Ern (dog) ran around the room excitedly. He seemed quite cheerful that morning and eager to play, though he did not linger long to "talk" with any one person. Finally, everyone from the party was gathered in the hall. Everyone was present except the one who had called the meeting. Even Gerald's hawk Craig was there, since Alegra had been asked to take care of him for the morning. Several party members began to wonder where Gerald could be and why he would be rude enough to show up late to his own meeting.
Suddenly Dog grew silent. As the last echoes of his barking died away, he sat down and turned to face the entryway. Just then the door to the hall opened and a cloaked figure entered. Though he walked hunched over and his hooded cloak was drawn close enough to cover his features, the brown cloak and the walking staff revealed the man to be Gerald. He walked slowly down the aisle, leaning on his staff in an uncharacteristic manner. He ignored comments from the party members and advanced into the chamber.
When Gerald reached the centre of the gathered party, he stopped and addressed the group. His face remained tilted down and much of his weight was on his staff as he spoke. "Thank you for gathering together this day." His voice revealed a hint of weariness but held an inner strength. "Before the Stone Soules embark on further actions, there is an important story I must tell you. I invite you all to sit and make yourselves comfortable and to listen well." Gerald gently sat down on the floor and lay his staff before him. He kept his cloak drawn around him, and it formed a circle on the ground as he sat. Dog came closer to his master and sat facing him.
As Gerald began to talk, his voice grew slowly stronger and more confident. As he got more into the story, he added voices and characterization.
"In an Age long lost when I was a youth, I would spend many evenings in the local tavern in town. There I heard all the news from neighboring lands and could see the most exciting travelers who passed through town. Some of the adults did not appreciate my presence, but I stayed out of the way enough to keep from bothering them, and I even earned a number of friends among the regulars.
"One evening, I saw a newcomer at the tavern: an old man huddled close to the fire. I had never seen him before and presumed the man to be a traveler, but he bore few signs of being on the road. All he had with him were the well-worn clothes on his back, his walking stick, and a mangy old dog at his side. I was startled and embarrassed when the old man saw me staring at him: 'Come here, young man,' he beckoned to me. 'Could you fetch a mug of drink for your elder?' he asked. I did not work at the tavern, but the barmaid was busy with customers elsewhere in the tavern and I sensed that the man was worth helping, so when he handed me a coin I went off to the bar to order him a drink.
"When I returned to the man, I noticed how he sat aside from the other patrons. Whether from his choice or theirs, there was a noticeable distance between him and the other customers. Normally, a seat near the fire was considered one of the most prized, but everyone was giving him wide berth and full ownership of the fireplace that evening. As I brought the man his drink of mead, I looked around a bit to find the reason for avoiding the fire that night.
"'Thank you, lad,' the man accepted the drink eagerly. He refused the change I offered him and began to sip the mead. The dog slowly stirred and moved next to me. Though the dog's physical appearance left much to be desired, his face revealed a friendly demeanor that cried out almost as if a pitiful child." Dog pants happily, as if enjoying this part of the story.
"'He likes you,' the old man spoke for his pet. 'He senses that unlike some,' he nodded his head towards the crowd, 'you do not let prejudices keep you from making friends.'
"I cautiously petted the dog and let him lick my hand before I turned to address the old man again. 'Are you two traveling alone?' I asked.
"The man slowly nodded, 'We have come from a land far away and are in need of rest.'
"'And where are you going?' I was becoming more open in talking to him.
"'We are seeking many things,' he replied, 'but one of the hardest to find is simple friendship. A dirty old man and his dirty old dog are not often welcome in a strange town.'
"Though I found him both appealing and different, I could say only one word in response: 'Why?'
"People, especially adults, are often too eager to judge by outward appearance. They think they know a man before he first opens his mouth to greet them. They see an old beggar with a troubled past and little promise for the future, and they decide that he can bring only misfortune and annoyance. But things are not always as they seem on the outside. Come, boy, and sit. I'll tell you the story of another traveler who was difficult to judge.
"The man's kind voice, the dog's friendly face, and the fire's welcome warmth drew me to take a seat and listen to the old man's story:
Gerald's mood changed to match the change in tone of the story. He paused briefly before continuing.
"Long ago, there was a land far away. Far north of the New World and to the northeast of the Far World was an island continent very different from these lands. It was there that lived the Faerie elves, or the gray elves as they are called these days. Their communities were smaller and fewer than human towns, but they had a grand civilization of their own that was strong in nature and knowledge and, most of all, magic.
