Ferdinand's End

[youtube:https://youtube.com/watch?v=yylOKWFA6jo]Story Script:

The journey from Monument to the Fallen to Celaya was months of hard traveling. It started well, the roads held up, though less and fewer travelers by the day.

Still, that changed after passing Cheekyfoxglove. The land had been getting harder and weather colder for days, and nearly overnight, the trio found themselves in a tundra.

The Arrow of Thania continued to point northwest, and Thawkins continued to completely trust its direction.

On good days, the party might make a good amount of miles, but when the snow came, they were lucky to venture out to hunt down food and return to their makeshift shelter.

Every morning and every night, Thawkins would train his new apprentice. Some days, swordplay, somedays simple survival, somedays languages.

It was quite a shock to everyone when they came upon the gatehouse. That particular day, the snow was light, but visibility was terrible.

“Brienne’s Gate” Thawkins said, almost to himself

“I never thought I would see it…” Rikon sounded in awe.

“This used to Mark the reaches of The Frost Druids power.” Thawkins said.

“It doesn’t anymore?” Ferdinand was confused.

“That is to say, this used to be the edge of the ice and snow,” Rikon told Ferdinand.

“We’ve been traveling in now for a month!” Ferdinand exclaimed!

Both older men looked thoughtful as the party crossed under the gate. The road became somewhat easier, there were even parts the snow had been cleared out recently. It was only another day’s walk until the party first saw the tree.

It was a testament to its sheer size that hour after hour of walking, it still was visible in the distance.

As the trio approached the first buildings of the city, there were approached by a man wearing sage robes from the Order. “Greetings travelers,” he said with a warm smile.

“My name is Ranger Thawkins fro……”

“Yes, Ranger Thawkins, Apprentice Ranger Keet, and Sage Rikon,” he said turning to each member of the party. “My name is Sage Garrok, I’ve been sent to escort Sage Rikon to the library.”

“An Order Library!?!?” Rikon was stunned.

“Of course, if you’ll come with me, there are some things I’d like to show you. If your friends would just continue down the road, they have an audience with the King.” Sensing no malice from the Frost Sage, Thawkins simply shrugged and told Rikon they would meet later that night.

Ferdinand and Thawkins continued to the castle.

Sitting on a large white throne, the King smiled at them. “You’ve traveled a long way to get here. Can I see it?”

Thawkins pulled the Arrow of Thania out of his pack and handed it to the king. “Old friend….,” the King lightly touched the Arrow. “My father enchanted this many years ago. I doubted I’d see it again.” Turning to the Rangers, “thank you for returning her home.”

“King Howst, my name is Ranger Thawkins, and this is my apprentice, Ferdinand Keet. We are here on a contract from King Donao”

“Yes, I believe we have much to discuss.” A door opened from the side of the chamber and an old bald priest walked in.

Thawkins turned, shock showing on his face. “Father Chotty? I… don’t understand…”

“How could I be here?” Chuckling, the old man smiled and addressed Ferdinand. “Your Master and I have known each other for a long time. Maybe longer than he knows.”

“You left to investigate the disappearances at Tanis with Ranger Mattol a week before I left with Ferdinand.” Thawkins couldn’t see how the much older man had made the journey to Celaya at all, let alone arrived in such a good time.

“Much longer ago than that.” The priest continued, “I was in Tanis when I fell. I can hardly explain it, but when I awoke, I was in a seemingly infinite maze of corridors and rooms. Eventually, I found my way out into a terrible snowstorm. Somehow, I entered Tanis near Travill and exited just a few miles from here.The Frost Druids took me in, fed me, and brought me to King Howst.”

“Father Chotty was my father's most trusted advisor for many years until his death and had been my right hand for twice that time.” King Howst Told Ranger Thawkins.

“I don’t understand…..” Thawkins said before trailing off.

