Chapter 15

Ryltar

I had been standing on a hill overlooking Port Last for over five hours now. I had a perfect view of the barracks and could see anyone entering or leaving the building. As well as being able to see anyone entering or leaving Port Last on three sides. My thoughts started to drift to what Aribeth had said several hours eariler when she had given Linu and I her ring.

"Thank you, my friends. It... it is all I can think of to silence the dreams. I must do something, and to have you help me brings me great relief." Aribeth moved back a step and removed a ring from her finger. "You both have been fine friends, please both of you take this. It is a ring that belonged to my father. I want you to have it. Let it symbolize our friendship. Perhaps if... something were to happen to me... it would remind you both of me in days to come..." Her words troubled me. I had accepted her ring, part of me felt guilty taking something that meant' so much to Aribeth. It was her father's ring, she never would forgive me or Linu if something happened to it. But I got the feeling that I should hang on to it, for what reason I wasn't sure. I once again scanned the area around Port Last. Not seeing anyone but the few guards around the barracks I nodded with satisfaction. I hoped that my suspcions about Aribeht hiding something were true. I did not want to have to hurt her. I suddenly started to feel dizzy and tired. I steadied myself on a nearby rock but only felt more tired. After several minutes of fighting the sleepness I fell asleep.

I awoke in what looked like the Spirits Realm, I looked to my left and say the Spirit standing there. I slowly stood up and the Spirit spoke to me. "Be at peace Ryltar. Warrior of nature and carrier of hope."

I steadied myself once more and said. "Spirit what is it you wish of me? I'm most concerned for my friend Aribeth. I was keeping a watch on her when you brought me here."

"I have brought you here to show you something. I am going to give you a glimpse into Aribeth's dreams. She is under attack by the one you call Maugrim. I feel that with your help she may overcome this attack. Consider it a "favor" as you races call it, for saving me." The spirit said to me.

"I understand Spirit. I am grateful for your help. But you don't owe me anything." I said.

"I know Ryltar. Prepare yourself. Be warned however. Marugrim will try to trick both you and Aribeth with false images. She is even as we speak being assualted by an image of you not caring for her. Find a way to convince her of your true nature. Are you ready?" The Spirit asked me.

"I am." I said readying myself for anything.

"A final word of word of warning your time in this dream state will only last so long." The spirit told me. A flash of light surrounded me then and I found myself inside what i assumed was Aribeth's mind. Sorrow and doubt were all about me. Off to my right I saw a darker version of myself beratting Aribeth.

"Why do you do this Ryltar? You and Linu said you would stand by me! Why do you now refruit that claim." Aribeth said to my twin.

"You are a fool Aribeth. Did you honestly..." My evil twin started. I had caught him off guard and unarmed as I attacked him. In short order I had him pinned beneath me. This image of myself was neither as strong or fast as I was. And soon gave up on fighting me. I noticed that I had a faint bluish glow about me. I looked at Aribeth who looked at both of us in confusion. "What... What? Is going on here?" Aribeth said.

"Aribeth. Listen to me, I don't have much time. This is all a mental attack, made by Maugrim, the leader of the cult in Luskan." I said quickly not knowing how much time I had.

"Attack? I... I don't understand. How do I know your even real! How would you be able to get in my mind? And... and you and Linu said you didn't care what happened to me anymore. Its' all a lie. You said. How do I know what you say is true?" Aribeth said to me.

My clone benath me disappeared and i quickly looked around not seeing it. I stood up. "Aribeth, listen to me. Those were all illusions sent by Maugrim. For what reason I do not know. But I am real. I got here through the Spirit of the Woods, power. But I don't have much time. Please believe me. I am currently overlooing Port Last. I'm watching out for you and Linu. Don't give up on yourself. Linu and I ARE here for you." I said. I started to feel my grip on her dreams start to faid as my time started to expire. "Aribeth listen to me wake up. WAKE UP AND GO TO LINU. I'll be there soon..." My voice trailed off. As the dream world disappeared and I woke up.

"Aribeth..." I said out loud realizng I hadn't completley convinced her of my true nature. I got up and hurried down in to Port Last.

