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Hadrian Stagg

Word of the beauty of Rainhaven had travelled far, even to the human lands far south in the Sapphire Bay. Tales of the natural architecture working in harmony with the forested northern vale, the great northern seas and beautiful white harbor.

To hear of such beauty greatly paled to witnessing it firsthand.

"My lord, do you think the elves will believe us?" Sir Peter Alderhorn asked, bringing his horse beside mine.

Gazing out over the forested vale, and the beautifully crafted open towers of the Palace of Seasons, I peered beyond, into the reaches of my memory. The memory of the Battle of Duskshire.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Does it matter? I refuse to carry that banner any longer. Sir Peter, Raise the flag of Diplomacy." I said, kicking my mount into a trot, beginning the descent down the hill toward the intricately carved gates.

"At once, My lord." Peter said, nodding to the standard bearer.

The man quickly lowered the banner of House Stagg, A rampant black stag on a field of green, replacing it with a white bolt of cloth.

Peter and myself, accompanied by the standard bearer and a small house guard consisting of ten men rode onward to the gates of Rainhaven.

My heart was thudding louder in my ears than the sound of my horses hoof-falls, and I was growing lightheaded.

The large gates opened as we drew near, revealing a heavily armed reception of nearly fifty elvish royal knights.

They quickly swarmed out to encircle me and my escort. I uncomfortably lowered my hand to rest on my sword hilt at my side. I noticed Sir Peter do the same.

As the last of the reception party closed around us, a small part formed near the gate to reveal a tall elvish woman dressed in the most elegant armor and robes the color of Autumn leaves. The lady of Autumn herself.

I slowly dismounted, handing my reigns to Sir Peter reluctantly, as Lady Aralyn approached, accompanied by two elvish speardancers.

All the beauty of Rainhaven could not compare to Aralyn Autumnsong. Grace dominated her movements, and the way she gripped the spear gently but with a strange sense of authority lent her an aura of power.

"My Lady." I said, kneeling before her. "It is an honor."

"Rise, Lord." She commanded, her voice lyrical yet strong.

I obeyed, standing before her, exceptionally aware of all the eyes upon me, both human and elvish.

"Are those the banners of the human House Stagg I see?" she asked, gazing up on the hill to the south.

"Aye, they are my lady." I replied.

"House Stagg has pledged allegiance to the Circle of Mages in Akarshan, have they not?" she asked.

"Yes, my lady." I replied, eyes falling.

"Have you come to negotiate our surrender? Or perhaps Archmage Telvrin believes Rainhaven so weak that a single lord with, what, two thousand men, could capture the city?" She asked, a harsh bite in her words.

"Neither, my lady. My name is Hadrian Stagg, son of Adrian Stagg, Lord of Hintervale. Me and my men have deserted my father and the Kingdom of Akarshan." I said, standing as tall as I could.

"You would break your oaths to family and sovereignty?" She asked. "Why?"

"My lady, I swore another oath when I became a knight. 'May my blade defend the innocent and the weak. The young and the frail. May it always uphold justice and truth.' I grew up hearing the stories of the Great Alliance of the Three Kingdoms, and the Horde War of the Packlands. My father told stories of the glorious victories there, defending the realms of men from the Gnoll Hordes. As a young squire, I dreamed of such glories, of marching to war against the foes of humanity. When we received the message from Akarshan to prepare for war, I was eager for the opportunity to finally prove myself. To earn glory for my house and my kingdom."

I took a deep breath, exhaling with a slight tremble.

"My lady, the horrors I witnessed in Duskshire...there is no glory there. We bloodied our blades, not for truth or justice. Not for good. Nor was it in defense of the young or the old. Archmage Telvrin has allied himself and the people of Akarshan with a dark force. With shadows and death. A gnoll demon who whispers in his ear. I saw demons rape children and the dead devour soldiers. I witnessed the King of Duskshire bound in the city center, nude and dishonored, for the use of all manner of beasts. These horrors I will carry for the rest of my days."

I could feel moisture swelling in my eyes as I spoke, and I tried to fight it back.

"Why have you come here, to Rainhaven?" Lady Aralyn asked, her voice softening considerably.

I glanced up at Sir Peter, who nodded.

"My lady, I've heard tales of the elves of Rainhaven. How they stand for all that is good and beautiful and natural in this world. I fought for the honor of a man, a kingdom, that pledged itself to darkness. I soiled my blade for evil. I broke perhaps the most important oath I've ever made. I would gladly break every oath I have ever made to my father, and the city of Akarshan, if that means I never raise my blade for evil again. We are here to seek redemption for our wrongs. House Stagg has been dishonored, and I am willing to shed my title and inheritance to fight beside those who value good and life."

