Eternal Arkìrūn

Ældrūan 17, 652 DR – Maran 6, 653 DR: Carrying the unconscious Sōlàhrāen deep into the Ardùwū. A stampede of the Kukora claims their Grūmun companion, White-eye. Grove of the razor-webs. An unsettling encounter with Blood Worms. Near disaster at the hands of a fire lizard. A brief respite at the Village of the Twin Stones. Journey across the trackless tundra. The Grū of ancient Arkìrūn. A quest’s completion within the Tree of Arkìrūn. The final leg to the City of Nazhàlyr. Training with master Nyllyraz. The sea voyage back to Yrūni lands.

Continued from Child of the Sun.

Malídor, 17 Ældrūan 652

The bandaged Sōlàhrāe Eylfārehl lay still beside the fire. Outside the ring of fire’s warmth, the icicled boughs glittered and chimed beautifully in the night. The travelers looked from one to another, silently tending to their wounds. In the advancing night, Mishara could sense that he was much farther from Oð than he had planned, and that he would not be returning to his Mortal friends anytime soon.

Amdor, 18 Ældrūan 652

The next morning White-eye gathered some deadwood and fashioned a travois to carry the Sōlàhryn’s body and her back-sack through the forest. Travel grew slow but they pushed north and westward through the ancient stands of trees. After they stopped for the day, White-eye spoke with Cadàlya and informed him that their journey had deviated West. Dismayed by this, the group made plans to remedy their orientation the next day. While this was discussed, Mishara found a pack of deer, and shot an arrow into its heart. The pack did not flee, but instead stopped by the fallen deer, each lowering its head and nuzzling the fallen doe. When each had nudged their farewells, the Ardùwū stag led his family away into the dark forest.

Wōdìndor, 19 Ældrūan 652

Traveling through the Ardùwū.

Iyldor, 20 Ældrūan 652

The group awoke to freezing rain and terribly cold winds sweeping down from the Kur Nuthali peaks to the East. On this miserable day, White-Eye led the group along a trial that climbed high into the eastern highlands. By the afternoon they were well into the foothills of the western slopes of the Kur Nūðali. That evening they came to a high rocky bluff overlooking the vast Valley of Ardùwū. White-eye explained that this bluff was a nexus of power within the valley and that those that remained at its edge for one starry night, would be rejuvenated by the spirit of this ancient place. Mishara paused for a moment to examine large bird tracks in the mud beneath the snow, but paid them little mind.

Irídor, 21 Ældrūan 652

In the middle of the night, strange hooting sounds issued from the tree line. The group awakened and prepared themselves for trouble in time to see a herd of ravenous Kūkòra charged from the trees. Each of the flightless birds stood taller than the travelers, with the exception of the Grūmun whose broad white and bloodied shoulders were clearly visible above the red chaos of bristling feathers and slashing beaks. The adventurers fought bravely against the ravenous red-feathered tide that pushed them closer and closer toward the bluff’s edge. In the midst of battle, White-eye lifted a struggling Kūkòra above her head and pitched it into the valley below. Moments later, the massive Grūmun herself disappeared beneath a flurry of red beaks, feathers, and talons. In time, the giant birds were repelled but not soon enough to save their companion. As the Kūkòra pack retreated back down the stone toward he trees, White-eye’s pecked and torn body lay a mess of bloodied fur and entrails.

The group continued back down the slopes on the morning of the twenty-first. Though the ground was now covered in snow, they were able to follow a rocky stream to the valley floor. At one point, Cadàlya spoke with the stream’s spirit and learned of the land that lay around them. With the stream’s advice the company continued their way into the North. It seemed that they had started out a week or more too late for this journey, and did not help their progress that they were carrying another.

Roydor, 22 Ældrūan 652

Traveling through the Ardùwū.

Sūdìdor, 23 Ældrūan 652

Traveling through the Ardùwū.

Talídor, 24 Ældrūan 652

Traveling through the Ardùwū.

Padídor, 25 Ældrūan 652

Near the end of Ældrūan, the frozen travelers entered a beautiful area of woods where icicles hung heavily from thousands of spider-webs stretched between the giant trees. The group was not surprised as winter-white spiders descended around them, sensing the fresh hot blood within them. Though the spiders did not offer a great challenge for the hardened travelers, their webs proved troublesome, for instead of entangling their prey each thread sliced through armor, flesh, and bone. After slaying their arachnid predators, the group passed carefully through the remaining area.

