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Journal of the Souls of Legend (completed)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 7532857" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p><strong>The Darks of Death</strong></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><em>The Darks of Death</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Death is only a Beginning. It sounds trite or like a bad trope. But Death is change for everyone that survives. It’s emotional. It puts much in life in perspective. It frames what it means to live.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>What most folks don’t realize, is that the Dead don’t have it any easier. And sometimes, it changes them too.</em></p><p></p><p>I was dead.</p><p></p><p>I was not upset. </p><p></p><p>I was not angry. </p><p></p><p>I was not happy.</p><p></p><p>I was…incomplete.</p><p></p><p>I stood there in silence, staring at the Crystal Spire towering in the distance above the haze of dust. The silence itself was almost soothing if almost overwhelming. I realized that part of it was because I was no longer breathing, and my heart was still. I realized this was the purest moment of quiet I had ever heard.</p><p></p><p>Or not heard, as the case was.</p><p></p><p>I hesitated a moment and with my hand trembling I reach up towards my neck, uncertain on what I would find. My fingers reached out and touched skin that was neither warm or cold. But, I didn’t feel anything was missing. Looking at my ankle, it seemed whole. I no longer felt any pain.</p><p></p><p>Looking myself over; I looked just like I did moments ago…but everything was grey. My leather pants were a mixture of grey and black, my skin was a light grey. There was no color anywhere. Not me, not the Crystal Spire, not the dirt. But among the grey one thing did catch my eye.</p><p></p><p>I noticed on the ground, what appeared to be a thin cord. I knelt down to pick up and hold it. The cord was warm, and it felt smooth to the touch, like a strand of soft silk. One end of the strand trailed off into the distance, disappearing into the haze. But to my surprise, the other end was attached to me, right at the small of the back, above the belt line.</p><p></p><p>My first thought was that it was an astral cord. But those I had been told were silver not white, and I thought they attached high on the back and then disappeared after a bit. But…it couldn’t be that; I was dead. But what was it then?</p><p></p><p>The silence was broken by the sounds of distant footsteps crunching in the dusty earth. Turning my head, I was fairly certain that it was coming from the direction of the spire. I turned to face what now appeared as a shadowy figure in the distance.</p><p></p><p>The steps were unhurried, much like everything else felt in the Fugue. And slowly, emerging from the haze a robed human like figure appeared. The robes covered the figure’s torso and arms and covered the legs down towards the knees. They were simple, plain and unadorned; no jewelry and nothing resembling a weapon. The figure walked in simple shoes, crunching in the dust. While having the grey color that permeated the rest of the Fugue, the figure had a faint nimbus of light that gave a subtle glow all around them.</p><p></p><p>Originally, they weren’t headed towards me, but at some point during their lonely march they noticed my presence. Wordlessly, they changed course and approached where I stood. </p><p></p><p>As they drew near, I wasn’t sure of their gender. Their head was bald or shaven, yet they had no beard or moustache. The face had sharp features, high cheekbones and a square chin. As they came close I could now see their eyes; a pale grey. As they neared within five paces, they started to shake their head. Then, in a somber and quiet masculine voice, he finally spoke.</p><p></p><p>“Ah, a shame. Too young, well before the fullness of time.”</p><p></p><p>“What? My death?” I replied.</p><p></p><p>The figure nodded, “So you recognize your current condition. That will make things easier for you.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m not clear on that. How?” I said puzzled.</p><p></p><p>“I shall explain if you would accompany me. I am seeking a soul who is to arrive soon.” And he started walking, continuing in the direction he originally was headed.</p><p></p><p>I fell in alongside him, and now having someone to converse with and focus on, the haze in my head started to clear. “Sounds fine, I don’t think I have anything else planned right now.”</p><p></p><p>The figure turned and regarded me, “Humor…how refreshing. Most that recognize their condition are angry or upset. You seem fairly calm; a sign of maturity.”