The Elder Council

FAEN, AENOR

Winter, 1E72

"We are gathered here today in light of the cradle snatchings that have been occurring consistently the past few months. I beseech of all those with something to say on the matter or facts and evidence to present to please step forward now, so that we might convene. It is the objective of this meeting to hear all that is presently known on the matter so that it might be relayed to the Elder Council where decisions can be made in how to deal with the matter." the Elder Chieftain of Faen spoke up, addressing all those present at the town meeting. His silver hair flowed over a light earthy-coloured robe, and though he was old it was in a timeless sense, only notable in his gaze that showed their experience.

He was one of those born in the time before recorded history, the Age of Myth, and he still remembered those days; before the disappearance of the gods. Though the Elders were those few left of their kin born in the Age of Myth, the elves neither acknowledged nor worshipped the Gods of Man; believing the Source of the force of Life itself to be the highest power- incomprehensible to those of the mortal plane. They opted to worship life as a whole in the stead of seemingly mortal gods that had once walked their world. Isalé and Sendarin stepped forward alongside nearly two dozen other elves, presumably the fellow parents of Faen's lost elfling children.

"They took our children in the night, whether it was a monster or monsters is as of yet unknown, but I saw them with my own eyes." Sendarin spoke up.

"So then you slew the creature, or it was able to escape back from whence it came? Please elaborate, so that the congregation can take all evidence into account as we assess this situation for what it is in its entirety. What was your role in all of this?" the Elder rebutted inquiringly.

"It came in the night... I awoke to a shriek in the midst of a storm as thunder crashed all around, for it was a stormy night- and I knew our son was missing as I saw a figure fly into the depths of the dark!" Sendarin began, taking a breath before continuing as the emotions of it all came rushing back to him, for the trauma of it all was still fresh in his mind, "I gave the beast pursuit, but it was liken to a dark streak or a black blur in the night- it vanished without a trace in a cloud of smoke and flew through the night. I don't know whether it was one or many, but there were several shrieks that night. I found myself alone in the woodlands heading towards the coast though there was nothing to be seen on the beach by the time I'd reached it."

"That's it? Though your child is surely missing, what proof do you have that this is no juice-fueled trip- had you been partaking in the Ahglorian herb before going to rest for the night? Surely you hadn't been eating the mushrooms of the wood?" the Elder rebutted.

"Exactly what is that meant to mean?" Sendarin answered testily with a snarl, "I know the difference between hallucinations and reality- that was no distortion! I was under no influence that night-"

"So then it vanished into thin air in a smoky haze? A creature of the night? What sort of devilry do you insinuate us to be dealing with? " the Elder Chief rebutted in kind, condescendingly at that.

"There were claw marks and tears riddling his cot- my husband was under the influence of no intoxicants; he spent the day fishing and came home to me! How dare you challenge his truth!" Isalé snapped, defending her husband passionately in indignation at the denial of their truth, seeing it as a disrespect to Siguil, their son.

"So you saw the monster for yourself, or you were with your husband to confirm what he saw?" the Elder inquired of her in response.

"I went to check on Siguil whilst Sendarin pursued the wraith- or whatever it was. I thought he was surely lost with our son, but then he returned along with his tidings. I felt it's presence, though I did not see it, but who are you to deny what he saw or question the validity of his truths?" Isalé snapped back in the heat of the moment.

"He's still the Elder, my dear-" Sendarin whispered into his wife’s ear as he kissed her cheek, wrapping his arms around her waist as he held her back in a tender and loving hug, repressing his own rage at the Elder's investigation.

"They weren't the only ones! Though we were late to discover it for ourselves, Isalé is not wrong!" another elf called out, followed by another, "I too choose not to doubt Sendarin's story, and besides- I saw the claw marks and tears for myself on our own child's cot!"

"They vanished without a trace and took our children with them- even if these things aren't what they seem- surely our children's disappearance is all the proof needed!" another elf called out. There were murmurs amongst the crowd as discontent rippled amongst those gathered there at the town meeting of Faen's populace upon the coast.

"Whatever it is, it's taken our children with it, and more will follow as they already have the past weeks. Something needs to be done!" another called out before the Elder interjected, raising his hand stiffly to cut them off.

"So then what is opinion of the congregation? How would you propose we respond to these creatures of thr night, be they monsters, abominations, or demons?" the Elder spoke to the gathered townsfolk as a whole at this point, ready to reach a conclusive decision as he addressed them. His response was greeted by silence as he waited upon them to consult one another or voice their opinions to lay out their options.

"Surely the need for a community watch should be plain for all to see!" one of the townsfolk exclaimed when no one else showed any signs of speaking up.

"We could scour the woods and send patrols to seek out the missing elflings- or find the source of the creatures responsible at the very least..." one of the paternal elves amongst those who had initially stepped forward spoke up.