City of Brosshold

Narnisus wasn't sure whether he should trust Lefarious or not. Lefarious trusted him with his home, leaving him to whatever he desired within his domain to study the plants in the wilderness. Narnisus decided to take a look at what Lefarious was working on and search the area of his desk. Books lay in piles on and around the table and was open, the one Lefarious was writing in. After studying it, he realized it was a book of incantations and elixirs with quite arcane ingredients, most of which lay upon rough paper beside the book. He placed the book back in its open position where he had found it and searched for another. He found one regarding plants and herbs of the area. Studying the book, Narnisus found most of the common herbs are also native to Orrilion but rarer plants he found he never heard of. The possibilities with such an expansive inventory of knowledge were the only thing he could think of.

He placed the book back on top of the pile reading it and glanced through some of the titles along the bindings of the books. A book called "Druids of Orrilion" caught his eye. He retrieved it from the stack and flipped it open. It was all about him and where he was from. The race blessed with the moon's power and ability to shape shift. He closed the book and put it back, knowing he would find nothing he doesn't already know.

The room appeared ominous and forbidding. The dust in the air shimmered as it passed through the sunlight that pierced the windows like rays. The darkened corners of the room were more mysterious than Lefarious himself. A path of clear floor free of parchments and papers guided toward a dark door in the back. He made his way toward the door as his boots thumped upon the wooden floor, wondering what may lie behind it. It was obvious to him by now that it was the doorway into the large building he saw outside but what awaited him behind the door was what he wondered. When he finally reached the door, he inspected it up and down and frisked it to find anything unusual. The door was of limestone, the same as the large building's walls outside.

"Stay away from there!" Lefarious scowled from the entrance of the home. He had in his hand a wicker bowl of freshly harvested herbs. "You are not welcome to that room. No one is!"

"What are you hiding, Lefarious?" Narnisus wondered.

"None of your concern, druid!" he replied, gripping him by the shoulder to lead him outside. "I need some time to myself. I believe you have all the information you wanted," and with that he slammed the wooden door with a thud.

The clearing outside was bright as rays of sunlight entered the forest from the open canopy above. He didn't know how far Brosshold was but he knew where he could find it. He decided to leave Lefarious to his studies and depart for the marble city at once.

The more he traveled the less dense the forest grew. It soon transformed as the thick woods that once populated the scenery were now small saplings and trees that towered over a blanket of dead leaves covering the ground. He only hoped for the forest to grow thicker as he traveled so that his journey may prove undaunted. To his disappointment the forest only ended abruptly. Narnisus found himself standing along the border of an open field that stretched toward the horizon. Rocky outcrops dotted the golden land of endless meadows. This was the road to his destination of Brosshold.

This terrain was perfect for Narnisus' shape shifted form. With half a day left before the duration on his ability would run dry, he used it to travel with great speed across the open fields.

Hours passed and the horizon looked no different. Narnisus rested every so often, summoning purified water from the air and condensing it into a container to quench his thirst. Another gap of time went by traveling through the field. Soon enough the scent of water triggered his feline senses. He followed the smell and soon enough, upon the horizon was a large city that shimmered in the sunlight.

Soon enough Narnisus had reached just outside the city's limits. A wide river, shimmering with reflected sunlight, ran under the city's entirety. Narnisus needed to keep a low profile if he wanted to complete his objective so he returned to his former self and plopped the hat he took from the orc upon his green head. With it he would divert attention caused by his odd appearance. With his staff slung upon his back he approached the large city with caution. At its entrance Narnisus recognized two large trees native to Orrilion, standing adjacent to each other to welcome guests. He ran to inspect them and wondered why they grew alone here. Their leaves sparkled with argent glimmers to compliment Brosshold's marble embellishments.

Narnisus saw that throughout the streets that thrived with people, trees of the same nature decorated much of the town and giant pillars of root also provided the citizens with much inspiration. His journey down the streets of Brosshold grew awkward as people began to stare and mutter under their breath to the person beside them curious remarks. Narnisus only pulled his hat down to hide himself.

