Hello, Everyone!
Welcome to the second-to-last part of the current Mary Windfiddle arc. Last time, our heroes were still trying to get out of Ekoba without being caught by the country's conscroption forces. So far, they were able to outrun them and took all the young men and boys they found along towards the safety of Pamagos.
Up on Diohastos' resting place, they met a strange tabaxi woman named Agatha who asked to join them, and Mary was able to fulfill her Patron's wishes, right before she got really ill. Bruno told her that she had sewer fever and that he could help her, but not before he prayed to Ord for a special healing spell. So, Mary had to spend the night in pain and discomfort, waiting for the morning under the branches of her Orange tree.
For Mary, morning came with the urge to vomit. She didn’t even have time to exit the Orange tree and emptied her stomach right there, on the grass. A small pixie yelled at her and made a rude gesture.
“I’m sorry,” Mary whined and tried to clean it.
When she appeared out of the tree, staggering and pressing on her stomach, it was already late morning. It was chilly--the days were getting colder with the coming winter--and everyone seemed a bit worse for wear. Everyone, except maybe Agatha who had a nice layer of fur on her skin.
“Oh, there you are,” Aurum said. “We’re almost ready to take off. I’ve arranged for the boys from the village to wait for us in a cabin a little bit out of our way, but we should be able to get there in a few hours. Ready to go?”
Mary looked at him with the most obvious 'I'm in pain!' expression she could muster.
“Oh, right,” he said. "Bruno!"
The Cleric came and made Mary lay on her back. He placed his palms on her stomach and soft warmth spread in waves through her whole body. It was as if poison was dissolving inside of her. Mary's muscles relaxed, her pain subsided, and she finally felt okay.
Before they left the plateau, Mary took one last look at Diohastos' resting place.
"I think there used to be rituals for some deity here," Bruno said, following her gaze. "But either they're not honoured anymore, or not in the same way."
"I've heard that the soul of a dragon inhabits the place it used to protect," Aurum said.
"Don't you think we're missing something really important?" Mary said. "Why was there so much growth around the dead body? Who moved it from the place we last saw it? Why was it positioned so carefully and deliberately like this?”
Nobody had the answers for these questions. Mary vowed to do some research on Gold dragons and ancient ruins when she had time to visit a library. But for now, all they had to do was head out towards the cabin Aurum had told them about.
On the way, Mary rode next to Agatha. The tabaxi travelled on foot and she had to look up to meet Mary’s eyes.
“Hi,” Mary said.
“Hi yourself.”
“I, um… I was wondering… It seems like we’re going to travel together for a while. Can you tell me more about yourself?”
“What do you want to know?”
“What are you doing on the continent? Why so far from home?”
Agatha walked a few paces in silence before answering.
“I just wanted to see the world, I guess,” she said with a shrug. “Go on adventures, experience things. We’re kinda cut off from the rest of the world and I wanted to see what’s out there.”
It was quite the evasive answer. Mary had to remind herself to keep an open mind and not be too suspicious towards their new companion. She didn’t think she could trust her--not really--but the least she could do was not to be antagonistic.
“Say, you seem like a person who reads a lot,” the tabaxi said.
“Oh, yes!” Mary beamed. “That’s one of my most favourite things!”
“Are there any libraries over in Pamagos where a person can gather information about stuff or just read for the sake of reading?”
Mary frowned. “I thought you didn’t read,” she said.
“I do,” Agatha said, “but not when I’m on the road. Books are hella heavy! Where do you keep yours, by the way? I didn’t see any on you…”
“Oh, I…” Mary hesitated, glancing at the Bag of Holding. “Let’s just say I have my ways.”
“All right,” Agatha said and they continued in silence.
The sun was setting when the group finally reached the cabin in the woods. The owner--an elderly hunter named Gustav--welcomed them and showed them to where he'd accomodated the boys from the village. The youngsters were worried and restless, but otherwise well enough to travel the next day.
Away from any immediate danger, Mary finally had time to check out the letters she received on their way out of Ekoba's capital. There were three, exactly as many as she'd sent out in their last days in Myth Adofhaer.
The first one was from Sylvanas Bliss' wife. It was brief and formal. The woman thanked Mary for the journal and for taking care of her husband’s remains. She said she'd felt he hadn't been among the living for a while, and wished Mary health and happiness.
The second letter was even shorter. It was from Moira and it only said that they were going to see each other soon. Mary was a little bit disappointed it wasn't longer or more heartfelt. She was also worried. Would they really have the opportunity to see each other soon, with the threat of the upcoming war and Nurvureem’s lair being so close to Meraket? It took a lot of will for her not to ask Bruno to send Moira a message urging her to get away from the town and into safety.
The letter Mary saved for last was from home. She pressed it to her lips before reading it and could swear she caught the aroma of Lilly’s perfume.
“Hello again, Muffin!” the letter said.
“It’s strange to write you letters, but I also find it really pleasant. Your father and I, we had time to read your book and think about everything that’s happened.
We love you very much and we’re really proud of you! You’re all grown up now and it seems like you’re completely capable of taking care of yourself. We’re still worried for you but we know that this is your path and you have to walk it. We want you to know that you have our blessing for your journey.
We miss you. We love you.
Lilly
P.S. Tell Bruno Leefie says ‘hi’!”
‘Capable of taking care of herself’, eh? Mary sighed and glanced at her leg.
Back during the fight with the Hydra, she was so preoccupied with saving Aurum that she didn’t even consider that she might get hurt in the process. She could have done so many things to protect herself if she hadn’t been so single-minded! She could have cast Mirror Image – that could have given her a chance not to be taken out of the Silence’s range. She could have teleported when she got bit. She could have tried to scare the monster away like she’d done with the insect-like creature back on the road to Pamagos. She could have concentrated on hurting the other heads with her blasts and just wait for Bruno to get Aurum out.
She had been too scared, too confused to think straight! She had to be more careful from now on!
She owed it to the people who loved her.
Another thing that heroes in novels don't get - sweet little messages from home. The Bearer system our DM has thought of has given me--a person who loves writing and receiving letters--so much joy and happiness! I hope you get the same from readinguorstory!
See you next time when we're (hopefully) finally getting to Pamagos!
Take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide, the Glossary and the Map for the series. You're welcome!)
An important disclaimer: These are my notes from a D&D game turned into a narrative. All the worldbuilding and NPC encounters belong to our DM, and all the actions of the other main characters (Aurum, Bruno and Agatha) belong to my co-players. My contribution to the story is only everything Mary-related (actions, reactions, inner thoughts), as well as the writing itself.