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Journal of the Souls of Legend (completed)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 8105338" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Epilogues – 10/9/2020</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong>Athkalta, Amn</strong></p><p></p><p>The sun was setting, spreading long shadows from the buildings in the city, and reflected off the waters of the harbor on the ships mooring in the Alandor river for the evening. Trotting along the river, was a man in a long dark cloak, followed closely by a brown furred monkey. Quickly the man moved through the thin crowd until he reached an old fest hall near the banks of the river. Above it an old sign with fresh painted letters read ‘Sea Bounty’s Tavern’ in common. Wasting no time, he entered the doors, and without a second glance ascended the stairs to the second floor, and swiftly entered the third door on the left, and just as swiftly slammed the door behind him.</p><p></p><p>Then, it just as quickly opened again, with the figure saying “Sorry Mo.” The monkey deliberately walked in with exaggerated slowness, glaring at the man holding the door open for him, and swiftly but gently closed it again, once Mo entered the room.</p><p></p><p>“It took you long enough Iesa,” a large man said seated on a chair with a small hammer by the table, repairing a strap on a breastplate.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know Athkatla’s streets very well, so it took me longer to figure out where the temple district was, let alone where a temple of Oghma was Daneath,” Iesa replied.</p><p></p><p>“I told you where to go, if you would only listen,” a gnome said a the other end of a table, reading through a large book, while a brass owl observed perched on the back of his chair.</p><p></p><p>“I did Beepu, but you were right about one thing,” Iesa replied mildly.</p><p></p><p>“Right about one thing? What exactly are you talking about?” Beepu asked confused.</p><p></p><p>“Foggle has problems counting above three; so instead of six blocks down, it was eleven.” Iesa replied.</p><p></p><p>“A minor detail that you apparently figured out.” The gnome said dismissively.</p><p></p><p>"So... It took a while, Dan,” Iesa said returning his attention to the big warrior. He reached into his pocket and threw an apple at the monkey, who quickly grabbed it and made its way to the window overlooking the street and started to munch away.</p><p></p><p>“But did you find one?” Daneath said laying down his tools.</p><p></p><p>Iesa nodded, “I did find someone that could perform some type of divinations. It cost a lot though.”</p><p></p><p>“How much?” Daneath asked.</p><p></p><p>“Well, the orphans of the city will be well off for the better part of a century,” Iesa said. “Not that’s a bad thing. But I am going to need funds…and so are you Daneath.”</p><p></p><p>“I noticed you ‘borrowed’ some coin. Leave anything left?”</p><p></p><p>“We’re good for a year or so.” Iesa replied unbuckling his rapier and laying it on a bed.</p><p></p><p>“So, what did they say?” Beepu asked urgently. “Is it over?”</p><p></p><p>“Well for the first question, yes the Kershak is gone.”</p><p></p><p>“We did it!” Daneath said smiling. He grabbed for a bottle on the table and pulled out the cork and started to pour wine into glasses.</p><p></p><p>“But the Kershak’s organization; it still exists.” Iesa frowned.</p><p></p><p>Daneath stopped pouring for a moment, “So we didn’t win?”</p><p></p><p>“I would interpret that to mean while our original nemesis is gone, the hoodllums he led are still doing what they want.” Beepu said frowning.</p><p></p><p>“Who’s left to lead them?” Daneath asked puzzled.</p><p></p><p>“Paradros,” Iesa said. “That was my third question, and a good guess on a yes/no question.</p><p></p><p>“Well, does that mean we are in danger?” Beepu asked.</p><p></p><p>Iesa shrugged, “Well, I suppose if we leave well enough alone, they might be smart enough to do the same.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, it’s a start,” and Daneath continued to pour the wine.</p><p></p><p>“I have more,” Iesa said.</p><p></p><p>“Well, with as much coin as you just spent, I would hope you have a bit more,” Daneath said without looking up.</p><p></p><p>Iesa nodded, “I got <strong><em>two</em></strong> divinations; six questions.”</p><p></p><p>Daneath stopped pouring again. “Well…what did you ask?”</p><p></p><p>Iesa sat at the table and looked down. “I asked if…if Myrai was still alive.”