As the group approaches the outer perimeter guard of the camp, Dageron purposefully removes the drab cloth over himself and his horse, meant to safeguard them from the worst of the desert sun. His armor and the warhorse's barding, though well-used all, gleam purposefully, coated with the white markings of his God. He pulls up the visor on his helmet to ensure all can see his Hobgoblin face. One must never hide from those who would account you an enemy when you approach as a friend.
The Halflings of the horde look up at the approaching newcomers but don't offer any sudden resistance. Their wills are not broken, but they are obviously tired. Most of them show signs of battle, of fatigue and injury. A few hail back to Brevon, but most stay quiet of the few dozen who are still assembled there.
The Halflings look around at each other as Atoh and Nana approach. They listen to her questions and most of them hesitate. A young girl finally steps forward, her hands clasped in front of her.
"I am sorry." She says. She looks back, at the members of the horde gathered behind her, and then over at Safk. The Luck Dragon watches, her eyes drooping in sadness. "We lost your family up north fighting the Stormtroopers."
She paused at this, thought for a second longer.
"All of them." She added for clarity. "When Imperial forces attacked...we were overwhelmed. We didn't expect them to be so numerous, so well armed and organized. At the end, Ongs Khan stayed behind, and those of his lineage, so that we could escape."
She motions for one of her male compatriots, who grabs the blood soaked standard and the Luck Dragon fur tassels that whip from its apex. The Halfling man approaches with the standard and plants it in the ground next to Nana's feet.
Atoh hears a heavy thub. She doesn't even notice the sound of her knees hitting the ground. " They… they are… GONE! " Her mind tries to comprehend the words, but her brain follows the same route like a crazy mouse. " Atoh! Can you hear me? Atoh! " Even her dragon's voice sounds distant. The girl looks up at the sun, searching for an answer. The sun is so shining and dazzling. Everything becomes white and then… turns into black.
( The information is too much for Atoh and she faint away from the shock )
One of the Halflings dives to her knees, grabbing Atoh and pulling her into her arms. She begins to pat the new Khan's face with one hand, gently.
"Atoh Khan, wake up!"
The remnants of Raza and Ongs Khans's hordes buzz as the Halflings and others gathered there realize that there are visitors amongst them. Even the great Luck Dragon stirs from where she basks next to the pool of crystal clear water. She slowly makes her way over to the Order of the Phoenix.
During the travel to the Oasis, Jek will continue using his spare time to train the [feat]skill expert[/feat] feat. Jek will listen in on the discussions between Brevon and the Red Lady. She seems okay, but is a little worried that she thought the Bright Lady was a guy. That's just silly.
As they approach the oasis, Jek will look about for signs of any Lightless tribes, specifically his own. They would usually come to trade if there are people in the Oasis, but only if they were near by or knew of the meeting ahead of time, and usually during the day. Some people get frightened when they show up at night.
Jek watches on in shock. Atoh's family.... oh no. He doesn't know what being a Khan is, but it seems to be important. He want's to comfort his new friend, but it seems the other halflings are taking care of her. Jek will stay back and keep watch for now.
"Oh, no,"Brevon says with a deep and sincere concern as he gets closer to check on Atoh's health. "Healer! I am a healer!" He calls, hoping that the warriors of Atoh's clan do not view his assertiveness as a slight against their new Khan. "Ah, she is breathing,"he says with relief. Hold Atoh's head up, he removes his waterskin from splashes a bit of water on her face.
During the night in Greyskull, Chuba ventured through the halls, admiring the stonework of this impressive castle. She held her stone shard in her hand and to her heart as she passed her hand over the smooth and rough variation of the castle's stones. When she came to a reflective surface, she stared herself in the eyes for a moment. She pulled her cloak back and held her stone shard to her upper arm, tracing a figure around its profile numerous times. She continued to stare at her upper arm in the reflective surface after she returned the shard to her pocket. Finally, she returned to her bedroll and slept.
-----
While the Order traveled west toward the Tower, Chuba returned to her typical quiet self. She rode near Brevon and the red witch and listened to their conversations about the light they worship. Some of the things they claimed about the light paralleled her beliefs about the Everstone. A brief pang of longing to be near the Everstone again hit her; it surprised her and she chided herself--she has a job to complete.
-----
When Atoh is called Khan and faints, and after Brevon ensures she is okay, Chuba whispers to Orin, "What is a Khan? A leader of some sort--military or otherwise?"
Chuba refuses to let Atoh leave her sight until Atoh is conscious again. Given that she is able, Chuba remains near Orin while keeping her eye on Atoh.
Jek sees no other signs of nearby Lightless tribes as they journey to the desert. If anything, it seems like the already sparse habitation is even sparse in the face of the coming invasion. The oasis is the first sign of life he's encountered since Casge Grayskull, save for the occasional cactus or lizard or death worm.
---
The Halflings peel back as Brecon kneels beside Atoh and begins his work. The water jolts her eyes open, back to full awareness, in Brevon's arms. Melisandre jigs up behind him, leaning over and looking down at Atoh.
