Plucking a few random notes on his faded wooden lute, the half-elf bard,
Brand Nightstar stared at the dark sky and thought of his lost love,
Lorilie Tinderblade. Brushing his short blonde hair out of his eyes, he
sighed and turned towards Kelethin that waited ahead for him. It loomed in
the endless sky with its ever-wonderful inhabitants and buildings. It had
been three years since he was last in the magnificent tree city. It had
been three years since Lorilie took her life to understand the meaning and
to get all her questions answered.
Brand, himself, did not understand the cruel world Norrath offered him or the uncaring Gods that laughed and pointed at him from their pampered palaces. Hoisting his one pack and numerous instrument cases up higher on his back, the half-elf approached the ancient lifts that carried the people up to the platforms that the city sat upon. The skeptical guards eyed the strange bard and watched him lightly step onto the mechanical lift.
Out of the corner of his striking blue eyes, Brand saw a quick bright glimmer. He spun around as the lift began to ascend. The shimmering light he saw, vanished into the trees just as quickly as it appeared. Raking his mind for the directions to Joshua Liltreehuggr's house, Brand pushed the shining lights out of his head and stepped off the lift and onto the main platform. After getting lost twice, the bard finally stopped and asked the nearest wood elf if they knew Joshua. Thankfully, they did. It was quite a short distance to the house from where Brand stood.
Inhaling deeply, Brand neared the cozy looking house. He considered the elves that lived in the home family. If Lorilie were still with him, he would have married her and really would have become family. Knocking on the solid oak door slowly, Brand stepped back a foot and waited nervously. The door opened and a pretty wood elf with hazel eyes stared at him with her brow raised in confusion.
"May I help you?" she asked.
"You don't remember me, do you?" he smiled.
"...No." she had a blank expression.
"Remember a bard that entertained your family three years ago that came with Lorilie?" he shifted his weight to his other foot.
The girl thought for a moment. "Brand!" she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Where have you been?"
"I've been thinking, Kayla." He patted her shoulder.
"For three years?" she smirked. "Well, come in. Father and Mother will be so glad to see you!" Kayla hugged Brand again.
Leading Brand into the cheery elven home, Kayla ran ahead to where Joshua, her father, sat reading by a small fire. Joshua brushed his light brown hair behind his ears and looked at his daughter, smiling. Kayla pointed behind them towards where Brand stood with his lute still in his hand. Rising from the chair rapidly, Joshua crossed to the bard in less than five seconds and embraced him. He called for Birria, his wife, and helped Brand place all his supplies on the ground. A petit elf came striding into the room with a small wood elven child following after her skirts.
The little child squealed with excitement once she spotted Brand and his musical instruments and rushed over to his side. The tiny girl put her fingers in her mouth and giggled. "Brand pay moo-zic." It seemed like her whole hand was shoved in her mouth as she talked. The others laughed and all crowded around the half-elf.
"By Tunare, she remembers you." Birria smiled and pulled Brand into a motherly hug.
"I think Saria only just remembers the music." Brand chuckled aloud.
"When did you arrive in Kelethin?" Joshua stepped beside his wife.
"Just now. I wanted to see you and your family. I was also hoping to talk to Lielay." He was lead to a chair to sit and rest his feet.
Joshua's smile fell. "Lielay vanished the day after you left. We were hoping she was with you." He bit his bottom lip.
"My goodness, can't that girl stay in one place for longer than a second?" Birria hustled around the room offering cold beverages.
"My sister is a very troubled elf. She is so confused on what to do. Losing our parents when we were young, Danny, Caleb, Albain, and then watching Lorilie jump into that volcano...I don't blame her for running. All her life, Lielay has lost someone she's loved." Joshua cradled his head in his hands.
