"You all ready for this?" the Kenku squawked at the others as they neared the entrance into the Bulltroll's cavern den. They had traveled for some time through the night into the mountain, the plan being to ambush the Bulltroll when it made it's way back to it's den when dawn came around. Olly had been the one to suggest it, but it was Peren who voiced it when everyone came to decide on the plan of action. Now they stood in front of the actual den, the stinking smell coming from the dark hole of the cavern where no doubt guts, animal hides, and bones lay for them to find. Olly knew Trolls loved to sleep in their own stink and filth, part of their territorial markings around the area, and it was apparent this one was aggressive by how bad the stink was.
"We should have a quick rest, dawn will be here soon" Peren ordered as they settled for a moment, everyone checking their gear or taking a sip of potion to restore some stamina no doubt needed for the fight ahead. Olly looked over at Ed, him being the only other human in the group and noticed how much the Cleric actually smiled and laughed, joking around with Jeet and Curio as they passed around a quick bottle of what Olly could only guess was some cocktail of magic.
This whole time through the cavern at least one of them had complained about the job, Enki about the cavern itself, being a bird even though he couldn't fly, Curio and Jeet about the terrain, and of course Peren complained about the others, all griped except for Ed. He seemed to take everything so easily, his nonchalance manner pleasant compared to the constant cries from everyone else. If only they had known some of the harshest winters she had gone through in her training. It was refreshing though with the Cleric, and she wished she could speak to him plainly as the others did, but Peren would probably not like it...
"You know it was lucky we ran into them" Olly chirped at Peren who was looking through a list of spells he could try using his magic "We can always use the help, and it's nice that they don't want any of the coin like you were worried about."
""We'll see if they are as good as they say" Peren said disinterested "So far, I'm unimpressed. Also I was not worried, if they had tried to intervene, I would have handled it."
"Even though they are your friends?" Olly said getting annoyed "Even though they are obviously kind?"
"Yes" he said directly looking into her eyes "Friends are a nice term for easily disposable. You have to learn these things if you want to get anywhere in this world."
From over on the other side, Ed had also noticed Olly glancing over at him, his interest peaking when she hadn't said a word the entire time they had been traveling. Every time he had tried to come up to the girl, he always found himself deflected by the elf, or always falling behind as she was clearly better at scaling this terrain than they were. Ed was used to helping in villages and towns, but relished the challenge of scaling cavern walls and underground dungeons.
But not being able to converse openly with everyone didn't sit right with Edric. It wasn't like Ed not to be able to talk to people, but with the high elf guarding the girl so closely it almost seemed obsessive, he couldn't help but be curious about the odd pair.
"Hey, so what's the deal with them?" he had said nodding at the couple on the other side of the cavern, trying to be as sly as he could "They're together right?"
"Yes" Enki nodded "They are always together. I've never seen Olly without Peren. Those two are what I guess elves call bonded."
"But you've seen Peren without Olly? Like he goes and does his own thing a lot?" Ed asked turning his head curious, trying to figure out the dynamics of the two. Peren seemed to watch the girl carefully when she wasn't looking at him, his eyes scrutinizing and cold to Ed, but maybe that was just how elves were...
"Well I guess he has to get away from her sometimes" Enki shrugged "You know how it gets with relationships... My people don't have to worry about such things. But I know that Peren will travel without Olly and she has to just stay wherever they are staying at the time until he returns. It's been like that for a while."
"Seems kinda one sided to me" Ed said frowning a bit "Doesn't look like she's enjoying herself. And I haven't heard a peep out of her through the mountain except when he asks her to speak."
"Ed, it's just the way things are with them" Jeet said sharpening a knife before testing it on his tusks "Peren calls the shots between the two."
"We know it's not ideal" Curio said pulling Ed away from the couple's earshot "But it's best to stay out of it. Olly is a Duer, I'm sure she can handle herself with the elf. Peren is rough around the edges, but I've seen the way he looks at her."
"Yea, like she's his sword getting wetted by a blacksmith" Ed said shaking his head "Looking for a mistake to be made."
"Maybe" Curio said "But everything might be different behind closed doors."
It was the thought of Olly laying bare in the elf's arms that made Ed rear his thoughts away from the two. He didn't want to think of that, it made a pit in his stomach and he quickly changed course.
