more visions
Don't be sad, I am really trying to brainstorm ideas for a continuation. That's why I already planted some seeds for further hooks last session
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After the vision of Syana, the world shifts again. This time, they are in a forested area, looking at a group of Taranesti elves who appear to be on the move. They see Tharaleth Shelenbîl as the leader of the group and he's holding a young red-haired boy by his hand. They soon look for a place to rest for the night and Tharaleth takes his son on his lap and carefully tries to explain to him that his mother won't come back to them as she had to stay behind to protect something really important. In this very moment, a small, translucent beam of gold strikes tiny Cuin'halar's chest and disappears there.
“Oh, I see. So she wasted the gift I gave to her...” the voice of 41 says.
The scene then shifts to a manor in Calanis. There, a very young Tinuviel is playing with some toys as Mariel Shalandil and Magister Clathan discuss the boy's strange magic. Clathan explains that he hasn't really seen this sort of magic displayed by an elf, but there are tales about “more powerful beings” who wielded it to great effect. Mariel gets that he's hinting at the Torch's creation and insists that Tinuviel's powers are to be kept secret from Shaaladel. They both agree that he'd need to learn control his powers and decide to send him to Gate Pass to Archmage Gabal who's said to be perfect for educating young mages.
The world then changes to a grand ballroom. A moonlit lake is visible through a grand glass window and standing in front of the window is Emperor Coaltongue, dressed in his full imperial regalia. It seems like he's enjoying himself as he tells tales of battles past and shares seemingly unbelievable feats of strength.
The group realized that this must be a scene that happened a few years ago and they are pretty much surprised at the sight of two of Coaltongue's other guests, namely Lord Shaaladel and Princess Shalosha. There is a second surprise as none else but a younger Katrina, maybe 18 years old, comes to the Emperor's side and makes herself noticed. Coaltongue isn't really happy about Katrina's appearance and he assumes that Leska has sent Guthwulf's young acquaintance to ruin his party.
Katrina shyly shakes her head and then explains that she's been sent to tell Lord Shaaladel that he missed an appointment with Leska. Surprisingly, Shaaladel's face turns pale which makes Coaltongue laugh at the petty squabbles between the Shahalesti and his Supreme Inquisitor. He then asks Kat to attend to her mistress quickly as he really doesn't want Leska to ruin the mood of the evening. Before the sorceress can leave, it seems as if the air in the ballroom turns to ice as a woman in a beautiful red gown enters the room.
Judging by her elaborate, ivory mask and chilling presence, this can be none else but Leska herself. She gazes coldly at Shaaladel and then advises him to look after “his adviser”. Shaaladel seems to be shocked even more, grabs Shalosha by her hand, excuses himself and leaves the room at once. Leska seems quite amused at Shaalael's reaction and then asks the musicians to start playing again. She then turns around and everything turns back to the normal party atmosphere.
Note: Originally it took me a while to understand that this was the day when Aurana got forcefully turned into a vampire after an assassination attempt gone bad. And yep, Shaaladel had to be scared as hell. All in all, the visions of this adventure explain so much of the character's backgrounds that some details are easy to miss. But I found every scene to be perfectly scripted.
As Leska leaves through the door, another group enters the room. To everyone's surprise, they are just the very same people they saw before: Katrina, Kiernan, Shalosha, Telshanth, Rihalles, Nahrem, the ragesian red knight, the two inquisitors and a bear. The two groups stare at each other in disbelief for a moment, but then Telshanth demands to be handed the Torch as their opponents are clearly outnumbered. Cuin, of course, refuses and demands that the others leave right now as he won't hold back this time.
Meanwhile, the scenery changes and the soft Song of Forms fills the room. Cuin'halar's blade resonates with the song and this calls forth a vision of Anyariel's battle with Indomitability at the bank of Lake Seela.
“Oh, this is going to be fun”, the voice of 41 says from somewhere far in the distance.