Then, a sudden cry was heard in the distance. Narnisus reacted and looked toward the trouble and saw a crowd of people.

"She's hurt, bad!" a person worriedly cried.

"Someone call for Antony!" another yelled.

Narnisus rushed to aid the troubled people. There he saw a little child lying still upon the ground, her face red with blood.

"I swear it was an accident," a man admitted wielding a hammer. "An honest mistake working near construction!"

Someone aiding the child began to lift her. Narnisus made his way through the crowd and stopped the woman. "What do you think you're doing? Can't you see she needs help!" the woman screamed.

"I'm hear to help," he replied and cradled the little girl's head. He closed his eyes and waved his hand across the child's wound upon her head. The crowd witnessed with disbelief as a glow of green energy emitted from the reaction. Narnisus wiped the blood from her face away and set her down. Slowly she awoke from the ordeal and the gasps of astonishment from the crowd were released.

"Truly a land of prophets!" "It's a miracle!" the people cried.

The crowd reveled in the fortuitous circumstance that saved the child but to Narnisus, it was only what was expected.

A young woman approached the healer. "You're just like Antony," she said.

"Excuse me? I am a druid. Surely you know of them," Narnisus replied.

"Antony is a god. He's our leader and ruler, filling our lives with meaning and happiness," the woman explained with enthusiasm.

"Hey, Marin. Why don't you take this young traveler to the living quarters at the cathedral? He is most welcome," a man from the crowd suggested after overhearing what she had said.

"Of course," she replied. "You'll stay there won't you?"

"As a matter of fact I need a place to stay. I'm going to take you up on that offer," Narnisus replied with a smile.

Soon enough the whole city got word of the event that occurred and the rumor was a druid had arrived in Brosshold.

On there way, Marin wondered much about the traveler. "What's your name?" she asked him as he followed from behind.

"Narnisus," he replied, enjoying the scenery of Brosshold.

Marin couldn't help but glance at Narnisus' green hair. He was stopped suddenly as Marin stood facing him. "What's with the green hair?" she asked.

"I'm a druid," he answered taking his hat off.

"Druid?" she wondered.

"Yes, I've told you before," Narnisus explained. Suddenly, loud applause was heard faintly.

"Oh, that must be Antony now, performing his miracles," Marin said. "I can show you what I meant when I said you were just like him!"

Marin lead Narnisus through the city's corridors toward the cathedral in the monastery district but the crowd that was heard came from the entrance area in front of the capitol building in the center of the city. They found their way to the back of the crowd that witnessed Antony's miracles.

Marin lead him to a balcony with a better view. There he could see the capitol with greater detail. A large set of stairs entered its way into the large doorway at the top. Along the sides of the stairway and all over the white building grew large entangling roots that covered the area and created large pillars to further floor the audience. At the base of the stairs stood Antony, the ruler of Brosshold, wielding a staff. He was clad in ceremonial garb performing miracles for his people and the people cheered for him.

Narnisus studied Antony's method. He watched as he held his staff high, and from out of thin air, was able to materialize a blob of pure water that hovered about. With a swing of his staff, Antony commanded the roots and trees that grew all around the city to lend him a limb. A branch reached around the water and twisted itself into a large well that remained suspended by the branch. Antony then blessed the water. The crowd roared but Narnisus wasn't convinced.

"Isn't he amazing?" Marin said with wonder in her eyes.

"It's what I expected. He isn't a god as you said, but a druid, abusing his power," Narnisus said as Marin looked at him with disbelief. "But I don't understand. He's ignoring the discipline and focus a druid needs."

"That's because he is a god and has come to save us all! He doesn't need to follow any rules," she explained with resentment.

"I'm sorry but he's a fake," he reiterated. Antony performed yet another miracle as he brought life to an injured bird that flew from out of his hands shortly after.

"Do you think he's a god now?" Marin demanded using Antony's demonstration.

"You saw me do the same to the injured child, only not the same way," Narnisus assured. Marin only grew angrier with him.

The crowd cheered and applauded as their leader finished his demonstration. Marin continued to show Narnisus to the cathedral.