End Ryltar

Linu

I was awoken by someone shaking me. My hand edged over to my mace ignoring the voice who I couldn't make out in my half sleep state. I swung my mace forward and felt a resounding crack on what I hoped was the intruders skull rolling out of bed I said. "Foul creature..." I stopped realizing I had just smacked Ryltar on the head with my mace. He wasn't bleeding but he had a siziable bump forming on it. "Ouch that's going to leave a mark." Ryltar said rubbing his head. "Good Linu your awake quickly get your gear ready we have to leave for Port Last right away."

"What! Why?" I said quickly getting dressed putting off the aplogy for now senseing the urgentcy in Ryltar's voice.

"It's Aribeth. She's gone. Most likely to Luskan." Ryltar said throwing me the note. He told me he had found it on Aribeth's bed. He also informed me about what the Spirit did. But how Maugrim had been expecting something like this and tricked Ryltar into thinking that who he talked to was Aribeth. Seemed it to was an illusion. I read over the note.

Dear Ryltar and Linu,

You both have been fine friends. You've both brought me peace since... Fenthick's death. I must do something, what I do not know. I say ahead of time, please forgive me for not telling you in advance of me leaving the town. What I have decided to do, is the only thing that will bring me peace.

Yours,

Aribeth.

She had signed it with her stamping at the bottom. The paper seemed sparkled with what I assuemd were dried tears. She obviously was hiding something from us last we spoke. "I hope what she means about deciding to do something, is her decision to try to find this cult and bring it to justice herself." I said.

"I hope your correct Linu. But something tells me we should hurry regardless. Aribeth will need our help if that is what she is doing." Ryltar said placing a few throwing daggers in his belt and boot. He was obviously preparing for a major fight. I only hoped it would be enough.

"What if it's something else?" I asked.

"Like what?" Ryltar said.

"I'm not sure. But what if she's been tricked or something by this cult to hurt people, dear. What will we do?" I asked.

He pulled off the ring on his finger and gave it to me. "Than while I distract her and disarm her. Show her this ring. It'll hopefully prove to her we mean what we say." Ryltar said handing me to me.

I nodded. "Then let's hurry dear. Maybe we can catch up with her." I said.

"I hope your right Linu." Ryltar said he gave me a quick kiss and we left a quick note on Arien Gend's door explaining what had happened, and that we would meet him in Port Last.

End Linu

Aribeth

I was walking inside the Luskan gate, when I thought back on my latest dream. Unlike all the others, there had been a sense of peace to it. Instead of misery and depression. I felt, peace, and happiness. A shadowy figure approached me in the dream and offered me the chance to see Fenthick alive once more. I quickly accepted and was told to journey to Luskan and arrive at the Host Tower located there. I was now twenty feet from the bridge that would lead me there. I was anxious to see Fenthick alive once more, and regardless of the price I had to pay, I would accept, if just to see the one I truly loved once more.

End Aribeth

Ryltar

Linu and I had reached Luskan around four hours after sun rise. (A/N: that's like ten o'clock if you start at 6) I "convinced" the guard who was guarding the gate to let us in. After a long street fight with several shapeshifters we reached the temple of Tyr. I chose to stop here because I hoped that Aribeth would be there. Linu and I ran up the steps and opened the door.

"Ryltar! It is good you are here. I got your message, using the Neverwinter mages, we teleported the whole condigent of people to this Temple. Have you found the Lady Aribeth?" Arain Gend said to us.

"I'm afraid not. I had hoped she would be here. But from your words I am guessing not. I had picked up her foot trail and it lead as far as the gates of Luskan. The gurad there reported she entered but did not leave. With all the tracks made from the were creatures out there I lost her trail. However I plan on entering the Host Tower, with Linu. Somethin tells me we will mind Aribeth there. Or failing that we'll find this Maugrim." I said to Arain. I motioned to Linu to follow me. Arain seemed about to say something but stayed silent. As Linu and I left the Temple of Tyr, several bolts of lightening hit the Host Tower. I whispered to Linu. "We must move quickly something tells me. We don't have much time." Linu nodded to me silently as we rushed to the bridge.

Twenty minutes later Linu and I had forced our way into the Host Tower. We had to trick several guards into believing we were ambassoders, and that we had lost our passes. It worked. However as soon as we enterd our cover was blown and we were in a desperate fight. After several minutes of fighting everyone was dead. Including several golems. We located Aribeth's journal along with a magical rock of some sort. It wa a key to using the teleportation portal in the next room. I looked through the most recent entry of Aribeth's journal. It read.

