Journey

[Dakirennis 959]

Spoiler

 

 

Dak’ir sits within his home, surrounded by various shrines and burning incense. His Ker wolf, Eclipse, sits behind him fast asleep. A dull haze hangs in the air as the apprentice looks between the scroll Shagarath had given him and his own writings. He scrawls down his notes with a brittle stick of charcoal. He smiles wearily as he draws his pipe and packs it with green. Inhaling the pungent smoke and exhaling it slowly, letting it form a cloud around his head. In the opposite hand, he clutches a hand weight carved of stone.

 

“Stargûsh Jiub… Khlaarizg. Pukhlulab kranklûk.”

 

He repeats the chant, pausing only to continue his smoking. Before long the dark elf finds himself swaying back and forth and his eyes slowly shutting as the familiar sensation seeps into his body. Dak’ir’s body falls backwards onto the great wolf as he slips out of consciousness. 

 

~                    ~

 

Dak’ir would then awake, however, not in the great planes he was used to arriving in when greeting some of his kin’s ancestors. He rubbed his eyes before standing up. He could hardly see a thing in front of his face, merely a dull light that seemed to be a good distance away. Pushing himself up he was greeted with the familiar feeling of cold stone against his hands. The moist smell in the air soon revealed to Dak’ir that he was in a cavern of some sort. Keeping his right hand against the wall he makes his way slowly towards the light’s source. 

 

 

“Brother? Is that you?” 

 

The all too known voice enters his ears as Dak’ir now finds himself in a more open hollow, adorned with banners and weapons of the Ancestor’s liking. Dak’ir could only stare to the imposing figure with a slacked jaw. The ancestor of strength looked as he did in his prime, at tall as an uruk and just as threatening. His bald head shined in the torchlight as he squinted at Dak’ir with his only good eye, the other being lost in battle long ago.

 

“Do not tell me you were taken from life, Dak’ir. I refuse to believe you dead already. Did you die well at least? On your feet?”

 

Jiub was a storm of fear and concern though to any other dark elf he would have just appeared angry. Dak’ir steps further into the cavern, shaking his head. 

“No no, dear brother. I have not been taken yet.”

 

Jiub’s nostrils flare as he huffs, folding his arms and sitting down in front of the fire at the center of the cavern. Dak’ir notices as the Ancestor looks over his shoulder briefly. A bed of pelts lay on the other side of the cavern. While the sleeping form hid beneath them, Dak’ir all too easily recognized the messy mane of white hair. He let a sigh loose, happy to know that at least Jiub was with his mate.

 

“Good.’

Jiub grunted as he avoided eye contact with Dak’ir, scooping up a drinking horn full of an awful brew. He chugged it greedily, spilling most of it over his chest.

 

“What brings you here then? I assume you finally got that dream of yours, shaman.”

 

Dak’ir sits down on the opposite side of the flame, glancing to another opening in the chamber. The light shined brighter through there and the sounds of cheering could be hear just faintly. 

 

“I did, brother. I’ve just recently passed down my leadership to my sons, Arveldir and Jayce. I now just oversee the temple. I assume you’ve gotten many offerings? Jayce and Tareyns are avid fans of yours. Sprits. I’d almost say Tareyns is one of your sons.”

 

Jiub barks a guttural laugh, one hand covering his stomach as the other raises to wipe a tear from his blinded eye. He glances over his shoulder again before looking to Dak’ir.

 

“That whelp is finally leading the ‘Ker? I hope he’s smartened up since he was my ward. I’d get Chirr up to say hello but she could sleep through a storm, that girl. You’ll have to visit again sometime, she’s learned to speak really well since the old days.”

 

“I’ll visit when I can brother, but you know how I am...”

 

“Right right. Always busy…” 

 

The two share a chuckle as they take in the nostalgic moment until Jiub rises up, motioning for Dak’ir to follow him. Jiub quickly darts down the well lit cavern, Dak’ir struggles to keep up but after a short jog they reach their destination.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

A great circular chamber opened up before them, as great as any dwarven hall. The withered walls and pillars carved with the familiar but faded weaving knots of dark elven handiwork. An echo of a once great city it seemed... A great throne sat at one side of the hall, one part carved from stone and the rest seemingly a patchwork of  offerings, arms, armour, and even skulls. Atop the seat sat Khel Oussana who seemed to be in a good mood, laughing and clapping his hands together as he watched a great pit before him. The drums were loud and the smell of blood and ale hung in the air. Dak’ir wiped his eyes at the sight. He could recognize figures here and there. He saw Lenden playing a flute as he followed a blue haired 'Ker, that Dak'ir could only assume was Arganos, across a table. The Ancestor of Festivals laughed and sang with the Joyful atop a table his smile full of a nearly wicked joy. Not far from them stood a fat dark elven woman before a massive cauldron. Delilah the Mother smiled as she tossed vegetables in and stirred. Suddenly that great spoon was being swung at none other than Kaldo the Father for dipping a finger into the pot for a taste. Dak'ir could hardly believe his eys. Something so great, just for his people.

 

“Death is not as bad as some might think, brother. Stay a while and join us this night for more tales of the old days.”

 

Dak’ir shook his head. Despite the wanting in his heart, he was fearful of dwelling for too long on his own just yet. He took a step past Jiub, chancing just a closer look. 

 

“In time, brother. In time. But I should return. I promise I’ll be back again soon.”

 

“I understand. Allow me to help you return then…” 

 

Jiub cracked his knuckles before raising one of the boulders he called fists and driving it into the back of Dak’ir’s head. His eyes widened as he knew what was coming, he didn’t even get the word out before everything went black.

 

“Shi-”

 

~                    ~

Dak’ir jolted upwards, Eclipse remaining unmoved by his companion. He quickly gathers his things before smacking the wolf on the back. 

 

“Up you lazy beast, we’ve got to return to the encampment.”

 

After a few minutes of coaxing and bribing they were off. It was not long before they were out of the cave and moving onward towards the docks with news of his completed task.

Edited July 7, 2018 by Dakirennis

[HedgeHug 2049]

Days later, shagarath hears about his endavours whilst traveling the Stargosh'Strôh. "Vereh Hozh, Mi apprentize, Bud lat hab muzh tu lurn." The shaman turns around in the realm of ancestors, and heads into a forest.

 

Distant hammering on an anvil is heard...

[MamaBearJade 2090]

Suna watches as a familiar darkie rides off past her before returning to her work keeping the shrines clean. Her patched flesh and clothes stained with blood.