I just realized that there was this Chapter missing and instead the fourth was double. Sorry, for the stupid mistake. And thanks for the nice reviews which made me check on the story again. I really feel like continuing it, but I don't know if I have the time, since I would have to install the game again etc...anyway...there's still hope ^^ - and your reviews make me enthusiastic again :D


Chapter 3 – The Isle of the Creator

They didn't want to take much time in Lith My'Athar, so they agreed on sharing the tasks. Ariaen would meet with the Seer, giving her the mirror they had gotten. Meanwhile Valen would get new supplies from the temple and Nathyrra from the merchants around the camp.

They met a few hours later in the temple, having a word with the Seer and gaining healing from her. The sun had only just climbed over the zenith, when they left again for the Isle of the Creator.

Leaving the boat, Ariaen overheard a conversation between Nathyrra and Valen. It made clear to her that they both had joined the Seer, because of some devils of the past. They both felt rescued by the Seer, though Ariaen did not understand from what.

This time they were more cautious. Nathyrra took lead and scouted about 5 to 10 paces ahead of her companions. The only one they met, however, was a group of duergar mercenaries. It was clear from the beginning that they had to be handled with caution, but at least they didn't attack the four at once. Her leader, an imposing female who called herself Dahanna gave them even more information about the sorcerer's lair. She didn't know if the magican was still alive, but she knew that lots of his creatures were, since they had already killed quite a few of her people. Ariaen felt very uncomfortable in the presence of those small, dark fighters. She didn't trust their friendliness and the three of her companions obviously agreed with her. Once they had entered the lair, Nathyrra told Ariaen that duergars were unreliable creatures and that lots of their kind fought for the Valsharess.

After having been only a little while in the lair, the four of them were nearly exhausted to death. All of them had several wounds, their potion supply was becoming short again and they hadn't even gotten the chance to explore the back area of the place, yet. With last effort they had managed to strike down another group of golems when trying to enter a new room, slamming the door shut behind them.

They hoped this would keep the repair golem away. This was a strange, meagre creature who was constantly roaming the corridors, repairing his fellows, which they had struck down in troublesome effort. They knew now why so many of the duergars who actually seemed quite capable in defending themselves had been killed in here. Valen was guarding the door. Nathyrra treated a bad wound on her leg, while Ariaen forced a healing potion between Fenris' teeth telling him that he would feel better afterwards. She was quite worried, since her dog had taken some very evil blows. He lay down to sleep for while after drinking the liquid finally. Ariaen stood up with a sigh. Since she was always attacking from a distance she only had minor injuries. She shot a quick gaze at Valen. He had drunken a potion as well, but was still far from being healed completely. Ariaen was too exhausted to start an argument with him again and so looked through the room instead. It had formerly been a library, so it seemed to her. She found lots of book shelves, most of the books, however, were too old and almost fell apart in her hands. Only two of them actually survived the procedure of being taken out of the shelf and laid down on a writer's desk nearby. The first one was very heavy. It was bound between two metal plates richly ornamented. The other one was bound in leather, but had been covered with a fabric for additional protection. When Ariaen had deciphered the contents, it made her cry out with enthusiasm. "Look at this! I think I found something useful." Nathyrra and Valen looked at her wearily, then the tiefling nodded and went over to Ariaen, while Nathyrra continued with her bandages.

"Look at this!" She said again, turning the book into Valen's direction. "And here!" She covered the first book with the second one, letting him actually no chance to read at all. This, however, wasn't necessary, since the tiefling narrowed his eyes, knocked the books back into their original position and replied in a toneless voice: "I cannot read." Ariaen looked at him in surprise, but then a certain business overcame her that made the fatigue vanish in an instant. The book, she explained to him, gave information over how to handle the golems. Their master had obviously invented some artefacts to control, destroy or weaken them. Although they hadn't found an artefact, yet, the book gave detailed information about how to produce them. She bent down to rummage in her backpack. "Here, the coloured powder we found in the other rooms and these strange objects." She held up several small pouches and added two statues and an orb. "They are all mentioned in the book. The only thing we have to do is find his laboratory." Now also Nathyrra showed interest in the conversation and approached them. Valen was still frowning, he was not convinced. "These golems are very grim opponents. If there are much more of them…" He didn't finish the sentence, but suddenly looked deep into Ariaen's eyes. "Are you sure that we can take them, Ariaen?" Ariaen gulped under the critical, but worrying look he gave her. Her heart was pounding deep in her throat. It was the first time he had called her by her name or at least the name she had taken, since she was here. She felt a blush coming up her cheeks, but fought it down. Her face took a determined expression. "I didn't say it would be easy. But by the help of this", she pointed at the books again, "I think we can deal with them."

