The Lurue Letters – Number 1
Orlane felt like a mess. A mess I walked into. The tournament seemed like a good chance to show what I’m capable of, but I was not as ready as I hoped. I hope only now that Lurue will continue to find favor in me as I work to maybe help this town that seemed to have a need for heroes, though there are few of us and not all very helpful or trustworthy.
It is strange to think that I’ve already been here for two days. The first day I arrived for the tournament expecting that it would be quick and at best I would have presented to these people what a Beloved can do and at worst I would have spent some time in a new town learning more about the world and the people I can. I did not expect to nearly die or to find a greater purpose for why I am here.
Before we started a woman, Mayor Ormand, explained that we will have two tasks this first day. One in the morning, one after lunch and then a final one the morning of the second day. She then asked us to introduce ourselves. I cannot believe some of the people they let compete. The first to step forward was an elf who calls himself Bjornbaer. He has long light brown hair, and seemed at first approachable, but he is a Blood Hunter and I cannot believe he was so shameless about his calling in life. I do not know if I should scorn him or pity him. To spend a life using darkness to get ahead is so low. One woman, Kriega is intimidatingly tall and seems to have a separation about her and a power I cannot perceive. I’m sure she is not human, but I think it would be rude to ask why she is so big. All I know for sure is that she is fierce and something of her reminds me of the old forest beyond the clearings of Strehë. Another, Mary kept her cloak covering all but her eyes. It is odd to me and caused me to approach her carefully, but she has been kind. One very scruffy man oDan seemed somewhat disinterested and a bit shifty, Mary seems to be traveling with him, though I could not understand why after spending time with the both of them. A bard was there too, her name is Bryseis. She wants to see the world and tell its stories. One day I hope to make it into her songs. A local man, Bov also competed, when the Mayor introduced him the people of Orlane cheered, they seemed to want him to win.
After our introductions we were led to the arena. It was small and looked to me like a cleared marketplace, reminding me of our Hëna Fillestare when everything would be cleaned and made ready for presentation. Instead of quiet reverence though we were walking into a bright dusty and loud place. In front of us were seven very tall and fresh wooden posts. I sighed softly for the trees they had been. On the tops were large boxes. Some were wooden, some were metal and one was stone. Our instruction was to retrieve the object in the box and then to run back to the mayor to ring a bell, which seemed simple enough. I took my place at one of the poles with a wooden box.
When it was time for us to begin some began to run to the poles and climb, Kriega tried throwing something. I tied my rope to an arrow, fired my crossbow and hit the box. Then I began to pull. While I was pulling everything else was going crazy. As others reached their boxes upon their poles I could hear that something in the boxes was doing things to the competitors. One of them was burned and another almost fell. The shifty one oDan ran and took the bell from the Mayor and kept it with him as he ascended to his box. I wasn’t sure how to manage this new challenge, but I pulled harder. Bjornbaer is closest to me has climbed down with his waterskin seeming to steam. He ran to the Mayor and was redirected back to his box.
Now everyone has reached the tops of their poles and has been trying to open their boxes. Mine is moving forward with my tugs, but it is taking a lot of strength. Finally it falls, and smashes onto the ground. Thinking the box dangerous I cast Shield of Faith, and use my spear to wedge apart the plans of wood. Inside is a small bag. Knowing that the others have had trouble with their items, I use my spear to catch the bag’s strap and begin to carry it. Bjornbaer has also gotten his stone box to the ground. It cracked in many places and acid is rushing out. I run around it, making my way to oDan’s pole where he is fighting with Bov, the local man who is angry. The top is only about five feet wide and I don’t think I can get up there with the others. I call out to the Mayor asking if all we need is a ringing bell. She says yes, but when I use Druidcraft to make a ringing bell sound, she tells me no funny business. This seems no fair as Byseis has mocked oDan so viciously that he falters and makes the bell ring by mistake. So I must climb. Mary is also climbing a little ahead. At the top oDan has hit Bov with the bell and the Mayor counts it. By the time I climb to the top, Mary has gotten there, so oDan, Bryseis, Bov, Mary and Bjornbaer have all rang the bell. I get to the top as others come down and hit the bell. I am grateful not to be last, but I wish I had done better.