</p><p></p><p>Beepu and Daneath said nothing and leaned forward. Then Beepu spoke, “And?”</p><p></p><p>Iesa nodded, “She is.”</p><p></p><p>“Crap how are we—” Daneath started when Iesa cut him off.</p><p></p><p>“—There’s more. My second question was if she was still in or under Nelthander. The answer was ‘no.’”</p><p></p><p>There was silence as the other two thought about the answer.</p><p></p><p>“But she didn’t follow us, and you said you thought the door broke open. Where is she?” Daneath asked.</p><p></p><p>“That was the point of the third question, and I took a gamble. I asked if she was still in Faerûn.”</p><p></p><p>Beepu and Daneath looked at each other and then looked at Iesa expectantly, both arching their brows.</p><p></p><p>“She isn’t.”</p><p></p><p>The trio looked at each other saying nothing for a while. Daneath then moved, and finished pouring the wine into the cups, and passed them to Beepu and Iesa.</p><p></p><p>“I guess…that’s it then,” Daneath said.</p><p></p><p>“You think she found a way home?” Iesa asked.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know. But I am going to drink in her memory. I don’t think I could ever forget her,” Daneath said holding his cup in a toast.</p><p></p><p>“To Myrai, may you find your way, wherever it may lead.”</p><p></p><p>“To Myrai,” Beepu held up his wine as well, “A better partner than we deserved.”</p><p></p><p>“To Myrai,” Iesa said as he raised his cup. “I hope you find the peace you sought.”</p><p></p><p>They all then took a deep drink of the wine and turned to look at the setting sun, wondering where their adventures would lead.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>The Misty Forest</strong></p><p></p><p>Melandrach nodded in thanks to the attendant for the tome and with a hand gently dismissed them. Without even waiting for the attendant to depart, the King of the Misty Forest flipped through the yellow paged tome, his eyes searching for something almost forgotten.</p><p></p><p>“And here you are, monarch of the wood, in your garden, with your nose not in the flowers or a glass of wine, but in a book instead. I swear you were once a Sun elf in a prior time.”</p><p></p><p>Melandrach smiled at Kylan Ustina’s jest, “Well old friend, I at least insist reading in nothing but the finest light and the warmest breeze, as befits my heritage. And what brings you from your house to mine?” Melandrach said as he grasped the forearm of Kylan who returned the gesture.</p><p></p><p>"I only just returned, having spent some time in the northern forest. It was a good time to do so after escorting the…outsiders to the teleportation circle,” Kylan said.</p><p></p><p>“Thank you for doing that on such short notice,” Melandrach said with a tone of gratitude. “I know you were not particularly fond of them.”</p><p></p><p>“Too little, too late for my house,” Kylan said. “Half a generation lost to the war.”</p><p></p><p>“Half is better than none.”</p><p></p><p>“Of course, it is. But that <em>ha-celas</em> made things more difficult. Arnara now must become prepared to lead the house. The last thing she needed was ideas of experiencing the world.”</p><p></p><p>Melandrach tilted his head, “And weren’t you the same as she? Weren’t we both in our youth centuries ago?”</p><p></p><p>Kylan smiled. “I suppose. But I know better now; House Ustina must survive. If I understood the risk then, I would not have been so…reckless."</p><p></p><p>"And so, you seek to prevent her from making the same mistake? Don’t the humans have a saying; ‘You learn more from failure than success?’ And if she cannot make her own mistakes, how will she grow?”</p><p></p><p>“Easy for you to throw words of wisdom when you have nothing at risk.”</p><p></p><p>“But I did; when I trusted those four to win the day. It allowed me to commit all of our forces to the south, allowing us to beat the horde. I left our northern flank exposed, a great risk. And I did it because I saw once long ago where not committing was a worse decision.”</p><p></p><p>“And you <em>knew</em> the outcome?”</p><p></p><p>“No. I just had…faith in who helped us.”</p><p></p><p>“Why? Why them? Why any of them?” Kylan asked mystified. “They aren’t kin, and to expect them to lay everything down was fool hardy. I cannot dismiss the results…but…I do not understand it.”</p><p></p><p>“I did not either; it was a distant memory nagging at me ever since I heard of their arrival in Whitepetal.” Melandrach looked down at the book he held. “And I have since discovered the answer to that.” Melandrach opened the book to the page he was recently looking at and turned the book to Kylan to review.