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I am continuing my writing adventure. I have a secret project that only my close friends and family know about, that I hope to publish this year or next. I've made really good progress on that.
But I am also continuing with my light-hearted stories, such as the one about me, Lantashi (the Dungens & Dragons character who also happens to post on Gemini!). I hope to keep publishing those here, on Lantashi's Capsule.
When I first write these scenes, I find several (too many) typos after posting them. Or my friends find them... some of those typoes haves been amusing. But as I find them, I clean them up, especially in the writing section of this capsule. I won't necessarily clean up the posts.
The following scene is a continuation of Ch 2 - H'shalyn. See my last post for the start of the chapter (next line), or the link at the end of this post for the full story so far.
April 25, 2023 - Lantashi's Dance - Chapter 02 - H'shalyn, The Climb
The first scene of the chapter is called "The Climb". Now we get to meet Lantashi's father in the scene "Huyrlikan".
Writing about Lantashi really fleshes out my character too! The Dungeon Master might be getting more than he hoped for on Lantashi's personality and background :-)
Several minutes later Lantashi and K'valak approached a large structure built within the heights of the Wood Sea. The thick foilage below completely obscured the ground, but the sky above was somewhat visible, and this building allowed for a good view of the stars at night. Like the rest of the village, the structure was molded into the trees, shaped by sylvan magic. In the case of this building, it was formed where three huge oak trees met. Beautiful from the outside, a stranger would nevertheless need to look twice at it to understand what he was seeing.
The pair pushed through a bark doorway. No lock held the door shut, but sylvan powers would not allow entry for those the forest did not recognize as friend.
Inside the structure was what might have been called a "tree cave." In some ways it was similar to the caves of the mountains, but instead of rock the floor, walls and ceilings of this cave were made of bark, but the bark has been smoothed out with sylvan magic. Sylvan jewels had also been woven into the walls, and sunlight filtered through the wood by an art of the sylvan, unknown to any other race.
They walked down the hallway to a large door at the end. While Lantashi, as a daughter of the chief, had the right to enter, she instead stood outside the doorway, and called,
"Father, are you there? May I come in?"
"Come," said a deep voice, one with a musical tone to it. Lantashi pushed the door, and it opened for her. She and K'valak stepped through.
Within, standing behind a large table, was Huyrlikan, the chief of H'shalyn, and Lantashi's father. While they shared some of the same familial traits, Huyrlikan had none of the softness of her daughter. His face was angular, and very handsome in a sylvan way. He was tall, and thin, and had long, silver hair. He wore the long, green robes of a sylvan chieftain.
Lantashi came around the table to her father, knelt, and kissed his hand. It was a traditional, showing her reverence to her father. Huyrlikan accepted the gesture for a moment, but then took her shoulders in his hands, helping her to rise to her feet.
"We have seen you coming, daughter," the chief said. "The forest loves you, more as a friend than a master. It flowed with you as you approached."
Lantashi knew this was a compliment and a criticism mixed together. It was said without warmth.
"I am never alone in my homeland," Lantashi replied. "The forest is always there to speak to me."
"Yet, it is often good not to be seen, especially for a ranger. You should quiet the forest about you."
Lantashi nodded, and bowed her head slightly, again showing deference. Lantashi's heart often rebelled against her father's wishes, but she would not disrespect him, especially in his own village.
Huyrlikan seemed to notice K'valak for the first time. K'valak bowed, and the chief offered him a smile, a warmer smile than he had offered his daughter.
"To have my daughter and the warrior K'valak in my office at the same time is a new occurence," Huyrlikan stated. "There must be an important reason. Please, sit at the chief's table, and tell me of the news you bring."
"Yes, elder," K'valak said. He and Lantashi sat with the chief at the large, round table.
Email: lantashi [at] protonmail [dot] com