"It will all be alright." She said calmly, though it wasn't clear to who. "This is as the Lady wants it."
---
The Halflings watch Chuba with interest. She's two and a half, three times the height of some of them. They don't seem afraid, just curious as they look her over. Their attention doesn't fade from her until the Luck Dragon near the water finally makes her way to the new Khan and nuzzles her in Brevon's arms, rocking the Cleric from her shear size.
"All shall be well, Atoh Khan." The Luck Dragon says with a soft, gentle, almost motherly voice. "Luck will return to you and yours soon."
The whole party suddenly feels much more fortunate.
"All according to Her will,"Brevon agrees, a bit hollowly. He hasn't forgotten the implications of the Sorceress's suggestion that the Nothing is a tool of the gods. Brevon stands and offers to take Melisandre's hand. "At times the will of the Lady is... difficult to accept. But we cannot know what plan guides Her hand in this."
In return, Melisandre offers her hand to Brevon and smiles.
"This darkness shall pass."She assures everyone around her, including the Halflings of Atoh's clan. "The Darkness cannot hold these lands. The Lady of Light has sent her second son, the Rose Sun, to walk the sky with her oldest child, the Greater Sun, as a sign that her will shall be done! It is not for Lord Vader to have these lands! He may harm us now, but the third son, the Dying Sun, comes soon! And with him shall come the next Great Conjunction and the death of the Age of Division! The Order of the Phoenix gathers here before you now, and with them comes the promise of the reunification of the Crystal of Truth and the beginning of the Age of Unification! The Lady or Light has decreed it so, and it shall be so!"
Even the Luck Dragon seems moved by this as she nuzzles her face against her new Khan.
" I have sent for Falkor, the Eldest Luck Dragon." She says to the Order of the Phoenix. " Without a Khan, the clan needed council from high, and without the AURYN or any forces to send as a runner to the Ivory Tower, we have been in dire straights indeed. It is with great luck that you and yours have found us during our time of need."
"A sign from the Lady! Of course!" Brevon kneels in the sand, bowing in the direction of the suns. At the words of the Red Priestess, his fears are temporarily subdued. Yet the words of the Sorceress are not entirely in accord with Melisandre's interpretation of events. At least, not in the way of their telling. Still, it is possible that the Nothing is not actually meant to destroy the world. Perhaps it is only used to strike at the enemies of the Light, such as Vader's master, Sauron.
Puzzling on this, Brevon tilts his head back to the Red Priestess. "Melisandre, the third, the Dying Sun, when shall it come? What is our Lady waiting for?"
Dageron stays in the background of the commotion surrounding Atoh, unable to bring himself to care too deeply for a peoples that up until a generation ago warred with his constantly. Our leaders died and they did not weep for us. He shakes the unworthy thought from his head, hoping no change of expression betrayed such weakness of mind and resolve. He turns instead to look upon the clans assembled here. Many of their markings and distinctions he is familiar with as an enemy would be. Shattered but not broken, he thinks to himself appraisingly. But unable to change their fate nonetheless. Just like the Aureki. He stands in silence and waits.
After the greetings and concern over Atoh die down, and once he determines who the most senior person is (other than the dragon itself), he will approach them with his book out. If they are willing to speak with him at all, he will ask them in great detail the enemy numbers, unit compositions, weapons, tactics, uniforms, banners, legions deployed - everything he can. His book has been a pieced together log of the movements of the various forces in Vader's war, and as such, he hopes it to become an invaluable strategic tool in finding weaknesses in his force deployments, supply train logistics, and attrition due to losses.
Once he has gathered the information he seeks, he will camp just beyond the others - outside the Oasis, unless the clans specifically invite him in. He may be accepted by the Order, but that does not mean all should be compelled to do the same.
"I know now, my Lord." Melisandre says to Brevon. "I only know the message, not the details, I'm afraid."
Dageron is able to locate the most senior military officer left, a warrior by the name of Chingis. This Halfling sneers at the approaching Hobgoblin and has some rather rude things to say before looking at his companions and Atoh Kahn and relenting the information, though he is sure to make sure that Dageron knows that his kind aren't particularly well liked with the horde, especially now.
Atoh was alone in the boundless darkness. Rejecting all reality she has to face, refusing all voices she has to listen to. Floating In front of her is a huge egg shell. It is the most sacred relic of the Khun Clan. The Egg of Mother Dragon.
The legend said the great warrior,Blue Wolf saved a Luck Dragon and wedded her. The dragon laid three eggs, from one of them born the founder of the Khun Clan. Every midsummer, the noble all children of the tribe who did not bound with the Luck Dragons must attend a special ritual. In the Sherman's tent, they sang and danced around the great egg, reminding all kinds of happy and joyful memories they have. It was said that the smell of delightful emotions attract the dragons from their heavenly plane.