"Is she always that unhappy though?" Ed said sighing.
It was Enki and Jeet that glanced at one another, knowing the truth but not wanting to say it. No, Olly had not always been that unhappy, but there were factors now that had turned the situation sour for her.
As Ed looked back over at the couple he noticed the elf saying something to the Ranger, his brow furrowed as he pointed to their bags before walking off to go speak to Jeet and Curio. Olly was looking at the supplies with her eyes downcast, her hands working slowly as she sighed to herself. Ed didn't like the picture in front of him, it was obvious something was off between the two, and Olly looked miserable...
"I'm gunna go over there and try and cheer her up" Ed said suddenly filled with a buzz as he started to make his way over to the girl. He was a Cleric, and it wasn't in his nature to allow darkness to come to such a good soul. He could feel that she was a good person, and wasn't it part of his creed to help the good?
"Careful Ed! Peren can get jealou-" Enki started squeeking but the Cleric was already halfway across the cavern floor making a bee line for Olly. His armored boots seemed to clink loudly as he walked over to the girl with her back to him.
"Hey!" he said waving at Olly who looked up at him quickly from the supply bags she was fastening. Olly immediately smiled at the Cleric giving him some hope that he could help the girl. It wasn't that he didn't think Olly was beautiful, but she was clearly taken. He only wished to give a little light to her day, that was the duty of a Cleric of Pelor. He was trained to help people, and it seemed this girl needed help more with the elf at this time.
"So are you all set for this thing? This is going to to be my first battle against a Bulltroll" Ed smiled at the Ranger who smiled brightly back at him, giving him a little extra boost. It was always nice when a pretty girl smiled at you...
"Oh! Well yea I am" Olly nodded "I've been handling these kinds of Trolls for a few years now so we should be just fine" she assured, happy to talk to someone else in the group. She fastened another belt of supplies together, ready to throw them to the side for when they left the cave.
"Wow!" Ed enthused, getting her out of her thoughts, happy to see her finally smiling "So how often do Trolls frequent caves like this? Is it common in this area?"
Olly then seemed to have a light flame up inside of her, her eyes alert as her smile widened, happy to finally talk about something she knew well "Well it's actually pretty interesting!" Olly began "See Trolls all come from the same material plane as-" suddenly she felt a hard hand on her shoulder as Olly stopped dead in her words.
"Allana" Peren's serious tone a indicator that something was amiss "Don't you think you should check the rations?"
"Oh well I was doing that" Olly said a bit hesitant "I was just talking to-"
"We need to be sure we are prepared. I'm sure the Cleric has more important things to attend to right now" Peren turned her away from Ed, moving her firmly away from the human. Ed watched unimpressed with the attempts by the elf and felt annoyed at offense that he was doing harm to the girl just by speaking to her.
"Alright" Olly sighed moving away with her eyes to the ground "I'll go..."
Ed had watched her walk away quietly, the elf watching as well as Olly got out of ear shot before he turned to the cleric and sneered "Look I don't think I need to say this but, just to be sure" he said before grabbing Ed by his yellow hood that wrapped around his neck, his face pulled close enough he could feel the elf's hot angry breath "Stay away from her Cleric" he hissed as his eyes burned into Ed's.
Ed narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth, trying to remain calm "Ya know Peren" he gritted out "she is her own person, she can speak to people-"
"What?" Peren feigned sympathy before his cruelty showed in his voice "People like you?"
That made Ed angry "You haven't let her in the group this whole time!" his voice grew louder "She's lonely! Can't you tell that? You can't isolate others like that, it's not right! I don't know how they might do it with your people but you can't treat everybody like they are just-"
Olly heard them then, Ed's voice growing loud as he became heated at the elf. She had never heard someone really speak up for her like that, someone at least she hardly knew... But what he said was a true, she was lonely. She could be in crowd full of people with Peren right next to her, and she would feel completely alone.
Peren's voice was steady as if he was reading rules from a law book "Olly needs someone to check her. She's unable to control herself, and I won't risk losing coin over her wanting to have fun. Or talking to riff raff, for that matter" he said looking directly at Ed.
Ed's face grew red hot as he looked at Peren with a deadly glare "Who you calling riff raff elf?"
