A Rabbit and a Mole

by Gael

With Lady Vivianne as our guide, we crossed the Lorewood far quicker than I thought possible. Eventually, arriving at a quiet pond nestled deep within the forest. There, Vivianne calmly explained the ritual we’d need to perform to pass between the planes. Each of us needed to take only a single sip of its waters. Before walking counterclockwise around its edge.

As we did so, a hidden path opened between the trees. Allowing us to pass through to the other side.

Aside from our previous accidental journey into the Feywild, I had only visited the plane a handful of times during my first five years living in Keralon. And never for more than a few hours. Still, each time I did always brought about a sense of peace and calm within me. As if being welcomed home by an old friend. As to the nature of this, I could never quite tell if came from my elven blood or from the blessing I’d received. In any case, it was never powerful enough to tempt me away from Keralon for good. It was after all just a feeling, nothing more.

Though as the following days would prove, this sense of peace was something I shared mostly with Liliana. The others, finding the whimsical nature of the Feywild most disorienting, found themselves longing for the familiarity of home. What seemed to unsettle them the most, was the erratic movement form the sun. Often finding It shifting between random times of day. From dusk to dawn, to midday, then abruptly to midnight only to return to dusk again. Following no logic we could discern. As to whether this was a natural occurrence to the Feywild or caused by the High King’s interference is admittedly something that remains unclear to me to this day.

But let me return to our journey.

As promised, Lady Vivianne guided us to the edge of the Lorewood before bidding us farewell and wishing us luck. With the forest behind us and a wide, open field ahead, we decided to follow her advice and set our sights on the settlement of Hall. Hoping to find the mounts that would aid us for the next leg of our travels. But Hall was still a far ways off.

Luck favoured us at first. As we stepped onto the grassy plain, the tall grass parted to let us pass. As I said, the Feywild has its own logic. And if a stretch of land believed itself to be a road, then a road it would be. Allowing us to make swift progress.
That is, until we hit our first obstacle, a thick hedge of shrubbery blocking our path. Stretching out roughly 250 meters in either direction. Its branches far too dense for us to push through. We debated going around it at first, but it struck me as strange. Even here, roads were meant to go somewhere at least. So, deciding to play along, I kindly asked the bushes if they could move aside.

The others looked at me as if I had gone mad. Until a small rabbit emerged from the hedge, stood upright, and introduced himself as Rollam, the owner of the bushes in front of us.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t simple move them. He had rented them out for a wedding that was currently taking place deep inside them. Still, Rollam proved quite a reasonable sort. Understanding our urgency, he offered us a deal. Since he’d been snubbed by not receiving an invitation, he would allow us to pass through if we could bring him a single tear of joy from the bride.

On the surface, the task seemed easy enough, if not a bit impolite. But Fey bargains are rarely straightforward things. Causing us to suspect hidden complications. Which is why the others leaned more towards finding our own way around instead. Assuming it would only take a slight detour.

But as I said, the Feywild plays by its own rules.

The moment we stepped off the path, the grass grew tall and thick, rising over our heads and cutting off the sky. Still, under the watchful gaze of Fiachna above, we pressed on.

When we finally made our way past, we attempted to find our way back to the path. But as if insulted by us leaving it, it stubbornly evaded us. Leaving us to continue our way through the ticket. Until eventually the sun suddenly and instantly disappeared from the skies. Cloaking it in a deep and dark night’s sky.

After some time, we stumbled upon a small clearing where the grass had bent into a dome-like space, resembling a room of sorts. In the centre of which was a hole leading underground. We called out, but no answer came. So Luke sent out his familiar, Pim, to investigate.

Pim eagerly dove into the tunnel and returned shortly after, reporting that it stretched out both to the east and west. We discussed our options amongst ourselves. But as fatigue was setting in, we decided to rest up and call it a night for now.
Setting up camp was easy thanks to the various protective wards Luke conjured. Which was a good thing, as we otherwise might have missed the tiny mole peeking out of the tunnel during the night. When he saw we noticed him, he darted back inside. Only after Alistan assured him we meant him no harm did the mole return and cautiously introduce himself as Nog.

Nervously, he asked us why we had set up camp in front of his home. Blocking the entrance. We deeply apologized and explained that we resting after having lost our way to Hall. With a kind heart, Nog offered to help us. For while he didn’t know the exact way, one of his tunnels might lead us closer towards it. And in exchange for a bit of food, he would let us pass.

Grateful, we offered him a fresh pouch of goodberries and accepted.

Following Nog through his narrow tunnels, we crawled on hands and knees in near-total darkness. Progress was slow, but we were certain we were regaining the time we’d lost.

Eventually, we saw sunlight filtering through an opening up ahead. As we emerged, faint music drifted through the air and in the distance, we spotted a small village bursting with festive colour and cheer.

At last, we had reached Hall.

Continue reading...

A day of celebrations and beginnings
30th of Daga, 121 year of the tree

A trial of brambles
30th of Daga, 121 year of the tree

Departure
1st of Lug, 121, Era of the Tree

Dreams and Peril
2-5 Lug, Year 121, Era of the Tree

City of Strife and Secrets
5th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

A complicated situation
6th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

Onwards towards the west
7th & 8th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

Strangers in the mist
8-11th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

For now I am the hunted
11th of Lug, Year 121, Era of the Tree

Hunted no more
12th of Lug, Year 121 Era of the Tree

Trial by fire
13th - 14th of Lug, 121 Era of the Tree

Keralon at last
15th of Lug, 121 Era of the Tree

Has it truly been five years?
1st - 2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Escorting the envoy
2nd of Nuan, Year 126, Era of the Tree

Heart of fire
3rd - 4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

A festive day
10th Nuan, Y126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Shadow of Ravenfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Tomb of Hollow Hill
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The battle for Ravensfield part 1
16th of Nuan, 126 Year of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Journal Entry’s title

The battle for Ravensfield part 2
16th - 17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Return to Keralon
18th - 21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Embassy ball
22nd - 23th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Searching for Norgar
23th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The fall of Robert Talespinner
23rd of Nuan, Y126 E.O.T.

Intermission: Letter home

An Audience With The King
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

A new beginning
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Breaking and making deals
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Nightly intrusions
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Journal Entry’s title

Dinner for Seven
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Graduation Day
25th of Aran, Y126 EOT

A love for the ages
24th of Aran, Y126 EOT

The festival
26th of Aran, 126 Year of the Tree

Battle of the bards
26th of Aran, 126 Year of the Tree

Fire in the night
2nd of Brigan, Y126 E.O.T.

Lord Quinn I presume
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Departure for Latebra Velora
5th - 6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Wurms and Dragons
6th - 8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Gold in the dark
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Heart of Acid
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Meeting Grandmother
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

A shadowy evening
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Latebra Velora
16th of Brigan, Y126 E.O.T.

A dragon's fate
16th - 17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

A royal summons
17th - 20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Planning ahead
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

A Rabbit and a Mole
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Hall
Hopefully 22th - 25th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Into the Warg's den
I think 25th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

On feathered wing
No clue

A Rose at Twilight
7th of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Whitewail
still no idea

Welcome to Nimmerhold
29th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

A day in the library
30th of Gobu 126 Era of the Tree

The Tournament
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Wolf and the Knight
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Fey Dance
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Home at last
2nd of Madan, 126 Year of the Tree

Getting back on track
4th - 10th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

Entering the King' Tomb
11th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

A key challenge
11th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

A Rabbit and a Mole

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