The Fairy Diary Day 377 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Guides were assigned to us by Gnoston to see us up to the capital. Artoxon had been so satisfied with the effectiveness of the pixie traps that he ordered more to be put in place. (And they were cheaper than hiring more guards). 

It seems ironic to me then that they had no effect to impede the movement of the most dangerous of invaders – a dragon.

Dunfallon and Noralei kept track of their placement as we went along. They told me (out of the earshot of our guides) that those traps placed by the dwarves were so easily spotted that a youngling could avoid them. The pixie thinks he may offer Artoxon his services for planting better ones. 

Rumble thinks he is only half serious. And he prefers that we come up with something that could warn against them, since I think trapping one is beyond our ability. 

Perhaps Merlin might have a few ideas to that end.

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The Fairy Diary Day 319 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

After resting at one of the villages belonging to the dwarf miners we encountered two more dwarves passing in the opposite direction. They bore more riches to add to the wealth of Artoxon. Fliget knew both of them, so they were willing to share news about the way ahead. 

They had to skirt around a lot of activity down by the passage that is our goal. Dark elves were sniffing around looking for the hidden doorway. They seemed unconcerned that their foes may be successful soon. (Understandable, as in that case the dark elves would be led away, leaving Artoxon’s dwarves safe in their hidden kingdom). 

Before parting Gnoston and Dunfallon warned them about the traps that had been set. And asked them not to disturb them.

The Fairy Diary Day 318 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I received a note back from the High Fairy. He reported that the advance of Nililitil’s forces has stalled before the fortifications of the stronghold mentioned by our dwarfish guides. They are despairing of taking it any time soon. All attempts to circumvent the city have been blocked and they observe dark elf troops coming and going via the Low-way. 

There was some good news, his excellency added that Merlin says that Gilgorgon and his dwarves are fully prepared to repel any dark elves coming their way. (Merlin would prefer to move the dragon eggs, but Gilgorgon refuses. The wizard has a concern that possession of the eggs is having an undue influence on him).

Our guides tell us that we are two villages away from the passage spur that branches to the east and ultimately to the mountain of the Gilgorgon dwarves. They keep us going at a good pace but do dwell on entertaining histories at certain points we pass. Dunfallon uses the opportunity to school them in pixie traps and even leaves a few examples. 

Noralei confides to me that the further along we go on the Low-way the stranger she feels. I sense it too. I can only call it what she does. A rising bloodlust. 

The Fairy Diary Day 310 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

My request through the High Fairy to ask for some goblins to join us was refused by the goblin king. A disappointment in one aspect, but a release in another. 

We felt free to begin laying pixie traps from hereon going forward – without fear that our allies would fall into them. 

As we press onward the passage is becoming more and more ornate. And equally ornate passageways are branching off the main one. It is slowing our progress for we are making sure no enemies are left to our rear as we go. 

Dunfallon with Willie’s help carries out this task swiftly and with aplomb – leaving his signature traps as he goes. 

I feel safer already. 

The Fairy Diary Day 309 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin made no demands of us before he departed. Neither commanding us to stay nor to continue on. He only asked that we consider carefully our next step. 

This was what we wanted to do anyway. Though each one of us was willing to soldier on, we took his advice to heart and paused to weigh our decision. We wanted to be absolutely sure we had a call to go on. 

On the face of it we were unsure what we small folk could do against such a large force. Hitherto we had considered ourselves as just scouts for the greater forces of our allies. 

Rumble this time surprised us all with his suggestion that we set pixie traps to whittle down the numbers of the dark elves. And further he said he could come up with a fairy trick or two that could be equally effective. 

This won Dunfallon’s vote. 

Noralei was silent in thought throughout these martial pronouncements. So, I asked what troubled her. 

She replied that she felt a rising bloodlust within her that, in fact, scared her. 

Then she said something else that fell on our ears like a blow. 

We have seen the dark elf warriors, but where are their women and children?

The Fairy Diary Day 297 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We fairies filled the silence with a frantic survey of the shaft above. But all seemed secure. 

I checked on Hawk – his face was a mask of misery. A good indication to me that he was not expecting rescue. Willie tethered nearby in his lantern prison had grown dim and an occasional sob ruffled his whiskers. 

Then from below came the shrieks of the dark elves. And I knew the pixie traps were sprung. 

By the time we had descended the fight was over. The goblins had ripped through the dark elves, devouring any that dared show their faces. 

Thus the first wave died. 

Whether there were more we do not know. Neither Merlin nor the High Fairy had been able to supply us with any numbers. 

The reigning silence was eerie.

The Fairy Diary Day 296 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The decision was made to keep the main passage free. Dunfallon and his associates filled up the minor ones with their pixie traps after identifying each one and sealing off their entrances. 

They finished none too soon. For Noralei who was out in the deepest reaches of the main one, came running back with the news that she had heard the tramp of approaching feet. 

We had plenty of time to marshal our forces – pixie and goblin (and us few fairies). We emptied the armory. 

The goblins and their king took the first rank – a particularly formidable foe. 

The pixies assembled behind them. But they would not stay there come battle. Dunfallon planned to lead in and around the larger combatants in what he called “an ankle biting strategy.”

We fairies hovered overhead to better direct our forces where needed. 

Then, came the tramp of feet echoing out of the main passage and into the shaft. 

At its crescendo it fell silent. 

And we all had the horrible thought that somehow we had failed in finding all the passages into the shaft. 

The Fairy Diary Day 295 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Noralei noticed the strange behavior of the Will’o’the Wisp within his lantern prison. He was more agitated and glowed brighter when anywhere near Hawk. 

We learned to use it for effect. For Hawk was also affected by the nearness of Willie. It made him all the more compliant when interrogating him about which passage the returning dark elf forces would use. 

After Hawk identified the main passage, Dunfallon and the Dromadilians went in to explore and to set pixie traps. 

They discovered that further back the wide passage indicated by Hawk had offshoots to narrower passages that also ended in the shaft. 

Thus, a new debate began – seal off the one or the many?