeing the back door open, runs out of it, the worry plain on her face.
“Mother?! Mother, where are you?!”
~♡~
Following his sister into the house Irthos looks around, giving her a sidelong glance as she runs out the back panicking.
I guess that will never change then.
He leaves her to check outside and instead lifts a hand to scratch his chin as he examines the interior.
Preah smiles and hugs Elsewhere as she comes around, but is slightly disturbed by the surroundings as she examines them more closely. As her smaller sister goes tearing through the house, she takes a deep breath and then focuses. “Bahamut, open my senses. Help me see.” She expends a use of divine sense, focusing on the environment around her for taints in the natural order.
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”You are a troll Irthos. A complete and utter troll,” Lucky stood, his mouth stretching into a broad grin as he finally pushed the cowl on his head down.
Reaching out, he clasped his brother’s forearm in a firm grasp as he nodded. “It is good to see you again brother.”
And as the final two, Preah and Gale joined them, Lucky was in no doubt that each of them had their own tale to tell of the years gone by. Except that this time there were no tales to be told. Something was amiss — and it became obvious when Dahlimé did not appear to greet her children. Elsewhere went up to the door, first gently knocking on it before finally opening the door and entering.
The signs of neglect were evident, and as he stepped inside slowly, Lucky’s features creased in a look of concern. As Elsewhere went out the back, his eyes scanned the interior as his hand dropped to the hilt of his sword instinctively. This......this wasn’t right, and Lucky did not like it.
”Mother,” he called out softly, his voice echoing eerily across the interior of the house. “Are you here mother?”
Lucky began to sweep through the interior of the house slowly, looking for anything that he could find that would help him work out where the woman who had raised them had gone to.....
Investigation: 4
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
Gale's smile fades as the scene unfolds. Seeing his siblings giving the interior particular attention, Gale decides to follow Elsewhere out the back to watch her back. As Gale wanders out, he'll look for signs of foot traffic, hopefully able to discern the last tracks, otherwise at least glean an idea of how long it has been since fresh tracks have been made.
Roll: 4
Perception bonus: +5
Survival bonus: +3