Sianan Eveningstorme

 

Profession: Cleric

I am Sianan Eveningstorme, dark elven, priest of Eonak. Daughter, wife and mother to my beloved husband, Gowain and our children.

All stories have a beginning, this is mine. The manor house where I was born had been in my father's family for countless generations. I was five or so when it burned to the ground. My father, having been called into Zelia's service, had left shortly after my birth, leaving me to be raised by servants. Of his parents I know nothing but a few scraps he has told me in later years. After the fire, the servants all left and I was taken in by the local innkeeper and his wife. They were of amiable disposition and had twelve children of their own. As Miles Owens, the innkeeper, used to say, "Whas one mer scamp to be runnin round?" My life was pleasant enough staying with the Owens'. I was a solemn child, not given to boisterous  antics like the other children. I learned to mend, house keep, and tended to the children younger then I. Only the elder children were allowed in the public room of the Inn. So while I saw all manner of people during my chores in the pub, Mistress Owens, all six foot of her motherly frame, kept a sharp eye on the patrons. I was educated in the school run by the priest of our parish. All in all a peaceful existence.

The day of my twelfth birthday dawned bright and sunny though the ground laid covered in deep snow. I rose as usual with the sun and went about getting ready for my day. I went down the backstairs to the family part of the ground floor and into the large kitchen. Goodman Owens and his wife sat at the large scrubbed table alone. The other children could be heard stirring around upstairs. They both looked up as I entered and stopped speaking. I studied their unusually solemn faces and asked what was the matter. Mistress Owens, for all her formidable presence, fidgeted under my gaze. Master Owens cleared his throat several times then said, "Ya've come of age this day, time for ya to make your way in the world." Shocked, I stood and looked from one to the other, word tumbling around in my head but none passing my lips. Mistress Owens stood up abruptly and left the room. Master Owens sat with his head bowed looking miserable. I finally found my voice and asked, "But why? Why do I have to leave?". Without looking up he said, "I canna have anny truble here, Ive ta missus and children to think of." I asked, "What trouble do you speak of?". He didn't reply further just repeated what he had said, rose and without another word walked from the room. I am not sure how long I stood there, seemed like hours but must have only been a few seconds, when Mistress Owens entered carrying a valise. She thrust the case into my hands, hugged me tight enough I thought my bones would break then turned to start preparing the morning meal. I turn away in bewilderment and saw the other children had come silently downstairs. Minna, the eldest, held my outdoors things and there were tears in her eyes as she handed them to me. I sat the case down as I put on my cloak and boots, each of the children hugging me then hurrying away till I stood alone by the door. I picked up my case and turn to take one last look at the place that had been home all these years, etching it in my memory. I opened the door and walked out, closing it behind me.  I had not one clue as to where to go or what to do. So I walked up the long hill to where the ruins of my father's house lay. I cleared the snow off one of the stones and sat down. As I sat I heard a crinkling of paper. I searched through my pockets and found an envelope. Inside was a bank note for one hundred silvers. So I wasn't destitute, I thought wryly. I sat there and reviewed my situation. I knew my father was alive, but since Zelia had called him to her side I hadn't seen him nor had any idea of where to look for him. I was also puzzling over the events of the morning and what the trouble might be. I decided my best course was to find my father then go from there. With that resolved I picked up my case and headed southeast towards the closest large town, Wehnimer's Landing in hopes of hearing word of him.

After traveling for fifteen days, sometimes I was lucky enough to get a ride with a local farmer in their wagon, I arrived at the gate of  Wehnimer's Landing. I still had most of the silvers from the banknote so I rented a room at Wayside Inn to clean up and store my case. The weather was fair so I thought I would head into town square to sit and listen to the goings on, maybe hear some news. I sat down on a bench in the bustling square located in the center of town. At first it was like a wall of noise and colors, but gradually I became attuned to the crowds and could pick up a bit of conversation here and there. It was warmer inside the town but I still kept my cloak on. I sat for hours watching and listening till a motherly looking woman, I had watched tend and heal people that came to her, looked up and smiled at me. She said, "Hello, are you new to our town?" I smiled and replied politely, "Yes, ma'am, I arrived today." "Have you family here or a place to stay, m'dear?" she asked. I replied that I had a room at the inn and I was searching for news of my father. She asked, "Who is your father, dear?". As I spoke his name she turn deathly pale then her face formed angry lines. "You'd be better off not finding HIM!", she said through tight lips and turned away from me. I was astonished at her reaction to the name but then again I didn't know my father as anything but a vague memory. Now what was I to do? If his mere name invoked such a response as to change this woman from affable to livid anger, where would I find news of him? I decided to try and speak to her again, perhaps I could soothe her anger away and gain the knowledge I sought. "Ma'am?" I said tentatively. "I beg your pardon for disturbing you as I undoubtedly have, would you please accept my apologies?" At first she ignored my overtures. Lucky for me she had a basically kind nature and unbent towards me. "I will tell you this, my dear" she said, "Don't go around asking after your father, best to go to Voln and seek him out, that is where he is most often to be found." I stood and thanked her, she hugged me and I thought I heard her mumble something about sheep to the slaughter, but I may have misunderstood. As the day was drawing to a close I made my way back to the inn to seek supper and perhaps learn where this Voln was. I hadn't wanted to press the healer further as she still seemed upset. 

I sat down at the end of a long table in the dining room. The room was filling up with hungry patrons and the serving maids were bringing out platters and bowls of steaming food. On my right sat a dwarven man, shoulders hunched over his plate as if to ward off any conversation. The dwarf moved slightly and a flash of light on his shirt caught my eye. I peeked at the dwarf, not wishing to intrude, trying to see what had caused the flash. He reached for a crust of bread and I saw a small silver pin shaped in the form of a drake glint in the light. On my left sat a young elven lad a bit older then myself. He had a friendly face so I begged his pardon and asked if he knew the town at all. He smiled and said, "Yes, I have lived here for a few months and can find my way around quite nicely, was there somewhere you wanted to know about?" I said, "I have heard tell of a place called Voln and wondered how I might get there from here". He thought for a moment and shook his head. "No, I can't say as that name strikes a cord with me, sorry." I nodded to him and gave him my thanks. As I was picking up my spoon to eat a gruff voice spoke, "Wha ya be wontin with Voln?". I glanced at the dwarf, he still sat hunched over his meal but I was sure it was he who had spoken. I replied, "I was told to go there to gain word of my father." No sooner had the words left my mouth I realized my mistake, now he would ask who my father was and might even reacted as the healer had done. I tensed as I waited for him to ask, but he merely said, "Ye go out of the door here, follow da trail south till ya comes to a signpost at the fork in da road." "Take da southeast branch of da road to da bridge, cross ov'r and head north to da second trail, don't go down dat first one, dat not da place for so young a one as you." "Go on down dat second trail and yull see Voln". With that he began eating again, giving the impression he had been disturbed enough. I said thank you and rose from my seat. I went upstairs to bed, morning would be time enough to seek the path to Voln. 

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Last updated: January 19, 2003.