A Cruel Twist of Fate [closed]

[wickedchase]

WHO: Twisted Fate, Nerva, Korrin, Zevran, Beleth, Cyril, Ruby, Sera, Katniss, and special sending crystal guest star, Sina!
WHAT: A companion quest and elven relations all wrapped up in one.
WHEN: Post-Illness plot. The band of merry travelers will be gone from Clouch 23 to Clouchreach 28.
WHERE: Traveling to and from the Serpentine River.
NOTES: The plotting post.

Comments

[wickedchase]

Naturally. [He grins.]

Obtaining ironbark has been more difficult. Our hunters and gatherers can't venture out as often because of the demons, and we can't close the Rift, obviously.

Frankly, even if the Rift wasn't open, getting ironbark would still be a task. The hunters are too busy running around like savage children as it is.

[samahl]

I can look for ironbark while we hunt the demons. [That's actually pretty easy for him. He used to do that for his Clan's Keeper all of the time. The Rift complicates it a bit, but he can get at least some of it.]

That's a little troubling. Is there anything you can think of that would calm your Hunters?

[wickedchase]

I would be grateful, da'len.

I wish I could say for sure. They drive out the shemlen, true, but it's a waste of time and effort. This is not what Hunters are for, but there's only really one person they will listen to.

[samahl]

The Keeper?

[For all of her faults, at least Keepers Deheune would never allow the Hunters of Clan Ashara to fall into such foolishness. He can't really openly judge her just yet though. This Crafter may be open with him, but that doesn't mean he'll tolerate bad mouthing his leader.]

[wickedchase]

[The Crafter takes a moment before he gives a sigh and rolls his eyes. Not at Cyril, that much is clear.]

Too much time is spent on making sure the shemlen fear us. At this point, we're just making them angry.

But yes, the Keeper -- she encourages it. There was a time I respected her wisdom, but now it's just a dangerous path we're walking.

[samahl]

What turned her down that path? If you don't mind me asking.

Twi-Tobrevas told me a bit, but it has been a while since he was last with the people.

[wickedchase]

He was a boy when it happened. When we first started to roam this region, we came across the villagers' hunters. A fight happened over resources. Word is that the shemlen started it, and elf blood was paid.

Don't ask me who started what. But both humans and elves died. Keeper Shoshanna never forgave them or herself for it. So she taught us to remember, to not forget what the shemlen did to us.

The Hunters listened the most. We value the hunt, but by now it's a sport to them to attack whatever shemlen get lost in the woods.

Most of all? I suspect she blames the shemlen for how Tobrevas left the clan.

[samahl]

Ah, that's a topic he's even less forthcoming about.

What exactly happened?

[wickedchase]

I imagine so. I remember him when he was a boy; don't know what he's much like now, but he always had a big heart. There was a time he found an injured shemlen girl in the woods and brought her back to the camp to try to get her healed. The Hunters chased the girl out the next morning. I suspect that girl probably didn't live much longer from the burns I saw.

But that wasn't what caused them to part ways.

For awhile, there was a popular slave trade route north of here. Flat-ears from the cities were marched off to be sold. Tobrevas wanted to stop them. Keeper Shoshanna told him to leave it be.

He didn't listen. It wasn't the first time he hadn't paid her any heed, but that was the last time. He tried to free the slaves and nearly paid the price for it. The Hunters made sure he escaped, but there were injuries.

They argued, as they often did. Keeper Shoshanna couldn't control him, her First. Some said he loved everything outside the clan more than his own family, but I saw a boy who wanted to do the right thing. The Keeper banished him from the clan, maybe out of frustration, maybe because she didn't know what else to do with him. Hard to say.

[samahl]

[Cyril just listens to all of this and feels this weird tightness in his chest.

This whole time he's been enjoying Twisted Fate's presence to the fullest. He loves dragging the man away for some quality time just the two of them minus their clothes. He hadn't realized that this was the type of man who would do such a thing for people he didn't know. That he would even defy his Keeper, and his grandmother, to do the right thing.

