Laraganus's Lineage (Laraganus's Story)

Laraganus, Shem, Shiv, and Mer are all sitting on one side of a table, while on the other side is an elf (named Xepo)—the trio of half-orcs and the meramid look at the stranger with confusion and suspicion. The elf, though, looked at them with a smile. She sat straight with no curve in her back, prim and proper as always. Her dark yellow skin meant she was a Sun Elf.

Earlier that month, Shiv and Mer were confronted by Xepo, who stated that she was Laraganus's mother and wanted to meet her. Shiv and Mer sent a message to Laraganus, which surprised her. She grew up knowing that her mother was an elf who gave her up and then was adopted by the House of Spears. She thought that at some point her mother had died, yet here is a female elf claiming to be her mother. To prepare, Laraganus thought long and hard about what questions to ask, but couldn't quite formulate them. However, she then realized she needed to do some research on her father and asked about him. She spent a couple of weeks combing through journals and bardic tales to find anything and everything about her father and asked questions based on her findings.

Now, back in the present, "How did you and my father meet?" asked Laraganus. She knew her father was a mercenary/guard based on the research she did; However, he never went further south than Lukus City, or further east than Blue-Bee Pastures. "I was hunting for food when I heard fighting in the distance. I saw a group of adventurers fighting some gnomes and halflings. I watched from afar, but then I saw a tall, muscular half-orc wielding a spear. He spun it around like an elf soldier. He wasn't angry, he wasn't bloodthirsty, he was fighting for his life. Yet one by one, adventurers fell, all except for him. The gnomes and halflings surrounded him with ropes, and soon they pinned him down. When I came down, he was still struggling to break free. He looked like the very animals I hunted. I felt sorry for him and made a deal with the gnomes to pay for his release. They took my offer, and he was handed to me. I snuck him back to my village where I treated his wounds. As I did, I questioned why his friends were fighting peaceful people. He said that they were helping some necromancers and needed to be stopped. They were also kidnapping dwarf and goblin children and selling them as slaves. He was trying to free those people when they were attacked. Luckily, they managed to ensure the rescue of some of the children by having an ally drive a wagon back over the border. As I tended to him, I fell in love with him. He was strong, wise, and very good-looking. I never met a half-orc before him, and so all I knew of them was that they were brutes, animals with weapons, hybrids that were abominations to nature. Your father proved those tales to be false. I had to keep him a secret for weeks. Until he wasn't. Apparently, one of my neighbors became suspicious and began snooping around my house until they saw him lying on a chair, resting. They ran to the guards who waited to confront me when I was home. They then barged in, dragged me and your father out of the house, and began asking questions. Your father fought them; he killed them. He ate one of their faces. He proved the tales to be true after all. We then stole one of the soldiers' rides and ran away to his country. I hated being in the Green Swamps, but we quickly had you. Oh, you were such a pretty baby," said Xepo as she stared off into the distance. Ignoring everyone else. "So why did you give me up then?" asked Laraganus. "We were attacked by elves, who thought I was kidnapped by your father. They killed him, burned our home. We escaped, but I knew that you were going to die if you went to the Golden Forests, so I ran to one of the half-orc cities and gave you up I sacrificed myself to protect you, and had been trapped in my country this whole time. Only recently have I been released and tried to find you. I've heard of a female half-orc who was half-elf and who prevented many invasions. I heard the tales of the 'Seducative Slayer' and knew it was you, and I was right. You certainly have your father's body, and my never-aging face," said Xepo, smiling, a single tear fell from her face. "Excuse me, but I need to think about this," said Laraganus as she got up to leave. Shem followed after her.

"What's wrong?" asked Shem. "Her story, it. It contradicts my research, but only a little bit. She said my father was freeing children, but that's not true. He was a smuggler," said Laraganus. "So, perhaps he lied, or she's trying to think of him as better than he actually was?" asked Shem. "Maybe, but then she said that elves killed him. That can't be true because the House of Axes killed him for his part in smuggling operations," said Laraganus. "Perhaps the elves and the half-orcs teamed up?" asked Shem. "No, the elves hate our kind. They wouldn't dare," said Laraganus, shooting down the theory. "Hmm, well, maybe if you told her, she'll contradict herself," said Shem, unsure if he was right. "Maybe, but I think she's telling me what she wants to be true, not what I want to be true," said Laraganus. "Well, why don't you bring it up to her, and see how she reacts?" asked Shem. "I can't, but perhaps you can," said Laraganus. "Fine, but only because I'm your husband," said Shem and kissed her on the forehead. The two walked back to Shiv and Mer, talking to Xepo and laughing.

"Great, time to spoil the mood," whispered Shem to Laraganus. Shem sat down, coughed, and said, "So, you said, Laraganus's father was rescuing kids, however, from what we know. Her father was a smuggler. A kidnapper," said Shem. Xepo looked surprised. "Oh, I see. You're trying to find reasons not to trust me. Well. I'll let you know. My husband smuggled and freed people who were kidnapped. He pretended to be evil in order to get close to the evil he was trying to destroy. It's another reason I fell in love with him," said the now-angry elf, but her posture didn't change. "So you mean to tell me that everything I learned about my father was a lie?" asked Laraganus. "No, it was faked. He desired to reunite families. He was a hero, not a monster. That was until he killed the elf soldiers. Then, when others came, they killed him, for what he did to the elves," said Xepo, calming down. "Then why were there half-orcs? Why did they claim to kill him?" asked Laraganus. "That I don't know. I just remembered the elves. They were the ones who took me prisoner after all," said Xepo. "Hmm, wait a minute. What did you say to the gnomes to get my father?" asked Laraganus. "Oh, I told them that I'd take care of the prisoner that they captured and made up some story about how I was hunting him down for what he was doing. I also offered payment. They accepted the payment. Greedy little gremlins." said Xepo. "So if I were to go to these gnomes would they be able to verfity your story?" asked Laraganus. "If they're still alive. It has been more 150 years after all." said Xepo. "Well then, let's go see." said Laraganus as she stood up, went to her room, and started packing.

"Lara, are you sure about this?" asked Shem. "This is too important. I've lived my whole life not knowing who my parents were. Now I have a chance, but I need to know if this is real and not some illusion, not a fake. That is the last thing I need right now." she said as she packed clothes and gear. Shem then stopped her and hugged her. "I won't stop you, but I can't come with you. The kids will be here in a couple of days. I just hope you don't leave the family you have for a family you knew nothing about." said Shem. "I won't, I've always wanted to be the mother I never had. I will learn the truth and I'll be better for it." said Laraganus as she went back to packing. After some time she returned to the other room with a couple of adventurer backpacks and bedrolls. "Alright, time to retrace your steps." said Laraganus with a determined look. Xepo nodded.