</p><p></p><p>I shrug, “If you say so. I take it you weren’t expecting to meet me here?”</p><p></p><p>The figure shook their head, “No. I was sent to look for the soul I spoke of.”</p><p></p><p>“So…deaths because of other reasons aren’t looked for?”</p><p></p><p>“No…we assist and gather them as we perform our duty. Some do arrive at the City of Judgment on their own. Others, refuse to approach because of fear or uncertainty. Many are unclear where they are. But all are collected all the same.”</p><p></p><p>“For judgement?”</p><p></p><p>“Sometimes,” he said. “Those who may be faithless or false can be. But the others, a god will send their proxy to gather them, and face judgement at the gods demesne.” </p><p></p><p>“I suspect, I may be here a long time,” I said smiling.</p><p></p><p>The figure turned in shock, “Why? Surely you have not abandoned or betrayed the gods!”</p><p></p><p>“Wha…no, no, no. I am a worshipper of Kelemvor. This is his home, and any judgement will be here.”</p><p></p><p>The figure smiled and nodded, “Of course. Forgive my assumptions. Yes, the faithful to the Judge and the Scribe are assigned fitting duties here, and rarely leave.”</p><p></p><p>“Is it…pleasant?”</p><p></p><p>Again, the nod and smile, “While the souls within awaiting judgement or to be found by their proxies are cared for, nothing makes their stay pleasant or not. Nothing should detract from the final journey and the fruits of judgement from their god.”</p><p></p><p>“So, they can fully embrace their future. But what of Kelemvor’s own?”</p><p></p><p>“If they are truly faithful, their duties will fulfill them. We smile, laugh among ourselves and are glad. The serenity and peace fill you with all that you need.”</p><p></p><p>“I guess I can look forward to that. Beats having your neck ripped out by a snarling beast.”</p><p></p><p>The figure stops and turns, “I’m sorry, but what did you mean by that?”</p><p></p><p>“What, my death? Pretty much as I said. It was th...” and the figure cut me off.</p><p></p><p>“You should not remember that.”</p><p></p><p>“What? Alright, it’s not like I want to remember that…but I do.”</p><p></p><p>“How odd.” And he continued forward, “You would be the first I have met that did. Perhaps it will pass, since it was so recent.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, that would be nice. I didn’t enjoy the whole dying thing. I’m sorry, but what is your name? We didn’t exactly introduce ourselves.”</p><p></p><p>He chuckled, “Perhaps that is why others do not remember their own death. And I am called Alionus.”</p><p></p><p>“Ok, I’m Myrai.”</p><p></p><p>The figure cocked his head, “No. that isn’t right. That isn’t your name.”</p><p></p><p>I look at him a moment and turn my head back towards the direction Alionus was heading. “That might be true. It’s was what I called myself. If I had a name…no one told me. But I’ve been calling myself ‘Myrai’ for years, since the early days at the Gatehouse. Actually, it was really Elisna that suggested it afte…”</p><p></p><p>Alionus interrupted again, “This is very odd. You should certainly not remember that either.” Stopping he faced me, “Are you telling me you actually remember your life?”</p><p></p><p>“Well…yes. I’m not a petitioner, so wouldn’t I?”</p><p></p><p>Alionus shakes his head again, “That doesn’t matter. Souls are judged by their gods, and then perhaps they are invested and become a petitioner. But a soul…doesn’t have memories of before the veil.”</p><p></p><p>“Well…I would prefer that. My death…the deaths of Elisna, Markel, and however many others I saw. I want to forget all of the last five years. Its baggage, and nothing more to learn from it.”</p><p></p><p>Alionus stood regarding me quietly. “A cruel irony. You wish to forget and cannot.”</p><p></p><p>“So, you don’t remember your …life?”</p><p></p><p>He shook his head, “No. It has never been a concern. For some that arrive here…it does bother them at first. But we explain it, and the soul moves on.”</p><p></p><p>“Why do the souls forget?”</p><p></p><p>“The soul is many things, and the gods can read it and know all of what you were. But your own memories are left behind, so you can embrace your future rewards…”</p><p></p><p>“…or punishments.” I finish. “I always heard stories of ones that willed themselves back to the living. To finish deeds and duties undone. Don’t they remember?”</p><p></p><p>“I know of ones you speak of; revenants. But no, they simply feel as you said, that something is incomplete, but intensely. But, even they do not remember. It takes a great will and a great cause for that to happen.”