Kylie:
Talen wrote:“That’s unfortunate,” Talen laments. “I’ll try not to eat too much then. But I wonder how much is too much?”
Kylie shrugs. "The only way to find out for sure may be to experience it, Talen. On the other hand, I would advise taking it slow."
Lia wrote:“I understand. Though have you ever looked at it as ,you maybe the better off for it?” she asks curiously.
"Uhm, I not sure I understand what you mean, Lia. Certainly, I didn't starve to death, so I'm certainly better off in that way. But otherwise...?"
Valena wrote:“I wouldn’t worry about food spoiling. The Lady of the Forests grants me a spell that will restore food that has rotted. Very little will go to waste.”
"No doubt you are right, Valena. Still, why waste spells on something that can be taken care of without the need to use them? Besides, the spell
might not be available when it's needed."
Sherwood wrote:“What a very unusual name. It sounds somewhat similar to the long names used by the inhabitants of Zakhara. Maybe this Elfin Clan is based in that area? Although it is strange that we are unfamiliar with Glantri, as Cynalon lies in between them and Alphatia. Obviously this writing is in a variation of elfish we are unfamiliar with.”
"Zakhara? Maybe we should ask Yusef about it next time we see him. He may know something of the lands around Zakhara as well as his mother's homeland."
Kylie listens as Laucian, Sherwood and Lilia discuss the crowns and their history, but she has nothing to add.
Sherwood wrote:“That seems reasonable. I’ll teleport to Karn’s Keep with the key and use Lifeshield to return.”
"Would it be safer for you, Sherwood, if we stopped the barge and waited here in midair for you to return? Or would it be just as easy if we kept going?"
Between the book and Lilia's assistance, Kylie feels like she is making good progress on learning this Alphatian language. Besides, it gives her something to do during the long days of travel.
Talen wrote:One day Talen is studying his spell book with Kylie sitting close by. Putting his book down, Talen says to Kylie in a low voice. “Can I ask you a question? Do you find this easy?”
"Easy?" Kylie asks with a snort. "I wish it were so."
Talen wrote:“It just seems so hard to me. Back at Karn’s Keep there were so many spells I tried to learn, but I just couldn’t understand them. It’s very frustrating. So I was wondering if everyone goes through this or was it just me? Maybe I’m not cut out to follow the magic tradition of the human side of my family.”
"I wouldn't worry too much, Talen. I suspect it's difficult for most aspiring mages. If it were easy, there would be a whole lot more wizards in the world. There may be a few true prodigies who breeze through this stuff, but I doubt they are common."
===
Kylie is somewhat surprised when Lia admits to not knowing what the wyverns are. Then again, perhaps they don't live near the valley where Lia and Talen grew up. Valena explains a little about them. "And they're called
wyverns," Kylie adds, just so that Lia will know the proper name for the beasts. "Otherwise, Valena pretty much covered what you need to know about them."
Lilia wrote:“According to legend, the Trees of Life in the Elfholds originated from branches from the Mother Tree. The Elfhold trees were planted where they are now. They were not uprooted and moved. But as you say, perhaps the center area was the location of the Mother Tree. It is logical for it to have a central location so that its power could affect all of the forest around it.”
“No, I fear those other clearings are where the invaders cut trees down. It can’t help but wonder if any of those trees had elves sleeping within them? How many have died here?”
Kylie nods as Lilia fills her in. "I had just thought that they might have planted some branches from the Mother Tree here as well, in a similar fashion to those in the Elfholds. Of course, if they cut down trees with elves inside, that would be just a dire. I didn't know that this was a possibility, Lilia. Elves have some way of merging with trees?"
In reply to her question, Laucian suggests that the crystal platform was created by a mage, like the one who created a crystal fortress he had visited earlier. Lilia isn't so sure. Unfortunately, no one seems to have much idea of its purpose. Sherwood suggests that they go down and take a good look around the structure and the small central clearing.
"I think it's worth it to try to learn something about where the Mother Tree may have gone."
Laucian wrote:“By which patrols,” he asks curiously. “The Wyrven riders or the ones we have not seen yet? Those woods are quite thick probably thicker then the Elfholds themselves. The forest floor is veiled from the canopy of the trees, Do not overlook that Kylie. There maybe far more patrols then the flyers, There is still much we can learn, We have only seen one patrol and this day is not yet over. Let us see just how active they are.”
Sherwood seems to agree with Laucian that flying patrols are not a significant concern. "Originally, my thought was the wyvern and their riders, but you would know far more of the forest than I. Still, with as many orcs as we have seen, I think we should assume that there are foot patrols as well. Of course, it's a very big forest, so it may be possible to avoid the patrols."
Sherwood wrote:“That is an option. I have access to many spells that would cause wide scale damage. I would imagine that casting a Cloudkill upwind of one of those bases would be devastating. But for now let’s land near that crystalline object. We’ve been airborne for nearly a week and I’m sure we all could use some solid ground underneath us. We can land the barge, but keep it invisible for now. It won’t drain as much power as our continued flight did. If the area seems safe, we’ll send scouts to the clearing to the south.”
"If we do decide to attack the encampments, using less flashy spells like your Cloudkill would be less likely to alert the other encampments. But you're right, we can deal with that later when we have a better idea what we're dealing with." Many of the others express their desire to be back on the ground after flying for so long, and Kylie finds that she has to agree. This has all been a very strange trip so far.
Laucian wrote:“If we are to land then let us do so where the imprint of the barge cannot be seen from above or by land. If it is berthed on the grasslands their scouts will surely see the sign of our passing.”
"Perhaps we could keep to the rivers, if they are calm enough."
"That sounds like an excellent idea, Laucian. We would need to secure it somehow so that it didn't float downstream, but that shouldn't be too difficult."
Talen wrote:“I can help do some scouting, cousin. I may not know my way around the woods like our Rangers can, but I can move quietly and unseen.”
"Talen brings up a good point," Kylie says. "We should probably split up into multiple groups. It would probably be prudent to have at least a couple people stay with the barge. It might also make sense for the scouting to be done by those who are skilled in stealth, which is probably most of this group. We should have enough for at least two groups of scouts, which would allow us to survey the area more efficiently."
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(What are those things in the northern western part of the map on the water? Icebergs?)
I believe those are a symbol for swamps, though I haven't seen it in that color before.
Gordon (fanchergw AKA Kylie, Grondar, Yusef, Lily Pak / Menagerie, Butternut, Onas, and Vardra)
) Nariya will set her spear for a charge. If Laucian can't or won't, she will move up close to him and lunge at the snake with the spear.