Bærídor, 26 Ældrūan 652

Traveling through the Ardùwū.

Virídor, 27 Ældrūan 652

Traveling through the Ardùwū.

Palídor, 28 Ældrūan 652

After a long day of pushing through deep snow, the group made camp in a place where the wind had made a bowl at the foot of a tall rock face. Though the forest floor was covered with a blanket of snow for as far as could be seen, here stood green grass. Setting the Sōlàhryn down, they hurriedly erected their simple camp. As they enjoyed the warmth of a small fire, Illàrzur felt something akin to an insect bite. Smacking at his thigh, his hand came back covered in blood. Jumping to their feet, the group found that they were covered with red bloodthirsty worms, having burrowed up through the cold ground in search of warm bodies. Scrapping the things from their skin, they quickly abandoned the camp and moved to a snowier location. After getting another fire started, they examined the Sōlàhryn to find him crawling with the worms. Killing the vile things they also discovered that not one had bitten through his porcelain skin.

Alídor, 1 Sharak 652

Traveling through the Ardùwū.

Kændor, 2 Sharak 652

On the second day of the Dekàli month Sharak, the group found an outcropping of large rocks that were devoid of snow. Scrambling onto the stones to rest their weary feet, they found the stones to radiate a strange but restorative warmth. Mishara and Illàrzur readied their weapons to explore the rest of the stones, as Cadalya saw to the Sōlàhrāen. The two did not travel far before they found a cave among the stones. Approaching the entrance, the two were surprised as fire erupted from the dark hole, setting them a blaze. As they extinguished themselves, a giant red and black reptile darted from the cave and sank its teeth into the Nehkrul swordsman. Hearing their cries, Cadàlya rushed to their aid and they were engaged in a prolonged battle of fire and blood. In the end, the fire monster was vanquished, but not without each companion being disfigured by tooth, claw, and flame. Even their fight with the Kūkòra had not weakened them to this degree. After a careful inspection of the lizard’s lair, it was decided that they would convalesce here rather than push northward in their present condition. To their pleasant surprise, it seemed that no valley predators came near the bone-strewn lair. As the days passed, the snow grew deeper. They were now well into winter, and far north of Avàhrlyn. Cadàlya admitted not knowing exactly where in they were in the deep wilderness. She insisted however that by continuing North, they would eventually reach the land’s end and from there, the coastal City of Nazhàlað would not be hard to find.

Bærídor, 12 Sharak 652

After ten days of convalescing in the fire lizard’s cave, the group set-out into the heavy snow. The Sōlàhryn’s condition had not improved during their rest. The Sōlàhryn’s “pull” urged them west and north. Though not certain of their location, Cadàlya now believed that their ward was directing them away from the City of Nazhàlað. He had never heard of Arkìrūn and had no idea how far the Sōlàhryn’s quest would take them.

Virídor, 13 Sharak 652

On the first day of the Dekàli Midmonth, the group came to an Eylfāe village situated between colossal pillars of stone. Here they learned more about the Eylfāe that they carried. The elders of the village explained that Arkìrūn was an ancient abandoned city that lay in northern lands that never feel summer’s embrace. Though they had done well to reach this far, the remaining distance would require crossing lands unfit for most. After some debate, the group was provisioned with heavy clothes and furs. In addition, the village provided guides to lead them to the edge of the Ardùwū but from there they would have to cross the tundra alone.

Palídor, 14 Sharak 652

They left the next morning, accompanied by a small entourage of Anàhlāri scouts. It had been one month since they’d left the Town of Avàhrlyn and they had still not emerged from the other side of the great forest.

Alídor, 15 Sharak 652

Traveling through the Ardùwū.

Kændor, 16 Sharak 652

At midday they came to the forest’s edge and looked out upon the rocky snow plain with despair. The scouts confirmed what the Sōlàhryn’s instructions dictated, the City of Arkìrūn existed beyond this plain. After thanking their escorts, the Eylfāe guides turned back. Ahead lay endless fields of snow and muted gray skies. Cold winds blew down from the northern seas chilling them despite their heavy clothes. Wrapping their cloaks and blankets tighter about them, the company trudged out onto the frozen snows.

Days passed by without landmarks and only a dim variation between the night and the day. Each day, more snow or freezing rain would cover the unbroken land, erasing their tracks behind them. Sensation left their hands and feet after the first three days, and hair jingled with icicles as they trudged onward.