</p><p></p><p>“Sodding...I’m again a special case. Alive with funny hair and eyes. Dead with memories and a strand attached to me. Why do I have to be the exception to everything?”</p><p></p><p>“I’m sorry, but you have lost me. What strand do you speak of?”</p><p></p><p>I stop my tirade and look at him in the eye, “Are you barmy? This strand!” and I scoop up the strand with my right hand, turn around and point with my thumb over my shoulder, pointing to my waistline.</p><p></p><p>Alionus leans forward to look at my waist where I was pointing. “I can barely see it. It’s like smoke to my vision.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, it isn’t smoke to me, its bright and warm.” I look over my shoulder at him. “Do you see anything…else?”</p><p></p><p>He nodded, “There are arcane sigils that surround it, where the ‘strand’ enters your soul. I cannot read them but looking at where it connects to you it looks like it isn’t natural. It’s like it is growing into you.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, pike me! Could that be why I remember?”</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps,” and Alionus reached out for the strand. But as I watched, his hand simply passed through the strand. “I cannot touch it. I feel a warmth as I try, but there is nothing to grip.”</p><p></p><p>I then reach around awkwardly, trying to get my hands around it. I do so with difficulty and pull, but beyond minor discomfort I cannot dislodge it either.</p><p></p><p>“Great,” I say. “Maybe judgement can fix it.”</p><p></p><p>Alionus shrugged, “Perhaps. You have another choice it appears.”</p><p></p><p>“What? Sell my soul to a Baatezu?”</p><p></p><p>“Well…that is another option, but I am referring to something else. Do you not feel it?”</p><p></p><p>I stop pulling on the strand and wait. After a quick moment I feel something; a tugging to my left. I turn to look and then I saw it.</p><p></p><p>Forming out of nothingness, a small vortex appeared. Smoke the color of dusky greys, blacks and fiery reds. The presence of color stood out and I just stared transfixed. It was hypnotic, beckoning me. Calling me.</p><p></p><p>I shook my head attempting to clear it. As I watched, the fog swirled and shaped itself into an archway, solidifying into grey rock, while the space beneath still swirled with fog. At the top of arch, there was a keystone, and etched into was a symbol that gave me chills. </p><p></p><p>It was a symbol of evil. Three triangles, arranged in a manner to create a larger, inverted triangle. The symbol emitted a baleful red light. A light that seemed to be directed at me alone. I had seen this symbol before and I shivered.</p><p></p><p>It was the Symbol of the Lord of the Nine; Asmodeus.</p><p></p><p>I stood there in fear, feeling a call, a beckoning to enter the gateway. I turn to look Alionus. “What is…what is it. Why is that…”</p><p></p><p>Alionus looked calmly at the gateway. “It is a way back. Someone has used magic, in an attempt to bring your soul back to your body. And that someone…is a servant of the Lord of the Nine.”</p><p></p><p>I didn’t understand. Why would a follower of Asmodeus be trying to bring me back to life? It had to be a trick. It didn’t make sense.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I looked at Alionus, “I don’t have to go right?”</p><p></p><p>He frowned, “No. Some do. Some do not. Most never desire to leave their rewards, although ones looking to escape punishments do take them.”</p><p></p><p>I stood there defiantly. “No. I am not going back…back…there. I have had enough. My friends are dead. Elisna is dead. Erin is gone. Markel got what he had coming to him. There is NOTHING there for me.”</p><p></p><p>Alionus spoke again, “Are you certain? These chances at another life are rare. But, it is up to you.”</p><p></p><p>I thought, of the small list of people I could think of, there was only one being that might miss me, and I him. But Nastanal was a creature of belief. He had seen countless more mortals die than I. He was already going to outlive me, so what if it was a hundred and forty years too soon.</p><p></p><p>And as for my mother…I assumed her dead.</p><p></p><p>And my father? He didn’t care before, why should he now?</p><p></p><p>I turned away from the archway. Certain of my path. No more pain. No more loss. No way to lose. There was nothing for me to gain in returning.</p><p></p><p>I started to walk away, and I’m stopped. Puzzled, I turned my head. The strand no longer lay on the ground. It was now in the air, taut as a bowstring. Leading from me, back into the fog in the archway.</p><p></p><p>I looked at Alionus, “You said it was my choice. I don’t…want..to..go.” and I started pulling and straining against the cord. Pulling more of it out of the archway slowly.