It seems Tanis is a magical place. I entered it in the year 397 and came out hundreds of years in the past. I have just recently caught up to my own time again.” Said Father Chotty

Ferdinand’s head was spinning, “Father….. how old are you then?”

Father Chotty laughed, “I'm not sure how to answer that question, son.”

“The Bear Berries, then.”

The King looked knowingly to Ranger Thawkins. “How many do you have left?”

“Only a small handful.” Thawkins turned to Ferdinand. “Many, many years ago, I was wounded on a contract to the north. A traveling Frost Druid caravan found means nursed me back to health. I stayed on with them for a long while regaining my strength. When it was time to finish my contract, they left me with a sack of Bear Berries. They have certain… healing properties, as well as allowing long life.”

The King smiled at the boy, “it’s not something we give out freely, but it was in saving a very influential Druid that he was wounded.” The thoughtful smile faded, the King looked back to Master Ranger, “speaking of contracts?”

Ranger Thawkins glanced at Ferdinand, his face unreadable, “I carry a message from King Donao.”

King Howst nodded.

Thawkins pulled a folded paper from his pack.

> “King Howst, many times over the past years, I have asked you to come to our aid. To abandon your mission of preserving the world, and instead, come to our aid in fighting.
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> This new war on the forces of darkness is not going in our favor. While we have been reveling in peace for the last 400 years, they have been building and planning. I do not see a way we will emerge as victors in this conflict.
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> Take all you have, as well as all I can send you and preserve it. Your powers over ice and cold may be the only thing that can save some semblance of mankind. Build fortifications, dig into the snow, and by all means, remain in Celaya. Coming to our aid will only hasten the last chance we have at survival in some form.”
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> - Thom Thawkins Reading Message to King Howst To the King From King Tre Donao of House Donao
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Ferdinand's head was spinning, his entire life was about bringing The Frost Druids, and their magic, into this war, not to send them into hiding! “What!?!”

He was silenced by the sternest look he’d ever seen on Thawkins' face. “Not now, boy.”

The King was thoughtful. Nodding, he said, “I understand. The gambit we pulled off years ago wasn’t going to work again, they’ve grown too smart for that.”

“We’ve been planning for this eventuality for some time,” Father Chotty said, his face thoughtful. “Our defenses should be adequate for now, we can strengthen them as the tree grows taller.”

Nodding, the King said, “you men are welcome to stay here with us. We could use two Rangers to help train our men.”

The offer was staggering. Celaya has been closed for hundreds of years to bringing in outsiders, and staying would include safety as well as Bear Berries with their life-lengthening properties!

“You’ll just leave the rest of the world to burn then?” Ferdinand was angry. No look from his mentor would stop his outburst now. “Women and children, innocent lives!!”

“This is not surrendering, son. The fight will continue, but this will be our fall back. If all of the overworlds falls, man will continue to take a breath in this world, here, in Celaya.” Nodding solemnly to the pair or Rangers, the King stood and left the throne room.

“Both Kings are right, you know.” Father Chotty walked across the room from his advisor's chair. “There must be a plan B.” He paused. “But there is another way as well.”

“The Frost Druids Father their magic from the Frost Tree are infused with sap from the tree roots, the magic-wielding Druids carry vials of that sap everywhere they go to summon its power. But there is other power in this world.”

“Far to the south of Port Breigh, lies the Halfling City of Anduir’s Rest. Within its deep forest, live the Zigon Dynasty]. They have found a different power, one that is ancient and comes from the ground itself. I’ve long thought their power could be what it takes to turn the tide of this war.”

“Go and find them, bring them into the war. I will stay here, as I have for centuries preparing for the worst.”

People In the Story:

* Ferdinand Keet

* Thom Thawkins

* Rikon Gerro

* Garrok

* Howst

* Tre Donao

* Chotty

* Mattol

Locations are shown in Cinematics:

* Cheekyfoxglove

* Brienne’s Gate

* Celaya

[timeline:be785ffa-0d03-42ea-8651-d5d6507f2a82]