A knock on the front door broke the silence in the Liltreehuggr house as Kayla jumped up and ran to answer the door. A few moments later, two iksars walked into the room and bowed their heads politely to all those that stared. Smiling, Brand crossed to the two and patted each one on the back and shook their clawed hands. Mirk Swiftscale and his son, Slith, smiled back. The older iksar then laughed and embraced the half-elf. Brand was getting used to all the attention and hugged back. Joshua and Birria welcomed the two lizardmen in as little Saria ran behind Slith and grabbed his scaly tail.
"We sssaw young Nightstar enter your resssidence and had to come over an welcome him back." Mirk told Joshua.
"Isss Sssaria alwaysss going to play with my tail whenever ssshe ssseesss me?" Slith turned around and showed everyone that Saria was hugging his tail and refused to let go.
The room exploded in laughter as Birria reached down and tried to pry her youngest child's hands off of Slith's tail. It took a few minutes before Birria actually accomplished freeing Slith from Saria's death hold. The young iksar then stuck out his forked tongue at the child and hissed teasingly. Brand raided his left eyebrow at Slith and stared at him acting like a child.just how he remembered the former cook at the Windchaser's Port. Slith, as Brand recalled, was about the same age as himself.
"Where have your travels taken you these few years?" Joshua asked Brand over dinner a few hours later.
"Mainly around Antonica. I was trying to avoid Faydwer." Brand sipped his elven wine in a nicely crafted silver goblet.
"It'sss jussst nice to sssee you again." Mirk patted his stomach with one hand and with the other, pushed his plate away. "Excellent meal, Birria." He added.
"I'm very worried about Lielay." Brand accidentally said aloud.
"We all are." Mirk shook his head, he answered immediately.
Joshua was silent as he ate another bite of the fresh green salad that lay before him. Getting up to gather all the empty plates, Birria wiped a single tear off her bright cheek and scurried off to place the dishes in the sink. No one openly wanted to say it, but almost everyone believed Lielay dead. Brand, on the other hand, had hope that Lielay was alive and well. Helping her mother, Kayla rose and collected glasses and goblets. Slith leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms and legs. He scratched the top of his flat gray head; the only problem was that he had so many little horns; his hand could only reach a few spots.
They all moved to the spacious living room where Joshua lit the fire again and offered Mirk a pipe to smoke. He thought Brand and Slith were still too young to be smoking. Taking advantage of the eerie silence, Brand crossed to his instruments and pulled his flute out carefully. Wetting his lips, the bard took a deep breath and started his song. The next instant, Saria raced into the room with her nightclothes on and began jumping in small circles, she laughed uncontrollably. Birria grabbed her child and led her back to her bed; the whole time, Saria kicked and screamed to go listen to Brand.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake her." He started to put his flute back in the case.
"No, please continue playing. It's been a while since I've heard any decent music." Joshua smiled.
Grinning for ear to ear, Brand pressed the hand-carved flute to his moistened lips and began to play again. Faces brightened and sorrows faded when those around the half-elf started to enjoy the free entertainment. Kayla jumped up and pulled Slith into a difficult dance. Mirk laughed at his clumsy son and relaxed in his chair; his tail twitching to and fro. The music and dancing went on for an hour straight without any sort of rest or break.
Turning towards the open window for some fresh air, Brand stepped closer and glanced out. A bright shining light disappeared from his sight; it was the same light he had seen when he arrived at Kelethin. Brand's song stuttered and he blew a bitter note. Those around him covered their ears and stared at the bard. Snatching the instrument from his mouth, Brand leaned out the window and watched the glittering light glide behind a neighboring house.
"Well, it's getting late anyway. We should all get some sleep." Joshua yawned.
"You are welcomed to stay in our extra bedroom, Brand." Birria said to the bard before taking Joshua's hand and walking to their back bedroom.
"We ssshall ssspeak to you tomorrow." Slith bowed his head and left the Liltreehuggr house with his father.
"Come. I'll show you the spare room." Kayla motioned Brand to follow her.