"Maugrim has assigned me quarters with the other ambassadors, though I don't know for how long. He tells me only that he serves a greater power, and hints that I will come to revere this being far more than I ever did Tyr. He also says that by serving him and this greater power I will once more be with Fenthick, my love.

"I do not know if that is true. I am not sure of anything anymore except that I have Fallen. Fallen out of love with my lord, my people and my God. I am alone in a world where there is no justice and no hope and I cannot... I cannot get these thoughts out of my mind. Even with the help Linu and Ryltar have given me through these past weeks. It is not enough. The dreams plague me. They burn my every waking moment and whisper to me in my dreams. I shall go mad, I think, if I am not mad already. To do the wrong thing seems far better, however, than to do nothing at all. I am on this path now, and it goes only forward... perhaps at its end I shall find my own justice and the dreams will stop.

"I can only hope."

I closed the journal trying to comprehend what it meant. I showed it to Linu who also looked it over.

"She's either mad from these dreams. Or else she's being controled by Maugrim and this greater power which the journal mentions." I said to Linu.

"What do you think they have planned for her, dear?" Linu asked me closing the journal.

"I'm not sure." I said pulling out both of my scimitars once more and spinning them to losen my muscles. "But I do know we'll try everything we can to stop it."

Linu nodded. "Then let's get to work, dear." Linu said pulling out her mace once more.

Six hours later, Linu and I were at the top of the Host Tower. It was dark and gloomy. I quickly surveyed the area, running down I saw a body however, that was not important to me at the moment. With Linu at my side I saw Aribeth. A sickly looking man, who seemed to radiate magiacl essence. Several lizardpeople and a powerful looking female lizardwomen who seemed aged beyond reason.

I ran up to the gate and shock it with all my might. It was locked and would not budge to my movements. Slammed my weight against the gate several times as the scene unfolded before Linu and me.

"You are welcome in my service, paladin. I have awaited your arrival with great anticipation." The female lizardperson said.

The man who I assumed was Maugrim spoke then. "Do you renounce your false god of justice, Aribeth de Tylmarande? Do you renounce your god, your lord and your people who have betrayed you? Do you wish to see your true love once more?"

"I... I do." Aribeth said.

"Will you lead our glorious army in the name of your new mistress?" the man said.

"I will. I will lead them." Aribeth said anger filling her voice. I wasn't about to allow her to damn herself for being tricked. Backing up I took a running leap and jumped over the lowest part of the gate. Landing on the other side I yelled. "ARIBETH! STOP!" Linu looked at my jump in awe. I knew there was no way she could make it to me, so I was on my own. Luckily she pulled our her crossbow and readied it.

Marugrim continued his speech ignoring me. Aribeth mustn't have been able to hear me over the roar of the wind. I quickly dispatched the few lizardmen that were in the area as they attacked me as Maugrim spoke. "Then be the terrifying blackguard of our mistress Morag that you were meant to be!"

I reached Aribeth just as a spell touched her. The effect threw me back, and Aribeth turned around to finally see me. Her once stunning plate amour was not a night black. I could sense the evil and magic radiating off of it. Her face once cheerful and joyous was now grim and full of hate and anger. She pulled out her sword, and said. "I shall! Neverwinter will fall before our might! And I will start with this drow." She swung her long sword down in a quick movement. Much quicker then she normaly was. I rolled out of the way and stood up backing up. "ARIBETH! IT'S RYLTAR! Listen to me damnit. Your being controlled by the cult. THE ONE YOU MADE ME PROMISE TO YOU LINU AND I WOULD BRING TO JUSTICE. Stop this madness now, before you do something you regret." I said knocking back Aribeth's attacks. Linu used her crossbow to take out the lizardmen who had teleported in when the female lizard teleported away. Maugrim was standnig back and enjoying the show.

