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shadysided[Zigmal the Wanderer, little tiefling paladin, here to report her findings.]
I met Alena, one of the prior members of the Songbird Brigade —
And instead of being productive and explaining what happened to you guys, I decided to learn from teenagers that are more modern than me and record it all during the talk. It's just a little easier when you all have a first person view of what we spoke about.
[The video recording starts when Ziggy enters the remains of the Dwarven City standing in the tunnels — and then proceeds with her nearly falling off the crumbling bridge. Luckily, her tail catches her and saves her from totally splattering somewhere far, far below! But that's where Alena comes along, teleporting her out of the place and to some altar on the mountainside, where the remnants of a campfire had been left.
The conversation that follows is collected from Ziggy's point of view, looking toward Alena as they discuss the king's potential power trip, the discontentment of his people, the alleged betrayal of Ellia... and their conversation that seems to leave Alena somewhat enlightened, or at least thoughtful of what really happened all that time ago. Either way, maybe a useful dialogue for the crew to be privy to...!
The video ends with this scene:
"... I believe you," Alena says, her golden eyes just as serious. "I have been suspecting the monsters are not natural. And your information about the king — well. I've heard rumours that the discontent of the people of Alydhion was only spoken of once the heirloom was gone. Almost like the entire country suddenly woke to the real state of things overnight."
So if the king had been using the heirloom to make sure the people did not complain... Alena grits her teeth.
"Whatever the case, we must find Ellia, and we must find the heirloom. It may be with her, or it may not — but one thing is certain... an object of such evil can't be allowed to exist in this land."
Slowly, Alena kneels next to Ziggy, her armour seeming as if alight as the flames reflect off it. She reaches her hand to gently hold Ziggy's in her own. "I swear, I will not rest until the thing is found and destroyed. You have given me hope that perhaps we were not betrayed, after all. I will share this hope with my friends. If Ellia did take it, I want to think it was to stop it from ending back to the king's possession."
Then, she smiles — wide and radiant. "Blessed be Rahiel, for placing you on my path. You have given me hope, Ziggy. For that, I sincerely thank you."
Ziggy smiles in return, relieved in contrast to Alena's. Thank fucking god, she doesn't say out loud. She
replies, "My party has a way to remove it from here completely. This heirloom, it can't be destroyed, but it can be sent away somewhere no one in Alydhion can use it." A nod, and a squeeze of Alena's hands in return before she adds, "If you need any back-up, just reach out for me — I'll stick around The Endless Ballard. I know my party would offer any of their services if it means keeping the heirloom from being used again — and making the land safer."
Because really, a lot of them want that most of all. The orb is just some shitty orb. Sure, it's the first priority, but this is Degar's home. And for some people who aren't Ziggy Berman, home really can be a wonderful place. Ziggy says, "Is there somewhere you'd start? In looking for Ellia. Maybe I can do a little sneaking and find some clues myself."
"Cannot be destroyed?" Alena's voice betrays her incredulity, but then — it seems to be a magical object with near-unlimited power. It is not a surprise it would resist any attempts to stop it from existing. "Yes, I will. I'm going to talk to my friends. We tracked down the heirloom once already... we can do it again. I will let you know once we have any leads."
She rises again, heading towards the altar, and glances back at Ziggy.
"Hm... my suspicion is that if she remains in Alydhion, she is in disguise. Otherwise, I would look for her either in Ithrynne, where many Elves choose to live, or her homeland of South Naelor." She climbs to the altar, and bends her head, murmuring a prayer. "I will see you again, little Wanderer," she says with a smile, before a divine light from the sky envelops her — and in just a moment, she is gone.
After the video, Ziggy speaks up again:]
Apparently if we want to find Ellia, Ithrynne or South Naelor would be a good place to start.
She might not have the heirloom... but at least we could rule her out, right?
Maybe even set the record straight for the brigade. Either way, this — this is all good, right?
This is a step in a good direction?
