Nightgal 21 1369 DR, Year of the Gauntlet
The Feast of the Moon & The Disguised Dragon
Citizens, both young and old were scattering about the streets of Silverymoon. The Gem of the North, as some people called the beautiful city was holding its annual Feast of the Moon festival, and everyone was doing their part to finish preparations in time for the festival.
The Feast of the Moon was an annual holiday where those across Fauern celebrate and honor the memory of their ancestors and departed loved ones by telling stories of their great deeds.
Walking through the busy streets of Silverymoon, a tall silver haired young man wearing a tan overcoat covering his blue silk shirt, watched the citizens go about their business as he slowly made his way to the High Palace.
It had been a little over a year since the undead hunter Shadimir Deachron had moved with his mother and to Silverymoon.
Alustriel, once the High Mage of Silverymoon, had asked Shadimir's mother, Aprilana, to be a priestess at the local temple to Mystra, as well as a personal assistant to Alustriel,
Aprilana had little trouble convincing her son to move to Silverymoon. By telling him that the Gem of the North would be a great place to raise his daughter Dalla, Shadimir packed up his family and belongings and was well on his way out of Chessenta.
Shadimir had taken well to the forests and regions that were around Silverymoon. Being someone who hunted the undead, Shadimir would often be asked to cleans a tomb, of its walking undead, then he would go home to his little girl and share stories of the encounter.
The hunter also admired Lady Alustriel, the former High Mage of Silverymoon. Being a Chosen of Mystra, Alustriel would talk with Shadimir about the goddess of magic, who herself appeared before Shadimir one day, that resulted in the silver haired man almost falling out of his window...
Walking up the stairs of the High Palace, the hunter saw a tall stone statue of a woman wearing what appeared to be robes.
"That's a beautiful statue," Shadimir commented as he stopped and looked at the statue.
A wide shouldered man with thick grey hair and a thin beard stepped from behind the statue and nodded at the silver haired young man. "Why thank you. I've been working on this for about a month."
"Is she your wife, or lover?" the hunter asked the sculptor curiously, ruffling his fingers through his hair.
Nay," smiled, the sculptor," Tis is a statue of the goddess Mystra. Though some of the clerics say that's not how she would appear. They say she's too revealing."
It took Shadimir a moment to notice the sculptor was referring to the large size of the statue's chest. "Well, it is a tad bigger than the priests like to think," the hunter began," but if you want my opinion, I think this is how Mystra would appear to the other gods, particularly Kelevmor; Lord of the Dead, Oghama; The All Knowing, and Tempus The Pantless One."
The sculptor laughed and went back around the statue to continue his work.
After he started to continue up the steps to the High Palace, Shadimir's ears picked up the sound of a chisel going to work.
Upon entering through the High Palace's vast wooden doors, Shadimir was greeted by two of the palace guard, who escorted him down the hall to Alustriel's conference room, or as some in the palace guard called it; The War Room.
Walking with the two guards, Shadimir glanced at the different pictures and woven tapestries that decorated the palace walls.
The guards stopped at the conference room door, and told Shadimir to wait till Alustriel was there to see him. When the guards left, Shadimir looked at a tall woven picture on the wall opposite to the door.
In the background was a vast wooden area and in the center was a beautiful woman with long white hair and wearing blue robes. At first, Shadimir wondered if the woman was Alustriel in her younger days, but at the bottom of the picture in golden print were "REST IN PEACE Dear Sylune"
The door next to the hunter opened with a loud crack. Turning around quickly, Shadimir placed his hands on his belt, ready to pull his mace and sword.
"Always the man with his hands on his belt Shadimir," laughed a soft melodious voice from inside the conference room.
"Only when someone tries to take me by surprise," added the hunter as he entered into the conference room and saw Alustriel standing across a round wooden table. Next to Alustriel stood a woman with long blue hair wearing a blue dress.
Standing next to the bookshelf, Shadimir looked at Alustriel, then at the blue haired woman. "A new scribe," he asked curiously.
"Somewhat," answered Lady Alustriel," this is Taralona, she comes from the Moonsea area."
The hunter looked at Taralona's face for a moment. Her face appeared normal to him, but something in his mind told him otherwise.
"Nice to meet you," Shadimir smiled, extending his hand to Taralona," Taralona is it?"
