Chronicles of Entrath

The two of them walked into the tavern and sat down at the bar. Sly looked around and felt The Roost was quite enchanting. Paper lanterns hanged from the ceiling and were in hues of orange and red with intricate flower patterns on them, the poles holding up the ceiling were carved to look like branches coiling out of floor, there were also several huge windows to showcase the mystical forest of The Feralroot.   Sly looked around at the many elves enjoying themselves as Lysandra and Baltasuar sat down with him. “So stranger pray tell what daring do has ye done?” Baltasuar said as he ordered three drinks.

Sly looked a bit taken aback as he barely started and felt there was little to tell that a bard would want to know. “Oh I’m just a humble traveler sir I doubt I’ve done anything worthy of a campfire story as it were.” A barman gave three wooden goblets with unique designs each cup carved into them. He took a sip of the drink and gasped, the drink was like sipping fire! “Ack.. cough cough.. What.. Is that?” He asked shocked at the the experience but after his initial shock the wine had a distinct ‘cooked’ flavor which was interesting.

Balt laughed. “Haha perhaps Ashwood Wine is a bit much for you it might’ve been better in winter mayhaps? It’s intended to warm you up.” He looked to the barman and told him to come over. “Artemis my good man please exchange  this drink for a less shocking one as it were.” He said in a jokingly tone as he found Sly’s reaction amusing but meant no mocking to him.

“So Sly pray tell what is it your here for?” Lysandra asked as she took Sly’s Ashwood drink and poured it into her cup after gulping down her’s in one sitting. It seemed while elves had the most powerful mastery of Wild Magic of all Allied Races they were extremely carefree if war was not involved. As the three of them talked amongst themselves a boy elf walked onto the small stage at the center of the room as lights flew out of the lanterns and shined on him making the entire room a bit dimmer.

“Ladies and gentlemen and Coyotle guest we welcome thee to this afternoon’s performance! Please show your appreciation to Feste The Fire Juggler!” A female in rather beautiful robes was the EMCEE of the Roost and she took a step back to let Feste have the stage.

“To accommodate the rare treat of another race joining us I’d like to ask him if ye would care to be my ‘target’? Don’t worry I’m quite good at aiming.” He winked at Sly as two rather buff looking elves with only pants carried a large bullseye into the room. “Stand in front of it and we shall begin yes?” Sly a bit nervous naturally walked into the center and stood in front of the target. Feste took out five daggers and started juggling them in a very complex fashion almost as if the daggers were being moved with telekinesis. After a few moments they all instantly and simultaneously lit aflame. Feste smiled and spun around as three daggers hit the target in three different spots and extinguished the second they were near Sly. He gulped at this.

“Yip!” Sly inadvertently barked in shock at the dagger throwing he was not expecting to embarrass himself...

Feste smiled as he put the daggers away and the target was removed and embedded daggers given back to him. “Is thou alright?” Feste said a bit concerned but clapping was heard. Despite scaring the living hell out of him Sly was impressed.

“Oh um... Yes thanks..” Sly blushed feeling terribly awkward. “That was impressive Mr Feste how’d you get them to light up?” Feste smiled and took out a dagger.

“Yes you see we elves while we love nature and all it’s bounties we also need to defend ourselves we have discovered the magic of Ruby Hexing Gems and we use it to entertain make various art and foodstuffs and to help us battle our foes. We look at our defenses as beautiful and deadly. Why use magic if not for flair hm?” He smiled as he held a dagger aloft on his forefinger and set it on fire. “Fire destroys but it’s also beautiful eh?”  Sly nodded at him.

“I see well as I was going to say.. I’m looking for The Ambling Mesa I was told to look for it and that you people would have a hint or two.” Sly said as the four of them went back to the bar. Feste stood and played with his daggers as they talked.

“Ah yes thee Ambling Mesa the wandering village. It’s off the edge of the Feralroot Woods just a days journey east. I hope thou findst what ye seek.” Lysandra said as she took a fourth drink and put it down. Sly felt elves either had such a tolerance for wine they literally can’t get drunk or they just never show when they were drunk. “Well fare thee well fine sirs thy must partake my leave and seek new adventures!” She kissed Balt on the cheek winked and left.

“Yes I’ll leave too now I have the information I seek.” He nodded as he got up. “Thanks for your help perhaps we’ll meet again?” Sly said as he started to walk off.

“Wait! Thou mind if ye has a helping hand?” Feste said holding Sly’s shoulder. “I think I can be of help to ye dost thou approve of an offer?” He asked with a serious expression. Feste seemed worried that Sly might refuse him but the power to set anything on fire with a mere flick of the wrist would be a damn good ability to have.

When they returned to the Thunder Plains Sly Dog was tasked to secure any information on a second shard of Hex. Where he would find such a thing was beyond even the prophetic magic of elder coyotles but Sly was ready for the tasked or he hoped.