Katrina takes a moment to assess the situation, then utters an incantation and throws a disintegrate spell at Shalosha.
“Die, you treacherous bitch! How can you betray your own family?!”
Note: It took some time to un-tangle the madness that are the motivations of all members of the “other fellowship”. Telshanth and Rihalles were both sent by Shaaladel after he heard about the plan to reignite the Torch.
Shalosha realized this and secretly approached Telshanth (who she knew quite well after their journey to Seaquen in adventure 3) and offered him to intensify their cooperation. But she would need to be the one who brings the Torch back to Shahalesti as the future queen needs to prove her worth to her people. This was never her plan of course. But Telshanth saw it as a good way to improve his social standing and so he accepted her proposal.
Katrina had been in contact with the Ragesians ever since as she kept up her double-agent status as long as possible. But the more she was working with Simeonne and the team, the more she realized that she'd have to take sides. And after she became BFFs with Torrent and after the elves protected her so fiercely from Guthwulf, she decided that she'd never betray them.
Kiernan has always been wary of Katrina and he eventually found out about the Rags trying to contact her again and again. He decided to have a closer look at her, but after the near-destruction of Seaquen, he fell into despair and realized that all he could do was trying to make the Inquisitors spare Seaquen. By handing them the Torch, he would have a good offer to make them protect his city in return. Of course he knew that Simeonne would never give in, so he approached Katrina.
Kat was contacted by the Inquisitors who also knew that the party would try to repair the Torch. They believed that she was the best bet against the trio as she knew them better than every other Ragesian.
Karedan was originally Team Magdus, but Etienna, whom he secretly loved, approached him and convinced him that an immortal being like himself wouldn't need to serve mere mortals. So if one should be qualified to rule Ragesia and the world, then this would be immortal Leska.
As for his immortality... it wasn't explicitly stated anywhere, but I thought that maybe he was the one who cut Leska's throat after she returned to Coaltongue with the secret of immortality. And in good-olde Orc fashion, he decided to lick her blood from his blade.
Regarding Shalosha and Katrina... both are on the party's side and both originally thought that the other was betraying them. But Shalosha succeeded in sensing Kat's motives while Kat didn't in reading Shalosha. So yeah, she thought that Shalosha just threw herself at the next-best powerful person after her Magdus escapade failed.
Fortunately, Shalosha doesn't turn to dust, but she's still wounded by the spell. This sudden attack enrages Rihalles who jumps at Katrina.
“How dare you attack the Princess of Shahalesti!”
Meanwhile, Tinuviel sneaks to the backs of the inquisitors and stabs Ursus in the back. He then declares that all inquisitors are enemies of Seaquen and the Alliance, so the others should sort out their allegiances quickly. Next, he turns to Shalosha and pleas she may side with them. He vows that, should she leave this serpent's nest that is Calanis behind, he'll always be her sword in the dark. For now he'll guard her back against the enemies and asks her to join them.
As the scenery shifts to Ycengled where a younger Rihalles assists what appears to be Lady Aurana Kiirodel in an onslaught against the Taranesti, Shalosha declares her allegiance to the Alliance. This leaves Telshanth and Rihalles in shock. Cuin asks two elves to pick a side as well: Stick with Shaaladel's orders or follow their brave princess to a better future. Telshanth growls at his own naivety to let Shalosha accompany him and turns against the party. Rihalles seems torn, but then decides that he's ultimately a Solei Palantis, sword to protect and serve the Shining Lord.
There is one Shahalesti, however, that Cuin doesn't give the chance to be spared: Nahrem, the “Scourge of Ycengled”. He signals the still-hidden Rhuarc that the time has finally come to bring justice to the Necromancer. And despite being protected by a fearsome bone golem, the old wizard doesn't stand a chance. As he dies to scimitar and arrows, the vision shifts once again to the same place, Ycengled, but in another time. There, Shaaladel stands besides Nahrem and he orders him to chain one of the Taranesti prisoners to a tree. Shaaladel then demands that the Taranesti reveals the location of Trilla, but the elf doesn't know.
