Fairy Mountain
A strange mountain in the distance seems to beckon to you, and you decide to follow your instincts and begin the long trek toward it. After what seems like a very long time, you reach the base of the mountain and collapse next to a surprisingly wide and deep stream for a short break.

As you stare into the rippling, clear water, the reflection of a large moving shape overhead catches your attention. You look up and see not one, but two shapes descending through the treeline. What appear to your eyes to be two blue and grey winged horses land nearby and look at you regally. The larger of the two, a stallion you assume, ruffles his grey wings, tosses his mane, and prances up the mountainside. The other, a mare you assume, follows close behind him. Intrigued, you try to stay quiet and creep up behind them.
After it seems like the equines are going to lead you all the way to the top of the mountain, they finally pause for a moment and a very large black stallion with intricate red and grey markings runs over and joins them. He looks very fierce, so you huddle behind a bush so as to avoid being seen.
After only a moment's pause, the now three equines begin trotting uphill again, led by the new stallion. Before long, they are joined by two more lovely mares. The white and blue one descends from the very top of the mountain, where the snows never melt, and the black and yellow one gallops out of a strange cloudlike mist, seeming to be made of the very lightning itself.
The five equines gather in a group now, and you assume that all members of the Herd are present at last. Suddenly, to your surprise, the black stallion looks directly at you, even though you are concealed behind a bush, and speaks.

"Human, meet the Herd properly, perhaps?" He asks in a low, noble-sounding voice. His speech is heavily accented and you realize that he probably does not speak English perfectly yet.

With a blush, you emerge from the bush and cautiously approach the group of equines. The enormous stallion trots over to you and bows regally. "We Faequines are. Rothgar, I be, lead of this Herd and stallion of War," he introduces himself. He seems slightly amused by you and friendly, despite his frightning appearance.

Rothgar looks over to the first two Faequines you saw and introduces them as well. "Reial, stallion of Wind and Aylia, mare of Wind." The tiger-striped stallion bows gracefully as a greeting and the mare arches her neck proudly.

The white mare comes over next and stands next to Rothgar. You notice that she is a bit bigger than the other two mares, a perfect match for the large stallion. "My mate-to-be, Flestris, a mare of Ice," Rothgar tells you. You look in wonder as the mare somehow creates a small flurry of show around her and the stallion.

"And last, the Lightning mare of the Herd. She is Karatyl called." The yellow and black mare gallops over energetically and can hardly seem to keep still long enough to greet you.

"Hello, human," she says with a grin. Obviously Rothgar isn't the only herd member who is learning English. "Care to see the foals? Three of them there are now, and very cute!"

Before taking you to see the foals, the big War stallion shows you some strange etchings that have been made into the bark of a dead tree. Stat sheets for the Herd members, you realize.
Name: Reial
Elemental: Wind
Gender: Stallion
Mate: Karatyl
Special Markings: Reversed color,
tiger stripes
Number: Wind Stallion 3
Name: Rothgar
Elemental: War
Gender: Stallion
Mate: Flestris
Special Markings: War paint symbols, jeweled bands, earring
Number: War Stallion 1
Name: Aylia
Elemental: Wind
Gender: Mare
Currently Not Mated
Special Markings: Three high socks, underbelly marking
Number: Wind Mare 1
Name: Flestris
Elemental: Ice
Gender: Mare
Mate: Rothgar
Special Markings: Three high socks
Number: Ice Mare 1
Name: Karatyl
Elemental: Lightning
Gender: Mare
Mate: Reial
Special Markings: Pinto markings,
lightning markings
Number: Lightning Mare 4
"This way, we keep the foals in a special place for protection," Rothgar explains and leads you down the mountain a ways into a shaded valley. "Perhaps some of the Herd's more secretive members you meet too." He grins.
Follow Rothgar
Faequines at the Belial Market Stall
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