note from the author
This is actually the first part of the 6th chapter. Its been a while since I posted so while its really "part 1 of chapter 6" I thought I'll post this out anyways. So no, I haven't abandoned this story. Hope you enjoy this and I hope I'll get the other parts up when I can.
Safiya fingered the pages of her journal. It, along with her writing instrument, counted as one of her more treasured possessions. For the book, besides being a record of her thoughts, feelings and emotions since childhood, also functions as her own sounding board. A tool to help draw out solutions to dilemmas in her life, emotional or otherwise. She would write down how she felt, her observations and issues of confusion, than, often upon reading the entry at a later time, find clarity that was absent at the time of writing. Safiya sighed and reached for her personal writing intrument, a device not commonly found outside a select circle within the academy where her mother, was headmistress, while she was still alive. Unlike the more common clay or charred wood core pencils, her personal writing instrument carried its own ink that dried on contact against most surfaces leaving a permanent mark that could even resist exposure to water. Fresh and unbidden memories of home and the academy assualted Safiya and for a moment she was lost in thought.
Safiya sighed, the artifice was a gift from a childhood friend within the academy, Ahdjera. Ahdjera like many gifted children of Thay was brought to the academy at an early age to study with the teachers there because she was thought to have potential. However Ahdjera's interest was ever the art of being an artificer, making intricate items and tools for every day use. The pen was one of her earlier inventions. Safiya frowned as memory of her Thayian instructors, whom while immediately saw the usefulness of such an item, just as quickly fought over and restricted its distribution because of its perceived status symbol. In a society of scholars and practitioners of knowledge, magic or otherwise, the ability to carry one own pen and inkwell is indeed something very much desired and much to Safiya's dismay, the invention fell prey to the desire to keep such ability to a select few. For they argued, that not everyone deserve to be able to leave at will, permanent records of their teachings, or their thoughts Safiya thought, unless sanctioned by the council.
Safiya's thoughts wandered for a bit, reminiscing on good times with old friends at the academy then as things are as they are, memories of her mother came to fore. Thoughts of her mother brought a wave of sadness and Safiya felt tears come to her eyes. Yet, the voices, no, its more like a singular voice now in her head, told her in that ever practical tone, that she has to move on, her mother is dead and grieving for her now would diminish her abilities in regards to her true task. To keep the man known as Silvarian alive.
Blinking the tears away, she reached into her pockets and pulled out an embroidered handkerchief to dry her eyes. Gathering her thoughts she started writing.
Something changed since we visited Imilesvale. Our leader it seems was touched by the gods. Whether this bodes ill or good is yet to be seen but I can't help but feel alarmed by his change in character.
Case in point, after all that we have done to try to heal Gnarlthorn, we found out that the spirit did not have its own healing in mind. Instead it allowed itself to die so that we can use the divine healing agent on the land itself. We did so and returned to the Lake of Tears Garrison and met with the apprentice witch Nadaj. We were however betrayed. While I hate to admit it, it was Neeshka who was first to voice out her misgivings when we were told by Nadaj that Dalenka was the heart of the problem. We were told that the elder witch was believed to be a member of a separatist sect and we were asked to help Nadaj face and kill her.
Our leader refused, taking Neeshka's advice that something was amiss which triggered the betrayal.
Nadaj, falsely accused us of being the source of the scourge that is troubling the garrison and goaded the remaining men there to attack us. The fight that followed was the first indication that our leader wasn't quite the same man I knew. While it is true that the barbarians did not give us much of a choice when they attacked us, his response was as ruthless and without any thought of giving quarter. I asked him why we didn't try to incapacitate or try to talk to them and he simply said "Talking only works if someone is willing to listen. I could see it in their eyes that they did not care to listen, and I didn't care to try."
I find this a little out of character for him, one whom up to this point had been willing to talk to most people he meet, we have Gann and that tiefling with us after all.
Safiya paused, then continued.
As for Dalenka, she finally realized too late that her own silly prejudice caused the downfall of the garrison and offered to join up with us to search for Nadaj who fled into Ashenwood. And here I saw yet another change in Silvarian's character.
We finally caught up with Nadaj at the heart of the forest where the great tree grew. When she spoke we realized that she was no longer human. Apparently her mind and body has been possessed and nothing remained of the girl known as Nadaj. (What happens to the soul in this case? I wish mother was alive, she'd be so interested in studying this case) Instead she became an avatar for the malevolent fury of Ashenwood. Defeating Nadaj was not the end of it though, her death triggered the wood's defenses. Elementals of all kinds sprung from the ground around the great tree to attack us. Wave after wave of elementals kept coming. However the elementals only stayed around the great tree and were hostile only as far as they can chase us. Moving away from the tree did not stop the forest itself from attacking us with natural magiks, nevertheless the elementals did not pursue us once we were some distance from the great tree.