When we are all finished we look at our items. I have a bag of ball bearings and do not know what I will use them for.
As we broke for lunch, I went to eat by Bryseis, asking about her music. She does not say much, but her voice is nice. I watch as Bjornbaer goes to speak with oDan, they laugh and I am still bitter at oDan’s trickery. It makes sense that a Bloodhunter would want to be friends with a trickster. I will have to watch them closely. Other clerics are here and are healing the competitors.
After we finish eating and resting we go back into the arena. Now there are nets all around separating us from the townspeople. At each end there is a large crate. One of them is shaking, the other is still. As we line up in the middle, Mayor Ormand tells us that our goal is to catch one creature from the crate and put it in the other. She also tells us that we must not kill the creatures. I wonder why. The shaking crate opens and out come four giant frog creatures and three giant spiders. I shudder looking at the spiders. They are only spiders, but their size reminds me of the ettercaps back home. Like the frogs though, I can tell that they are terrified and I am sad for them.
Everyone dashes to a different creature. I try casting Animal Friendship on one of the frogs, but it very much does not want to be friends. As I move to another and harness it with my gentle handling I see the unfriendly one grab and bite at Mary. My frog moves slowly, but walks very nicely as I lead it to the other box. Bov is most disgraceful. He is dragging a spider that he has mortally wounded with his crossbow. There is a trail of blood behind him and I feel bitterness at his brutality. Bjornbaer is also pulling a spider ahead of me, but his only looks unconscious. At least this Blood Hunter is more humane. oDan is working hard to fight with his frog to the crate, and is tumbling a lot, but moved ahead well. The other frogs seem to be giving some trouble to Mary and Kriega, but no one has more trouble than Bryseis. She has tried a net on her spider, but he keeps escaping. I am fourth and once i have my frog in the crate I turn to watch the others. Kriega gets her spider in a little after me, and then Bryseis only succeeds after trying to sing to his spider and having oDan’s help. I don’t know why oDan assisted someone else, but I am also baffled by Bryseis’ singing. The spider seemed a little calmer when she began, but it didn’t really make a difference. Still it is nice she tried to be kind to the creature.
Mary was last, but the Mayor Ormand said that Bov was disqualified for harming his spider so greatly. I must admit I was pleased that he was called out for this.
That night we were offered lodging in the hall, but I did not want to sleep with others, so the other women and I went to the Slumbering Serpent to get rooms. oDan came with Mary and Bjornbaer went too, but I made it clear that he was not with our group. At the inn we were greeted by the owner a halfling name Belba and another halfling Olwen. They spoke of their town and mentioned that Bov is the shopkeeper’s son. They also spoke of the newcomers to town, but they never see them. I thought this strange. Back home in Strehë newcomers would be known to everyone and many meals would be shared with them.
In the common room, Mary and I spent some time talking and she seems very nice though not very open. I still wonder about her cloak, but her eyes are sincere.
The next morning we are told the final task is to be a battle against each other, there are clerics on hand to help us if we are too injured, but the final combatant will be the victor.
I see oDan and Bryseis whispering and am suddenly feeling very alone. I whisper to Mary that I would like to stay friendly and she whispers back that she would too.
I wish I could say I fought bravely and charged at those that had not fought fairly or defended others. But everything happened so quickly in the arena. At one moment I tried to help Mary, but her injuries were too great and a cleric had to revive her and lead her out to the stands. It might have been easy to stay safe, but the walls moved in slowly, pushing us all closer together. I made one attempt to spear oDan after he came at me, but I barely touched him. I don’t think my heart was in this sport. He knocks me out and the next thing I know is that a cleric has revived me and we’re being led to the stage for the winner to be announced. oDan is the victor and the crowd cheers for him.
At the end of our meal, the mayor gives us our prizes, and a note which reads: Please come to my house after we’ve wrapped up here and I’ll explain everything.”
I don’t know what she wants, but I hope that this letter will not be my last to you. When I have another chance I will write more. I have a feeling that Lurue has led me here for some purpose and I hop to serve it well.
– Njëbrirësh