</p><p></p><p>Kylan took the book and looked at the page. There on one side was a plate with a drawing of a human. With long hair, and fine features it stood out as a paragon among humans. But as he looked at the drawing, he realized that something was out of place. It took a moment of looking before he realized what was wrong.</p><p></p><p>“The eyes—” he said softly.</p><p></p><p>“’—Like mirrors reflecting souls around them and coifed with hair like spun gold.’ Is what the text says.”</p><p></p><p>“So, she—”</p><p></p><p>“<strong><em>HE</em></strong> was here. The man came here around what…1383? It was shortly after I helped some adventures with the ruins of Illefarn. He stood out, strong, confident. As a paladin he commanded without effort the respect and loyalty around him, all to a new god that arose from the Time of Troubles.”</p><p></p><p>Kylan looked up away from the book and almost asked the obvious question, when Melandrach answered it for him.</p><p></p><p>“The holy symbol is in the drawing; he was perhaps one of the earliest paladins of Kelemvor, who had only been worshiped for a decade when I met him.”</p><p></p><p>“But this plate, he…and she could be twins,” Kylan said confused.</p><p></p><p>“Not twins, but perhaps brother and sister, with more than a century separation. And he had a similar story, an angelic father and a missing mother,” Melandrach said in amusement. “I only remembered the man recently, as I only laid eyes on him once. The coincidence is remarkable; too much so.”</p><p></p><p>“Coincidence? What do you mean?”</p><p></p><p>“He was among the vanguard that protected Daggerford from the fiend Baazaka who came up from Dragonspear castle. He implored me to protect Daggerford before departing. And I heeded that advice and the battle there was won. Unfortunately, he died, on the fields in front of the castle and we never met again. All of this was before the Shining Lady, Caelar Argent seized the keep almost five years later. And until the <em>ha-celas </em>arrived I had completely forgotten about him.</p><p></p><p>Melandrach stood overlooking the pools and thought a moment. “Perhaps the memory is why I trusted the word of those in Whitepetal that a mirror-eyed woman had things in hand. Perhaps it was simply what I hoped for or wished for. But after I met her, I realized that she was one with destiny shaping her fate. I felt it was best to help her how we could.”</p><p></p><p>Kylan closed the book and shook his head before Melandrach took it from him.</p><p></p><p>“You do not believe so? I understand that Master Elanthyr has accepted your daughter into the bladesingers,” Melandrach remarked. “Congratulations are in order.”</p><p></p><p>Kylan nodded, “An…unexpected honor, her skills with the longsword were never—”</p><p></p><p>“But Elanthyr doesn’t use the longsword, his style uses the rapier. And didn’t the <em>ha-celas</em> teach Arnara—”</p><p></p><p>“Are you saying that she had an influence on her—”</p><p></p><p>Melandrach raised his hand, “I am saying that she like a leaf on a still pond; her impact causes ripples and how those ripples affect others in the pond? Who knows, but I am not one to ignore what seems to be coincidence. Or providence.”</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Shendilavri, 570th layer of the Abyss</strong></p><p></p><p>Teiazaam alighted on the ledge of the tower, surrounded by a garden of dark twisted trees, which sported flowers resembling blood red orchids, the sun ever setting perpetually, casting long shadows from the trees and tower alike. Orchids whose scent was said to drive mortals to madness, ecstasy or both. Vines and creepers crept up the bone ivory walls of the windowless structure, as it towered in the center of a valley, a far distance from the ocean and the busy sea town of Darkheart, and its perverse delights.</p><p></p><p>Upon landing, Teiazaam, folded her leather bat like wings and ascended the stairs with a confident strut, until she reached an ornate door. The door was encrusted by a layer of brilliant green gemstones with blood red stains in the cracks and fissures and sporting a brass colored ring on the left-hand edge of the door. Beside it, perched on a large bone of some creature, a Vrock glowered as it watched the succubus approach. As she did so, its eyes narrowed as it regarded the fiend approaching it.</p><p></p><p>“She does not wish to be disturbed. But I won’t stop you from your…ill advised entrance,” it said with contempt watching the fiend walk to the door.