Fuck the Fey.
Rules, stipulations, 'blood will be met with blood'? Their backwards mentality and absolutism has ruined the Glassfang Syndicate's reputation with the town of Parnast, despite my best efforts and intentions to keep things non lethal. A courtesy that they did not extend back to us, nor the common folk of Parnast.
I will explain.
Naten Natenson (or, who he introduced himself as upon meeting him. Real name is Surx, a changeling novice to the Syndicate), Ivor, and I all arrived to Parnast after receiving a letter to rub some more elbows in Parnast from the Zhentarim. I was immediately profiled by a human guard, who I eased tensions with by explaining our purpose in the town. Philip Philipson, that is the guards name, told us that Raggnar, the town's leader, was a controversial figure. He previously aligned with the Cult of the Dragon, under the pretense of 'keeping the city safe,' though, Philip was quick to point out it lined his pockets despite the hardships the town still faced. Raggnar also is in charge of the guards??? A fact that slipped my mind until writing this, and one I shall touch back on later.
We went to the Golden... something, a tavern, where we met Raggnar and his daughter, Elsbeth. He, a portly man, greeted us warmly, and gave us ale and food before we were to discuss business. I gave some flattery, which he was happy to repeat very loudly to all in attendance, but we got down to brass tacks. Food was minimal, and they needed 'big game' if they were to have a proper feast that Raggnar was planning on throwing. That is where we would come in, and he told us of some being spotted in the Weathercoat Wood. This is a dangerous forest, but nothing we couldn't handle.
At this time, Gundalin Cartwright and his son Wallace, entered, and Gundalin accused Raggnar of bringing in more outsiders for his nefarious plots, and immediately the two started bickering. Wallace and Elsbeth kissed, a cute display of affection, as I asked if their fathers were always like this. They both said, "Yes", in unison, which told us all we needed to know. Wallace insisted he come with us on our hunt, saying he longed for adventure. Though we were hesitant, and upon seeing his makeshift armor, we acquiesced. Mostly because he could provide a horse and cart: two things we would need if we were to hunt three large elk and bring them back to town. I am not strong enough to carry one elk, and my two compatriots are.... just as fragile.
We set off the next day, and arrived to the Wood where there was a thick mist of Blue Smoke.... Hard to breathe, but manageable, we tracked down an Elk. Plotting how to take care of it, Naten knocked an arrow and I prepared a starry wisp. A voice told us to leave, and that we 'couldn't do that', to which we all launched our strikes against the elk. The beast fell, which was the start of something far fouler than game. Sprites attacked, as did a tree itself. Wallace was crushed, in the blink of an eye. The sprites targeted the horse, too, but I insisted that we do not kill any of them. My previous experience with sprites tells me how territorial they are, but they do not deserve to die for such a thing. Ivor did not listen to this. His fire magic is great, his foolishness is far greater.
Barely surviving, we drug the cart and elk back to Parnast, and were met with sorrow. The feast turned into a wake. I spent all night comforting Elsbeth, but the damage was already done. A boy was dead that did not deserve to die. I hoped this was the end of it. But hopes are not truths, and they do not always become them.
At the wake, a sprite came with three giant wasps, attacking all. I barely clung to life, their stingers were laced in a vicious venom, but some civilians were not as lucky. Nature ran its course, we were helpless to stop it. We did try to take care of them as quickly as possible, I managed to down two and knock out the sprite, but the common folk and Raggnar blamed us for this. Us?? Where were his guard during this time? How were we responsible?
I grabbed a mason jar and tucked the little vermin in it, taking her broach for good measure. When she woke, the sprite, she told of the Prince of the Pixies, and how he was angry at us for hunting in his wood. Despite everything, despite the lives that were lost, we were blamed. Blamed??? After all we did? The sprite tried to make a deal with her backwards fae speak; I did not allow it. If peace was to be reached, we were not the facilitators. Raggnar was forced to make that deal. However, this, atop of the common folk who passed, lead to us being practically banned from Parnast. Our... reputation was soiled.
We did all we could, and get all the blame for it. Innocents die; is this our responsibility? Even as death comes knocking at our door, we are to put aside our lives for them? They, that could not see that we were guiltless in this? I cannot see it.
I will drink my sorrows now. Perhaps I will make amends one day. Perhaps it isn't worth it.
*Na'ima*