"Guys! Guys!" Enki squawked at the two pushing them apart, the time growing thin "Come on, let's get moving!"
"Fine." Peren said looking Ed up and down "But keep your fake idol worshiper in check Enki" before walking away as Ed charged forward only to be stopped by the kenku.
"What did he just call me?!" Ed hissed at Enki who tried to soothe his friend who he had never seen get so agitated. Usually Ed was calm and a peacemaker among most, but something about the elf rubbed him the wrong way apparently. Curio and Jeet simply watched as Ed went over to them, breathing in and out methodically to calm him before they began the next step in their quest.
"I told you" Enki said low "Peren can get jealous."
Ed huffed at his words, and faced the wall of the cavern to collect himself.
As the high elf walked back towards Olly she turned and saw the elf's face heated, his eye's blazing as he walked past her, grabbing her arm and dragging her with him around the corner of the cavern mouth "What was that about?" Olly asked as she walked with him trying to keep her feet steady against the terrain as Peren pulled on her.
"Don't worry about it" he said to her gruffly before swinging her in front of him, Olly's face twisted in confusion.
"Peren did I do something wrong?" her voice quietly concerned.
"You need to be more careful about those guys!" Peren blew up at her " Cleric's will want to share that divine light of yours. That one especially!"
"He just asked me a question-" she said holding up her hands before he interrupted her.
"It doesn't matter" he said getting in her face "I can't always be around to protect you. You need to do better Allana."
"Ok" she said her shoulders getting tight as she backed away from him a bit "I'm sorry. I'll try to be better." She tugged at the black lace of ribbon around her neck, feeling it get a bit tighter.
The elf straightened himself out then before quickly moving forward and grabbing her, wrapping his arms around her tightly and burying his face into her neck like he did when they would make love. "You know I love you" he said gently, his tone shifting drastically from when he was yelling at her a moment ago "That's why I do and say the things I do. I worry, I only want you to be the best that you can be. You just can't do it by yourself, and I worry you never will. Nobody really cares about you like I do, you know that right?"
Olly felt her face grow sad, her heart heavy as she heard the words that would have placated her years ago, but now they felt hollow and overused. Wasn't this just the same song and dance they had been going through? He would demand and belittle one moment, and then turn loving and gentle the next. She never knew what was coming next, at one time that would have excited her about him, but now, she only feared it.
"I know" she said forcing the words out to sound genuine.
"That's my girl" he said letting her go, giving her cheek a small caress as she smiled up at him before moving swiftly by her to the others.
Olly felt her smile dissolve, a fake mask she put on as one or two tears ran down her freckled cheek before she quickly wiped it away and buried the emotions before they manifested into something more powerful. Maybe Peren was right, at one point, she couldn't control her light, she had hurt and burnt others.
Slowly though, she had been turning that light into a protecting power. Her wings... She could only do it for small moments, but in those precious times, she could do wonders.
"Let's get moving" Peren called out to the others as they all began moving towards the mouth of the troll den. The gaping hole into the den was large, enough for a young giant to fit through if they ducked their head, and the fresh stench of moss and carrion was ripe in the air.
"So are we all ready?" Enki asked looking at everyone "We trap this thing, kill it or banish it, and then go back to the Longtooth for a nice cold pint."
Curio smiled and adjust the daggers to his side "Ready as I'll ever be I guess" he chuckled "I mean, who get's to say that they went willingly into a troll's cave right?"
The group moved inside, their feet quiet against the moss flooring. Jeet sniffed around and looked nervously at Enki and Peren "This thing could pop up anywhere in these caverns"
"Right" Enki nodded "So keep low and keep quiet or else."
"Remember" Olly finally spoke up " Troll skin can regenerate. Piercing it's hide will just make it angry. Our best bet is fire and stealth. If we can get the drop on it, we might have a chance."
Suddenly a gargled horrifying roar echoed through the cavern shaking the stalagmite's above them as little drops of water flew at the group's faces. Olly could feel the ground beneath her tremble, and a foul smell blasted it's way through the cavern, making the group gag.
"What was that about stealth?" Curio groaned as Ed's face scrunched up from the nauseating smell coming up from the cavern. Suddenly the earth below began to rhythmically pound, the vibrations growing bigger and quicker with each second.