</p><p></p><p>Alionus stood there, his face conflicted. “I do not…I am not sure…”</p><p></p><p>I pulled harder against the strand, slowly moving step by step away from the dark archway. I could do this forever. I didn’t feel tired. This was a matter of my will against whatever was pulling me.</p><p></p><p>And I was winning.</p><p></p><p>My back was to the archway, so I didn’t see it approach. But if I had turned around, I imagined I would have seen a black snake slithering out of the gate. And that snake struck me hard in the back near my shoulder blade.</p><p></p><p>Because, suddenly I felt PAIN and I screamed. I turned my head to look behind me, I saw a second strand had attached itself to me. This strand was an inky black, with only the slightest shine; like liquid obsidian.</p><p></p><p>As I strained against the first strand, the point of attachment of the second one, moved down my back towards the original one. Once it reached it, I saw a flash of purple and symbols appeared. Then, the black strand wound itself around the first, forming a braid leading back into the archway. Once the braid had crossed the smoke that formed the archway’s interior, I felt it redoubling its efforts and it again pulled my soul.</p><p></p><p>I grunted, and I leaned away from the archway, my hands now on the dust. My feet had dug into the dusty earth. But now it wasn’t enough; I was slipping, making gouges into the ground as I was pulled backwards.</p><p></p><p>I looked again at Alionus, “Please!” I begged “I don’t want…to…leave. Help…me!”</p><p></p><p>Alionus was paralyzed. His eyes darted back and forth, unclear about what to do in perhaps millennia. Finally, he straightened himself up and moved towards me. Standing in front of me he held out his hands. And summoning as much as I had within me, I grabbed onto his forearms and gripped tightly.</p><p></p><p>The light was blinding and the pain more so. Alionus was knocked down to the ground and I lost my grip as my hands stung from the blast. I was gasping in shock, trying to hold my position, but I was losing the battle. The Strand was stronger now. Slowly, inexorably I was sliding towards the archway of evil.</p><p></p><p>Looking ahead of me, Alionus sat up. The look on his face wasn’t pain, or confusion. It was one of revelation.</p><p></p><p>“Of course. I understand now.” And he stood and dusted himself off.</p><p></p><p>“Come…help…me,” I shouted. I felt for the first-time fatigue. “Please!”</p><p></p><p>Alionus shook his head. “I cannot; I am forbidden. I have a message for you though. It is ‘You must go back.’”</p><p></p><p>I was tiring, I felt tears in my eyes fill as I strained. The pain as I pulled against the Strand was incredible and my energy was nearly drained. I was crying, I was angry, I shouted defiantly:</p><p></p><p>“WHY!?! What’s the POINT?!?”</p><p></p><p>Alionus cocked his head a moment as if listening and spoke again. “You are a worthy disciple. Your faith will reward you…My…Daughter.”</p><p></p><p>My Daughter?</p><p></p><p>My eyes opened wide in surprise. I lost focus. In an instant I felt myself pulled backwards and I soon found myself crossing the inky threshold of the Archway.</p><p></p><p>Grey faded to black.</p><p></p><p>My eyes opened wide to the light of torches underground. I laid on my back on cold stone, and I took a sudden intake of breath. I gasped for air and felt ill. I closed my eyes, I strained and sat up, and then I turned towards my right, doubling over in pain. I started to heave and then I vomited. The taste of bile and what might have been food were purged from me. I once again felt pain in my ankle, and around my neck and throat. I opened my eyes and while everything was at first hazy, I was able to see three things:</p><p></p><p>The first, is that a robed figure walked away from the altar where I laid. In his left hand a gemstone was disintegrating into black powder, all the while chuckling to himself.</p><p></p><p>The second, is that I saw Beepu, Iesa and Daneath. They were in front of the altar and they rushed to me. They held me and assisted me in standing talking over each other excitedly and tearfully.</p><p></p><p>But the third thing I saw was what made my blood run cold: Mordai. He stood next to the robed figure, having just finished shaking his hand. His smile on his face told a story of victory…for him. </p><p></p><p>Oh, my adams…</p><p></p><p>…what have you done?!</p><p></p><p><strong>Session notes:</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p>This was a longer form of a struggle I had as a player. I had given Myrai a fairly dark back story, with loss and the struggles of the Faction War and the events of Die Vecna Die in her immediate past.