For the Faerie elves are a magical people and were even more magical in those days. Practically all of the Faerie could control some amount of magic, and their wizards could perform spells rivaled by few peoples in any Age.
It was unto this Faerie land that a special child was born. He was a handsome elf with a beautiful face, pale golden hair, and bright violet eyes. His parents loved the child as all good Faerie parents did, and they made sure that he enjoyed the magic and amusements that were crucial to the lasting childhood of the elves.
The young Faerie seemed to be clever and promising, but no one realized his true potential until one day his mother saw a wild cooshee-an elven dog-tearing up the flowers in the glade. When she went to scare the cooshee away with a stick, the dog turned to face her and barked," Dog barked in poor imitation of an elven dog, but Gerald continued. "And before her eyes the cooshee transformed into her son. The woman was startled, but her son calmed her that everything was right.
The Faerie child did not understand the oddity of his transformation until his mother explained it. The boy had thought it was normal for his people to be able to change into the shape of other animals, but his mother assured him that only those practiced in magic could do so. After his mother felt certain there had been no outside magic involved-for all Faerie could detect magic-she decided something must be done. She took her child to see the greatest wizard in the town, for surely his magic could discern the truth behind the boy's talent.
The wizard asked that the woman leave her child with him for the day, and by sundown he had realized the youth's great capacity for magic.
He arranged to take the child as his apprentice and student. Together they developed the young Faerie's inherent magical power and taught him other forms of natural spells. His mentor taught the youth to fight with a sword and other skills necessary for survival. The two went on many adventures in Faerie land and became good friends though shared diversions.
The boy's talents, magical and otherwise, grew quickly, but he did not realize his destiny until his teacher bid him farewell. When the wizard had taught the boy all he could, he insisted that the Faerie-child must go elsewhere to learn more on his own. Though his teacher promised the boy that he could do great wonders with his magic, he also gave a great warning.
The day would come, the teacher said, when the young Faerie would be the last of his kind. For the magic of the Faerie was slowly fading just as all magic slowly drained from this plane of existence. Though the magic and also the numbers of the Faerie would decrease over time, the boy represented the last great concentration of Faerie-magic. Once every thousand generations is born a Faerie whose connection to the magical realms is greater than all others, and this child held that power. But the Faerie race would not last long enough to produce another such child, and the boy must use his powerful abilities to ensure that Faerie-kind lived on through him.
Over time, he would find his friends and fellows passing into death.
Their spirits would not be recaptured into the next generation of Faerie, and eventually there would be no Faerie on Telvar save for him. In those future days, he would have to use his polymorph ability to blend in with the native inhabitants of this world. He would be tempted, the teacher warned, to walk the planes with his magic but must wait until he has experienced much of the world and has the capacity to plane-walk safely. In the millennia till then, he must study and learn and experience.
The wizard sent his grand pupil forth into the world that he might continue to grow. The teacher was proud of the Fearie-boy but knew that he would be constrained if he were to remain with him.
So the child went forth and traveled the world as his instructor had said. His people slowly died away until few Faerie were left in the world. He continued his travels throughout the world, and he found it increasingly tempting to walk the planes. He stayed on Telvar, though, for he knew that even his vast magic was not powerful enough. Then the day came when there was only one other true Faerie left, with only half-breeds to carry on the Faerie line. The child by then had grown in stature and in understanding, and he had spent many years in the form of other beings. He did not show his Faerie nature to the outsiders but let them believe that there was only one Faerie alive and that it was not he.
And to this day, the most magical Faerie still wanders the lands of Telvar in an effort to grow in magic and strength and wisdom."
"As the old man finished telling about of the Faerie-child, I was completely enthralled by his tale. Perhaps it was his words that drew me in with images of distant lands and strange beings. Maybe it was his storytelling style, for he used the same intonations and gestures that I have used to enhance this tale. But whatever the reason, I loved to hear about the Faerie and would ask him to repeat the tale several times over the next days. It was only that first night, however, that the old man put such strong emphasis on the moral of the story.
"So you see, boy, one should always be kind to strangers, for you never know when you might meet the Faerie in his mortal disguise. This is a lesson easily heard but hard learned, and you should take it to heart before you grow set in the ways of relying upon the limits of your eyes."
"I was still captivated by the story and took a moment to return to reality. First I looked down at the old dog and saw his longing eyes staring back at me." Dog lays down with his head on his paws and looks around the room. "Then I turned to see the small crowd of other listeners who had gathered to hear the old man's story. His words had opened a new world to me, though I was not the only one who appreciated his storytelling talent.
