22. Eliyenia

I had decided, before splitting up, that my mage self would follow up on some of the leads I had gotten from the night before. I hadn’t put them in any specific order when I’d only been one person, as they were low priority compared to all of the work I had to do as a [Lord], but now that the decision was made I began to shuffle through the mental list I made.

I decided that I wanted to see Crescentis. Three of the messages I’d gotten last night had dealt with that nation, including the one from Eliyenia of the shallow pools. She was a powerful figure in the Naiad Court, and extremely influential in the politics of her nation.

Crescentis got its name from the fact that it was crescent shaped along the bay of the Sea of Squalls. The nation did not extend for the entire coastline of the violent ocean, but its entire eastern border was coastal. The joint elvish and naiad court also claimed a handful of small isles in the sea itself, though its grip on those bastions was often tenuous as monsters of the depths claimed their supplies and the lives of their fishermen. The deep nagas and mermen came ashore to raid occasionally as well.

I came out of the portal facility in Eldertide, the capital of Crescentis, and was immediately bombarded with the scent of the ocean. The city was built on and into a great cliff, and the violent waves of high-tide were smashing against the pillars and rocks below. Exiting the building, I was treated with my first view of the Sea of Squalls, and I spent several moments simply admiring the vastness of the ocean.

The local population was smaller than the human nations of the west. Both elves and naiads, who guard this long stretch of the coast for the rest of the heartlands, live long lives. Naiads grow into mature bodies quickly, but retain childlike playfulness for the first two centuries before settling down into a serious and reliable ally. Elves reach adulthood at eighty years, but their children are rarely seen by humans, sequestered away among their own people.

Neither species is known to die of old age, although from time to time the word that an ancient elf has reentered the cycle of reincarnation makes its way through to the rest of the world. Naiads are known to voluntarily return themselves and become part of the sea which birthed them once more, although they are usually many centuries old when they do so.

And, of course, that only applies to Native elves and naiads. Travelers, who may select to send their minds into the bodies of those races just as easily as that of a human, have their own rules about mortality and maturity. Having spent most of my life in a human starting area, most of the Travelers I’d encountered had been human as well, although that applied less to the endgame Travelers. I often had a few elves in my bodyguard, during the days when I’d still required one.

Dwarves were less common, but more popular than the nymphs. This was due to the requirement that all dryads attend to their mother tree, or one of its saplings, at certain periods, while naiads were forced to spend time swimming in a source of pure water. The endgamers believed such requirements turned the races into ‘optional roleplay content,’ which for some reason made them not worth considering seriously.

After I had finished taking in the view and reflecting on the various races of the alliance of the light, I flagged down a passing elf and asked him if he knew where I could find Eliyenia of the shallow pools.

He simply laughed. “By the shallow pools, of course. There is a spring ten miles west of the city where the water gathers before making its way to the sea. That is her source, and she seldom leaves it these days.”

Having the place described to me, I found that it became marked on my map. I thanked the elf, and summoned Shadow to begin the journey.

“<>”

<>

I was halfway to my destination, riding along at an easy trot, and I was bored, so I figured I’d see what the others were doing. In a moment, a new chat screen popped up in my HUD and asked me to enter an identifier. I suppose that made sense, since everyone except for [Lord] Hail was Hagi, it would be confusing what the system should call us. I decided to go with the simple solution.

Mage

I’m following up with Eliyenia of the shallow pools. Just wondering what the rest of us are doing.

Lord

I just got screamed at by Marquis Peori. It seems that the Natives didn’t just ignore our little outburst after all. He was really angry that we drew our blade during the party. Once he calmed down, however, he said that it was for the best, as many of the witnesses had heard Selene testify that Storm had offered her an assassination quest. That will do a lot more damage to Storm’s reputation than my offensive action to a party guest.

Archer

Maybe it will get us out of a few party invites too.

Cleric

I’ve gone back to Valorica. The party from yesterday is either offline or busy, but it doesn’t really matter. I put my name on LFM and was snatched up in two minutes. We’re doing a Lair. Hopefully nobody realizes what I’m doing when I start spawning rare spawn on us.

Warrior

I’m going back to Runeheld Ruins to give it another try. Azarath and Serena are offline, but I have Wren in party with me, as well as Lyle and Kaiser. We’re looking for a ranged DPS to fill out the party.