"Are you sure, Ariaen?" Nathyrra's voice suddenly sounded very worried as well. "You are our only hope. I cannot allow that something is happening to you. Please, promise me that you will be careful!"

Ariaen nodded and the three of them decided to rest in the library until the next morning.

It was still very early when they broke off their camp. All four of them felt the tension of a risky venture lying ahead of them. They had to take down a few more golems, but found a laboratory only two doors deeper in the lair. Ariaen didn't have any experience in alchemy, but tried to remember what knowledge the Seer had taught her about using magic items. Before they left for the corridors again they agreed that Ariaen should try to use the golem weakener and destroyer on the first creature they would encounter. Then they would wait for the repair golem several paces away and place the golem lure. Proceeding in this manner they managed to reach the central room of the place. Again they shut the door behind them and took some rest. Ariaen was very pleased with herself. Her plan had worked out and only because of this had they come so far. Moreover, when everybody's spirit had been down, she was the one to motivate them and keep them going. She had the feeling that she had grown beyond herself, had found an inner strength she had not known about before.

Exploring the room they found out that it was some kind of control centre, harbouring a strange machine that reminded Ariaen faintly of a computer. Playing around a little with the buttons she found out that it was a way to summon special types of golems into the room and destroy them. By the help of this machine they managed not only to kill the repair golem, but also another rather impressive looking one that guarded the stairs to the second floor.

Down in the next floor they found two different groups of golems who were surprisingly intelligent and fighting each other, because of some energy source. The group of flesh golems, led by an ugly creature called Aghaz, possessed this energy source. With it they forced the others to stay on the island, because without being close to it, so the leader of the silver golems explained, they would soon become as stupid as there fellows in the upper floor. Ferron, the leader of the silver golems, promised the four companions to help them in the fight against the Valsharess if they would get the energy source from his opponent. Although Aghaz promised the same thing they decided to help the silver golems, since they seemed much more reliable and friendly than the others. After having done so, the four decided on proceeding deeper into the dungeon, since they did not know yet, if the master of the golems was still alive. According to Ferron he had left his servants about 500 years ago and hadn't come back since then.

Before going down into the sorcerer's sanctuary however, the companions wanted to clear out the floor they were on first. So, they stopped again in front of a locked door, where they had been before, but hadn't been able to open it. They knew it held a dangerous trap. Since it was too difficult for Valen to pick, he had tried to slam it in, but had been knocked down by an enormous lightning that had jumped from him over to his companions. Nathyrra had then tried to remove the obviously magic trap from the door, but had failed as well on its high complexity. While Valen and Nathyrra stood arguing again, Ariaen had observed a rat running around the area which had suddenly vanished into a little hole that obviously led to the room on the other side. She knelled down to examine the hole. She had just found out that it was even too small to put her hand through, when the rat returned. Ariaen didn't move in order to make the little critter not afraid. The rat approached sniffling, tickling Ariaen's hand with her whiskers. She chuckled, but kept motionless, when suddenly a flow of blurry pictures entered her mind. She could see a small pile of garbage and rubble that felt secure and familiar to her, like home. Then she saw a lever not very far from her little mould. Ariaen realized that she must somehow have managed to make contact with the rat which's nest she was seeing. She concentrated on the lever and tried to deliver the thoughts of how urgent it was to move it. The rat suddenly crawled away in a hurry, back through the hole. Ariaen got up, still captured by the weird experience, joined her friends and said. "I'm not sure, but I think I just told that rat to—" She was interrupted when the door opened wide with a loud creak. "…open the door", she finished and Valen and Nathyrra were looking at her in bewilderment an awe.

