Cedron and Raven - The New Lady of the Crawling Fey
09 Newkolt 349 AC
Raven staggers over to where Wickerbell has dragged Cassidy and checks him over quickly. The kender seems fine but in a deep sleep. He looks at the small brownie, towering over her foot-tall frame. "Where are the others?"
"Sleeping, in this room behind me. They are unharmed," she moves aside to give Raven room to pass.
Cedron investigates the room and looks to see if any other enemies are within view. He finds none but Ornforithalas, Tephysea, and Eilra are all in chamber, deeply sleeping but apparently unharmed.
Cedron then turns and lays a hand upon Raven’s shoulder. “I will treat the others, but first Master Sugar Plum, you are of no use in your current state…” The priest then channels his most powerful healing magic, mending the wounds Raven received in the battle.
Raven thanks Cedron and then heads inside. He kneels beside Eilra and gently shakes her shoulder. It takes a few tries but, eventually, she stirs. Groggy and confused, she sits up, "Where..?"
Raven gently places a hand on the side of her face, "In the Plane of Faerie. You were kidnapped and brought here when the dragons attacked."
The Councilor sees Raven, absolutely drenched in the blood of the slain giants. "By Paladine! Are you hurt?"
Raven shakes his head. "Not anymore. Come, let's wake the others." He extends a hand and helps Eilra to her feet. As the pair stand, they finally notice the trove of coins and gems that litter the floor.
Cedron moves with Raven and checks on the others as well. He will then be going an assessment of the building. He notices Raven watching, "A new place - a new tree." The swordsman frowns, "Do you really want to set up in a swamp?"
"I see your point," Cedron replies. "Another location would suit Malazzarr's needs better."
Wickerbell walks over to the spot where Ellessandra's ashes are piled. "Why wouldn't you listen?" Her voice is soft, the heartbreak, palpable. "She wasn't always like that. She was kind, sweet. Even after the River King traded her off to some mortal grain-grinder, she didn't complain. She saw it as her duty. When Flax was born, I'd never seen her more happy and when he...died, I'd never seen her more broken."
Cedron says a brief blessing aloud. “May your spirit make progress along your path, and may peace be the reward for your journey. Thanks be to Malazzarr!”
As the others regain consciousness, they begin to filter into what is left of the sanctuary. The pile of dead giants and ogres cause faces to blanch. Raven, realizing that the trolls are still twitching, grabs a shattered piece of what was once probably a pew and touches it to smoldering pieces of debris left by Cedron’s fiery spell to catch it alight and burns the troll bits to keep them from regenerating.
Ornforithalas shakes his head, "How long have we been... here, like this?"
Wickerbell pauses before answering, "I missed the first few days so I could be wrong but pretty much since the turning of the new year. That's a little over a week."
Cedron summons some fresh water to share with the others. Verifying with Raven that water he creates is acceptable to drink in this realm before serving and consuming it.
"Ummm....yeah... it's probably fine," Raven says, scratching his head, 'Note to self... ask Marzipan about summoned food and drink," he mutters to himself.
After everyone drinks, Raven will use some of the water to wash blood off of his face and hands before asking, "Cedron, do you intend to claim the crown?"
Cedron replies. “I’m unsure.” He takes the crown from his cloak. “A crown can be quite heavy. I need to understand what it represents and what is the expectation of the wearer,” he says hoping Wickerbell can explain more.
Wickerbell replies mechanically, almost as if reciting from rote memory or a textbook, "You, or whomever you decide to pass it to, would become Lord or Lady of the Crawling Fey, master of roachlings, dirtlings, and faege, with some dominion over insects and related creatures living in the Feywild."
"Also, the crown is said to diminish the wearer's intellect in exchange for the ability to speak with the more verminous members of their subjects," she adds almost as an afterthought.
“And is such a Lord or Lady required to remain in the Feywild?” Cedron inquires.
"It is customary for them to be present to oversee their subjects," the brownie replies, "But as to who would enforce that custom is probably... up for debate."
“That makes sense. An absent ruler is no good to anyone.” Cedron sighs “I have much thought to give this, and would be receptive to your advice Wickerbell. You seem to be reasonable. An uncommon characteristic here I’m noticing.”
Wickerbell shakes her head, "My apologies, but I am already in the service the River King. I could not leave unless my position were elevated to one equal to his."
At the mention of "absent ruler", Raven moves over to where Eilra and the others are sitting. "If you are feeling up to it, we should get out of here and head back to my lodge. I can take us back to Silvanost after that."
