Homecoming (Act II)

The mess with the temple and the relic to the Goddess Veserae now fully complete, you depart the city of Krakorum with your companions on a new mission, to retrieve a supposed holy book from a wealthy curmudgeon in a far away land. It sounds simple enough, but so did getting the relic. Something unexpected is going to go wrong, you know that much, it's only a matter of where or when. You're also certain that you and your comrades can take on whatever gets thrown at you.

Almost.

The journey is long, and there's any number of things that can halter your progress. With that, it made the most sense to chart a course that would be the most consistently easy and quick way from here to the far off kingdom of Vilory. That charted course brings you through the Bronzebark forests, your home. Silently, you wish any other route had been taken. This leg shouldn't be dangerous in of itself, but there's a reason you left, and you're even more committed to that than you were before. Your fellow elves are snobbish and judgmental of anyone that doesn't meet their exacting standards. Having grown a preference for the company of these three humans, you are sure that you will have fallen in their eyes.

Travelling gaily on horseback, Bruce and the brothers seem none the least concerned about their immediate future, instead focusing on the landscape, and you.

"This sure is a beautiful forest Fiana. I'm surprised you were ever able to convince yourself to leave this place." Bruce begins

"It wasn't easy, at first, but I certainly didn't leave because of the climate. I would still prefer the sounds of nature and trees than the furnace of industry any day." You add, slightly whistful

"Not really putting us humans in good light there Fiana." Glenn pipes in, followed by Kraig "Ya, it almost sounds like you regret leaving"

"Oh, no, far from that." You smile while shaking your head no "I do not regret having ventured on my own in the slightest, and I am certainly glad to have come into the company of such excellent human friends."

"We're glad to have you too Fiana. Certainly wouldn't be where we're at without you." Bruce, ever the gentleman, added cordially

"So, why did you leave?" Glenn asked

"It's complicated..." You answer at first. The response is insufficient for your friends, and for you as well, choosing to expand "For all that can be praised about Elves and elvish culture, their embrace and acceptance of other ideas is not one of them. I felt like I was being too confined in my music and my day to day life by their strict ideas of what proper culture is."

The humans share long faces with each other, dreading their future interactions "Well, we'll try to be on our best behavior, if only to make your life easier" Kraig commented

"Or Not!" James rebutted "If they're not going to like us anyway, just on account of being human and acting that way, than why should we even bother? Let's at least give them a fucking reason to dislike us"

"James, no" Bruce rejected the idea outright "We're going to have to rely on their hospitality to some degree and we don't want to burn bridges unnecessarily if we have to come back through here"

"Bah!" James was quite disinterested in this idea "Why do you always have to be such a good sport about everything Bruce? Can't you just let loose one time?"

"Because doing the right thing tends to make our jobs easier in the long run. I thought you'd have learned that when I had to get your thieving ass out of Terra Miora"

"Oh come on Bruce, that was one time!" James replies with a laugh "How long are you going to hold that against me?"

"However long it is until you start to grow up"

"Keep trying old man, you'll just keep being disappointed."

Kraig changes the subject to the issue at hand "Hey Fiana, do you think any of the other elves know anything about Veserae?"

"I don't think so, actually. I was a bit of a bookworm as a child, like Stravaria was, and I never heard or read anything about her growing up. That old temple was ancient, from the Lost Age, and Stravaria said this book was the last one to exist."

"Why do you think the Elves don't have it? Why would they not know about one of their own goddesses?"

"That's a really good question" You answer with a shrug "I'm certain we'll figure that out the further into this we go. The only possible guess that I can make is that maybe she disappeared somewhere, and her followers stopped worshiping her as a result."

"I suspect you're right. This is going to be a learning experience for all of us, and more besides."

James makes an innuendo, causing you all to laugh "Who knows, maybe we can host a recruiting drive while we're here."

The conversation dies down, the only sounds being the trot of the horses and the surrounding wilderness. All the more surprising that a band of Elvish soldiers on patrol seemingly jump out from nowhere in the trees, blades and bows drawn immediately.

"These lands are off limits to your kind. We have nothing for you here. Turn back now"

Bruce was the unexpectedly sarcastic one "Well, so much for a warm welcome. These roads used to be free to roam through"

The Elf Captain was not a patient man "That was before. Events have taken place to change the accord. Events that you need not be concerned with. Leave now. This is your last warning."

You approach through the group on your horse, speaking for the group in your native language "These humans are with me. Will you permit one of your one to pass?"

"Fiana? Is that you?"

"It is, Captain Terilas. What's happened that you've refused people to even travel through these lands? It was humans who built this road"

"The situation at home has become perilous. There is upheaval, and each day hangs by the knife's edge. We can't risk the presence of foreigners who would tip the scales in their favor."

"We seek only to pass through, we do not wish any trouble."

"Trouble will have a way of finding you, as it always has. You may pass through, but keep a close eye on your friends. There will be no patience for any antics."

"I understand."

The guards let you and your friends through. You all stay quiet until well out of earshot "Fiana, what in the world was that about?" James asked.

"I really wish I knew. The Captain only said that things were tense. Some sort of upheaval. Whatever is going on, I'm afraid we're going to find ourselves neck deep in it before too long."

"Why do you think that?"

You respond with an unsteady smirk "Because that's been the kind of luck we've been having lately..."