Finding Peace

It had been a long time since Nym smelled sea air, and with the scent came a flood of memories from what seemed like another lifetime. She shifted on Nesme’s bare back, feeling uncertain of her decision to return to Baldur’s Gate. As she’d gotten better at riding over the years, she’d found the saddle cumbersome and soon traded it and the saddlebags for a bag of holding and small backpack for Pipper when he grew tired of running alongside the horse. Nym’s hair is long, as it was in her childhood, and she pays it little heed as it dances messily in the wind. Her garb is that of the High Forest elves in shades of subdued greens and browns. She looks a bit out of place riding bareback along the coastal road, but that is of little importance to her. Nym’s various scars have lightened over time so as to be barely noticeable, except the ever present slave brand of Thay that she keeps carefully covered once again as she had in her childhood.

Her mind wandered back to Llewellyn and that last time she’d seen her old friends in Baldur’s Gate. A slight frown darkened her otherwise lovely face, and she impatiently brushed her light brown hair away from her eyes. After the explosion at the Druid temple at Llewellyn, the Influence, as she’d taken to calling the not-Illuvean creature who still haunted her dreams, no longer whispered to her in the dark places of her mind. Her hair slowly returned to her natural brown after that, and she had returned home to her father in the High Forest to mend her many wounds.

For two years, she hadn’t left the forest at all. Any errands to Silverymoon or the other nearby cities were completed by Ollin alone while Nym continued to reconnect herself with… well, herself. After too many tragedies, too many dark turns, and too many deaths, many at her hands, she wasn’t ready for the world. Her heart slowly healed in the forest, and she remembered what it was like to laugh with true joy. Her anger at the Druids of the Sword Coast faded, and she rarely thought of the destruction of Waterdeep, Iron Keep and Caer Corwell. So many of the remaining Druids had fled into the High Forest, she had to decide to fight or forgive. She chose forgive and forget. Nym focused on healing herbs and improving her wild magic abilities. She found herself quite content with life.

During her third year in the spring, Nym finally felt some degree of wanderlust and took over making supplies and sales trips to the nearby cities and villages for her father. Nesme was happy for the chance to run after being in the forest so long. After her third trip into Silverymoon on her own, Nym worked up the courage to contact her childhood friends. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she kept her expectations for a reunion low since her life and their deaths had created such a void in their friendships. On her fifth trip to Silverymoon, Rahm, her elf friend who also hailed from the High Forest, found her in the market while she was bartering for exotic herbs she’d learned of in her travels. Their conversation was awkward at first as they tried to reestablish their relationship, but they soon fell into a new rhythm. Having been 28 at the time of their imprisonment in Thay, still young for an elf, Rahm didn’t find Nym’s sudden age difference nearly as jarring as the others. In fact, he assured her, he was pleased that they were much closer in age now. Rahm took a position at the Lady’s College, and Nym teased him about being a boring elf. Their friendship became easy, and Nym was happy to have at least one of her childhood friends back in her life. Throughout the spring and summer, slowly her other childhood friends, all now between 17 and 20, began joining Rahm for his visits with Nym. A few years past their resurrections, Nym’s sudden age difference didn’t seem to matter as much to them.

In the early fall when the leaves were just beginning to change, during one of her business trips to Silverymoon, Rahm re-introduced her to a man Nym never thought she would see again: Illuvaen. She hadn’t known how to respond to seeing him outside of the dream plane, and after her experiences with the Influence, she was hesitant at first to speak with him. He, however, was overjoyed to see Nym again. His plane had collapsed for reasons unknown, and he and some from the dream plane had somehow managed to escape here. Nym slowly warmed up to him, and by the end of fall, Illuvaen was making trips to the High Forest to see her. She had told him everything she’s been through and done, and it seemed to make him care for her more. In spite of herself and her better judgement, she found herself falling in love again with yet another dashing half elf. Illuvaen kissed her for the second time since they’d first met in midwinter on the south bank of the River Rauvin outside of Everlund. Illuvaen had wanted to travel with her to Baldur’s Gate, but Nym assured him she was more than capable of handling herself.