"No! Your wrong foolish drow! I know of your true nature. You and that whore elf Linu tricked me into thinking you had my best intrest at heart. YOU LIED!" Aribeth yelled as she knocked aside one of my scimitars. It flew from my hand and skidded onto the other side of the gate barrier. Gripped my lone scimitar in both hands now readying myself for her next attack. "YOU LIED! Used me for your own evil ends. This "cult" as you call it is the way of the future. It will allow me to see my beloved Fenthick once more. Your wrong when you say I'm being controlled. I'm more in control of my own mind now then I ever have been. YOU'VE JUST HELD ME BACK!" Aribeth once more yelled. She brought up her foot and kicked me in my left kneecap. I felt it break and fell to one knee. Barely able to get my scimitar up to block her attack at my head. "STOP! Aribeth, there will be time for your vengence later. Much planning needs to be done. Leave this foolish drow to me." Maugrim said to Aribeth. Seeing that I was in no state to continue the fight she backed off from me slowly. She whisper so only I could hear. "If you survive drow. Your life will be mine." Maugrim then teleported her away to some unknown location. Linu readied her crossbow to shoot him but he quickly cast a hold spell on both of us.

He leaned down to my eye level glancing over at Linu who was magical held solid. He stared at me. "I must say I'm impressed with your abilities, drow. Few could have gotten to this point. I offer you a choice, " He said a few waves of his hand later and Linu's still held form was teleported in front of me. "Join us. Fight for our cause, and I will spare the elven woman's life." He glanced at Linu and again cast some sort of spell Linu's head moved as well as her neck. He grasped her neck and started to squeeze. "Refuse my offer... and she dies. You have... two minutes to decide."

I felt my head released from the spell and I was able to speak. I was torn. Keep Linu alive, and serve this cult, or allow Linu to die, and stop whatever it was that Maugrim and this female reptile had planned? "What shall I do! By the Spirit! For once in my life I don't know what to do!" I screamed mentally. I saw Maugrim tighten his grip on Linu's neck and she started turning blue from a lack of air. "One minute left drow. However, I' m not so sure she has that long." Maugrim said.

"Relase you power, Ryltar." A mysterious voice said to me in my head.

"What? Who said that?" I said.

"You are the chossen one, who will save this world. Force your emotions into a burst of energy. Break this spell, save Linu and stop this cult's evil plans." the voice instructed me.

"Choosen one?" I echoed.

"Five-teen seconds, drow." Maugrim said. I looked at Linu a pleading face said. "Don't do it. Don't agree to his choice. Stop him."

Anger flooded through me and I felt the spell weaken around me. A bluish glow surrouned me and I felt myself get stronger, faster, and tougher. My muscles increased in size, and I felt my bones harden. This all happened in an instant. "I choose, choice three... KICKING YOUR ASS!" I said breaking free of the spell's hold and rushing Maugrim. My impact forced him to drop Linu. I forced him back using only my fists to attack him. I left deep dents in is Half-Plate amour. Even magical enhanced the metal gave way to my fists. Pain wasn't even registered when Maugrim slipped out from underneath me and shot a quick fireball and lightenign spell at me. Both just fell away under the bluish glow that surrounded me. "What are you!" Maugrim yelled backing away from me.

"I'm the guy that's going to make you wish you never were born." I shot across the top of the Host Tower, closing the twenty foot gap that had been made between us, faster then I could comprehend. My left and right fists pummeled into his face and chest. Sending Maugrim flying back against a stone pillar. He slowly got up. Just as I was about to attack him again he teleported away. In his place was a hazy image of the female reptile woman I had seen before. "Youuusssss, aresss nothingssss sssstosss mysss powersssss. Thessss Wordsssss Of Powersss ssssswill bessss oursssss." She then vanished. I quickly surveyed the area seeing Linu's still form I felt the bluish glow flare then vanish. I rushe over to her. "Linu! Linu are you alright! speak to me!" I yelled shaking her body. After several minutes her eyes fluttered open. "Ryltar? I'm alive right?" she said.

I leaned down and feverently kissed her. "Answer your question?" I said.

She sat up slowly and looked around. "Ryltar please tell me you didn't' accept Maugrim's choice. I passed out shortly after he said that there were five-teen seconds left. Please tell me this isn't just a few minute good bye before you join him?" She said desperaetly.

"No, Linu. I didn't accept his choice. I made a thrid one." I said smiling.

"What? A thrid one?" Linu said not understanding.