Behind the door they found a ghost who told them that he had once been the assistant of the Creator. Because he was afraid to be betrayed the magician had locked him into this room, leaving him in eternal despair. He promised to tell them the password to the Creator's sanctuary, if they would help him to escape. They agreed on it and as it was done, Ariaen left the former cell humming. She had not only helped a lost soul, but also managed to communicate with an animal which had helped them in a hopeless situation. She didn't know where this would lead to: knowing magic, calling Fenris, talking to animals, but she liked it. Liked the freedom and potency it held for her.

When they finally met the Creator who was not a living being any more, but a fleshless spirit of total madness, the encounter was different to what they had expected. In the end they had to battle the lunatic rests of the still powerful mage, who suddenly attacked them. After this final fight they suddenly felt the tiredness of the day in all parts of their body and without taking notice of the treasures within the room lay down to rest.

Nathyrra woke Ariaen the next morning. "Let's have a look through this mad man's things! We deserve it." She said with a whimsical smile. Ariaen nodded enthusiastically and Nathyrra got up to search the room. Ariaen stretched, yawned and got up to follow the Drow when suddenly a hand reached out for her arm from behind and kept her from going. Turning around she saw Valen with an expression on his face that showed the insecurity behind his angry look.

"I would like to speak about the Seer", he said in a low voice. Ariaen sighed.

"Why? Do you still think that I will betray her?"

She couldn't help letting a little cynicism resonate in her voice. She was still mad about what he had said the other day. He let her arm go and without reacting on her provocative tone, continued: "Maybe. But I think you should know how much the Seer means to me…and everybody who follows her. I will protect them whatever the cost." He paused to gaze at her, but she was looking away. "I'm not sure how much you know about the planes, Ariaen." Hearing her name out of his mouth again, she turned back. "Probably not very much, which means you also don't know what the blood wars are, I guess?" Ariaen frowned. The planes? Blood wars? Of course, she didn't have the slightest clue. Had he still not understood that she knew nothing about his world? She shrugged in confusion and despair. "You are right. I don't know what you are talking about." He nodded and continued. "The blood wars are the armed hostilities between the demons of the Abyss and the devils of the Baatezu, which already last for generations. We've already fought so many, bloody battles that the war continues in our veins now." He sighed and continued with a despairing tone: "There's only little hope for a final victory. Actually, only one battle after another is fought when devils and demons encounter another. It is an endless circle of rage and bloodshed."

What he just had said sounded terrible in Ariaen's ears and all her angriness melted away in a moment. She didn't feel able to say anything, but only wanted him to go on. "I was…recruited for the war." He continued and suddenly his gaze drifted away while his face took on an agonizing expression. "For years I fought in the outer planes. I was no real soldier...rather some wild animal." Ariaen gulped. She felt her heart cramp at what he said and the emotions of this bad memory that obviously spoke out of his clear blue eyes. She felt the urge to touch him, to comfort him, but fought it down, because she feared his reaction. Her voice was only a breath when she said: "I'm very sorry. That sounds horrible." Valen looked back at her and tried to smile gratefully. "Thank you, my Lady. I try not to think about this life anymore, but back then it was all I knew." Ariaen realized that this was finally the chance she had waited for to get to know more about his past. She didn't want to waste it. So, she asked and he answered willingly telling her about the fact that he hadn't had a choice. He had been taken prisoner by a demon of the Abyss (so not hell as she had heard) after having fled from the blood wars his whole youth. His demonic master had sent him into one battle after another where he only fought to stay alive. He didn't even know how long he had lived or rather existed that way gaining pleasure in killing without thinking about it. Time had been of no importance back then.

