Iriana Tanua
Human Fighter
The Rivenwood: en route to Deep Fell
Year 812, Day 61, Midday

“One Small Step”


Iriana slowed the horse, taking a quick glance back to check on the
progress of the wagon. As the trail had grown even narrower, their
progress had slowed as well; soon, Iriana suspected, they would no
longer be able to use the wagon as a means of transportation and would
need to proceed on foot. That raised the question, however, as to what
would become of the horses and wagon they had borrowed from Lord
Hasenpiper until they returned.

The leaves rustled overhead as a gentle breeze flowed through the
Rivenwood, and Iriana paused a moment to reflect on their situation. The
plan had been simple enough: travel through the Rivenwood to Deep Fell,
retrieve the phylactery of Bel Uri from the cursed witch Seregon, and
destroy the phylactery in order to defeat the Lich. Like all simple
plans, fate intervened to make the plan much more complicated then they
had hoped.

Things had gone badly from the start, when Bel Uri had hired a small
party to retrieve a scroll from the depths of an ancient tomb. Another
simple plan gone afoul, Iriana entered the tomb with two other
adventures accompanied by a cleric hired from the Temple of Pelor. The
brashness of her colleagues had nearly gotten the entire party killed by
a trap – only Iriana and Lyntel survived to tell the tale.

It was quickly revealed that their simple plan was no simple plan at
all. Unwilling to progress further into the tomb, Iriana and Lyntel had
waited in a secluded section of the catacombs. Eventually, a second
party sent by Bel Uri arrived, and the two parties decided to join
forces. It was then they discovered King Jerid, the “uniter of
kingdoms.” Jerid was undead, but was cursed to remain trapped in the
tomb. It was Jerid who revealed to the party that Bel Uri was actually a
600 year old Lich, and informed them as to the location of Bel Uri's
phylactery.

Their journey to the Deep Fell was also fraught with complications.
Early on, they encountered Bel Uri's familiar, a raven, and it quickly
became apparent that the Lich was aware of their plans. After entering
the Rivenwood, Bel Uri attempted to retrieve the scroll by recruiting
Rivenwood Elves, foiled only by the revelation that the captain of the
Elves was a simulacra.

It was apparent to Iriana that if they had to identify a single factor
that caused them the most trouble in their quests, it would definitely
be Bel Uri. The Lich was at the root of all the complications, and was
bound to make an appearance again before they could complete their
journey. And her vision two nights ago still lingered in her mind, and
Iriana was forced to wonder how the Lich would play into her quest to
find the Shards of Eyndelea.

Iriana was pulled from her thoughts as the wagon drew near, and the
fighter heard their guide signal for them to stop. Kaely slowed the
wagon to a stop, glancing at the lynx curiously as Acerd stopped behind
them. “The wagon will not be able to travel further,” Xavier stated
simply. “Soon, the road will be too narrow for the wagon to pass, and
further down the road there will not be suitable clearing for you to
reverse the wagon's course for your return trip. You will need to travel
on foot the rest of the way.”

“What of the horses?” Acerd inquired, voicing a concern many of them
shared. Not only were the steads their method of transportation back to
Xifos, but they were on loan from the noble house of Hasenpiper. None of
them wanted to abandon the animals, or risk that the animals would
starve or be attacked.

“Do not fear for the creatures,” Xavier stated reassuringly. “The Elves
that have followed us since our departure from the Celebrindal lands
shall tend to the horses, as they dare not follow us into Deep Fell. The
land is sacred to the Elves, and they will not enter the land without
reason.”

There was a rustle behind them, and the party turned to observe two
Elves step out from the underbrush, as if on cue from Xavier. As if they
had heard the lynx, and Iriana suspected they had, they moved to the
wagon to begin removing the harnesses that bound the horses to the
wagon. “We will tend to the animals for six days,” one of the Elves
informed Acerd. “If you have not returned from the Fell by that time, we
will guide the horses back to human lands so that they can be returned
to their rightful owner.”

Acerd thanked the Elves for their assistance, though none of them chose
to voice their opinion on the Elves following them in the first place.
Iriana wondered if these Elves were part of Amroth Celebrindal's unit,
or were sworn to another house and had only recently started to trail
them – though it didn't necessary matter either way.

“You should rest here, and consume your midday meal,” Xavier noted. “We
will reach Deep Fell before nightfall, but there is yet still much
walking to be done.”