Tales from Lorianthil

"What I want is to understand," Ashlyn said. Damien crossed his arms. "And what I want is to forget."

Gumber- year 463 19 May Damien threw a bucket of used water onto the grass as he had done many times. The backyard of the manor sat several yards behind him. Damien loved going beyond the property limits. Out here, the forest was open and wild. Here, there were no footpaths that attracted attention. Before going back in, Damien took the time to breathe the woodland air. He paced about the area, enjoying the freedom of no fences. From a hundred paces away, he could hear Lila and Nihilan...

Nihilan refused to meet his father's eyes. He knew he had done wrong, and the worst part was having to face Kallus. The two of them were standing in the library of the house. Despite how open the room was, it attracted the least amount of traffic. Kallus stood in front of his son, waiting for an apology. When none came, he sighed. "If I had been there, you wouldn't have behaved as you did. Damien may be new to our family, but I expect you to treat him as a member of our house." Nihilan...

22 September "Kallus." Lanara's voice echoed along the walls of the forge. Her husband was occupied with a smithing project, and he was having Damien assist him. Lanara drew Kallus' attention by coming over. "I would like to take the children out to the river." Now that Lanara was in his space, Kallus stopped what he was doing. "That sounds perfect," he said. "They've been studying hard, they could use a day off. You three have fun." When he continued hammering, it was clear that he had...

Damien sat with Kallus' family at supper. The dining room of the manor was ornate, complete with its own chandelier. Candles were placed along the table as well, glinting off the expensive dinnerware. Tonight was what Kallus and Lanara deemed to be a special occasion. They prepared a well-fitting meal and dressed in their finer clothes. While waiting for the next course to be brought out, Lanara rested her hands under her chin. "Where were you born, Damien?" Damien was shy to make eye...

15 September Kallus went up to Calda’s door and knocked. When she opened, she knew instantly the reason he was there. With a sullen face she said, “I can go get him for you.” Kallus waited on her well-kept porch. A few minutes later, Calda appeared again with Ashlyn and Damien both gathering at the door. Showing a bland smile, Kallus nodded at the boy. “I have come to take you away from this house. Say your goodbyes, if you must.” Ashlyn was shocked to hear it. “You have come to a...

Kallus hauled a heavy anvil to his basement. He was careful not to let it crush his toes as he placed it down on the stone floor. The anvil sat a few feet away from a burning forge fire with a low flame. A set of work tools hung beside it along the wall, ready to be used. Setting up an at-home forge had been a long project of Kallus', and now his workspace was complete. He pulled out one of his tools to stir the fire, before a commotion upstairs caught his attention. The sound of scurrying...

Gumber- year 462 13 September In the morning, Damien woke up to the smell of freshly cooked food. He smelled fatty meats and hot biscuits. After getting dressed, he came out of his room to find Ashlyn sitting at her mother's table. She was sipping a glass of orange juice and finishing the remnants on her plate. When she heard Damien's steps, she looked over to him. "You're finally awake," she smiled. "My mother made breakfast." Damien went and sat down across from Ashlyn. She looked...

12 September “Goodbye, Annael,” Ashlyn waved her mentor farewell. “I’ll see you in a few months.” Beside her, Damien was pacing in step as they approached the city stables. Damien glanced at the tall elf lady standing behind him. Annael’s hands were tucked into her sleeves and she said nothing as they walked off. “She doesn’t look happy to see you go,” he observed. “I’ll say,” Ashlyn muttered. As they moved further away from the King’s palace, the city of Tauros became more of a wondrous...

“Absolutely not,” Annael said upon hearing Ashlyn’s preposterous idea. “We are not going to take him back with us to the Academy.” She and Ashlyn were standing on an ornate stone balcony. The city streets of Tauros sat three stories below them. The day was still young, sweeping with an early autumn breeze. Leaves were already being caught up in it, swirling as the wind carried them. Ashlyn folded her youthful hands together. “Please, Annael, he has no one. I think– I think he has been held...

The Ruins of Githal- year 464 27 August Dust and brick. All around, destruction as far as the eye could see. Three weeks ago, Githal had been a kingdom that took up half of the western region. Now, it was laid to ruin. Brick buildings had been torn down. The leather coverings of tents had been reduced to piles of dust. Broken wood and other debris lied scattered about the land. The grass, once endless and green, now revealed the rocky dirt beneath it. Ashlyn was walking in what seemed like...

Gumber- the year 451 2 April A baby’s cry rang about the glistening trees. The sky was alight with the dawn breaking through the patches in the canopy of leaves. In the heart of Gumber was a meadow that danced with blossoming flowers. The music of frogs, bugs, and birds came together as a chorus, chiming out their joy. It was a day of renewal, a day that would mark the first of a new age. Ithilié stepped along the meadow until she came to its center. Three pools sat in a triangle, each...