</p><p></p><p>So, if you lose all that, and you are lost far from your home and you get devoured by a beast, why on earth would you come back?</p><p></p><p>The one thing that struck me, is that behind the scenes here, we have three other players, who were actually invested in Myrai and all them felt it was way too soon to die, and they scrambled to find a solution. The death was a major point of the story; they rallied to help Myrai. The DM made it possible to help a poor level one character.</p><p></p><p>All that left me is to rationalize a reason why. I had not yet put a lot of thought into Myrai’s future; it was new campaign with new people and I had left a lot open. But then I had an idea, that would drive her story. A bit of faith, a bit of fate, and a voyage of discovery.</p><p></p><p>I wrote a very short (1-2 page) version of this originally, but it wasn’t quite right. Now, reworking it for consistency, I’m happier with the results.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 7532857, member: 6971069"] [b]The Darks of Death[/b] [CENTER][I]The Darks of Death Death is only a Beginning. It sounds trite or like a bad trope. But Death is change for everyone that survives. It’s emotional. It puts much in life in perspective. It frames what it means to live. What most folks don’t realize, is that the Dead don’t have it any easier. And sometimes, it changes them too.[/I][/CENTER] I was dead. I was not upset. I was not angry. I was not happy. I was…incomplete. I stood there in silence, staring at the Crystal Spire towering in the distance above the haze of dust. The silence itself was almost soothing if almost overwhelming. I realized that part of it was because I was no longer breathing, and my heart was still. I realized this was the purest moment of quiet I had ever heard. Or not heard, as the case was. I hesitated a moment and with my hand trembling I reach up towards my neck, uncertain on what I would find. My fingers reached out and touched skin that was neither warm or cold. But, I didn’t feel anything was missing. Looking at my ankle, it seemed whole. I no longer felt any pain. Looking myself over; I looked just like I did moments ago…but everything was grey. My leather pants were a mixture of grey and black, my skin was a light grey. There was no color anywhere. Not me, not the Crystal Spire, not the dirt. But among the grey one thing did catch my eye. I noticed on the ground, what appeared to be a thin cord. I knelt down to pick up and hold it. The cord was warm, and it felt smooth to the touch, like a strand of soft silk. One end of the strand trailed off into the distance, disappearing into the haze. But to my surprise, the other end was attached to me, right at the small of the back, above the belt line. My first thought was that it was an astral cord. But those I had been told were silver not white, and I thought they attached high on the back and then disappeared after a bit. But…it couldn’t be that; I was dead. But what was it then? The silence was broken by the sounds of distant footsteps crunching in the dusty earth. Turning my head, I was fairly certain that it was coming from the direction of the spire. I turned to face what now appeared as a shadowy figure in the distance. The steps were unhurried, much like everything else felt in the Fugue. And slowly, emerging from the haze a robed human like figure appeared. The robes covered the figure’s torso and arms and covered the legs down towards the knees. They were simple, plain and unadorned; no jewelry and nothing resembling a weapon. The figure walked in simple shoes, crunching in the dust. While having the grey color that permeated the rest of the Fugue, the figure had a faint nimbus of light that gave a subtle glow all around them. Originally, they weren’t headed towards me, but at some point during their lonely march they noticed my presence. Wordlessly, they changed course and approached where I stood. As they drew near, I wasn’t sure of their gender. Their head was bald or shaven, yet they had no beard or moustache. The face had sharp features, high cheekbones and a square chin. As they came close I could now see their eyes; a pale grey. As they neared within five paces, they started to shake their head. Then, in a somber and quiet masculine voice, he finally spoke. “Ah, a shame. Too young, well before the fullness of time.” “What? My death?” I replied. The figure nodded, “So you recognize your current condition. That will make things easier for you.” “I’m not clear on that. How?” I said puzzled. “I shall explain if you would accompany me. I am seeking a