Vanera's Last Journal Entries

Entries in the journal of Vanera Kjavabo from the summer of TE 452

Here I am once again on the road, off to another adventure following Tengelbur. There is a reason they call him Tengelbur of the Road. The man cannot be content to settle down in a nice town somewhere with a pretty wife. I do not know why I let him talk me into going with him. Especially when we know so little of what we are getting into. But I seem unable to say no to him.

Two nights ago, Talarja and I were about to sit down to a quiet dinner, when Tengelbur and Anaris walk in uninvited.  Tengulber says he has heard rumors of a tower called Subijar-i-Yalir, the Sorcerer's Tower. He naturally assumed I would be going along. Upon my raising the question of going, he insists that I will go.

“Yes! You’re coming with me and your sister! And we’re going there to find adventure. Also, treasure. Ancient hidden mysteries, which I am told are your jam.” He exclaimed all the while looking through the cupboards for something to eat.

“Yes,” I replied. “But I will have to talk to Talarja first.”

Talarja emerged from the back room. “What’s this now?”

“They want me to go out of town to explore a tower.” I said in reply to her inquire.

“Right!” Tengulbur piped in. “In a haunted wood.”

“But apparently there will be some form of romance.” It was Anaris who spoke. “I’m confused about that bit.”

“That’s tied to the haunting.” Tengulbur explained.

“Oh, well,” Talarja sighed. “I mean, you just got back, but…”

“I know!” I cut in. “I just got back!”

“I suppose this is important though, your work and all, and I--” Talarja had begun to say.

“One word. Treasure.” Tengulbur cut in.

“You know, you said that last time.” I said referring to the ivory expedition.

“There was treasure! There was. Reiana could tell you. She went down there. There was in fact a sunken ship full of ivory. Also infested by a massive, horrifying, cursed creature from the dawn of time.”

“I know, but—”

“How could we possibly have known.” He chuckled. 

“I do have business. I need to send out letters so I can sell this book.” I held up the little book I had made while trapped on the island for two weeks. Tengulbur’s doing.

“Right. I suppose you could write those on the way and drop them back off on the way back.”

“I suppose if you left that with me, dear, I could be your secretary.” Talarja offered.

“There you have it! My sister once again saves us all.” Tengulbur triumphantly stated. Though I’m not sure what other time she has saved us.

“But, is that too much, darling?” I asked earnestly looking into her eyes. It’s not that I doubted Talarja’s business skills, but I do worry about her being taken advantage of by others and not getting a fair price for the book.

“No, it’s alright, actually. I don’t mind having a bit of work to do. You see, I spent rather a lot of time with Vitherai last time you left, and she can be a little tiresome after a while, honestly. I hate to say that. Oh,” Talarja turned to Tengulbur. “She’s expecting to see you again, Tengulbur.”

“I suppose she is. I suspect her husband is as well and has prepared his largest hammer.” Tengulbur chuckled.

“But,” Talarja continued. “I could have a bit of work, and we’ve got to make a living somehow. I do want to support what you do, and if you’re going to make your—our—fortune, then exploring old ruins—you need to explore old ruins, dear.”

“She has a point, Vanera. You’re running out of furniture to sell.” Tengulbur stated.

But what does he know of domestic life, furniture, and money? This is the man who took handfuls of gold and threw it into a river for no apparent reason. I paid him no heed.

“Are you sure, Talarja?” I asked.

“What happens when the little Vanera’s start coming?” Tengulbur interjected again.

“Well, they haven’t.” I stated.

“Ah yes. I am sure that is a long-term plan.” Then Tengulbur proceeded to make what I felt to be both an awkward and inappropriate comment. I blinked twice, and Talarja stared blankly at me.

“In any case,” Talarja continued. “I would be quite happy to see about selling the book. I can write to the Red Scriptorum. It will take a few weeks, but if it is worth as much as you seem to think, then it will be worth it. It should be enough to pad the nest for quite some time.”

“Yes! See, she said it! Nest.” Tengulbur cut in again. “Reiana is coming. She has weapons coming out of her very ears. We will be safe. Also, Tanurendal knows his way around the North, what could possibly go wrong? They can’t possibly have ancient, multi-faced creatures from before the dawn of time in this wood.”

“Why not?” Talarja asked.

“Because they only have those under the water.” He said confidently.

“Do they?” Talarja asked.

“I assume so. I feel that if creatures of that nature lived on land that they would have already eaten this town and moved on.”

“I mean, if not for such an adventurer as yourself to protect us, and also the city watch…”

“Trust me, sister dearest, the city watch of this lively little berg would have peed themselves before dying horribly.”