" But I couldn't. " Atoh thinks. " I was too busy to mourn my brother's death. Could only cry and weep over what was lost for me. But then .... You came." "Yeah" A voice comes from the egg. A small creature the size of a kitten peers out from the shell. " And I said. Stop crying! It makes you look awful! " " I said I can't… " Atoh smiles sadly. " Tola, I tried to protect everyone. But I lost them all. My brothers, my sisters, my… parents. I… I didn't even say goodbye to my mother! " " That's really… really bad. But lost everything? I don't think so. Your brother Melk is still alive. He left the clan a long time ago. Esin's dragon is in the material plane. And Hey! None saw your father dead! He could fight a Red Dragon alone and kill it! " " Thank you, Tola. But I can't stay positive… I just can't! " " And that's why I am here. " The little dragon gets out of the egg and reaches Atoh. " Just like the time, you summoned me "
……………………………
Atoh opens her eyes. She sees the water drops from her hair and feels the coolness of the wind. She looks around and says in a surprisingly calm voice. " Sorry for showing my weakness. I am… fine now. Chingis. " Atoh calls to the Halfling who answered Dageron. " How many of us are left here? I want to know the number and state of my people, soldiers, mounts, livestock and equipment. Also send a message to Raza Khan of the Afmd Clan that I will visit him soon. " The girl walks to her sister's Luck Dragon and touches the beast's long and elegant muzzle. " Safk, you must suffer a lot. But you tell me why you are still remaining in the material plane? As far as I know, only the Elder Luck Dragons like Falkor can stay in this world without a partner. Does this mean my sister is still alive somewhere?"
Chingis squatted down next to the new Khan and extended a hand to help her back to her feet.
"Less than a hundred." He said, his voice thin. It seemed like he didn't want to answer the question. "We were massacred, Atoh Khan. As I was telling the Hobgoblin...Vader's forces are insurmountable. There is no army in the world that could stand before them. We have less than a dozen soldiers, counting myself. Just what Ongs Khan commanded me to lead out as a rearguard. We have enough Mastiffs and ponies for what is left of the horde. Enough ponies for mares milk and a few extras we can slaughter for food. Some bows, some swords and a few other things. A couple of carts that had been staged here at the Oasis before we went north."
He paused, grinding his teeth together while he thought of this last sentence.
"We shouldn't have gone north." He said. "Raza Khan's horde rides south west, back toward Nockmaar, going home to the grasslands. They didn't fair much better than we did, Atoh Khan. I'm not even sure at this point if Raza himself lives. His military power is probably greater than ours, now. He committed more cavalry to the retreat, and when the Orcs came for us, it was Raza's cavalry that allowed for the rest of us to escape."
Chingis rubbed a hand down his face, then raised his gaze to the sky overhead.
"So much blood has been spilled beneath the blue sky. I am so sorry, Atoh Khan."
Sfak looped her long, dark form around Atoh, creating a sort of giant semi-circle as she answered her new leader's questions.
"Do you know why Ongs Khan sent me away?"Sfak said with a broad smile, genuine though a bit wounded in its curl. "Because what is Khun Clan without a Luck Dragon? Hyboria is changing Atoh."
To emphasize this, Sfak arched her neck up and looked at the two suns high overhead.
"The Luck Dragons are returning to Hyboria. We will once again dance in the skies and bless the people of the world. There are others now, in other reaches of the world. I can feel them. Your sister..."
Sfak paused, thought, then continued.
"...when she knew what was coming, and heard your father's orders...we understood one another. My story was to continue with this new chapter...and her story...it has ended."
Slowly, Sfak's body began to levitate above the ground around Atoh.
**********
While Sfak and Chingis counseled the newest leader of the Khun Clan, the Halflings began to file up and visit with her band, the little group of warriors that she had been destined to become a part of. They offered up food, seared meat on palm skewers, skins of fermented mares milk, cheese made from goats and pigs and horse milk. They offered for the band, including Dageron, though most of them looked at him hesitantly after the battle they'd just fought with Vader's Hobgoblins, to stay with them for the evening, to sleep beneath the sky together and share in their many hundreds of fires.
They were curious about Orin's steel dragon, Dirk, and how different he was from the Luck Dragon's their leaders were often bonded with. They examined him head to toe, amazed by Orin's creation, and one of the younger Halfling girl's produced a cloth which she used to try to polish him up while she told him all about Ongs Khan and his Luck Dragon, Karl.
Many of them sought solace with Brevon, and to a lesser degree, the Red Woman, who seemed to have become his de facto deacon. Even though he didn't represent the most popular religion amongst their people, he comfort afforded by a man of the cloth was something they welcomed in their distress.
Chuba and Thatorse were anomalies to the Halflings. Well, Thatorse not so much, as they'd seen their fair share of the big people on standard sized horses, including Warhorses and Draft Horses, but it was the Goliath herself that they were fascinated by. She was HUGE compared to them! The children, especially, were very interested in how tall she was, and how strong, and one young girl, not even knee high to Chuba but probably half-grown for a Halfling, pulled the Barbarians clothes and asked if she could get a boost up to her shoulder so she could know what it was like to be so tall.