</p><p></p><p>“And I know better than to disobey, Kvandark,” she replied, and without so much slowing down, pulled on the ring and opened the jewel encrusted door, and stepped inside.</p><p></p><p>The room was dark, with dim red light from candles lit around the room, each with countless years or decades of wax drippings from the everlit sources forming thick pillars reaching the floor. The room was clad in dark wood, with clear glass bowls of water hovering at different heights, surrounding the room, each with flowers floating within, their petals open, and giving a heavy sweet perfume in the air. Even Teiazaam’s heart beat a step quicker when the scent drifted across her nostrils, reminding her of dark pleasures. Along the walls stood mirrored panels and in between them were assorted racks and shelves. Some with perfumes, others with vials of liquids and contents unknown, another held a rack, and nearby was a stand of blades of all sorts of sizes, some with gleaming sharp edges, others dulled.</p><p></p><p>In the center was a large circular platform, where a thick cushion lay. On top of it, reclined a large female figure. She lazily turned over on her stomach, and stretched out the burned remains of wings, as her four separate tails twitched like an angry cat. She regarded the little succubus with malice as her deep green eyes narrowed, and the jade halo above her head burned with hatred at the intrusion. The tower walls seemed to close in, as creepers and barbed vines crept across the floor, and descended from iron rafters above, all seeking the warm blood of the succubus.</p><p></p><p>The succubus swallowed, and dove to the floor, her palms pressed down, and her forehead and horns touching the back of her hands. Her knees were curled up underneath, as her hooves pointed back toward the entrance, and her wings spread out and lay flat on the cold stone floor, as her tail fell flat behind her. She took deep breaths, hoping to avoid destruction long enough to tell her tale.</p><p></p><p>“I am certain I told that fool of a Vrock that—” Jade started with a flinty tone.</p><p></p><p>“—and I ignored them, to obey you…mistress.” She said flatly, the only signs of emotion came from her tail, which quivered nervously behind her prostrate form.</p><p></p><p>“Obey me?” the Radiant Sister said. “Do tell, how are you interpreting this as an explicit order to be left alone?”</p><p></p><p>The succubus grimaced and didn’t move, lest she lose her nerve, “I obey you when you ask for word of a mirror-eyed trollop, and their whereabouts.”</p><p></p><p>Jade tilted her head in interest, “Well Teiazaam, that<strong><em> is</em></strong> worthy of an interruption,” she said licking her fingers. “And what word do you bring?”</p><p></p><p>“A foolish thrall named Philandre, saw her on the world of Faerûn, near her establishment. She caused some sort of ruckus and angered our pet there and asked for help in subduing her. Alas, Falinas was a fool and did nothing with this information, and only after plying her with a larva did, she reveal her mistakes to me.”</p><p></p><p>“A pity. And you came here straight away to tell me like a…good girl?” she said mockingly. “Perhaps you desire to swap places, and she take the punishment of disturbing me, and you receive the reward instead? But that was such a small crumb of what information I wanted, so perhaps I should just punish you both…”</p><p></p><p>“No! there is more!” the shaking Teiazaam stammered. “I investigated personally to learn more, but…the island she left is tearing itself apart. The pirates, the Underdark dwellers, all of them are at war with each other, and the port was in flames when I left. As for the trollop, she was gone. But I did manage to loosen the tongue of a Duergar to learn about the trollop’s fate.”</p><p></p><p>“Loosen the tongue of a Duergar? That must have been a trial,” Jade said with a wry grin.</p><p></p><p>“It wasn’t easy to find the right leverage, but I…suffered to pry what I did from that disgusting Duergar. But what he told me was more interesting; she fell into a portal, but a very different one from her friends left in.”</p><p></p><p>“Fell?” Jade sat up slowly and stretched, “Into a random portal? I doubt that very much. How long have you known?”</p><p></p><p>“Moments,” Teiazaam said gulping nervously. “I only just returned! I wasted no time learning what I could from what would have been a cold dark trail.”