He was told to find The Ambling Mesa the mystical village atop an earth elemental, where such a thing could be found was difficult to ascertain as it was always moving but if he were lucky he’d find it in a day’s journey. As Sly bid Whisper goodbye he was told of a tavern in the Feralroot Woods where he might get some advice as the elves while aloof to most matters always had an ear to the ground. Sly thanked him for all his help in the fight at Cray and bid him good tidings as he left to find The Saytr Roost

“Halt who goes there?” A voice asked. Sly wasn’t unsure how far he walked the surroundings went from plains to a deep forest rather quickly. The Thunder Plains must be on the border of Feralroot Sly figured.

“Um.. It is I Sly Dog Tamer of Spirits I hail from the Coyotle training outpost The Thunder Plains.” As he shouted looking all around a beautiful but stern looking elf female walked into view. She was a light green color and had bug like wings around her ears as antennas, she wore rather intricately designed possibly expensive too clothing.

“Well met thy stranger I’m Lysandra I’m a wandering minstrel with my pet Shakespeare thou art you?” The elf had white hair and wore a scarf around her head like a hat.

Sly sized her up he had never met an elf before so she seemed a bit off but he was aware albeit briefly of the Ardent Alliance while the details of it’s founding are lost to him he knew Elves were Coyotle allies perhaps one of the biggest. “I’m Sly Dog Tamer of Spirits. It’s nice to meet you Lysandra.” He smiled at her as they talked. “So do you know of a Saytr’s Roost?”

“Dost thou wish to meet the Saytr? He so loves guests I think he’d be delighted to meet a coyotle.” She nodded and gestured for Sly to follow her. They walked deeper into the woods which was so deep it felt as if it were midnight but the way was lit with several torches and a rope and wooden ladder was attached to a tree. “How bout thee go first?” She gestured to the rope. Sly nodded and climbed the ladder best he could.

As he climbed he saw a beautiful wooden building carved into the trees. Lights and music filled the air. “Wow..” Sly looked around it was a rather lively party various elves wandered about chatting laughing dancing or singing, a few played instruments. Sky laughed at the spectacle. “Well is this place always so lively? My.” He helped Lysandra up as she climbed the ladder and smiled at her. She cocked her head and grinned.

“Welcome to the Saytr’s Roost.” She said gesturing and giving a strong  pat on the back which made Sly stumble slightly.

An armored female Shin’hare walked into view and the two coyotles saw an aura of faint blue behind her. “Weaklings.” She declared as she stepped onto the dead Warlock and crushed his skull under her boot. “The Militia has no need for weaklings but a soul is a soul.” Six rabbit skulls started to float around her as she scanned the area. She made a motion with her left paw as five armed Shin’hare came out of the doorway. “Scout the area those filthy mongrels are here somewhere.” Sly and Whisper knew they couldn’t hide for very long but six against two? The odds were certainly against them.

“We can’t fight them all at once but I could maybe deal with the guards while you kill Sora be careful she is a powerful warrior with Warlock training.” Sly didn’t have time to ask how he knew this as a cold wind coursed through the area. The wind gave a chill in Sly’s spine that was not due to the temperature..

Sly boldly walked into the open area and concentrated to summon Honovi which didn’t happen...  “You came here for the Sapphire meteor? Please one mutt against The Militia? I knew you were stupid breed of animals with a degree of intellect a bit more then a Shroomkin has but honestly one Coyotle? You can’t be that stupid.” She sized up Sly who was clearly bigger and taller then her but anyone who thought size won against the Shin’hare would be dead in seconds. Sly stood about five feet from her as they both silently judged the other.

“We’re never alone.” Was all he said. Sora smiled darkly as she withdrew her katana from it’s sheathe.

“Then let the stars you love so much mourn your corpse.” She lifted her free hand and absorbed a soul into her paw and then lightly brushed her sword with her paw as it started to glow with energy. “Do you know what Blood Magic is puppy? The power to manipulate souls and nature to your will. Wild magic creates and cultivates what exists Blood taints and mutates what exists. So if your ‘never alone’ then who will mourn you if you don’t exist? This sword shall absorb your very soul with just a few grazes! Die like the feral beast you ARE!!” She rushed into Sly as he pulled out an arrow and blocked her sword as if he was using a spear. 

“Sister Midnight shall protect me if she deigns it necessary.” He shoved her off him as he splayed out his paw creating vines to snare her. “Mind holding still?” He mocked as he jumped back about three feet and started to concentrate again to summon Honovi.