Archer

You’re in a group with Kaiser? Wasn’t he the one we did Gemos Caverns with?

Warrior

Yeah...he sort of figured things out when we started applying Mark of Karma to everyone we’d interacted with over the last few weeks. Between the fact that Gyudue didn’t insist on fighting them and just gave them a box full of loot, the way they got booted out of the instance ten minutes later, and the sudden availability of the Drow race, it was sort of obvious. He thinks Torzen might put it together soon, and when he does our Hagi identity will be burnt.

Lord

That’s assuming that whatever he posts on the forums gains any traction. I’m going to message Tarisha and see if she has any way to help bury posts. But with all of you out in the world, changing it, it’s only a matter of time before people realize that something is up.

Mage

All the more reason to enjoy it now before we have to start coming up with random names so that nobody associates them with our real identity. Lord, how is the rest of your day looking?

Lord

Reading and responding to dozens of letters that Peori has been holding for me until after the party. I sent Zimmer a message asking him to put me in contact with the Beggar’s Court, so they might pop up at some point. Apparently Montague has a hearing today, and I plan to attend that if I can, as well as a dozen other of the bandits who are fighting the charges.

Archer

Anything we should know about that can’t wait until we sync up again?

Lord

One of the letters is from our stepfather. Valerio intends to visit to see his wife and son, and is asking whether he should make it a discreet affair, or openly ride in with a large retinue and support his son for the throne. It’s not a simple question, since he’s a powerful lord in Eolstree. I haven’t been able to make my mind up on it.

Archer

Eh...yeah, that’s a tough one.

Warrior

Is it? All of the other candidates have some foreign blood in them as well. Eolstree is one of Yuikon’s closest allies. We can argue that a king with the royal blood of the Teorans and noble blood of House Wildeheart will strengthen the bonds of our nations even further

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Mage

I agree with warrior, but having Valerio’s support will emphasize the fact that Rain II is a Leonid. Or at least that he most likely will be once he’s old enough to bond a spirit and make the transformation. A lot of people in Yuikon might be upset to have a non-human king.

Archer

We’re going to face opposition from them no matter what we choose. Actually, considering mother’s first son, us, is a bastard, it might raise questions if Rain’s father isn’t involved in the matter. It’s better to have Rain’s father being objectionable due to his race, as we can put down his detractors for bigotry, than raise questions about his legitimacy by hiding Valerio away.

Mage

Valid point. I vote we ask for Valerio’s full and open support

Warrior

Seconded

Archer

Aye

Cleric

Aye

Lord

It’s unanimous. I’ll start Scribing the letter. Archer, how is your task coming along?

Archer

We’re still getting used to archery again. Backflip is awesome when you’re the one who has it. But yeah, solo questing in Kordock is going well. The goal of completely messing up as many quest chains for them as possible is on track.

Mage

Are we still sure that’s a good idea? The quests we’re completing might be replaced with even better ones next week.

Archer

We need to test the ability in order to find out, and we decided when we were one that it’s better to test in hostile nations than friendly ones.

Mage

Right. Anyone else have anything that needs discussion?

Lord

If I have any important decisions come up I’ll put them up for discussion later. The rest of you just focus on gaining as much experience as possible. I want to see what happens when Placeholder reaches level 6.

Archer

What he said. Anyway, I’m going to focus on questing now.

Warrior

Kaiser just found us a mage, going to start summoning the party

Mage

Right … be all of you tonight.

I arrived at the Shallow Pools a few minutes after the meeting of my minds concluded. The pools were quite beautiful, terraced with a smooth glass surface that shown blue. I dismounted shadow and patted him on the flank, although he stopped to take a drink.

I looked around to make certain that nobody was watching, then I dropped the illusion magic that was disguising my appearance and changed my name back to Hail.

“Eliyenia?” I called out. “You sent a message to me. I am Hail Jeoran, from Yuikon. I have come at your invitation.”

Moments passed before I received an answer. A beautiful woman with long blond hair emerged from the Shallow Pools just in front of me, formed whole from the water itself. I’d never seen a Naiad step out of their element before, and it was fascinating to watch.

Despite the paintings, she emerged dry and fully clothed in a tasteful blue dress, with her hair pulled back behind her head by a seashell comb. I knew from her expression that she was centuries old; were she a young naiad she would not have the serious countenance that she laid on me now.

