Year 46

*Cheers fill the docks as three ships prepare to set sail. Emma sits on a barrel, reading while Lily bounces around in excitement. Odran walks up with his short white hair and mustache.*

Odran: We still need your checkup before we leave.

Emma: I’m fine. I promise. I already cast a spell to help with the seasickness.

Odran: I can always tell Domnhall how you really felt about his cooking.

Emma: *Panic* Nope! let's go.

*Emma follows Odran to his office below deck where her temperature and reflexes are checked.*

Odran: You don’t seem too excited. Didn’t you say you were going to try to head out on your own before?

Emma: I’m going on a ship filled with dwarves for who knows how long. What female elf? Wouldn’t feel at least a little uncomfortable.

Odran:*Laughs* Fair enough. Well, you’re all good, everything checks out.

*Odran writes down the results and dismisses Emma. Emma walks out and sees the Twins. They both pull on each other's blonde beards, yelling at one another.*

Thornic: I know you’ve been getting into my ale.

Kerrick: Why would I want your nasty excuse for a drink? It tastes like recycled sewer seawater.

Emma: Morning boys.

Thornic: Oh, Miss Emma. Excited to set out?

*Kerrick pushes Thornic*

Kerrick: the Captain got his hands on some Elven wine for you. I can go get some for you if you’d like.

Emma:*Laughs* I’m fine thank you.

*Emma enters the kitchen where Domnall chops vegetables and throws them in a large pot. Domnhall’s dark brown hair tied up makes his eyebrows stand up giving him a surprised look. Emma holds back from laughing as Lily pulls on her face, pretending to look like Domnhall.*

Emma: So what’s for lunch?

Domnhall: We haven’t even left yet and you’re asking for food?

Emma thinking: More like I need time to prepare for dwarven cooking.

*Domnhall places down his knife and turns to Emma.*

Domnhall: Okay, let’s go.

*Once everyone gathers on the deck and looks out at the middle ship where the captain is giving a speech to the masses. Emma looks out and notices a male elf with Silver hair, blue eyes, and glass on the Middle ship. Emma turns to Uisdean, he strokes his beard as he listens.*

Emma: Who’s the other elf?

Uisdean: *Looks up at Emma.* Heard his name was Andrew.

Emma: I think I’ve seen him in the capital before in Sylvndor.

Uisdean: Probably. He’s from a party there. He has to have some high-up connections to make it here.

*Emma leaps over to the middle ship. Some of the audience watch and clap thinking it’s part of a show. Emma lands and walks over to Andrew, he pushes up his glasses as he turns to her.*

Andrew: Hey! Small world. What’re you here for?

Emma: Does Keya know you’re here?

Andrew: She was originally going to come, but your dad told her he needed her for a private job.

Emma: That explains why she didn’t say anything in her letters. In the last one, she just yelled at Dad for the majority of it. Now I know why.*Laughs* Well If you need anything just ask. I got a spell for seasickness recently if you need it.

Andrew: No, I’m good. If your sister knew you were going on this trip I’m sure she would’ve abandoned your Dad.

Emma: I didn’t know until a couple of months ago. I can’t write often down here, maybe three times a year.

*Emma waves to Andrew before jumping back. Bairdyn approaches Emma as she lands, his thick brown braided beard is held down with a weight just below his chest.*

Bairdyn: Emma, please refrain from getting us in trouble before we leave.

Emma: Sorry. He's my sister's party member so I thought she might be here.

Bairdyn: Well don’t make a habit of jumping ship.*Smiles*

Emma: *Laughs* I won’t.

*Emma walks past Conlach and Maldrin as they polish the cannons, using their brown beards as brushes.*

Grimvar: Emma, come here I had a question.

*Grimvar pulls out a map and places it on a crate. Grimvar then steps back and strokes his red beard.*

Grimvar: You mentioned you could read our maps?

Emma: Yeah, why do you ask?

Grimvar: I’d like you to help me map things out when you’re not protecting us. Can you draw at least this well?

*Emma pulls out a hand-drawn map and hands it to Grimvar.*

Emma: That’s my most recent and probably best one.

Grimvar:*Nods* I’ll probably go back through and re-draw after. But I can understand it. Could you help?

Emma: Yeah of course. I’ve got to ask Ruarc something. But when we get anywhere you need help mapping, just remind me.