A young Halfling woman found Jek to be fascinating. She was mesmerized by the fact that he was her size, but he wasn't like her. Well, she admitted, he was like her in the sense that they had the same basic shape and two arms and two legs and a head and all that, but...well...he looked funny! Why did he look that way?
Dageron was the lonely one of the group. Well, for a little bit, at least. A little halfling boy, his clothes tattered and dirty, found him trying to wander off to be alone, and followed him. He waited for Dageron to start setting his bedroll before he made himself known (although he'd done a crap job of hiding so far), and sat next to the Hobgoblin. He wanted to know why Dageron was helping the good people now, not the bad people, and appeared to assume he'd been a part of the army that had attacked them.
Chuba liberally gave the halfling children the smiles she so rarely gave adults. She let them pull her and climb on her, often giving rides two at a time on her shoulders as she galloped around the camp. In quieter times when the children were called away, she would pull out the damaged mace from her belongings and hold it in front of her, staring at the great metal head like it was the face a humanoid, her eyes glazing over with some deep sadness or longing. She gave herself only a few short minutes of this moroseness before repacking the weapon and making herself useful in any way she could to Atoh's people or otherwise training or resting.
Dageron acts as if he does not see the boy until after the camp is setup. Then, when the boy speaks, Dageron acts like he didn't realize he was being watched. He nods deeply to the boy. "Welcome to my camp, Young Master of the Khun Klan. I am honored by your visit. In response to your question, your people were the sworn enemy of my people. When I was your age, it was your people we were told were bad. You see, every tribe assumes the people of the other tribe are bad. My people are lost now, at least, just as much as yours may become in time. The dissolution of my people forced me to learn to live amongst others, and in time, to realize there are no good people and no bad people. Just people who live differently. Look differently. Fight differently. Even Vader is not bad. Not really. He almost certainly fights for a cause; we just don't know what that cause is. It may not even be a cause we believe to be just or worthy. But clearly, he does." As he speaks, Dageron produces rations for his horse, removing the barding and gear so that he can groom and inspect the animal while it feeds. "Do you think a horse knows if its rider is good or bad? If your clan captured the horses of a rivals clan, do you truly believe the beast would understand if you thought yourself just and the others unjust? Or, would the horse simply miss those it was used to? The more races I interacted with, and the more kinds of tribes I met, the more I realized that wars are part of life. As is death. It is all terrible, but also beautiful and meaningful and necessary. All of it. Even the hard parts that hurt us in our very souls. Even when we lose everyone we love. It all means something, Young Master of the Khun Klan." Dageron will offer the brush to the boy in an effort to get him to help groom the horse - and to distract him. Pull him in to the conversation. "A Hobgoblin can be a father too. Or a mother, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, grandparent, sibling... or a friend. But, as a child, I was taught that only Hobgoblins could be those things to me. I am certain you were taught the same of your own people. But now... at the ragged edge of existence, perhaps your people will see a broader world with more possibilities. Perhaps you too can have Hobgoblin friends, instead of every Hobgoblin being your enemy. Sadly, only wars can create such lessons." Dageron checks the horse's hooves, and runs his hands across its sides and underside, looking for ticks or injuries. He continues checking and grooming the horse for some time, silently, saying nothing more to the boy. Hoping the boy understands.
A young Halfling woman found Jek to be fascinating. She was mesmerized by the fact that he was her size, but he wasn't like her. Well, she admitted, he was like her in the sense that they had the same basic shape and two arms and two legs and a head and all that, but...well...he looked funny! Why did he look that way?
Jek mirror's the woman's movements a little while she looks at him, his bright yellow eye's watching her. Then starts to laugh. "Why do you look that way? It is just how we were made, yes. I am of the Utinni Tribe. We are shadows of the Bright Lady. Here, look." He will pull up his sleeve a bit, allowing the light to hit his skin. As the light hit's it, it just... vanishes. His dark skin is just void of any features, and no light seemed to be able to illuminate it. "As I said, we are shadows. We follow in the Bright Lady's wake, and try to guide those in left in the darkness as best we can. The Utinni travel the Shem, scavenging what is lost and bringing it to those who need it. But... I can also do this!"
Jek will start to put on a little performance with Prestidigitation, Minor Illusion, and Silent Image, making lights and colors and sounds dance in the night. He will use this time to try to distract some of the little ones from what they have seen. He knows he would like a distraction if his Tribe had been the ones that were.....
Brevon again introduces himself to the Khun clan, then he requests permission from Khan Atoh to check on the wounded. If any are in critical condition, he will cast Cure Wounds. Then he asks if there is any important equipment that is damaged. In that case, he will cast Mending on those items, as the Lady allows.
Only then does Brevon partake in the generous offerings of food and drink. He eats sparsely, not having much of an appetite.
Finally, he offers stories to the little ones--tales of courage and hope, with happy endings.
Later, watching Atoh at a distance in her dealings with her Khan, Brevon admires her capable leadership, he immediate acceptance and performance of duty in the face of such personal tragedy. He wonders about destiny--about hers, and about his own--and the great plans of his Lady.
