The Reckoning (short story) - Revision history

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Aerie */

2024-12-03T21:34:47Z

Aerie

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	Regards,		Regards,

	E.S.</div>		E.S.</div></pre>

	Folding the letter and slipping it into her pocket, Rohese turned to the case with some trepidation. ''Whatever could Elaejia be referring to and why the advice for caution?'' Carefully opening the lid, Rohese was struck first by the strong odour emanating from within. Wrinkling her nose, she peered inside to see a small black leather notebook, a dark ring, a lancet, and what appeared to be a vial of blood.		Folding the letter and slipping it into her pocket, Rohese turned to the case with some trepidation. ''Whatever could Elaejia be referring to and why the advice for caution?'' Carefully opening the lid, Rohese was struck first by the strong odour emanating from within. Wrinkling her nose, she peered inside to see a small black leather notebook, a dark ring, a lancet, and what appeared to be a vial of blood.

GS4-XERAPHINA: updated template for new required parts, added defaultsort

2024-03-22T19:58:55Z

updated template for new required parts, added defaultsort

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	{{creative-work \| title = The Reckoning \| type = short story \| author = Rohese \| author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)\|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]]}}		{{creative-work \| title = The Reckoning \| type = short story \| author = Rohese \| author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)\|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]] \| date = 2022-03-15}}
	First published on the 15th day of Charlatos in the year 5122		First published on the 15th day of Charlatos in the year 5122

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	==Author's Notes==		==Author's Notes==
	Nendelomea is the ancestral home of the Bayvel family. It is located on the far north eastern shore of the Lake of Shadowed Sorrows. Often shrouded in mist, the extensive private estate boasts a large gabled residence with stables, a boathouse, a well-stocked fishing lake, all surrounded by orchards, meadows, and ancient woodlands through which runs a river (yet to be named).		Nendelomea is the ancestral home of the Bayvel family. It is located on the far north eastern shore of the Lake of Shadowed Sorrows. Often shrouded in mist, the extensive private estate boasts a large gabled residence with stables, a boathouse, a well-stocked fishing lake, all surrounded by orchards, meadows, and ancient woodlands through which runs a river (yet to be named).
			{{DEFAULTSORT:Reckoning (short story)}}

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Follow the Lilacs */

2023-12-30T20:54:18Z

Follow the Lilacs

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	==It Ends==		==It Ends==
	===Follow the Lilacs===		===Follow the Lilacs===
	Shortly after the Ebon Gate Festival, Rohese and Mirkk returned home to the Sylvanfair Manse in Ta'Illistim. One morning, while Mirkk was in the city, Rohese was tending the lilac trees in the courtyard ~~and~~ "taken" by her sister, Poladra.		Shortly after the Ebon Gate Festival, Rohese and Mirkk returned home to the Sylvanfair Manse in Ta'Illistim. One morning, while Mirkk was in the city, Rohese was tending the lilac trees in the courtyard when she was "taken" by her sister, Poladra.

	What followed was a short quest for Mirkk who tracked Poladra and Rohese by "following the lilacs" (through a series of in-game clues and vignettes in a designated discord server). Mirkk discovered that Rohese had been taken west to be used in a ritual that would see Poladra attempt to gain the power she craved.		What followed was a short quest for Mirkk who tracked Poladra and Rohese by "following the lilacs" (through a series of in-game clues and vignettes in a designated discord server). Mirkk discovered that Rohese had been taken west to be used in a ritual that would see Poladra attempt to gain the power she craved.

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Follow the Lilacs */

2023-12-30T20:52:08Z

Follow the Lilacs

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	What followed was a short quest for Mirkk who tracked Poladra and Rohese by "following the lilacs" (through a series of in-game clues and vignettes in a designated discord server). Mirkk discovered that Rohese had been taken west to be used in a ritual that would see Poladra attempt to gain the power she craved.		What followed was a short quest for Mirkk who tracked Poladra and Rohese by "following the lilacs" (through a series of in-game clues and vignettes in a designated discord server). Mirkk discovered that Rohese had been taken west to be used in a ritual that would see Poladra attempt to gain the power she craved.

			[https://open.spotify.com/track/5WqK8wfLZThVZ1Leu3HM3A?si=b47acd8c1f3c4e6a\|"Inkpot Gods" ~ The Amazing Devil]

	===The Marlu Working===		===The Marlu Working===

CHIVERSFREE1 at 20:50, 30 December 2023

2023-12-30T20:50:10Z

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CHIVERSFREE1 at 20:44, 30 December 2023

2023-12-30T20:44:31Z

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	With a friendly wave, Rohese and the mail clerk parted company and within ten minutes she had settled herself at her workbench in the Arboreal Conservatory with a cup of tea. Putting aside the envelopes for now, she opted to open the crate first; curiosity having gotten the better of her. Inside she found a sheet of pristine white parchment and a small black fel case. The letter was indeed from her good friend and Rohese was relieved to see how neat the handwriting was compared to the last two letters she had received.		With a friendly wave, Rohese and the mail clerk parted company and within ten minutes she had settled herself at her workbench in the Arboreal Conservatory with a cup of tea. Putting aside the envelopes for now, she opted to open the crate first; curiosity having gotten the better of her. Inside she found a sheet of pristine white parchment and a small black fel case. The letter was indeed from her good friend and Rohese was relieved to see how neat the handwriting was compared to the last two letters she had received.