“Well, I mean Raoseina, he’s a veteran. Vanera, you said he was with the Dogs of Winter.” Talarja looked to me.

“Correct, he alone would not have peed himself before dying horribly. He would have died a dry man.” Tengulbur stated.

Talarja sighed. Then she leaned over to me. “Did Tengulbur pee himself?” She asked referring to the ivory expedition.

I was at a loss for words. Why were we talking about this? It did not seem in the least to be an appropriate topic, especially before dinner. I assume my mother-in-law did not teach them that such topics are not appropriate in polite company. But then, Tengulbur is not polite company.

“I think you should go, Vanera.” Talarja changed topics. “Just for a little while. It’s not that far as I understand it, and if—if you learn something—that would be helpful to your overall designs.”

“Darling, if you don’t want me to go, just say so and I won’t. Then I will throw all these people out of our house, and we can go on with dinner.” I made a sweeping gesture to the door.

“It’s not that I don’t—” Talarja began but was once again cut off by her brother.

“There’s dinner?” He asked loudly. It is extremely hard to have a conversation with anyone if Tengulbur is in the room.

“It’s not that I want you to go, it’s just that, well, this is your business. This is your career. I don’t want to stand in the way of that.”

“Also, your destiny. Tell him, Anaris, that this is where he’s meant to be.”

“This is where you’re meant to be.” Anaris spoke as told.

“I understand that marriage to a famous scholar is going to come with some sacrifices. But we’re young right now. We’ve got a lot of time. And later on, I may need you around more, so if you got to do this sort of thing, then this is not a bad time.” Talraja said reassuringly.

“Alright.” I said hesitantly. “I suppose I will go with you, Tengulbur.”

“I will take that as a yes. Your resounding commitment to my adventure warms the cockles of my heart.”

I fear some people may see me as overly cautious, or not as an enthusiastic historian and archeologist. But I am! I love learning and documenting things I as discover them. It brings me great pleasure to sit and write in my little leather-bound books and sketch Sacred Wells, or whatever else I might run into. It’s just that at the moment my heart is elsewhere.

I did not want to leave Talarja so soon after getting back. We have just been parted for a whole month, and now I am being asked to part with her for three more weeks. We have only had a few uninterrupted months together to enjoy married life. Before that I was parted from her for a year. That is why I was so surprised that Talarja did not put up a fuse over my leaving as I expected. There was no pleading, no tears, no cold shoulders.

The fact that she did not protest in the least about my going has bothered me. I understand her wanting to support me in my endeavors, but to not even once say something about how much she would miss me, and how she would prefer I stay but understood that I needed to go, was unusual. Last time I left she at least protested some. A man wants to know he will be missed by the love of his life.

Her comments about lining the nest, or how she would need me in coming months, has me thinking that she is with child. But surely Talarja would have told me that. She would not keep something like that from me. Unless she knew I would not go if I knew, and she thought it better I go and make a livelihood doing what I’m good at, discovering things and documenting them. Afterall, that is the reason I came out here in the first place. She would have been right in thinking I would not go. I would have stayed to take care of her, though I do not know how much help I can be in these matters.

Mother always had her mother and servants to help care for her, and I cannot clearly remember seeing Father do anything to help Mother, though I am sure he did. But these are things I never thought to ask him about, because being a father has always been something so far off in the future, it never occurred to me I would need to learn about them so soon.

I do find the thought of being a father overwhelming. I know very little of caring for infants, and the small things really frighten me. They are so delicate. I would never hold any of my sisters until they were well over a year.

I also know very little about birthing them. I have heard that it is very painful. I have also heard stories of women dying while giving birth. Perhaps if Talarja is with child I should write to my mother or hers to come. Though I do not relish the idea of her mother being pinned up with us in our small house for several months to help. It sends a chill down my spine just thinking about it.

Perhaps I am a poor husband for not having outright asked her about it. Perhaps I should have stayed, even if I only have a suspicion about it. Perhaps I did not ask because I wanted to go.

There is one other reason I can think of as to why she would have been so eager for my leaving again so soon. It has been a fear that has plagued me ever since I first left for Cheykor, leaving my bride behind for what turned into a year. But I dare not write it down and chide myself for even letting the thought enter my mind.

….

A little about the tower we are traveling to.

In the early days of the Third Nalshbori War, a servant of King Orril, skilled in ancient lore and the use of the runes, traveled to the Hiksuyara Peiruar [The Fir Wood] and built a strong fortress, intending to wield the power of the wood in the war against the Nalshbori which were at that time streaming across the Cheyth in great numbers. But he was overmatched by the power which dwelt in the wood, it is said, and in after days things of evil crept in and dwelt there. These were all driven out, or so it is believed, by the Wayateth during the final days of that war, and since then no man has passed beneath its gate of ancient stone and returned to tell of what he saw.