She considered me with those fiery penetrating eyes. "That is quite the tale, Lord Stagg."

I glanced back at the two thousand men camped on the hill behind me. The men who followed me. The men who were willing to forsake their bond to my father. To House Stagg.

Turning back to Lady Aralyn, I held a new resolve.

"Tell me my lady. If we pledge ourselves to you, to the City of Rainhaven, can you guarantee we will never have to break another oath as long as we are within your services?"

She gazed off toward the green and black banners flapping in the cold winter breeze, before speaking at length.

"If ever an order from Rainhaven would bring you dishonor, you are freed of any oath that binds you."

Standing as tall as I could, I drew my blade, dropping to my knee. I held the sword outstretched with open palms before me, presenting it to Lady Aralyn.

"My lady, I swear my sword, and the swords of my men who follow me to the service and defense of Rainhaven, and the people of Ryze."

"You have brought honor to your house once again. May your courage lead you to just glory." She said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Rise, Lord Stagg."

Aatu

The sweet sound of songbirds slowly drifted through a world of darkness. It was the first sound I recognized, coming to me from afar through a thick fog.

Then, the slight trickle of a stream.

My weary eyes slowly and reluctantly opened to the comparatively bright light of the conifer forest.

The snow caught the first real rays of sunlight I had seen in what felt like forever, and I took an odd comfort in this.

I gazed about me, seeing my companions all sprawled about in the soft snow, each slowly beginning to stir.

The warmth pressing up beside me in a ball was Ciara, who was pressed closely against my furry flank.

She quickly leapt up, stumbling clumsily in the snow.

"Ah, s-sorry." She mumbled, turning away quickly.

I rose on shaky legs, feeling at once both refreshed and oddly weary. The sensation was difficult to explain.

"It's okay." I mumbled.

I gave a good hard shake, sending a light shower of powdered snow from my coat.

"What happened?! Where's the witch!" Fyrsil asked, leaping up in the form of his furry goblin.

My eyes fell on the two winter wolves that were curled about each other, watching the rest of us with suspicion and doubt.

My siblings.

"A-Aatu?" Melrakki asked in the wolf tongue, nose sniffing the air uncertainly.

"It is I, Melrakki, Cadno." I replied in that tongue, giving a slight nod of my head.

Cadno narrowed his eyes.

"We thought you were dead. You disappeared that day." He growled at length.

"I was taken by the slavers." I replied.

"The fur-stealers? That's what we believed. They came for us. One of them wielding fire." Melrakki stated.

"Father tried to fight back, but he was killed. We were taken, and so was mother." Cadno added, though his voice was still a gruff bark.

"Mother sent me to find you. Just before she..." I began.

"Died?" Melrakki asked.

I nodded.

She lowered her gaze to her paws.

"What happened, Aatu?" Cadno asked. "Why do you travel with these...creatures?"

"It is a long tale, brother. These creatures have saved my life and aided me in finding you." I explained.

"I would hear it, no matter the length." He demanded.

I gave a soft sigh, glancing about at the group of humanoids, who undoubtedly could not understand a word we were saying. They all sat patiently by, watching as the three winter wolves spoke to each other.

No doubt they too had questions.

My eyes caught Ciara, who was trying to busy herself with caring for her bow. She gave me a slight smile.

I glanced back at my brother and sister, then took a deep breath before diving into the long story of my capture by the slavers, and the adventure back to the Ulvengeist Tundra, as Fornvarr called it, were I found the state of the pack under Haeko. I told them of the fight with slavers and the death of our brother. I then spoke of my journey to Drifa with Istas, were I was received by the human druids there.

My brother seemed to shift uncomfortably every time I mentioned the humans.

I then spoke of my flight across the sea to the island of Manir in search of them and our mother, and ultimately, the battle with the Harbinger.

If any of this meant anything to either of them, my siblings seemed to not show. By the time I finished with how we fled Mireshadow and sought them out in the Frost Bogs, Melrakki seemed to tremble some, and Cadno appeared restless. I left out the part about my deal with the witch.

"So you've allied yourself with the humanoids." He growled.

I considered him for a moment.

"Mother was elvish, Cadno." I stated.

He looked at Melrakki.

"The stories these humans have told. They fill your head with lies, Aatu." He replied.

"I witnessed it with my own eyes, brother." I told him.

"You claim to have witnessed a great many things. Each more incredible than the last. How can we trust you? We barely know you anymore."

To my great surprise, Tokala spoke suddenly, using the wolf tongue.

"He risked his life, his freedom for you two! He somehow freed you two from the clutches of the most powerful fey to ever walk these lands!" the fox growled.