"The old man stayed in town, and I continued to go to the tavern to hear his stories. Over the coming days, the townspeople eventually came to accept him, though they only seemed to like the man for his stories. I liked him for his stories and for himself, and I eventually became his friend. He shared many other stories with me and had a great influence on me in my developing years. His fables and legends led me to view other realms, but they also shaped my character. One story that I remember well taught me the value of friendship:"
Gerald embarked on telling the next tale, included even more voice working and gestures and storytelling skills than the previous story. Only special effects are noted below.
"There was once a wolf pack that roamed their territory freely and happily. Three young cubs in the pack were good friends. Remus was the strongest male cub and son of the pack leader. Nala was prettiest and strongest young female in pack, and she wise above all in dealing with other wolves. Wonos was the best friend and cousin of Remus.
The three friends had a special relationship. Remus felt that he was destined to take over leadership of pack from his father. He loved Nala and Wonos: Nala was to be his mate, and Wonos was his best friend. All three young wolves enjoyed many adventures in their youth and were brave warriors.
One day, Remus was away from his friends when he saw Jaka the bird perched in a tree. Jaka called to Remus that he had news for the wolf-cub. Remus approached cautiously, not certain whether he should attack or listen, but the sly bird did not give Remus a chance to pounce him." Hawk cried aloud in imitation of Jaka. "Jaka the bird proceeded to tell Remus a horrible secret: Wonos was planning treachery against Remus and the pack. In order to protect the tribe and ensure his eventual leadership of the pack, Jaka said, Remus should eliminate the potential rival now. Remus was sad to hear of his friend's deceit, but now that he knew he grew angry and set forth to follow the bird's advice.
On the way to find his rival, Remus encountered Nala. She saw that her friend was in an angry mood and she asked what bothered him. When Remus explained, Nala warned him against attacking Wonos. She reminded Remus of their good times together and how Wonos had once saved Remus' life. Despite her pleas, Nala could not sway him, and Remus sulked off to find his treasonous cousin.
Thus, Remus confronted Wonos with the horrible news. Wonos was surprised by his friend's challenges, and he insisted on his innocence. But when Wonos pretended to know nothing, Remus grew even angrier that he would not be truthful." Dog growled his fiercest growl for a minute as Gerald told the story. "Remus growled again and rush forth to attack Wonos. Though he did not wish to fight his best friend, Wonos had to fight back, and a battle followed. In their youth, the two friends had had many play fights, but this time they were serious. The two fought bravely and shed blood with their strong claws and teeth of young adult wolves.
After a minute of fighting, Remus heard the sound of Jaka the bird laughing from nearby tree." Hawk cries out again briefly. "Strange that Jaka would care about a battle between wolves, Remus thought, but then he realized perhaps the bird had played a larger role in the course of events. As young cubs, Remus and Wonos and often played with Jaka, and perhaps the bird had spread lies about Wonos' treachery to get revenge upon the wolves. Remus stopped fighting and moved back momentarily. He called to Wonos that they perhaps they should talk more. Wonos saw the opportunity to jump Remus while he paused to use his mouth for talking rather than biting, but Wonos did not want to kill his friend so he merely ran away.
The odd confrontation had disgraced Wonos, and he continued running until he was far away. He knew that he could face neither Remus nor the pack without dishonour. And so he wandered alone for years and finished maturing away from the tribe. In his wanderings, Wonos met other friends and even found other wolf packs that accepted him for a while, but he missed his old life.
Remus, meanwhile, went to hunt Jaka the bird in vengeance, but the old bird was too smart for him. Jaka flew away to another nest from which he could annoy other wolves, and Remus never saw him again. Nala comforted Remus and forgave him for his actions. The two grew closer together, but deep in their hearts they never forgot Wonos.
Eventually, one of Wonos' new friends brought him news of his long-lost family. Wonos had wandered far from home when he met a wolf-that-was-not-a-wolf who traveled with him for a time. The wolf-that-was-not-a-wolf was of an unusual nature, and he used his prophetic powers to give Wonos a warning. A tribe of goblins planned to attack Remus' tribe. The goblins intended to capture the strong wolves to use as slaves and servants, and the remaining weaker wolves they would eat as food. The strange prophesy worried Wonos, but he saw in his friend's eyes that it was true. Wonos thanked his magical friend but then had to leave him, for he knew what he must do.
