Elven Activity in the Southern Rawlinswood
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_Rumors spread of recent elven activity near and in the old elven outpost. The murmur of elven prayers and enchantments can be caught on the wind every now and then to the south.
Those roaming the southern woods will catch glimpses of elves tending to the long abandoned camp. They seem to be planting new saplings, tending to the care of the old, clearing rumble and searching the outposts general vicinity for one reason or another. Elven clerics in plate mail are in particular easily seen. One in light blue and silver armor in particular seems very active. He is seen to pause between the other clerics offering advice or suggestions between seeing to his own tasks. Other, lighter clad elves, are also present. Some murmuring spells of their own and the others tending to the land, plants and trees. Every now and then a small group gathers in the camps center in quiet discussion. This group includes one in gold, the light blue clad elf, a female that disappears unless you keep your eye directly on her, a lightly clad elf and a small purple clad elf that the others seem to direct their attention towards
Those pausing to watch such a gathering might then notice a slight movement to their side or back and turn only to see a rustle of bushes announcing that they themselves were being watched? Perhaps by many other elves?_
((More details to come from each of the elves and other factors involved in this. Posted here so Norwick DMs know of the activity and for easy access by those the elves seek aid from.))
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In the past couple of years, a good humoured elven girl has been seen often moving through the woods to and from the old elven camp where she plants and trains the growth of trees. In her forays to the east and west, however, she takes pains to avoid being noticed by the creatures lairing there.
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Silinia can be seen standing across the bridge, dressed in her armor and wearing her elvish warbraid. She stands infront of a massive beast that is mostly hidden by the shadows and tilts her head as Oreth approaches, speaking softly in Druidic.
"You sure know how to get a rise out of people dont you?"
She chuckles softly and shakes her head, still speaking in druidic.
"I hate to say it, but you might have a point. Oh… Remember that one snake that went after us in that cave?"
Her voice trails off as she walks alongside Oreth, seemingly trying to reestablish a bond of some sort. The huge beast peers into the camp for a long moment, then tags along with the two druids. Occasionally bumping Silinia maliciously.
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Watches it all with a simple sad look on his face, the cloak and boots upon him ironically hiding him from the elves and other denizens of the area at the moment. He watches Sil at work, wondering if she is oblivious or not to the supposed cause of the destruction. He watches Oreth fighting a good cause, but knowing that ignorance tends to win out over good most times and, having experience far to long in his past the true nature of supremecy of that which he shares the blood if not the apperance of, knowing his fight is mostly futile. But at least they talk in a manner of civilized folk, which at this time is more to be said then the rest of the occupants of the wood. He shakes his head, stalking off into the saurial land for a bit as a single blue strand of thread is left, caught by a small branch as he moved off
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_A scarred and dark cloaked elf can be seen now and then in the shadows below the trees watching the discussions taking place, and Oreth raising his voice again and again about the defense of the innocents.
After awhile he quirks a half smile looking over the ruins of what was once a thriving camp of elves, before turning and lending a bit of aid when and where he can. He seems mostly to stay near Alvar and Llach then anyone else._
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"'Tis true, can't beat the aged wine," he smiles and returns to watching the activity in the Rawlinswood.
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Oreth stops, looks at the wine in complete noncomprehension for a long moment, and then a slow smile spreads across his face. He rummages in his pack, and produces another bottle of romani wine, dated back a good ten years or so
Here…it's better when it's aged a bit....
The druid chuckles, and continues on his way
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//bah, doublepost
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Before Oreth leaves, Alvar hands him a bottle of wine as he says, "It will be alright, I'll do my best to make sure the saurial cubs are unharmed."
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The elf sighs as she watches Oreth leave. She looks a little tired. Those who know her might conceive that newfound responsibility is weighing on her free spirit.
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Oreth tilts his head, and nods slowly, pursing his lips, and answers, pitching his voice so as to be quite loud enough to be overheard
And as long as cleaning up and honoring the dead is all you plan on doing, you have my aid, as I have said. And since you have said that that is all you and the Shesae are doing, I suppose I shall take my leave.
