Meetings and Greetings

In where we meet our protagonists.

A ritual's promise unfulfilled once more...

"You lay with one of the True Fae, have his b*****d child, and you expect us to be sympathetic and allow you to continue living here?" The old woman's voice echoed throughout the halls of the Twycher household.

"I-" Elondrea began, "...no." She said after a long pause. Her newborn daughter wriggled slightly in her arms. She hung her head as her words were the last ones she would speak before her family cast her out onto the street.

Luckily she found a small home in the lower wards of Everston soon after. It was here that she raised her daughter alone. The young mother took great care in bringing up her only child, instilling the strong sense of self and empathy that Eoalande would carry throughout her life.

Elondrea was happy when her young daughter found friends who she could call her own. Friends that looked past Eoalande's pointed ears and cool skin. She was even more elated when that same group accepted her into the Dreamdusk performance group.

Then the famine came when Eoalande was fifteen. Food was scarce, even among the nobility. Nevertheless the faeborne's mother made sure that her little Eoal was cared for and fed, even though she was becoming weak from the stress of working in the dry fields. Elondrea always smiled to reassure her faeborne child, she smiled even as she lay dying. Her last breath was used to assure her daughter that she was destined for more than just a simple life.

"Winter is not the end...simply the start of a greater promise."
That autumn Eoalande buried her mother, and in her grieving manifested her winter fae form.


The heart of the country of Ionnez, was Ashura. The township was the central hub for all of the major trade routes both by land and sea. When goblins began to ambush the trading vessels, in what seemed to be orchestrated attacks, it did not go unnoticed. Lord Akeroth acted quickly, posting a notice on the town crier's board, alerting any able bodied person that a reward would be offered to anyone who could find and stop the goblin hordes attacking the valuable trade goods.

Adventurers that had taken up the task had not returned. The townspeople were becoming distraught because the attacks were coming with increased ferocity and encroaching on the city gates.

The mage, Eoalande, had heard of the troubles plaguing the Ashuran trade routes and wished to try her hand at vanquishing these miscreants. She had not yet heard of the difficulties that befell her predecessors. She removed the hood of her cloak from her head as she walked forward to the crier board to get a better look at the notice. It took a few moments for Eoal to find the official notice; it was quite weathered and almost indistinguishable from the others, save for Akeroth's official seal at the bottom.

Upon further investigation Eoalande narrowed her eyes. "It seems that this notice has been hanging here for quite some time..." she thought aloud, "I doubt there is a lack of interest in clearing the trade routes..."

"You mean they still haven't been able to take care of this?" A female voice said from behind her. "That sounds perfect for us Doven."

Eoalande turned back to see a pair standing behind her. The more noticeable one of the pair had pale skin, but also very distinguishable red eyes and white hair. While the white haired woman's clothing was well kept and looked to be finely tailored, her partner's (whom Eoalande suspected to be Doven) looked to be a hand-me-down set of armor. The man was far taller than she was and his armor was dented, and even had a few holes, he also lacked a helm, shoulder pauldrons and cuisses' that would have covered his legs, however despite his lackluster clothing his face and dark blonde hair were well kept.

"I know you'll throw a fit if I say no, so... how about that nice, low-paying farm job we were offered earlier. He asked with a slightly turned lip.

"No, not unless you want to lose your all-so-powerful weapon. " The woman replied with a slightly playful glare.
Eoal couldn't help but laugh a little at the woman's response. She approached them both, "Pardon me," she said, "but would you be willing to work together on completing this task?" She offered a warm smile to them as she proposed her idea, her eyes nearly sparkling with excitement to work with these unique individuals. "If you don't mind, that is." She added, glancing to the woman who seemed to be the 'leader' of the two. "Even if we have to split the reward in three ways, there is a greater chance for success if we work together." The mage bounced slightly as she spoke, seeming quite excited about this idea.

The woman stroked her chin as she thought about the proposal. She couldn't deny the fact that it would be easier to accomplish the task. She and Doven were not hard pressed for money, so splitting the reward three ways would not be a hardship either...but on the other hand, they didn't know Eoalande. The girl could be trouble; she could be weak and make them do all of the work, or worse, try to scam her out of her share of the profits. But before she could reply Doven spoke.

"Works for us." He said with a slight shrug. His partner was about to give him an earful for speaking for them without consultation, but he cut her off as soon as she opened her mouth. "You're just in it for the fight, Kacela. If something bad happens the all-so-powerful weapon can find a new owner." He told her with a smile, the woman simply let out a sigh.

"Sure, but it's on you if she stabs you in the back." Kacela responded. She then took the opportunity to look over Eoalande. The girl was short, and pointed ears stuck out from her dark, curly hair. The woman walked around her once, to give the stranger a good look. She also noticed the intricate staff that the girl had at her back. "So, a mage, eh Y'sure you can handle yourself in a combat situation?"

Eoalande nodded, "Yes I can M'lady." She said, "Well as well as a mage can given a situation." She smiled and bowed to the pair as she introduced herself, "My name is Eoalande, it's a pleasure to meet the pair of you." She stood up and continued speaking, "Lord Akeroth's estate is close by, I think it would be best to get some more information before we head off to do this task of his." She casted a glance to Kacela, "Unless you're really in the mood for a battle, then we can go to the southern trade route."

Kacela glanced around before she spoke. "We'll head to Akeroth's place and get more details as to where the most attacks are occurring, the last thing I want to do is wander aimlessly on a route I don't know." She looked to Eoalande before speaking again "Kacela, and that's Doven. But you probably already got that." She said pointing to herself and Doven respectively.

"We might also be able to convince him to let us hitch a ride on a caravan that could be a potential target." Doven suggested as Eoalande began to lead the way to Akeroth's estate. Then he said something that he would probably regret later to Kacela. "You know, you should learn to speak more properly and respectfully, like Lady Eoalande."

Kacela gave him a glare but did not say anything, she simply followed Eoalande down the alleyway.

Reviews

[Margaret Norway]

I think this is an interesting story that has a lot of potential. You've done really well to create a world that you could do a lot with in expanding the story further. Your characters are interesting and I enjoy that you do not waste time with a lot of exposition and you get straight into the path the main character is going to take. Also, I am a total sucker for stories about Fae so I was instantly drawn in. :)