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As the group approaches the outer perimeter guard of the camp, Dageron purposefully removes the drab cloth over himself and his horse, meant to safeguard them from the worst of the desert sun. His armor and the warhorse's barding, though well-used all, gleam purposefully, coated with the white markings of his God. He pulls up the visor on his helmet to ensure all can see his Hobgoblin face. One must never hide from those who would account you an enemy when you approach as a friend.
The Halflings of the horde look up at the approaching newcomers but don't offer any sudden resistance. Their wills are not broken, but they are obviously tired. Most of them show signs of battle, of fatigue and injury. A few hail back to Brevon, but most stay quiet of the few dozen who are still assembled there.
The Halflings look around at each other as Atoh and Nana approach. They listen to her questions and most of them hesitate. A young girl finally steps forward, her hands clasped in front of her.
"I am sorry." She says. She looks back, at the members of the horde gathered behind her, and then over at Safk. The Luck Dragon watches, her eyes drooping in sadness. "We lost your family up north fighting the Stormtroopers."
She paused at this, thought for a second longer.
"All of them." She added for clarity. "When Imperial forces attacked...we were overwhelmed. We didn't expect them to be so numerous, so well armed and organized. At the end, Ongs Khan stayed behind, and those of his lineage, so that we could escape."
She motions for one of her male compatriots, who grabs the blood soaked standard and the Luck Dragon fur tassels that whip from its apex. The Halfling man approaches with the standard and plants it in the ground next to Nana's feet.
"I believe you are Khan now."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Atoh hears a heavy thub. She doesn't even notice the sound of her knees hitting the ground. " They… they are… GONE! " Her mind tries to comprehend the words, but her brain follows the same route like a crazy mouse. " Atoh! Can you hear me? Atoh! " Even her dragon's voice sounds distant. The girl looks up at the sun, searching for an answer. The sun is so shining and dazzling. Everything becomes white and then… turns into black.
( The information is too much for Atoh and she faint away from the shock )
One of the Halflings dives to her knees, grabbing Atoh and pulling her into her arms. She begins to pat the new Khan's face with one hand, gently.
"Atoh Khan, wake up!"
The remnants of Raza and Ongs Khans's hordes buzz as the Halflings and others gathered there realize that there are visitors amongst them. Even the great Luck Dragon stirs from where she basks next to the pool of crystal clear water. She slowly makes her way over to the Order of the Phoenix.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
During the travel to the Oasis, Jek will continue using his spare time to train the [feat]skill expert[/feat] feat. Jek will listen in on the discussions between Brevon and the Red Lady. She seems okay, but is a little worried that she thought the Bright Lady was a guy. That's just silly.
As they approach the oasis, Jek will look about for signs of any Lightless tribes, specifically his own. They would usually come to trade if there are people in the Oasis, but only if they were near by or knew of the meeting ahead of time, and usually during the day. Some people get frightened when they show up at night.
Jek watches on in shock. Atoh's family.... oh no. He doesn't know what being a Khan is, but it seems to be important. He want's to comfort his new friend, but it seems the other halflings are taking care of her. Jek will stay back and keep watch for now.
"Oh, no," Brevon says with a deep and sincere concern as he gets closer to check on Atoh's health. "Healer! I am a healer!" He calls, hoping that the warriors of Atoh's clan do not view his assertiveness as a slight against their new Khan. "Ah, she is breathing," he says with relief. Hold Atoh's head up, he removes his waterskin from splashes a bit of water on her face.
During the night in Greyskull, Chuba ventured through the halls, admiring the stonework of this impressive castle. She held her stone shard in her hand and to her heart as she passed her hand over the smooth and rough variation of the castle's stones. When she came to a reflective surface, she stared herself in the eyes for a moment. She pulled her cloak back and held her stone shard to her upper arm, tracing a figure around its profile numerous times. She continued to stare at her upper arm in the reflective surface after she returned the shard to her pocket. Finally, she returned to her bedroll and slept.
-----
While the Order traveled west toward the Tower, Chuba returned to her typical quiet self. She rode near Brevon and the red witch and listened to their conversations about the light they worship. Some of the things they claimed about the light paralleled her beliefs about the Everstone. A brief pang of longing to be near the Everstone again hit her; it surprised her and she chided herself--she has a job to complete.
-----
When Atoh is called Khan and faints, and after Brevon ensures she is okay, Chuba whispers to Orin, "What is a Khan? A leader of some sort--military or otherwise?"
Chuba refuses to let Atoh leave her sight until Atoh is conscious again. Given that she is able, Chuba remains near Orin while keeping her eye on Atoh.
Jek sees no other signs of nearby Lightless tribes as they journey to the desert. If anything, it seems like the already sparse habitation is even sparse in the face of the coming invasion. The oasis is the first sign of life he's encountered since Casge Grayskull, save for the occasional cactus or lizard or death worm.
