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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 15, 2020 18:49:08 GMT
More a proper hunting lodge, this building is wildly out of place inside a major city, but the last time Leuwinmorgh gave a single shit about what anyone else thought was a century and a half before Nigel had even been born. It’s decorated with trophies from the Mistlands and his other adventures overseas and against the armies of the dead that inhabit the Morass.
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 16, 2020 4:39:22 GMT
Herneiros lead Kjell to the cabin.
"Father! I have a friend I would like you to meet..."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 16, 2020 6:47:50 GMT
Leuwinmorgh was reading over something when Herneiros came in. “More friends? Most popular man in Bastion already!” He jested. He looked over at them as they entered. “But an elf! About time!” He said loudly. Everything he said was loud. “Welcome to my abode,” he said. “I didn’t think there were any elven Reclaimers I didn’t train or at least hear of before. Good to still be surprised now and again.”
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Post by Kjell Ó Raghallaigh on Sept 17, 2020 13:05:31 GMT
Kjell gave the elf, the myth, the legend a respectful nod in greeting. "I'm not a Reclaimer. Or at least I don't think I am," she said. Leuwinmorgh's reputation obviously preceded him and she assumed he knew that well. "My name is Kjell. I was hoping you might help me find someone." A second later, she amended, "Something."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 17, 2020 15:40:50 GMT
The warchief’s eyes widened in recognition as she introduced herself. “Ah,” he said. “The sniper elf. Gwynphear mentioned you a few times. You’ve made a stir in certain circles.” He ribbed his giant jaw. “What thing is it you wish to find?”
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 17, 2020 15:44:38 GMT
"The Maentwrog," replied Herneiros with a serious look. He understood perfectly well what she was asking for.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 17, 2020 16:13:27 GMT
Leuwinmorgh let out a breath. “Gods in the stars,” he said. “The Black Oak itself. You’re from the Lake Erabeth disaster then,” he stated. “Finding the Maentwrog isn’t so hard, in truth,” he said as he filled a tremendous mug with ale. “It’s much like a puppy seeking out a horse. It’s what you do once you’ve found it that brings to mind all the deeper questions in life. Namely, how to continue living.” His voice had the slightly distant aspect of one remembering rather than lecturing. “An old friend of mine and I faced it down once. The battle ended with her heading west, never to enter the Mists again.” He took a huge swallow and the foam stuck to his upper lip. “We thought we had killed it, at the cost of two of our dearest friends. I warn you, anytime you face that beast or its offspring you lose a piece of yourself, even if you think there’s nothing left to be destroyed.”
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Post by Kjell Ó Raghallaigh on Sept 17, 2020 17:56:47 GMT
Kjell listened to him thoughtfully, and by the time he finished, just said, "That's alright," like she didn't much care about the after. She paused a while. There had only been one time she'd actively gone looking for the tree with a party of seasoned fighters and that hadn't ended well for any of them. And they'd not even made it to the tree. "The roots," she mused after a while. "Did you try to destroy those?"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 17, 2020 18:08:01 GMT
“Melreth did,” he grumbled. “But apparently it wasn’t enough. There’s something deep in its core. I think the tree itself is just a vessel for something...more,” he said, struggling to find the word. It took a while for it to reform but in a year or so it was right back to doing what it does. It feeds on feelings, that’s what makes it so tough to kill. Every friend you lose, every relative, it gains strength. We never found a way around it. The only blessing is that it fears the old dragon and thus doesn’t come west often.”
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Post by Kjell Ó Raghallaigh on Sept 17, 2020 18:42:08 GMT
"Well that fucking sucks," she deadpanned. "What about the... the faces on the tree? What happened to them when you thought you'd destroyed it?"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 17, 2020 19:14:36 GMT
The old elf sighed. “Like I said, it draws strength from your own guilt. Everyone can see different faces.” He frowned at her. “There’s no need to throw your life away, lass. You’ve got to find a big axe if you want to cut that tree down.” He turned to Herneiros. “If she does go, don’t get tricked into getting close. It’s nigh invulnerable but it isn’t fast.”
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 17, 2020 19:26:16 GMT
"Aye, we'll keep our distance... though I can't say I ever thought I would be hunting a tree. Still, I think we can do this if we're not foolish about it."
He turned to Kjell, "If you really want this, I'll take you myself. I already have some others I am guiding into the Mist if you don't mind the company. We could probably use them in this case."
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Post by Kjell Ó Raghallaigh on Sept 17, 2020 20:15:08 GMT
"But it does trap the souls of those it has killed," Kjell said, though not with her usual conviction anymore. She crossed her arms as she considered Herneiros's words. "Another expedition?" she asked. She didn't mind the company but she also didn't want to subject any more people to what was surely a fate worse than death, being eaten by a vile demon and rotting inside it forever. Do bring your friends, it had said. No, thank you.
Maybe venturing forth with a party would be a good thing, though. They'd surely have their own mission and she could break off if they got close to the tree. "Sounds good," she said evenly. "Strength in numbers."
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 22, 2020 0:22:33 GMT
"Possibly, but everyone else has their own doomed voyages in mind and frankly, it's a bit of a straight line. Better than making four different round trips. And I think we will need a good smattering of talents to succeed at any of these impossible tasks..."
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Post by Kjell Ó Raghallaigh on Sept 22, 2020 15:31:26 GMT
"What are the other tasks?" she asked.
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