Month: November 2020

‘Adventurers Of Vilven Ledsong’ (Chapter XVI) Meeting Vash

This D & D Campaign Began Over 2 Years Ago, And Continues… This Is The Tale Of How It All Began, Written/Retold by my Player!

‘Adventures Of Vilven Ledsong’

by Kaitlin Q. Calkins

Find All Earlier Chapters HERE!

CHAPTER XVI – Meeting Vash

He was an elf, but not.

As tall as she was, his hair was long, down to his shoulders, and was a severe black. It framed a sculpted, angular face. His skin was the color of lead, an intense, medium grey. His eyes stared deeply back at her, vibrant yellow, swirling with a sparkling purple. They nearly glowed surrounded by his darker features. His expression was exceptionally serious. His clothing was simple in both color and style, but he wore them with what could only be described as grace. Though he was very still,  Vilven felt the edge of fear beginning to surface, as there was something undeniably wild about him.

He stood at the opposite corner of the room, seeming to have emerged from nowhere. The darkness blurring his image, making him look like some sort of apparition.

Vilven cautiously took a step toward him, the fire from the single candle danced as she moved. It reflected in her large, black eyes, and made her silvery metallic skin shimmer as it shifted.

“Have you read all of these books?” She asked curiously, her exotic voice sounding very loud to her in the silent morning.

There was a moment of quiet between them. Then, to her surprise, a slight smile came to his face. He took a confident step in her direction, then answered, “I have, actually”. His voice was melodic and formal, with a silent strength which suited him. “Are you looking for something in particular?”

Vilven blinked in response, then slowly scanned the shelves and piles of books which encased them in the low light. “You’ve really read all of these? It seems a lot to remember.”

His eyes followed hers to the books, “It is,” he responded after a pause, “but as fate would have it, I am adept at such things.”

Vilven couldn’t help but smile at his answer, “You must know a great deal then. I know so little, if I am honest.”

“Is there a particular area of study you are interested in?” he repeated, “Perhaps I can find you a book to suit your interests.”

Vilven looked wide eyed with surprise at him, not at his question, but at her possible answer. Her interests? Were the answers she needed, the answers she was yearning for, really hidden somewhere among these many books? Is this where she would finally find why Areiden had sent her here, what Areiden wanted from her all along? She squinted her eyes now, penetrating into his. And what about this nightmare, this dream that kept climbing up her spine that she couldn’t quite shake? The echoing name in her memory. Would this mysterious man be able to reveal all of her deepest questions, the ones she only really asked herself? She nodded at him, her face becoming nearly somber.

“Have you heard of creatures who bind themselves with another for the gift of magic? What of the name ‘Auril’? Do you know who it might belong to?” Vilven asked, almost harshly.

He looked unmistakably taken off guard by her answer, but there was also a curiosity.  He walked, a pace of patience, passed her to the door. With one quick, easy motion of his fingers he locked the door of the shop. Vilven felt a surge of concern begin within her, she slowly wrapped her fingers around her sickle. He glanced back at her, noticing her unease, but said nothing. He walked to the window, grabbing each side of the curtains to pull them shut. He turned to look back at her, his eyes seeming to glow even more. Vilven gulped in some air. He picked up the candle and gestured formally toward the wall where he was standing before.

“Shall we speak in the back?” he asked, then walked passed her toward the wall.

Vilven walked cautiously behind him, realizing that part of the wall was actually a curtain, obscured in the darkness. He pulled it back to allow her to go through, she nodded, still a bit nervous, but complied.

There was a large desk which dominated the small back room. It was piled with books and papers that somehow seemed very organized despite the fact they took up most of the space. He walked passed her again to take a seat in the chair behind the desk, he placed the candle delicately on one of the books, and removed a few to allow more space in the middle. Vilven watched and paused for a moment, then sat in the opposite chair. He seemed very in thought, she noted to herself. Pieces of his black hair fell over his face, and his eyes seemed to grow in intensity. It was almost as if he had forgotten she was even there. He reached over to a book, picked it up, and opened it with one fluid motion. His eyes skimmed over the words, flipping through the pages with defiance.  He suddenly stopped and looked up at her, and then he smiled again, that slight change in his face which was quite disarming. He turned the book and pushed it to her on the desk, she looked into his eyes with interest and curiosity, then slowly looked down at the pages in front of her. She read. Then gasped, her eyes growing wide at the words:

“Saukuruk, also known as Auril, Goddess of Winter…”

A chill ran down her spine, a chill she had been trying to shake since she had awakened from her nightmare. He looked at her with concern, recognizing the fear and shock. His eyes squinted in a show of knowledge and scrutiny.

