The hunt for goldenfire (Afina and Jaela, later Surraruthru too)

[Iron Dragoon]

"I am Surraruthru! Bringer of nightmares and chaos! I don't know where I'm from, exactly. I mean, I'm from Lifasa, but I never left the forest. My Mother and Father called it Drulix Grove. There was a small lake in the forest, and it was surrounded on all sides by mountains. They said I was never to go up into the mountains. They mentioned humans being the closest... A throne? Or a heaven, maybe... I never left the forest, though! I listened!"

Surraruthru beams at Kascha after declaring this, eager to prove his trustworthiness and show that he's responsible to his new charge!

"But after the devils came, my brood was scattered.. I stayed looking for them for a long time, but couldn't. The devils started figuring out my tricks so I had to leave. Then Seira found me while I was lost!"

[Anastasia]

"That sounds like it was a nice part of Lifasa," Kascha says, "Do either of you know where that was?"

[Ebiris]

"I haven't heard of Drulix Grove," Afina shakes her head as they head back towards the fortress proper and then a portal to the mess hall. "But the Throne of Heaven is where Adrian and Tepen are from, and I know that was far away from the Gloaming Forest, so it's not my part of the world."

[Corwin]

[20:17] <@Shizuru> roll 1d20 K:L Drulix
[20:17] <Kobot> Shizuru rolled 1d20 K:L Drulix --> [ 1d20=2 ]{2}
+17 so result of 19

"If anything, I'm surprised it lasted that long," Jaela admits with a frown. "Didn't all nature just die during the invasion?"

[Anastasia]

Do you have ranks in K:L or count as trained in it? I dunno where that +17 came from, so relevant.

[Corwin]

I count as trained in it due to magic. I just forgot to add the bonus to the actual roll.

[Anastasia]

You recall it - a hidden dragon grove of some sort. Information was scarce, but it also may have been of interest to the fey. The name's legitimate, Jaela can tell that much.

[Corwin]

Relaxing a bit as her memory makes the connection, Jaela asks, "Any chance you know just how the grove stayed hidden?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"It didn't. It did die. Kind of slowly at first, but after a few days everything died really fast. My family stayed, but we didn't know what happened until the devils showed up. We tried to isolate them at first, but they figured it out. They found us and my Mother told us to run. I got away and hid, using noises and illusions to lead them away. After a while, though, I just had to leave. I never saw my Mother or Father again."

[Anastasia]

Quietly Kascha murmurs, "You did good to escape." A stricken look comes to her face, "It's all you can do sometimes."

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru shifts uncomfortably at this.

"Well.. Food and safe places now, yes? What are we getting from Elysium? I've learned about it... some stories and books, but what's it like? How are getting this weapon thing?"

Surraruthru visibly becomes more energetic as he imagines this new place, his wings fluttering a bit as he begins to get worked up.

[Ebiris]

"Your Grove must have had something powerful protecting it. Even in the Gloaming Forest all plants died the instant Abigor stepped through." She allows herself a satisfied smile after that. "He's dead now. We killed him. But for all he was the tip of the spear the one guiding it was Taelfagn. He has the power to control Destiny, and took Muirfinn and Lief from us. The first embers of Golden fire are said to have the power to burn through destiny. A power we'll need when next we face him."

[Anastasia]

"He's trying to make it so the same thing happens again and again. World after world will fall to his destiny if he's allowed to continue," Kascha adds, voice heavy and solemn.

In the meantime the party makes it to the mess hall. It's full of people as always, bustling all about. It's just going on, on and on. Tables are full of warriors chatting away - is that Vul'lath with Sylvie and Tepen at one table? Looks like it. The githyanki leans forward, talking quietly to the two humans (yet something seems faintly off about Sylvie, nothing you can easily pin down).

At another table sits Dana and The Master. The former is loudly going on about something, waving a tankard about. The Master eats steadily without missing a beat, ducking and weaving to avoid splashes from Dana's drink. He's in motion just as much as Dana, bone dry despite constant spills. Lady Rosa stands nearby, watching the entire proceeding carefully.

[Corwin]

Jaela leads them over to Dana's table, nodding at Rosa when she's near enough to catch her gaze.

[Anastasia]

Lady Rosa returns the nod with one of her own. Meanwhile Dana looks over, "Well, well, well. It's Miss Fucking Princess," she grins at Jaela, "Got an entourage today?" She waves her mug, a big splash coming. The Master parries it with a chop that comes close, splitting the liquid into two smaller waves that hit the ground. He merely looks and gives his own slight nod to the party.

After a beat, the Master says, "Training."