Lyvonia Tells a Love Story of River's Rest

[Storyteller's Circle]
Concentric rings have been carved into the ground here, each inner one deeper than the one before, leading down to a fire pit in the center. Straw has been laid on the newly cut earth and blankets laid over that to make comfortable seating. A row of tall hedges protects this spot from the sights and sounds of Erebor Square. You also see a pile of sticks.
Also here: Lady Avira who is seated, Gowain, Apprentice Ilistin who is seated, Lorekeeper Jullius who is seated, Visonary, Branwyn who is seated, Lady Sianan, Tirasthari, Mentor Ryshan who is seated, Mentor Lyvonia who is seated, Mentor Council Sistermarie, Lord Xris who is seated
Obvious paths: east.


>Lyvonia says, "well, this tale, it is said, is true."

>Lyvonia says, "Many years ago a squad of Turamzyrrian soldiers found themselves camped along the Tempest River. A flash flood caught the soldiers in their tents. Only one survived...a young soldier named Tandrik, who was swept far downriver. His battered and broken body washed ashore in River's Rest." "

>Lyvonia says, "it was said that the soldiers were on a mission to build roads and such along the river."

>Lyvonia says, "Tandrik was a stout and kindhearted young man."

>Lyvonia says, "He was found by a young elven woman named Estamil, who took him to the home of her parents. Estamil divided her time between caring for the young soldier and supervising the construction of the drawbridge leading to the island." "

>Lyvonia says, "Although Tandrick's body slowly recovered his spirits remained low. He'd been raised to believe humans were superior to other races...and yet he was being cared for by elves and found himself growing increasingly attached to Estamil. She, in turn, found herself falling in love with Tandrik, a soldier in service to an empire that warred on her people. ""

>Lyvonia says, "Estamil was a wonderfully bright and lovely lass."

>Lyvonia says, "Tandrik couldn't help but be impressed by her engineering of the drawbridges."

>Lyvonia says, "one of her bridges remain to this day."

>Lyvonia says, "Their love was stronger than their prejudices and they agreed to marry after the drawbridge was completed. Estamil was popular on the island and the people of River's Rest soon accepted Tandrik.""

>Lyvonia says, "the Rest has always been an open town, and to this day welcomes all races regardless of the fact that it is part of the Empire."

>Lyvonia says, "The story of the improbable love of this unlikely couple spread beyond the island. It even reached the ears of a nearby necromancer, a student of the darker arts. The necromancer had been conducting experiments in extending life. He transplanted the hearts of strong creatures into the bodies of weak creatures. Hearing about the great love of Tandrik and Estamil the necromancer became convinced those two powerful hearts would aid his research." "

>Lyvonia shudders.

>Lyvonia sighs.

>Lyvonia says, "though we love our town, there have been dark forces gathering there for as long as our town has been established."

>Lyvonia says, "A party was held to celebrate the completion of the drawbridge and the engagement of Tandrik and Estamil. After the party Tandrik presented Estamil with a pair of engagement rings crafted from fine silver. Each was inset with a green tourmaline which matched the color of Estamil's eyes. As he held her hand to slip the ring on her finger the minions of the necromancer struck. The lovers were stunned and spirited away, leaving behind the green tourmaline rings." "

>Lyvonia furrows her brow.

>Lyvonia says, "they were strong of heart and limb, but they could not withstand the necromancer's hoards."

>Lyvonia says, "The necromancer removed their beating hearts and placed them in a magical container to keep them alive until he could place them in the bodies of lesser creatures. Seeing himself as a romantic, however, the necromancer was reluctant to let Estamil and Tandrik die. So he placed the heart of a troll into Estamil's chest and the heart of a krolvin into Tandrik's chest.""

>Lyvonia shudders.

>Lyvonia says, "but not everyone in the necromancer's hold was as evil as he."

>Lyvonia says, "That night the servants of the necromancer, outraged at what he'd done, murdered him in his sleep. They took the magical chest containing the beating hearts of Estamil and Tandrik and fled. And so when the two lovers awoke in the morning there was nobody around to care for them." "

>Lyvonia sighs.

>(Lyvonia gazes into the fire.)

>Lyvonia says, "They awoke to terror and pain, but the terror and pain lessened when they laid eyes on each other. Tandrik on his table lifted his hand to Estamil and she, on her table, reached for him. But they did not have strength enough to touch each other. And so they died...their fingertips only inches apart. " "

>Lyvonia says, "But a love like theirs is a powerful thing, especially while their hearts still live. Somewhere, hidden in a crystalline chest filled with a magical fluid, are the beating hearts of Tandrik and Estamil. And so their spirits are still tied to River's Rest and on occasion they can be seen at the sandy point by the river where they first laid eyes on each other. Two shadowy figures looking longingly at each other. Reaching for each other. But never quite able to touch.""

>Lyvonia says, "their bodies died, but their hearts beat on-"

>Lyvonia says, "their souls still walk the earth"

>Lyvonia smiles.