Hello, Everyone!
Last time, after losing her leg in the fight with the Hydra and considering quitting the adventurer's life, Mary got a visit from Granny Gretel who offered to grow her limb back in exchange for 100 gold coins. Although the deal seemed too good to be real, Mary accepted and the hag got what she wanted. Walking on her brand new leg, Mary followed her friends to the tavern downstairs and gave the owner quite the shock. The trio had drinks and recalled the fight they'd just survived.
Bruno got drunk uncharacteristically quickly. Only three ales in, and he was already nodding off, and the fourth one straight up knocked him out. Now he lay on the table, mug in hand, snoring lightly.
“It must be the exhaustion,” Aurum said. “He did spend a lot of time looking for that leg.”
Mary felt a tinge of guilt but didn’t say anything. She spent a lot of time just looking at the bard over her own mug.
“I’m sorry about Lanurey,” she said quietly.
“Yeah,” Aurum said, avoiding her eyes. “I know that she’s dead now but I at least wish I remembered her.”
Yeah, me too, Mary thought. But out loud, she said: “You can make up memories, you know? To replace the ones you lost. You can dream them up to be whatever you want…”
Aurum smiled. “You are way better at making up stuff than I am,” he said. “You can even write them down and show me later.”
There was a long pause. Mary pretended to be very interested in her drink, but there was something on her mind. Finally, she looked at Aurum and said it.
“I was… really scared when you got swallowed by the Hydra. I couldn’t imagine what I would do if… if I forgot you.”
She blinked faster to stop the tears welling up in her eyes.
“Eh?” Aurum said. He seemed surprised but maybe kinda pleased, too. “Come on, now! How could you forget me?! I’m so charismatic!”
"That, you are,” Mary said, forcing a smile on her lips.
If the Hydra had killed Aurum, it wouldn’t have mattered how charismatic he was. He’d be forgotten anyway. Even now, Mary could feel the emptiness left by Lanurey in her heart. They had been friends for only a few weeks but it hurt nonetheless. What would it be if it had been Aurum?
And what was it that Aurum was feeling? Lanurey had still loved him after all that time. He’d kept her ring.
Mary got it again, the sudden feeling of loss and hurt. She forced another smile and raised her mug for a toast.
“To Lanurey!”
“To Lanurey,” Aurum said.
Bruno, still asleep, mumbled something inside of his beard and raised his mug as if toasting with them.
“You know, it was really fortunate that we managed to survive the Hydra,” Mary said. “Such wonderful luck!”
“Yeah,” Aurum said, a sudden concern flashing over his face. “To being lucky!”
They raised their drinks for another toast but when their glasses clanked, the bard’s cracked at the rim.
“Oh! Let me get you another!” Mary said and ran to the counter.
It felt so good to be able to run!
They ended up having to take care of the drunk dwarf. He didn’t wake up even when they shook him.
“I can’t imagine how we’re going to carry him upstairs,” Mary said. “He’s so heavy!”
“Oh, I might know a trick,” Aurum said with a twinkle in his eye. “You wanna see a new spell?”
Mary’s face lit up. She always loved witnessing new magic. Aurum pointed at Bruno.
“Wait!” Mary said, suddenly remembering when she was experimenting with new magic and bringing havoc on her friends. “Are you sure it’ll be safe? Shouldn’t you first try it on something else? Non-living, perhaps?”
“Pshhhh!” the bard said. “Come on, don’t be a spoilsport! It’ll be fine!”
He took out a little caterpillar cocoon and pressed it on Bruno's forehead, while speaking softly. Right before their eyes, the dwarf’s sleeping form liquified and shifted. It got smaller and smaller, slimier and squishier, until, instead of the dwarf and all his clothes and belongings, there was only a white slug left on the table.
“Whaaa…?” Mary gasped. “Is that Jared?”
“No, that’s our pal Brunost.” Aurum grinned. “I have no idea what happened to Granny’s slug, it might have melded with the armour. It should be back when the spell ends.”
“When… when will it end?” Mary said, poking at slug-Bruno.
“In about an hour.”
“Can you turn people in other creatures?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s so cool!”
Aurum flashed her a big smile. He took a napkin and scooped the slug with it. They took it upstairs, put it on Bruno’s bed and even tucked it in, giggling the whole time.
“What?” Bruno said. “What is it?”
It was a cold and cloudy morning in Ekoba. The trio was preparing for breakfast and discussing their plan for the coming day. They were probably going to check out that Captain-of-the-Guard thing Granny had told them about. After all, they needed to find out if anyone inside the Second wall knew about the Hydra.
However, every time Mary and Aurum looked at their dwarven friend, they exchanged a glance and sniggered conspiratorially.
“You know, there’s something you and Jared have in common,” the bard said.
“Yeah, right.”
“No, I’m serious. Something…” Aurum pretended that he was searching for a word, “Slimy.”
Mary giggled.
“Youwereasluglastnight,” she blurted, incapable of keeping it to herself anymore. “Aurum has a new spell and it can turn people into animals and he turned you into a slug, just like little Jared under your armour!”
Bruno rolled his eyes. He didn’t seem as impressed or annoyed as the other two had thought he’d be.
“Spoilsport!” Aurum said.
“Anyway,” Bruno said, stretching his back. “Now that I’m rested, let’s send some messages.”
Tesaya was first. Bruno was going to tell her about Lanurey’s demise and the Hydra’s effect on their memories. He made the Sending spell’s gestures and moved his lips silently. Then, after a few seconds of receiving a reply, his face darkened.
“Oh!” he said. “That can’t be good. Balaine Endoras is dead.”
Uh-oh! Our pals can't catch a break, eh? What do you think happened to the elven Elder?
I hope to see you next time and check if your theories were correct.
Also, before you go there, check out this small Interlude me and Aurum's player made especially for you!
Take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide, the Glossary and the Map for the series. You're welcome!)
An important disclaimer: These are my notes from a D&D game turned into a narrative. All the worldbuilding and NPC encounters belong to our DM, and all the actions of the other main characters (Aurum and Bruno) belong to my co-players. My contribution to the story is only everything Mary-related (actions, reactions, inner thoughts), as well as the writing itself.