“Wickerbell, I think you misunderstand. You see I’m not familiar with this realm. I was not offering you the crown, but I was asking for your council regarding a potential recommendation as to who would be a good replacement for the role.”
Wickerbell turns to face the minstrel-priest, "As far as a qualified heir, I guess there's Lady Budena, she's consort to the River King and already his equal. Or, maybe, the Birch Queen? Same deal, only she's more of an independent factor."
"Actually, Cedron, Wickerbell here might not be a bad choice. She already talks to bees. You'd just be expanding her portfolio," Raven says from across the room.
The brownie shakes her head, "I don't know about that. The last two people who held that title, one of whom was my best friend, died horribly. I like my skin right where it is."
While all of this is going on, Cassidy begins rooting through the pile of coins and gems at the back of the room. A variety of "Oooh's" and "Aaah's" and "I wonder what this does" fill the air as the Kender sifts through the treasure.
“I agree with Master Sugar Plum. I think you would be wise choice for the role, but I respect your cautiousness.”
He turns to Cassidy “Help gather what you can my friend. You have a keen eye. We will inspect the spoils later.” Cedron casts Detect Magic when the time is appropriate to ensure we take any magical items.
Wickerbell sighs, "I suppose I don't have much choice in the matter." The brownie straightens to her full twelve inch height. "Very well, I will serve to the best of my ability." She holds out one hand, waiting for the crown.
Cedron pulls the crown from his cloak. “Well with the powers vested in me as Minstrel of Progress and Master Sugar Plum as my witness, I hereby declare you Lady of the Crawling Fey.” He then places the crown upon her head. The tiara shrinks rapidly, adjusting its size to fit the tiny fairy. The spiders and millipedes emerge from their hiding places and approach Wickerbell, bowing their heads in silent respect.
Ornforithalas rises to his feet, still groggy after more than a week of enchanted sleep, "I would really like for someone to explain what is going on here." Tephysea agrees and adds, "I would like to go home. Respen must be worried sick."
When the ceremony concludes, Cedron looks to the others “I’m ready to take you home.”
The trip back to the River King's Court is uneventful. Wickerbell takes her leave from the group once they get there while the rest of the group continues on to the Sugar Plum Lodge.
During the trip, Cedron tells the others what happened since they were kidnapped.
As Cedron tells Ornforithalas, Tephysea, Cassidy, and Eilra everything that has happened in the last week, reactions range from shock to horror to disbelief. Raven remains silent for much of the hike back to his lodge. He keeps close to Eilra, his hands resting near his swords. His body language conveys a sense of tension, like he is ready to spring forth and attack anything that makes the mistake of crossing the group's path. During one break in the walking, he turns to Eilra and finally speaks, "I am sorry that you were targeted for being close to me. I put you in danger because of the enemies I have made."
Eilra shakes her head, "I am the captain of my own ship. I have fought pirates and sea monsters. Dragons attacked my city. My people are in danger. I am in danger every time I put to sea. You have nothing to do with any of those things." She looks into his eyes and takes his hands in hers, "My enemies, your enemies, it doesn't matter. All evidence would indicate that beside you is the safest place anyone could hope to be."
She pulls him close and kisses him softly. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
Raven chuckles and kisses her back. "To be continued?"
"Definitely." Eilra smiles at the blood-soaked warrior, "But not until after you bathe."
Marzipan greets the party on the steps and ushers everyone inside. Within minutes, food begins appearing on the large trestle table in the common room.
The Gingerbread Man informs the group that baths are being drawn and will be available in the private bedrooms upstairs.
Cassidy and the rescued elves take seats at the table and sit down to eat for the first time in over a week. Raven raises a hand but Marzipan says, "Yes, Master, the hospitality and protection of the Lodge is extended to your new guests as well."
A light appears within the whorls of tree bark, forming the shape of an irregular doorway. The door opens, revealing a courtyard paved with tightly fitted cobblestones. Several other doorways can be seen, each opening out onto a different vista - a gray sea, an enclosed garden, the inner bailey of a great castle, an orchard of golden apples, and the Silvanesti forest.
Cedron says a brief blessing aloud. “May your spirit make progress along your path, and may peace be the reward for your journey. Thanks be to Malazzarr!”
