Peony's Story

Peony's Story -- Part 1

She lay sleeplessly in her bed near the open window.  She felt the old familiar despair wash over her.  She wondered when the pain would end and she struggled to fight off the convulsive sobs that threatened to overwhelm her.  As her body shook with despair, silent tears rolled from her eyes and saturated her pillow.  She turned her face into the pillow to muffle the sounds of her pained breaths.  Over and over in her mind she heard the refrain “I miss her so much.”

She was thinking of her mother who passed on several seasons earlier.  She had been too young to die.  She had been caught in a raid by gnolls in Qeynos Hills.  She was a seamstress on her way to deliver wares to merchants in West Karana when she had been attacked by gnolls.  The guards had not been in time to save her life but had been able to wrestle her broken body from the evil dogs.  Rodcet Nife only knew what they intended to do with her in the dark dank lair of Blackbarrow.



Her mother had been a kind gentle soul who encouraged her only daughter, Peony to follow her calling.  There was never a time in her life that Peony didn’t want to be a cleric of Rodcet Nife.  When she reached puberty, the clerics of the famed Temple of Life in Qeynos accepted her as a novitiate.  She applied her self to her studies and prayed to her god.  Not for her was the life of a battle cleric, she was her mother’s daughter; she was kind, perhaps too kind.  Her true calling was healing.  As a first level cleric, she learned the arts of weapon wielding to protect herself and to bandage wounds. She was also training in spell casting.  Learning to cast spells was quite tedious.  She needed to learn to focus her mind and find power in faith in her god.  All of the preparation and training could not prepare the first level cleric for the shock of her young life.  The news of her mother’s death desolated her. She did not know her father and had no siblings with whom to share her grief.  She was alone in her despair.  She was alone but for her fellow novitiates who did their best to comfort her.  She felt the pain that she brought to her friends at the Temple and hid her desolation behind a shy smile, but it was still there and even years later would well up inside her.   



As she reached the fifth level of her studies, her mentor asked her to walk with him outside the walls of the temple.  “My dear child” he began.  “You have been with us for five seasons, I know they have been very difficult for you.  Even so, you have flourished here.  Novitiates of all levels look to you as an example of what they can be.  You will always have a home here in with us, but in order to advance your skills you need to venture forth.”  His words struck a chill chord with her, she knew that one day she would have to leave; she just didn’t know that day was so soon.  “I have great faith in you, Peony,” he continued “and know you will be a great cleric.”



“There is a small war party being put together by the barbarian warrior Frostwulf.  The party will lead a raid on Blackbarrow.  Frostwulf has approached me to find a healer to join the war party.  What do you think?”



She didn’t hesitate.  She leapt at the chance to confront the savage dogs that had taken her mother from her.  “Yes, yes I will go.”
Peony's Story -- Part 2

She met up with Frostwulf the next day.  It was indeed a small party consisting of 4 members.  Frostwulf was the group’s leader and was a mighty warrior.  He was perhaps the tallest and broadest human that Peony had ever seen.  With him was a comely half elven maid who identified herself as Elaria.  Judging by the huge cross-bow slung on her back, Peony surmised she was a ranger.  The last member of the party was a small man with a very young face but shockingly white hair.  He was rolling a ball of flame in the palm of his hand.  Frostwulf took in her shocked glance, nodded his head in the white haired man’s direction and said brusquely “Wizard…his name is Sam”  Sam, the wizard said with a trace of ironic humor that Peony found oddly endearing “My name is not Sam, it is Adonsamismuel Balkinor” He looked directly at Frostwulf and said “You, barbarian! You may call me by my full name, but the pretty cleric can call me Sam.” Frostwulf guffawed loudly and clapped “Sam” on the back.  It was a nice friendly pat but it almost sent the gnome sprawling.  Sam turned smoothly and tossed his ball of flame at Frostwulf’s war axe.  The axe shone brightly as the flame touched its burnished steel. Frostwulf quickly dropped the axe and Sam extinguished the flame with a soft mumbled word.  As Elaira giggled, Frostwulf turned to glare at Sam.  Sam returned his glance steadily.  “You are a gutsy wizard, I am glad to have you on my team.”



“We leave at sunup tomorrow, pack light we travel quickly.  We will make the entrance of Blackbarrow tomorrow night.”  Peony didn’t get a wink of sleep.  She was breathless with anticipation and worried she would forget something.  She checked and rechecked her bags several times.  Food – yes, water – yes, spell book – yes, weapon – yes, her mentor had helped her to pack and assured her that she had everything she would need.   