Grimvar: Thank you.

*Emma smiles as she leaves and heads over to Ruarc. Ruarc sands down a part of the rail, and his bald head shines as the lights flash toward him.*

Emma: Made it. I’m here.

*As Ruarc turns, his red mustache bounces with him as he speaks.*

Ruarc: Grab that one over there and apply light pressure.

*Emma helps sand a couple of rough patches on the railing.*

Ruarc: Now grab a rag from that bucket and wipe down the rail, it helps apply fire resistance to the ship.

*Emma and Ruarc finish wiping down the rail as the Ceremony comes to a close, and the ships leave into the darkness. The lanterns of the first ship are barely visible as they follow them. Lily excitedly runs around the ship, hoping from barrel to barrel then scurrying up the main sail.*

—--------------------------------------

*A few months pass. Emma rests at the front of the ship when a small bird flies past her and lands next to the steering wheel. Uisdean notices the chips in front of them as they change one of their flags to green.*

Uisdean: They found land up ahead! Prepare to come ashore!

*As the ships slide onto the shore Emma looks into the vast darkness. Lily takes her place, hiding on Emma as Andrew walks over to her.*

Andrew: Weird to think above us is home right?

Emma: Yeah, I just wish I didn’t need to wait on them.

Andrew: Your sister said your sense is, ridiculously good. Any signs?

Emma: I can tell something is watching us. None of them are large enough to worry about.

*As the final ship hits the shore, screams are heard as the ship explodes. Everyone looks up to see the silhouette of a flying monster. Cannons are quickly lined up and shot at the sky. Andrew starts shooting shards of ice at the monster. The monster flaps its wings before flying off into the darkness. The monsters from before are nowhere to be seen. Emma creates a massive light source. Lighting up the two remaining ships and the smoldering remains of the third. After setting up some tents Emma is called into the main tent with the two remaining captains, Kaven and Dàirean.*

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Dàirean: We don’t know what that thing was, but I doubt it’ll let us leave without burning another ship.

Kaven: That being said. We need to send out some scouts.

Andrew: Captain Dàirean. Emma is known back home as an amazing scout. I think you might want her to join the scouting party.

Dàirean: That’s good. I was thinking of sending the second crew to start scouting after we rest.

Kaven: You’ve got three hours let’s get everyone on the same page and get ready to move.

*Kaven pulls Emma to the side as everyone leaves the tent.*

Kaven: Can you find us a quick place to hide out? Dàirean and I are afraid of that thing coming back while we’re all out in the open.

Emma: Yeah. Can I go now? I’ll be back before you leave. I thought our ships were fireproof.

Kaven: Resistant not proof. Anyway, You're a lifesaver, Emma, hurry back.

*Andrew walks up to Emma as she prepares some armor on Lily.*

Andrew: I’ve heard a lot about Lily but never seen her before. Wait, does she have scales?

Emma: Apparently training down here has allowed her to evolve. Look at her fangs.

*Lily proudly displays her fangs. Andrew’s mouth just hangs as he struggles to find words.*

Andrew: Amazing. I didn’t know spirits could evolve. Mars, my spirit, normally just hangs out at home.

*A small rodent with a furry tail and small wings appears on Andrew's shoulder and he pets his head.*

Andrew: He scares easily but that’s okay right?*Smiles*

Emma: Exactly. It’s like expecting a baker to fight in a war.*Smiles*

*Emma hops on Lily*

Emma: She normally hides because other elves think her scales mean something else.

Andrew: Yeah, the legend. I’ve known about you for a long time. I think Keya, the blabbermouth, would’ve said something by now.

Emma thinking: I’m pretty sure she talks so much to avoid discussing that secret actually.

Emma: Exactly.*Laughs*

*Emma and Lily run into the darkness, scanning the area ahead. Eventually, she hears a whistling sound. Emma senses movement on a nearby Pillar and looks over to see a group of weird feline-like monsters swarming and crawling all over. As Emma slows down they all turn to watch her. *

Emma: Creepy.