Wonos traveled far to return to save his tribe. He worried that he might be too late to save his friends, but he sighed in relief when he reached one of his pack on guard at the edge of their territory one evening. The guard growled when he saw Wonos, for he had heard that this was a treacherous wolf. To gain entrance to the area, Wonos told the guard wolf that he had come to throw himself at the mercy of Remus. The wolf merely snorted in reply but allowed Wonos to approach the old cave.
Wonos walked slowly towards Remus as he wondered what to say to him. He was sorry he had to lie to the guard, but he needed to secure entrance to pack to help them fight the coming goblins.
As Wonos approached the camp centre, he heard a loud cry coming forth from the outskirts of camp. The wolves looked at one another to ask about the strange noise, but Wonos knew what it must be. He yelled aloud to gather everyone's attention and warned them of the goblin attack. Remus and Nala were startled to recognize their old playmate, but they did not take time to welcome him. The three joined the others in coordinating the fight to protect the tribe. The wolves fought bravely that night and defeated many attackers. The goblins slew several wolves, but they were relying on surprise as their main weapon. Remus, Nala, and Wonos battled well against the invaders, and they drove the goblins away.
After the combat ended, the wolves gathered to lick their wounds and count their dead. As they wandered the scene, Wonos and Remus caught each other's eyes and stared at each other. Wonos started to turn and walk away but found that he could not. Both wolves suddenly howled a great cry-Dog starts to howl softly-that was at once an apology for times past, an acceptance of apology, and a declaration of friendship and love.
Nala joined in the cry, and soon the entire pack was howling in joy of a victorious battle and the return of a lost brother." Dog continued to howl, and Gerald joined in for a moment with a melodious yet feral cry of his own. Then they drew silent and Gerald concluded.
Forever after, the three wolves remained the best of friends. Wonos returned to the tribe and was soon respected as a strong adult. Remus and the others never learned whether Wonos had actually planned treachery those many years before, but they no longer cared. The three friends had many more adventures ahead of them. Remus eventually bested his father for rulership of the pack, and he took Nala as his mate, but that is another story."
At the conclusion of the story, Gerald draws his hands back under his cloak and he ceases his gestures. His words, though, continue, and his voice grows more serious.
"The old man told me many other stories in our evenings at the tavern. Some, like these, taught lessons, while others taught history and some merely provided entertainment. The stories brought me an appreciation for history and legends, they showed me the importance of tradition, and they built my character. Most of all, the old man and his tales convinced me to leave home and go on adventures of my own.
"Thus, when I was still relatively young, I ran away from my home and ventured into the wide world beyond. Through various means, I made my way to the city of Teft in Petethal. I had heard tales about the grand City of Adventure and hoped to find others there with whom I could depart on great adventures and gain experience in life. It was not long before I found a group that hoped to find a legendary magical artifact from the past. They allowed me to join them, and over the next years we had many good times together.
Eventually, I realized that time had come for me to leave my friends. It saddened me to part company with them, but their path was taking them away from where I felt my destiny lay. So I set out on my own and found other friends with whom to travel and have more wonderful adventures. Throughout all these travels, I recorded my experiences because I never forgot what the old man taught me about the importance of telling stories.
"Years later, after I had proven myself in this World, I met someone who explained the old man to me. As I had long suspected, the old man was probably a bard. I did not recall his name, nor do I know if he ever told it, so I could not confirm his status. Deep down, though, I know.
"The bard with whom I talked about the old man had other important things to tell me as well. He expressed an interest in my works and said that the bards welcomed me as one who is interested in preserving knowledge and exploring the world. While some seek information for selfish reasons or keep their learning to themselves, the bards respected my desire to enlighten others with my experiences. The bard and I shared stories and had much to learn one from another.
"Though I had good times with my new friend the bard, we eventually had to part company. But before we left, he shared a song reflects our common spirit." A musical note, followed by a chord, emanated from Gerald's person as he continued, "It is a song I feel reflects upon many modern adventurers to show the true traveling spirit. And thus my friend proceeded to sing me this song."
Gerald's cloak drew back far enough to reveal a lute underneath. As he played the introduction to the song, beautiful chords came forth from his instrument The captivating music nearly held the party members frozen in place until the words returned them to the scene at hand. Gerald's voice was similarly beautiful and drew the audience into the song.
'Up hill, through dale, and into vale
The traveler makes his way.
Through parts unknown he walks alone
Forever, day on day.
One day he set out from his home
To see the world so vast,
And now forever he must roam
Until this life is past
On roads and paths he makes his way
To where, he does not know.
Each place he sees he'd like to stay,
But onward he must go.
He goes without a map or guide,
Take path along its bend.
