Ch 2: Explanations and New Companions
I woke up, and got out of the bed.
"Unh," I changed my mind, and propped myself up against the headboard of the bed I was occupying.
"Nice to see you're still among the living," a voice said from the other side of the tent, startling me. I looked over, and I saw the same orange-haired man that I had seen in the graveyard.
"Sorry if my pets startled you back there. They can look pretty scary with one of them growling in your face. My name is Ulysses, and I'm the only druid I've seen since I've left the College at Scosglen."
"What is a druid?" I asked. So far as I know, the druids were a mythological religion.
"Druids are cousins of the Barbarians, whom I assume you know. In the ancient times, the founder of Druidism, known only as Fiacla-Géar, disagreed with the Barbarian leader, Bul-Kathos, although he did admit that his philosophy had merit. He took all who followed his ideals, and founded the Druidic College at Scosglen. He made a vow that the druids would not emerge from the college until the time of Judgment, the day the three escape their prisons to conquer the mortal realm."
"The Barbarian philosophy is plainly obvious," I said, "but what is the Druidic?"
"When Fiacla-Géar founded the college, his intent was to educate young men to be one with the earth. He believed that only by communicating with our animal brothers that we would be able to save this world.
"We have learned much from our feral brethren. We have learned to call wild beasts to come to our aid, to harness the power of our provider, Gaea, and even to change our own shape to mimic that of our brothers."
I had nothing to say to that speech, amazing as it was what the Druidic peoples have learned. It was possible that this man would be able to help me find Deckard Cain.
"From the gossip in the camp, I hear that you are trying to find Deckard Cain. Care for some help?"
"I would greatly appreciate you help; as soon as I am able to, I plan to search for him," I said, glad that I did not have to ask him to accompany me, as his skills would indubitably be essential.
"Then it's settled. Shall I fetch Akara?"
"No, with an understanding of death, there comes an understanding of how to prevent it. If you would please give me a few minutes."
Ulysses nodded, then rose and left the tent.
Despite my earlier comments, I continued to feel ill. Painstakingly, I rose, and put on my cotton shirt. I then exited the tent myself, walking over to Akara's pitiful abode.
When I reached Akara's tent, I saw Ulysses standing outside. Together, we entered her tent. Akara immediately began to speak, "Alexander, from speaking to other travelers in the encampment, it appears that Tristram is inaccessible from the rest of the countryside."
"Then how will we get there?" Ulysses interjected.
"I'm afraid I do not know you," Akara said questioningly, looking at Ulysses, "Will you be joining Alexander on this journey?"
"My name is Ulysses, High Priestess, and yes, I will also be searching for the Horadrim."
"I am pleased to meet you Ulysses. Alexander?"
Startled, I looked up; I had been thinking of an alternate route to the destroyed town. "Yes Akara?"
"Judging from your reaction, and the look on your face, you were trying to find a way to Tristram. I believe I know of one.
"In the case of emergency, the Horadrim erected the Cairn Stones, to be a form of travel in the instance the waypoints malfunctioned. By touching the five stones in a specific order, a portal would be opened to the desired location. With Tristram being above the tomb of Diablo, it would surely be included."
"But how do we know what order to touch the stones?" I asked. I didn't want to accidentally end up somewhere I didn't want to go, like home.
"When the quest for the three was complete, the Horadrim left a scroll with locations' combinations in an ancient tree, one that was said to have existed since the creation of the three terrestrial plains, heaven, earth, and hell.
"It is my belief that the ancient tree is the Tree of Yggdrasil, located on the other exit of a cave in the wilderness. I suggest you two make haste, as Diablo, after escaping, would indubitably try to hunt and eradicate any surviving Horadrim, as they know the secret to imprisoning him."
Upon hearing this, Ulysses and I stood up to leave, but Akara interrupted, "Alexander, please stay a moment longer."
I looked over at Ulysses, catching his gaze. In that one instant, we both realized that Akara had qualms about his accompanying me. He nodded, and left.
The instant he was out of hearing range, I turned to Akara, and accosted her with my own questions. "Akara, what was the meaning of that? Do you not think that I can judge the trustworthiness of a person myself?"
