No Place for Old Waters
Ysdelfer#000
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This week
We will get an introduction to Vauwa, his crew, and the wonders of Sorg through the eyes of a young Ysdelfer.
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Story::000
Scene:: #000
Act::Energize 🎲 official
Twist::Attack 🎲 success
Npc Act::Glas River 🎲support bureaucracy
We rolled on the action meaning and plot twist tables. These rolls make me think of the Union and the Glas river. Which is one of the scared places of the Cult of Rhomox. Support bureaucracy and attack success makes me think the Union hall and the Cult are bumping heads right now which could be rather interesting.
Is it the Cult on the offensive? 11 🎲 yes.
Is this shortly after Rho, the day the Rhomox burst forth? 3 🎲 Exceptional no!
The Rhomox Burst marks the first of the year so this is Definitely not that time. Which is also a time of celebration for the Cult. Let's grab a bit more detail. Rolling on the Adventure tone.
Tone::Very 🎲 Fearful
Are Ysdelfers traveling back to their lodge? 18 🎲 Exceptional Yes!
Ysdelfers scour the depths of Sorg’s sands for water and Ice. Waters that hold hints of the old Sorg….And this the Cult fears.
River Sermon
The River shimmered as it always did under the setting desert sun. The shards of sand glass catching the suns fire and refracted it across the sand in kaleidescope pinks orange and purples. Mount Glasoog a smoldering dormant behemoth and home to the Rhomox the maker of the Glas River.
Within this surreal backdrop converged the Ysdelfers and the Cult of Rhomox. The Cult, their luminous robes billowed like celestial auroras, stood resolute at the river's edge, their eyes ablaze with fervor. "Beware the 'old waters'!" their high priestess proclaimed, her voice carried the weight of prophetic warning.“The Ysdelfers dabble in forbidden mysteries, invoking the wrath of forgotten gods!”
Opposite them, the Ysdelfers, bearing the crest of the Union, a patch with crossed ice axe and chisel, met the Cult's accusations with a blend of rugged confidence and pragmatism. Their leader, a weathered explorer with weary eyes hardened by countless journeys, stepped forward. "Your fear for nothing," they spoke with a hint of weariness. "The 'old waters' are not mystical simply mundane ice and water, resources vital for survival. Would you have us drink of Oermeer?” he asked tiredly, his cohort murmuring their consent.
“The Rhomox Provides always!” Spat the priestess. She pulled the cork from the wineskin at her hip and poured a golden liquid on the sands. “You crave survival and we offer you salvation!”
She offered the wineskin to their grizzled and weary eyed leader. He eyed the wineskin whispers as whispers filled his ears. He took it, “Some fever wine you zealots concocted?” he asked
“Drink and know the truth.” the priestess said flatly.
He raised the wineskin to his lips, anticipation swelling within him. As the liquid met his tongue, flavors exploded, ethereal and enchanting. The taste, bold and heavy, wove a tapestry of ancient spices, dancing upon his palate. A tear welled, unbidden, in the corner of his eye, as if the elixir had unlocked a dormant longing.
With each sip, he delved deeper into the drink. Tears of joy flowed freely, a mysterious elation replacing sorrow. The ethereal nectar quenched his spirit in unimaginable ways, filling a void he had never known.
Lost in the swirl of flavors, his heart grew full as the wineskin grew lighter. In that final sip, he knew the truth.
Initor Lodge::001
I sat in the old Ys Tower as I did every morning. Minding the rituals of the sands. The sun peaked through the old towers roof causing shadows to dance and play over the petunia walls. I concentrated on the haft of carved bone before me, a family heirloom, a Wisp Totem and beseeched the sands for blessing. I swayed and rocked entoning the Spirits, my voice, my body made vessel for their power. The ethereal crackle of Siel, the essence of spirit, charged the room. The low roll of thunder in the distance and the beat of hooves marked the blessing of The Thunderhorn. My Wisp Totem glowed with an ethereal light as if it'd caught lightning. I gave thanks and took hold of my totem.
I still couldn't explain why I did this every morning. It's not like I had to anymore. I'd left my people a few months gone. I wandered the sands and nearly died had it not been for the Ysdelfers of Initor Lodge. I smiles to myself, I did owe them my life. A knock on the tower door interrupted my thoughts.
Betroode peaked his head in, "You done? Ahkom has got news for us." Betroode was one of the Terraclaw a rough and heavy handed race named so for their large forearms and claws. Betroode was short and stocky like the rest of his ilk, but unlike his kind he wore bone piercings in his nose, ears and lip, tattoos adorning his thick forearms. He didn't wait for me to respond simply turned and left. I knew Betroode expected me to follow. I gathered myself and made my way back to the lodge.
Ahkom stood overlooking the sands of Sorg scroll in hand. He and his brother Bo are the ones that convinced the Lodge head to let me in. They were both Ashen, different tribe from my own though. Ahkom was slender with beady keen eyes. While not an imposing man by any measure of the mind his eyes were hard and calculating. He gave Betroode a nod and clapped him on the shoulder to which Betroode simply grunted. His eyes softened just a tiny bit as he looked at me.
