Hello, Everyone!
Last time, our heroes had just finished all their work in Pamagos and were beginning to talk about their upcoming journey to the elven city of Myth Adofhaer. Then, a creepy half-dragon man found them at breakfast and told them that his ‘Mistress’ was really happy with how successful Mary’s book has been. After all, it told the world just how terrifying the Dark Lady was!
As we know well, Mary has a really strong negative response to anything Nurvureem-related. It’s good that Bruno, in part, has some sense and stopped her from antagonizing the dragon’s messenger. The creepy person invited them over to his Mistress’ home and left.
“Did you see the symbol on that guy’s pendant?” Bruno said. “It looked like a five-pointed star with different colors on each point.”
Mary had been too distracted by the black scales on Kalien’s left side to look at his jewelry. However, she recognized the description of the pendant.
“It’s the symbol of Tiamat, goddess of the chromatic dragons,” she said. "She's usually depicted as a five-headed dragon, hence the pentagram."
“What are we going to do with that?” Aurum pointed at the diamond on the table.
“I was thinking about selling it and getting one of Driko’s tattoos,” Bruno said. “You know, the special ones?”
“Oh, that sounds neat!” Aurum said. "Maybe we could get Mary to do it. Won't it be nice for her to have one of those spell tattoos?"
"Yeah! Like Fireball or Lighting Bolt!"
"Mary?"
They both looked at her expectedly. She shook her head. The whole process looked too painful and scary for her.
“Plus," she added, "I don’t want to have anything to do with Nurvureem's gifts."
They decided that Bruno would be the one to have the tattoo, and went on to sell the diamond. When they were done, Mary said she wanted to go to the city Archives.
“I’ll come with you,” Bruno said. “Driko won't be available until the evening. If we go together I can help carrying books and what not. And also, that’s a chance to try my luck with some more complicated spelling.”
For the past several months Mary had been teaching him to read faster and he was improving with every book she'd lent him.
Aurum said he had some personal stuff to take care of. Mary squinted at him suspiciosly (she’d been trying to keep an eye on him, after the stunt he’d pulled in Zerakas tol) but thought he wouldn’t abandon them again, right when they’d started a new adventure. They left him to his own devices and headed to the Archives.
What Mary wanted to find--apart from the more common things like Myth Adofhaer’s culture and what creatures lived in the Red Forest--was any mention of her real father. Ever since Gillean had told her about him, it’d stayed at the back of her mind, making her… wonder. Was he an adventurer like her? Was he someone important? Had he done some great deed and that’s why bad people had chased him down? Did he have a family where he was from?
She had already asked captain Roche and Mr. Perres about him--without actually telling them why she was interested--but it had been in vain. They’d never heard the name ‘Halas’. Couldn’t even pinpoint a region where it would sound local.
So, she spent the afternoon browsing the ledgers with Bruno. Their status as Agents of Pamagos let them read through many otherwise non-accessible files, but ‘Halas’ was in none of them. Despite the disappointment, Mary felt happy that she got to spend some quality time with Bruno. It'd been a while since they’d hung out.
That’s why, when he headed to his tattoo appointment, she joined him in spite of her initial reluctance.
Bruno had decided to have a tattoo that could enhance his magical powers. With the 1 500 gold pieces they’d gotten from selling Nurvureem’s diamond, Driko could start working on it this very evening. Mary watched as the gnome infused his complicated tattooing device with a special kind of ink, turned a few knobs and started working. The small needle jabbed into Bruno’s skin with an amazing speed, and the ink slowly started forming the picture of a hammer surrounded by celestial flames.
“Doesn’t it hurt?” Mary asked, anxiously.
“Nah, not really,” Bruno said. “But that thing makes me thirsty. Can you bring me some ale?”
She readily went and got her friend a drink. He was so nonchalant about the whole tattooing process that it made her think that it might not be so scary to try it out herself.
Not now, of course. They didn’t have the money, and she wasn’t that confident in her constitution.
Mary, Bruno and Aurum spent the next morning preparing for their trip to Myth Adofhaer. They bought some dry rations and some warmer clothes, and packed up everything in their saddlebags.
Before they left, Mary took off to the bank. She’d been meaning to do that for the past couple of days but she’d never found a good moment to sneak away from her companions. She remembered Bruno's reaction when he found out that Aurum had spent money from their joint account and didn't want to risk his wrath being directed at her.
She withdrew 100 gold pieces and went to the nearest Bearer’s office. She didn’t know much about the recipients she had in mind, except for the name of that one man and their hometown.
Pritley.
The thought of the woman she couldn’t save wouldn’t leave her thoughts. She knew that the sum she was sending her mourning family couldn’t bring her back, but it would at least be… something.
We’re ready to go now. Everything is settled for our heroes’ next adventure. I hope that you’ll be there for it, it’s going to be really eye-opening!
See you in the next chapter where we’re going to meet someone quite mysterious! XD
Until then,
Take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide and the Glossary for the series. You're welcome!)
Ah! Nice blue touch there!
It was hard to do on Photoshop and I don't really know how I managed to achieve it 😅
So, it's probably a one-time thing 😄
Ok, this is the first prose work I've read of yours and I am profoundly impressed. 💯 Not only can you draw, and world-build, but you can also write? I just wanted to give you as much encouragement as could be given through a random person telling you good job! on a crypto social network through the internet. 😁
This project of yours is really impressive, and I just wanted you to know you are doing a fantastic job at it. Keep it up! And if you ever get confused and/or unsure, just trust your talent. Don't be afraid to kill your darlings as it were. I've found it common for creatives like us to struggle when they stop listening to their gut.
I hope that made sense. 😂 Cheers! 🍻
Oh, wow! Such a kind comment! Thank you so much for the good words!
I'm really proud of what I've accomplished, my writing and drawing have become considerably better as time progressed.
Two clarifications, however. None of the world-building in this story is mine :) All credit of that part goes to our DM! The actions of my fellow players (who portray Aurum and Bruno) and all the side characters (played by the DM) are also not invented by me.
All I've done is write them down in as much skill that I posess :)
I see. 🙂 Still impressive. And I imagine a lot more enjoyable than coming up with it by yourself.
Keep at it. 🍻