"Careful, pup! You'd barely be a mouthful, but I don't remember the last time I fed." Cadno growled, though surprise was clear on his face.

"Stand down, brother. I will not allow harm to come to these creatures." I growled back.

"You would shed your packs blood in defense of this wretched halfbreed?!" Melrakki asked.

"I would prefer to shed no creatures blood over so petty a quarrel." I growled.

My brother considered me for a moment.

"You have been tamed, Aatu." He stated at length, a bite of sadness in his words.

Tokala gave a sarcastic chuckle.

"Coming from the wolf that was just the puppet of a witch." He sneered.

I glared at the fox.

He threw his hands up and stormed away.

"No control over one's actions is better than choosing the wrong actions." Cadno growled after him, eyes never leaving mine.

Without thinking, I broke his challenge, forgetting wolf etiquette.

I glanced back at Ciara, who had no idea what we were saying, but nodded reassuringly anyways.

My heart trembled.

I turned back to my siblings.

"Go. You are free. Return home. Do you remember the way?" I asked at length.

"I think so." Melrakki said, slowly rising.

"Come with us, Aatu." She added, pleading.

I turned back to the two-legged companions who stood behind me.

"He is whipped. Tamed." Cadno growled. "There is no place for him in our pack anymore."

I returned my gaze to him.

"Perhaps. Maybe not. I don't believe I am the one to say. But I do know one thing. I've seen a great darkness in this world, and it is rising from the shadows. All places will be swallowed if something isn't done. Even the packlands. I'm sorry, Melrakki, I cannot return home. Not yet."

Cadno gave me a dark look. Melrakki looked from him to me, eyes filling with sorrow.

"Then you are lost." She whimpered, before turning away. Cadno moved to follow.

I lowered myself into the snow slowly, feeling my legs threatening to give out.

Neither of them looked back.

A soft whimper escaped my lips as I watched them go.

A small hand slowly began to stroke my flank, and I knew Ciara had rested against me once more.

As my siblings left view, I gave a quivering sigh, turning for my humanoid companions.

Tokala gave me a sad look and a reassuring nod.

"What happened, Aatu?" Ciara asked.

"They are returning home." I replied.

"Why don't you go with them?" Fyrsil asked.

Tokala placed a hand on his brothers' shoulder.

"Because this damned wolf is too honorable for his own good." The fox stated, eyes meeting mine. He gave me a comforting grin.

It was then that I remembered what the Troll Witch had said.

I rose to my feet once more.

"T-tokala, could I speak with you for a moment. Alone?" I asked, drawing a quizzical look from both Ciara and Fyrsil.

He nodded, without a pause.

"Hey! I've been trying to get speared by that for a while! You get it just like that!" Fyrsil exclaimed. "I've got to work on my charming smile..."

I didn't even bother looking at the fey, trotting off through the snow, Tokala following closely behind me.

We came to a small clearing a few hundred feet away. I sniffed the air and listened closely, but I couldn't sense any sight or sound of possible eavesdroppers.

The fox stood before me, crossing his arms with a look of skepticism on his face.

"You made a deal." He stated.

I considered him for a moment.

"My business with the witch is not why I asked you here." I replied.

"You poor, stupid wolf. What was the deal? Our lives for yours?" he asked accusingly.

"No." I replied simply, hoping he would drop it.

"Then what?" he asked.

"It's nothing. My concern. I need to tell you something."

He shook his head.

"No, if you made a deal, saving my life yet again, I demand to hear what it is. I will not hear you out until you tell me."

A long sigh escaped my lips, but I was not in the mood to argue.

"Alright, I'll tell you. But you cannot tell Ciara!" I growled, frost coating my muzzle as emphasis.

His eyes widened, a moment of fear quickly being shrouded in his usual cocky self.

"Of course not." He replied. "Your secret is safe with me."

"The witch held you all in a trance of sorts. She refused to release you, unless I provided her with a...pup--er, child."

An odd look came over the foxes face.

"So, like, you...fucked the Troll Witch?" He asked.

"No!" I yelped. "At least...not yet."

I wasn't sure whether he was on the verge of laughing or cringing.

"The great honorable wolf, forced to fuck something like that." He managed a slight chuckle. "Could be worse, I suppose."

I gave him a dark look.

"What did you want to tell me?" he asked quickly, probably trying to avoid an icy breath weapon.

I took a deep breath, looking away.

I became particularly interested in a specific clump of snow by my paw.

"I-I think I know who your mother is...." I said at length.

A serious demeanor returned to him.

"Oh yeah? And who might that be? The witch claim to know?!" he demanded.