---
The Halflings peel back as Brecon kneels beside Atoh and begins his work. The water jolts her eyes open, back to full awareness, in Brevon's arms. Melisandre jigs up behind him, leaning over and looking down at Atoh.
"It will all be alright." She said calmly, though it wasn't clear to who. "This is as the Lady wants it."
---
The Halflings watch Chuba with interest. She's two and a half, three times the height of some of them. They don't seem afraid, just curious as they look her over. Their attention doesn't fade from her until the Luck Dragon near the water finally makes her way to the new Khan and nuzzles her in Brevon's arms, rocking the Cleric from her shear size.
"All shall be well, Atoh Khan." The Luck Dragon says with a soft, gentle, almost motherly voice. "Luck will return to you and yours soon."
The whole party suddenly feels much more fortunate.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
"All according to Her will," Brevon agrees, a bit hollowly. He hasn't forgotten the implications of the Sorceress's suggestion that the Nothing is a tool of the gods. Brevon stands and offers to take Melisandre's hand. "At times the will of the Lady is... difficult to accept. But we cannot know what plan guides Her hand in this."
In return, Melisandre offers her hand to Brevon and smiles.
"This darkness shall pass." She assures everyone around her, including the Halflings of Atoh's clan. "The Darkness cannot hold these lands. The Lady of Light has sent her second son, the Rose Sun, to walk the sky with her oldest child, the Greater Sun, as a sign that her will shall be done! It is not for Lord Vader to have these lands! He may harm us now, but the third son, the Dying Sun, comes soon! And with him shall come the next Great Conjunction and the death of the Age of Division! The Order of the Phoenix gathers here before you now, and with them comes the promise of the reunification of the Crystal of Truth and the beginning of the Age of Unification! The Lady or Light has decreed it so, and it shall be so!"
Even the Luck Dragon seems moved by this as she nuzzles her face against her new Khan.
" I have sent for Falkor, the Eldest Luck Dragon." She says to the Order of the Phoenix. " Without a Khan, the clan needed council from high, and without the AURYN or any forces to send as a runner to the Ivory Tower, we have been in dire straights indeed. It is with great luck that you and yours have found us during our time of need."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
"A sign from the Lady! Of course!" Brevon kneels in the sand, bowing in the direction of the suns. At the words of the Red Priestess, his fears are temporarily subdued. Yet the words of the Sorceress are not entirely in accord with Melisandre's interpretation of events. At least, not in the way of their telling. Still, it is possible that the Nothing is not actually meant to destroy the world. Perhaps it is only used to strike at the enemies of the Light, such as Vader's master, Sauron.
Puzzling on this, Brevon tilts his head back to the Red Priestess. "Melisandre, the third, the Dying Sun, when shall it come? What is our Lady waiting for?"
Dageron stays in the background of the commotion surrounding Atoh, unable to bring himself to care too deeply for a peoples that up until a generation ago warred with his constantly. Our leaders died and they did not weep for us. He shakes the unworthy thought from his head, hoping no change of expression betrayed such weakness of mind and resolve. He turns instead to look upon the clans assembled here. Many of their markings and distinctions he is familiar with as an enemy would be. Shattered but not broken, he thinks to himself appraisingly. But unable to change their fate nonetheless. Just like the Aureki. He stands in silence and waits.
After the greetings and concern over Atoh die down, and once he determines who the most senior person is (other than the dragon itself), he will approach them with his book out. If they are willing to speak with him at all, he will ask them in great detail the enemy numbers, unit compositions, weapons, tactics, uniforms, banners, legions deployed - everything he can. His book has been a pieced together log of the movements of the various forces in Vader's war, and as such, he hopes it to become an invaluable strategic tool in finding weaknesses in his force deployments, supply train logistics, and attrition due to losses.
Once he has gathered the information he seeks, he will camp just beyond the others - outside the Oasis, unless the clans specifically invite him in. He may be accepted by the Order, but that does not mean all should be compelled to do the same.
"I know now, my Lord." Melisandre says to Brevon. "I only know the message, not the details, I'm afraid."
Dageron is able to locate the most senior military officer left, a warrior by the name of Chingis. This Halfling sneers at the approaching Hobgoblin and has some rather rude things to say before looking at his companions and Atoh Kahn and relenting the information, though he is sure to make sure that Dageron knows that his kind aren't particularly well liked with the horde, especially now.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Atoh was alone in the boundless darkness. Rejecting all reality she has to face, refusing all voices she has to listen to. Floating In front of her is a huge egg shell. It is the most sacred relic of the Khun Clan. The Egg of Mother Dragon.
The legend said the great warrior,Blue Wolf saved a Luck Dragon and wedded her. The dragon laid three eggs, from one of them born the founder of the Khun Clan. Every midsummer, the noble all children of the tribe who did not bound with the Luck Dragons must attend a special ritual. In the Sherman's tent, they sang and danced around the great egg, reminding all kinds of happy and joyful memories they have. It was said that the smell of delightful emotions attract the dragons from their heavenly plane.