	<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">In the Elven language, it reads:

	4th Lumnea 5123

	My Dear R.,

	I will not dissemble - the past two months have been a trial for me. However, with the unfailing support of Aendir and my household, I am much improved, and regret having troubled you. I have found a daily ride through Whistler's Pass a soverign remedy against disturbance of the mind and spirit -- if one squints, they might be reminded of the cliffs of the Arann'eren Coast our family calls home. Be assured that I am well, and will explain more at some time when both our days are more restful.

	All this a long way to say that the opportunity to ride to the Aerie after receiving your last missive was a welcome one, though I had little hope - Having spent uncountable hours in the estate's library myself, I was quite certain I would not chance upon anything I had not already seen. Therefore I opted instead to investigate the storerooms. During the renovations, the workmen reported they found a number of items that we had them store -- mostly art pieces that I confess I have not yet catalogued.

	It was in one of these storage rooms deep within the estate, I located the enclosed case and its contents. I believe its import will be immediately clear to you with the missive tucked within. I can guess at the use for some of these items, but others remain a mystery to me. Perhaps your experience will be able to shed light on them.

	Additionally...R., I must confess that I have perused the notes. Some of these methods seem to me perversions of what you studied with me, when we first embarked on our communes several years past -- they may well be effective. The repetition of the need for exactitude and sacrifice in particular though is most disquieting. The nature of the true form of this magic is one that relies on adjoining one's spirit to that of the natural, becoming one with it; in contrast, the forceful and binding nature of what is described here is something altogether different and more dangerous.

	I hope you will pardon my preaching -- you have done much research on this and I am assured you will be wary of the perils presented here. I shall leave off for now, and hasten to send this to you, as I am sure it must be exactly what you hoped to find. I hope we will be able to speak more in person of what we have both learned of late--

	Regards,

	E.S.</div>

	Folding the letter and slipping it into her pocket, Rohese turned to the case with some trepidation. ''Whatever could Elaejia be referring to and why the advice for caution?'' Carefully opening the lid, Rohese was struck first by the strong odour emanating from within. Wrinkling her nose, she peered inside to see a small black leather notebook, a dark ring, a lancet, and what appeared to be a vial of blood.

	Lifting the notebook from the case, Rohese opened it and immediately saw the missive that Elaejia had alluded to. Slipped inside the front cover of the book was a flimsy envelope clearly addressed to Poladra Bayvel. Much of the text on the sheet of parchment folded within was illegible due to considerable water damage but it was possible to make out the sender's name as Lady Avaie Illithien – their maternal grandmother. ''My grandmother had been in contact with Poladra all this time? And she had been staying in the Illithien Aerie?'' Rohese's heart sank at the thought of her sister having been so close.

	Holding the parchment up to the lantern hanging from the cross-beam overhead, Rohese struggled in vain to read the rest of the letter. Even attempts at casting spells of [[Light (205)\|Light]] and [[Dispel Invisibility (109)\|Dispel Invisibility]] failed to reveal any of its contents. With a heavy sigh, Rohese put the letter back into its envelope and closed the notebook. ''This was going to take more than rote magic.''

	<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

	Twilight had cast its enchanting spell across the sky, staining it in a blend of deep blues and purples and imbuing the landscape with a dreamlike quality. Shadows lengthened, stretching across the Manse courtyard like delicate fingers, while the last remnants of daylight danced upon the surrounding foliage. The distant chirping of birds bade farewell to the day and Rohese heard the murmur of footsteps signalling Mirkk's return home. She couldn't help but smile. ''Perhaps he can help me reveal what was written in this letter.''

	===Garden===		===Garden===

CHIVERSFREE1 at 20:41, 30 December 2023

2023-12-30T20:41:32Z

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CHIVERSFREE1 at 20:37, 30 December 2023

2023-12-30T20:37:43Z

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CHIVERSFREE1: /* Follow the Lilac */

2023-12-30T20:33:17Z

Follow the Lilac

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, 30 December 2023
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	==It Ends==		==It Ends==
	===Follow the ~~Lilacs~~===		===Follow the Lilac===
	Shortly after the Ebon Gate Festival, Rohese and Mirkk returned home to the Sylvanfair Manse in Ta'Illistim. One morning, while Mirkk was in the city, Rohese was tending the lilac trees in the courtyard and "taken" by her sister, Poladra.		Shortly after the Ebon Gate Festival, Rohese and Mirkk returned home to the Sylvanfair Manse in Ta'Illistim. One morning, while Mirkk was in the city, Rohese was tending the lilac trees in the courtyard and "taken" by her sister, Poladra.

CHIVERSFREE1 at 20:32, 30 December 2023

2023-12-30T20:32:29Z

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	But something was wrong. A burst of horrified screeches ripped through the darkness overhead. Poladra's eyes stayed fixed on the ritual tree as she continued her invocations; she couldn't afford to let her concentration break for a moment. In so doing, she failed to see her sister rise slowly to her feet behind her.		But something was wrong. A burst of horrified screeches ripped through the darkness overhead. Poladra's eyes stayed fixed on the ritual tree as she continued her invocations; she couldn't afford to let her concentration break for a moment. In so doing, she failed to see her sister rise slowly to her feet behind her.

	''"What do we do with our fears, Rohese?"''		''"What do we do with our fears, Rohese?"''<br>
	''"Show them the light, Amma."''		''"Show them the light, Amma."''