"Watch out!" Olly screamed as she dove for a small opening in the tunnel as the others mimicked her as well, diving in different directions as a massive troll smashed through the side wall of the tunnel.
It's thunderous roar above them shook everything around them as Olly quickly put her hands to her ears to stop being deafened by the creature. The shaking of the ground made the party lose their footing, the lot tumbling to the ground as the Troll barged through the cavern.
She looked around her surroundings quickly, seeing past traveler's and explorer's bones who had gotten lost and fallen victim to the monster above. Olly flipped over on her back and looked up at the large beast before them.
Yep, that was a Bulltroll all right as Olly quickly took note of it's features. It's enormous body was tall enough to almost hit the top of the cavern ceiling, it's pointed nose covered in warts as it's mouth had long bared fangs that seemed to jut out in all directions. It's body was tinged dark pale green with hair that hang in long dreads like wet seaweed. Olly noticed it's hands had long claws that tore through the stone, crumbling it like fresh snow in it's grasp, a sign that this troll was a lot stronger than it's younger kin down south.
Olly saw Peren, Enki, and Jeet on the other side of the cavern, their hands covering their ears as the troll used it's roar to throw off anything that might attack it. Olly hollared at Peren to hit it with fire to stop it's deafening roar.
Peren shot two fireballs at the troll, but it's large swing made them rear back, Peren's fireballs missing their mark as they crashed into the side of the cavern. Enki shot a crossbow at the Troll's eyes, the tiny dart barely making a impact on the it's hide. Jeet was getting ready his spear, but as the Troll pounded it's large foot on the ground, the trio were thrown off once again, knocking them all to the trembling cavern floor.
Curio was nowhere to be seen but Ed had dived near Olly's side of the cavern, his eyes focused on the creature above them as she could see him trying to work out a way that they would all get out of this alive. He was covering his ears but as the creature took a moment to breathe before doing another bellow, Olly called out to him.
Ed quickly looked over at her, making eye contact as another roar shook the cavern walls. Olly motioned to the rope that he had strapped to his belt and made a tugging action, a small attempt to explain her plan to him.
Ed looked up at Olly and comprehended her motions, his face slowly breaking into a sly smile as he nodded at her confidently. Olly nodded back, her smile matching his as Ed threw part of the rope to Olly, it's snake like figure darting across the cavern floor across the Troll's legs. Olly took half the rope and raced around a few pillars of rock, just enough to hold it for the fall. Ed made a quick leap to the edge of the wall and knotted the rope around a few stalagmites.
"Hold the rope and brace it against the rock!" she shouted as another swing from the troll's arm made part of the cavern wall break apart on the opposite side, sending massive rocks tumbling down to the others below.
"Shit!" Ed hissed and quickly made work of the rope, wrapping it around his arm a few turns just in case.
The troll was distracted as he heard Enki's squawking panic as one of the kenku's tail feathers had become trapped underneath a falling boulder. Jeet and Peren were trying to leverage the rock off of Enki when the troll took notice. Olly felt her heartbeat quicken as she sprinted quickly across the cavern floor out in the open. She had to distract it to give the other's enough time to get the kenku out from under the boulder.
With a draw of her bow she flicked her arrow to soar right into the back of the troll's neck. With an enraged cry the troll turned and took the arrow out of it's neck, it's jaundice gaze resting on Olly as his skin sealed up where the arrow had pierced it's skin.
"Oh boy" Ed said to himself as he watched the troll scream loud enough to shake the cavern once again, it's head thrown back as it's spit flew in the air. Panicked he looked over at Olly, but the girl was standing there holding her ground, assessing her opponent like an ant against a boot.
The massive beast charged at Olly, it's long clawed arms swinging wildly at her, but the Ranger was focused as she charged right back at the troll, her body flinging down and skidding across the rocky floor, dust kicking up behind her as she skidded underneath the rope they had tied across the cavern.
Light as a feather she jumped back up and drew out a flaming short sword, a blade of shining steel that flashed in the light. Her glowing white eyes suddenly flashed brighter, her whole body now glowing in white light as Ed watched in wonder, his eyes wide as if witnessing a miracle for the first time.