" But I couldn't. " Atoh thinks. " I was too busy to mourn my brother's death. Could only cry and weep over what was lost for me. But then .... You came." "Yeah" A voice comes from the egg. A small creature the size of a kitten peers out from the shell. " And I said. Stop crying! It makes you look awful! " " I said I can't… " Atoh smiles sadly. " Tola, I tried to protect everyone. But I lost them all. My brothers, my sisters, my… parents. I… I didn't even say goodbye to my mother! " " That's really… really bad. But lost everything? I don't think so. Your brother Melk is still alive. He left the clan a long time ago. Esin's dragon is in the material plane. And Hey! None saw your father dead! He could fight a Red Dragon alone and kill it! " " Thank you, Tola. But I can't stay positive… I just can't! " " And that's why I am here. " The little dragon gets out of the egg and reaches Atoh. " Just like the time, you summoned me "
……………………………
Atoh opens her eyes. She sees the water drops from her hair and feels the coolness of the wind. She looks around and says in a surprisingly calm voice. " Sorry for showing my weakness. I am… fine now. Chingis. " Atoh calls to the Halfling who answered Dageron. " How many of us are left here? I want to know the number and state of my people, soldiers, mounts, livestock and equipment. Also send a message to Raza Khan of the Afmd Clan that I will visit him soon. " The girl walks to her sister's Luck Dragon and touches the beast's long and elegant muzzle. " Safk, you must suffer a lot. But you tell me why you are still remaining in the material plane? As far as I know, only the Elder Luck Dragons like Falkor can stay in this world without a partner. Does this mean my sister is still alive somewhere?"
Chingis squatted down next to the new Khan and extended a hand to help her back to her feet.
"Less than a hundred." He said, his voice thin. It seemed like he didn't want to answer the question. "We were massacred, Atoh Khan. As I was telling the Hobgoblin...Vader's forces are insurmountable. There is no army in the world that could stand before them. We have less than a dozen soldiers, counting myself. Just what Ongs Khan commanded me to lead out as a rearguard. We have enough Mastiffs and ponies for what is left of the horde. Enough ponies for mares milk and a few extras we can slaughter for food. Some bows, some swords and a few other things. A couple of carts that had been staged here at the Oasis before we went north."
He paused, grinding his teeth together while he thought of this last sentence.
"We shouldn't have gone north." He said. "Raza Khan's horde rides south west, back toward Nockmaar, going home to the grasslands. They didn't fair much better than we did, Atoh Khan. I'm not even sure at this point if Raza himself lives. His military power is probably greater than ours, now. He committed more cavalry to the retreat, and when the Orcs came for us, it was Raza's cavalry that allowed for the rest of us to escape."
Chingis rubbed a hand down his face, then raised his gaze to the sky overhead.
"So much blood has been spilled beneath the blue sky. I am so sorry, Atoh Khan."
Sfak looped her long, dark form around Atoh, creating a sort of giant semi-circle as she answered her new leader's questions.
"Do you know why Ongs Khan sent me away?" Sfak said with a broad smile, genuine though a bit wounded in its curl. "Because what is Khun Clan without a Luck Dragon? Hyboria is changing Atoh."
To emphasize this, Sfak arched her neck up and looked at the two suns high overhead.
"The Luck Dragons are returning to Hyboria. We will once again dance in the skies and bless the people of the world. There are others now, in other reaches of the world. I can feel them. Your sister..."
Sfak paused, thought, then continued.
"...when she knew what was coming, and heard your father's orders...we understood one another. My story was to continue with this new chapter...and her story...it has ended."
Slowly, Sfak's body began to levitate above the ground around Atoh.
**********
While Sfak and Chingis counseled the newest leader of the Khun Clan, the Halflings began to file up and visit with her band, the little group of warriors that she had been destined to become a part of. They offered up food, seared meat on palm skewers, skins of fermented mares milk, cheese made from goats and pigs and horse milk. They offered for the band, including Dageron, though most of them looked at him hesitantly after the battle they'd just fought with Vader's Hobgoblins, to stay with them for the evening, to sleep beneath the sky together and share in their many hundreds of fires.
They were curious about Orin's steel dragon, Dirk, and how different he was from the Luck Dragon's their leaders were often bonded with. They examined him head to toe, amazed by Orin's creation, and one of the younger Halfling girl's produced a cloth which she used to try to polish him up while she told him all about Ongs Khan and his Luck Dragon, Karl.
Many of them sought solace with Brevon, and to a lesser degree, the Red Woman, who seemed to have become his de facto deacon. Even though he didn't represent the most popular religion amongst their people, he comfort afforded by a man of the cloth was something they welcomed in their distress.
Chuba and Thatorse were anomalies to the Halflings. Well, Thatorse not so much, as they'd seen their fair share of the big people on standard sized horses, including Warhorses and Draft Horses, but it was the Goliath herself that they were fascinated by. She was HUGE compared to them! The children, especially, were very interested in how tall she was, and how strong, and one young girl, not even knee high to Chuba but probably half-grown for a Halfling, pulled the Barbarians clothes and asked if she could get a boost up to her shoulder so she could know what it was like to be so tall.