</p><p></p><p>“Enterprising, shows initiative, and knows enough to appear like she’s not a threat,” Jade purred. “I think Falinas was woefully unprepared for your ingenuity. She wasted my time on a story about you and a larva, thinking that was important. So, she is being…entwined and consumed in the garden below; and clearly, she needs some lingering correction. You on the other hand…understand not just want I want, but what I need…and despite your cowering demeanor are, very much, a threat.”</p><p></p><p>Teiazaam sweated and waited shivering on the floor. She then felt Jade's hand caress her back, sending shivers down her spine and wings. The hand moved under her chin and lifted up her head to look at Jade’s smiling face.</p><p></p><p>“And a threat is exactly what I need.”</p><p></p><p>“A threat to the…trollop?” Teiazaam asked still nervous and confused.</p><p></p><p>“No…” Jade said. “She’s just a means to an end. Her father though…that’s another story.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 8105338, member: 6971069"] [CENTER][B]Epilogues – 10/9/2020 Athkalta, Amn[/B][/CENTER] The sun was setting, spreading long shadows from the buildings in the city, and reflected off the waters of the harbor on the ships mooring in the Alandor river for the evening. Trotting along the river, was a man in a long dark cloak, followed closely by a brown furred monkey. Quickly the man moved through the thin crowd until he reached an old fest hall near the banks of the river. Above it an old sign with fresh painted letters read ‘Sea Bounty’s Tavern’ in common. Wasting no time, he entered the doors, and without a second glance ascended the stairs to the second floor, and swiftly entered the third door on the left, and just as swiftly slammed the door behind him. Then, it just as quickly opened again, with the figure saying “Sorry Mo.” The monkey deliberately walked in with exaggerated slowness, glaring at the man holding the door open for him, and swiftly but gently closed it again, once Mo entered the room. “It took you long enough Iesa,” a large man said seated on a chair with a small hammer by the table, repairing a strap on a breastplate. “I don’t know Athkatla’s streets very well, so it took me longer to figure out where the temple district was, let alone where a temple of Oghma was Daneath,” Iesa replied. “I told you where to go, if you would only listen,” a gnome said a the other end of a table, reading through a large book, while a brass owl observed perched on the back of his chair. “I did Beepu, but you were right about one thing,” Iesa replied mildly. “Right about one thing? What exactly are you talking about?” Beepu asked confused. “Foggle has problems counting above three; so instead of six blocks down, it was eleven.” Iesa replied. “A minor detail that you apparently figured out.” The gnome said dismissively. "So... It took a while, Dan,” Iesa said returning his attention to the big warrior. He reached into his pocket and threw an apple at the monkey, who quickly grabbed it and made its way to the window overlooking the street and started to munch away. “But did you find one?” Daneath said laying down his tools. Iesa nodded, “I did find someone that could perform some type of divinations. It cost a lot though.” “How much?” Daneath asked. “Well, the orphans of the city will be well off for the better part of a century,” Iesa said. “Not that’s a bad thing. But I am going to need funds…and so are you Daneath.” “I noticed you ‘borrowed’ some coin. Leave anything left?” “We’re good for a year or so.” Iesa replied unbuckling his rapier and laying it on a bed. “So, what did they say?” Beepu asked urgently. “Is it over?” “Well for the first question, yes the Kershak is gone.” “We did it!” Daneath said smiling. He grabbed for a bottle on the table and pulled out the cork and started to pour wine into glasses. “But the Kershak’s organization; it still exists.” Iesa frowned. Daneath stopped pouring for a moment, “So we didn’t win?” “I would interpret that to mean while our original nemesis is gone, the hoodllums he led are still doing what they want.” Beepu said frowning. “Who’s left to lead them?” Daneath asked puzzled. “Paradros,” Iesa said. “That was my third question, and a good guess on a yes/no question. “Well, does that mean we are in danger?” Beepu asked. Iesa shrugged, “Well, I suppose if we leave well enough alone, they might be smart enough to do the same.” “Well, it’s a start,” and Daneath continued to pour the wine. “I have more,” Iesa said. “Well, with as much coin as you just spent, I would hope you have a bit more,” Daneath said without looking up. Iesa nodded, “I got [B][I]two[/I][/B] divinations; six questions.” Daneath stopped pouring again. “Well…what did you ask?” Iesa sat at the table and looked down. “I asked if…if Myrai was still alive.” Beepu and Daneath said nothing and leaned forward. Then Beepu spoke, “And?” Iesa nodded, “She is.” “Crap how are we—” Daneath started when Iesa cut him off. “—There’s more. My second question was if she was still in or under Nelthander. The answer was ‘no.’” There was silence as the other two thought about the answer. “But she didn’t follow us, and you said you thought the door broke open. Where is she?” Daneath asked. “That was the point of the third question, and I took a gamble. I asked if she was still in Faerûn.” Beepu and Daneath looked at each other and then looked at Iesa expectantly, both arching their brows. “She isn’t.” The trio looked at each other saying nothing for a while. Daneath then moved, and finished pouring the wine into the cups, and passed them to Beepu and Iesa. “I guess…that’s it then,” Daneath said. “You think she found a way home?” Iesa asked. “I don’t know. But I am going to drink in her memory. I don’t think I could ever forget her,” Daneath said holding his cup in a toast. “To Myrai, may you find your way, wherever it may lead.” “To Myrai,” Beepu held up his wine as well, “A better partner than we deserved.” “To Myrai,” Iesa said as he raised his cup. “I hope you find the peace you sought.” They all then took a deep drink of the wine and turned to look at the setting sun, wondering where their adventures would lead. [CENTER][B]The Misty Forest[/B][/CENTER] Melandrach nodded in thanks to the attendant for the tome and with a hand gently dismissed them. Without even waiting for the attendant to depart, the King of the Misty Forest flipped through the yellow paged tome, his eyes searching for something almost forgotten. “And here you are, monarch of the wood, in your garden, with your nose not in the flowers or a glass of wine, but in a book instead. I swear you were once a Sun elf in a prior time.” Melandrach smiled at Kylan Ustina’s jest, “Well old friend, I at least insist reading in nothing but the finest light and the warmest breeze, as befits my heritage. And what brings you from your house to mine?” Melandrach said as he grasped the forearm of Kylan who returned the gesture. "I only just returned, having spent some time in the northern forest. It was a good time to do so after escorting the…outsiders to the teleportation circle,” Kylan said. “Thank you for doing that on such short notice,” Melandrach said with a tone of gratitude. “I know you were not particularly fond of them.” “Too little, too late for my house,” Kylan said. “Half a generation lost to the war.” “Half is better than none.” “Of course, it is. But that [I]ha-celas[/I] made things more difficult. Arnara now must become prepared to lead the house. The last thing she needed was ideas of experiencing the world.” Melandrach tilted his head, “And weren’t you the same as she? Weren’t we both in our youth centuries ago?” Kylan smiled. “I suppose. But I know better now; House Ustina must survive. If I understood the risk then, I would not have been so…reckless." "And so, you seek to prevent her from making the same mistake? Don’t the humans have a saying; ‘You learn more from failure than success?’ And if she cannot make her own mistakes, how will she grow?” “Easy for you to throw words of wisdom when you have nothing at risk.” “But I did; when I trusted those four to win the day. It allowed me to commit all of our forces to the south, allowing us to beat the horde. I left our northern flank exposed, a great risk. And I did it because I saw once long ago where not committing was a worse decision.” “And you [I]knew[/I] the outcome?” “No. I just had…faith in who helped us.” “Why? Why them? Why any of them?” Kylan asked mystified. “They aren’t kin, and to expect them to lay everything down was fool hardy. I cannot dismiss the results…but…I do not understand it.” “I did not either; it was a distant memory nagging at me ever since I heard of their arrival in Whitepetal.” Melandrach looked down at the book he held. “And I have since discovered the answer to that.” Melandrach opened the book to the page he was recently looking at and turned the book to Kylan to review. Kylan took the book and looked at the page. There on one side was a plate with a drawing of a human. With long hair, and fine features it stood out as a paragon among humans. But as he looked at the drawing, he realized that something was out of place. It took a moment of looking before he realized what was wrong. “The eyes—” he said softly. “’—Like mirrors reflecting souls around them and coifed with hair like spun gold.’ Is what the text says.” “So, she—” “[B][I]HE[/I][/B] was here. The man came here around what…1383? It was shortly after I helped some adventures with the ruins of Illefarn. He stood out, strong, confident. As a paladin he commanded without effort the respect and loyalty around him, all to a new god that arose from the Time of Troubles.” Kylan looked up away from the book and almost asked the obvious question, when Melandrach answered it for him. “The holy symbol is in the drawing; he was perhaps one of the earliest paladins of Kelemvor, who had only been worshiped for a decade when I met him.” “But this plate, he…and she could be twins,” Kylan said confused. “Not twins, but perhaps brother and sister, with more than a century separation. And he had a similar story, an angelic father and a missing mother,” Melandrach said in amusement. “I only remembered the man recently, as I only laid eyes on him once. The coincidence is remarkable; too much so.” “Coincidence? What do you mean?” “He was among the vanguard that protected Daggerford from the fiend Baazaka who came up from Dragonspear castle. He implored me to protect Daggerford before departing. And I heeded that advice and the battle there was won. Unfortunately, he died, on the fields in front of the castle and we never met again. All of this was before the Shining Lady, Caelar Argent seized the keep almost five years later. And until the [I]ha-celas [/I]arrived I had completely forgotten about him. Melandrach stood overlooking the pools and thought a moment. “Perhaps the memory is why I trusted the word of those in Whitepetal that a mirror-eyed woman had things in hand. Perhaps it was simply what I hoped for or wished for. But after I met her, I realized that she was one with destiny shaping her fate. I felt it was best to help her how we could.” Kylan closed the book and shook his head before Melandrach took it from him. “You do not believe so? I understand that Master Elanthyr has accepted your daughter into the bladesingers,” Melandrach remarked. “Congratulations are in order.” Kylan nodded, “An…unexpected honor, her skills with the longsword were never—” “But Elanthyr doesn’t use the longsword, his style uses the rapier. And didn’t the [I]ha-celas[/I] teach Arnara—” “Are you saying that she had an influence on her—” Melandrach raised his hand, “I am saying that she like a leaf on a still pond; her impact causes ripples and how those ripples affect others in the pond? Who knows, but I am not one to ignore what seems to be coincidence. Or providence.” [CENTER][B]Shendilavri, 570th layer of the Abyss[/B][/CENTER] Teiazaam alighted on the ledge of the tower, surrounded by a garden of dark twisted trees, which sported flowers resembling blood red orchids, the sun ever setting perpetually, casting long shadows from the trees and tower alike. Orchids whose scent was said to drive mortals to madness, ecstasy or both. Vines and creepers crept up the bone ivory walls of the windowless structure, as it towered in the center of a valley, a far distance from the ocean and the busy sea town of Darkheart, and its perverse delights. Upon landing, Teiazaam, folded her leather bat like wings and ascended the stairs with a confident strut, until she reached an ornate door. The door was encrusted by a layer of brilliant green gemstones with blood red stains in the cracks and fissures and sporting a brass colored ring on the left-hand edge of the door. Beside it, perched on a large bone of some creature, a Vrock glowered as it watched the succubus approach. As she did so, its eyes narrowed as it regarded the fiend approaching it. “She does not wish to be disturbed. But I won’t stop you from your…ill advised entrance,” it said with contempt watching the fiend walk to the door. “And I know better than to disobey, Kvandark,” she replied, and without so much slowing down, pulled on the ring and opened the jewel encrusted door, and stepped inside. The room was dark, with dim red light from candles lit around the room, each with countless years or decades of wax drippings from the everlit sources forming thick pillars reaching the floor. The room was clad in dark wood, with clear glass bowls of water hovering at different heights, surrounding the room, each with flowers floating within, their petals open, and giving a heavy sweet perfume in the air. Even Teiazaam’s heart beat a step quicker