As Olly concentrated from her back a beautiful glow began forming up until two beautiful angelic wings sprouted from her shoulders, the white glowing feathers falling around her like a ethereal being. At first, Ed forgot who he was really looking at, convinced he was now seeing a Deva, a Seraphim that was sure to burn his eyes from it's holy light, but as the wings grew big and then wrapped around Olly's figure did he realize what an Aasimar truly was.
She's an angel" he whispered to himself, his body shaking as he gripped the rope tighter, his heartbeat wildly beating in his chest. This girl, looked like a bomb of rose in the air, her body emitting such a radiance Ed couldn't help but let his jaw hang.
This was a sign, if not from Pelor, than from some benevolent god that found him worthy enough to see such beauty as Olly's form stood bright and tall against the raging beast coming at her. Ed felt like crying out a warning, to alert Olly of what was coming, but his eye's couldn't leave her. He was in complete awe and stunned as he watched her form change swiftly, her stance ready to fight the troll as she ran towards it, her war cry sounding out as her wings began flapping heavy and bright in the air.
Although she was not flying, she was lifted enough in the air to charge the troll, skillfully jumping to it's swinging arm and scaling it's body and going straight behind the troll's neck, her wings holding her in place as she nagivated the air to hold her balance.
Ed watched Olly's body rise, her swords burning bright now with a holy flame as she dove right for the troll's flesh, her movement's so quick with a flash a bright burning scar crossed the back of the trolls neck, making it fall back and trip on the rope, it's body flailing before crashing down.
It landed with a thundering sound that shook Ed's bones inside his body. Ed had held the rope firmly, feeling it tighten but he couldn't remember even bracing against the rock to hold it, he had been watching the angel above him. She was falling high above him, her body gliding through the air like water as her bright wings landed her down to the ground, the heavenly light around her slowly dissipating as she watched her work in front of her with a proud gaze as she turned to Ed.
"Good work on the rope!" Olly said giving him a thumbs up "That knocked him out perfectly."
Ed got up, his grip letting go of the rope and letting his hand stretch out. He must have been holding it a lot tighter than he imagined, his skin screaming as it burnt from the material of his gloves against his skin. He was shaking for the first time in years, witnessing such a spectacle was undeniably why the blessed Duer's were such legends. How long had he stared? Had it been hours or just a few minutes? He looked down at his shaking red hands that burnt from the rope's pull.
"Do your hands hurt?" Olly said coming up to him as the others were finally getting out from beneath the rocks, Curio finally making an appearance as he melted the rocks around Peren, Enki, and Jeet, making sure to take special care around Enki's tail feathers.
"Oh uh" he said looking at them as he tried to shake himself awake to say something intelligent "Yea, I guess the rope was a lot tighter than I thought.."
"Here" Olly said coming towards him, taking off her leather gloves, her hands grasping his as they began to glow white.
"Oh no need!" Ed said taking his hands away as he grabbed for his mace "That's literally my job, just give me a second to grab my supplies and everyone will be right as rain. No need to waste any more energy."
Olly watched curiously as Ed pulled out some white cloth and a bottle of what she assumed was blessed water, but as he moved she saw his beautiful mace up close, it's round pointed head a ivory white, as if it were blown glass instead of sturdy metal like most maces. The staff was an ebony wood with a wrapped purple silk handle at the end. Two large golden rings were attached to the base of the head of the mace. It looked like a heirloom of some sort, but Olly could sense a more ancient power residing inside the head of the mace, it's magical pull feeling out her own celestial light, the two mingling for a moment before Olly looked back up at Ed in silent wonder.
"What is that thing?" she heard her voice grow quiet, almost a whisper between the two.
"It's a Dawnstar" Ed said gently holding the mace like a dear friend in his hands "I've had it for years now."
"It's beautiful" Olly said admiring the craftsmanship of the weapon "May I hold it?"
"Um I don't know" chuckled nervously "It's a lot to handle. Maybe one day I'll explain it to you when we have more time."
As the sound of Peren's irritated sigh echoed out in the cavern her attention suddenly flew towards him, concern flooding her as she hurried towards him.
"Are you alright? Do you need healing?" Olly asked her hand gently going to his chest. Peren coughed and wiped her hand from his chest as he rolled his shoulder "I'm fine. Where's the troll?"
