One and a Half Meter Heros

[gbbishop]

The ship they had managed to hire would take them very near to their destination. If it made it, thought Delanae. From her vantage of just a bit over three feet, she could no longer see her stout companion, Dryn. Currently the deck of the Sea Sword was under enough water to completely envelope the little priestess. The last wave to crest the rail of the now beleaguered vessel was threatening to wash the small Halfling out to sea.

“Dryn!” She yelled as the water drained away and her head broke the surface once more. With one arm and a leg lodged in the rigging was safe from the current as it rushed back to the churning body below. One of the ship’s crewmen, however, was not so lucky. Having been rendered unconscious by a blow to the head, his body was now being washed away with the rush.

“Watcha lad Miss Del!” Dryn roared from across the deck. The sailor was hurtling towards Delanae heading swiftly on his way overboard.

She muttered a prayer. “Tree Father give me strength and root me in this spot.”

Strength filled her as the Tree Father’s blessing found her small mortal frame. She reach out and managed to grab the sailor by the back of his trousers. His weight and the fact that he was traveling at a good clip, would normally have torn Delanae’s arms apart, as it was her deific strength was being tested to it’s limit.

“I won’t be able to hold him if another wav….”

Just then shouting erupted from the starboard side. Yet another wave crested the rail and charged her way. Something crashed into her and then the world was water.
As before, a moment later the water drained away. The white remained, however, and she began to panic and thrash about.
Ow! Hey now. Wudja set still now dammit! Came Dryn’s muffled cry from very near and just above her.

That’s funny, she thought, I was sure he was well on the other side of the ship. She still held the unconscious sailor in one hand and the rigging in the other, but now Dryn stood before her only just now had he managed to extract the near hysterical Delanae from his great white beard.

“Thanks Dryn!” she chirped as she went up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek.

“Oh… yarp!” He mumbled abashedly as he smiled down at the Hin staring up at him. He moved to secure the comatose man to the rigging. The seas looked to be calming somewhat, though, as only a small wave washed over the deck, small in that it merely came up to Delanae’s waist. She looked up at Dryn as he straightened from his task. She had liked the old dwarf the instant she had met him but it was at this moment that she realized that she could trust this dwarfman with the World and he would see it safe, no matter what.

She smiled her huge Halfling smile up at him.

“What?” Dryn asked looking a bit confused.
Delanae just laughed and threw her arms around the big old dwarf who could only shake his head with wonder.

[gbbishop]

Delanae sat on the side of the hill with Dryn. He has a most comforting presence she mused as she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She had come to care about this strange dwarf who not only talked to him self but to spirits as well. Well, now it was more than that really. Some force had brought them together in this place, the valley would be beautiful indeed, were it not for the atrocities being forced upon the land.

She followed the dwarf’s scowl to a cave in the side of a hill. The cave itself was not the source of the dwarfman’s ire. No, that was a much deeper issue. Delving with reckless disregard and wonton destruction, there in its depths, were the Red Wizards. The Thayan’s had some how gained permission to tear the belly of this sleeping giant. It was a mineral called zinc, she had heard, a material only useful for some sort of wizardry.

She had grown up with tales of red wizards stealing people away. Now she understood these tales were largely exaggerations, but never the less illustrated the lack of morals the order held to. One fact was certain Thayans used slaves! Even if they did not steal people themselves they must support the act of kidnapping, for no being would willingly submit to such subjugation.

She had been deep into the mines herself, and though it had been many nights since she had first lay witness to what was being done there, the hurt she felt at the sight still lingered on.

She turned her gave back to her friend. Her companion. Together they would bring beauty back to the valley the Earthmother would no longer call out for help the land would be at peace. She now knew that this was their task, the reason they had been drawn here far from home.

“Dryn, we will find a way.” She said as she reached up to touch his shoulder.
“I mean, really this can’t go on. You know it and I know it.” She looked back at the city to her left. “We will need help though. You must go and gather support from the people of this village. Without their aid we will have no footing in this fight.”

He glaced at her then turn his gaze to the little village. “Oi suppose that yer right miss. It wull not be so easy a task oi fear. Them reddies seem well settled and comfy.”

Delanae pops to her feet. “Well!” She pipes. “Let’s see if we can make um a little LESS comfy!”

Dryn’s face cracks into a wide grin. “Aye lass, let’s.”

[gbbishop]

Delanae sat with her legs folded under her, knee touching Dryn’s. The old dwarf softly dozed as he leaned against one of the Glade’s many boulders. Her face did not hold her usual cheer and childlike exuberance. No, it was shadowed by dark thoughts indeed. She closed her eyes.

Axe in hand Dryn moved with alarming speed, as only Dryn could seem to muster. It was such a contrast, to see the old being move so unnaturally fast, that it still gave Delanae a sense of wonder. Delanae followed him as quickly as she could manage, all while remaining as silent as possible. Kemmen had been left to guard their retreat should it prove necessary. Dryn stopped at the entrance to the mines.