As the others regain consciousness, they begin to filter into what is left of the sanctuary. The pile of dead giants and ogres cause faces to blanch. Raven, realizing that the trolls are still twitching, grabs a shattered piece of what was once probably a pew and touches it to smoldering pieces of debris left by Cedron’s fiery spell to catch it alight and burns the troll bits to keep them from regenerating.
Ornforithalas shakes his head, "How long have we been... here, like this?"
Wickerbell pauses before answering, "I missed the first few days so I could be wrong but pretty much since the turning of the new year. That's a little over a week."
Cedron summons some fresh water to share with the others. Verifying with Raven that water he creates is acceptable to drink in this realm before serving and consuming it.
"Ummm....yeah... it's probably fine," Raven says, scratching his head, 'Note to self... ask Marzipan about summoned food and drink," he mutters to himself.
After everyone drinks, Raven will use some of the water to wash blood off of his face and hands before asking, "Cedron, do you intend to claim the crown?"
Cedron replies. “I’m unsure.” He takes the crown from his cloak. “A crown can be quite heavy. I need to understand what it represents and what is the expectation of the wearer,” he says hoping Wickerbell can explain more.
Wickerbell replies mechanically, almost as if reciting from rote memory or a textbook, "You, or whomever you decide to pass it to, would become Lord or Lady of the Crawling Fey, master of roachlings, dirtlings, and faege, with some dominion over insects and related creatures living in the Feywild."
"Also, the crown is said to diminish the wearer's intellect in exchange for the ability to speak with the more verminous members of their subjects," she adds almost as an afterthought.
“And is such a Lord or Lady required to remain in the Feywild?” Cedron inquires.
"It is customary for them to be present to oversee their subjects," the brownie replies, "But as to who would enforce that custom is probably... up for debate."
“That makes sense. An absent ruler is no good to anyone.” Cedron sighs “I have much thought to give this, and would be receptive to your advice Wickerbell. You seem to be reasonable. An uncommon characteristic here I’m noticing.”
Wickerbell shakes her head, "My apologies, but I am already in the service the River King. I could not leave unless my position were elevated to one equal to his."
At the mention of "absent ruler", Raven moves over to where Eilra and the others are sitting. "If you are feeling up to it, we should get out of here and head back to my lodge. I can take us back to Silvanost after that."
“Wickerbell, I think you misunderstand. You see I’m not familiar with this realm. I was not offering you the crown, but I was asking for your council regarding a potential recommendation as to who would be a good replacement for the role.”
Wickerbell turns to face the minstrel-priest, "As far as a qualified heir, I guess there's Lady Budena, she's consort to the River King and already his equal. Or, maybe, the Birch Queen? Same deal, only she's more of an independent factor."
"Actually, Cedron, Wickerbell here might not be a bad choice. She already talks to bees. You'd just be expanding her portfolio," Raven says from across the room.
The brownie shakes her head, "I don't know about that. The last two people who held that title, one of whom was my best friend, died horribly. I like my skin right where it is."
While all of this is going on, Cassidy begins rooting through the pile of coins and gems at the back of the room. A variety of "Oooh's" and "Aaah's" and "I wonder what this does" fill the air as the Kender sifts through the treasure.
“I agree with Master Sugar Plum. I think you would be wise choice for the role, but I respect your cautiousness.”
He turns to Cassidy “Help gather what you can my friend. You have a keen eye. We will inspect the spoils later.” Cedron casts Detect Magic when the time is appropriate to ensure we take any magical items.
Wickerbell sighs, "I suppose I don't have much choice in the matter." The brownie straightens to her full twelve inch height. "Very well, I will serve to the best of my ability." She holds out one hand, waiting for the crown.
Cedron pulls the crown from his cloak. “Well with the powers vested in me as Minstrel of Progress and Master Sugar Plum as my witness, I hereby declare you Lady of the Crawling Fey.” He then places the crown upon her head. The tiara shrinks rapidly, adjusting its size to fit the tiny fairy. The spiders and millipedes emerge from their hiding places and approach Wickerbell, bowing their heads in silent respect.
Ornforithalas rises to his feet, still groggy after more than a week of enchanted sleep, "I would really like for someone to explain what is going on here." Tephysea agrees and adds, "I would like to go home. Respen must be worried sick."
When the ceremony concludes, Cedron looks to the others “I’m ready to take you home.”
The trip back to the River King's Court is uneventful. Wickerbell takes her leave from the group once they get there while the rest of the group continues on to the Sugar Plum Lodge.
During the trip, Cedron tells the others what happened since they were kidnapped.