A young Halfling woman found Jek to be fascinating. She was mesmerized by the fact that he was her size, but he wasn't like her. Well, she admitted, he was like her in the sense that they had the same basic shape and two arms and two legs and a head and all that, but...well...he looked funny! Why did he look that way?
Dageron was the lonely one of the group. Well, for a little bit, at least. A little halfling boy, his clothes tattered and dirty, found him trying to wander off to be alone, and followed him. He waited for Dageron to start setting his bedroll before he made himself known (although he'd done a crap job of hiding so far), and sat next to the Hobgoblin. He wanted to know why Dageron was helping the good people now, not the bad people, and appeared to assume he'd been a part of the army that had attacked them.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Chuba liberally gave the halfling children the smiles she so rarely gave adults. She let them pull her and climb on her, often giving rides two at a time on her shoulders as she galloped around the camp. In quieter times when the children were called away, she would pull out the damaged mace from her belongings and hold it in front of her, staring at the great metal head like it was the face a humanoid, her eyes glazing over with some deep sadness or longing. She gave herself only a few short minutes of this moroseness before repacking the weapon and making herself useful in any way she could to Atoh's people or otherwise training or resting.
Orin thanks the children for the care shown to Dirk.
D&D since 1984
Dageron acts as if he does not see the boy until after the camp is setup. Then, when the boy speaks, Dageron acts like he didn't realize he was being watched. He nods deeply to the boy. "Welcome to my camp, Young Master of the Khun Klan. I am honored by your visit. In response to your question, your people were the sworn enemy of my people. When I was your age, it was your people we were told were bad. You see, every tribe assumes the people of the other tribe are bad. My people are lost now, at least, just as much as yours may become in time. The dissolution of my people forced me to learn to live amongst others, and in time, to realize there are no good people and no bad people. Just people who live differently. Look differently. Fight differently. Even Vader is not bad. Not really. He almost certainly fights for a cause; we just don't know what that cause is. It may not even be a cause we believe to be just or worthy. But clearly, he does." As he speaks, Dageron produces rations for his horse, removing the barding and gear so that he can groom and inspect the animal while it feeds. "Do you think a horse knows if its rider is good or bad? If your clan captured the horses of a rivals clan, do you truly believe the beast would understand if you thought yourself just and the others unjust? Or, would the horse simply miss those it was used to? The more races I interacted with, and the more kinds of tribes I met, the more I realized that wars are part of life. As is death. It is all terrible, but also beautiful and meaningful and necessary. All of it. Even the hard parts that hurt us in our very souls. Even when we lose everyone we love. It all means something, Young Master of the Khun Klan." Dageron will offer the brush to the boy in an effort to get him to help groom the horse - and to distract him. Pull him in to the conversation. "A Hobgoblin can be a father too. Or a mother, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, grandparent, sibling... or a friend. But, as a child, I was taught that only Hobgoblins could be those things to me. I am certain you were taught the same of your own people. But now... at the ragged edge of existence, perhaps your people will see a broader world with more possibilities. Perhaps you too can have Hobgoblin friends, instead of every Hobgoblin being your enemy. Sadly, only wars can create such lessons." Dageron checks the horse's hooves, and runs his hands across its sides and underside, looking for ticks or injuries. He continues checking and grooming the horse for some time, silently, saying nothing more to the boy. Hoping the boy understands.
Jek mirror's the woman's movements a little while she looks at him, his bright yellow eye's watching her. Then starts to laugh. "Why do you look that way? It is just how we were made, yes. I am of the Utinni Tribe. We are shadows of the Bright Lady. Here, look." He will pull up his sleeve a bit, allowing the light to hit his skin. As the light hit's it, it just... vanishes. His dark skin is just void of any features, and no light seemed to be able to illuminate it. "As I said, we are shadows. We follow in the Bright Lady's wake, and try to guide those in left in the darkness as best we can. The Utinni travel the Shem, scavenging what is lost and bringing it to those who need it. But... I can also do this!"
Jek will start to put on a little performance with Prestidigitation, Minor Illusion, and Silent Image, making lights and colors and sounds dance in the night. He will use this time to try to distract some of the little ones from what they have seen. He knows he would like a distraction if his Tribe had been the ones that were.....
Brevon again introduces himself to the Khun clan, then he requests permission from Khan Atoh to check on the wounded. If any are in critical condition, he will cast Cure Wounds. Then he asks if there is any important equipment that is damaged. In that case, he will cast Mending on those items, as the Lady allows.
Only then does Brevon partake in the generous offerings of food and drink. He eats sparsely, not having much of an appetite.
Finally, he offers stories to the little ones--tales of courage and hope, with happy endings.
Later, watching Atoh at a distance in her dealings with her Khan, Brevon admires her capable leadership, he immediate acceptance and performance of duty in the face of such personal tragedy. He wonders about destiny--about hers, and about his own--and the great plans of his Lady.