The Fairy Diary Day 625 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It has been a good first day. Even though we did not make it out of harbor with the fishing fleet as Captain Goff had hoped. We held off for the return of Conjil carrying Gibley and Dunfallon. Thankfully we did not have to wait too long. 

However, it did take some time to settle the dragon into her position on the main deck amidships. (I think she would prefer to perch on the taffrail, but that would put us down by the stern).

We received our first message on my scroll from Emminie. The Sprites have expanded their exploration- so now besides connections with the pixies they have added contacts to the goblins in the great shaft and the trolls of the surrounding area. He is confident that if there is any activity from the Frost Fairies he will hear of it in short order. 

Noralei has inspected the harness apparatus and has pronounced it sound. We will hold off on using it until we can convince Captain Goff that it will be beneficial. 

Merlin monitors the seers stone and I back him up when I can. I am paired with Noralei for our watches, and Rumble with Dunfallon on theirs. We take turns introducing Gibley to the work of a sailor. And that work has introduced the goblin to the rigors of seasickness. 

The one surprise so far is the voice from Dunfallon’s ring complaining about being seasick too. Is it part of the Will’o’the Wisp that has been placed in the ring?

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The Fairy Diary Day 586 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Noralei arose before the sun, and we came early also to see her off. She and Gibley already had everything in place for their trip to the repository. Not knowing how long she would be called upon to settle the new dragons in there, she again turned over control of her shop to her sister. And l promised to follow after them once Merlin returned from his time with the trolls. 

Dunfallon, however, announced that he and Navril were also going to make the trip to the repository – on foot. (The pixie had often bragged to the elf about all the sights they had missed when Merlin had rushed us to Nonin-gal-dith from the capital). So, they departed just after we made our goodbyes to Noralei and Gibley. 

Come the afternoon I experienced quite a letdown as all at once all the excitement was gone. I called on Rumble and together we recruited Tinadell to join us in a bowl of refreshment and we talked long into the evening. 

By the time we left we were a bit merry. 

The Fairy Diary Day 585 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon came back from his early morning walk with exciting news. The village  had been abuzz with a rumor that a dragon and a goblin were pacing about outside the daisy ring defenses. He rushed to investigate and found our friend Gibley with Conjil. He led them in – settled Conjil in Noralei’s stable – and came straight over to collect us. 

Having seen us on our way, the pixie continued on to notify Rumble and Tinadell of our gathering. 

The instant I came through the door to Noralei’s shop, the face of the little goblin lit up and he bounded over to greet me. He had a message from Merlin for me. As I had thought when the wizard left the canyonlands he told Gibley that he had a promise to keep with the trolls. 

I asked him what his uncle decided about Noralei’s request for a breeding pair of dragons. Gibley asked me to wait until we were all present. 

So, the instant Dunfallon arrived with Rumble and Tinadell, the goblin led us out to the stable. And there he introduced us to the young dragon Clemjil, and an unhatched dragon egg, lovingly cared for by Conjil. 

Noralei was beside herself with excitement. 

The Fairy Diary Day 577 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

When we left behind the trolls and the well that was once the tower of the Dark elves, Merlin turned his attention to Willie by joining him within his cage and stayed there throughout our transit to Laguayil. 

I admit as time went on I became uncomfortable at the long bouts of silence between the intermittent buzz of conversation. The wizard emerged as the city of the elves of light came in view. He stated that all was well within and expressed satisfaction at the change in the Wisp’s demeanor. 

The frost that covered the fields round about the area we were approaching, melted before our eyes as the sun appeared from behind the clouds that had hung over our entire morning. 

Dunfallon maneuvered us around to the main gate, and from there we were shown up to the palace to meet with Nililitil. Navril was there, of course, and he took Dunfallon aside for a quick chat. 

Once the formalities were observed, Merlin told the elven king all that had transpired since last they met. Nililitil was particularly interested in what he had to relate about the Sprites. Then, we got around to the point of our visit – seeking their aid for Noralei’s claim for Rayjil. 

Navril spoke up at that juncture and volunteered to appear at the hearing in her support. Nililitil agreed to his proposal and drew up a letter for him to give to the Faerie Queen. 

Before we departed Merlin asked me to drop a note to the High Fairy to inform him of our imminent arrival. Then, he told me he had decided to ride with Willie again in order to make room on Cluyjil for Navril too. 

Navril sang his farewell to his king and once underway took up that pixie ditty with his friend Dunfallon. 

The Fairy Diary Day 575 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Crisp and cold air – and a warm dragon – the only way to travel. 

We were traveling along above pillowy clouds, when Willie commenced counting backwards a series of five tens. As he began the count for the final ten, a break in the clouds opened below us. And upon sighting a tiny village in the crook of a brook, Dunfallon brought us down. 

Before we could even dismount wee folk brandishing spears and swords, spilled out of the village and surrounded us. A calamity was averted by the timely arrival of Merlin who emerged from one of the tiny houses, growing in stature as he came. 

At his friendly greeting towards us the wee folk backed down and dropped their warlike stance. Then the wizard introduced us to Emminie the chief of the Sprites. And the little fellow – one wary eye cocked towards our dragon, welcomed us to their village. 