soul who is to arrive soon.” And he started walking, continuing in the direction he originally was headed. I fell in alongside him, and now having someone to converse with and focus on, the haze in my head started to clear. “Sounds fine, I don’t think I have anything else planned right now.” The figure turned and regarded me, “Humor…how refreshing. Most that recognize their condition are angry or upset. You seem fairly calm; a sign of maturity.” I shrug, “If you say so. I take it you weren’t expecting to meet me here?” The figure shook their head, “No. I was sent to look for the soul I spoke of.” “So…deaths because of other reasons aren’t looked for?” “No…we assist and gather them as we perform our duty. Some do arrive at the City of Judgment on their own. Others, refuse to approach because of fear or uncertainty. Many are unclear where they are. But all are collected all the same.” “For judgement?” “Sometimes,” he said. “Those who may be faithless or false can be. But the others, a god will send their proxy to gather them, and face judgement at the gods demesne.” “I suspect, I may be here a long time,” I said smiling. The figure turned in shock, “Why? Surely you have not abandoned or betrayed the gods!” “Wha…no, no, no. I am a worshipper of Kelemvor. This is his home, and any judgement will be here.” The figure smiled and nodded, “Of course. Forgive my assumptions. Yes, the faithful to the Judge and the Scribe are assigned fitting duties here, and rarely leave.” “Is it…pleasant?” Again, the nod and smile, “While the souls within awaiting judgement or to be found by their proxies are cared for, nothing makes their stay pleasant or not. Nothing should detract from the final journey and the fruits of judgement from their god.” “So, they can fully embrace their future. But what of Kelemvor’s own?” “If they are truly faithful, their duties will fulfill them. We smile, laugh among ourselves and are glad. The serenity and peace fill you with all that you need.” “I guess I can look forward to that. Beats having your neck ripped out by a snarling beast.” The figure stops and turns, “I’m sorry, but what did you mean by that?” “What, my death? Pretty much as I said. It was th...” and the figure cut me off. “You should not remember that.” “What? Alright, it’s not like I want to remember that…but I do.” “How odd.” And he continued forward, “You would be the first I have met that did. Perhaps it will pass, since it was so recent.” “Well, that would be nice. I didn’t enjoy the whole dying thing. I’m sorry, but what is your name? We didn’t exactly introduce ourselves.” He chuckled, “Perhaps that is why others do not remember their own death. And I am called Alionus.” “Ok, I’m Myrai.” The figure cocked his head, “No. that isn’t right. That isn’t your name.” I look at him a moment and turn my head back towards the direction Alionus was heading. “That might be true. It’s was what I called myself. If I had a name…no one told me. But I’ve been calling myself ‘Myrai’ for years, since the early days at the Gatehouse. Actually, it was really Elisna that suggested it afte…” Alionus interrupted again, “This is very odd. You should certainly not remember that either.” Stopping he faced me, “Are you telling me you actually remember your life?” “Well…yes. I’m not a petitioner, so wouldn’t I?” Alionus shakes his head again, “That doesn’t matter. Souls are judged by their gods, and then perhaps they are invested and become a petitioner. But a soul…doesn’t have memories of before the veil.” “Well…I would prefer that. My death…the deaths of Elisna, Markel, and however many others I saw. I want to forget all of the last five years. Its baggage, and nothing more to learn from it.” Alionus stood regarding me quietly. “A cruel irony. You wish to forget and cannot.” “So, you don’t remember your …life?” He shook his head, “No. It has never been a concern. For some that arrive here…it does bother them at first. But we explain it, and the soul moves on.” “Why do the souls forget?” “The soul is many things, and the gods can read it and know all of what you were. But your own memories are left behind, so you can embrace your future rewards…” “…or punishments.” I finish. “I always heard stories of ones that willed themselves back to the living. To finish deeds and duties undone. Don’t they remember?” “I know of ones you speak of; revenants. But no, they simply feel as you said, that something is incomplete, but intensely. But, even they do not remember. It takes a great will and a great cause for that to happen.” “Sodding...I’m again a special case. Alive with funny hair and eyes. Dead with memories and a strand attached to me. Why do I have to be the