Illarion.org

A halfling has recently arrived in Troll's Bane. He introduced himself as Ian Ironkettle and told everybody that he was a cook and wanted to work at the Fluffy sheep tavern. After a friendly and most of all patient guard had told him, that the tavern belonged to king Tialdin, he boldly marched off to Silverbrand, off to see the king...

An elf clad in blue decided to accompany him; he walks with Ian and smiles proudly at the tools he is using... there were his own handi-work

"I will walk with you until the gates, should any harm come, i will protect you"

Dusty from the long travel, the halfling and the elf reach the city of Silverbrand. As they descend underground, Ian marvels at all the carvings, pillars and arches. In front of the huge entrance gates he hesitates a moment in awe. Then he gathers his good spirits, shows his brightest halfling smile and knocks at the gates three times.

"Hail good dwares! Be so kind and open the gates for a traveler. I have come to this place to see his Majesty King Tialdin in a matter of business."

The elf clad in blue feels out of place surrounded by stone

"Do not fear to open dwarves, for i come with no harm; i am solely the escort of this fine cook here"; points to the halfling

"Pray wil you open your fine gates for us"

The huge gates open and after stating his name and business again, the halfling is admitted.


A few hours later, a very happy halfling can be seen skipping on the road to Trolls Bane, somewhat lost in his thoughts, laughing and whistling to himself.

Some days later, the halfling Ian can be seen examining the note on the door to the tavern with a worried expression. It has been hanging there quite a while and is already tattered around the corners, but so far none of the old tavern crew have made themselves known.

He mutters "They can't be all gone, can they?" and goes back inside.

All of Trolls Bane is overgrown with rampant plants. The guard has called an evacuation. The tavern is vacant and looks more like a greenhouse than the comfortable place it used to be.

Still one stubborn halfling remains there. He can be seen at pulling bushes out of the floor, raking away fallen leaves and other futile attempts to keep the place in order.

Right now he's standing in the middle of the room, axe in hand. If glances could kill, the two large palms in front of him would immediately be reduced to splinters.

"Damn! Can't cut those. When they fall they'd ruin all the tables. Burning them is out too."

Ian scratches his head.

"Well, there's other ways in nature. Maybe some bugs can get rid of these annoying plants faster than an axe would."

He puts down the tool, puts on his hat and leaves for the woods.

An elf clad in blue is at the door, blocking him.. he has heard all the words..

"Destroy the trees? Why should you want to do that?" They are so beutiful.. He strokes the palm next to him

You dont need a tavern to cook, go outside and offer people food on the grass; he then moves aside to let him pass

The halfling looks around at the overgrown empty buildings and the deserted town.

"Which people? First the people need to return. You seem the only one who is so fond of this stuff... - do you want a drink?"

He shakes his head.

"No, no, for all that I love trees - this is not right. Trees belong in the forest, people belong into a house. Not the other way round. By all means, they should die in there anyway, no light, no rain, no soil. I just don't want them to fall on the tables."

The elf looks down, and smiles; "i wouldn;t mind a drink... i just come here to see the palms anyway..."

"What did you say about not being good in a building? It seems you have never been to vanima yet my friend"; sits down near a palm tree

No, indeed, I have never been there. But I have heard that the trees there grow as part of the building, not right through the table.