The Lonely City

The Journey Begins

For the next week the group stayed in Nimtras and prepared for their quest. Caelthor wasn't close, and they would need supplies. Nembor handled this, trading with the elves in their markets. Loirin thought it best he stayed away from the markets and instead stowed himself away in a blacksmiths, honing his weapons and armour. Allethan spent his time with Yilia and his mother, but occasionally visited some of the stores to buy various wares. Thilhan was left to his own devices, not really having anything to do, he occasionally helped at the markets, but mainly tried to stay at home, if at all possible. Despite the groups stay at Nimtras, the world outside had continued to move. On the third day a legion of elves entered the city, from Erasfund in Golddriel. With them they brought news that the great river, Hariouen, on which Erasfund borders had fallen into shadow and fire. This caused great grief among the elves. Isoriand had sent messengers to Meathren. Late on the sixth day of their stay the group were called to Isoriand's House. He was standing at the end of the large table when they entered. Allethan led the group with Loirin at the rear, grumbling about having to leave his workshop.

"The time has come, my friends", Isoriand told them, laying out a map of Windmouth on the table. "Do you feel as though you are ready?"

"We do", Allethan answered.

"This is your journey, should nothing waylay you", Isoriand pointed at the Dark Forest. "You must pass through the Dark Forest to the town of Mooncaster, there you will find rest. Do not stay for too long, should the fires of Va'Vua spread!" Allethan nodded while Thilhan and Loirin both looked around the great hall, noticing ornate pictures carved into wood of different colours.

"Once you have rested, make your way south to the Gate of Caelthor", Isoriand continued. "What lies beyond that gate is unknown to me, but I do know is what Caelthor once was- a great, powerful city standing among great mountains. Like a jewel among sand and gravel", Isoriand grew distant from the others, relishing in the memory. He sighed. "But alas, it is no more", Isoriand turned away. "You must leave tomorrow, at the first light of day. The light of Nimtras can guide you only so far... And beyond it, the world will be a much darker place..."

The next day Allethan, Thilhan, Nembor and Loirin were ready early, assembling in the market square along with Isoriand and a few other elves. Each member of the group had their supplies laid at their feet. Loirin picked his up first, an iron hammer which he had worked on while in the Blacksmiths. He was already wearing his set of chainmail, made from the iron rings of Steelforge, the Dwarves' homeland. Nembor, on the other hand, travelled the lightest. He bore a leather coat and cloth shirt. On his back were a quiver of arrows and a wooden bow that had the markings of an ancient language. Allethan sheathed his sword, made of iron. He wore cloth also but covered it with chainmail. Thilhan placed his iron greatsword onto his back and pulled on a set of iron armour. Isoriand conversed with the other elves in their own tongue as they did this. Afterwards, the group stood still as the elves talked among themselves. The other elves looked concerned as Isoriand turned to Nembor and signalled for him. Nembor walked forward and began explaining something to them. A while passed before Isoriand spoke once again in the common tounge, turning to the group as he did so.

"And so begins your journey. The fate of Andrium lies in your hands, but remember, none of you have signed an oath pleading your complete commitment to this quest, and so none of you must go further than you wish to go", Isoriand kneeled and said something in elvish which the others of his kind-bar Nembor- repeated. "Come, I will see you to the gates", Isoriand walked off with the group close behind. Once they reached the gates of Nimtras they huge doorway swung open, revealing the world outside. The group began to feel sombre as they looked out at the Dark Forest in the distance- so dark, so cold- Allethan began to feel a strong urge to stay, as though the Gleam of Nimtras could somehow stop the oncoming storm. He turned to Isoriand.

"Thank you, for all that you have done", he said, the rest of the group nodded in unison.

"Aye!", Said Loirin.

"Do not thank me, I do not ask for your thanks. Your company in these dark times is thanks enough", Isoriand replied, smiling as Nembor said something to him in elvish, to which Isoriand nodded. Loirin and Thilhan both said goodbye and the group set out on their impossible quest...

"We must reach the borders of the forest by nightfall", Allethan told them, "we cannot afford to be in there at night, we would lose our way". The group were just leaving the fields that surrounded the city, and the Gleam was fading. They had been walking for about an hour, the sun was high in the sky and the birds had left their nests in the trees.

"I agree", replied Nembor, who was walking next to him, at the front of the group. "There is not much to catch in the Forest of Algul, so we should eat much before we enter". Algul was the name the Elves had for the Dark Forest. The group continued to walk for another 10 hours until they reached the borders of the forest. They set up a camp and ate a small amount of what they had bought from the markets of Nimtras. The time was around eight in the evening when they finished their small meal and Thilhan started a campfire. The sun, being Winter, had already disappeared behind the tall, ominous trees of the Forest. Behind them Nimtras was still visible, it's Gleam now almost gone. The group readied their beds and got in them. They would take turns during the night to take watch, Loirin would handle the first 3 hours, then it would be Allethan, then and Nembor and finally Thilhan, who had settled down, allowing himself to think of Nimtras and beauty of it's Gleam. He thought about returning during the night but instead fell into an uneasy sleep before he could make up his mind...