Family Reunion
Despite his belonging to the Order of Black Robes and predilection for necromantic magic, I had never known my father to be anything but kind and generous.
***
The hobgoblins left Auresh at the edge of a vast clearing. There was no one in sight. At the center of the clearing was a large, flat boulder, a wooden crate, and a canvas tent. Auresh walked into the clearing. As he drew near the tent, Linthahar emerged, as always clad in his black wizard's robes. "I've been waiting for you," he said.
Auresh was wary. He was not by nature the most trusting of people, and his father had given him little reason to change now. "Hello, Father. Is it true that you stole a staff from the Tower?" There was no staff anywhere to be seen.
Linthahar waved a hand dismissively. "I only borrowed it. I simply seek to increase its power, which will benefit us all in the end."
"So what do you need your old apprentice for?"
"I can't cast some of the spells I need for the ritual." Auresh recalled that Linthahar had forsaken illusion-based magic, which was Auresh's own concentration. "Also," continued the black robed mage, "I need a little bit of your blood."
The more he heard of his father's plans, the less Auresh liked them. Aside from the general unease he felt about blood magic, he didn't want to get mixed up in any activities that would get him thrown out of the Order of high Sorcery before he even got in the door. "Why me? Why not get someone else to cast the spells you need?"
The elf sighed. "I told you I needed your blood. My son's blood. I really thought you were smarter than this. You haven't even asked who's in the box yet."
Who? Auresh glanced over at the long, narrow box. There were holes in the lid of the box; whoever was in there was at least still alive. It didn't take long for the realization to hit him. "My mother."
Linthahar clapped. "Bravo."
Auresh turned his gaze back to his father. "And what if I refuse to help you?"
"I'd really rather it not come to that," said Linthahar wearily. "I could always start over with a new apprentice, but that would take time I'd prefer not to spend. Think of it: once the ritual is completed, the staff will be attuned to you and I alone. We could use its power together."
"I thought you said you were going to increase the staff's power to benefit everyone."
"Certainly, our gain is everyone's gain, don't you think?"
Auresh didn't think much of that line of reasoning. Indeed, he was now trying to figure out how to get out of the entire situation with his own hide intact. He spared a thought for his mother, but he doubted his ability to save himself, much less her. Shaking his head, he began to cast a spell to increase his speed; if he was going to run, he'd need to run fast. He felt the magic tingling in his feet and dashed for the far side of the stone at the middle of the clearing. Even as he ran, he could hear his father casting his own spell. auresh felt the pressure of his father's incantation trying to grab hold of him, but he managed to fight off the feeling and keep running. He stopped on the other side of the stone, hidden from Linthahar's view.
The respite didn't last long. He heard more arcane syllables; they were unfamiliar, but he was sure he wouldn't like the outcome. He reminded himself why he was there: somewhere nearby was the staff he had been sent to retrieve. Linthahar didn't have it on him, and it was unlikely to be in the box with his intended sacrifice. That only left the tent. Auresh spoke a few quick words, and saw several magical auras blaze from within the tent.
Just then, Auresh heard a new sound from the far side of the stone: an evil, canine growl. "Find him," was his father's command. Whatever creature he had summoned, Auresh didn't feel inclined to face it. He conjured the sound of running feet moving away from his position, but there was no chase given. He heard the sounds of footsteps and canine sniffing growing nearer. Using one of his last few spells, he sheathed himself with a protective barrier and dashed into the tent.
The tent was small and sparsely furnished. Auresh's attention was immediately drawn to a staff and dagger lying on a small table. He grabbed them both as soon as he saw them. The staff seemed quite ordinary for being so highly prized: it was a simple wooden shaft topped with a golden triangle. Before Auresh could study it any further, however, The entrance of the tent was blocked by a menacing shape. It looked like a large dog, but its glowing red eyes and brimstone breath gave away its infernal origins. Auresh dropped to the ground as the hellhound's mouth opened, miraculously avoiding most of its fiery breath. The walls of the tent were not so fortunate, however, and flames leaped all around him.
For a few frantic moments Auresh tried to fend off the beast with the staff, but only succeeded in annoying it. He felt its teeth rake across his legs even as the tent became further engulfed in fire. Desperate to escape, Auresh ran right past the hound, amazingly dodging its snapping teeth. Once clear of the burning tent, he ran as fast as his legs would carry him back down the path.
After several minutes the magical quickness left his legs, and he stopped to catch his breath. There were no sounds of pursuit from behind him. He knew there was still danger ahead, though, and he warily continued back the way he had come. He gave the hobgoblins at the nearest clearing a wide berth. He had developed a realistic enough opinion of his stealth skills by this point to not take any unnecessary chances. Indeed, even as cautious as he was, one of the guards at the second encampment managed to spy him though the trees. As the hobgoblin opened his mouth to shout an alarm, Auresh cast a quick spell. A large ball of flame rolled out of the campfire, incinerating the vigilant guard in an instant. As the other three hobgoblins tried to avoid their apparently haunted campfire, Auresh crept the rest of the way around them.
By the time he finally returned to the magical portal, Auresh was tired, singed, and bleeding from a hundred tiny scratches. Fortunately, the zombies had wandered away. He doubted that he had the energy left to fight them. he cautiously probed the portal, but it seemed just as harmless from this side as it had from the other. Relieved that his ordeal was over, he stepped through and emerged back in the hallway from which he had come.
The three wizards were waiting there, expectant looks on their faces. Auresh held out the staff without a word. The wizards smiled. "Congratulations," said the black robed wizard. "You have survived the Test." He smirked and added, "You passed up an opportunity to gain power for yourself, however. The Order of Black Robes frowns on such a lack of ambition."
The white wizard shook his head. "We do not put so high a price on ambition. However, you made no attempt to save your mother from her dire situation. Callous disregard for innocent life makes you unfit to wear the White Robe."
Finally, the red wizard spoke. "As difficult as it is to achieve the ideals of either of my colleagues' Orders, it is no easier to strike a balance between them. The Red Robes applaud both restraint and self-preservation. I am happy to welcome you to our ranks." Auresh hadn't seen it before, but there was a folded red robe in the wizard's hands. "You may keep the staff and dagger as a reward for passing the Test. I would suggest availing yourself of the Tower's resources to determine the extent of their powers.
***
In a way I was angry that they had been watching me and did nothing to help. It was my Test to take, however, and if I couldn't succeed at it, then I was not worthy of their assistance. It's a hard thing to accept, and I have seen the same sentiments reflected in many of my colleagues' memoirs.
I have spent some time researching the history of the staff my father stole. It appears to have been created by the famous war-wizard Magius, and has resided here in the Tower since his death. It has a number of enchantments to both create and manipulate magical effects. It also provides the bearer with magical defenses. There are claims that it also has potent offensive enchantments, but I have yet to see any proof of that.
At first I was amazed that I was allowed to keep such a powerful artifact. I realized quickly, however, that my father quite likely still covets it and will possibly attempt to take it again. It will be as much a curse to me as a blessing.
Having been given possession of the staff, part of me wishes I had aided my father in increasing its abilities. The means to that end were too grave, however, even in hindsight. Perhaps with the staff and his apprentice gone, Linthahar will release my mother from her captivity. Sadly, I doubt that will happen.
If Linthahar's plan was indeed a sound one, perhaps there is another way to increase the staff's power, without resorting to blood magic. I will have to research the matter further.
As for the dagger, it bears only a minor enchantment. At least I won't have to sharpen it.
I like the Test, did your DM run it for your character or did you write it up as his backstory? Either way it was very nice.