exception to everything?” “I’m sorry, but you have lost me. What strand do you speak of?” I stop my tirade and look at him in the eye, “Are you barmy? This strand!” and I scoop up the strand with my right hand, turn around and point with my thumb over my shoulder, pointing to my waistline. Alionus leans forward to look at my waist where I was pointing. “I can barely see it. It’s like smoke to my vision.” “Well, it isn’t smoke to me, its bright and warm.” I look over my shoulder at him. “Do you see anything…else?” He nodded, “There are arcane sigils that surround it, where the ‘strand’ enters your soul. I cannot read them but looking at where it connects to you it looks like it isn’t natural. It’s like it is growing into you.” “Oh, pike me! Could that be why I remember?” “Perhaps,” and Alionus reached out for the strand. But as I watched, his hand simply passed through the strand. “I cannot touch it. I feel a warmth as I try, but there is nothing to grip.” I then reach around awkwardly, trying to get my hands around it. I do so with difficulty and pull, but beyond minor discomfort I cannot dislodge it either. “Great,” I say. “Maybe judgement can fix it.” Alionus shrugged, “Perhaps. You have another choice it appears.” “What? Sell my soul to a Baatezu?” “Well…that is another option, but I am referring to something else. Do you not feel it?” I stop pulling on the strand and wait. After a quick moment I feel something; a tugging to my left. I turn to look and then I saw it. Forming out of nothingness, a small vortex appeared. Smoke the color of dusky greys, blacks and fiery reds. The presence of color stood out and I just stared transfixed. It was hypnotic, beckoning me. Calling me. I shook my head attempting to clear it. As I watched, the fog swirled and shaped itself into an archway, solidifying into grey rock, while the space beneath still swirled with fog. At the top of arch, there was a keystone, and etched into was a symbol that gave me chills. It was a symbol of evil. Three triangles, arranged in a manner to create a larger, inverted triangle. The symbol emitted a baleful red light. A light that seemed to be directed at me alone. I had seen this symbol before and I shivered. It was the Symbol of the Lord of the Nine; Asmodeus. I stood there in fear, feeling a call, a beckoning to enter the gateway. I turn to look Alionus. “What is…what is it. Why is that…” Alionus looked calmly at the gateway. “It is a way back. Someone has used magic, in an attempt to bring your soul back to your body. And that someone…is a servant of the Lord of the Nine.” I didn’t understand. Why would a follower of Asmodeus be trying to bring me back to life? It had to be a trick. It didn’t make sense. I looked at Alionus, “I don’t have to go right?” He frowned, “No. Some do. Some do not. Most never desire to leave their rewards, although ones looking to escape punishments do take them.” I stood there defiantly. “No. I am not going back…back…there. I have had enough. My friends are dead. Elisna is dead. Erin is gone. Markel got what he had coming to him. There is NOTHING there for me.” Alionus spoke again, “Are you certain? These chances at another life are rare. But, it is up to you.” I thought, of the small list of people I could think of, there was only one being that might miss me, and I him. But Nastanal was a creature of belief. He had seen countless more mortals die than I. He was already going to outlive me, so what if it was a hundred and forty years too soon. And as for my mother…I assumed her dead. And my father? He didn’t care before, why should he now? I turned away from the archway. Certain of my path. No more pain. No more loss. No way to lose. There was nothing for me to gain in returning. I started to walk away, and I’m stopped. Puzzled, I turned my head. The strand no longer lay on the ground. It was now in the air, taut as a bowstring. Leading from me, back into the fog in the archway. I looked at Alionus, “You said it was my choice. I don’t…want..to..go.” and I started pulling and straining against the cord. Pulling more of it out of the archway slowly. Alionus stood there, his face conflicted. “I do not…I am not sure…” I pulled harder against the strand, slowly moving step by step away from the dark archway. I could do this forever. I didn’t feel tired. This was a matter of my will against whatever was pulling me. And I was winning. My back was to the archway, so I didn’t see it approach. But if I had turned around, I imagined I would have seen a black snake slithering out of the gate. And that snake struck me hard in the back near my shoulder blade. Because, suddenly I felt PAIN and I screamed. I turned my head to look