As Cedron tells Ornforithalas, Tephysea, Cassidy, and Eilra everything that has happened in the last week, reactions range from shock to horror to disbelief. Raven remains silent for much of the hike back to his lodge. He keeps close to Eilra, his hands resting near his swords. His body language conveys a sense of tension, like he is ready to spring forth and attack anything that makes the mistake of crossing the group's path. During one break in the walking, he turns to Eilra and finally speaks, "I am sorry that you were targeted for being close to me. I put you in danger because of the enemies I have made."
Eilra shakes her head, "I am the captain of my own ship. I have fought pirates and sea monsters. Dragons attacked my city. My people are in danger. I am in danger every time I put to sea. You have nothing to do with any of those things." She looks into his eyes and takes his hands in hers, "My enemies, your enemies, it doesn't matter. All evidence would indicate that beside you is the safest place anyone could hope to be."
She pulls him close and kisses him softly. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
Raven chuckles and kisses her back. "To be continued?"
"Definitely." Eilra smiles at the blood-soaked warrior, "But not until after you bathe."
Marzipan greets the party on the steps and ushers everyone inside. Within minutes, food begins appearing on the large trestle table in the common room.
The Gingerbread Man informs the group that baths are being drawn and will be available in the private bedrooms upstairs.
Cassidy and the rescued elves take seats at the table and sit down to eat for the first time in over a week. Raven raises a hand but Marzipan says, "Yes, Master, the hospitality and protection of the Lodge is extended to your new guests as well."
"Good work, Marzi." Raven turns to Cedron. "Earlier, I thought that you might want to plant one of Malazzar's portal trees. I would be honored, if you placed one in the Gingerbread Plum Grove."
“Thank you. May progress be found wherever a tree grows.” Cedron replies to Raven. “I will plant a seed after we finish our meal.”
“Thank you. May progress be found wherever a tree grows.” Cedron replies to Raven. “I will plant a seed after we finish our meal.”
The next morning, after everyone has had the opportunity to get cleaned up and, in some cases, rest, Marzipan serves a bountiful breakfast of glazed gingerbread plums.
Cassidy has sorted all of the coins and gems recovered from Ellessandra's lair. Just over fifty stacks of fifty coins sit in the center of the table and jewels, grouped by color and size lie in neat piles beside them, along with a scroll, two wands, a neatly folded cloak, a set of pan pipes, a ring, the dagger Ellessandra dropped, leather bracers festooned with links of chain, and a amulet set with some sort of milky white stone.
Tephysea is cleaning the items, removing impurities from their auras in preparation for the identification process.
Tephysea is cleaning the items, removing impurities from their auras in preparation for the identification process.
Raven and Eilra are the last to arrive for the meal, coming downstairs from the room where they spent the night.
After everyone has had the chance to eat and some small talk has been exchanged, the group heads outside for the Planting ceremony.
Cedron digs a small hole in the frozen earth. Plumpy steps out from behind one of the Gingerbread Plum Trees, his brow furrowed and his horns begin to crackle with energy. The priest of Malazzar reaches into a pouch hanging at his side and pulls out a single seed. The seed drops into the hole and is covered with loose dirt and fallen snow.
"Blessed be the path of Progress."
Moments later, a shaft of light erupts from the frozen earth, followed by a slender sapling. The sapling expands exponentially, growing taller, wider, and thicker. Limbs branch out from the growing trunk, spreading and stretching. Buds appear on twigs the burst from the limbs, flowering into blossoms, and then sprouting into frosted plums.
Cedron digs a small hole in the frozen earth. Plumpy steps out from behind one of the Gingerbread Plum Trees, his brow furrowed and his horns begin to crackle with energy. The priest of Malazzar reaches into a pouch hanging at his side and pulls out a single seed. The seed drops into the hole and is covered with loose dirt and fallen snow.
"Blessed be the path of Progress."
Moments later, a shaft of light erupts from the frozen earth, followed by a slender sapling. The sapling expands exponentially, growing taller, wider, and thicker. Limbs branch out from the growing trunk, spreading and stretching. Buds appear on twigs the burst from the limbs, flowering into blossoms, and then sprouting into frosted plums.
A light appears within the whorls of tree bark, forming the shape of an irregular doorway. The door opens, revealing a courtyard paved with tightly fitted cobblestones. Several other doorways can be seen, each opening out onto a different vista - a gray sea, an enclosed garden, the inner bailey of a great castle, an orchard of golden apples, and the Silvanesti forest.
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