Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 2

28. Arodus, 4718 - Absolom   While I am neither wizard nor scholar, I have learned the worth of research over my adventures. So I sent a request to the Repository for any records on Castrovel. Whether I have gotten back all they have is, of course, an open question, but at least I got something.   I specifically asked for any Azlanti lore that might have survived Earthfall, which yielded some details. Even the Azlanti already associated the Green Star with life and fertility, just as astrologers repeat today. More tantalizingly, however, references hint at why it has these traits. Some surviving lore names Castrovel as home to ‘great life’ and that it holds broad manihued jungles. The handful of sources allude that the Azlanti knew Castrovel, just as they knew Akiton, as if they had traveled there through interdimensional worldgates, which is widely believed but little proven. Nevertheless, I have heard that gates’ existence at odd places, aside from elfgates, over the world is commonly taken as artifacts of Azlanti travel through the spheres.   One intriguing reference tells that Castrovel was then home to the fiercest warriors among the Sunworlds. What did that mean? If the Azlanti had truly traveled there, what had they witnessed? Whom had they met or offended?   Curiously, the Azlanti lore mentions no Elves, even though at that time they knew Elves here on Golarion. Since the Elves retreated from our world to Castrovel before Earthfall, did they begin here and flee to Sovyrian, or come from there and flee back? Regardlessly, from Elven sources we have more recent lore on the Green Star, which confirms Archmaster Virian’s word that the Elves’ birthland lies on Castrovel. Among possibly one of the more reputable sources was a report submitted by one Bellinax Corcinian of Cheliax in 4522, who wrote down an interview he had had with an Elf named Shaliel of Iadara. This person yielded knowledge of the Green, and Bellinax, who apparently had access to the same Azlanti sources I’ve gleaned, asked whether Castrovel was truly home to such fierce warriors, which Shaliel affirmed. When Master Bellinax asked what this fierce warrior race looked like, his source gave this mysterious answer: ‘The women look like Elves, and the men like Dwarves’.   How does that make any sense?   Unfortunately, most of Bellinax’s interview consists of questions about Sovyrian, which he describes as a Paradise the Elves had left only of need and fear that demons were corrupting their ancient lands and gateways here on Golarion. The only other lore yielded was that Sovyrian stands as a landmass separate from these fierce warriors’ homeland.   In any case, we leave in a week for Qadira, where we will meet Master Virian and his apprentices, who he has told will accompany us to Castrovel. Where we will go next he has not said. Apparently, the worldgate is secret. I have begun choosing my team - hearty scouts whom I know, and whomwith I have traveled beforehand. By good luck I ran into Vern Stigurra, who has agreed to come with. We had a merry time last night while drinking and catching up news. I count his fellowship a lucky sign.     4. Koelae, 24,535 - Son   Today I got my first reeveship: five riders, whomof but four are Damaya. Oshis, who rides as Elderspear, is Korasha. I had not thought they could bind Shotalashu, although he has done so. The elder outriders have told this is his third firdhood, and he is doughty and will do well. He is an odd sight upon Shota-back, twice as wide as any Damaya, so that I fear he may topple off, but so short he may easily duck any blow. With his broad shoulders and great arm-thews I wonder how strongly he can strike a spear.   My Firstspear is named Erymi, and this is her second firdhood. She and Oshis are sworn mates. All else come from sundry farmholds, and two are bowriders. The other spear-riders are all newlings. There are also two grooms, both Damaya: Kae an elder who sees to harness and gear, and Remaue, who waits as my shieldbearer.   They waited with Shota on the drillfield while I overlooked them. Then I led us all on a short ride around the city and near fields. We ended again at the drillfield, where I put them through their strides, for I wished to deem their markship. For newlings they did well enough. Lady-Captain afterward bade tomorrow I shall take them out for a short scoutfare.   Laterward, Remaue came to my room and asked how she might serve. I thanked and asked that she cleanse my harness and weapons. At my spearbill she was right worshipful…Her deed's wise, however, has made me wonder whether I may rightly ask her to become my maidenlove. She is pretty with heaven-hued hair and blue eyes, skin like treemilk and a quite...motherly bosom. The thought makes me blush. Wiselessly, I gave her heartfelt thanks and leave to go to her room.   I look forward to tomorrow’s scoutfare.     6. Koelae, 24,535   We are again home after an easy scoutfare. I shrive I had worried, but Lady-Captain was waiting on our homecome and heard word not only from me but also my Firstspear and Elderspear. They gave their tales and frankly added things they deem I could do better. After they left, Lady-Captain spoke alone with me and deemed it was well done. I will worry less, though I shall mind my underreeves.   The deed went mildly enough. We rode out to the far farmholds, spoke with the holdwives and headwives, and got what news they told. Yesternight we spent at Zhoal-Farmhold. A Korasha had split his hand in a wagonwheel, whom I healed. The headwife bade us sleep under the hometree and yielded us good roastmeat. I gave our team the farmhold’s freedom, wherein they gott wine and made merry. The headwife offered me a bed within her house. Yet I chose to sleep with my warriors under the hometree and bedded early. Remaue stayed too, and we fell asleep next to each other while we talked. Sometimes I felt her skin’s warmth and almost touched her.   I shrive something always stirs within me whenever I come back to Son, even if I leave for but a day. The way the Sun-Temple’s dome glitters even under cloudlight and rain, all copper-green and sheerglass, overtakes me.     11. Rova, 4718 - Katheer, Qadira   We arrived in Qadira’s capital after an easy seafare from Absolom. Now we are settled as guests of Katheer’s Planar Institute, with windows overlooking the Old Souk. I find it interesting that Archmaster Virian has us so hosted, a Taldane no less among his kingdom’s traditional enemies. It begs question of what bargains he has made, and what he has revealed of our quest to the Qadirans. Fair to say he is well connected. He is still mum as to where his secret worldgate lies. I don’t know how we will even travel, or whether it even lies in Qadira. I suspect we will not learn our goal until we reach it.   Aside from this mystery, we have met the two whom Archmaster Virian calls his apprentices, though I guess they are much more. They will accompany us to Castrovel, or rather we will guard them. The first I met is Vanya Corvino, a Chelaxian. The other is Plummer Semes, who like me and Virian is Taldane. They are tasked with not only finding and retrieving the corpsicum we seek, but also spelling and waking the worldgate on Castrovel to return us. Reckoning by these deeds, I fairly believe their wizardcraft exceeds mere apprenticehood. Each also has a servant, bringing our whole party to fifteen.   Mistress Vanya struck me queerly when we met. She first seemed what I would expect in a Chelaxian. I confess, for so often as I’ve met and dealt with them, I’ve never liked their kind. She is haughty as Virian, but somehow colder, none of which surprises me. For a while I could not put thought on it until I realized she was going out of her way to ignore me. Since I had never met her and had no chance to offend, I found that an intriguing stand.   Master Plummer is almost her opposite. He is friendly and likes talk. Like any good Taldane, however, he dreams of achieving greater glories, like the archmasters before him, including the wonders of Old Azlant. He was fully overread on the ancient lore-sources I had found at the Grand Lodge. He even spoke of this worldfare to Castrovel as the first step in learning the Azlanti’s ancient secrets, who he believes built the network of gates over our world and others even before the Elves made theirs. It is an interesting thought, though I reckon more whimsy than fact.   If nothing else, Qadiran hospitality makes our stay pleasant. We are given a week to gather supplies, but no camels our other transport - which beguesses we will reach this worldgate by magical wise. I reckon Archmaster Virian, though he has fellows within the Planar Institute, wishes to keep our goal secret. We shall need to suffer silence until then.