Nym’s hand fell to her pocket as she felt the outline of two speaking stones she now carried; one for her father and one for Illuvaen. Nym’s mind wandered back to her current task. As of late, prices for her exotic herbs had become unreasonably high in Silverymoon, and another herbalist had given her a name of a contact in Baldur’s Gate who sold the herbs at a lower, but still high, price. As she neared the city, she noted that it looked much healthier than when she’d last seen it. She swung down from Nesme’s back and let Pipper out of his pouch. As she walked into the town, the animals followed behind her. Nym found that her contact’s directions were accurate, and she soon found herself at the correct shop. She motioned for Nesme and Pipper to wait outside, and as she opened the shop door, she pulled the crumpled paper out of her breast pocket: Odin's Fine Provisions and Sporting Goods.

Bad Timing and Awkward Moments

Nym was surprised. Well, that's an understatement. Nym was astonished, bewildered, confused, and a number of other worlds she couldn't clearly pull together in her mind. Why was Darvin here? Oh, he was just answering that... Now I've missed it. But what IS he doing? The ceremony's about to start... What's he saying? Did he just say he loved me?! Darvin was looked at Nym for a moment, and then kissed her.

Wayrn looked more than a little confused as to why the beginning of the ceremony was being interrupted and Ollin stood from his seat, unsure if his daughter needed protecting. Nym pushed Darvin back, surprised and confused. Nym took a step back. "Wha... what are you doing? Why...?" Nym looked more than a little confused. She liked Darvin very much, but she'd had little time to think of love while traveling back to Silverymoon with her friends' remains. Not only that, but directly before a resurrection ceremony was certainly not the time for love professions. "This is a holy time; a holy place. Four people are about to be resurrected here, this is no time for... this!" Nym was angry, but when she saw how hurt Darvin looked, she regretted her behavior. She impatiently wiped her tears away, and gently took Darvin's hand. She said gently, "Please sit. My quest... all I've worked for for five years, is about to be completed." She smiled and left to take her place in the ceremony as it began.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMp2t3OP-Ug

The Ravenhelms

After Ollin left for the market, Nym saddled Nesme and led her out of the stables. Pipper barked, wanting to come along too, but Nym had locked him in a pen with Vort, who was happily sleeping in a sun ray.

Perhaps I should see Wayrn's family first....

Although not particularly good at magic, Wayrn was well-loved by his family, the Ravenhelms. She made her way into the wealthiest part of Silverymoon and Wayrn's old home. As she approached their manor, she noted that it looked ever the same and always impressive when compared to neighboring homes.

She tied Nesme to the fence and knocked on the door. After a few moments, Fardel, the Ravenhelm's gnome servant, opened the door. He frowned at this girl who would dare bother him, and studied her for a moment. Suddenly he realized who she was. "By Nebelun's grace! Nym? Nym, is that you? You're supposed to be dead! Is Master Wayrn with you?"

"In a manner of speaking..." Nym replied. "It is good to see you, Fardel. Is the Mistress of the house in?" Fardel nodded and led Nym into the foyer. While Fardel went of to fetch Wayrn's mother, Nym looked at the large family paintings hung in the hall. She stopped in front of a stern painting of Wayrn and smiled. He'd never looked so serious in life, really, and she was amused by the pompous poise he'd taken for the painting. I shall have to tease him about this when he's brought back. she thought.

After a few minutes, Fardel returned with Wayrn's mother following. She was a tall, slight woman with plain features but a regal face. Nym bowed slightly and said bluntly, " Wayrn and the others are dead, Mistress. I have returned to Silverymoon to have them resurrected, but I need your help convincing the college to raise them."

To Silverymoon!

Pipper was awake when Ollin first stirred before the sun had began to rise. The little fox watched Ollin walk from the room, but continued to lay on Nym's belly as she slept. The old apothecary soon came down the stairs and went into the kitchen to make breakfast for himself and his guests. Pipper's ears perked up and he sniffed the air when he heard sizzling and smelled food cooking, but he continued to lay on Nym. After a time, Pipper heard Ollin whistle, which meant he and Vort were to be fed. Pipper hopped down from Nym's belly and yipped at her to wake her. When she didn't stir, he sniffed her ear and face. Nym groaned, but did not awake. Pipper snorted and lay across Nym's face, which caused Nym to burst into laughter.

"ALRIGHT. I'm UP!" she said to the fox pup, sitting up. Pipper yipped and ran out the door to be fed. Nym chuckled and went to help Rovanth with the cooking. Since all his own children had moved away, Rovanth was more than happy to listen to Nym chatter while she helped him cook.

