The Fairy Diary Day 611 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Our meeting with the Dromadil king was somewhat tumultuous. We were all there. And all very much taken aback by the palpable aversion the king has to even the mention of the Sprites. And the refusal of the Will’o’the Wisp to help prompted an even greater explosion. He turned green as his first reaction and flushed red at the second. 

I believe Dunfallon was quite surprised at his lack of self-control. 

After we waited for him to collect himself, (he changed another color upon learning that dwarves once dug in the earth below his city) he latched onto the possibilities offered by Dibla’s map. And asked that we find a way down to fix the problem –  just the five of us. 

When Gibley shared that one of the entrances down may be located somewhere within his treasury all the color drained from his face. The king then fell to begging and pleading with us to do it. 

At that point I told him that we would discuss it amongst ourselves and get back to him tomorrow. 

We all met back in the Conjil’s stable. And while we bandied about our decision, Dunfallon worked with Noralei on a solution to protect the dragon from summoning. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 411 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Between Dunfallon and myself the conviction is growing that something is in operation actively opposing our progress. In comparing his two perspectives- up high or at canyon level – the pixie declares that the two do not line up. 

And the rest of us on the canyon floor were puzzled by strange sights. When you stood in one spot and looked about – each direction appeared to be a mirror image of the same view. One departed from that spot in one direction and returned to the very same place from another direction. 

Since all our efforts appeared to be of no avail, when Dunfallon next rejoined us, I said until further notice we would be retracing our steps to the river and attempt another route altogether. 

It took some trial and error, but because of Rumble’s additions to his map we arrived back at the river safely.

The Fairy Diary Day 410 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It has been a frustrating day. Rumble’s map contains very few details for this area, so we wandered into a canyon that seemed to be the main route only to discover it to have no outlet – just a blank wall at the end. 

Even from overhead navigating proved tricky. Dunfallon directed us away from an apparent blind canyon that turned out to be the route we wanted. Noralei saw from our perspective that an arch crossed the passage and not a cliff wall. 

We decided to stay put and let our pixie fly down the various branches at the canyon level to isolate the ‘true’ way. 

I was beginning to think we were up against some kind of enchantment, but there was no indication of the like from any of my three pendants. 

And in all this waiting our hatchling exhibited more wakefulness and required more attention to stop her from wandering away. 

Gibley thinks we need to find the home of his people the dragon handlers sooner than later.

The Fairy Diary Day 409 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We are making our way, best we can, to the cavern outside of which Dunfallon discovered the dragon training staff. He reported that there are no direct paths to it. All of the canyons on this side run away from it. According to Rumble’s map we could follow the river to a canyon that runs directly to it – but it looks to be five times as long as going straight over the top of the mountainous plateau between here and there.

For his part, Gibley apologized that he could offer no help. The first time he was outside of his goblin home was on the inside of the bag held by the dark elves. 

In thinking over the problem I could not help but surmise that the other cavern spotted by our pixie might just be another entrance into the place we want to be. And despite its access looking to be the most difficult canyon to traverse we chose to challenge it. 

And if it proves a dead end we shall attempt going over the high plateau.  

The Fairy Diary Day 404 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Gibley has found it very difficult traveling out in the light of day. It has been a much bigger trial than he had expected, even though he supplied himself with goggles with very dark lenses. 

His charge, however, has taken quite well to the surface world. That is, whenever she is awake. I do believe she sleeps more than she did back in the land of the dwarves underground. 

Not that I am complaining. It does make it easier to control her. At least for now. 

And whenever Dunfallon returns to us, it is usually with some delicacy for her that he has sought out. Then the pixie confers with Rumble and his map – this gives him a heading for the next leg of our journey – and he flies off to be our eyes and ears again. 

It is easily the best way to traverse the mazes found here in the canyonlands.

The Fairy Diary Day 385 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Rumble and I questioned a half dozen goblin witnesses who had been in other parties out looking for the whereabouts of the dragon. Adding the locations of their prior sightings to Rumble’s map revealed that either one dragon was very active, or there were more than one. 

I was of the opinion that one was the correct number. But that also meant that this goblin camp must be at the center of a honeycomb of passageways. 

Dunfallon and Noralei had gone out with another party of dragon hunters, back down to whence we came – to check more thoroughly the passage discovered by our pixie. 

They returned with a prisoner – a tall elf we recognized as our former ‘shipmate’ Hawk. When caught he had been carrying a saddle and bridle for a dragon. 

I jotted a note to the High Fairy and summoned Merlin.

The Fairy Diary Day 353 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I released a thankful pixie from the library today. Rumble and I sent Dunfallon to check out two locations that I uncovered in my research. They are known, not only for mines that produce crystals, but they also have the artisans with the abilities to fashion enchanted vessels from them. 

Rumble supplied him with a map with landmarks that will guide him to his destinations. Before departing Merlin took him aside and coached him on what to look for – and what to say and what to do when interacting with the artisans in particular. 

A happy pixie was soon winging forth on his golden eagle.

Rumble and I returned to our work in the mines of the library. We changed our focus from those places in or near the land with no name, to other possibilities more distant. 

I was interrupted in my task once again by a note on the scroll from the High Fairy. Noralei is now ready to return. 

I informed Merlin, and before I cracked open the next book she was with us in Merlin’s castle.

The Fairy Diary Day 308 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Much time passed before we heard again from the High Fairy. In the meantime there were rumbles of activity out to our front. Noralei investigated a number of times but could see nothing. 

After the prompting from the High Fairy, I took up the pendant and summoned Merlin. 

We were so glad to see him. For we were at the point of retreating due to the ghostly goings on. The instant he appeared all of it ceased. 

The wizard told us that there is a large army of dark elves between us and the canyonlands’ entrance. The dead discovered there, had been under a frenzy spell that goaded them to their last-ditch effort. Very effective but short lived. Nililitil’s forces have entered once again and have taken up the pursuit. 

Merlin asked for the map from Rumble and drew some new features onto it. But when Dunfallon mentioned that this passage is the Low-way of the dwarves, the wizard’s face turned ashen.

“I must leave immediately for Gilgorgon’s mountain to warn him,” he said. He stated his fear that the dark elves may be drawn to the two dragon’s eggs he left in the dwarves’ care. And added there are stories that a long unused passage from Gilgorgon’s mountain connects to the Low-way of the dwarves.

The Fairy Diary Day 305 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The way ahead has changed. We have turned a corner as it were. The path has again leveled off and has straightened. According to Rumble’s map we are now lined up for a straight approach to the canyonlands. 

Dunfallon took one look at the map and observed that we must be on the famous Low-way of the dwarves. He first had heard of it from our time with Gilgorgon and his dwarves under the mountain. It had been constructed aeons ago – and abandoned in another era – now to them only a distant memory. 

We passed by some hollowed out habitations – probably dwarfish handiwork – and Noralei advised greater caution going forward, saying we may soon encounter the lead elements of the dark elves.

The Fairy Diary Day 303 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

After much discussion we came to a consensus that this location would be ideal for the defense against the dark elves. To that end I got out the scroll and penned a note to the High Fairy and asked him to get this word to the goblin king through the Dromadil pixies. 

Before we continued on via the left fork, Dunfallon marked the area with a few choice goblin signs, to aid them in setting up their defenses. And Rumble showed me a map he had drawn up detailing this underground passage so far. And marvel of marvels he can overlay it on the map given to us by Merlin. 

One look at the revealed expanse from where we are to the canyonlands was disheartening – until Noralei reminded me that we just might encounter the dark elves long before then. 

I hurriedly appended a note to the High Fairy asking that goblin forces be moved into place as soon as possible.