Forgotten Realms:
Angels and Demons
Part LV
Jaslyn the Succubus looked into the window of new life brought into the world. Little baby Kennison came with a surprise, a twin. She felt something small inside, something that hurt and elated at the same time. Boy and girl, two babies so small and weak. Yet, she could see their potential. Together they would be a force to be reckoned with, but it was also very, very wrong.
She had been wrong, having thought that the Kennison's had carried the Liberator. Yet, prophecy was very clear on this, the liberator was just one being. Everything led to the Kennisons as the source, their spawn to be this savior. If her research was wrong, what else had been wrong? It wasn't like she had done this alone, she had used scholars across the realm for this job.
She had been deceived, mislead and she wondered why? The answer was obvious of course. She had been an agent for Evil, and whomever was protecting the Liberator was obviously not above using deception. If her pride didn't sting so much, she would have been impressed. It wasn't easy to fool her, much less with the veracity to mislead her old boss.
Her minder nudged her forward. Though she had vowed, the wizard had rightly hadn't trusted her. Mortals were always surprised when a demon or devil found wiggle room in a deal, and for the first few days she had looked. However, the idea seemed to diminish over time.
Here she was relatively safe, and beyond advising the wizard, her duties were light. They gave her good food to eat, and when her urges became unbearable, wicked people to feed off of. In fact, she started to feel something that she really didn't expect. Jaslynn began to feel a connection to these people. Well, Lord Wallace, wizard Bruce and the rest of the castle staff. Even the holy priests and paladins that served as her guards and jailers.
She returned to her room in the castle, and back to her natural form. Her horn had regrown, but the stubs still itched as her wings had yet to regrow. She sat down, pulling a book off her bookshelf. This was a series of collected stories, gathered and reconstituted by a bard, using laborious, meticulous research. Strangely, she found them soothing, even though most were about the goodly races stopping those like her.
As she read, a single tear ran down her face. The story was of a hero leaving behind their loved one, to seal a great evil from the world. This evil was beyond the world known by all, and so alien to be unknowable. Greater than Evil, this thing, being, was so terrible and corrupted all that came in touch with it.
A blinding light appeared in her peripheral vision, and she launched herself up. Despite herself, she held the book behind her, protecting it. Before she would have chucked it at the intruder, before launching onto whomever was there. Instead, she held on tightly and the brightly glowing figure seemed curious. It, though it looked like a man, cocked its head before turning back to face her. Nodding, it winked out of existence, leaving her alone and confused.
She sat the book down, thinking of alerting the guards outside her chambers. Yet, something caught her eye. The text had changed in her book, something had been added to the end of the story. Jaslynn ran her finger across the new print, feeling heat still rising from the new print.
The Liberator reached across time and space, fought back the Eldritch horrors. Where the Eldritch Abominations corrupt all, the Liberator cleansed all. More than a deity, the Liberator was the opposite of these monsters, and with him was the Inspirer. Together they locked the unknowable things away.
Jaslynn felt something electric run up her spine, and felt the equivalent of gooseflesh. The new words, and this addition of this "Inspirer" added something that she was missing. As she looked further, there was one more clue that at first she had missed. She rushed to the door of her chambers, the book laying open. The new image was one of a winged figure locked in combat with a monstrous tentacled figure.
Kirann was in the middle of the universe again. The pulse of everything, the rhythm of creation playing in his head. Back with his body, his new wife practiced her music. Her form of the meditation he practiced. In her practice, her mind and soul saw the notes, and in each note a new world blossomed. Universes formed with each plucked string and voiced note. He was aware of her there, and of everything else as well.
He had hoped to find a small shred of information on Al. He couldn't believe his mentor was gone. He had thought that maybe the angel had been scattered across creation, and maybe he could help him reform. Yet, there was no sign of him, so Kirann searched onward through everything.
Raven's song poured through his meditation and the ripples moved across the universe. He saw the waves wrap around worlds, reflect off and be changed ever so slightly. It was in this that he found his answer. Watching her song wash over the worlds, he found one spot where they just simply disappeared.
He moved toward it, and as he got closer, he saw darkness with tiny specks of light erupting through. Camouflaged against the starfield, it was no wonder he hadn't been able to see it before. As he got closer, he could see movement inside the blackness. One lone warrior being set upon by a horde of nasty things, full of teeth and claws. Closer still, he recognized the warrior.
"Al!" he screamed.
The warrior slammed another dark form down, and looked up, "Kid, is that you?!"
"Let me help you," Kirann said, preparing himself to fight.
Al smiled, "You can't help me here, kid. Live your life, I'm not sure how long I can hold them. I'm sorry, but they will return again."
"How long?" Kirann asked, concern knitting his brow.
"A decade at best," Al said. "I know better than to tell you to stay away. I will beg you to not come back. This is a fight for the gods, not for mortals."
With a blast, Al sent Kirann back into his body and the monk cried out in surprise. Raven, beside him felt a power snap, and her head hurt. She went over to him, thinking Kirann was hurt. He gave her a quick hug, letting her know that he was okay.
"If the Heavens won't give us an army," he said resolutely, "We'll raise one here on Faerun."
Early the next morning, the Challengers left for Altamar. Lord Wallace was waiting on them, beside him was Jaslynn the Succubus and Bruce the Wizard. Soon riders were sent out to surrounding areas. Over the next few days the leaders of Wyvern's Rest and Tyranfal came at the call of Lord Wallace. Curiously representatives from the druid conclave and the Sun's Edge Monastery came as well, even though not expressly invited.
"Greetings, all," Lord Wallace called them all together in his audience chamber. "A special friend has come to us, with knowledge of a threat that will return to our realm."