….

The strangest thing has just occurred. We saw a figure standing off the side of the road. It was Tengulbur, but old Tengulbur. Missing his left hand. Young Tengulbur, our Tengulbur did not seem to be bothered in the least by this and talked with his older self. We were warned to turn back now. Then he said to "drink the cup to the bottom, but do not ring the bell". He then took hold of young Tengulbur and they merged into each other and disappeared! We are rather worried now, and the tales of this forest we have heard hold more weight.

…

After eight days of travel, we have just arrived at the tower! I am overjoyed at what I have discover to the point that I cannot help but write it down.

Upon arriving we discovered a silent and empty courtyard. Too silent if you ask me. There is no chirping of birds, no rustle of leaves. The drawbridge to the tower being down, we crossed over the moat surrounding the tower safely.

I have just examined the foundation of the building. That stones are much too large to be of Amborian construction and are ancient. At first I thought them to be from the First Eon Noe-Trian revivalist work, but on closer examination I realized they are not imitation work of the ancient Starland, but the real thing! I cannot wait to make a sketch and examine the rest of the tower. Who needs Tengulbur’s treasure when there is such a wealth of knowledge about?

I cannot wait to tell Talarja all about this!

Session 31: The Anvil of Lanenomen, Pt 2

When last we left our heroes...

The players once again found themselves at the beginning of the loop, as Tengelbur stood on the battlements of his tower, his liege-men awaiting their orders. Although Tengelbur and Anaris remain in their previous positions, the other three roles of the company have changed:

• PJ is playing Anerash, the captain of Lord Tengelbur's Outlanders, and one of two men vying for the hand of the lovely Falanarai.
• Hope is playing Karalu, the senschal of the tower and another aspirant to the affections of the lady Falanarai. 
• In Sophie's absence, the Loremaster (Richard) played Falanarai, sister of Tengelbur and weaver of great power.

The opening scenes unfolded much as before. By choosing to gain a bit of permanent shadow, Tengelbur was able to realize that his sense of deja vu was more than coincidence--he could vaguely remember the series of choices which led to his and his companions's transformation into fossilized trees. As they debated the course of action they should take this time around (they are able to confirm that the leader of the enemy army is in fact Mawish, and Tengelbur ponders attempting to forge a weapon with the Anvil of Lanenomen that will slay him), the Swan Maiden entered the Hall once again, and once again sang her song.

Seven silver maidens swam
  under a gleaming moon
Upon a mere by golden sands
  with lustrous pearls strewn. 

They knew no bond nor love of man,
  they wandered far and free
Until one day a traveler came
  to the cottage by the lee.

A Deep Man came there, worn with cares,
  and toil beyond his years,
And drank the silver waters sweet
  and remembered not his tears.

Then as he slept the sisters stole
  his heart into a shell
And kept it clasped in a beech-nut brown
  at the bottom of a well.

The mortal did not tarry long
  but went the way of men
And the youngest sister tarried there
  and wept upon the sand.

But now the hour has come again
  when the Anvil will be rung
A wounded Tree, a Burning Tow'r,
  and the Deep Man's dirge is sung.

Then the blood of ancient Orusen
  upon the Hill of Green
Will be avenged, and Darkness fall,
  on the lands of the Stone-kings.

This time, however, the Company asked some clarifying questions (not to mention paying closer attention to the words of her song) and were able to realize that:

• The "sword that has never been forged" in some way refers to Tengelbur.
• The "song that has never been written" refers in some way to Anaris.
• Based on the words of the Swan Maiden, it seems the Anvil must be run at the moment of the Tree's wounding and of the Tower's burning.
• The words which came from Orusen seem to indicate that he is somehow outside of the loop, aware that the Company are repeating themselves.

The plan agreed upon, the Company began making their various preparations:

• Secretly and at the behest of her brother, Falanarai undertook to post guards at the entrances to the secret passage which led directly into Lord Tengelbur's bedchamber, making plans--should everything go wrong--to have the Anvil removed from the Tower before it fell.
• Tengelbur orders the Anvil to be brought down from the top of the Tower and set up in the great hall before the Tree--which is already growing swiftly. He has it set with the side depicting the Southern Sky full of stars facing up. 
• Arguing over the Lady Falanarai, the lords Keralu and Anerash make a bet: whoever slays the most of the Horned Things in the coming battle will win the honor of being able to court her hand. The Lord Anerash (who will be played by Sophie next time, in PJ's absence) rides out proudly from the walls to meet the vanguard of Mawish.