I would question why so many took issue, since I already said that once… but that's for you to deal with, I suppose.
Call me when you require me.
Edit: And Sil, for the record....the saurials are nothing to my patron. Ubtao created dinosaurs, not dinosaur-men. If you wish to speak to a servant of their patron, find Zyphlin, or Sierra, if she is still about. I care about them because they are people and slaves, and because so few other people seem to. No other reason.
Oreth turns, and heads for the bridge away from the camp
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Sil, taking Oreth aside, speaks so as not to be overheard.
"Oreth, please do not make so many assumptions about our intentions here. For now, we wish merely to build a shrine for the deceased, and honor the land.
We do not wish to provoke either the Saurials or the Yuan-ti. The reason we have sought the Circle - and your - aid in this matter is that we hope that you might conceal the shrine we will construct with your nature magics, so as not to bring down the anger of the yuan-ti.
As for what you call colonizing, the Shesae do not hold any authority over the elves that dwell [deeper] in the Rawlins. If at some time they return to this place, your concerns lie with them and not with us.
Perhaps elves in force may be able to resist the yuan-ti directly, without killing the slave saurials. If this is the Circle's intent as well, you will surely have our aid.
Our intentions now are simple, and we cannot be certain of the future. As Meril said… please, have some faith."
edit: She adds "I know you have fought long and hard for the saurials, and that they are a chosen people of your patron. I know that you must do what you do, but please understand - we only want what is best."
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Oreth turns slightly to look at Alvar, and replies in elven as well
That…doesn't even make any sense. The circle made no effort to stop the reclamation of the gali camp...and I don't even speak for the circle here...I have not consulted them on this. I don't speak for some desire to keep settlements out of the woods, and I have no regard for who I think will be "better neighbors". This is not about politics or convenience. I speak for what is right. And I quickly tire of having that thrown in my face as though it were some madness of mine that I care about the innocents involved in these affairs.
He shakes his head disdainfully, and turns back to Meril
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Alvar almost laughs and jabs another elf next to him in the ribs:
"See, politics versus passion," he says in elvish. "I even heard a few druids critique our plans to reclaim the Romani camp as well. Now the druids have a problem with this place too. Seems if it's in the woods, and it's not druid, it shouldn't be. I think they want us all walled in where they can keep track of us." winks
"You'd think a few elves would make better neighbors than lizards. I remember not too long ago the entire forest was filled with these Yuan-ti and their slaves. Now that they've been forced back a bit, an outpost seems more than appropriate to keep that distance."
"It's what I've been saying for years. Passion should guide our military strategies. Is it right to keep the Yuan-ti back? Then make it so. Politics of this is my ground, that is yours, have no place in nature."
"Except in the Romani camp," he grins. "That was ours dammit!"
He takes a swig of freshly made Romani wine.
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In response to Rando's words, Oreth says…..nothing, because he's miles away, and it's completely irrelevant
Oreth looks relieved upon seeing Meril, and listens to his words carefully, finally tilting his head and replying, the previous anger diminishing slowly
I take it from this amount of protestation that you are planning on colonizing this camp.
And you can vouch for everyone here, Meril, that they will attempt to subdue the saurial strike forces that come this way? Because they will come. Can you say that when your brethren are threatened, they will care about the safety of their attackers?
He shakes his head, and speaks softly, the anger fully drained away
Bowing to the yuan-ti's demands is one thing, but the yuan-ti aren't forcing you out of anything. There's nothing here. No one lives here. You're not surrendering anything if you finish cleaning up here, and colonize somewhere else…if you can promise that they will do their absolute best to see that the saurials are unharmed, despite what the snakes may order them to do...then very well. I trust you, Meril, and I know you won't make that promise unless you believe it can be carried through. But if not, I ask you...please, just pick another location.