After a quick breakfast, Ollin and Nym helped Rovanth tidy up his shop and then open for the day at 7am. By this time, the sun was rising. Nym, Ollin, Vort, Pipper, and their horses, Nesme and Ella, continued their journey to Silverymoon.

In Search of the Creeper Creature

The evening was uneventful for Nym and Ollin, and Ollin woke Nym up at dawn to continue their search for the creeper. The night before, he had made a quick trip to the houses nearest his, warning others of the danger and asking for their help in searching for other vines and helping to make sure that the threat was eliminated, so as Nym got dressed, another 5 people showed up to continue the hunt.

The group headed out, and within 45 minutes, Ollin had led them to the place where the vine had been the day before. The group spread out to search the area for any signs where the vine had come from and what sort of creature had been infested with the vine to carry it here in the first place.

Nym: Please give me either a knowledge: Nature, Survival, or Perception check.

Yellow Must Creepers are Creepy

Nym and Ollin followed the boar's tracks into the forest. After about a half hour, Ollin held up his hand to stop Nym. Silently she moved next to him to see what lay ahead. A large yellow musk creeper grew next to a stagnant pool. A bear and two squirrels moved slowly around the area, all infected by the plant.

Ollin nodded at Nym, signaling she should attack. She readied a set of magic missiles as Ollin raised his bow. They easily killed both squirrels, but their attack alerted the bear to their presence. Nym yelped as it charged and let off another round of magic missiles at it. Ollin let loose an arrow at the bear, narrowly missing as it charged. The bear swiped at Nym, and she dodged his first swipe but was caught by the second. She fell to the ground and the bear pinned her down. Ollin shot again at the bear, but missed as he was trying to avoid hitting his daughter. Nym cast laughing touch on the bear, and it crumpled over, laughing, Nym guessed. For a moment, Nym was distracted by the absolute hilarity of a bear laughing before hitting it again with magic missiles. Ollin shot the bear and finally it fell to the ground dead.

Their attention turned then to the yellow musk creeper. "Don't get too close, child." warned Ollin. Nym nodded. Nym and Ollin took their time sending magic missiles and arrows at the vine to kill it. After a bit, Nym had exausted her magic and picked up a rock to throw at the vine. Ollin chuckled as she threw it, but she managed to hit and kill the damaged plant with the rock. Nym and Ollin laughed heartily at this.

Tired from using so much magic, Nym sat down while Ollin looked for further tracks that could tell them where to search next for more infected animals and vines. "We shall begin the search again in the morning." said Ollin, heading back into the forest. Nym stood and followed him, glad to head home. The day had already been long despite it only being early afternoon.

Justifications

"It is done." said Nym quietly as she returned to where she'd left her father. Silently the two half-elves and their companions slipped through the forest back toward the cottage. Light filtered through the dense canopy and undergrowth onto Nym's skin. She noted that their passage through the trees was so quiet, not even the forest animals were stirred by their movement. Nym soon became absorbed in her thoughts on the boar's death.

...If I hadn't killed him, the plant would have. But does that make it right? Is that justified? ...The vine needed the boar to live much like a morning glory needs the other flowers to climb to the sun. Should I interfere with life like this? Who am I to become the judge and executioner? What right have I to decide who, or what, lives or dies?

And what of the creatures we killed in Baldur's Gate? Yes, they killed, but what right do I have to decide they should be killed? Do wicked deeds deserve to be returned in kind? Even if they do, who am I, who is anyone, to be the punisher of the wicked? Who is not wicked, at least in part?

And what of the men from the Sea Star? Surely they were not all that evil, and yet we killed them. We killed all of them. I killed the first mate myself. Surely they had family, friends... How am I so much better that I should have killed them? Why should any of us be allowed to decide who should live and who should die? If murder is approved by the many, is is not still murder? Am I any better than those who killed my friends in Thay?

Nym could think of no justifications and no answers that were in any way satisfactory.

Home at Last (May 27-May 28)

Ollin could tell Nym had been through much more than she was letting on, and after dinner, he pressed her for more information. Although uncomfortable recounting Thay and other unpleasant encounters, Nym soon spilled her heart out to her father about everything that had happened. Ollin gently took the box Nym had carried with her since Thay. He set it gently on the table and hugged Nym as she sobbed about all that had happened to her. The little fox pup licked the tears from her face, which eventually caused her tears to turn to laughter.

