6.4 Roots

General Summary

Day 57

A day earlier than expected, Asalien and Rosalia return from Ipth. Also unexpected: A train of 10 wagons, each pulled by four horses. At their head is Sahlon, looking very pleased with himself.   Along with supplies and building material, he has also brought along some tradespeople (farmers, a brewmaster, a mason, and a gardener, amongst others).   Sahlon and Rosalia reassure me that the rumours we planted have been taken up by the human rumour-mill. Particularly because Rosalia left town with me and returned without, the idea of an elven death temple is believable. Sahlon himself had told his company that the supplies were for an independent trading venture, which is risky by nature.   He and Gederick seem to hit it off quickly, and I’m sure the town will be well provided for with both of them working together.   The gardener and his seeds are set to work quickly, and I find a perfect place for Fenir’s talents in the garden. He can tell the seeds apart by touch and see what they will become. I leave them drawing up plans for gardens both in the centre of the town and surrounding my tower.   We spend several days settling Rosalia into our community. She does remarkably well, in a different way than Bran did. She cooks for people, and she’s learning elvish! People are more comfortable around her because she is not as formally intimidating as Bran and Alder are, with their closeness to me and their formal position.   After a few days, the general consensus is that she’s pretty good for a round-ear.   When I tell Linai that Rosalia will be assuming command of the keep, he is intensely relieved (though Rosalia reminds him that she’ll need plenty of help)

Day 60

Sahlon leaves to return to Ipth and Trael approaches me about leaving as well. She wants to take three others to ride about the landscape and search for other elves to join the community now that it is set up.   She has my blessing to do this, but she also tells me that she might find elves who are not able to leave. It’s not unheard of for elves to be caged or even chained in ways that prevent our connection with the Empress. For these, I ask her to keep track and return to the keep to tell me. There will be a time to free those who are in bondage, but it should be planned and executed properly.

Days 60-64

There are several types of oaths that I’m aware of, and that I would like to put in place before I leave again.   First, and most simply, everyone here is living on what is now land that I am responsible for. They are my people, and I would like to formalize that bond.   Second, we have a small military here. All of them, including Rosalia, are soldiers who should swear a soldier’s oath to me and to our people, to obey and protect. Binding Rosalia and I together will make it easier for her to govern the keep as well, as a sworn member of my army.   Bran, Alder, and Hella ought to be sworn to one another as family, and Hella should swear her apprentice oath to me.   There are plenty of feelings that already exist but deserve to be enshrined.  

Day 66

In the dusk as the sun sets and the barest sliver of moon rises, I address the assembled elves as Oathkeepers