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A tall man can be seen watching the elven camp being built from somewhere a little off in the woods. He seems intrested and slightly surprised about all the work. He, however, leaves quickly seemingly slightly annoyed when he hears most of the elves are acting on behalf of the Shesae.
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_As word spreads about Oreth's discontment, Meril finds the druid, and responds with a few words of his own.
"Our activities do not extend into lands the saurials occupy, Oreth, as you can see. And we have no wish to harm them than can be helped - certainly those skilled in combat amongst us are capable of rendering the children unconcious should they attack us, and you are welcome to then come take them to the glen to have their bruises looked after. If we do not take them there ourselves."
"But continued bowing to the demands of the Yuan-Ti, based on the fact they hold hostages, cannot continue. If they can take lands as their own simply through taking hostages, we only give them cause to continue with these tactics. How long before other races are enslaved in such a way, or their demands increase, as they realise just how effective it is when we face a foe we are all unwilling to fight?"
Then, with a smile. "Have a little faith, Oreth, that elves do not act with cruel intent, or without consideration for these things. I think our presence here may even aid your goals, not hinder them."_
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Rando Chuckles when word come to him of the words and activity in the former Elven camp and says to Milshot who is near him
"make sure the Guards know that any lizard comes within sight of the walls is to be killed…. collar or not. they are nothing more than vermin"
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Oreth raises an eyebrow, and speaks with a fair amount of anger in his voice, though the direction of said anger is…hard to judge
Andu'mien thought it better to kill them than expend even the slightest effort on freeing them.
At this point, Oreth visibly bites back about eight other remarks on the subject
But he is no longer archdruid. Were it up to me, the glenn would have been….momentarily surrendered, then.
The Yuan-ti matter is being worked on. Perhaps if I didn't have to spend half of my time saving the saurials from the "good" peoples of this land, I would have more time to work on the evil ones, yes?
But this is all moot, because you're not colonizing here, right?
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_*After speaking briefly to Vell'cam, and to her sister Sil, the young elf Lyte seems relieved and pleased. She passes through those working, to the charred remnants of a now destroyed wooden pavilion, and going to a spot just behind it, quietly digs up a very small, elaborately carved wooden box, which she places into her pack.
She the prays to her Goddess, her head bowed piously.
Seeing Oreth carrying on about the Yuan-ti for the hundredth time, she asks him if the Glen was moved by the druids, when it was much more closely surrounded by sauruses than this place is….sauruses so close they walked on his doorstep, and into the glenn itself...this at a time when the glen was being enlarged and improved...rather than being moved to "save the lives of innocents".
She points out, without emotion or anger, that the only reason Oreth and the other druids are not utterly surrounded with sauruses still, much more so than this camp is, is the fact that goblins took over that section of the Rawlinswood, and that the druids have not dealt with the Yuan-ti at all, choosing instead to chastise others who are attacked by the enslaved sauruses, and are defending themselves, instead of dealing with the true evil behind the problem.
This evil seems to be ignored.
"Why, Oreth, is the Glenn still located where it is, if you were so concerned with the welfare of these sauruses? Did I not see Andu'mien and Malika and others defending themselves to the death against these creatures when they were attacked on the doorstep of the glenn?
As I see it, you are tossing rocks for doing the very things the druids have done in the past…except that the glen was located much, much closer to the sauruses than this more out of the way place.
If you want to truly protect these creatures...why not toss those rocks at the evil yuan-ti themselves?_
she bows her head almost imperceptably, touching the tsuka of her sheathed katana
"I offer the Circle my blade in this yuan-ti matter, should you find it a worthy enough cause to direct your rocks toward, and you form a plan."
Lyte takes her leave, once Oreth says his piece, and begins to patrol the camp, making sure the workers are protected. If she should come upon an errant saurus, she knocks it unconcious with the flat of her blade, and removes it's collar. If it's a bugbear soldier, may whatever evil god it worships have mercy on it's foul soul, for she savagely cuts them to pieces.