Bærídor, 26 Sharak 652

Near the end of Sharak and near the end of their strength, they finally came upon the walls of an ancient city. It was not the first time they had seen the city (or a city) for they had been delirious for many days, and had been chasing mirages. As they drew near to the walls of Arkìrūn, they expected this city to vanish as well. Until they collapsed at the feet of the city walls, and could feel the stone against their numb fingertips, they could not be sure that they had truly arrived.

The crumbling walls of the city were angled back from their foundations and marked with giant glyphs that dared fools to climb. Moving toward the gate they became aware of a giant creature waiting in the shadows of that passage, but the creature stirred little as they approached. Mishara tried to discern details of the monster but looked away out of courtesy and the knowledge that it would be horrible to behold. Within the ancient snow-covered streets the company could feel hundreds of eyes upon them, staring out from the ruined buildings and walls. Toward the center of the city they came to a large petrified tree stump with steps leading down into its heart. Beneath the petrified tree, they found a spherical chamber with crumbling star-scape mosaics. As they lay the Sōlàhrāen’s body on the rubble in the chamber’s center the starry tesserae began to glow. Slowly a blinding light grew within the chamber until nothing could be seen but the golden light. When this faded Mar’yeel stood before them. He thanked each of the company in turn and explained that he had been hunted but that he did not know by what. After years of traveling he came to the Grim Drūden, believing that he would be safe there, but his hunter found him and left him in the state which he was found. He did not know who the hunter was or why he had not been killed. In his hands he held brilliant gems which he gave to each of his rescuers before bidding them farewell.

Rewarded for their troubles, the group left the city with a hundred staring eyes at their backs. From Arkìrūn, Illàrzur led the group to the End of Land where they turned eastward along the barren arctic coast.

Irídor, 7 Orol 652

After many days of travel along the northern edge of Teréðor, the group came to a colossal stone shelf that extended over sea. Picking their way through the rocky terrain, the Nehkrul swordsman eventually found the hidden trail that led down the craggy coast to the city beneath. In this manner, the company finally reached the great northern City of Nazhàlað. Finding a warm tavern, the company celebrated their success and mourned the loss of their Grūmun companion. After many drinks and congratulations the company dissolved, each going separate ways.

In the days to follow, Mishara located the master Illydphryl Nyllyraz who agreed to train him in the ways of Eylfāe archery. Toward the end of his training, Mishara was given more freedom to explore the northern city. During this time, he found a merchant willing to trade a crooked short bow for the Saránði Yrūn blade that Mishara had carried from Oð. The awkwardly constructed bow had a strange enchantment that allowed the archer to shoot, albeit blindly, around corners. After much shopping around, Mishara agreed to the trade and returned his attentions to training.

Come spring, Mishara had trained long and hard; Illydphryl was pleased with what he had been able to impart to the Anàhlāen. Having had his fill of Kekzhe target practice in the bleak tundra, Mishara was very pleased when Illydphryl informed that he had nothing more to teach his student.

Mishara explored many options for returning to his friends in Oð but finally settled on a ship’s passage, paid in part with the gem gifted him by Mar’yeel. The ship sailed around the northeast horn of Teréðor and passed the Pirate Kingdoms on its way into warmer waters.

Malídor, 3 Maran 653

A cold spring wind pushed the sailing ship closer and closer to the shore. To the West the bay funneled to a river’s mouth and wound away into the new green forest that crowded its banks. The journey from Nazhàlað was over. By watch’s end, the master archer stepped from the gangplank onto the bustling docks of Avàhrlyn. The journey had taken longer than he’d expected; it was Maran by the Yrūn calendar, almost a month later than he had planned. Mishara walked the streets of Avàhrlyn listening for news of winter events, but the rumors were quiet. He exchanged his coins for Oðári currency and set out for Oð with the next sunrise.

Iyldor, 6 Maran 653

As he emerged from the Nar Drūden, and looked across the rolling Northfields farmlands he became acutely aware of how dead the Yrūn lands felt compared to his time in the Eylfāri realms. He hoped that in time he could return.

Continued in Seal of the Ghûl.

Characters

  • Mishara Mythdaras
  • Cadàlya Asmural
  • Mar’yeel
  • Nessus
  • Illàrzur Sùlvynar
  • llydphryl Nyllyraz
  • White-eye: killed

Played: 04 Sep 1999