wildestmods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wildestmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
wildestlogs2021-12-03 10:36 am
wildestmods) wrote in wildestlogs2021-12-03 10:36 am
Secrets and Stone
Who: Need and whoever rescues her, Lloyd and 1 pal.
What: Learning from the ruins
Where: Different areas in Trollmarket
When: After the group discussion, shortly before the group will be made to move on.
Warnings/Notes: N/A for now.
Trollmarket is not an evil place, nor a place tarnished by hidden shadows.
It's a place where a good people once lived. It's a place that is losing its life-giving light as the stone dims, tragically losing something beautiful that touched the magic and life force of a world.
It's a place that was somehow ravaged by the sun by a people who found it to be poison.
There are a few things in the ruins that can help some of them learn a little more about the people that lived here - and therefore a little about the new world they found themselves in.
What: Learning from the ruins
Where: Different areas in Trollmarket
When: After the group discussion, shortly before the group will be made to move on.
Warnings/Notes: N/A for now.
Trollmarket is not an evil place, nor a place tarnished by hidden shadows.
It's a place where a good people once lived. It's a place that is losing its life-giving light as the stone dims, tragically losing something beautiful that touched the magic and life force of a world.
It's a place that was somehow ravaged by the sun by a people who found it to be poison.
There are a few things in the ruins that can help some of them learn a little more about the people that lived here - and therefore a little about the new world they found themselves in.
no subject
The letter is fairly illuminating all on it its own.
It's written in a strong hand, in large letters, as if the person doing it had much bigger hands than a human. Indeed, the paper itself is larger too. It fits over several pages.
To whosoever comes across this letter,
I write these words with a heavy heart. My name is Blinkous Galadrigal and I am the leader of the Trolls that once lived here in Heartstone Trollmarket.
We Trolls are a proud people, and aside from mild personal squabbles, we are for the most part a peace-loving people that cares for its own. We are a people that has even coexisted peacefully with some of our human allies, despite our differences; and the times we rose to conflict, it was against great destructive forces plaguing human and Trollkind.
We built much and delved deep into the earth, to depths no other species has been able to go, and we've unearthed what resplendent beauty could be found there.
Something fairly obvious by all the jewels and crystals around Trollmarket.
The letter goes on:
The greatest and most pulchritudinous of these treasures was the Heartstone, the great stone in the center of our community. It was more than just sublime in appearance - until it was damaged by one of our enemies, it was something that tapped into our planet's sacred energies, a medium that channeled life energy and magic from the Earth itself. It provided us with light and sustenance.
Not long after it was broken and we nearly faced Earth's final night, calamity befell our people. Our home was spirited away to this world and Trollmarket was forced above ground. Part of the cavern's roof caved in, partly exposing our realm to sunlight, which is fatal to our people. Strange creatures roamed in the lands outside, as well, held only at bay by the Heartstone's light. We fear what will happen when that light finally fails, and we believe it will fail soon.
If you're reading this, I ask that you respect our honored dead, those who were turned to stone in the disaster. We lost many good trolls that fateful day and have laid them to rest in our people's way.
We plan to move on, under the guidance of our steadfast and sagacious human friends, who plan to keep scouting ahead for refuge to escape the sun each day, until we might find a new home, suitable for our kind. They have already traveled great distances in their scouting. They said they've learned something of this world from other people in it: that it has drawn in large swaths of land and entire realms from other worlds, much like our own.
According to those they've spoken to, many of the places drawn here - to a world its communal people apparently call the Wilderlands - are worlds of myth and magic. We've also been told that there is respite to be found past the mountain pass, far beyond the lake. A small desert lies beyond but our friends have already timed how long it takes to reach shelter. It's traversable in one night and there are greener lands beyond the ruins they found. The creatures that prowl the night seem to fear the desert sun.
Word from passing forest guardians called "rangers" is that these wooded lands beyond are supposed to contain a haven of safety and healing called Rivendell. We are hoping they'll give us refuge - and they may do the same for you. One of the wizards that travels with us says they may be able to grant you the answers we cannot.
...Although I'm sure he could leave you with some answers of his own, but unfortunately he's disobliging on a good day. However, I can at least offer some guidance at the behest of the wizard. Disagreeable though Merlin is, his gift of foresight has been irritatingly spot on. I've pressed him enough that he talked me into writing this letter for someone.
Apparently, it will be read by a talking sword and a man with golden skin. I hesitate to believe him, but I suppose I have seen things far more unbelievable than that. So I intend to take him at his word.
