Galmon?

Was this your third trip to Morian or your second? Such a strange thing to ask yourself. You weren't sure, but Talik was thrilled to be off the Swift Blue and on solid ground. 

"If we ever have enough gold pieces to buy our own griffon, mark my words, it will be my first purchase," she says as she scoffed down a bowl of moonstalker soup at the Bordrad Marsh Tavern, in the middle of a town belonging to the Poison Frog Clan. We were on the outskirts of the proud city of Ridoan, now one of my favorite places in Solea. We had sent word ahead to Haden and expected to see her and Drue in the forest city.

Being here brought back good and bad memories: hiding from Garrow's guards as we investigated the Voek towers, crossing the perilous mountains, entering Snake Cave, and the battle with a snowbat...which of it is even real? We could see the entrance of the caves from the Drunwood Lowlands' main road into the glades and woodlands before the trees became so dense and tall that soon we could see nothing but forest. The forests to the north, Whispering Woods, were wild and dangerous, but here in Ridoan they were a calm and peaceful place. Native birds sang high in the branches, and people of the Guardian Tribe at all levels of the forest went about their day. Cooks prepared their second and only other meal besides breakfast in fire ovens between tree homes. Children play-fought with swords and shields, laughing heartily in embarrassment if their defense was penetrated. 

Talik was most impressed by some seriously muscular, shirtless warriors in wrestling training and had to be coaxed to keep going. You reminded her that Drue had arrived by griffon and Haden awaited us ahead and she was happy to continue on.

You arrive outside the Great Hall, the area busy as the crossroads and administrative center for all of Morian. Haden stood pacing outside the main doors. When she spotted you, she ran to embrace her friends. Drue, typically more standoffish as an older male rider, couldn't hold himself back, locking forearms and kissing both our cheeks vigorously in greeting, such restraint! You all chatter excitedly as you have not been together since a rescue team of griffon riders arrived that day on Central Island and flew you all your separate ways—Drue and Haden to Morian and Talik with you to Elda to recuperate in the best healing centers in Solea.

They inquire of Alster, and you let them know he has never been happier as a full-time student in the Medic's Garden's. There is also a young Eldonian girl of 18 that he seems to be getting along with very well. You and Talik had asked him to join you, but he was preoccupied with either the prospect of romance or the romance of prospects in his life in Elda. To be honest, you both think the adventure last year was too harrowing, and Alster wanted a quieter life now. As you walked arm in arm into the Great Clan Hall you see more than just Haden and Drue had been waiting for you. The doorway to the central pillars was lined by guardians in full regalia. Their metal armour reflecting any light that made its way through the canopy above. They stomped their feet together as you  enter and as one spoke "For the Clans", which echoed endlessly around the Great Clan Hall and brought goosebumps to your arms. "What's all this?" you said embarrassed that it might be for you (again). 

"My father, Garrow, he wanted to welcome you formally, he thinks us all such great heroes. Particularly me". She said with and eye roll. "I tried to explain that it was really you that did something magical to save us all from Delrona. But he wouldn't have it. He just added you two to the list of heroes he wants to honour. Actually he even thinks that some of this was his idea as he was the one who helped us on the quest, which is not how I remember it happening at all, but he's the one writing the history so we'll have to go with it." Haden hadn't changed at all and you remembered how much you enjoyed her company. 

"Its actually history that I need to talk to you about." You see the chance for the sequitur and use it well. " I was wondering if I might have a word with your father or your chief historian?"

"Yes, yes plenty of time for that but first there is a feast in your honour and an emblem ceremony," 

"An emblem ceremony? you ask, "for us?"

"Yes, you are being made honourary Fox Clan for your cunning, and wisdom and agility, plus your are like a sister to me and I wouldn't have you be any other clan." Haden was beaming with pride and you thought you had better just go with it, plus objecting in front of several hundred guardians just wasn't done. 

That night Haden had arranged for you to be seated next to your father at the feast. Talik was sitting with Drue and that suited her fine as she said she, "wants to concentrate on eating anyway." Between bites of delicious roast moonstalker and treeturnip you ask Garrow about past Chiefs of the Phoenix clan. He asked the historian, Porteh, to fetch the tablets and 'recite their names loudly once more in the great hall', you insisted that wouldn't be necessary and ask if instead they could look for information about a Galmon. After some page turning mumbling there was a pause in the searching finger of the historian. 

"Ah, yes, here Galmon, Chief of the Phoenix Clan, The Voek year of 1642. Son of Galbor and Malitra, ruled Ridoan for 47 years."  You sat in awed silence, he was real, it was real, you met him and you went back in time. Then you remembered Patrice and Dushino, "Do you have records of warriors and their history? you asked hopefully.  

"Even these records of your chiefs are brief and written in a way that is very positive of their time as chief." Responded Porteh. "It does say that during his time the last giant snowbat was vanquished and the lands made safe for farmers of Morian. He takes credit for it himself but most likely he assigned warriors to the task and took all the credit." 

"Ahem" Chief Garrow, waved his hand in a "move on" type gesture. 

"Is there anyway to find out what happened to those warriors that vanquished the last snowbat? You ask?

"There is nothing recorded here but whenever a warrior fell in  battle and found on a battlefield a stone shrine with their names was made at the site. Something maybe recorded there." Porteh continued but his voice faded out as you began to recall Patrice and Lukinder on top of the mountain, Dushino, Kazrod and Zelnard in the collapsed cave. Porteh's voice fades back in, "If you know the place they fell we could send a rider to the place and copy any memorials there." 

"What's that?" you suddenly pay attention.

"We could send a rider to the site and read any memorial stones, bring back the names." Longing to know what happened to them you described the places as best you could, the ridge, the cave. They seemed to have a better understanding of the places than you as you gave more and more detail. The next afternoon after completing a forest run with Haden and Talik, you are called to Porteh's Hall of Heroes office. He hands you a scratching of the stones that they found in the places you described. Just the fact that there was stones there was a bad omen. You unfold the paper and the read the name "Patrice, Brawl Master of the Bear Clan". Your hands shake as underneath is another name "unknown". Your heart drops. 

"I shouldn't have left them." you say out loud. "What's that?" Porteh asks for clarification. You breathe out the saddest sigh you have ever had and say "They were true heroes.  What about the cave?" You ask hopefully. 

"There was nothing in or around the cave but when you mentioned the name Dushino last night I did some looking. In 1734 the grandson of a Dushino and Trisdsa, Stealth Master of the Panther Clan became chief of Ridoan. Could that be your guardian? 

"He made it, that was him," you thought "he got out of the cave and made it back to his clan and had children and a long life, I hope they all...they must have all made it, and...." Your mind raced and a tear welled in the corner of your eye. Porteh didn't say anything else but he could see on your face that, that was what you were searching for. 

What did the last paragraph say about what you value the most in life? Answer in Thy Quests below. 

Next: E9Q1 Home Soil