Those Who Came to Help
Lodo Ben'Arris Celetide walked around the slums of Myth Fredaine with passing interest. He wondered why he agreed to come to this cursed place. He cursed at himself for letting Thelvin Battlehammer, Brunor's nephew, for talking him into this. Worse, Tharos, the Orc priest of Selune and, Tessirak, his Githzerai friend had agreed with Thelvin. On top of that, they had to bring that female sun elf, Katla. Katla was not all that bad, but Solonund Brasher followed her everywhere she went like a lost puppy. He hated Solonund, and had for years.
"What are you thinking about, Lodo?" Kunne asked.
"That I should have remained king of Brenvar. It was boring, but at least I could keep myself out of trouble."
"Thank you and your party of adventurers for coming to aid our cause. This is the first time the resistance movement has made any headway against the emperor or the black wizards. I hope you know how much of a godsend you really are."
"Thanks, Kunne. I am glad to help."
Kunne was the son of the former leader of the resistance. His mother, a sun elf bard, came here from Raven's Bluff to the north. Like most adventurers that wandered into this place, she had come to seek her fortune. Instead, she found herself trapped. Kunne's mother had been repeatedly raped during a ritual to honor the goddess Fredaine. Kunne was the result of that rape. Kunne's only link to the one who impregnated his mother is his dark features and silver hair.
"So, Lodo, when do you want to go see the old hag at the tavern?"
"As soon as possible. If she does know more about the Ancient Captive than anyone, her wisdom will be a great help."
"Lodo, I have been meaning to ask you something."
"Shoot."
"Huh?"
"Sorry, it's a term used in Sigil for go ahead and ask."
"Um, alright. Well, it is about Lady Wisteria."
"She's not married."
"No, no, no. Not that. Why is she so sullen? She is a chosen of Corellon, and a master of the sword, from what I have seen. She is rich. She is from a very powerful and prestigious family. She has a handsome suitor who will bend over backwards to please her. She seems to have everything."
"Oh, that. First, Solonund is not her suitor, he is her servant. Money doesn't make you happy. And her family, well, that part is complicated."
"Do tell."
"You are not going to compose a ballad about this are you? That would make her thoroughly livid.
"No, it is just I have never seen someone so depressed in my life. Even here, where all hope is lost, I have never seen anyone so sad as she is."
"It has to do with her family, and the embarrassing situation she was put into."
"Would you prefer I ask her myself?"
"You wouldn't get anywhere. She is not one to talk. In that respect, she is the least womanly woman I have ever met."
"I see."
"Since you're curious, and I love to make her angry, I will tell you what I know. First, her family is a branch off of the Durothil house. A member of that house murdered the King of Evermeet."
"Durothil! Are my ears hearing correctly?"
"Yes, she is of the Durothils."
"This puts her in an awkward situation here."
"What do you mean?"
"The emperor, Kirisatt, he is a Durothil."
"Interesting. That gives me another wild card."
"You think she would be up to challenging the emperor for the throne?"
"No. As you say, she is too embarrassed and depressed.
"There's more than just being a Durothil that depresses her?" Kunne asked.
"Correct. She was charged to protect her childhood friend and sometimes lover, Prince Iasa Straan. He was a distant cousin of hers, also a Durothil, and a half-nephew of the one who killed King Zaor. He was the heir apparent to a large keep. The keep was where Iasa's family exiled themselves after the family embarrassment. Iasa, not unlike myself, was not suited to become king of the keep. He preferred adventure and travel too much. While adventuring, Iasa and Katla got separated. I assisted her to help find him. I liked Iasa. He was a good kid."
"What happened?"
"He was imprisoned in an illithid prison. They tried to turn him into an illithid. When he resisted, they killed him. Katla still has not forgiven herself for letting him out of her sight."
"That is pretty bad."
"It gets worse, do you want to hear?"
"Of course. I always love a juicy story."
"When Katla and Iasa were very young, they had an illegitimate child. Because they were both so prone to wandering, Iasa's father had the child taken away, and adopted him as his own. Neither Iasa or Katla had any say. Onaagran Straan needed another heir in case Iasa did not want to rule the keep, and he did not want the child to learn the wandering ways of his parents."
"That is horrible!"
"Just before we came here, Kelarin, Katla's son turned 100. Per tradition of his family, he announced his intended bride at his birthday party. He had no knowledge that he had been adopted. So guess who he names as the one he wanted to marry?"
"Katla."
"Yes. Onaagron flew into a rage and nearly killed Katla for 'seducing her own son.' Kelarin was in shock over the whole mess. He was upset that he was never told his true parentage. Worse, he was distraught because his father, that he never knew as his father, was dead. Katla was banished from her home for a year. She is embarrassed, hurt, and betrayed."
"And I thought my life was rough." Kunne replied.
"I really did not want to bring her here, but she had the magic item that allowed us to enter the Mythal, so I did not have much of a choice. She is a loose cannon. Personally, I suspect she came here to get herself killed. When I was much younger, I was embarrassed and banished. I know how she feels."
"I hope you are wrong, Lodo, about her wanting to commit suicide. She would make an excellent empress. "
" Yeah." Lodo replied sarcastically.
**********
Thank you for all of the reviews. they have been very helpful!