I nodded.

"W-well, what does she have to say about that?" he asked, a slight tremble in his voice.

I was beginning to regret this.

"She...claimed to be your mother." I stated.

He stood for a moment, staring at me with a blank expression, before suddenly bursting out in laughter.

That was not the reaction I expected.

"I knew you had a sense of humor!"

"No, Tokala, I'm being serious." I explained.

"Should I believe it, just because she says so?!" he snapped suddenly.

"Believe what you will. I just thought you should know." I stated, suddenly feeling weary again.

I began to trot off toward the others.

He quickly moved to cut me off.

"And YOU believe it?" he asked, gripping my face with both of his pawed hands.

A look of skepticism was in his eyes, but I could see through his cocky mask. Concerned worry lurked below.

"I don't believe she was lying." I replied.

His mask dropped slightly, and he looked crestfallen, but quickly recovered.

"Hey, you're even more gullible than I thought." He chuckled.

"What?" I asked as the fox turned to head back to the others.

"You coming? We should probably plan our next move, since It sounds like we owe you another debt." He said with an exaggerated sigh.

I shook my head, before moving to follow.

Ciara O'Connor

"So, whadya think their doin'?" Fyrsil asked as he cleared snow from a fallen log to take a seat.

"I really do not know." I said, examining the length of my bowstring for signs of wear. Of course, I found none.

The bow had been a gift from the elves when I set out to Manir with Rekkdyr and the others, and showed incredible craftsmanship. In fact, never before had I known a weapon that required such little care.

"Think he's possessed?" the furry goblin asked.

"Nope." I replied simply, moving on to check my hunting knife's edge for wear.

Movement caught my eye and I glanced up to see Tokala break through the trees, followed by the large wolf.

The humanoid fox looked deep in thought, though smiled when he saw his brother.

My gaze fell behind him, to the massive wolf.

His eyes met mine, and he gave his best smile the canine muzzle would allow.

My heart skipped.

"Well, what were you two conspiring about?!" Fyrsil said accusingly, hopping up from the log.

"It's nothing." Tokala replied quickly.

I gave Aatu a questioning look, but he just nodded to the fox.

I stood, returning my knife to it's sheath.

"Well, what's our next move?" I asked, glancing around the glade.

"Does anyone recognize this forest? Where are we?" I asked.

Fyrsil hopped up and down excitedly.

"Oh, yeah, this is the southern edge of Avaltiss!" he exclaimed.

"This is the land of the fey?" Aatu asked, glancing at the trees.

"Not here, exactly. Few fey risk coming this far south. We are still close to the Frostbogs here, I reckon." Tokala explained.

"You two know this place well?" I asked.

"Well, sure, it is our home after all." Tokala replied.

"Could you lead us west, out of it?" Aatu asked.

"Perhaps. What is our plan?" Tokala asked.

Fyrsil gave his brother a strange look.

"You mean to follow them, Tokala? We haven't seen home for so long! We are so close!" the phooka whined.

"We could find our own way out, Tokala. You and your brother should go home." Aatu stated.

The fox's gaze shifted between Aatu and Fyrsil.

"Brother, we would still be back in that bog with the witch if it weren't for Aatu." He said.

"You owe me nothing, Tokala." Aatu said.

"If what say about Malmyrkris is true, then we would benefit from aiding you." Tokala said.

Fyrsil gave groaned.

"So whats our next move?" I asked Aatu.

His large silver and black eyes fell on me for a moment, making me keenly aware of their beauty.

"At the witches hut, I had a type of vision. A dream, I guess. When she cast me into the dream realm..." He began.

"She sent you to the dream realm?!" Tokala exclaimed shocked.

"Dream realm?" I asked.

"It's were mortal's consciousness go when they sleep. They are only vaguely capable of understanding their time there, however." Tokala explained, eyes never leaving Aatu.

"What did you see?" he asked.

Aatu glanced at me for a moment, looking uncomfortable.

"My mother. She told me that Rainhaven was in danger. That if it fell, so too would Ryze. She told me I needed to go there, to help them." He explained.

Tokala turned away, appearing troubled.

"But it was just a dream?" I asked.

"No, it wasn't." the fox stated. "What else did you see? Anything?"

"A large tree, in a circle of stone. And an Archway. There were druidic runes glowing with silver fire. And a silver stag, with antlers like the branches of a tree."

"The circle you saw. It sounds like the Fey Circle. I'm not sure about he other things, though." Tokala said.

I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. This talk of dream worlds and magical stone circles was becoming to much. I wasn't a magical being like these creatures here. Even Camden was better equipped for this sort of talk than I.