*Emma hops off Lily and starts walking toward them when she hears the whistling behind her. As she begins to turn a much larger one of the felines, lets out a loud screeching roar. Its beak-like mouth clicks as it taps closed. The pillar begins to vibrate and crack as it starts to fall toward her. Emma jumps back on Lily and as they attempt to escape the felines charge and attack at her. Emma turns around backward on Lily and grabs a bow that was attached to Lily’s armor. Emma throws an enormous ball of water, flooding the immediate area, then quickly freezes the area with an Arrow. While the rocks and creatures are frozen in place Emma hops off again and equips her blades as the larger one breaks out of the ice, and circles them slowly. Emma notices the others attempting to surround her again when a cannonball shoots past, taking out a couple of the smaller ones. She turns to see Maldrin and Conlach preparing a second shot. As the larger monster turns toward them Emma smiles. Using some spark powder Emma fires an electric arrow, stunning the monster. As the monster is being electrocuted, Maldrin lights the fuse, and the cannon fires again, cleaving the head of the monster and scaring off the smaller ones. Lightning arcs onto the metal cannonball, and scares off the smaller ones as they retreat.*

Emma: That Spark powder you gave me came in handy after all, but, how did you two find me?

Conlach: the camp is just up ahead.

Emma: Is it? I can map things out okay but I still get lost down here without one easily.

Maldrin: Just leave the directions to the dwarves then. *Laughs*

Emma: Okay well we can head back I found a large area where we can even park the ships.

*Emma leads everyone to a large cove. Using earth magic, some of the dwarves create a quick structure for extra protection.*

Andrew: Too bad your sister isn’t here. She once made us a four-bedroom house in just half an hour.

Emma thinking: Why have I never thought to do that?

Emma: I remember when all she could manage was a couple of dolls a day. I didn’t know she still practiced any earth magic.

Andrew: She doesn’t use it to fight. She says it’s too hard to control.

Emma: Really? I guess she was always the kind of elf to run in swinging.

Kaven: Come on Nightwarden!

Andrew: Nightwarden? What’s that?

Emma: It would be easier to ask the others. It’s their story.

*Emma hops as she catches up to the rest of the crew, waving to Andrew.*

Grimvar: Good job on finding that cove. Now we at least have somewhere safe to sleep.

Emma: It was the first thing I found. I looked around to see if anything lived in the area, but somehow managed to circle back to where we first landed.

Grimvar: *Laughs* Well you seem capable of drawing out a map at least.

Emma: I had to learn to travel down here. I have maps from all over in my bank at the Golden Throne.

Grimvar: Oh those magic banks? That’s good to know aside from you I think only the captains have access to one.

Emma: Is that true Kaven?

*Kaven turns back to look at Emma.*

Kaven: What’s that?

Grimvar: Emma was just saying she had a magic bank.

Kaven: Quit whispering I can barely hear you.

*Emma stops and Grimvar turns to look at her.*

Emma:*Serious* Everyone stop moving!

Kaven: I know I said speak up, but I didn't mean for you to yell.

Emma: that’s the problem. Grimvar and I aren’t whispering. We’re under.

*As Emma continues to speak their voices go silent. Taking her medium form, Lily hops down in front of Emma. As Emma and Lily’s eyes synchronize they spot a massive fog.*

Emma(TL): Is that fog moving?

*As they watch the fog, they notice it slowly walks past the party and into the darkness. The dwarves all watch in confusion until the sounds around them come back.*

Kaven Okay is everyone here?

Emma: Hey Grimvar. I don’t know if that was a creature or not. It was like a fog.

Kaven: We’ll make a record for now let's keep moving. Something like that is bound to have something following it.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Emma rests in a tent talking to Grimvar, looking at a drawing of “Silent Death;” the fog. *

Emma: Why did we decide it should be called silent death? It didn’t even kill anyone.

Grimvar: Everything we find on this trip will be given a terrifying name. Until we can confirm they're harmless.

Emma: Why would you do that?

Grimvar: If I had to guess probably to let us know we need to be careful around it. Keeps children away. Tarbeasts were called Blackhorror before. Changing the name is a milestone in our understanding.

Emma: Honestly if you guys weren’t there I probably would’ve shot at it.

*Kaven walks into the tent*

Kaven: Then we might have been down another team within the first twenty-four hours. *Turns to Emma.* Nightwarden can you and Lily get up the rock wall?

Emma: Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem. Am I looking for anything specific?