"Alexander, while I am not sure that we can completely trust this druid, that is not what I wanted to speak to you about." She stammered, unnerved at my sudden outburst.
Feeling better about the High Priestess's intentions, I asked her, "Then what was it?"
"While I cannot know with certainty what her reaction will be, be warned that Blood Raven was once a Rogue captain, just like Kaysha is now. The two were great friends, and Kaysha will indubitably begin grieving when you tell her of Blood Raven's death. It would not be wise to willingly give details of what occurred in the graveyard."
Momentarily stupefied, it then made sense, as Kaysha was reluctant to talk of Blood Raven, and quick to leave her friend's would-be executioner, albeit it was, in the end, a mercy killing; the death of Blood Raven released her soul, to heaven or hell still remains unknown.
Finished talking, Akara motioned for me to leave.
I left, glad to be rid of her presence. Unlike most of my talks with her, this one had been fraught with anger, suspicion, and confusion; none of which should ever be experienced at the same time.
Returning to my own tent, I picked up my armor, and saw the blood stain, along with the gaping hole created from blood raven's knife. Looking at this, I knew that I would have to purchase a new set of armor. It would be a good time, as the damaged set was beginning to wear thin, as leather tends to do after much wear and tear.
I walked over to where Charsi was working on a sword; the heat from the forge and from the sword made her bronze skin glisten with sweat as she folded the smoldering metal.
"Good day Charsi!" I shouted over the banging of her hammer, "My chest plate was damaged in my excursion yesterday. Would you perchance have any new armor?" I inquired of the Rogue blacksmith.
Charsi discontinued her efforts with the blade, arching her back to release the tension from working so hard.
"Good day to you too, Alexander. You've been here before; you know where I keep my wares. Just tell me what you want and pay once you have made your selection," She said with a smile, while pulling her hair back and tying it with a scrap of cloth.
Smiling myself, I went back and selected a new set of ring mail. I went up to the anvil and yelled "Boo!" in her ear. She screamed aloud and jumped almost a cubit in the air. After she landed, she turned and swung the hammer at my head, I ducked while asking how much the mail was.
"Just for scaring me, I'm going to have to charge extra. But as you get a friend's discount, it evens out to seventy-two coins," she pronounced, smiling devilishly.
"An outrage, a scandal," I muttered, while digging out my coin pouch, "and I never heard of you giving a discount to anyone, not even the Rogues themselves."
"Oh scat you bothersome welch. I have work to do," she said. I paid her, and left for my tent.
When I got there, I saw Ulysses sitting on my cot. "Akara doesn't trust me?" he asked.
"While I admit she does not, that is not why she asked me to stay. She wanted to warn me about Kasha's possible reaction to hearing that Blood Raven was dead." I said, while putting down my armor. I walked over and sat down next to him on the cot.
"Do you want me to accompany you?" he asked.
"It would not be right if you did not," I replied.
Together, we left, and sought out Kaysha. We found her supervising the replacement of the guards on the wall of the encampment.
"Kaysha!" I yelled, though not loudly enough to disturb her supervision if she elected not to talk to us.
Kaysha turned, and when she saw me, her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together. "What do you want?" she said. I could tell there was a hint of despair in her statement.
Wordlessly, I pulled out the amulet. As soon as she looked at it, her eyes began to tear, though her face could have been stone. Without speaking, she took the amulet, and left. We did not follow.
After watching her leave, I said that I had to return to my tent for a few minutes, and then we could leave in search for the Tree of Yggdrasil. He nodded, and then I lift for my tent.
When I entered, I went over to my armor, and placed it by the cot. I sat down and put on my boots, then stood up and reached for my new armor. I put it on; glad to have the weight knowing that I was safer with it on. I put on my gloves, checked my belt, and grabbed my crossbow and sword. I put the crossbow on my back, and left.
Errata: While I recognize that the tree mentioned is named Inifuss, I changed the name for my own reasons. Yggdrasil is the tree that connects the nine worlds in Norse Mythology. (Check it).