when the scent drifted across her nostrils, reminding her of dark pleasures. Along the walls stood mirrored panels and in between them were assorted racks and shelves. Some with perfumes, others with vials of liquids and contents unknown, another held a rack, and nearby was a stand of blades of all sorts of sizes, some with gleaming sharp edges, others dulled. In the center was a large circular platform, where a thick cushion lay. On top of it, reclined a large female figure. She lazily turned over on her stomach, and stretched out the burned remains of wings, as her four separate tails twitched like an angry cat. She regarded the little succubus with malice as her deep green eyes narrowed, and the jade halo above her head burned with hatred at the intrusion. The tower walls seemed to close in, as creepers and barbed vines crept across the floor, and descended from iron rafters above, all seeking the warm blood of the succubus. The succubus swallowed, and dove to the floor, her palms pressed down, and her forehead and horns touching the back of her hands. Her knees were curled up underneath, as her hooves pointed back toward the entrance, and her wings spread out and lay flat on the cold stone floor, as her tail fell flat behind her. She took deep breaths, hoping to avoid destruction long enough to tell her tale. “I am certain I told that fool of a Vrock that—” Jade started with a flinty tone. “—and I ignored them, to obey you…mistress.” She said flatly, the only signs of emotion came from her tail, which quivered nervously behind her prostrate form. “Obey me?” the Radiant Sister said. “Do tell, how are you interpreting this as an explicit order to be left alone?” The succubus grimaced and didn’t move, lest she lose her nerve, “I obey you when you ask for word of a mirror-eyed trollop, and their whereabouts.” Jade tilted her head in interest, “Well Teiazaam, that[B][I] is[/I][/B] worthy of an interruption,” she said licking her fingers. “And what word do you bring?” “A foolish thrall named Philandre, saw her on the world of Faerûn, near her establishment. She caused some sort of ruckus and angered our pet there and asked for help in subduing her. Alas, Falinas was a fool and did nothing with this information, and only after plying her with a larva did, she reveal her mistakes to me.” “A pity. And you came here straight away to tell me like a…good girl?” she said mockingly. “Perhaps you desire to swap places, and she take the punishment of disturbing me, and you receive the reward instead? But that was such a small crumb of what information I wanted, so perhaps I should just punish you both…” “No! there is more!” the shaking Teiazaam stammered. “I investigated personally to learn more, but…the island she left is tearing itself apart. The pirates, the Underdark dwellers, all of them are at war with each other, and the port was in flames when I left. As for the trollop, she was gone. But I did manage to loosen the tongue of a Duergar to learn about the trollop’s fate.” “Loosen the tongue of a Duergar? That must have been a trial,” Jade said with a wry grin. “It wasn’t easy to find the right leverage, but I…suffered to pry what I did from that disgusting Duergar. But what he told me was more interesting; she fell into a portal, but a very different one from her friends left in.” “Fell?” Jade sat up slowly and stretched, “Into a random portal? I doubt that very much. How long have you known?” “Moments,” Teiazaam said gulping nervously. “I only just returned! I wasted no time learning what I could from what would have been a cold dark trail.” “Enterprising, shows initiative, and knows enough to appear like she’s not a threat,” Jade purred. “I think Falinas was woefully unprepared for your ingenuity. She wasted my time on a story about you and a larva, thinking that was important. So, she is being…entwined and consumed in the garden below; and clearly, she needs some lingering correction. You on the other hand…understand not just want I want, but what I need…and despite your cowering demeanor are, very much, a threat.” Teiazaam sweated and waited shivering on the floor. She then felt Jade's hand caress her back, sending shivers down her spine and wings. The hand moved under her chin and lifted up her head to look at Jade’s smiling face. “And a threat is exactly what I need.” “A threat to the…trollop?” Teiazaam asked still nervous and confused. “No…” Jade said. “She’s just a means to an end. Her father though…that’s another story.” [/QUOTE]
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