"Vauwa, how are you healing up?" His tone was warm, almost professional, he g ave me a once over taking my face in his hands to look in my eyes.
"I'm healing well, Ahkom," I replied, my voice a bit hoarse from the morning rituals. “Betroode has taken good care of me.” Betroode snorted at my jab.
He nodded, his gaze lingering on the scar that ran across my cheek. "You've been through a lot. But you're strong, Vauwa. That's why we brought you into the Initor Lodge."
I nodded, he was the resident doctor of the lodge and Ahkom had a way of making even the rough Betroode relax in his midst. My short time here had almost felt like decades.
"What's the news?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
Ahkom handed me the scroll he had been holding. "We've received summons from the Union hall," he explained. "There's been some trouble with the Cult of Rhomox near Glas River."
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Rhomox and Glas River. I’d heard rumors the Cult had enigmatic powers and the Glas river was supposedly sacred to them.
"What kind of trouble?" I asked, scanning through the contents of the scroll.
Ahkom sighed, his expression growing somber. "The summons doesn't say, but it is urgent. We are to meet at the hall just past by Halorise." His eyes scanned the sands. "She always has impeccable timing.”
In the distance I recognized the mountain of a man Bo, Sedrah sitting on his shoulders and a sled in tow. Sedrah gave a wave and gave the shrill whistle that announced a successful delve.
Beside them The head of Initor Lodge, Mah'r, gave a shrill whistle of her own and a celebratory shout pierced the air and echoed off the stone pass below us, "Ysbaan! Ysbaan! Ysbaan!"
Betroode and Ahkom lifted their voices in chant. It was a stroke of luck we'd been hoping for, and a much needed one before meeting with the Hall.
The air was electric with excitement as the Ysdelfers gathered in the heart of Initor Lodge to celebrate their newest discovery. Ahkom, Mah'r, Bo, Betroode, Sedrah, and I stood together, our voices merging into a harmonious chant of joy and triumph.
"Ysbaan! Ysbaan! Ysbaan!" we chanted in unison, our spirits lifted by the knowledge that our people would be replenished with the newfound source.
Sedrah jumped off Bo's shoulders and ran toward me, her smile infectious. "Vauwa! New source means you get to come on a delve!”
I couldn't help but smile back at Sedrah's enthusiasm. She truly embodied the spirit of adventure that ran deep within each Ysdelfer. "Aye, as long as you're watching my back I'll be fine. Granted I can't carry you like Bo.”
She gave me a face and a light punch in the arm. Bo shrugged like he normally did. She like myself was a stray wandering the sands, ever since Bo and Sedrah were inseparable,
“Finally see you put that Ashen blood to use.” Mah'r said. She was the only human of our rag tag band. Tall, lean and muscular Mah'r stood just a head or so shorter than Bo. She was known amongst the Ysdelfers as Mah'r qa Tytaan- The Titan. She gave my shoulder a squeeze, “what's that you got?” She took the scroll from me.
Ahkom and Betroode both gave me a knowing look. Mah'r furrowed her brow and snapped the scroll shut. Her tone was grave and the air of the lodge grew tense. “Gather your gear, the Hall calls, and we shall not keep the Union waiting.” She tossed the scroll to Ahkom and turned on her heels snatched up her pick and slipped it into her belt loop in one smooth motion.
Her order hung in the air for a second longer before the crew of the Initor Lodge sprang into action. I ran to my room and gathered my pack and the pick gifted to me by Bo. It was still too big for me to use but it was the only Ys tool I had at the moment. I took one last look at the room and asked a quiet wisp blessing on our travels.
We exited the pass and the comfort of the lodge. It was the first time I'd stepped onto the sands in weeks. My heart raced and I couldn't help the cold sweat that hit me.
“Vauwa! What do you see?” Mah'r said as she nudged me to walk.
I didn't catch her meaning, “Sand?”
She laughed and flashed me a grin. “The Sands, our Inheritance. That is the Union mantra. I always thought it silly. We got this,” she waved her hand out across the landscape,” every grain, every stone, beast, and person of these sands is our inheritance.” He gaze hardened, “that includes all the horror that comes with it as well. You are a Ysdelfer, our lives are hard. But it is because what we do is necessary.”
I nodded, and smiled as she quicked her pace to catch Bo up ahead. I replayed her words, “You are a Ysdelfer.” And with new found resolve quickened my pace to catch up to my crew.
Next week
We will see what the Union Hall has in store for us. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Vauwa and the rest of the Initor Lodge. Don't forget we are so close to our 200 subscriber milestone! Spread the word and if you aren't subscribed smash that button below. 👇👇👇👇
Fellowship
I am going to keep the list of the fellowship Short and Sweet. If you love what I do then these master Storytellers and Soloist are right up your alley!
Good stuff. New to this, but I already love it! Such a cool universe you have created.