He must have been so frustrated and hurt when she turned on him for it.]

Was he your First when this happened? [He remembers what TF told him about that, but he's curious what the Crafter will say.]

[wickedchase]

Yes, he was. Full of questions about the Creators and all the tales passed down. He wanted to know more, and we didn't always have the answers he wanted.

Maybe it was a generation difference. Keeper Shoshanna has been in her role for many years, and Tobrevas was so young.

[samahl]

Clan Ashara's Keeper experienced a similar issue dealing with youth. Eighteen years ago, my Clan was struck with an illness and it left several of us orphans, myself included. Others, like our Crafter, a woman named Nomaya, lost their children. Keeper Deheune had to manage her own two children, her First, and the orphans. It caused a lot of restlessness among many of us.

It probably contributed to why so many of us joined the Inquisition, but we left with her blessing. She realized we needed to find our own ways.

[He tells this to the Crafter in part to share his own Clan's pain, since the Crafter has given so much of the story of his Clan, but also to show that there is a different way.]

[wickedchase]

Creators, I can only imagine. I don't envy that sort of decision making upon anyone's clan Keeper. Be it illness or shemlen hands or our own, there's already too few of us in the world.

In any event, I'd be glad to share that with others in the clan. Some fresh perspective should be welcome. Ma serannas.

[samahl]

[Cyril responds with some form of 'your welcome' in elven that for some reason isn't in any codex]

Though I am the one who should be thanking you. You've shared a lot, and gave me the chance to look at your bows.

Do you know if anyone else in the clan might need help? I can try to get your ironbark and anything else they need at the same time.

[wickedchase]

You know what you're looking at, and you seem like you want to solve our problems. [He chuckles.] Difficult to turn you away with that in mind.

We haven't had much luck leaving the camp to gather elfroot. Might want to speak with our clan's First to have an idea on how much we need. But getting in her favor won't be a bad idea. I figure that's what you're looking for, da'len. [The Crafter smiles wryly.]

[samahl]

I won't lie and say it's not part of it, but the end goal is to help. Getting elfroot and ironbark helps. They also both happen to be found in the woods, so I can get both at the same time and get them back much faster.

[He offers the Crafter a smile, one that is genuine and charming.] Do you mind pointing out your First? Then I'll get out of your hair.

[wickedchase]

I understand. You have good intentions; Tobrevas has picked his lot well.

Young woman, long blonde hair, Mythal vallaslin. Her name is Janna. She's very prideful, but she does care about the clan. You'll see her minding the children half the time.

[samahl]

[He nods.] Ma serannas, hahren.

I'll be on my way and I'll return with the ironbark.

[wickedchase]

Dareth shiral, da'len.

[samahl]

[He tilts his head a bit in farewell and then pulls away to go find Janna. It shouldn't be too hard, after all knows very well what Mythal vallaslin look like and it's usually pretty easy to pick out a First.]

[wickedchase]

[Shortly after shooing away Sera and Twisted Fate, Janna is crouched by the children, smiling gently to them as she murmurs a tale of Mythal to them.

She pauses when she notices Cyril out of the corner of her eye; Janna stands and looks over the other elf with caution.]

Andaran atish’an, lethallin. Can I help you?

[samahl]

Your Crafter sent me here when I asked if there was anything I could do to help your clan. Are you Janna?

[wickedchase]

Aurelion?

[She considers a moment, then nods to Cyril.] Our supplies have dwindled since the rift has opened. I imagine the village has suffered, but so have we. We're lacking blood lotus and elfroot alike.

Unfortunately, with the demons as they are and the hunters busy enough, I haven't had an opportunity to work on restocking.

You would be willing to help us?

[samahl]

[Cyril nods.]

He's asked me to find ironbark if I could, I'd be happy to gather to plants too.

How much do you need?

[wickedchase]

At least ten gatherings would be enough to get by on.

Ma serannas, lethallin. Perhaps it was a blessing to reach out to the Inquisition after all.