The conference lasted for a full week, with no hammered out deal for cooperation. There had been many casualties with the attacks by the Orcish Hordes, Demon invaders and the attacks by the Masters of Horus. Even Altamar was not prepared for another fight, as it would take time to replenish their ranks. Ten years sounded like a lot, but even that long, things would be too tenuous. So, they ended with nothing to give to Kirann.
Grand Master Ming-Wa though had a message for Kirann, "Remains my offer does. When the demons return, our might you'll have."
He thanked her, and then went to look out on the battlements. The setting sun on that day warmed his face and he looked for guidance. He knew what he had to do, what he would do. He couldn't ask his people to follow him, and ten years was a long time. It would be improper to hold them to any vows, especially on something that was quickly turning into suicide quest.
"We'll figure something out," Raven said as she came up beside him. "It is beautiful isn't it?"
He smiled, "Sunrises and sunsets are reminders of change. A cycle that renews itself every day."
"I'm here for you," she said. "You won't face this alone."
He turned to her, "I know. Let's enjoy our time, then."
A decade passes, and people move on their paths. Some stay together, others drift apart. So, the same goes for the Challengers. Each one splitting for their own paths, their own adventures. Those that were longer lived barely aged, while those with human life spans aged accordingly. The day quickly moved forward, the day when the return would come to that small mountain village.
Val ended up with her wish of traveling the high seas. Taking up with a bunch of Privateers, they took many missions hunting down pirates and other threats. Soon, she took over for the captain, who retired, and became beloved by her crew. Her sign to return was a bright flash in the sky, and a memory of her good friends in need.
Lorinda ended up taking up the duties of Arch Druid, and reinforced the ties with the monastery nearby. She never truly became comfortable with people constantly seeking her out for wisdom and guidance. However, she slowly grew into her new role and became the leader her friend always knew she was capable of. A vision of blight come for her enclave would send her to find Kirann.
Walton finished his sentence, before taking the posting Lord Wallace had given him. He and Angelique had three children in those years. The headstrong paladin, turned into wise warrior, found himself adapting to fatherhood. Despite his fears, he took to it like a duck to water.
He built up the fort as was his mission and strengthened the forces along the border. As his children grew, they visited their father training his troops. Their mother administered to the spiritual needs of the village nearby, as well as the troops of the fort. The paladin of Tyr found himself at peace and loving his life.
That was till he received a vision of his old band, one where they were in danger. He knew he had to go to them, for Tyr had blessed him with this vision. However, it was bittersweet, as he knew it was a good possibility that he wouldn't return. How he would trade anything for the remainder of his days with his children. Yet, if he did not go, he wouldn't be the man they looked up to. So, he packed up and headed for Altamar.
Leilani rode across the land. Wind whipping in her hair, she had a permanent smile on her face. The Drow Sorceress galloped on her steed, letting the pleasure of riding take her. She and Raven were set to go over some new books that the bard had ordered. They were due to be delivered today, but she had sometime before Raven returned from the town.
For the first year after their marriage, Leilani had traveled, letting Raven and Kirann have some alone time. When she returned, she and the wizard, Bruce Robertson had worked with the couple to make a bridge. This bridge spanned from the world to the plan where Kirann's mansion was. A homey cottage now stood as the entrance, and one door would open to the mansion's grounds.
Lightning split the sky, and Leilani quickly turned her steed around. She galloped towards the small cottage, hoping to avoid getting caught in the rain. Despite all her power, it would be very embarrassing to catch a cold. Especially in front of Kirann's students.
As she rode by, she saw the students of his martial arts school head indoors. Having been built by workers from Wyvern's Rest and Altamar, with some supplied provided by Tyranfal. The school could hold ten people easily, and training grounds has been cleared by his first students. A meeting place, thankfully roofed, sat behind the dormitory. Here Kirann would hold classes, as well as have his students practice.
She noticed that a good majority were meditating under the roofed meeting place, and only one waved as she went by. That wasn't unusual, as most of the time they were too lost in their meditations to see her. They all accepted her, which was nice. She had briefly wondered if Kirann made it a requirement, or drilled into their heads that she was a friend. Either way, it was nice to have a place to belong.
She entered the tiny cottage, going through the special door. Opening up into the courtyard of Kirann's manor, she was met with one of the stable hands. She went inside to find her friends, and was stunned when the atmosphere was so subdued. Seeking out her monk friend, she found him looking pensive. He turned as she came into the room, and she could tell something was wrong. He turned to look at the hallway that led to the bedrooms near the master bedroom.
"It is time," he said softly. "Raven knows."
"They are about to return?" Leilani asked, already knowing the answer. She just had to hear him say it.
"Yes," he said. "I will be going."
"Not alone you won't!" came Raven's voice as she marched into the room. Beneath her arm were the books she had ordered. "We'll face this evil together, as we have met every challenge."
Leilani didn't feel brave, but knew she had to go with her friends, "I'm in. I had hoped this day would never come."
Kirann nodded, "We all did."
"What about help from Tyranfal or Altamar?" Leilani asked.
Raven sighed, "We never got their promise. You don't need to come, this may end badly."
"No, you're family, and you've taught me we don't run when family is in need," Leilani replied, both terrified and sure this was where she needed to be.
Preparations were made quickly. Kirann left his most advanced student in charge while he was gone. Most of the students would be fine till he returned, and they had instructions to head towards Sun's Edge Monastery if he was gone longer than a few weeks. This wasn't the first time he had left his school, so none of his students thought anything of it. Not even with the somber farewells that were given.