[She did her best. Hopefully it makes a difference for the rest of you guys.]
I met Alena, one of the prior members of the Songbird Brigade —
And instead of being productive and explaining what happened to you guys, I decided to learn from teenagers that are more modern than me and record it all during the talk. It's just a little easier when you all have a first person view of what we spoke about.
[The video recording starts when Ziggy enters the remains of the Dwarven City standing in the tunnels — and then proceeds with her nearly falling off the crumbling bridge. Luckily, her tail catches her and saves her from totally splattering somewhere far, far below! But that's where Alena comes along, teleporting her out of the place and to some altar on the mountainside, where the remnants of a campfire had been left.
The conversation that follows is collected from Ziggy's point of view, looking toward Alena as they discuss the king's potential power trip, the discontentment of his people, the alleged betrayal of Ellia... and their conversation that seems to leave Alena somewhat enlightened, or at least thoughtful of what really happened all that time ago. Either way, maybe a useful dialogue for the crew to be privy to...!
The video ends with this scene:
"... I believe you," Alena says, her golden eyes just as serious. "I have been suspecting the monsters are not natural. And your information about the king — well. I've heard rumours that the discontent of the people of Alydhion was only spoken of once the heirloom was gone. Almost like the entire country suddenly woke to the real state of things overnight."
So if the king had been using the heirloom to make sure the people did not complain... Alena grits her teeth.
"Whatever the case, we must find Ellia, and we must find the heirloom. It may be with her, or it may not — but one thing is certain... an object of such evil can't be allowed to exist in this land."
Slowly, Alena kneels next to Ziggy, her armour seeming as if alight as the flames reflect off it. She reaches her hand to gently hold Ziggy's in her own. "I swear, I will not rest until the thing is found and destroyed. You have given me hope that perhaps we were not betrayed, after all. I will share this hope with my friends. If Ellia did take it, I want to think it was to stop it from ending back to the king's possession."
Then, she smiles — wide and radiant. "Blessed be Rahiel, for placing you on my path. You have given me hope, Ziggy. For that, I sincerely thank you."
Ziggy smiles in return, relieved in contrast to Alena's. Thank fucking god, she doesn't say out loud. She
replies, "My party has a way to remove it from here completely. This heirloom, it can't be destroyed, but it can be sent away somewhere no one in Alydhion can use it." A nod, and a squeeze of Alena's hands in return before she adds, "If you need any back-up, just reach out for me — I'll stick around The Endless Ballard. I know my party would offer any of their services if it means keeping the heirloom from being used again — and making the land safer."
Because really, a lot of them want that most of all. The orb is just some shitty orb. Sure, it's the first priority, but this is Degar's home. And for some people who aren't Ziggy Berman, home really can be a wonderful place. Ziggy says, "Is there somewhere you'd start? In looking for Ellia. Maybe I can do a little sneaking and find some clues myself."
"Cannot be destroyed?" Alena's voice betrays her incredulity, but then — it seems to be a magical object with near-unlimited power. It is not a surprise it would resist any attempts to stop it from existing. "Yes, I will. I'm going to talk to my friends. We tracked down the heirloom once already... we can do it again. I will let you know once we have any leads."
She rises again, heading towards the altar, and glances back at Ziggy.
"Hm... my suspicion is that if she remains in Alydhion, she is in disguise. Otherwise, I would look for her either in Ithrynne, where many Elves choose to live, or her homeland of South Naelor." She climbs to the altar, and bends her head, murmuring a prayer. "I will see you again, little Wanderer," she says with a smile, before a divine light from the sky envelops her — and in just a moment, she is gone.
After the video, Ziggy speaks up again:]
Apparently if we want to find Ellia, Ithrynne or South Naelor would be a good place to start.
She might not have the heirloom... but at least we could rule her out, right?
Maybe even set the record straight for the brigade. Either way, this — this is all good, right?
This is a step in a good direction?
[She did her best. Hopefully it makes a difference for the rest of you guys.]