Sora was taken aback but she couldn’t imagine the coyotle was stupid enough to think a few vines would hold her. It took her about 30 seconds to cut away the vines and she felt with his eyes closed he thought he won. She rushed at him jumped and was about to slice him in two vertically when a white barrier blocked her. “What?! Impossible you..” She did a backflip to get away and scanned the situation. She looked about and saw no one who could’ve casted a spell to block her nor did she see the stag running around either. So what happened? Did his stupid goddess really just randomly decide to save him? Whatever the reason she doubt it would happen twice in span of a minute. She rushed at him again and this time tried to cut his legs but he vanished annoyingly.. She didn’t think Coyotles knew Hexing magic... “What? Coward!!” She looked frantically around swearing at top of her lungs.

“Far from it to be honest.” She heard Sly say. She felt something against her back and in an instant she felt nothing. A large smoldering hole was in her chest as she collapsed onto the ground. “Well that lightning magic got rid of her in a hurry.” Whispering walked into view and smiled.

As the duo walked to Crayburn Whisper gave several tips to Sly in hopes he’ll manage himself. “I can’t asist you for long but while we’re together I’ll tell you as much as I know. While I believe training is the best course of teaching I’ll give you a hint or two. Now-” He stopped as his ears twitched. “Whose there?” He demanded as a purple lightning bolt grazed his ear. “The Shin’hare arrived faster then I hoped.. We can’t let them secure the shard!” Sly took out his arrow and fired it in the general direction of the bolt he didn’t miss but he didn’t kill the Shin’hare.

About ten feet from them hiding near a doorway was a two foot tall rabbit with fancy robes. His paws crackled with magical energy and had about five poorly dressed and malnourished Shin’hare beside him. Each wore rags and were chained to various posts in the earth. “Filthy mutts!! How dare you defy your masters! We Shin’hare are rulers of the earth! Knell before my powers and I shall let you be my new pets and be much more cared for then my Soul Slaves. Deal?” The Shin’hare cackled as he spoke.

“Slaves?” Sly knew very little of the Shin’hare in fact he’s never seen one.

“Later right now we’ll have to kill him and doing it before he kills his slaves would be the best course of action. The Shin’hare believe only those in power have a life worth protecting those slaves of his he’ll not hesitate to kill them to cast various Blood magic.” Whisper and Sly hid behind a rock after Sly shot the arrow but now they had to figure out how to kill that Shin’hare...

“Come Honovi!” A bright brilliant light appeared as a beautiful ghostly stag walked forward a few feet. “I don’t know what that creature is capable of what with ‘Blood’ magic but please distract him so I can get a clear shot.” He petted the stag while it was indeed a ghost Coyotles had a mystical understanding of spirits and could interact with them even if they were not trained in Warlock magic.

“Hahaha!!! Are you afraid?! Did you run off with your tails between your flith covered legs? Worthless dogs the lot of you! Fight me like the cowards you are!” For the sheer fun of it the Warlock Shin’hare electrocuted one of his slaves as a ghostly skull started to leave it’s body. “Hahaha!! Every two minutes I can’t see you I’ll absorb one of my slaves! Can you beat a Warlock with the souls of five slaves at his beck and call? I know it’s in your savage itty bitty hearts to save a life regardless of their race. So come on lil guys be the hero!!” Without caring about what he just declared he absorbed another soul. As the Warlock amused himself he saw the glowing aura of Honovi and cocked his head. “Eh? What’s this..?” The stag walked into the open as the Warlock eyed it. “Hahaha!!! Another soul for me to play with!” He casted another spell but the purple energy bounced off the stag. “What the?!” Angered he tried again. Furious now he absorbed a third slave and started chanting but he didn’t get very far as Sly let loose an arrow piercing the Sin’hare in the throat killing him a few seconds later.

“Whew... We at least saved a few of them..” As Sly said that something absorbed the souls of the other two slaves and Honovi vanished. “Wait what?!” Sly looked around as Whisper held a paw against him.

Sly Dog Spirit Tamer entered into the Thunder Plains seeking tutorship of Whispering Breeze a well known ranger and tracker. Sly came from a small village off the east of the Howling Plains he knew very little of The War of Alliances but he was a young pup with hope in his eyes. His full name gave him a bit of credit that was uncalled for, whilst he did have a spirit animal he felt that ‘Tamer’ was a bit dramatic. All coyotles who started to train for hunting gained the power of their spirit animal. But while Sly did not brag about his title he has had some luck with various spirits but he still hesitates to call himself a Tamer of Spirits. As he walked into the Thunder Plains he saw Whispering Breeze sitting with his legs crossed and throwing powder into the small fire. “Hello Sly Dog.” He said without looking up.

While Sly was a pup who barely grown up he did know not to question those who knew his name. “Hello Whisper. I was hoping you could teach me how to hunt better.” Whisper looked up and smiled at him.

“Perhaps you’d care to join me on a little quest? You’ll be able to learn faster then sitting here.” As he threw another paw full of powder into the flames a bright blue orb shimmered in the smoke as it then turned into a crimson red and then a demonic skull. Sly could’ve sworn he heard cackling.

“What was that..?” He asked taking a step back.