Closing the window, Brand gave one last glace outside and obediently followed Kayla while grabbing his supplies. His first night back in Kelethin and yet he wanted to leave again. He knew not to go, though. Deciding on how long he would stay, Brand thought to himself as he closed the door to the room he was staying in. One week. One week and that's all he could handle.
Brand, himself, did not understand the cruel world Norrath offered him or the uncaring Gods that laughed and pointed at him from their pampered palaces. Hoisting his one pack and numerous instrument cases up higher on his back, the half-elf approached the ancient lifts that carried the people up to the platforms that the city sat upon. The skeptical guards eyed the strange bard and watched him lightly step onto the mechanical lift.
Out of the corner of his striking blue eyes, Brand saw a quick bright glimmer. He spun around as the lift began to ascend. The shimmering light he saw, vanished into the trees just as quickly as it appeared. Raking his mind for the directions to Joshua Liltreehuggr's house, Brand pushed the shining lights out of his head and stepped off the lift and onto the main platform. After getting lost twice, the bard finally stopped and asked the nearest wood elf if they knew Joshua. Thankfully, they did. It was quite a short distance to the house from where Brand stood.
Inhaling deeply, Brand neared the cozy looking house. He considered the elves that lived in the home family. If Lorilie were still with him, he would have married her and really would have become family. Knocking on the solid oak door slowly, Brand stepped back a foot and waited nervously. The door opened and a pretty wood elf with hazel eyes stared at him with her brow raised in confusion.
"May I help you?" she asked.
"You don't remember me, do you?" he smiled.
"...No." she had a blank expression.
"Remember a bard that entertained your family three years ago that came with Lorilie?" he shifted his weight to his other foot.
The girl thought for a moment. "Brand!" she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Where have you been?"
"I've been thinking, Kayla." He patted her shoulder.
"For three years?" she smirked. "Well, come in. Father and Mother will be so glad to see you!" Kayla hugged Brand again.
Leading Brand into the cheery elven home, Kayla ran ahead to where Joshua, her father, sat reading by a small fire. Joshua brushed his light brown hair behind his ears and looked at his daughter, smiling. Kayla pointed behind them towards where Brand stood with his lute still in his hand. Rising from the chair rapidly, Joshua crossed to the bard in less than five seconds and embraced him. He called for Birria, his wife, and helped Brand place all his supplies on the ground. A petit elf came striding into the room with a small wood elven child following after her skirts.
The little child squealed with excitement once she spotted Brand and his musical instruments and rushed over to his side. The tiny girl put her fingers in her mouth and giggled. "Brand pay moo-zic." It seemed like her whole hand was shoved in her mouth as she talked. The others laughed and all crowded around the half-elf.
"By Tunare, she remembers you." Birria smiled and pulled Brand into a motherly hug.
"I think Saria only just remembers the music." Brand chuckled aloud.
"When did you arrive in Kelethin?" Joshua stepped beside his wife.
"Just now. I wanted to see you and your family. I was also hoping to talk to Lielay." He was lead to a chair to sit and rest his feet.
Joshua's smile fell. "Lielay vanished the day after you left. We were hoping she was with you." He bit his bottom lip.
"My goodness, can't that girl stay in one place for longer than a second?" Birria hustled around the room offering cold beverages.
"My sister is a very troubled elf. She is so confused on what to do. Losing our parents when we were young, Danny, Caleb, Albain, and then watching Lorilie jump into that volcano...I don't blame her for running. All her life, Lielay has lost someone she's loved." Joshua cradled his head in his hands.
A knock on the front door broke the silence in the Liltreehuggr house as Kayla jumped up and ran to answer the door. A few moments later, two iksars walked into the room and bowed their heads politely to all those that stared. Smiling, Brand crossed to the two and patted each one on the back and shook their clawed hands. Mirk Swiftscale and his son, Slith, smiled back. The older iksar then laughed and embraced the half-elf. Brand was getting used to all the attention and hugged back. Joshua and Birria welcomed the two lizardmen in as little Saria ran behind Slith and grabbed his scaly tail.