If you are one of those individuals and are currently reading this, he says that you and the group you find yourselves with are bound to a greater destiny in this world - and bound to one another. And that your path will not be an easy one. I'm afraid he is often right about such things, which is why I agreed to write this, so I can render what little aid I can, even if it's only information.
I have seen the burden that destiny can be on one's shoulders, and if he tells the truth, I'm terribly sorry you and those you're with may have to bear it. But I have also seen the heights it can cause one to rise to.
The wizard has had Master Jim, our champion and defender, our Trollhunter, record something for you on some strange device. I don't know what it is he said but it's supposed to open at an appointed time, when the message is one you need to hear most.
Whatever it is you face, I wish you all a safe journey and I make one humble request, lest we're unable to make our own journey safely:
Please. Remember us. Even if all that you know of us is "they cared for their own, grieved those they lost, and tried to guide those that came after."
May your own path be safe and swift. With great consideration and estimation,
- Blinkous Galadrigal
no subject
"...Hmm. So this place - collects people?" he says aloud. "People and places. To what end?"
He turns the papers over, looking for anything further.
"Quite courteously written for a cryptic message of destiny."
no subject
Her first thought is: oh these poor people, this is clearly a horrifically difficult and risky thing to do, and they've been gone long enough and went far enough away that she can't pick up on them with her Empathy. Her second thought is: we can't just tell everyone. Would it cause a panic? Is there a way to work off this information alone or with some hand-chosen people? Need likes secrets and slow, careful reveals, she likes to have a more complete picture than other people. Sometimes knowing just upsets others.
She regards that second, completely reflexive thought carefully, allowing Raistlin to see what she's considering. The "Chosen" are not a cohesive unit, is the problem, and controlling who's told... That's just the leadership question all over again, but putting her metaphorical hand in. And if the Heartstone flickers its last quickly, it will better serve for everyone to know.
Need then asks the gnome, :Did they leave you here? Are you a kind of Trolls?: Their biology is certainly further from human than it seems at a glance. But if the sun affects them the same way, they're certainly small enough to have an easier time avoiding it than the hulking bodies she's seen in the Market.
no subject
The gnome says it was closer to some humans.
And that no, they're not related to trolls. And they chose to stay behind - most of the trolls weren't overly fond of them anyway, seeing them more as pests.
He explains that their human friends realized the monsters the Trolls were afraid of disliked the daylight. But since they were unable to take advantage of that themselves, and could only move at night when the monsters were active, they decided to move on.
He explains the gnomes don't fear the monsters. Even when the Heartstone fails, they can move during the day to hunt animals in the woods and hide in small tunnels and caves and cracks at night where they can't be reached.
So they decided to stay. Their ability to hide easily and move during daytime means they can also leave to find communities to relocate to if needed.
He explains that the trolls weren't so lucky.
no subject
The fate of the trolls doesn't move him particularly, other than a vague approval that they'd done exactly what he would do - accepted the parameters and risks of their current situation and chosen to act constructively towards a solution, rather than sit around bemoaning their fate and clinging to the way things used to be.
"Your Majesty," is how he addresses Gnome Chompsky, since he hasn't actually been told the little creature's name. "May we tell our companions about you and your people, or would you prefer to keep to yourselves?" He'd certainly thought them unintelligent pests until recent events; others, laboring under the same misapprehension, might act without care when defending their possessions.
no subject
She doesn't quite say 'I told you they were people' when Raistlin addresses the gnome; she'd said it offhandedly enough to allow it to be taken to mean their shape and not personhood, plus I told you so is never helpful. But she does send him a private note of exasperation, a :They wear clothes, child.:
It's a fair question though. Several of the others have connected with the feral cats living in the cavern, creatures they're more familiar with. The gnomes are enigmatic and actively interested in what people are carrying with them - negative feelings towards them are much more common.
no subject
He does want people to know not to harm gnomekind.
In return he tells them that he'll tell his people not to steal from them. They might not all listen, but any gnomes that disobey will be forced to return what they stole.
no subject
"With your permission, majesty, we will take this letter and this device to the others. It tells us that there is a place of safety not far from here, where we may find answers and guidance. If necessary, may we bring others to this library to see it for themselves?"
no subject
She can't nod, but there's an impression as if she's done so. :Thank you, sire, we will tell them. If any of your people need healing, I can help.:
no subject
And thanks Need for the offer. Then he signals for his fellow gnomes to head back.