“Fine. Then you'll die for your defiance.” Shaaladel says before turning around and leaving the scene.
This vision leaves its mark on Shalosha and she stares in terror at the younger version of her father. Meanwhile, Torrent does her best to heal Shalosha and to explain to her friend Katrina that the princess is truly on their side now. Shalosha's emotions seem to resonate with the room and the scene shifts again as Tinuviel kills Ursus and moves on to Kiernan who's decided to put up a fight with Katrina.
The scene shifts and reveals Calanis, again. This time it shows a young Shalosha who's staring out of a window in the royal Palace. Next to her is Lord Shaaladel who's looking at her with a worried face.
Shalosha seems to be upset at her father's decision to separate her from a friend who she wanted to play with. She insists that the boy was harmless and would have kept her secrets. Shaaladel looks at his daughter with a loving but determined face.
“My dear, lovely Shalosha. I really believe that this boy meant no harm. But you see... he's a child and children tend to talk. They are mischievous rascals who act first and think later. Just think about it... how would it feel if your friend, your dear friend, would talk about your deepest thoughts and secrets, your hidden emotions and your fears to another friend. Who, too, has a dear friend he shares all his secrets with. Soon all of Calanis would know all of princess Shalosha's secrets. Everything you wouldn't even dare tell your aunts.”
“But father, I only...”
Shaaladel takes a step towards his daughter, then puts an arm around her shoulders and embraces her gently.
“I'm terribly sorry that the burden I chose to bear has become yours as well. But I'm sure you'll bear it with pride and master your duties like the noble person you are. You are my daughter and all that's left for me. The shining land can live in peace now. The days when we lived in the shadows of Morrus are behind us. And I swear that our people will never be forced out of Shahalesti lands ever again. One day, when you are the queen of Shahalesti, all elves will gaze up to their shining regent and find no flaw in her very essence. No, they will bathe in her light.”
“But father, I don't know if I can really do that. I don't know if I want this either... being a ruler, I mean. Bearing this responsibility. I feel so... alone, you know?”
“But you'll never be alone. No matter what happens, no matter which obstacles you'll find on your path, I will always be there for you. We are both one family, one blood. And together we'll find the wisdom and the courage to lead our people. We are one, you and I.”
Shaaladel then embraces his daughter and sings an ancient song of the Shahalesti which lauds unity and solidarity of their people and their families and which encourages them to stand up for one another until they are all one family under the bright sun of Ossirian.
Note: I shamelessly borrowed this part from Simba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcOJTCSyvx8 . All in all, I wanted to show that Shaaladel does have a bright, loving side. If you happen to be on his side that is.
Shalosha is still struck, but she manages to get up again and joins the party against the inquisitors. The scene stays in the palace, but time move forward quite fast until a much older Shalosha confronts her father about her concerns that the war will tear their people apart and that she cannot understand why he has to fight again and again. Shaaladel, again, swears that he will do everything to protect his daughter, even if this means that he has to do terrible things. He's also certain that Shalosha will act with grace and honor in her own, first mission to Seaquen.
This encourages her to stick with her decision to stand with her cousin. Together they fight against Etienna who's being protected by Karedan. Cuin'halar knocks out Kiernan when the next vision is triggered.
All the emotional turmoil seems to calm down as the scene shifts to a dark room where Etienna is braiding the hairs of another woman. Judging from the headdress and mask that lies nearby, this woman has to be Leska. She seems wearied by the lack of progress in the classical foot-war. Etienna tries to lift her mistress' spirits as she explains that Kreven's scourge is close to completion which means the war will be won soon. And which also means that Leska wouldn't need the Torch anymore. This doesn't give any relief to Leska as she doesn't trust promises, only results.
