Episode 58: Old Friends
Althaia's eyes sparkled. "This place is gorgeous." She sighed, looking over the main hall that was grown by the druids from the woods themselves. "All it needs is a little more solidity, and a waterfall making a natural fountain inside, and it would be perfect. I will have to steal some of the design details and give them to R.I.S.A. We can use it for a future addition to the dimension."
Caleldir would likely have said something about the hall, but he was too busy greeting all of his old friends from the caravan, who had mostly gathered at one corner around their leader and his new orcish friend. Caleldir especially wanted to get a word in with Artur, and see if Gurzan had ever made it back to the group.
The people from the caravan greeted Caleldir appropriately for how well they had known him while he worked with the Troop. As for Artur, he turned away from his conversation with his girlfriend and the big orc when he realized that more people had entered the longhouse. "Caleldir, boy, you came back!" He exclaimed with obvious joy. "And I see Ashyr is still with you. And a couple of other beautiful ladies..." The last part was expressed with a nod, a wide grin, and a wink that jokingly suggested more was going on between the four of them. It was not uncommon for Artur to tease anyone in his party in such a way.
Urag shifted so that he was just a couple inches taller than he had been in his crouching position, and nodded respectfully at the party. Otherwise, he remained silent. The atmosphere between the orc and two humans previously in private discussion with each other was relaxed. That much could not be said for the people under their control. The tension between the two armies seemed more a matter of the common folk than the leaders.
"We're back!" Ashyr confirmed with a grin that answered Artur's suggestive expression. She began to approach Dria, Artur, and Urag. She noticed that Zarag continued to walk beside her. The orc leader's expression was as open and friendly as it could be under the circumstances. He otherwise ignored the suggestive language between everyone.
"I am like the proverbial bad penny that way." Caleldir replied to Artur. "Whether it be a month or a thousand years, I always come back!" Gesturing Althaia forward, Caleldir introduced her to Artur, Dria, and all the rest. "This is my 'cousin' Althaia, the World's only Nymphen Paladin (at least, we think that she is...) and therefore probably the world's only practitioner of both the druidic and paladin arts. As for the other woman, that is Selene Duskhaven, Ashyr's cousin, so I should probably let her do the introducing." Like Zarag, he was choosing to ignore the more suggestive language.
Althaia was not, though, which would come as a surprise to no one. The Nymph waggled her eyes and licked her lips appreciatively, though she straightened up for the introduction. "Good to meet you, Artur. And you as well, Dria. Although, I believe that I have seen your work before. I have spent most of my life living less than a day's journey from your town, so you may have been aware of our little spring. There are now four nymphs still there, and I am sure that they would love a visit from some of your better-looking residents."
"I am not sure this is the time for that sort of soliciting." Caleldir said uneasily. It was then that he caught sight of a familiar face. "Gurzan my old friend! It is good to see you again!" The old half-orc was, predictably, sitting in a corner by himself drinking something of an unknown nature, glaring at anyone who came too close. Caleldir was the exception, though, and the old fellow seemed genuinely happy to see his friend. Caleldir turned back to the group. "Forgive me, but I simply must get caught back up with Gurzan and his family. I take my leave. Call me if anyone needs anything!" With that, he strode over to the table. "I have some genuine Deusterran wine with me..." he could be heard saying to the old half-orc as he walked.
Selene and Ashyr let Caleldir walk over to his old friend unimpeded, though for a moment, Ashyr looked sorely tempted to join. A lot had changed since last they saw Gurzan. How would the old orc react to all those changes? Would Caleldir even let his friend know about his exploits? They were questions that the older drow was curious to see the answers to. Unfortunately, there were slightly more important things at hand. That, and it sort of sounded that Caleldir wanted to speak with him alone.
"Oh, yes, the spring." Dria responded to Althaia with a glimmer of amusement in her eye. "I believe visiting that place is an old tradition with the young folk in the town." A small group would declare that they were going to 'take a walk in the forest.' Sometimes they came back that night, disappointed. Sometimes they came back a couple days later, exhausted, but very pleased with themselves. It was something Dria never paid too much attention to beyond the brief amusement of seeing who the nymphs favored and who they did not. "You honor us with your presence, Paladin Althaia. We hope that you may grace us with your wisdom and insight during the upcoming talks."
Althaia herself had not been at that spring more than a few years, and remembered precious little from the young-folk who had come there. She was very young, after all, and had not really been invited to the fun as a youngster. Her own parents did not live in that spring: rather, she had ended up there about four years previous due to... events. But that was for another time. "I am rather young to be gracing anyone with my wisdom." The paladin smiled. "But of any assistance I can offer is yours. I am at your service."
Ashyr turned back to Artur, Dria, and Urag, who still crouched nearby in his corner. "Now that you've met Althaia, this is my younger cousin, Selene. I think you saw her in passing, but I was too busy for a formal introduction." Ashyr grinned at that. She had been too busy orchestrating a threesome between Carlotta and Caleldir. It was quite the noble cause. "She's most definitely on our side now." Ashyr shot a quick grin to the younger drow, and gave her shoulder an affectionate rub.
"We met briefly." Dria confirmed. She had been the one to tell Selene where Caleldir and Ashyr's room was.
The de-facto leader of the druids looked over to the taller, younger drow. Then she blinked, and her eyes flickered down to Selene's stomach and back up again. After that particular realization hit, Dria looked much better pleased with the pregnant drow's presence. Ashyr couldn't help but notice the human female's train of thought. The ranger waggled platinum eyebrows at Dria, then cast a quick glance over in the direction Caleldir had gone. This bit of information was met with understated confusion. Apparently, this clashed with the woman's perception of the man now implied to be the father. That moment was not the time to speak at length on that particular subject, so Dria would have to continue to wonder.
If Urag, Zarag, and Artur noticed the exchange, there was no sign of it on their features.
"Ashyr Duskhaven has promised to help our cause." Zarag informed the group.
"Yup." Ashyr confirmed. "I'm sure we'll figure out what I can do when everyone is here. In the meantime, where's Carlotta?"
The faces of both humans turned grim. "Sorry, girl." Artur said. "She was part of the excursion that managed to sneak into the city. We haven't heard from that party since they got into Port Afron. That was a little over a day ago - there was supposed to be another check-in by now, but it hasn't come."
"...wait what? Really? Zarag, why didn't you tell me about an excursion?" Ashyr near demanded. The news didn't seem to sit well with her.
"No time, and I did not know you knew one of the party. I apologize." The orc leader said, and he looked sincere. "We will tell all when everyone gets here."
"Great." Ashyr said, her expression now grim as well. Her hand rose to rub at the back of her neck. "I should let Caleldir know." The older drow decided. "Stay here, Selene." Then she made her way over to where Caleldir and Gurzan chatted.
Selene huffed in annoyance at being left behind. But she seemed to accept her fate. The mage shifted slightly towards Althaia, the one in the conversation who she trusted the most.