"It doesn't matter. We must get to Rainhaven." Aatu stated.

"Perhaps. Or perhaps Fyrsil is right." Tokala stated.

Fyrsil looked at his brother.

"I think I misheard. Did you say I was right about something?" He asked feigning surprise.

Tokala ignored him and continued.

"The Fey Circle is north, in Avaltiss Reach. We could perhaps meet with Oddvarr. He may be able to shed light on this vision, and if not, at the very least, he could offer aid?"

"Oddvar? The huntsman?" I asked, a slight tremble in my voice.

Tokala nodded.

I wasn't sure I could withstand walking in the world of the Fey at the moment. For some reason, despite everything I had already been through, I was growing increasingly aware at my shortcomings. I stood beside a powerful shapeshifting fey that I had seen rip into a massive troll without hesitation, a powerful hybrid enchanter, and the most incredible druid I've ever seen, and all I had was a small bow. A magical bow, but a small bow nonetheless.

What we seemed to be chasing time and time again was also things drawn from myth. Ancient witches, death gods, dream realms, and now the potential to meet the fey huntsman, Oddvarr. It was just too much.

"My mothers' warnings sounded urgent." Aatu replied.

"It's up to you wolf. You haven't lead us astray yet." Tokala stated.

I glanced at the fox, seeing a strange look on his face. Admiration?

I thought of his words. They did indeed ring true. Despite all that had happened, we were still standing. We faced the fabled Troll Witch, and lived to tell about it.

"You know I'm behind you, Aatu." I added.

The wolf glanced from the fox to me.

"I go wherever Tokala drags me." Fyrsil grumbled.

The wolf lowered his gaze for a moment, and I realized casting the weight of this decision upon him was a lot of pressure.

I slowly struggled through the deep snow to him, where I placed my hand on the scruff of his neck gently.

His large silver eyes met mine.

His large tongue slid gently across my cheek.

"We shall go to Rainhaven."

Ivaylis

Cold winter air brought moisture to my eyes and stung my lungs when I finally managed to stop coughing.

I was being supported by a large humanoid moose, complete with large antlers, who was naked from the waist up, only concealing his sex with a small leather loincloth.

As soon as he could see I was capable of standing on my own, he quickly released me, taking a large step away.

"S-sorry..." he mumbled in a voice that was incredibly deep.

"I-It's fine." I managed to say while suppressing one last cough

I scanned the courtyard around us, which was now being flooded by morning light.

An odd assortment of hybridized creatures were milling about us, dragging elves from the building and helping them to safety.

This was not the reception I expected.

"W-What's going on here?" I asked the moose-man, who was still watching me cautiously.

"We barricaded the palace to keep the darkness from spreading. The dead came and did things with the humans trapped inside." He explained.

"Why are you helping us?" I asked, scanning the growing crowd of hybrids as they gathered in the courtyard to render what aid they could.

"Lady elf, this city is in chaos. But nobody has anywhere else to go. The gnolls and the orcs have barricaded themselves and their shared kin in the military district. We know they are planning on reclaiming the city for themselves, and they have the discipline and the equipment to do it. We've already opened the gates to your kin. None of us want to die fighting for a city that's been the cause of so much horror and death." He explained in his deep booming voice.

I considered him for a moment, but sensed he was being honest.

"Thank you for your assistance. Perhaps soon, the world will see hybrids not as monsters, but as victims." I replied at length.

"Your words are kind, my lady, but not entirely truthful. There are indeed many still among us I would not trust to be around alone." He stated, but gave a low bow regardless.

"Captain Ivaylis! I'm looking for an elf named Captain Ivaylis?!" a voice called from somewhere in the crowd.

"I'm Ivaylis!" I called out, watching for my unknown caller.

Just then, a completely nude black cat danced up from between and around the legs of passerby's. She stood on hind legs like a humanoid, but when she caught our sight, lowered to all fours to quickly and gingerly bound over to us.

She was lithe and agile, quickly coming up to greet us with a suddenly smug expression.

She stood even shorter than a halfling. Barely larger than an ordinary domestic cat.

"A Lord Livillios asked me to bring word that they are mustering at the gates to the military district. He wishes for you to join him there with your forces as soon as you are able.

She mewled lazily, setting about grooming her fur while she spoke.

It seemed strange that Livillios would trust such a message to one of these folks, but perhaps he sensed there was no reason for the hybrids to betray us?

I caught sight of Hestross, who was helping a wounded elf drink from a wetskin. He glanced up and nodded to me.

I nodded in reply, my heart urging me to rush over and embrace the centaur. I ignored the impulse, however.

Thanking the small courier and the moose, I set off to begin gathering my forces.