Lap of the Gods....

Grailing

Eyes grow wide when I realize what she's speaking of as she explains in more detail.

I had thought that the invaders from Atlantis were from elsewhere, somewhere else than this world. However, like many of my opinions, that view had been a minority amongst the ruling elite. No other person since the time of the fall of the Elfin Kingdom has ever even seriously suggested such a thing, that there was the possibility of other worlds than this one. Then, on this very day this human woman not only is saying that there are.....

Not only is she saying that there other world like this one....but some are so closely related that there are other's just like (or almost like)....me. Some would be....interesting to meet. Some would be, according to this woman, the worst thing possible....

Having never heard of analogs or dopplegangers, these concepts are intriguing enough. They are startling enough to capture this old weary elf's imagination. Humanity, if nothing else, has proven to my viewpoint worthy of being elfkin's successors to thies realm because of that ability. It's something I've seen in the younger, more resiliant elfin folks and also in the human's....so it makes my heart at ease that as my kind fades....the world won't be a duller place for it. Well, at least not totally, anyway.

No mention of my true name has come up yet, and for that I am grateful. See, it has a certain....power, certain elfin names. My true, secret name was given to me by my parents and was only to be spoken aloud during my ascension to the throne after they had gone. It is by custom it is done thus. I had many safe "aliases" that the lower class could use to address me, but even those had been lost in time. Seeing that the lowest caste (the only caste left after the Fall) had been able to thrive well enough without me and my otherwise vanished caste, I left things as they were. I believe that for me to try to try to resurrect a doomed nation would be too much to bear. With one utterance they could force it upon me, but they do not.

Now within a somewhat melancholy mood, I find I wish to now learn something of this "brother" of mine they speak of, so.....

But the thing that she says next is something that changes everything as we talk....

I had asked how soon my "brother" expected his kind to fade away.....

Astra 9

I must say that I am thankful indeed that my dear husband was able to come upon a solution of sorts for Tarin Gazin's problem. While maybe not as "challenging" as what some of the problems of the past, it is up there. But this part of today's challenge, hopefully....

"Grailing," I begin, and then tell what I know will be a rather unexpected tale of "our" Ke'lan and the reversal of fortune of his people.

Ah, the look of surprise on his face is a pleasant change from that melancholy. I had been told by my sister about how "our" Ke'lan reacted upon learning of the solution to the his fading race's fate. Indeed, the air of doom that he'd been giving off was about on par with what I'd felt when I'd watched that one Earth black and white movie, On the Beach. Yes, it's a wonderful relief to see it break and to see a wound within this elf's soul.....suddenly....

Yes, it's a good thing.....if....this Ke'lan's history is enough like "our" Ke'lan.....

"Our" Ke'lan was able to destroy the entity which controlled the Forest of Xythryx by destroying a magical sword (blowing up his original body in the process). I am about to tell him about the deal with his Proxy body (how "our" Ke'lan's got sucked back into it instead of just going onto the Hereafter) when he blurts out something quickly, excitedly in elfin (a language that I know enough to get by in) about a place on a map that's in his belt pouch bag.....when he collapses. Later, I'll figure out that the place he's talking about is the place we need to take Tarin to in order to get him help.

Definitely wanted to tell him about the unexpected population explosion that'll come if the still unaware elves out there try a Night of Joining......

Right now, though, Grailing (aka Ke'lan) has gone haring off on a mission to save his people, not expecting to return....

What an utterly odd turn of events, to put it mildly. Would be even better--MUCH better-- if we could have arrived sooner to save the town!!

Muttering a small curse as I glance at the still burning town (total loss), I and the others can do only what we can do and no more. Those who are able to get away are now away (running for the hills as it were). The rest...well, 'tis a sad thing, but nothing can be done for it now! For now, we do what we can: move the prone elves well away from Wallants....and wait.

After that, we'll have to see if we can figure out just how to get that message to Demifox Astra and Demifox Fred's parents. Maybe when (hopefully) Ke'lan gets back here we can ask him if he can help us in that matter....

Depends on how much "pull" Grailing has with the elves we will be taking Tarin, either as "Grailing" if he chooses to keep up the act of him being only an elfin ranger OR as...a long lost Elfin royal.

Remains to be seen....

Annafrid

"Yes, nice idea." Synizn says to my hustband as we tend to the still unconsious Grailing, "Now to find out if it works in Tarin's case, which you might say rested in the lap of the gods."

Sometimes I get the theological beliefs of his and his analog brothers still slightly mixed up. Have to remember that this former dragon turned demifox still believes in Tiamat and that temple.

Still somewhat getting used to my new family.....see.

A groan brings my attention back to my patient. Grailing is looking up at me in confusion.

"Wha?...." he asks intelligently, in unmost elfin fashion, "How?"

"Did you destroy the entity?" I ask him gently, "Are you okay?"

1. "Yes to both," the elf manages, gathering his dignity, "But I don't know why to the second, really....."

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