Feadog's Dreams

You lie on the hard, unrefined ground muttering under your breath in frustration at the Drow for forcing you from what had been a comfortable evening lying in a suitable bed -- much more suitable than the conditions you and your friends find yourself in now. You toss and turn, growing increasingly frustrated. “This is ridiculous.”, you say to yourself. “I think they do this to me on purpose. Psychological warfare…”. You fold your arms in a huff and nuzzle into your pack being used as a makeshift pillow when you hear a female’s voice giggle. Your open your eyes immediately, your hand instinctively reaching for your pan flute in case of danger. You see your companions all asleep and the back of Khara Sulwood as she faces down the tunnel keeping watch. You sit up and immediately scan the area.

To your surprise, you see the elegant Marwen Mithraiar, the courtesan you originally met at the Immortal Minotaur in Sestatrea, standing nearby with a curious smile playing across her lips. She is dressed in a short gossamer white tunic with gold trim, deep luxurious brown leather pants and high boots with a black leather cloak trimmed in wolf fur draped across one shoulder. Her beautiful red hair conceals half of her face as her one visible pink eye twinkles at you. “Good evening, my fair bard Feadog”, she says with a hand placed on one hip. She approaches, carefully stepping over your sleeping companions and avoiding your dropped traveling gear with her high-heel boots and kneels beside you as you stutter, confused by her presence. You open your mouth to speak, but her soft warm fingers are quick to cover your lips. “Shhh, it’s quite alright. Don’t worry about the details. Come with me.” She stands and holds her hand out, inviting you to take it. You calmly take her hand, and she effortlessly helps you to your feet. She delicately wraps her arms around yours and begins walking you away from the group. You look over your shoulder as you walk away, with Khara Sulwood not stirring or seemingly aware that either you or Marwen have decided to take a stroll.

Marwen walks you up the flight of stairs that you and your companions had descended to attack the Drow Scouts and Lolthite Goblins and leads you to a door -- a door that hadn’t previously existed prior to Marwen’s arrival. She pauses at the door, looks into your eyes and smiles “Here we are. Shall we?” Without waiting for an answer, she reaches forward and opens the door and your vision is immediately blinded by a golden light.

You wince, blinking hard in an attempt to force your eyes to adjust to the bright light. As the light dims, you immediately recognize the white brick and stucco home you grew up in on the Isle of Giard before you on what appears to be a sunny and breezy Emerald Basin summer day. You see decorations strung up around the exterior of the home and a gathering of people in the yard next to the stone tables you only just now remember being there. Marwen smiles at you, “Come on, they’re waiting for you to start.” She leads you along the shell-rock path into the yard of your childhood home. As you approach, the gathering of people all turn and cheer your name “Jennick!” They all crowd around you, clasping your shoulder and patting you on the back, all of them your close friends -- at least, you think so. You feel as if you’ve known these people for a number of years, yet you’re unable to focus on their faces. However there are two faces that you instantly focus on and recognize -- your father Gebyrnh and your mother Bretha. Your father beams with pride as you approach, and your mother rushes forward to hug you. “I’m so happy for you both!” You remove your arm from Marwen’s grasp in order to embrace your mother. You hug her tightly, closing your eyes as you nestle your chin against her cheek. A warm feeling of peace and love washes over you. You open yours eye and turn slightly to look at Marwen while still embracing your mother and are surprised to see Marwen dressed in a simple yet surprisingly beautiful white dress and a white veil attached to a wreath of flowers pulled behind her lovely red hair. She smiles and winks at you, turns, and walks into the crowd to mingle as you’re pulled by friends and family to a makeshift stage. “Play, play, play, play…”, they chant while pushing you forward. You smile and climb the stage, sit on the stool located front and center and reach down for your Lyre. You place it in on your lap, then immediately realize that you hadn’t seen this Lyre in years. The Lyre you learned to play, the Lyre that was by your side through all the gigs you struggled through in an attempt to make a name for yourself on the Isle of Giard, the Lyre you fled with to Bayvale. You grin widely, feeling as if you just reconnected with a piece of history you thought lost forever. You turn to the members of the band taking the stools behind you to find Jesam Ceiho sitting behind your right shoulder. He smiles, lifts his flute and says “Jennick, this is your party. We’ll follow you!”

You turn smiling to the cheering crowd, and begin playing. A sense of love, happiness, and community fills your heart as you stare at Marwen, surrounded by your parents cheering your performance with all the town of Leeside entranced at your ability. Hearing Jesam’s accompaniment behind you as you lead your band in song makes you feel empowered, and you push your performance to the limit.

It seems as if you played for hours as the warm summer day turns to a balmy summer night. The party winds down, people offer their congratulations to both you and Marwen before departing, and your parents and Jesam retire inside the house eventually leaving just you and Marwen standing alone under a full moon. “Come with me,” she says as she leads you to the small knoll on the edge of your family’s property. There, she stands beside you overlooking the Emerald Sea and the islands belonging to the Gorgon Archipelago brilliantly illuminated by the full moon.

The smile fades from her face as she turns to you, a tender seriousness becoming prominent on her expression. “You have a golden heart, Feadog. You revel in the beauty of things, and are beautiful yourself. You represent an aspect of this world which is lost on most but the elves, yet even the elves are beginning to lose sight in lieu of the dangers that encroach upon us.” She sighs, her expression growing slightly sad as she takes your face in her hands and peers into your eyes. “Things will get worse before they get better, but they will get better. Love those who would consider you a friend, ally, or family. In loving them, you honor me, and you shall have my blessing.” She leans forward and places a warm kiss on your lips...a lingering, innocent kiss. A kiss that resonates deep love, encouragement, and hope. You close your eyes and sigh as your body relaxes and you become at peace. She pulls away and you feel her place an object in your hand and curls your palm closed around it. You open your eyes to find yourself standing in the tunnel among your companions as they all rouse awake from their slumber. You see Khara Sulwood turn and is startled slightly to see you standing. “Feadog...I didn’t notice you had gotten up. Is everything ok?” You look down at your closed palm and open it to reveal a small pendant the size of a coin made of pure gold in the shape of a heart.