As our joy over finding Merlin mingled with our urgency, we (diplomatically, I hope) declined the wee folks offer of hospitality and took Merlin aside to talk. 

Dunfallon briefed the wizard on his need to accompany us to appear before the Faerie Queen on Noralei’s behalf. 

Merlin agreed. But revealed that he must first fulfill a promise to Emminie and his people. He went on to tell us that he had gone with them willingly when approached for his help. They were at their wits end over two problems. The first was the unseasonal cold – which he explained to them would eventually pass, and the second was a strange rumbling in the ground beneath their village. For this Merlin asked if we could take a side trip to see the trolls about their mining activity and whether it may be affecting the Sprite’s village. 

I am afraid we rushed him out of there with the briefest of farewells to Emminie and the Sprites. 

The Fairy Diary Day 277 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We three fairies joined Dunfallon and Grimace on their side of the rim this morning and together we compared our experiences. 

Rumble summarized his notions and those of Noralei and mine. The crater is barren in every direction. A desert really. But at the center lies a great mystery. Each of us looked into the shaft at the center of the crater and felt something different. Rumble thought it strange to see so much smoke swirling but never rising into the air above. Noralei is sure the red glow from below indicates a forge burning and someone or something is hard at work. I experienced an overwhelming heaviness that increased the closer I came to the shaft’s opening. 

Rather than tell us their discoveries, Dunfallon and Grimace took us to a camp set up a fair distance away from the crater. Together they had investigated it, having walked the silent grounds filled with the entranced forces of the enemy. The two asked my permission to check the trolls among this host. 

I granted it to them. And got out the scroll to write out this latest account to the High Fairy.

The Fairy Diary Day 268 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon is bubbling over with excitement. His eagle responded to his summons and he was able to fly above this land of the dark elves. He flew to the east and there discovered a horde of marching plants. But with the exception of one they are in full retreat back to where they came from. 

While the one still coming for us is the largest by far, the pixie thinks it could never overtake us. 

Noralei will keep an eye on its progress in any event. 

The terrain we are passing through is very rugged and the few villages we have encountered, like the fishing village, are all abandoned. 

The High Fairy replied to us. All their forces have advanced beyond the barrier but are meeting opposition daily – undead trolls and wolves, bats and black birds and hornets, and most deadly of all the infernal walking plants. His excellency ended his message with the strongest warning – to avoid at all costs the largest of the walking menaces for even their touch is lethal. 

The Fairy Diary Day 259 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Last night Dunfallon  monopolized all the questions in our meeting with Merlin. (None of us minded, as they were all questions to which we wanted answers too).

All is well in Dromadil. Relations among the pixies, fairies, and elves of the light are for the most part harmonious. Geog is well and is called upon by each group in turn when his great strength is needed for a task. There was nothing to report about Grimace, nor any other trolls in the thrall of the enemy. 

The wizard did have some encouraging news. For some reason, the Dromadil pixies have been able to penetrate the enchanted barrier beyond the crystalline tower. They are hoping to locate the enemy soon. 

In closing the meeting Merlin announced his imminent departure. 

The day on ship passed without incident. We are closing quickly upon the land of the dark elves. Barring any new adverse situation we should make landfall sometime tomorrow. 

In the afternoon Merlin gathered us to bid us goodbye. And to relay to us the results of his examination of the rope used to immobilize the rudder – he is certain that it was made from the ugly black plant and thus from the land of the dark elves. He has seen similar cordage inside the crystalline tower.

The Fairy Diary Day 243 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We came to a fork in the road before noon. A check with Rumble’s map revealed that each wends through a different pass. To the right it is shorter but you have to climb to reach it. The other is much longer. Noralei’s compass favors the first (but I feel it is only becasue it lies closer to the crystalline tower). My pendant was pulling me to the longer route. 

My mention of that decided the matter for my companions, and we took the left fork. However, even with the first step, the High Fairy’s admonition for haste haunted my mind – until a message appeared from him. 

They have entered the black crystalline tower and have found it empty. No birds, no bats, no trolls.  And no dark elves.

We followed the lead of my pendant and picked up the pace.

The Fairy Diary Day 235 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Everyone gathered in the Laguayilian council chamber at the request of Merlin. He invited Dunfallon to join him at the front and together they related to us all that has been discovered through the Dromadilians. 

While Dunfallon spoke, the wizard conjured up images on the wall behind them. The Dromadil scouts have been successful in penetrating the dark elves border at many points, but so far none have been able to enter or see into the black crystalline tower. 

From all reports they believe that there are very few dark elves. 

However, the trees everywhere are black – laden with myriads of dozing black birds. 

(The wizard’s image of that phenomenon changed to that of the tower). With that Merlin took up the explanation. A closer examination revealed that the tower was covered entirely with bats. And the plain between the birded woods and the bat covered tower was filled up with tents upon tents with trolls milling among them. 

The image of the trolls brought a cry from outside of the chamber from where Geog was watching. 

It was some time before Dunfallon and myself could comfort our friend.