Ariaen felt magnetized by his tale and although horror and shock overcame her she couldn't stop herself from digging deeper into his dreadful past. So he also told her that once they he had been summoned by a Drow priest to kill the Seer, but when he had faced her she had looked right into his soul. When he came back to the Abyss he had met her in his dreams and eventually, since decades it seemed, remembered the life he once had, before the fighting. Although his master, sensing his inner troubles, had tortured him for how long he did not know, he had finally managed to escape his grip and found the Seer. She had healed him and offered him help. When he finished with the words: "She rescued me in every possible way", Ariaen had to avert her eyes, since she couldn't fight the tears back any longer. When she didn't say anything, he added: "I thought it necessary to tell you this, so you know how much the Seer means to me. I would never betray her…or let somebody else betray her." Ariaen still fought for composure when he triggered this hot topic again. However, she couldn't be angry with him for the moment and so nodded in understanding. Her voice was throaty when she almost pleaded: "I will not betray anybody, Valen. You have to trust me." He grimaced while seeming to fight his suspicions. "I'm sorry. I don't want to imply anything. I just wanted you to know." He then suddenly turned away busying himself with preparing breakfast.

At little later than expected Ariaen joined the Drow by her search through the room. The most shelves and trunks she had already turned inside out. However, Ariaen was not very interested in this kind of business right now and so didn't show much enthusiasm for the things which piled up in the middle of the big room. Still musing about her conversation with Valen and trying to order all the things he had just said, she started in another corner. Absent-mindedly she opened a small casket, taking out a magic wand. The Seer had taught her that a wand mostly showed some ornamentation or decoration that gave a hint about its abilities. On the edge of her mind she realized that the top of it was formed like a boar's head. A little smile went over her face when she used the wand without thinking about it. A pillar of magic cut through the air as a boar appeared in a summoning circle right beside Ariaen. Only when the animal came closer and looked at its master to wait for orders, she realized what she had done. She woke from her daydreams, blushing as she looked in the bewildered faces of her companions and the same moment noticing that something else was not right. Only a little while later she realized what it was: Fenris was gone. Her eyes widened in panic when her eyes searched the room again. "Fenris!" she shouted, but there was no answering sound. Nathyrra was the first to notice her distress and said in a calm chuckling voice: "You can only control one creature at once, Ariaen. Didn't you know?" Ariaen blinked at her in perplexion. "Control?" she asked back sheepishly. "But…did I control Fenris?" Nathyrra shrugged. "You obviously called him from the place you came from. So, you controlled him. As far as I know beastmasters can call and release their animal companions on their wish, but limited in time." Ariaen nodded still a little baffled. She then turned towards the boar, waved her hand and said: "You can leave." The boar looked at her, then came closer and licked her outstretched hand. Ariaen gazed up in surprise when Valen suddenly burst out into a hearty laughter. His eyes were sparkling, focused towards her and the animal. "You seem to be a fine beastmaster. Even wild animals would eat out of your hands." Ariaen chuckled, but suddenly remembered the fact that he had called himself a wild animal during their talk. Picturing Valen eating out of her hands she blushed unto the tips of her ears and only prayed that nobody could read her thoughts – you never knew around these strange people.

The boar vanished only moments later and Ariaen had decided not to call for Fenris again, immediately. One part of her was anxious to find out that she couldn't, the other part just wanted to spare him the weird experience as long as possible.

When they finally left for the first floor again, they were heavily loaded with all kinds of things they had found in the dungeon: weapons, armours, jewellery, gold and much more.

They were high in spirit, weapons sheathed when they left the Sorcerer's lair. However, they only made it about two steps away from the door when Dahanna walked out of the shadows a smirky smile on her face. In the corner of her eyes Ariaen sensed the presence of the other dark fighters, weapons ready. Ariaen's head flew to her left side and met Valen's stern and resolved gaze as the duergar began to speak. She wanted money. Ariaen sighed and tried to catch a glimpse at Nathyrra's face. The Drow's look was piercing. Her swords were in her hands already. So it was decided and moments later the three were the only living beings leaving the battle field.

Ariaen wanted to stay at least the following night in Lith My'Athar. She wanted to get some rest in a soft bed again and some hot food, but especially she wanted to celebrate the achievements they had made. She urged Nathyrra and Valen to come with her to the tavern to amuse themselves. It was difficult to find a bard or at least someone who could play an instrument amongst the Drow, but she finally found one. The music wasn't really what she was used to, but it made her feel much better to hear some sweet sounds and sung words, though she did not understand them. However, only after a short while she had to admit that a tavern full of Drow was not the perfect place to throw a party. The musician quickly lost his interest when he got some irritated looks from a bunch of females near by. At least a small group of followers of Eilistraee joined them, but since nobody was very enthusiastic about the jokes Ariaen made, Nathyrra and they were soon deeply involved in a religious discussion.