Silvarian spotted something during the fight and asked us to hold back at a safe distance while he investigated. Oddly enough his idea of carrying out an investigation involved drawing more elementals back to us for a quick disposal and here I thought he had a more mental approach.
Still, he found what he was looking for and pointed it out to us. It seemed that the malevolent spirit still requires a focus to bring forth the elementals. At the base of the great tree as well as the smaller trees surrounding, we noticed a shimmering, almost like a miniature portal.
Okku growled his was eagerness to wade into battle again (perhaps a little too eager,) suggesting that we target the foci so that we could stop the elementals entirely but Silvarian stopped him.
His exact words were, "No, I am going to use this to my advantage. I am going to harvest these elementals."
Both Gann and Dalenka were horrified and asked what did he mean by "harvesting". Silvarian explained that for every elemental that fell, left behind are its essence, essential for greater crafting of weapons and armor. He made it clear that he thought everyone will be in need of such in the days ahead.
Kaelyn and Neeshka both offered their immediate support (no surprise there) while Okku had already warmed up to the thought of upcoming fight saying that its been a long time since he had the exercise. Gann looked helplessly at me but what could I say? I'd follow him even if it wasn't mother's last instructions.
Dalenka however practically became hostile. Screaming that she would not be a part of further desecration of the forest, how we outsiders have destroyed the land and spirits and other such nonsense. She was almost hysterical right up to the point when Silvarian walked up and back handed her. Even Neeshka and Kaelyn was as shocked as I was. I could see pain, anger and fury in Dalenka's eyes but she saw something in Silvarian's that gave her pause. Perhaps it was her own death, but she remained silent long enough for Silvarian to address her.
"You are as blind and as narrow minded as when you allowed your garrison to fall. Had you accepted our help from the start, your men would still be alive. You call me cursed one and an abomination, treat me with less respect than the soil you walk on. And yet you have no inkling as to the nature of my curse nor have you and your kind ever tried to find out the cause of it. Instead you find it easier to cast blame and label those afflicted as the cause for all your troubles. Well, guess what, the forest was desecrated long before I came and you have not lifted a finger to heal it when you had the chance. Who is really to blame here? I am going to restore the forest because I am a spirit eater, a devourer of souls, I am doing this because unlike you, I do not have a choice of ignoring the problem. Because I don't want to feed on souls, yours included to keep myself alive and because it is the only way I can get more information as to what this curse really is. I am working to end this so that no one else will have to suffer the same fate. Now if you don't want to help me, fine, stay out of my way, otherwise, I'll kill you. Are we clear on that?"
I have never seen Silvarian act that way before. Is it desperation or focus that is driving him now? What about us, would he kill one of us if we object to his methods, or his point of view? I have to admit too that I am disturbed by my own feelings of what I witnessed. I should be alarmed, even frightened, and yet, there is a part of me that felt a thrill when he struck the witch. Felt something so familiar and right with what he did. How can that be?
While I do not think he would murder any one of us, I cannot help but question my own feelings regarding the man. I guess have to admit to myself that I may have fallen in love with him. I am sure that he knows how I feel, damn that man. I wished that there wasn't Neeshka in his life and while I might pretend that he might leave her one day for me, I know it won't happen as long as she's still alive (now there's a thought) and at best he'll remain a friend. At least he isn't false in that regard, unlike most the men I knew at the academy.
He is right about one thing though, we will need better arms and armor if we are going to make more enemies. So we stayed, for several days, harvesting as Silvarian puts it before he finally gave us the signal to break the loci.
The events that followed will forever be etched into my memory.
With the destruction of the loci, the sudden peace that came after seemed unnatural after the din and fury was there a moment before. Then it appeared, the Woodman. An ancient spirit, an embodiment of the forest itself or perhaps a spirit of a god long past. It spoke with Silvarian and something it said surprised us all. He seemed to recognized him or the curse. And what was more, revealed that the curse was not one at all but something altogether different, created by a god long dead.
Here again the man surprised us all. Somehow he was able to summon the power within himself and in an act that seemed contrary to his well being somehow restored both life and spiritual force to the ancient spirit. In all honesty, I do not know why he would do such a thing or how he was able to in the first place. Isn't what he is affected with described as a hunger? How does hunger become provider? It does not make any sense. None the less, his act it seemed to have unlocked a new power within him. Even Dalenka was awed and called it "Breath of the Earthmother"
Safiya shifted in her seat, as if what she was about to write also caused her physical discomfort.
He can now bring us back from the dead, and restore our health with just his will. As if The Woodman's benediction was not strange enough, how is it possible for a mortal that is not a cleric, to have such power over death?
Just then, a strange little creature flew in, "Mistress." It said. Silvery Urn say come tell you he ready to make swords."
"Thank you Kaji" Safiya waved her hands, absently dismissing the construct. Safiya closed her journal, placed it back in its air tight box and pack it back into her pack, a smile played on her lips as thoughts of a half naked man sweating over a forge hurried her feet towards the utility area. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."