Delanae pulled up a meter or so to his right rear flank. Her blood pumped fiercely in her veins. She dearly hoped that she was the only one who could hear it as it thudded repeatedly in her ears.

“Something is not right here Dryn.” She whispered.

The dwarf turned to glance at the hin quickly before his eyes returned to scanning the darkened hole in front of them. He closed his eyes and allowed the stones to speak. They told him want he wanted to hear, the source of his ire was indeed there, just inside the caves entrance. The stones spoke of fur and claws standing in pairs. Dryn had quickly learned to interpret this as a gnoll’s presence. Thayan gnolls, he mused, both by their weight and the context.

“They are there!” a hiss softly heard through the hair of his mustache and beard.

His body tensed, preparing to attack. Then abruptly he stopped. The Thayans were not alone. The stones were showing him many others.

Delanae held her breath awaiting his call. She often found herself calling the shots but she felt that this was something that Dryn must decide for himself. She would of course support him, even if he chose poorly. She silently prayed against poor choices now.

“Bah feckall! He cursed softly. “We canna go in there. Not like this.” He held up his axe as he spoke. He gave the nod, which meant, withdraw and Delanae released her breath with relief. Slowly they ghosted back to Kemmen… She opened her eyes.

Dryn’s slumbering form gently there at her side.

A young human, the pair of them had traveled with on occasion, strolled down from the Rangers Rest.

“Are you stupid!” Delanae jumped up waking Dryn with grumbles of protestation.

“You can’t go walking around here in that!” She pointed in horror at the full-plate armor adorning the young man.

“Oh…” Aerick looked down realizing he still wore the armor, then, realized were he was and hastily began to pull the metal plates off. “Sorry I always seem to forget.”

They continued to chat for a few moments more about recent events and cryptic notes and such.

Then, the Glade began to stir.

Wind rushed in, as if it where being inhaled buy the very Grove itself. Then it slowly left again in a soft exhale.

Delanae looked to Aerick. “We have business here with the Keeper. I think it is time. We will catch up to you later. Don’t forget your armor.” She pointed offhandedly.

Her attention had already left the young healer behind. She slowly walked out into the middle of the Glade. Dryn clapped the boy on the shoulder. “See ya ina bit lad.”

“Oh right.” Said Aerick as he gathered up his stuff and slowly backed towards the exit.

The forces, with in the Glade, were growing stronger. It felt more urgent. The intention was palpable now. Delanae slowly walked towards the keeper but stopped as she was addressed by a voice behind her. She spun to find the large cat often referred to as the Alertness of the Grove.

“Greetings Priestess of Silvanus. Speak your mind.” Alertness regarded the Halfling with a tilted head.

The other Manifestations of the Grove spoke in turns echoed by a chorus of their peers. At their behest, Dryn and Delanae shared what they had witnessed and revealed their intentions. Asking only for guidance and sanctuary. The Glade, in its infinite wisdom, demanded many answers from the pair. Delanae began to fear that the Grove would not hear their pleas and they would be forced to act with out aid, alone, without support. I would be a monumental task even with help. With out it, she dared not even consider that…

Her faith restored, answers to the questions posed by the Aspects of the Grove became easier, flying from her tiny form even as she flew from one aspect to the other. She and Dryn were right, this she knew it with every fiber of her being. Then, finally the Grove answered.

“You will be judged by your actions not your words, for now you are welcome here. Do not seek rash action but move with wisdom.”

“Oh thank you!” Delanae squealed as she bent to scoop Joy up and hug him close.

“RELEASE US!” Roared a huge voice from behind her.

She turned to find Strength there, looming over her and Joy. Being a Halfling and remarkably free from the grips of fear, she calmly set Joy back on the ground and stepped over the log to hug the angered Strength as well.

“Thank you.” She whispered softly in to his fur. He said nothing as he turned and walked back to his place guarding the Druid’s Sanctuary.

A golden light began to emanate from the air within the Grove. The wind seemed to exhale one last time as the Keepers eyes slowly opened. Leaves, illuminated by the golden light, began to dance in a slow circuit above the reflecting pool in the center of the Glade. All of the aspects now silently regarded the Keeper.

“Dryn! Look.” Delanae gasped pointing up at the golden maelstrom above and around him. Dryn too, peered up on awe.

“Go now.” He bade them. “Go out and act with wisdom. Seek solace and council here among the Grove.”

The Keeper then closed his eyes returning to, well, wherever it is the Keeper goes when he closes his eyes.

“Lets get to it Miss, we’ve a lota work ahead” Dryn threw his arm around her shoulders and began to walk out of the Grove.

Delanae, still gazing up in abject wonder, merely nodded and said. “We should get to it then.”