At long last morning arrived.  She was up and waiting at the entrance to Qeynos before the first bird sang a sweet welcome to the sun.  She didn’t have to wait long.  Frostwulf, Elaria and Sam came together from the direction of the inn.  She watched as they walked briskly toward her.  Frostwulf was the first to see her there.  “Ho there little cleric, we was expecting to be waiting on you, not the other way around”



Elaria said “Good morrow to you Peony, are you looking forward to our adventure?  We have done this many times and are sure to return safely.”  It was thoughtful of Elaria to seek to soothe her fears, but in truth she had none.  Peony greeted the party with a bow and the traditional greeting of “Hail and well met.”



“Nae girlie, you have no need to be so formal with us, before the end of tomorrow we will have saved each other’s skins many times. Now, let us go over some strategy.  The path from Qeynos is clear, we will have no trouble until we cross over into Qeynos Hills.  Once we are in Qeynos Hills there are many critters who would love to eat us to break their fast.  We will not let them.  Elaria will stay at a distance with Sam.  Elaria will pepper what or who ever dares attack us with arrows while Sam there will toss his balls of flame.  You missie will stay near me.  I will make sure you do not get attacked and you will make sure I do not die…Deal??”  With that he extended his huge hairy hand to Peony.  “Deal” she quickly affirmed.   “Well then, off we go”

Peony's Story -- Part 3

They walked in silence and quickly reached the edge of Qeynos.  Elaria observed “Qeynos Hills is just beyond this rise.  Be prepared, there are wolves and roaming gnolls who will attack us on sight.”  “I am prepared,” returned Peony “I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.”  They had not gone very far when Elaria shouted “Wolf, dead ahead of us.”



“To me, Peony, come with me”  Peony and Frostwulf ran ahead.  “Stop here” ordered Frostwulf.  Peony heard the whistle of an arrow rushing by her ear, then the odd war cry of the barbarian.  These were the first sounds of battle, she would remember them for the rest of her life.  Frostwulf struck the giant wolf just as the arrow hit its flank.  Before Frostwulf could dodge it, the wolf sank its teeth into his arm.  As he grunted with pain a huge bolt of ice stuck the wolf like a spear and pinned it to the ground.  It died quickly.  “I don’t just toss balls of flame” said Sam, with a broad wink in Peony’s direction.  Peony looked at Frostwulf.  He seemed white and shaken.  She glanced down at the wolf and noted that his mouth was rimmed with foam.  “This wolf was rabid,” she said “and he bit you Frostwulf.  You must let me attend to the wound, it may be infected and the infection will spread.”  Frostwulf hesitated, but then held his arm out for Peony’s ministrations.  She quickly bandaged the wound, then looking at his ashen face quickly said the spell that would heal disease.  She watched with satisfaction as color returned to his face.  “Now missie, you have no need to be wasting your magical energy on me.”  She looked up and smiled into his face “No sir, I mean Yes sir.” His grumbling response was inaudible.  Elaria slung her bow onto her back and pronounced herself ready to proceed.  The rest of the trip to Blackbarrow proved to be surprisingly uneventful.  Frostwulf actually seemed to be disappointed.  During the trek, he stated his intention to kill that darned necromancer Tovax Vmer. Tovax was seemingly aware of his intention and steered clear of them.



“We have made it here in very short order” observed Sam.  “Now who is calling you short” joked Elaria.  “oooohhh very funny Elaria, I am going to bust my sides laughing” returned Sam.  “Hush you two” ordered Frostwulf.  “I have a very important decision to make. Do we rest a bit and then raid Blackbarrow or do we set up camp for the night?”  Elaria answered “Well if I have a vote, I say go now.  There is no safe place to set up camp here which means we will have to post a guard, which means that no one will have a full night's sleep.  Let us rest a moment, have a quick meal and proceed.”



“Well,” declared Frostwulf “if everyone is in agreement, we will get on with it.”  They ate a quick lunch in silence.  Peony had brought some afternoon tea (for which Qeynos was famous) and offered it to her companions.  “This is a very nice concoction my dear” Sam complimented “Did you buy it in Qeynos?”  “Oh no,” answered Peony “I am a very poor cleric with little means, I brewed that myself”



Frostwulf looked impressed “Well missie, I have heard it isn’t easy to brew Qeynos Afternoon Tea, I am happy to have such a talented brewer with us.  I have heard tell of a gnollish brewer.  If we are lucky enough we may find him.  Word has it; he carries a very nice cask for brewing.”  He gulped down the last of his tea and declared himself ready to go.


Peony's Story -- Part 4

The entrance to Blackbarrow was frightening.  It appeared to be a huge gnoll head, whose open maw threatened to devour the small raiding party.  With no gnolls to guard its entrance, they easily entered the Lair of the Gnolls of Blackbarrow.  The first one to spot them was a gnoll pup.  He began to bark a warning when an arrow from Elaria’s crossbow quickly silenced him.  Peony was surprised by the appearance of the gnoll pup, for he did indeed resemble a walking dog.  He was surprisingly large. He was almost as tall as she was.