"Olly took it down" Ed said checking on Enki's tail feather, giving the feathers a few drops of a small potion he had tucked away as it was restored to it's raven glory. The group rejoined each other from the battle that ended quickly, Jeet and Curio a little disappointed they didn't get in on the fighting itself.
"Over here" Olly pointed as Peren came over to it, kicking it hard to make sure the beast was actually down.
"Alright, now what to do with it. Should we burn it? Or should we try and enchant a weapon to skin it's hide. I heard troll hide goes high in Waterdeep, we could all split the earnings if we want to make a pretty penny. Curio don't you have that one knife?" Peren started before Olly got in front of him real quick.
"Now wait a minute Peren who said we are going to kill this thing in the first place?" Olly actually raised her voice, finally done with Peren taking charge without actually hearing anyone's opinion.
"Why wouldn't we kill it? You yourself said it was a Bulltroll. Most of the time you put down rouge bulls am I not mistaken?" Peren sneered at Olly, trying to undermine her like usual.
"Usually when a Bulltroll strays away from it's territory it's because something is blocking it or turning it away from it's habitat. What if one of these caverns is sealed up or something's blocking it from the troll actually getting to where it usually is away from Trollclaw Ford? We should at least investigate it instead of killing a creature that could be keeping something worse at bay like a horde of goblins" Olly got out without her voice shaking. It wasn't like her to stand up to Peren, but her father had taught her that not all creatures needed to be killed. There was always a reason for a beast to go rouge, and as a Ranger she needed to protect the balance of the wilds sometimes.
"We don't have time for all that honestly" Peren said shaking his head at Olly before pushing past her, his hands raising in the air as a dark green light began forming around his fingers.
"Please Peren we don't have to do this!" Olly pleaded "If we just explore a little farther in the cave we can-" but before she could finish Peren's finger's now blazed with bright green light that smelt toxic as it flew and surrounded the troll's body, it's radiant light burning away the troll's hide, leaving it's bones bare on the ground by the time the spell's work was done. Olly watched in pained silence, Ed's heart twisting as her eye's didn't look away from the troll's dissolving body. The other's looked away, turning another blind eye to Peren as Ed noticed most people did with his behavior. Maybe it was because people thought elves knew best, that he was far more intelligent than the rest of them, which in some aspects was true, but in empathy towards others, the Cleric saw none.
Ed walked quietly over to Olly her eyes looking down at the ground as hot tears started to form in the corners of her eyes, her nose and cheeks growing hot as she tried to keep back the emotions.
"Allana" Ed said gently "Are you alright?"
"He didn't have to do that, he never trusts what I have to say, I don't understand" she quietly let out, her body shaking as a desperate laugh escaped her lips to try and conceal the pain she felt. She couldn't break down in front of this stranger, much as she wanted to.
"I don't know" he said as she turned to look at him, her eyes desperately seeking any kind of answer. Instead she only saw Ed's kind face, those jade green eyes staring at her with something gentle and true as his snow white hair fell against his sweat covered forehead "But I know I trust you. If it hadn't been for you I think Enki there would have been the next troll snack. I'm sorry that this is happening."
It was those words that let her tears go, her head ducking down as her body shook. Ed guided her by the shoulder and led her away, everyone else too distracted by the troll's leftovers about to fetch a heavy price at the next marketplace visit. The Cleric knew that feeling, that no matter how hard she had tried she had still felt like she had failed. It was a type of despair he was felt in the deepest part of himself, it was a shame she was feeling it now.
"Hey" he said lifting her head to him, those glowing white eyes looking like gray mist in the morning "It's going to be okay. I'm sorry that happened, it isn't right, and you are right, he should trust you. But you did what was right, no matter what. You were brave, and you were smart enough to take that troll down without anyone getting seriously hurt. Now the village and the Ford will be safe for the rest of the season. You should be proud of yourself."
Ed's words hit Olly hard, her body feeling them to her very core. She listened to Ed and nodded, sniffing and wiping away her tears to compose herself. What a crybaby she had suddenly become, her father would be ashamed if he saw her weakness, she thought fondly to herself, a smile finally coming across her face. Her father would be having an absolute fit if he saw this mess.
"Sloppy Olly" she could hear her father jokingly tsk "Too sloppy. Next time put some flair on it will ya?"
"Next time" she said to herself nodding "Next time, everything will be different."