As you exit the cave you see the elf transform. He produces a big smile and inhales deeply as he darts to a tree and starts hugging it. His laughter is interrupted by a short "oh, the forest...it has been so long." Siel, happiness is perhaps not your thing but his current emotional state tickles you softly inside. Far from sadness and suffering, but this emotion is very pure and strong.
As you reach the river, he plunges in while Nala inspects the surroundings. After two seconds he jumps out again. "Oh! Almost forgot!" He runs to a tree with a small hollow in it and peers inside. He bursts out in laughter and runs back to the river. "Unbelievable!"
After a few moments he calms down and sits on the river bank, meticulously scrubbing every inch of his body. "I had food and exercise this morning, so I don't expect any drow on the graveyard today and tomorrow. Unless there's a funeral planned, which happens only very rarely." He looks around, admiring the trees and some flying birds. "I have a long story to tell indeed. But let's focus on what you asked and start at the begin."
"About 35 years ago I was sent to this continent. In the same manner as you, I presume. We arrived not far from here, the coast to the east. Fifty, sixty young men and women, full of ambition and vigor." He stares in the distance as he digs in his memory. You notice his eyes become a bit watery. "And then....then the giant dwarves came. Six of them...seven." He looks you in the eyes. "It was a horrible bloodbath, you can not possibly imagine."
"I had a friend. Herman. A human. He was a mage. And a coward. He could produce this aura that made him and those close to him invisible. That is what he did, immediately, when the giant dwarves showed up. I started using my magic to strengthen our forces, but it was pretty soon obvious that it was pointless. Herman pulled me in his aura and we fled. I don't think anyone else survived."
"The poor guy died a few weeks later. Mauled by a bear. I told him not to move....to stay still, but he could not control his nerves. He ran off, screaming like a little girl and the bear chased him. Also not a pretty sight..." He pauses again a moment and thinks. "Then I was alone. Luckily I had this special hat that would alter my appearance, so I could try and integrate in Orc society and travel. Looking for signs of others." As he sees the expecting looks on your faces, he shakes his head. "My parents were weavers and I picked up some of the craft when I was younger, so I could use this trade to sustain myself and use the produced fabrics as an excuse to travel"
"I did that for about 30 years and saw quite a bit of this continent. But then I decided that I would not find anyone in the cities, so I decided to move here, to the rich and wild forests and try my luck." He is done washing up and gets out of the water and stands in a spot in the sun to dry. "Anyway, not long after I arrived here I find this river. I put all my stuff in my bag and hide the bag in a tree and start bathing. At some point I open my eyes and I find a troop of Kobolds aiming bows and spears at me. Shouting something about territories. I did not want trouble, so I decided to run. I was lucky, because my elven senses told me of a secret tunnel, next to a cave entrance, so I escaped the Kobolds. It turned out this cave was the home of the Drow....what are the odds, huh?" He walks to the tree where he had been looking in just a few minutes ago and pulls a bag out and turns towards you and repeats himself, now a bit more merry: "What are the odds, huh?"
He opens the bag and looks around. "So, that is the short version. What is your story?" He starts emptying his bag while listening to you and produces a longsword, a chain shirt, a bow and quiver, some clothing, a holy symbol, a knife and some more. That's a very special bag.