The vision then fades as Tinuviel repeatedly stabs Etienna's chest. Meanwhile, Rihalles recognizes the dark half-elf that shot Nahrem.
“I know you, traitor! A sellsword who fights everyone. Thought you died that time for good, but I can fix this mistake.”
Before Rihalles can act, the visions whirl around and freeze everyone in place.
“This has been all fun and games, but I'd love to go deeper. Strong souls, show me what forged you”
Then everyone receives a vision centered around himself:
Cuin'halar stands in Innotendar where Timbre releases the Living Blade from the bond with Anyariel. She states that she gives the life of the Seela to him and he vows to protect them. The scene then changes from the original as Cuin looks firmly at himself and vows to protect all life.
Young Tinuviel stands on a field where he plays with Empathy. The two promise to be best friends and Empathy then vanishes. He then swears to protect all the people he cares for no matter the cost.
Torrent takes her vows as a priestess of Yara in a temple in Shahalesti. She finally managed to earn the elves' trust and fully feels her goddess' embrace for the first time.
Rhuarc's vision turns out to be more violent. He's fighting against other Taranesti who look like assassins. He curses them and calls them traitors who'd soon stabbed his back had he not taken action against them first. At his side there are humans and Shahalesti who try to gain control of a stronghold. Rhuarc fights mercilessly until he reaches the command room. To his surprise, he's already awaited by a beautiful Taranesti with devilish features: His own mother, Stacia.
“My dear son... finally you find your true destiny. Just look at you. Look at the man you've become. So strong, so graceful. Such a perfect weapon. A dagger that may pierce through the armor of every knight in this world. A mind filled with such splendid hatred that it is hard to fathom, even for one like me.”
“Mother... you're alive?”
“Of course I am, dear Rhuarc. And you've been so blind, my son. Haven't you seen that the last of these Aquilinans, the man who managed to escape my wrath, this bastard Marinus, happens to be among your companions?”
Stacia smiles at her son with a devilish smile and opens her arms as if she'd like to embrace Rhuarc.
“You... no, this cannot be. You are not my mother.”
“How clever, dear Rhuarc. But yes, I am Stacia. I am the existence she chose the moment she realized that her dear Galad wouldn't come back.”
Rhuarc shakes his head in disbelief and pain. He then draws his weapon and seems ready to attack Stacia.
“But my dear, dear Rhuarc. Do you really wish to miss the chance to bring the last of your father's murderers to justice? This trophy should be enough to offer me your soul, like you mother always planned. Like she always wanted. Or do you wish to slay me, your mother, and break the pact I once made? It wouldn't change a bit as your life would still be forfeit, even if it could free your soul.”
Rhuarc seems to lose his temper at this last taunt and he spits on the ground before charging at Stacia.
“You know nothing about me, bitch! All I did till this day was your doing. But enough is enough. It ends now!”
With this words, both engage in a deadly dance of blades. They battle each other through the Taranesti stronghold while humans, Shahalesti and Taranesti slaughter each other. Then they reach a ritual chamber where Stacia manages to paralyze Rhuarc with a spell. She then moves towards him to draw his soul with a kiss of death. But Rhuarc can shake off the paralysis and pierces her heart with his assassin's dagger before he beheads her with Shaalguenyaver. Stacia's soul is then visibly drawn into the blade and Rhuarc takes a moment to contemplate what he has just done.
“Mother... now I understand. You've given me this chance. And I'll be forever thankful for it.”
He then heads downstairs, as calm as he could ever be, until he spots an experienced knight. He then moves in front of this knight and looks him deeply in the eyes. The knight stares at him blankly in return.
“My name is Rhuarc, son of Galad. You killed my father. And today you will die for this sin”
Then Rhuarc's scimitar comes crashing down at Marinus. For once, his thirst for revenge seems quenched.
Then the voice of 41 can be heard yet again: “Back then, you truly believed your heart could find peace. But all you did was lose your purpose. Peace... is an illusion”