"We sssaw young Nightstar enter your resssidence and had to come over an welcome him back." Mirk told Joshua.
"Isss Sssaria alwaysss going to play with my tail whenever ssshe ssseesss me?" Slith turned around and showed everyone that Saria was hugging his tail and refused to let go.
The room exploded in laughter as Birria reached down and tried to pry her youngest child's hands off of Slith's tail. It took a few minutes before Birria actually accomplished freeing Slith from Saria's death hold. The young iksar then stuck out his forked tongue at the child and hissed teasingly. Brand raided his left eyebrow at Slith and stared at him acting like a child.just how he remembered the former cook at the Windchaser's Port. Slith, as Brand recalled, was about the same age as himself.
"Where have your travels taken you these few years?" Joshua asked Brand over dinner a few hours later.
"Mainly around Antonica. I was trying to avoid Faydwer." Brand sipped his elven wine in a nicely crafted silver goblet.
"It'sss jussst nice to sssee you again." Mirk patted his stomach with one hand and with the other, pushed his plate away. "Excellent meal, Birria." He added.
"I'm very worried about Lielay." Brand accidentally said aloud.
"We all are." Mirk shook his head, he answered immediately.
Joshua was silent as he ate another bite of the fresh green salad that lay before him. Getting up to gather all the empty plates, Birria wiped a single tear off her bright cheek and scurried off to place the dishes in the sink. No one openly wanted to say it, but almost everyone believed Lielay dead. Brand, on the other hand, had hope that Lielay was alive and well. Helping her mother, Kayla rose and collected glasses and goblets. Slith leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms and legs. He scratched the top of his flat gray head; the only problem was that he had so many little horns; his hand could only reach a few spots.
They all moved to the spacious living room where Joshua lit the fire again and offered Mirk a pipe to smoke. He thought Brand and Slith were still too young to be smoking. Taking advantage of the eerie silence, Brand crossed to his instruments and pulled his flute out carefully. Wetting his lips, the bard took a deep breath and started his song. The next instant, Saria raced into the room with her nightclothes on and began jumping in small circles, she laughed uncontrollably. Birria grabbed her child and led her back to her bed; the whole time, Saria kicked and screamed to go listen to Brand.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake her." He started to put his flute back in the case.
"No, please continue playing. It's been a while since I've heard any decent music." Joshua smiled.
Grinning for ear to ear, Brand pressed the hand-carved flute to his moistened lips and began to play again. Faces brightened and sorrows faded when those around the half-elf started to enjoy the free entertainment. Kayla jumped up and pulled Slith into a difficult dance. Mirk laughed at his clumsy son and relaxed in his chair; his tail twitching to and fro. The music and dancing went on for an hour straight without any sort of rest or break.
Turning towards the open window for some fresh air, Brand stepped closer and glanced out. A bright shining light disappeared from his sight; it was the same light he had seen when he arrived at Kelethin. Brand's song stuttered and he blew a bitter note. Those around him covered their ears and stared at the bard. Snatching the instrument from his mouth, Brand leaned out the window and watched the glittering light glide behind a neighboring house.
"Well, it's getting late anyway. We should all get some sleep." Joshua yawned.
"You are welcomed to stay in our extra bedroom, Brand." Birria said to the bard before taking Joshua's hand and walking to their back bedroom.
"We ssshall ssspeak to you tomorrow." Slith bowed his head and left the Liltreehuggr house with his father.
"Come. I'll show you the spare room." Kayla motioned Brand to follow her.
Closing the window, Brand gave one last glace outside and obediently followed Kayla while grabbing his supplies. His first night back in Kelethin and yet he wanted to leave again. He knew not to go, though. Deciding on how long he would stay, Brand thought to himself as he closed the door to the room he was staying in. One week. One week and that's all he could handle.