behind me, I saw a second strand had attached itself to me. This strand was an inky black, with only the slightest shine; like liquid obsidian. As I strained against the first strand, the point of attachment of the second one, moved down my back towards the original one. Once it reached it, I saw a flash of purple and symbols appeared. Then, the black strand wound itself around the first, forming a braid leading back into the archway. Once the braid had crossed the smoke that formed the archway’s interior, I felt it redoubling its efforts and it again pulled my soul. I grunted, and I leaned away from the archway, my hands now on the dust. My feet had dug into the dusty earth. But now it wasn’t enough; I was slipping, making gouges into the ground as I was pulled backwards. I looked again at Alionus, “Please!” I begged “I don’t want…to…leave. Help…me!” Alionus was paralyzed. His eyes darted back and forth, unclear about what to do in perhaps millennia. Finally, he straightened himself up and moved towards me. Standing in front of me he held out his hands. And summoning as much as I had within me, I grabbed onto his forearms and gripped tightly. The light was blinding and the pain more so. Alionus was knocked down to the ground and I lost my grip as my hands stung from the blast. I was gasping in shock, trying to hold my position, but I was losing the battle. The Strand was stronger now. Slowly, inexorably I was sliding towards the archway of evil. Looking ahead of me, Alionus sat up. The look on his face wasn’t pain, or confusion. It was one of revelation. “Of course. I understand now.” And he stood and dusted himself off. “Come…help…me,” I shouted. I felt for the first-time fatigue. “Please!” Alionus shook his head. “I cannot; I am forbidden. I have a message for you though. It is ‘You must go back.’” I was tiring, I felt tears in my eyes fill as I strained. The pain as I pulled against the Strand was incredible and my energy was nearly drained. I was crying, I was angry, I shouted defiantly: “WHY!?! What’s the POINT?!?” Alionus cocked his head a moment as if listening and spoke again. “You are a worthy disciple. Your faith will reward you…My…Daughter.” My Daughter? My eyes opened wide in surprise. I lost focus. In an instant I felt myself pulled backwards and I soon found myself crossing the inky threshold of the Archway. Grey faded to black. My eyes opened wide to the light of torches underground. I laid on my back on cold stone, and I took a sudden intake of breath. I gasped for air and felt ill. I closed my eyes, I strained and sat up, and then I turned towards my right, doubling over in pain. I started to heave and then I vomited. The taste of bile and what might have been food were purged from me. I once again felt pain in my ankle, and around my neck and throat. I opened my eyes and while everything was at first hazy, I was able to see three things: The first, is that a robed figure walked away from the altar where I laid. In his left hand a gemstone was disintegrating into black powder, all the while chuckling to himself. The second, is that I saw Beepu, Iesa and Daneath. They were in front of the altar and they rushed to me. They held me and assisted me in standing talking over each other excitedly and tearfully. But the third thing I saw was what made my blood run cold: Mordai. He stood next to the robed figure, having just finished shaking his hand. His smile on his face told a story of victory…for him. Oh, my adams… …what have you done?! [B]Session notes: [/B] This was a longer form of a struggle I had as a player. I had given Myrai a fairly dark back story, with loss and the struggles of the Faction War and the events of Die Vecna Die in her immediate past. So, if you lose all that, and you are lost far from your home and you get devoured by a beast, why on earth would you come back? The one thing that struck me, is that behind the scenes here, we have three other players, who were actually invested in Myrai and all them felt it was way too soon to die, and they scrambled to find a solution. The death was a major point of the story; they rallied to help Myrai. The DM made it possible to help a poor level one character. All that left me is to rationalize a reason why. I had not yet put a lot of thought into Myrai’s future; it was new campaign with new people and I had left a lot open. But then I had an idea, that would drive her story. A bit of faith, a bit of fate, and a voyage of discovery. I wrote a very short (1-2 page) version of this originally, but it wasn’t quite right. Now, reworking it for consistency, I’m happier with the results. [/QUOTE]
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