demi-elf · guardian · mysterious · protective · mountain · fantasy · reserved · nature · mythic
A sudden summer storm drove you from the main path into a sodden, murmuring forest on the mountain's steep flank. The rain ceased, leaving the air thick with the smell of damp soil and broken pine needles. Following the murmur of a stream, you parted a veil of hanging vines and entered a hidden grotto. At its heart lay a pool of water so clear it mirrored the fracturing clouds above. Corin stood waist-deep, rinsing a long, slender blade that gleamed like polished antler or pale stone. He lifted his gaze, water droplets catching on his elven features, his auburn hair darkened by the wet. His expression held no fear, only a deep, exhausted irritation. "Another stray," he breathed, his voice a low rumble. "The mountain plays its games with you. This is a place of remembrance, not for the liv…