He walks along the trail so wide
Until he meets its end.
Past tree and trail he travels yet
Through forest, field, and fen.
Though many monsters he has met,
With bird and beast he's been.
Midway through the song, Gerald paused to stand. With his head upward and his back erect, his voice grew stronger and even more beautiful. The lute he played had nearly as much visual appeal as it did musical with its highly ornate design. The music echoed slightly in the chamber, and the elegant song continued:
By day he walks beside the streams,
But rests he in the night.
He builds a fire and then he dreams
And waits till morning light.
While traveling through so many towns,
He meets so many men.
Within a sea of friends he drowns,
But few he'll see again.
In foreign towns in foreign lands,
He hears some foreign words.
On foreign shores with foreign sands,
He sees some foreign birds.
The traveler has one goal in mind
Throughout his travels far:
To leave the very earth behind
And soar amongst the stars.
Up hill through dale, and into vale.
The traveler makes his way.
The world's his home, yet he must roam
Forever, day on day.'
At the conclusion of the song, Gerald continued to play out a variation of the melody on his lute, letting the song draw slowly to a close. At last, he drew his hood back and removed his cloak. As the cloak drops to the floor, the man you see does not match the appearance you typically associate with the voice you heard. The clothes underneath are not at all like Gerald's typical wardrobe. In contrast to the normal well-worn brown and green colours appropriate for camouflage in the woods, he now wears bright blue and yellow clothing. His appearance is more glamourous, and he moves with more grace than Gerald showed on most occasions. The intricate lute hangs at his side, and even the lute-sling that holds it to his body was of a noble quality.
On the chest of his tunic is a bold coat-of-arms. No one present, not even Nym and Henry the standard bearers, recognize the coat-of-arms, but its lack of bars and divisions shows that you are observing a direct descendant of the original bearer of the crest.
Not only the clothes but also the person looks different. He seems to be aged in his upper twenties, and is perhaps a few years older than Gerald appeared. His brown hair is lighter than Gerald's, though his green eyes bear some of the same emotion as Gerald's. His facial features are varied enough that he is noticeably more attractive than Gerald yet not entirely unlike him, either.
After turning to face and smile at each member of the Stone Soules, the man addresses the assembled group: "I apologize for having deceived you about my true identity these many months, and I feel that I owe you an explanation. If you knew that I was Gramaliustranstalus, you would have accepted me based on stories and my reputation. You might have come to expect more from me and rely too little on yourselves. However, as Gerald, you were able to accept me for who I am rather than who you've heard me to be. I did not want to reveal myself lest I take too large a role in an adventuring party that is not my own." His accent was also different than before, with the neutral speech of 'Gerald' replaced by a more cultured Dunadorian accent.
"If you carefully analyze my words and actions of the past months, you will find that I rarely lied to you but merely cautiously chose my deeds to mislead you. I again apologize if any of you feel betrayed by the secret, but I feel that it was in the best interest of all concerned.
"I have greatly enjoyed the experiences that we shared together, and I am grateful that you did finally accept me as an individual. But now the tide is turning, and it is time for me to depart from this group. I have to follow my own path as you must follow yours. I will offer to let any of you join me in my future travels, though I do not expect anyone to leave the wonderful family you have formed here.
"If you ever need to reach me, you can continue to send letters to my bardic mail box, and I will eventually receive them-though not as fast as when I was actually with you to get them the next day," he says with a smile. "We also need to resolve the matter of our business arrangement. I promised payment for research material supplied to Gram by the Stone Soules. If you have any further material for me, please do so as soon as you can collect it, and I will leave proper compensation with you. Please continue to do what research you can and forward it to me, and I will continue to pay you for services rendered. There is also, at your option, the matter of distributing my share of treasures earned. I will stake no claims but merely accept as much or as little as you wish to offer.
"Finally, there is the item that drew me here. I am here not merely of my own accord but under service to the King. I have known for some time of the existence of the magical bell that the party recovered from the ruins of the City of the Lightning's Call. I am prepared to make an offer to 15,000 gold pieces in payment for the device along with a promise of assistance should you ever need it."
David Chappell
Ask Not for the Bell
I think that the bell is probably out of the question, despite the fact that Gerald upped his offer to 15,000 gp. Most other details will have to come from PC's as they get the chance. Theo is not impressed and grumbles a bit. The major domo is impressed but strangley troubled.
The Bell is one of the hallmarks of the tower's defense. They really did not want to sell it. If Gram had hundreds of thousands, or lots of magic, he might get it, but that would be a rip off to him.
Edwin