Please review
Lodo Ben'Arris Celetide walked around the slums of Myth Fredaine with passing interest. He wondered why he agreed to come to this cursed place. He cursed at himself for letting Thelvin Battlehammer, Brunor's nephew, for talking him into this. Worse, Tharos, the Orc priest of Selune and, Tessirak, his Githzerai friend had agreed with Thelvin. On top of that, they had to bring that female sun elf, Katla. Katla was not all that bad, but Solonund Brasher followed her everywhere she went like a lost puppy. He hated Solonund, and had for years.
"What are you thinking about, Lodo?" Kunne asked.
"That I should have remained king of Brenvar. It was boring, but at least I could keep myself out of trouble."
"Thank you and your party of adventurers for coming to aid our cause. This is the first time the resistance movement has made any headway against the emperor or the black wizards. I hope you know how much of a godsend you really are."
"Thanks, Kunne. I am glad to help."
Kunne was the son of the former leader of the resistance. His mother, a sun elf bard, came here from Raven's Bluff to the north. Like most adventurers that wandered into this place, she had come to seek her fortune. Instead, she found herself trapped. Kunne's mother had been repeatedly raped during a ritual to honor the goddess Fredaine. Kunne was the result of that rape. Kunne's only link to the one who impregnated his mother is his dark features and silver hair.
"So, Lodo, when do you want to go see the old hag at the tavern?"
"As soon as possible. If she does know more about the Ancient Captive than anyone, her wisdom will be a great help."
"Lodo, I have been meaning to ask you something."
"Shoot."
"Huh?"
"Sorry, it's a term used in Sigil for go ahead and ask."
"Um, alright. Well, it is about Lady Wisteria."
"She's not married."
"No, no, no. Not that. Why is she so sullen? She is a chosen of Corellon, and a master of the sword, from what I have seen. She is rich. She is from a very powerful and prestigious family. She has a handsome suitor who will bend over backwards to please her. She seems to have everything."
"Oh, that. First, Solonund is not her suitor, he is her servant. Money doesn't make you happy. And her family, well, that part is complicated."
"Do tell."
"You are not going to compose a ballad about this are you? That would make her thoroughly livid.
"No, it is just I have never seen someone so depressed in my life. Even here, where all hope is lost, I have never seen anyone so sad as she is."
"It has to do with her family, and the embarrassing situation she was put into."
"Would you prefer I ask her myself?"
"You wouldn't get anywhere. She is not one to talk. In that respect, she is the least womanly woman I have ever met."
"I see."
"Since you're curious, and I love to make her angry, I will tell you what I know. First, her family is a branch off of the Durothil house. A member of that house murdered the King of Evermeet."
"Durothil! Are my ears hearing correctly?"
"Yes, she is of the Durothils."
"This puts her in an awkward situation here."
"What do you mean?"
"The emperor, Kirisatt, he is a Durothil."
"Interesting. That gives me another wild card."
"You think she would be up to challenging the emperor for the throne?"
"No. As you say, she is too embarrassed and depressed.
"There's more than just being a Durothil that depresses her?" Kunne asked.
"Correct. She was charged to protect her childhood friend and sometimes lover, Prince Iasa Straan. He was a distant cousin of hers, also a Durothil, and a half-nephew of the one who killed King Zaor. He was the heir apparent to a large keep. The keep was where Iasa's family exiled themselves after the family embarrassment. Iasa, not unlike myself, was not suited to become king of the keep. He preferred adventure and travel too much. While adventuring, Iasa and Katla got separated. I assisted her to help find him. I liked Iasa. He was a good kid."
"What happened?"
"He was imprisoned in an illithid prison. They tried to turn him into an illithid. When he resisted, they killed him. Katla still has not forgiven herself for letting him out of her sight."
"That is pretty bad."
"It gets worse, do you want to hear?"
"Of course. I always love a juicy story."
"When Katla and Iasa were very young, they had an illegitimate child. Because they were both so prone to wandering, Iasa's father had the child taken away, and adopted him as his own. Neither Iasa or Katla had any say. Onaagran Straan needed another heir in case Iasa did not want to rule the keep, and he did not want the child to learn the wandering ways of his parents."
"That is horrible!"
"Just before we came here, Kelarin, Katla's son turned 100. Per tradition of his family, he announced his intended bride at his birthday party. He had no knowledge that he had been adopted. So guess who he names as the one he wanted to marry?"
"Katla."
"Yes. Onaagron flew into a rage and nearly killed Katla for 'seducing her own son.' Kelarin was in shock over the whole mess. He was upset that he was never told his true parentage. Worse, he was distraught because his father, that he never knew as his father, was dead. Katla was banished from her home for a year. She is embarrassed, hurt, and betrayed."
"And I thought my life was rough." Kunne replied.
"I really did not want to bring her here, but she had the magic item that allowed us to enter the Mythal, so I did not have much of a choice. She is a loose cannon. Personally, I suspect she came here to get herself killed. When I was much younger, I was embarrassed and banished. I know how she feels."
"I hope you are wrong, Lodo, about her wanting to commit suicide. She would make an excellent empress. "
" Yeah." Lodo replied sarcastically.
**********
Thank you for all of the reviews. they have been very helpful!
Please review
