After only a few weeks journey, I have located the mortal called Innil Galanodal. I found him as part of a caravan heading to the town called Homlet. He was traveling alone, and carrying a package. Although not large, I could tell it contained something heavy from the way he carried it.
I stayed with Innil's section of the caravan, and for many days I was able to keep a fairly low profile doing what Prise do best: watching. Whenever any of the other mortals interacted with me, I would keep the conversations friendly but short. I am still not certain about these beings or how best to interact with them. So much of what they do seems illogical, and devoid of foresight of consequence.
However, one of the members of the caravan stood out to me. Not literally, of course, considering he is a dwarf, but in more of a spiritual sort of way. He said he was called Eunin, and asked me to look at a map he was carrying. Although the map was badly aged, and nearly indecipherable, I was able to distinguish the outline of a druid religious sight. He appeared by dress and manner to be a seafaring man, and it was not hard to tell that he thought the map would lead him to some of the fabled lost treasure in the area. Perhaps he is only chasing gold--which I am finding holds a quantifiable power of these mortals--but I felt that there was more to him. If nothing less, a sea-faring mountain dwarf is an odd and intriguing individual.
On the day before we were set to arrive at the town of Homlet, our caravan was set upon by bandits. So far as I understand it, this is not an uncommon occurrence in these parts. Sadly, four mortals' lives ended on that day. Two men, a woman, and a child gave their lives so that fools could chase the fleeting gratification earned by gold. Frail and frantic these beings are.
None of the individuals in our section of the caravan was killed in the attack, but myself and one other were severally wounded. If it had not been for a paladin with some healing powers, I fear I may have died. I mustn't forget that I too now poses a frail body.
We were set upon from both sides of the road. I saw Innil fire an arrow off towards the group of bandits coming over the hill to the right when a man and two hounds appeared at my right. The dwarf, Eunin and I engaged the hounds as a druid from the caravan set upon the man. I swung my quarterstaff at the hound nearest me, and it snapped over the hound's back. It seemed to be completely ineffective, so I was glad to be gone of it, and took to fighting the hound with my bare hands.
Although I was fairing well, the druid was the one to deal the killing blow to the hound with which I was grappling. Through druidic magic, he entangled the hound in a spiny vine, which was so sharp and strong it spit the dog in two. Clearly he is a fellow of some significant powers.
Meanwhile, Eunin had smashed his hound's skull with his hammer and had turned his attention to the dogs' master. The druid and I followed suit, and that is when I was knocked unconscious. The man was powerful and fast, and with two quick strikes I was on the ground with the world fading around me.
When I was brought back into consciousness, I found myself on the ground next to the man. Next to him, as near death as I had just been was the druid who had slain my hound. The caravan guards and the others from our section had him surrounded and severely outnumbered. Despite all hope being lost, the man fought on.
I moved away from the danger, and summed the powers of the Prise to heal my wounds. Although I am now mortal, I can still feel much of the powers of my race flowing through me. This realm's celestial energy is much weaker than that of Heaven's Fence, and I am certain that I could not have healed myself again on this day. I will have to learn to tap further into the energies that do exist here.
Once upon my feet, I watched as Eunin the Dwarf smashed the head of the bandit man so hard with his hammer that what was left was compacted into his chest.
Exhausted, we spent what was left of the daylight gathering the scattered supplies and tending to the wounded. That night when we made camp, and the others were drinking and telling their stories of battle, I sat near a fire and meditated. With my focus clearly set, I slowly blocked out the sights and noises around me and looked inward for the Ki energy of the Prise. It was certainly there, flowing like a river around me. It was different here... more fleeting. But, I do believe that I will be able to adapt to it. Perhaps I may even eventually be able master it in the same way that I had mastered it while in Heaven's Fence. Only time and practice will tell.
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