Erlem & Daisy
The moon hung high above Daisy as time crept one, she didn't dare call Erlem to the road until her scouts returned. The goblins taught Daisty that the swamp was home to many vile things and caution must be observed at all costs. So far they had lost two hours to waiting on the wisps return. The night was still early in its dominion and the darkness made Daisy feel uneasy, she had already dealt with one of the swamps terrors and wasn't eager to meet more.
Off in the distance a low buzzing could be heard, Daisys ears almost stood up when she heard it for it was feint but growing clearer every second. " finally those little nuisances return!" Off in the distance the rainbow glow of the wisps came into view zipping through the mists and fog before coming up to their master, whizzing around her body and above her head. Daisy stretched out her hand. The little wisps landed on her hand one at a time before being absorbed into her skin, her eyes changed colors as they released their information into her mind. Pictures of the tree road filled her mind, there were no guards or beasts as far as the wisps had traveled, there was vast miles of woods and swampland on either side of the tree road and even a few small huts built along the side of the road like rest houses. On the southern side of the road on the south side of the tree sat a large cliff holding a giant dark castle boasting three towers and high walls. Daisy swore she knew of all the great castles, naming them all in her head and who resided in them. This castle was not supposed to be there. She decided to not fret about an abandoned castle and instead walk the road with Erlem to its end and meet the long road on the other side. Her scouts found no dangers or traps or curses, just an old castle in the distance probably belonging to an old house before the swamp was ever set. What lingered in her mind was how well the caste had held up in its vacancy. The roof was pristine and the walls had no damage or corrosion from time. It was even clean of creeping vines and poison ivy that grew all over the swamp. Even the titan tree road showed signs of ware and tear, though there wasn't any sign of whomever carved the road into the tree being here still or even who they were.
Daisy climbed down the titan trees roots to get Erlem, she also wanted to make sure he was alright, the swamp made her uneasy and she feared most for Erlem. His Omen was trying as it could to come through him or control him, thats what she believed the black-fire spell was; an ancient spell from beyond the void cast by a being of extreme evil. Using Erlem as a conduit like a warlock used a wand, focusing itself through Him. Which being was hard to know until it was able to bust through its vassal by which time all would be too late anyway. Daisy knew they didn't have much time left before Erlem succumbed to his Omen.
She came to the ground and walked around the roots towards the campfire smoke on the otherside, finding Erlem sitting on a log by his tent roasting a sausage he had skewered with a long sharp stick. He pulled out another stick and a sausage, skewered it and handed it to his mother. " sit and eat, you've been up there for hours and im sure your famished." He was glad to see Daisy, he had grown anxious waiting for her to return, the silence of the swamp was worse than if he had been hearing the rustling of beasties in the woods around him.
" we really should press on Erlem. Its a long walk to the end of this tree and who knows how long the trek out of here will be." Erlem thrust the sausage into Daisys hand " the end of this tree can wait for you to eat something, i know your worried about my Omen but it wont be worth a damn if you die because you didn't have the energy to finish the trip. I don't want to be an orphan again!" His voice was more sad in its tone even if he wanted to be angry, Daisy could sense this was just not an argument she wanted to have and submitted to eating a couple sausages and drinking some water to appease him. " pack up your tent, put out the fire. We've eaten and we need to get moving, this swamp is home to terrible monster and staying in one spot with food openly cooking and wafting its scent through this place is a mistake." This time Erlem agreed and hurried to his chores. Erlem started his ascent first followed by Daisy.
Erlem took the climb slow not wanting to kick up too much dust down into Daisy's face. It was high up and he didn't believe she would survive the fall.
He made his way to the top and quickly helped Daisy onto the starting platform. The moon and stars were out and bright, there were barely any clouds just the occasional small one that would float passed the moon. Erlem could see the tops of the trees throughout the swamp and even the mountains to the north where the citadel made its home. He could see a partial stretch of the long road to the west behind him. He couldn't make out any landmarks to the east where the titan tree was set. It was very odd to Erlem, certainly the east was more than trees and swamp. The great city of Aerios was to the east, as well as the long road and the great eastern gates of La'velle.
Daisy grabbed his hand with hers and started to walk down the long wooden road, hesitant at first Erlem followed along holding her hand tightly, something about this road seemed off.
They walked for hours along the titan road, they looked off the sides into the dark swampy wilderness, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. The swamp was still quiet of rustling but not chirping, the birds had decided to return first to the swamp and Erlem swore he heard a bard owl band in the distance as well.
It was as if slowly the swamp was celebrating the purge of the goblins from its grounds. Fireflies began to flash through out the trees and small swarms danced above the travelers giving them the feeling that they were being thanked for their deeds. The walk became a more leisurely stroll as the night progressed into morning and the duo grew tired. "We should rest here, I can barely stay awake and keep pace." Erlem stopped and rubbed his eyes " lets set up camp and eat and get some rest, we've walked all night long." He urged his sleepy companion, " you're right we should stop, just not here, theres a small hut up ahead where we can hold up and rest." After what felt like miles of road and hours passed the morning a small wooden hut that looked carved into the tree sat off the the side, quant and empty with two windows and a brown door with a sign marked " rest house- vacant". " whomever built this road built rest houses throughout the road, my wisps told me of four, this must be the first." They walked up to the door and noticed it did not have a door knob or handle, or even hinges and when Daisy tried to push it open it was as if the door wasn't a door at all rather is was an immovable wall. Erlem walked around the hut seeing if he could find a key or clue as to how they could open the door. Daisy stood in front of the hut her right hand resting under her chin as she pondered the predicament in front of them. She lowered her hood revealing her black hair and fair face, she was visibly tired and her ability to think was being challenged by it. She walked up to the door again this time she focused on the sign " rest house-vacant" , she ran her fingers over it and realized the "vacant" portion of the sign was a template and had another side. " occupied" she shrugged and flipped it. The door glowed and a door knob appeared. Daisy touched the door knob and twisted it, to her delight the door opened. "Erlem look!" Erlem scurried over to her and smiled, "shall we then?" Daisy asked, he nodded and pushed the door open all the way revealing the inside.
It was a nice little place, it had a wood stove with a pile of fire wood and kindling in the corner, a tea pot, some basic foods in the pantry and a well, which had no see able bottom and a bucket with no rope meant to fetch water. There was a single large bed with a straw mattress and pillows. It would do fine. They closed the door behind them and conjured a table and two chairs, Daisy walked over to the bucket and almost immediately it filled with fresh water.
A water charm linked to the bucket and well, advanced magic for sure but Daisy was still at a loss as to who may have built this road. It wasn't the Magestrate or it would have been manned and carried the banner of the citadel, it was obviously not of the great cities either, the lack of ownership of this marvel was still bothering her. Whomever built this surely wanted some sort of recognition.
Daisy pulled some books from her satchel, some history books of civilized Thre'a and a codex of charms - advanced volume one hoping there may be a mention of this place or the magics used to construct it. She fell in and out of sleep as she tried to read, the trip had taken alot out of her and she was helpless to fight the approaching sleep that was chasing her as the day ticked on. Erlem finally gave up and laid down in the bed underneath the warm blankets and furs. Unable to fight any longer Daisy surrendered and crawled next to Erlem and drifted off into a deep sleep.