Ymiden 45, Arc 721
A lot had changed over the course of what had been a seven-trial and an entire season at the same time, for himself as well as the world as a whole, Doran mused as he made his way from the beach towards the gate of Hopetoun, but the settlement that had had a special place in his heart still was the same. Of course, more people lived there nowadays – the former slaves that Xiur had mentioned to Vega and him had apparently decided to stay – but it still had that peaceful, calming effect on him that he had previously only experienced when he was surrounded by ice and snow or when he had retreated into the world of dreams.
The little Diri that had appeared next to him when his memories had returned was perched on his shoulder – it seemed to prefer to be somewhere up high, and it had come to the conclusion that he was the highest point nearby – and chatting away. He had to admit, he found its observations about their surroundings – the fine orange sand and the strange plants that grew on Faldrass – entertaining as well as occasionally insightful, even though he was not a particularly talkative individual himself. Besides, he appreciated his new connection to Ishallr and the companionship that he had found there, in the Heart of Scalvoris.
He was looking forward to seeing the inhabitants of Hopetoun, some of whom had become something close to friends, again, greatly so, although catching up with them after an unusually eventful time was not the only purpose of his visit, or the main one. Qylios had given him a task. He had thought about how to best go about fulfilling it. He wanted to not only learn more about Enri Von Smooglenuff, but actually find him – and suddenly remembered something, something that might help him put the numerous puzzle pieces together correctly.
The cycle before, he had spent an evening around a campfire with Vega, Arlo and Kisaik. They had told each other stories, and Arlo had mentioned something, a meeting with Baron Smooglenuff – the last Baron, Rodrigues. Learning more about him and the events that he had held at his manor might help him understand the Smooglenuff family and, ultimately, Enri.
With that thought in mind, the Mortalborn that he was dressed a little more casually than he would have been in his native Viden – he was wearing a simple dark suit, a cloak and sturdy boots – made his way through Hopetoun, stopping in order to exchange a few words with a settler that he knew particularly well here and there. Finally, he arrived at the cooking tents where the pleasant smell of freshly cooked food reached his nose and looked around for a moment before he spotted the son of Cassion.
“Mister Creede”, he greeted the other man in a polite tone of voice and inclined his head slightly before he came closer. “How have you been since we parted ways in the Heart of Scalvoris?” he wanted to know. He did not pose that question for the sake of politeness, but because he was genuinely curious as to what his acquaintance had been up to, and whether he was well. What had happened on that trial in Ashan had affected the world – as well as most of the people involved – on a fundamental level, after all.
“I was wondering if you had time to help me with something”, he continued after a while in a calm tone of voice. “Lady Qylios gave me a task. She wishes to understand how Enri von Smooglenuff was involved in the story that we were all a part of, and I remembered that you mentioned attending one of his descendant Rodrigues’ murder mysteries once. I’d be grateful for whatever you are willing to tell me”, he remarked before he fell silent and waited for the other man to speak.
In the meantime, the little Iceforged Diri left the Mortalborn's shoulder and settled down on a nearby tree instead from where it watched the proceedings, quietly, as it always did, and unseen by mortalkind.
A lot had changed over the course of what had been a seven-trial and an entire season at the same time, for himself as well as the world as a whole, Doran mused as he made his way from the beach towards the gate of Hopetoun, but the settlement that had had a special place in his heart still was the same. Of course, more people lived there nowadays – the former slaves that Xiur had mentioned to Vega and him had apparently decided to stay – but it still had that peaceful, calming effect on him that he had previously only experienced when he was surrounded by ice and snow or when he had retreated into the world of dreams.
The little Diri that had appeared next to him when his memories had returned was perched on his shoulder – it seemed to prefer to be somewhere up high, and it had come to the conclusion that he was the highest point nearby – and chatting away. He had to admit, he found its observations about their surroundings – the fine orange sand and the strange plants that grew on Faldrass – entertaining as well as occasionally insightful, even though he was not a particularly talkative individual himself. Besides, he appreciated his new connection to Ishallr and the companionship that he had found there, in the Heart of Scalvoris.
He was looking forward to seeing the inhabitants of Hopetoun, some of whom had become something close to friends, again, greatly so, although catching up with them after an unusually eventful time was not the only purpose of his visit, or the main one. Qylios had given him a task. He had thought about how to best go about fulfilling it. He wanted to not only learn more about Enri Von Smooglenuff, but actually find him – and suddenly remembered something, something that might help him put the numerous puzzle pieces together correctly.
The cycle before, he had spent an evening around a campfire with Vega, Arlo and Kisaik. They had told each other stories, and Arlo had mentioned something, a meeting with Baron Smooglenuff – the last Baron, Rodrigues. Learning more about him and the events that he had held at his manor might help him understand the Smooglenuff family and, ultimately, Enri.
With that thought in mind, the Mortalborn that he was dressed a little more casually than he would have been in his native Viden – he was wearing a simple dark suit, a cloak and sturdy boots – made his way through Hopetoun, stopping in order to exchange a few words with a settler that he knew particularly well here and there. Finally, he arrived at the cooking tents where the pleasant smell of freshly cooked food reached his nose and looked around for a moment before he spotted the son of Cassion.
“Mister Creede”, he greeted the other man in a polite tone of voice and inclined his head slightly before he came closer. “How have you been since we parted ways in the Heart of Scalvoris?” he wanted to know. He did not pose that question for the sake of politeness, but because he was genuinely curious as to what his acquaintance had been up to, and whether he was well. What had happened on that trial in Ashan had affected the world – as well as most of the people involved – on a fundamental level, after all.
“I was wondering if you had time to help me with something”, he continued after a while in a calm tone of voice. “Lady Qylios gave me a task. She wishes to understand how Enri von Smooglenuff was involved in the story that we were all a part of, and I remembered that you mentioned attending one of his descendant Rodrigues’ murder mysteries once. I’d be grateful for whatever you are willing to tell me”, he remarked before he fell silent and waited for the other man to speak.
In the meantime, the little Iceforged Diri left the Mortalborn's shoulder and settled down on a nearby tree instead from where it watched the proceedings, quietly, as it always did, and unseen by mortalkind.