They waited near the entrance, while Elaria scouted the open air level of the lair.  Her quick knife and cunning arrows took care of any gnolls wandering around.  She snuck back to where the rest of the party waited.  “The path to the underground lair is clear” she whispered.  “The gnolls that live in the air are the weakest of the Blackbarrow Gnolls, it will be much more difficult as we go below ground.  Follow me.”  They followed Elaria to the entrance to the underground lair.  Elaira opened the door slowly, the creaking of the door attracted the attention of two gnoll guards camped near the top of a ramp that lead downward. They barked in surprise, one grunted “Humans…you will not destroy our lair the way you have destroyed your lands.” Before he could finish his statement Sam let loose a torrent of flame that burned him just as he finished his threat “Human, huh? I am no human. I am a gnome and I will thank you to be aware of the difference” Peony glanced at Sam in surprise wondering if he made a habit of talking to burning corpses.  She didn’t have time to do much wondering.  Frostwulf uttered his war cry and flung himself into battle with the surviving gnoll.  The gnoll struck back with force.  Peony stood a little behind Frostwulf and began reciting her healing spell.  The gnoll turned his attention to her when he heard the healing words and began to rush her.  Frostwulf said “Oh no you don’t your motherless dog, you are not going to touch my little missie” and kicked the gnoll in the gut.  As the gnoll stumbled, Frostwulf loped off his head.  With a satisfied grunt, he kicked the head down the ramp.



“What are you thinking Frostwulf??? Don’t you think a bouncing head will warn the other gnolls of our presence??”  hissed Elaria.  She lifted her head questioningly and turned her head as if to locate a sound.  Her eyes widened.  “Prepare for battle” she yelled “They are coming, from the sounds of it there are at least 20”  Peony began to panic.  The sight of two massive gnolls just minutes earlier had unnerved her.  Twenty were unthinkable.  “Twenty huh?” said Frostwulf “well I can handle five myself but that leaves fifteen.  This is going to be an interesting fight indeed”  Peony looked at him in astonishment.  His eyes were twinkling with anticipation.  They had no time to form a strategy, the gnolls were on them.  Peony stayed close to Frostwulf.  He hacked and slashed with great abandon and hardly noticed the wounds inflicted by the howling gnolls.  Within minutes several were dead at their feet.  One was burned beyond recognition, one was riddled with arrows and the third was be-headed.  But there were too many the little party could not keep up with the waves of gnolls.  There were at least ten on Frostwulf, as she cast a healing spell one of the gnolls turned to Peony and rushed her.  She knew in a second that Frostwulf could not help her and a quick glance showed her that Sam and Elaria had their hands full. She reached to her pack and pulled out her weapon.  The long training sessions with the weapons master at the temple came in very handy.  She was able to keep the gnoll at bay.



“To me” shouted Sam and he began to weave what appeared to be a very complicated spell.  Frostwulf turned and grabbed Peony’s arm. They sprinted the short distance to Sam, with a massive train of gnolls right behind them just as Sam completed his spell.



The world went black for Peony, for a split second, she thought she was dead. Then she realized she was safe and in Qeynos Hills.  She looked at Sam in astonishment “I told you I was good for more than fireballs," Sam said with a note of satisfaction in his voice.  



“PEONY!” Elaria screamed “Quickly, his soul is slipping away.”  Peony jumped and looked at Elaira.  At her feet was Frostwulf.  A massive spear was jutting out of his chest.  His breath gurgled out of his mouth.  Peony had never seen a wound like that and was taken aback.  But she couldn’t let her protector die.  Thinking quickly she ordered Elaria to pull out the spear.  As Elaria struggled with the spear, Peony got on her knees and began a healing spell.  Feeling the inadequacy of her spell she abandoned it halfway through, closed her eyes and prayed to Rodcet Nife to spare the life of Frostwulf and to give her the strength to heal him.  She felt the power of her god flow into her.  She placed her hands on his chest and began a spell of greater healing.  It was a spell that she had read of, but she had never uttered it.  Indeed, she wasn’t even aware that she could.  Elaria and Sam gaped at her, she was glowing with the power of Rodcet Nife.  The power gave her an unearthly beauty of which she was totally ignorant.



As she finished her spell, her body sagged in exhaustion.  Elaria knelt beside her quickly to hold her up.  Sam, Elaria and Peony watched as the great wound on Frostwulf’s chest closed.  He sat up and looked at the brand new scar he was sporting.  “Again, little missie, I am impressed.  When that spear hit me I thought I was a goner.”  With that the gruff barbarian gave up talking and swallowed the young cleric in a huge barbarian bear hug.  Elaria and Sam were silent beside them.  Quiet tears ran down Elaria’s face as her hand rested on Sam’s shoulder.  Gasping for air Peony pleaded “Please, Frostwulf….I can’t breathe.” He let go of her so abruptly, she fell onto her backside.   She began laughing and the others joined her.  For the first time since her mother died, she felt a part of something.  She once again had a family.