The wine festival was exhilarating, chaotic and loud. The joy and relief on the faces of the people with the departure of Sydon’s forces was palpable and gave an almost frantic edge to the celebrations. Watching my new friends sing, play and even act on stage in Helikaon’s case was delightful, but it’s certainly a far cry from the calm whispers of the forests of home.
As the saviours of Anora, we certainly were well pressed with admirers and I don’t think any of us paid for a drink all day. For me, the delight of the day was seeing Pholon and Theo bond over wine and song. For all Pholon's brashness and Theo’s tendency to overthink, I think they could bring the best out of each other. The gnome certainly tried his best to keep up with his new bondmate in wine and we poured him happily into bed that evening with a contented smile on his face. It’s good to see him relax. I think the knowledge the Oracle gave him has given him some new vitality in the days since. As he slept I dropped a small bit of magic to keep his head clear the next day.
The next morning we set out into the Oldwoods, following the trail of magical wine with Theo’s magical expertise.
We were a fair way into the woods when a teenage girl burst from the brush, pursued by several goatlings. On seeing us they charged and met us in battle, but seemed determined and focused to hurt Alke. It took the combined efforts of all of us to keep her alive and even then it was a close thing.
Could this be the doom prophesied by Versi? I hope we can keep her safe.
The girl was the daughter of the vintner we’ve been searching for, but said there are several more young people held in the temple, under the control of some sort of seer. We should prepare- it’s one thing to protect ourselves physically against the attacks of goatlings, but to steel our minds against enchantment is another matter entirely.
But we owe it to those youths to try. The price of freedom is never free.