She did not notice.

She read on:

“Saukuruk is a vain and evil deity. She rules with fear, and enjoys to toy with mortals. She is a chilling presence, and has no love in her icy heart. She is said to be of unearthly beauty, full of wonder and magic. She loves to manipulate and cause suffering. Those who pray to her are known to sacrifice in her name, to appease her from her dreadful blizzards. Her clergy are known to wear her symbol: a six pointed snowflake.” 

She pushed the book away in alarm, then looked at him gravely.

“Is this a book of fables, or are these facts?” She asked in a surprisingly flat tone.

He leaned forward toward her, reaching out to close the book silently.  “Not many come into my shop to ask about such evil entities.” he replied calmly.

She looked deeply at him, then at the now closed book. Her gaze became dreamy with reflection. “I had a nightmare…”  she said quietly. She shifted her eyes back to his. “I’m not from here” she confessed “Forgive me if I have done something unfavorable.”

He smiled and leaned back into his chair, “No, no, I am simply intrigued. To answer your other question, I believe they are referred to as Warlocks, if I recall correctly, those who choose to bind themselves with something else for magic and power. You might even say they lose a part of their very soul”

“A Warlock? What would possess a creature to do such a thing as to sell their soul?” She asked deceptively.

“Yes, what indeed?” he responded slowly to her, with knowing. Her breath heaved and with an abrupt movement she sat a little taller, her face tight and unveiled. A slight grin came to his face, but his eyes seemed distant and quivered as they shifted to stare down at his desk. Vilven’s initial fierceness turned to concern, she may have not had a great knowledge, but one thing she could quite easily recognize was pain.

“Are you an elf?” she asked lightly, even kindly. His gaze shifted back to her blankly. When he didn’t answer she cocked her head, half annoyed and half amused.

“You look like one, but your coloring is different.” she explained plainly, her voice becoming faintly more accented as she spoke.

He nodded with acknowledgement and his shoulders fell into as relaxed a position she had seen from him. “I am a breed of elf, yes, we’re called Drow. Drow primarily live below the surface of the material plane.”

Vilven’s face furrowed as she looked down at her feet. “You mean, like, underground?”

“Basically, yes” his presence becoming once again serious. “I will have to open my store soon, if that was all you needed.”

Vilven’s eyes narrowed daringly at him, she could recognize the control of being guarded as well.  “In that case, may I purchase the book, Drow, the one I read from? I will read it throughout my travels. We are heading South today, to someplace called Kort.”

“I apologize, I meant no offense,” he responded delicately. “Yours is as interesting an interaction I’ve had. It’s just that ones past is sometimes best forgotten.” He disclosed directly as he picked up the book firmly and handed it to her. “Have the book, as a gift.”

She looked at him with deep understanding, then took it gently with both hands, as if she were taking something sacred.

“Thank you, I’m sure it will reveal all I need.” Vilven hoped doubtfully and stood, returning back to her reality. Her nightmare, her magic, the unknown journey which lay before her. She nodded generously at him, then turned and walked easily with long strides from the backroom of the shop toward the front. The candle which beckoned her at the window was gone, but the sun had risen enough to peak through the edge of the curtains, lighting the room. She was grateful for the morning, shimmering and warm after the chilling and obscure night. After a brief pause, she walked to the door, unlocked it, and placed her hand on the doorknob.

“You may call me Vash, if I am to ever see you again” The Drow spoke from behind her.

She couldn’t help but smile, and she looked over her shoulder to him, this dark, reserved, yet stirring creature. He stood back toward the curtain, appearing perhaps more ghostly than before through the streaks of daylight, which just barley missed his frame.

“Vash. You may call me Vilven, if I am to ever see you again.” she responded. Then she opened the door and walked out of the bookshop.