The blue haired woman smiled. "Just Tara actually," she gripped the hunter's hand hard and shook softly. "Its an honor to meet you. You've built quite a reputation around The Moonsea area for your deeds in out drinking orcs and wrestling bears."
"I'm sorry, you must have me confused with someone else," he laughed, pulling his hand back after Tara released it. She has quite a firm grip, he thought. "I don't really drink all that much." He shook his hand, trying to get some feeling back into it.
The undead hunter stopped speaking as he noticed Tara's eyes were gazing at his beautiful silver hair.
Lady Alustriel walked over to Shadimir. Pulling out a bronze comb, Alustriel began to run it through his hair, trying to part it down the middle. "Honestly Shadimir, if you are going to have hair like this, you should learn how to take care of it."
Shadimir jerked away from Alustriel. "The day I become your slave or apprentice Alustriel, is the day I let you touch my hair," he laughed, trying to back away from the man woman holding the comb.
"Besides, Shadimir wouldn't know how to take care of beautiful hair," said a cheerful voice at the doorway," he's a man after all."
Turning his head around, Shadimir smiled, seeing his lover Stephanie Munoz walking behind him and wrapping her arms around him.
Stephanie stood about as tall as Shadimir, and her long black hair gently brushed the back of his neck. The hunter also felt Stephanie's breastplate armor brush against the back of his long coat, and her arms wrapped around his waist.
"I'm sorry lover," Stephanie purred, kissing his neck," I wished I could have stayed over last night.
The hunter basked in the warmth of Stephanie's lips," It's alright darling, the temple needed you to prepare for the festival."
Like Shadimir's mother, Stephanie was a cleric, but she worshipped Kelemvor. Though no one really understood why Stephanie, who had a nature for having a short temper, had picked a calm god like Kelevmor, she had told Shadimir that she had developed a slight infatuation with the Lord of the Dead, and if she couldn't be with him in the afterlife, she would serve him until she died.
Tara smiled at the couple, then looked at Alustriel, who was also smiling for a different reason.
"Tell me Stephanie, how did you get that beautiful streak in your hair," Alustriel asked the cleric of Kelevmor.
Stephanie laid her head on her lover's shoulder. Most of her hair was dark black, but an accident with a color spray spell involving her sister Aliyah had given her a few long golden streaks in the middle. "Just born with it I guess," she fibbed to Lady Alustriel.
The hunter melted in his lover's embrace, and smiled. "It's alright darling," he said softly
"Well I would have stayed," she began, more sternly," if someone hadn't sent her chicken to get me out of bed."
"Rowlin is not a chicken Stephanie, she's a hawk," stormed in Aliyah, Stephanie's older sister from outside the hallway. Unlike Stephanie, who had darker hair, Aliyah had blond hair, but the same hazel eyes. Shadimir knew Aliyah as a ranger, whose heroes were the infamous rangers like Drizzt DoUrden and Dove Falconhand. Unlike her sister, Aliyah paid homage to many deities, but the one god she was most devoted to was Lathander; god of the sun.
Dressed in light green leather armor and both her scimitars at her side, Aliyah walked over to the embracing couple. She gave a quiet hello to Shadimir and glared at her sister. "Corisan's grandfather passed away, and there were no priests of Kelemvor awake. We all know you priests of the Dull Lord of the Dead like to do the last rites and all."
"Not before dawn, and besides you barely knew Corisan," the priestess angrily shot back at her sister. " And what do you mean Dull Lord of the Dead," she added, offended at her sister's comment," at least he's not a flamboyant pompous ass like Lathandar."
Aliyah drew both scimitars, ready to strike at her sister, until an irritated Alustriel shouted "Silence!" The Lady of Silverymoon had a wand of shocking grasp ready to deal with the bickering sisters. "Now that we're all settled," Alustriel remarked, keeping her eyes on Stephanie and Aliyah," I've gathered you here because Tara is an old friend and she has asked for our help."
Taralona bowed her thanks to Alustriel, then faced the three humans. "As you know, my name is Taralona, and what you see before you is my human form. In truth, I am a dragon from the Moonsea area where my brother Elisondar and I have been living peacefully for hundreds of years. However, about a month ago, my brother disappeared." Stopping for a moment, Tara bowed her head down, then she continued," It was a little later when I found drow priests and wizards scavenging around in our cavern, asking if I wanted to become a dracolich like my brother."