“Greetings, Dungeon Master. Lair Destroyer. Veteran of battlegrounds numerous. Bringer of havoc and change,” she said in a sweet voice.

“Greetings, Eliyenia of the Shallow Pools. High Counselor of the Naiad Court. If you have any other titles, I do not know them, or I would speak them now to give you the respect that is your due,” I said, exchanging her greeting as politely as I could.

“I have many, but Eliya is what you may call me. I will not force you to tire your tongue out speaking all of that niceties when I have brought you here to put you to work,” she said.

“What sort of work do you require, Lady Eliya?” I inquired.

“There is a lair just south of here that I would have destroyed, and a dungeon to the northeast which I would have its challenge level increased. Another dungeon to the west I would ask that you destroy entirely.”

“Are these challenges within my power now? You know of my setback, do you not?”

“It is to your benefit that you complete them in the order that I just listed. It is likely that destroying the Lair will bring you to level 30, as long as you do not destroy the stones that bind it to that location too quickly. The first dungeon should bring you to level 35. If not, you will have to find a way to reach the minimum level of the third, which is a 35-40 dungeon.”

Her voice was soft, musical as she spoke, and that and her beauty made me want to help her. But I had several concerns. “The last Lair I destroyed caused significant issues. A powerful Worldboss was set free, and once he was defeated a portal to the Deadlands was opened. Are you certain you wish to risk the destruction of this Lair?”

“It is a Lair long abandoned by the dungeon spawn which bound it. She used it as a base from which she assaulted Eldertide. There will be no Worldboss that spawns. It should be within your power, so long as you have a party of ten instead of five,” she promised.

I considered. It sounded conveniently like a quest chain, one to reshape Eliyenia’s home more to her liking. When she had spoken of them, the lair and the two dungeons had highlighted on my map, and they were close enough together for me to admit that it would be convenient to do them sequentially.

I didn’t want to hit fifty on any class until all of my classes were in the high forties, which meant that I didn’t want to level [Mage] too fast. But [Mage] was a DPS class, which would make finding a group harder compared to tanking as a [Warrior] or healing as an [Acolyte]. Being able to claim that I had an exclusive quest would help speed things up, but I was worried about drawing too much attention.

“While the offer is tempting just for the experience alone, I have many things drawing my attention in many directions,” I said. “As such, I’m afraid I must ask whether or not there will be a reward for completing these tasks aside from what the system generates.”

“I would think that my gratitude would be sufficient,” Eliyenia said, “But I suppose I should specify what shape that gratitude will take. To begin with, I will view all those aligned with your house more favorably. Beyond that, I will become your ally in completing your political goals and aspirations. This includes but is not limited to matters of the succession going on in Yuikon, although what aid I can give you on that matter is limited.”

I paused to consider, but not for very long. Eliyenia was not the leader of her nation; unlike Yuikon Crescentis was ruled by a council of elves and naiad. But she was a powerful force on that council. While it was not strictly proper to beg for support internationally in matters of the succession, the longer the succession was dragged out, the more complicated it became. Powers that would otherwise have no voice in the matter were becoming involved. According to Cedric, Storm was already sending out emissaries to the international courts. I’d be a fool not to make similar overtures.

“May I have a token?” I asked, once my mind was made up to help the Naiad. “It will help convince others that joining me will be worthwhile if I have proof of your favor.”

Without hesitation, Eliyenia took the comb from her hair and passed it to me. I examined it for a moment before placing it in my inventory for safekeeping.

“I suppose I will return once I have completed my tasks,” I told her.

“And you will be properly rewarded for your efforts once you have,” she promised.

She turned into a pillar of water, which splashed back into the Shallow Pools. Shadow, who had been watching the entire conversation, whinnied and took another drink from the crystal clear pool. I patted his flank.

“<>” I said, and immediately it was so. I repeated the details of the tasks that I had just been given, changing the text slightly so that it looked like the quests were being issued under the Authority of Eliyenia instead of me, and that I would simply be a Traveler sharing an active quest to a party member. I told a white lie that the quest was, in fact, to find certain places of resonance and place Eliyenia’s magical comb there, rather than to destroy the lair entirely.

With that completed, I Fast Traveled back to Eldertide to find the Adventurer’s Guild.

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