Ariaen played with her empty beaker, sneaking a peek on Valen who looked most uncomfortable in these surroundings. He was vaguely listening to the conversation, his eyes roaming the hall critically. Ariaen bend forward to catch his attention. "Yes, my Lady?" Ariaen smiled. "Let's talk a minute." "Talk?", he seemed to be affronted and looked at her puzzled. "What do you want to talk about?" Ariaen shrugged. "How about your time in the Abyss?" Now Valen bent closer, too, his metal bracers clanging on the wooden table. "You want me to talk about the time of my battles? Why would that be?" Ariaen caught a glimpse into Valen's clear blue eyes. He looked at her with sudden interest. "I'm curious. I find your past very….thrilling." He obviously thought about what she had said for a moment then shrugged. "If it pleases you, my Lady, I will tell one or two stories. Just ask what you want to know."

Absent-mindedly, Ariaen put one finger to her lips while musing about a proper question. Although there were many things popping up in her mind, she was actually looking for a topic that would bring out some good memories. Until now he had only told her about rather horrible incidents. Suddenly her face enlightened. "What did you actually do before you were captured?" He sighed and leaned back again. "I was a young lad roaming the streets of Sigil, if you must know. An orphan since my mother had died and a thief if I wasn't caught." Ariaen's eyes widened. "How…how did your mother die?" His eyes took on a mournful expression. "She was killed by a client. That's at least what they said." Ariaen bit her lips. She didn't understand what he meant by "killed by a client", important was only that she had been killed. She sighed deeply. Were there no good memories at all going with this man? She lowered her eyes. "I'm very sorry." "Thank you, Ariaen. But we weren't actually very close to one another. I can't almost remember her. However, I don't wish anyone a death like hers." He paused for a moment, before he continued. "My mother worked for a…very greedy and egoistical female demon. I'm sure that she had her killed, because my mother couldn't work for about a month since she was ill." Ariaen decided to skip this topic and rather concentrate on something he had mentioned earlier. "So, you've been a thief?" He nodded. "Yes, that's true. But it's long ago. I didn't keep the skills of those times. However, back then I was the best pickpocket of the spawn."

"You certainly did what you had to." Ariaen replied understandingly. He looked up at her and nodded again. "Sigil knows no mercy – not even for children. I was only one of hundreds who were starving and always living on the edge." Ariaen's look became contemplating. "What's this 'Sigil'? I've never heard about it." Valen looked at her and grinned. "Sigil is the most famous town of the planes. She is also sometimes called the City of Doors. All creatures of the planes have once visited her."

Ariaen couldn't help but smile. Her eyes wandered over his face. He looked so handsome with this grin on his face she could almost see the cunning boy he once had been, behind his features. "Have there been many like you then?"

His grin became fierce and his eyes absent. "The armies of the Abyss are a legion. There existed more warriors with the same story than there are grains of sand. But only a few survived it." Ariaen blinked. "How come that you survived then?" Valen cocked one eyebrow while thinking about her question. "To be honest, I don't know. Times came when I was longing to die, times when I was trying to die. But, I just didn't."