Shadimir wondered why drow clerics and wizards would be scavenging through a dragon's nest. The spider goddess Lolth had no real use for dragons, as didn't most of the drow pantheon. However there was one goddess.
Kiaransalee, a dark elf goddess of undead and revenge. A goddess who would benefit well from a dracolich, an undead dragon with immense power. Its appearance made it look like an ordinary dragon skeleton, but its powers potential for destruction were limitless. Shadimir remembered hearing about the creations of dracolichs originated from the Cult of the Dragon.
The silver haired hunter was about to ask Taralona if she knew her brother was still alive, but Stephanie's beautiful blond haired sister cried," A dracolich, you want us to fight a dracolich?"
"Yes a dracolich," Tara hissed at Aliyah," and you don't have to fight him. I will fight him myself."
"Yes but we still have a problem," Shadimir added sternly.
"The dracolich phylactery," Alustriel also added," an item that the dracolich's soul will flee into before going..."
"Into its undead body," Stephanie added, keeping a hand on Azrael, her magical sword," if we destroy the dracolich's body after its created, it will flee back into the phylactery."
"Waiting for another dead reptile body to come along," Alustriel finished, grabbing a cup from the table and sipping her wine."
Bother Taralona and Aliyah stood there, confused. "How do you know so much about dracolichs?" asked the disguised dragon.
"Jepetto," the three answered. Alustriel quietly sipped her wine while Aliyah stood there frightened of the thought of fighting a dracolich.
"Well you know what this means," Stephanie calmly remarked," to destroy the dracolich, we have to find the phylactery, destroy it, then destroy the dracolich. The problem is, the damn soul item could be halfway across Fauern by now."
Seeing the smile in Stephanie's face, Aliyah scowled at her sister," You seem calm for someone who thinks this is going to be near to impossible."
The cleric of Kelemvor turned to the ranger of Lathandar, and calmly answered," Destroying powerful undead. As you said, its what we priests of Kelemvor like to do. Besides I like a good challenge."
Alustriel strode up to the sisters. "Well to put your fears at ease, I can tell you my scouts have heard rumors that an elf assassin calling himself The Avenger has the phylactery on him. Word of caution, he doesn't like humans." The Shining Lady of Silverymoon approached the hunter and smiled. "As for you Shadimir, I want you to go with Taralona to Serpent Hills to find Elisondar, who is rumored to be tunneling through the Underdark. She leaned in and kissed his cheek, then whispered," You might want to send someone with Stephanie and Aliyah. I would rather have them die fighting side by side, then fighting each other."
Aliyah's eyes witnessed Alustriel's kiss, and the smile on Stephanie's face. The cleric of Kelemvor knew Shadimir would always be loyal to her, and that a kiss from someone as powerful and well known as Alustriel was something of an honor.
"I need to grab some things before we go," Shadimir said, turning to Taralona. He then smiled and kissed Stephanie softly," I'm going to send Deidra with you both, if there are no objections."
The ranger stayed silent, while Stephanie shook her head. "No objections at all love." He quickly grabbed Tara's hand and led her out of the room.
As the hunter and the lady ran out of the palace doors, Aliyah leaned close to her sister and asked quietly," Do you really trust him alone with her?"
"I doubt its just him that is going with her," Stephanie answered quietly," even if that were the situation, I trust him."
"Why?" Aliyah asked her sister, staring into her eyes.
"Well Aliyah," the cleric answered with a slight grin," unlike the men you've been with, Shadimir knows in his heart that I'm always with him, and he's always thinks ahead."
Alustriel quickly walked out of the conference room, seeing the ranger's face swell with anger. Aliyah began shouting and raging about how Stephanie wouldn't know a good man, and other nonsense.
Yet, Stephanie wasn't paying attention to anything Aliyah was saying. Her mind was occupied with thoughts and prayers of her lover making back home safely.
The deep gnome Jepetto was examining a master crafted crossbow when Shadimir had walked into his workshop. The hunter stood there and watched the gnome for a moment, still thinking how different he was from his kind.