Kaven: Bairdyn said he heard what sounded like a fight. I don’t need you starting a fight, just let us know if we can go that way or is it safer to stay low.

Emma: I’ll be right back then.

*Emma exits the tent, hops on Lily’s back, and heads over to Bairdyn. Bairdyn looks up at the wall of solid stone at a hole large enough to hold a small city.*

Emma: Captain said you heard a fight?

*Bairdyn strokes his beard as he looks over toward Emma.*

Bairdyn: Yeah, sounded like scraping metals and a deep growl. Are you heading up there?

Emma: Yup. *Looks up* In case of a fight I’d push the tents back.

*Bairdyn nods as he turns around and walks back into the camp.*

Bairdyn: Okay Lads! Let's get things movin'! Don’t want us getting crushed now.

*Kaven walks over as Lily takes her first leap onto a small ledge.*

Kaven: Remember. Avoid a fight! No use if we all die out here.

*Emma casts stealth on the two of them and Lily quickly scales the wall, jumping from ledge to ledge.*

*As they reach the opening Emma hops off Lily, and she can see sparks in the darkness. They follow the path until they can see what looks like two wyverns are fighting. As the fight continues they crash into one another leaving trails of sparks as they drag one another.*

Emma(TL): I can’t tell if they’re fighting or playing.

Lily: Let’s get back and tell the others.

*Emma and Lily quickly turn their heads as they hear rocks moving behind them.*

Emma: Shit.

*A larger wyvern growls as it sees Emma and Lily through the stealth, it begins to charge its breath. Emma jumps to avoid the molten breath as it melts the ground she once stood on. Emma lands on Lily and they quickly run back toward the group. As Emma turns her head she watches as the Wyvern starts to catch up to them, she turns back to look around for an escape. Emma and Lily synchronize and Emma controls Lily to run along the wall, then the ceiling with her claws. As the wyvern starts to pass them, they jump down, pushing the wyvern into the wall. The crew turns to the dustcloud and watches as the wyvern’s body pulses with a stone shell.*

Emma: Lily’s claws barely managed to ruin one of its wings on the descent! There were two more up top I don’t know if they’re coming or not!

Kaven: *Smiles* I thought I said to avoid a fight?!

*Emma laughs as she equips her blades, creating a flame around them both. The wyvern turns to the crew and glows of red pulse, as the stone raises and lowers, almost breathing, all over its body.*

Grimvar: Hey captain.

Kaven: I know. Prepare the big guns.

*Emma dodges another breath attack.*

Lily: the pulsing slowed down.

Emma(TL): Good that’s our plan then.

*Emma jumps in close to strike the wyvern when a cannonball crashes into the side of the wyvern. As the stone falls from its body it reveals a glowing orb, as the orb breathes it sends out a glowing pulse. Lily jumps on the wyvern's back and rips chunks of the stone off.*

Kaven: CLEAR!

*Lily jumps off in time for another cannonball to strike the wyvern’s head. As the wyvern raises its head a large glowing red eye forms in the center of its head, it circles around and then focuses on the crew. The pulsing begins to speed up and right before it shoots its molten breath at the cannon, Emma creates a thick earth wall. The wyvern runs to Emma and begins to pulse again Emma creates a massive ball of water. The steam from the molten breath causes lighting sparks which Emma uses to cast down a Pillar of lightning, blinding everything and one around them.*

Grimvar: Emma! Lily!

*As the crew climbs the wall they look at the wyvern’s body, the stench of rotting flesh fills the area. Emma, on Lily’s back, walks over to Grimvar.*

Emma: Its body just started to decompose the moment it died.

Kaven: That’s because it was already dead. *Rubs head.* Fuck! Why’d it have to be Stone zombies?

Emma: Stone zombies?

Kaven: Yeah, about 4000 years ago, Mithrun was being plagued by a disease we called Gravenborn. It only affects creatures below the surface. That includes dwarves.

Thornic: I heard they use the coagulated blood of their host as a glue for the stones they attach.

Bairdyn: Captain, we’ve got to head back.

Kaven: I know damn it! *Sigh* Just when we made headway up here. Okay everyone let’s get back to others.

*As Grimvar turns, he looks at Emma.*

Grimvar: What’re you doin? We gotta get outta here.

Emma: Yeah, I know.

*Emma gives the area one last look before following the others.*