"Well, I'm glad that you are here." Ariaen muttered, looking at him shyly. He kept her gaze and smiled bashfully. "Thank you, my Lady. You are very…nice." They sat there looking into each others eyes for several heartbeats that felt like hours for Ariaen. Finally she gulped and the words bubbled out of her mouth, before she could stop them. "Have you ever been in love?" The shock that showed in his eyes woke her from her day-dreams. "That…that is a very personal question, my Lady." Ariaen felt the blood coming up her cheeks and lowered her head quickly. She clinched her teeth. Stupid idiot! How could you ask such a question? Then as calm as possible she said: "You don't have to answer it if you don't want to." She felt like never having the guts to look into his face again. In the long pause that followed, the blood that rushed through her head was all Ariaen heard. Her heart almost leaped out of her chest when he finally replied in a soft voice. "Yes. I was. Once." She noticed that he looked at her, but still kept her eyes low. "She died." He finally added and her head flipped upward, her eyes wide with shock. "I'm very sorry." She whispered, already the second time during only a few minutes as she noticed. The agony of this cruel memory was obvious in his voice when he told her about his love and that she had been killed by his master to cause him pain. Ariaen bit her lip, curiosity and bashfulness battling within her mind. "And since then there…there was no other?" Stiffly she sat on her chair. Did I really ask that? Valen only smiled gently. He was not looking at her but rather picturing something in his mind. "No. Not since that day. I…I continued with my life, but there was no other since then." He finally sighed deeply. "If we could maybe change the topic, I'd appreciate that." Ariaen nodded, but they didn't. None of them came up with something else and a few minutes later Valen got up. "I'll go now, my Lady. There's a tough day lying ahead of us." Ariaen wanted to say something to hold him back, but couldn't come up with the right words. When she eventually opened her mouth, he had already wished her a good night and turned around. "Good night", she muttered.

"Ariaen Pathfinder", a well-known, smug voice raised her from her musing. "There you are again. Did you think about my offer? Are you ready to kill my mother, so I can become the head of the House of Maeviir?" Ariaen winced back when she was reminded on this subject again. Her face showed disgust. "I…I don't think so. I don't think I could become part of such a horrible crime." Zesyyr curled her lips she couldn't fully hide the disappointment and aversion she felt herself, any longer. "Come back if you changed your mind", she snatched and turned on her heels. Ariaen suddenly felt the need to leave this place. She grapped the Forever leaning next to her on the table and without a word towards Nathyrra went back to the temple.

She sneaked up the stairs to the quarters. When she was passing Valen's door she stopped for a moment, harking. She concentrated hard, but couldn't hear any sound coming from the room behind the door. Sighing, she went on, entered her room, got undressed and into her bed.

This night Ariaen had strange dreams. In the first one she was a female marten caring for several offspring. She cared for their life and protection. One day when they were far away from their mould, one of her offspring hurt its foot and was not able to run any more. So, she buried her teeth in its warm flesh and killed it. Only moments later a big boar detected them. Together with her remaining offspring she ran for their hide-out. The boar chased them hard, but they were faster and so made it to the hole, before it could catch only one of them.

The second dream Ariaen didn't took part in, but rather watched a pack of wolves from an outside perspective like in a movie. The pack had been encircled and already decreased in number by a group of hunters. The Alpha dog was old and weak and could not come to a proper decision. There one of his offspring challenged and killed him. The offspring was young and strong. It took the loss of a few more pack members, but with power and determination managed to break through the hunter's circle and rescued the last of its pack.

Ariaen awoke breathing heavily. Sweat stood on her forehead. She didn't hesitate long, but stepped out of her bed and got dressed. When she came down to the temple, Valen and Nathyrra were already waiting. They both frowned at the determined look in her face. "Do you feel quite well, Ariaen?" Nathyrra asked. "Are you ready to leave?" Ariaen shook her head. "I have to do something before we leave, but…," she looked at her companions. "I would rather have you with me."

Few minutes later they were back in the tavern. Ariaen didn't wait for Zesyyr to state her offer again, but cut her words. "What do I have to do?" Zesyyr raised one eyebrow feeling insulted and impressed at one time. She explained Ariaen how she would be able to get close to her mother. In the end she gave her a ring that would mark her as accomplice for the guards. Ariaen nodded and left the tavern to go straight to the house of Maeviir, when she felt Valen's hand closing around her arm in a firmly grip. His eyes were narrowed and his face showed disgust. "In my veins flows the infernal blood of a demon, but the deeds the Drow are ready for still lets it freeze from time to time. Are you sure about what you are doing, Ariaen?" Nathyrra's gaze showed the same worries. Ariaen broke free from his grip. "I don't like it either, but…" She remembered her dreams. She was sure that's what they wanted to tell her. Sometimes you have to kill one in order to rescue the rest. "But I'm certain that this is the right, no, the only way." Her companions nodded and they continued their mission.

It wasn't very difficult to kill Zesyyr's mother, but the blood still left a stain on Ariaen's hands.