Jepetto was a svirfneblin, a deep gnome from the underdark. Shadimir had met Jepetto when the gnome was being chased by some drow, who were hunting him for sport. After dispatching the drow with little effort, the hunter brought the gnome back to his home, where he explained to Shadimir why he had come to the surface.
As a young lad, Jepetto had grown with a curiosity for tinkering with weapons, mundane items, and very dangerous projectiles, chemicals, and explosions.. However, Jepetto's parents disapproved of their son's tinkering greatly. They grew worried that his curiosity might lead to the destruction of the hidden city they lived in. Finally one day, Jepetto packed his clothes and inventions, and left home and ventured to the surface to make it on his own.
Shadimir was about to greet his friend with a hello, but found himself at the wrong end of a beautifully crafted crossbow Jepetto was holding. "Nice to see you too Jepetto," Shadimir remarked, slowly inching away from his friend.
"I just fixed it this morning," Jepetto began, not even knowing that he had put his friend's life in danger for a few seconds," it will be able to shoot quicker, and you can load the bolts more smoothly."
"Planning to show that off at the festival," Shadimir asked, viewing some of the gnome's broken devices on the shelf.
"No not really, I've been working on this for a young bard in Shadowdale," Jepetto answered, then slapped Shadimir's hand as the hunter was touching what appeared to be a small, but thick olive branch "Do best be careful, with that one, I'm still trying to figure what it does."
Shadimir looked around the workshop, taking some crossbow bolts and some holy water. "I trust you know about the dracolich," the hunter said calmly, grabbing a few wands from the bottom shelf.
"Well I know about dracolichs," Jepetto responded, planting some rubbery adhesive on two ends of a wooden stick and putting them together," but I don't know about the one you're hunting in particular." He quickly placed a wand in Shadimir's hands," A wand of Fireballs. Very powerful."
"A powerful wand of fireballs," the silver haired hunter said, mocking the gnome for a moment," Are you sure this could work on a dracolich?"
Jepetto shrugged," I'm a tinkerer, not a wizard, besides you can just tell me when you return."
"Or you can just get it from me when I'm done using it, because you're coming with me Jepetto," the hunter added, placing the wand in his belt.
The deep gnome's eyes widened in horror, and his body began shaking. "I don't want to fight a dracolich. Why do I have to go? Can't Stephanie or Aliyah go with you?
"You know dracolichs Jepetto. Besides Stephanie and Aliyah are going to find the soul gem and destroy it. Don't worry, we are going with someone."
"I hope they don't destroy the soul item, I would sure like to look at it," the gnome responded, his curiosity replacing his fear. for the moment. He looked up, seeing Shadimir already leaving. "Shadimir, wait for me."
Stephanie, Aliyah, and Deidra had already for the Moonwood Forest. The cleric of Kelemvor was excited to have the halfling to come along with her, since her sister wasn't speaking to her for the time being. Apparently Stephanie's comment about Aliyah's preference on men had offended her sister more than she had intended.
Taralona stood on the outside gates of Silverymoon, seeing the silver haired hunter and someone else approaching closely. Tara raised an eyebrow, when she realized it was a deep gnome accompanying the undead hunter. She was surprised to see it was a deep gnome, since a lot of lore about svirfneblin documented them being suspicious, and not as jovial as their surface counterparts.
"Are you alright?" Shadimir asked Tara, seeing the look of surprise on her face.
She nodded, staring at the gnome, whose eyes were wandering around. "Yes its just I'm not used to seeing a svirfneblin on the surface."
"Well this is svirfneblin is Jepetto, our local tinker gnome. Fixer of Some and Breaker of Many they call him." Jepetto smiled and bowed at Tara. "I've been wondering, how are we getting to Serpent Hills. It's pretty far away."
"You know I think I'll look for Tibalt," Jepetto remarked, taking a few steps to the left. The hunter quickly grabbed the gnome before he could get away.
"Who is this Tibalt?" Tara asked Shadimir.
"He's my animal friend. He's a pegasus, and he has enough strength to carry all three of us there, its just you can never find him when you need him."
"Well I could fly us there." Taralona said, grinning wickedly.
Jepetto's body began to shake a little out of fear. He looked at Shadimir, who shrugged and said," I don't think we have much of a choice in the matter."