"Kicking his ass. I said. I pointed to the pillar where Maugrim had impacted from my punches. There were cracks in the pillar from the impact. "He teleportated away there, before I could finish him off. Something tells me it's not the last time we'll see him, though. As for Aribeth... she's joined them. She thinks they'll give her back Fenthick. All she has to do is destroy Neverwinter!" I said helping Linu to her feet.

"We should get back to Arain Gend and worn him to tell Lord Nasher about Aribeth's betrayal." Linus said. I walked over to the gate which swung open with ease from this side. I grabbed my lost scimitar and sheathed it with the other one. I turned to Linu. "And prepare for war. One which I highly doubt the city is ready for. If Aribeth is in charge of this army. She'll know all of the cities weakness. Hell they proably wouldn't even need them, in the city's current state." I said pulling out the Stone of Recall I walked over to Linu. "How are you feeling?" I asked her.

"Nohting a few days rest won't cure, dear." Linu said giving me a quick kiss.

I nodded and activated the Stone of Recall. Linu and I were teleported into the Temple of Tyr. Arain Gend rushed over to us. "It's good to see you two safe and sound. Have you found the Lady Aribeth? And what of this fiend Maugrim. Tell me what have you discovered?"

Linu and I quicly filled him in on the situation. "This is dire news indeed, my friend. Truly dire news. We must get pursue this Maugrim and the cult. Find these Words Of Power and salvage them for our own use. Or failing that keep them out of the hands of this cult. Who knows what they are for."

"Yes, but what of Aribeth, dear?" Linu said.

"She is a traitor. If she is captured, I'm sure Lord Nasher will have her put to death." Arain said to us.

"Not if we can help it. Arain where do you plan on going to search for the Words of Power?" I asked.

Give me an hour to find out. I nodded and went into a side room with Linu to rest.

One hour Later

Linu and I came back out of the room an hour later. "So where must we go?" I asked Arain.

"To the east of here, to a place called Beorunna's Well. I have a lodge there that I used to use as a base camp in my youth." Arain said. "We are scheduled to leave for there two weeks from now. We first must go back to Neverwinter and plan our next moves for when we reach the Well."

"Correction. YOU must leave in two weeks. Linu and I leave now." I said to Arain. I had informed Linu of my plan and she had agreed to it.

"My friend, Lord Nasher wishes to speak to you on your success, in Luskan. You have to be there." Arain said to me.

"No, we don't. My only concern now is tracking these Words down, and finding Aribeth. She is in great danger. Come Linu." I said heading for the door. I turned back to Arain. "We'll see you in Beruouna's Well in two weeks. We'll have the Words ready for you to take when you get there." I said slamming the door to the temple.

"Did you have to be so snappy to him, dear? He was only doing his job." Linu said to me as we left Luskan and turned east. Heading for the area known as the Craigs, we would have to cross it even if we stayed with Arain Gend. It was an area filled with Giants and rumored to house several types of dragons. My hope was they might have some information on these Words of Power. I turned to reply to Linu. "I guess not. But everyone is so concerned about there own problems. No one cares about what is really important here. If we wait two weeks "planning" then spending four more traveling with the caravan the cult could have found the Words of Power by the time we get there. Don't worry I got a plan." I said

"What is that, Ryltar?" Linu asked me.

"Where going to visit some dragons." I said simply turning back to resuem our treck.

"DRAGONS! Why are we visiting dragons, dear!" Linu said worried.

"Cause the Craigs and the surrounding areas house some of the oldest dragons, known." I said walking along. "Don't worry I'll teach you more about nature along the way. By the time Arain Gend catches up to us. We'll have those Words ready for him to ship back to Neverwinter. And if he's not there yet. We'll take them back ourselves." I said determined.

"Lead on dear. I just hope you know what your doing." Linu said following me.

"Trust me." I said grinnign at her.

"Oh I feel soooo much better now, dear." Linu said sarcasticly. I just grinned back at her.

End Ryltar

(A/N: Yeah I know I said this would be up by Sat. But I stayed up late and got it done. IT's short, and to the point. I always hated that you had to wait for the gate to open and Aribeth was gone. I figured heck if the charcters got the strength and spee he should be able to jump over the gate. (game never says theres a magical barrier there. Just that it is locked magicaly) Oh and for those thare are wondering about the bluish glow scene. Don't worry that will come in play later. I MIGHT have another chap up some time this week maybe even two if I get enough time. As Always Please R&R)