Brydee heads for HoldFast

[Brydee]

Those first steps out of town, leaving Autumshade, felt surreal. All of a sudden the world opened up and the place she had lived her whole life felt even smaller. She felt smaller.

The rising sun sparkled on the frosted grass and the cool air filled her lungs as she swallowed her hesitation. This place, this life she lived, it was fine. She enjoyed the people, as predictable as they may be.

She knew everyone who came through her family’s pub and had heard all the tales of adventures from folks who never looked beyond the community garden. But she knew the difference, these stories were their escape, just as she had hers.

Perhaps a little too bold, or maybe too scared to truly believe; Brydee never let the ache in her chest affect her smile. Even as she saw different colors in the air, and felt the wisps of the energy, she smiled at her world of escape.  The one she created, the one her mind played tricks on her with. Showing her people who were not there, envisioning places she would never see from her spot behind the counter. Dreams that felt just too imagined to talk about.

But a few weeks ago, a new traveler passed through town. And he shared stories of outrageous battels and boisterous people, warning of potential dangers and an archaic world. Hearing these new stories proving the manipulative ability of the mind, Bryd listened and engaged and made a new friend for the first time in a while.


It wasn’t just the fresh conversation, something about his passion and energy sparked the yearning she thought she had quieted over two years ago. When she finally accepted the things she would see that no one else would acknowledge. It was just her creating an escape, the manifestations of her unreasonable desires.

When the familiar stranger left, with forewarning but also an invitation to visit HoldFast, the need to find MORE wouldn’t subside.

So now with her feet farther from home, but closer to the rest of the world, Bryd held out her arms and spun in the day's new sun.

When she started walking, with only vague directions combined with a pull to keep going, she made her way. All before the sun was finished rising.

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It felt like color sprung from everywhere, the things she had only ever seen pieces of were everywhere. The sky shone purple in the distance, the glow felt surreal as Bryd thought it reached for her.

The simple gate welcomed her as she passed through, revealing the visual evidence of battles that sat peacefully beyond it.

The atmosphere hung heavy but did not hide the quiet sound of bliss. The sun had fully risen and the frost turned into dew as she had arrived, and the quiet let Bryd believe that even battle stories were overblown. This place had persevered through great pain that seeped into the ground but felt so alive.

Feeling sure of herself, she made her grand entrance.
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The smells of breakfast made her think of home, of the grease scars on her arm from frying bacon and the haunting feeling of being up before dawn.

“A great battle has happened here!” Her exclamation is meant to announce her entrance and reveal her interest in the ongoings at Holdfast, identifying herself as a friend.

The wide eyes of shocked faces caused her to pause as she confirmed she had not entered without her clothing. They apologized quickly, saying she had sounded like an old friend as she entered the room.

They asked many questions, sleep still lingering in their voices. Questions she answered earnestly, but with a vague ominous reflection in her tone.

Who was she? Where was she from? How and why had she come here?

She was Brydee, but they could call her Bryd.
She was from Autumshade.
She had left at sunrise.
She had come to find an adventure.

The sound of laughter after the final answer revealed much about the people around her. She heard the sound of resignation for their fates, and pity for what she had come upon.

But the energy around them and the smiles on their faces at her arrival were welcoming, so she wanted to stay.

Pressing for answers as to why they seemed deflated, they told her the tales of strong enemies and dangerous encounters. They spoke of a forthcoming final battle, explained the purple sky, and of the inn they had made their home.

As more awoke from slumber, Byrd was pleased to finally see her friend. Drixar reached for her hand as he greeted her, “You Came!’

“I did, and with perfect timing, I hear?”
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The day was epic, and many tales could be told but none felt like hers to tell.

Bryd found herself uncertain. Viewing herself as unhelpful if not a hindrance. She took to watching guard through the window for many hours, waiting and ready to alert when the first sign of trouble arrived. Those first shouts of alert felt glorifying, as the proceeding battles displayed the community shared amongst the inn’s inhabitants.

Late in the evening and into the early hours of the morning, awaiting the return of their foe many preparations took place. Words of encouragement and inspiration as well as songs and magical healing.

Eventually, time seemed to stretch on with no sign of the final battle beginning. Some began growing restless, some simply resting.

At one point Bryd searched for the clearly underused broom and swept the many common areas of the inn while others continued to rest and keep watch. Making light-hearted but serious demands for there to be no death on the now clean floor.

When Nero finally appeared he did so in a blast of bright purple light. The cold night air felt sharp in Bryd’s lungs as she fought and ran to keep her eyes on the targets and waited for them to fall.

The battle was an explosive war between the two sides, and Bryd found herself disbelieving when it was over.
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(Brydee's POV)

In these moments after battle, I stood in the center of the room. Spinning around to look at every one.

There was more emotion in that room than in any other place on earth, and I felt every inch of it: the joy and grief, the loss and hope, the drive and determination to get through anything.

Huddled together in tears, prayers, and relief, these people, these heroes, surrounded me, and I reveled in their power.

For the second time in twenty-four hours, I felt small. But it was a beautiful feeling. I realized I hadn’t just been looking for an adventure when I left; I was looking for a home, a family. And these people here—I choose them. By God, this group and this feeling I have right now—this is what I was looking for.