Ave Grows Up

[lydamorehouse]

I designed Idyril's sister character around a throwaway line in the Player's Handbook for D&D 5e, in which is is noted that Elves, being long-lived, declare their own adulthood, normally around 100 years old. Previous to that they have shorter, chibi-like names. (As I think I noted in a previous discussion of this I've decided that Idyril, who actually prematurely declared himself adult at 80, was once known as Rei.) So, Ave is the child name of his sister who has, previous to this point, refused to grow up.

Please note how she signs this latest missive...

----

July 20
Some Halfling’s House that probably once belonged to a Witch
Derlow Forest
Ceyan Empire

Dear Idyril and Sierra:

There has been so much fighting and I am not a fan. Zombies, Idyril! Actual zombies! When all is said and done, I’m seriously considering returning to the Lesh monastery just to hide out from the world for a while. I still don’t want to learn to be a ninja assassin, but I miss scones and a feather bed. The Elven rations in my pack are all dried berries and oats and I’m so sick of them.

Actually, that’s the best part of being in this random halfling’s house, the food!

I should be clear, both the house and the halfling are random. We stumbled across the house after having slaughtered an owlbear who’d been sleeping peacefully among the hallucinogenic mushroom fields. We saw the smoke and discovered a house that has clearly been here a long, long time and built for human proportions. The halfling who lives here now is also hiding something, but none of us want to make it our business.

I am happy to report that we actually had a lovely sit down meal for the first time in what feels like forever.

Thyme pulled out all of his best cookware from a pocket universe and we had duck! Also, this halfling guy (who has a name? Raymal has kind of been our point person, so he probably remembers what it is,) apparently spends his time collecting culinary herbs, so we had something with the duck that was sort of minty and sharp, almost like juniper berries? I LOVED IT. I’d ask for the recipe, but, let’s be honest, I have no cooking skills. I’d just have to pass it on to Mother’s housekeepers.

This place is so nice. There’s a homey little fire for Hana and I to snuggle up to and actual shelter from the wind and all the crazy, mating owlbears that I can hear hoot-growling outside.

I am deeply tempted to just stay here. If I didn’t think this little halfling guy was up to something, I totally would. But, he didn’t want to show us the real map he had of this area and, when he did, I noticed there were some cryptic little markings all over the map that I couldn’t read, though I got the sense that Rakke could, which pretty much means they must be some spy language or thieves’ cant. So, that’s shady.

I guess we’ll have to leave in the morning and go off and do more random bloodletting.

I am telling myself that the owlbears don’t occur naturally in the forest, so it’s okay. Also, they do seem fairly hellbent on trying to harm us, so it’s self-defense, I guess? I’m not cut out for this, Idyril. Your letters made it all sound so exciting and thrilling and… well, I mean, you were also deeply conflicted about killing Fey, but… so far, mostly, I just feel sad?

Like, we came across a group of fire elementals whose master seemed to be having some kind of war with the local forest druid. The fire folk were clearly from the Other Side because they were coming out of a faerie ring portal, and, when I used the Command Spell, I spoke Sylvian and they understood me… which, yeah. I get all your feelings about this--at least the point where it made me realize that if we spoke a common language, they were at least as intelligent as I am. And, I don’t know. Hana conjured a sleet storm over them, and they were just miserable and confused until we snuffed them out. Forever.

Luckily, there is much to drink. I think that tonight I will drink myself into a stupor, make love to Hana, and let tomorrow be whatever it will be.

Yours,
Avelynnea

Comments

[satsuma]

I’ve been terrible at commenting, but I have been reading & enjoying these! Ave is a delightful perspective on the nonsense of D&D.

Has she told any of her partymates about her new name? Do they know what it signifies (and how do they feel about the fact they’ve technically been traveling and drinking with a kid up until now?)

[lydamorehouse]

Ave has not yet told any of her party mates that she has declared adulthood. My sense is that she's trying it out on her older brother, and might keep it a secret until the next time they have to introduce themselves to people.

There is one other elf, Hana, who may understand the significance. (The player just literally five minutes ago texted me in sheer panic.) I doubt the rest of the party will. Though the players should since when I was running Idyril, her older brother, he was very clear about his sister. Also, in game, he was very, VERY upset at one point when they came across an elf who had been captured by enemy forces who identified herself by a short name (IIRC, her name was Eve). He started shouting--being a barbarian and prone to anger--that anyone imprisoning a CHILD would face his wrath.

And also thank you! I know that D&D campaigns can be boring to listen to, so I'm glad I found a way to make my dumb little story fun and interesting.

[satsuma]

Ahh love a good secret namechange! I hope Hana's player and you get to coordinate some fun RP over that, once Ave finally comes out with things--it seems like a neat opportunity for a shift in relationship / understanding for them. And I'm sure Idyril will have allllll the feelings whenever he gets this letter as well hahaha