Chronicles of Lormere Chapter 14: Qel'qhet

Collection: Lormere
Chronicled By: Ghasty

Chapter 14: Qel'qhet

​Delumer's now vacuous form roamed through Qel'qhet, the forest in which she lived. Very few humans inhabited or hunted in Qel'qhet, which caused animal life to flourish. Aside from animals, many other revenants besides Delumer made their homes there, safe from any human civilization. The low human populous was not by weather, resources, or any other natural feature, but by diseases which Delumer had constrained to the woodland. Delumer spared a smattering of humans who had experience in plant and animal magic and had respect for the forest.

The forest was home to much unique flora and fauna, like the nef'saep'tfen, a small feline that stalked birds and rodents under the forest's canopies, or the qrohl'tvan, a centipede whose hideous shape developed through millennia of little to no sunlight deep within the caves of Qel'qhet.
​Besides the flora, fauna, and occasional humans, a multitude of revenants inhabited Qel'qhet. Vezoxden, the revenant of the sky, Smiin'qhet, the revenant of Qel'qhet, Susqirk, the revenant of forests, Degadky, the revenant of trees, Teliyol, the revenant of plants, and many other revenants were among these. Delumer had become close to these revenants and frequently looked upon them for aid and counsel, and now was a time in which she needed it most.
​In the very center sat a large dome obscured not only by vegetation but by an illusion created by Jolchqwej, the revenant of sight. Within this dome, all of Qel'qhet's revenants gathered, and Delumer was traveling towards it. She arrived and took her place at the front of the dome. Delumer began to address them in Fad'ed, the language of Qel'qhet and the kingdom which contained it.
​"Fellow Qel'qhet'opi, I need your help in squashing a battle that could affect the entirety of Wuer'pul. Diasdera, Cyjovin, and an army of rogues intend to overthrow the queen of Amarastia and create chaos in which they can increase and establish their powers. I fear that this power may then spread to our nearby kingdom of Woi'qhulq, corrupting and destroying this precious forest. On the other hand, Jaa, Meldontha, Antlousai, Troryna, and a few non-revenants, intend to stop them, though I fear they will somehow fuel the fire of entropy. If we can keep this battle from happening in the first place, we might spare Amarastia, Woi'qhulq, and many other lands in Wuer'pul. Now, who will help me?" A cheer followed Delumer's question. "There is no time to wait. We must go to the Amarastian royal pala-"
​"Why should we risk our lives for something that might not happen?" A single voice interjected in Okkathi from the center of the room. The revenants around the speaker stepped back. In the center of the room stood a six-winged creature appearing to be composed of wood and leaves. The creature's eyes looked and shined like emeralds. This creature was Smiin'qol'xams, the revenant of plant-based magic. "Why should we risk our lives for something that might not happen?" she asked again as she approached Delumer.
​"You have the choice to not participate in peacemaking if you choose so," Delumer responded in Fad'ed.
​"That doesn't answer my question," Smiin'qol'xams continued in Okkathi.
​"The chance something disastrous might happen should be enough motivation."
​"But what if that doesn't happen, and we waste our lives over your paranoia?"
​"Bloodshed is never without purpose if it maintains peace."
​"There's the chance that this is a petty feud that will become meaningless in a few decades. Bloodshed for a petty feud is worth nothing."
​"You shouldn't worry, no one will shed your blood if you never stand for anything."
​"There are many things I stand for, but I have learned that not every cause is worth supporting."
​"This mission will continue with or without your support."
​"Good luck, especially when a good portion of your army could be stopped by simply restricting their access to plant-based magic."
​"Plant-based magic is not the only type of magic. We will make do without you." Delumer turned to address the gathering again. "Does anyone else choose to stay behind?"
​"I do," one six-winged creature stated. The amorphous form of this revenant appeared to be composed of mist and light. This revenant was Vezoxden.
​"I also," another creature stated. The creature's form appeared to be composed of intertwined branches, stems, and leaves. This revenant was Teliyol.
​"Fine. Let us depart," Delumer said. An incantation sprung forth from Delumer's lips. "Ieg navu teupumi u ehl avolait zo ahl regsailan Amelda!"
​A bright light enveloped the dome. When the light receded, all the revenants, save Smiin'qol'xams, Teliyol, and Vezoxden.
​"Should we try to stop them?" Teliyol asked.
​"Not directly," Smiin'qol'xams responded.
​"What do you mean?" Vezoxden asked.
​"Very few of those revenants use physical weapons. A complete restriction on their magic usage could render them nullified."
​"How do you hope to achieve that?" Teliyol questioned.
​"Xaneduazahl, the revenant of magic and language, can restrict people from using magic. I hope to be able to get him to do such."
​"Where is this Xaneduazahl?"
​"Deep within the burial caverns of Okkathi, entrapped within a golden orb."
​"We can't waste any time. We should go," Vezoxden suggested.
​"Right." Smiin'qol'xams began to chant. "Ieg navu teupumi u grille zo Okkathi!"