Nym slept in her childhood room that night, surrounded by odds and ends she'd collected years earlier. The fox pup snuggled under Nym's chin and the two slept soundly. When she awoke, light shone through her window, and she lay looking at her trinkets for a bit. From the sun, she could tell it was late morning. After about 20 minutes, the fox pup pushed into Nym's room and hopped up on her bed to yip at her. She laughed, and played with the puppy until she heard her father call her name. She ran out of the room barefoot, followed by the fox, to find Ollin. Ollin was exercising Nesme, who seemed particularly pleased not to be on the road. Her father smiled at seeing her. "I see you're finally awake, little one." he said in Elvish. "Yes, I had much sleep to catch up on." He smiled and led Nesme back to the stable. "Come child." he said as he started toward the woods gracefully. Vort followed, as did Nym and her fox pup.

Nym Does More Boring Stuff

As Nym rides closer to her home, she notes that everything looks nearly the same as it had when she had last seen it years before. She hops down from Nesme and stands quietly looking around for a moment. Suddenly she feels the hairs along the back of her neck stand on end. She was being watched. Carefully she looks around, and seeing nothing, she looks up to the canopy. Again, she sees nothing. Then something rustles at her feet, and she looks down, and gasps, surprised. A small fox pup is staring up at her from between her legs. "OH!" exclaims Nym, still recovering from this sudden arrival. The little fox lets out a small yap and runs off toward her father's cottage. Nym laughs, relieved she wasn't being watched by something more ferocious and pats Nesme. Nym can smell the smoke from the chimney, indicating her father is home. The grass and flowers in from of the cottage swish around her legs as she approaches. She hears the click of the front door opening, and her father, looking the same as she remembered him, steps out followed by the little white fox pup, which was still yipping. Her father smiled and held out his arms, recognizing Nym almost immediately despite the years that had passed. Nym ran to him, Nesme following, and hugged Ollin. She was crying. "Where have you been, little one?" he asked her. "No where I'd like to return." she said. Her father's wolf walked toward them from the forest, and she turned to him. "Vort!!" she squealed, hugging the wolf's big gray head. Vort woofed quietly, approving of Nym's affection. The old wolf had filmy eyes and a white muzzle. Vort was showing his age, unlike Nym's father. Ollin led Nesme to the small stables in the back of the house while Nym pet Vort. When he returned, he led his long lost daughter inside. Nym told her father all about her travels without reservation, and her father listened, happy to have his child back at last. After a time, the fox pup peeked in the room and hopped onto Nym's lap, where he promptly fell asleep. Nym asked "Who is this little fellow?" Ollin chuckled. "I have not named that little monster yet. He was being sold in Mirabar by some trappers who had killed his mother. I took pity on him and bought him for quite a bit." He raised a stern eyebrow at the sleeping fox and then smiled. "I suppose he's my pet now, although he seems to like you more than me." They laughed and Nym continued telling her father about her adventures in the great wide world.

Dreams

Nym slept well in Triboar that night. It was windy and cool, as was common in the North and the smell of the Krypt Garden Forest blew in from the east. As Nym breathed in the cool forest air, her mind raced home.

She dreamt she was small again and looked up into the branches of one of the great oaks of the forest. The only sound she heard was the rustle of the great tree's leaves and the groaning of its branches as it swayed slowly, gently in the wind. Light filtered gently through its huge branches creating curtains of light running to the shadows of the forest floor. Nym slowly looked down and examined the dark bark of the tree and the soft moist moss growing in every crevice of the tree's trunk. An animal called from somewhere in the forest, and Nym turned slowly to look...

Nym was smaller yet, asleep in her father's arms while he read her a story. She had be frightened by a storm and snuck into her father's room for comfort. Ever patient, Ollin plucked his little girl into his arms and read her a story while the rain poured, the wind howled, and the lightning flashed. Nym could smell the wood and stone of the house, the melting wax from the candle, the forest outside...

Nym was older and sat in a sunny glen that looked to be painted with tiny white flowers. The flowers swayed slowly, lazily in a light breeze. They seemed almost to glitter in the sun. Nym laughed...

Through the night, Nym continued to dream of her home which was finally within reach after seven years of travels.