Chapter 18
Ryltar
Dream
I was once more in the dark state I had been in before, once more the images of Aribeth, Linu, and Mayra were before me.
"Ahh, the chosen one returns." the image of Linu said.
"Returns in an understatement." I said. "I don't know how I got here or where here is but I would like some answers."
"You must have many questions of course. But your time for answers is not yet here." The image of Aribeth said. "Your destiny while known to be used for saving the world, is still not sure of. Many dangers rittle your path. Many much stronger then you are now. You must learn to harness your gift and use it to it's advantage. Millions of lives depend on your success."
"Why am I so important? Was the reason I have this gift the reason? Or is there some greater power at work that even the gods are not aware of? Why is the world depending on the success of one person!" I said confused.
"You were chosen because it was seen from your birth, that your path would be the one walked of goodness, not evil. You were chosen, yes because of your gift, but also because you alone can stop the storm that is gathering around you." The image of Mayra said.
"What do you mean storm? Are you referring to my alter ego? What do you mean?" I said.
"We can not answer that, chosen one. Your path is dangerous beyond what any person would dare tread. The one you call Linu follows your path, but in doing so places herself at just as much danger as you. We all are surprised she had survived as long as she has." The image of Mayra replied.
"Danger! She wont' be killed will she?" I said concerned for Linu's safety
"Maybe, and maybe not. Her destiny is in itself a complicated one." The image of Linu said to me.
"Dammit! Stop being so cryptic!" I screamed now getting extremely annoyed with the images. The land around me started to fade and I began to wake up.
End Dream
I awoke with a splitting headache. My entire body, in addition, was completely sore and stiff. It felt like I had been immobile for a week. "At last, dear. Your awake. You've been unconsises for almost an entire week now, Arain Gend was starting to get worried."
"Linu, what... what happened? How did we get here? Wait you said Arain Gend was here? Where is here?" I asked firing off a large number of questions at once.
"Slow down dear, rest, relax, dear. You passed out after your fight with Klauth. I carried you here to Beruonna's Well. Arain Gend arrived two days later. I told him of your condition. We're all concerned for you Ryltar. Especially me." Linu said lowering her head. I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I pulled Linu to me. She looked into my eyes once more. "I'm afraid for your safety, dear. Not only from my clumsiness and bad luck, but because of your... gift. I'm afraid you might use it for evil purposes. Try to conquer all of Fae'run."
I looked at her saying. "Linu I would never do that. Have I ever once in all the time you have known me EVER done anything evil? My every action has been towards easing the suffering of the world in which I now live. I have never willingly commited an evil act, in all my life. Even in the Underdark. I won't certainly start these acts now."
"I know dear it's just I guess, that I've seen much in my life and heard much where people with great power, will abuse that power. Use it for evil gains, they may start out doing great deeds and help people where ever they turn, but eventually they are corrupted by it." Linu looked downcast before contiuing. "I just don't want your gift to do they same to you as well." I pulled Linu close to me feeling her tears spilling out of her eyes. Her body shuddered in sadness. Making me pull her closer to me.
"Linu I don't now, nor will I ever wish to use my power, gift, or whatever you wish to call it, for evil purposes." I said pulling Linu tight to me.
"Forgive me dear, I shouldn't have brought this up. Not now when there is so much for us to do yet." Linu said looking me in the eyes.
"No, no Linu it's ok. It's ok for us to converse about problems you maybe having about me. Like I said when I first met you I have nothing to hide from anyone. My kind have caused much suffering in this world, and while I can't make up for all of it, I can at least show people that I am not like them." I said to Linu.
"I know that dear, but we all have our own problems and concernes. Only the most truest of friends and companions could understand the problems we both share. The world shuns you because of your kinds evil ways. I am haunted by the angry spirit of my first love, and we both must help the other maintain the sanity required to complete this great quest we are on." Linu laughed lightyly before saying. "Guess we're an odd pair eh, dear?"
I laughed glad to see Linu was happy once more. "Yes, I suppose we are. We're one of the most unlikely pair ever conceived of in Fae'run." I let out a small laugh recalling the many times we had discussed this very line of thought. "A drow and a High Elf. Even after journeying with you for so long Linu. I still find it hard to believe how we care so much for each other."
"What do you mean dear?" Linu asked me curiously.
"Well think about it. If I was like most drow, you would have probably attacked me, and been dead in the process. But were not, you don't see me as a drow, you see me for who I am. A good person who would do anything he could to stop the forces of evil. You don't see me as a murderous, back stabbing, evil drow. No you see me as an equal, one who would follow you where ever you would take me. And you do the same. I see you as an equal as well. One who I would be willing to end my adventuring days for and spend the rest of my life with." I said looking deep into Linu's eyes.
"You... you would do that for me?... For us?" Linu said. Obviously confused.
"Of course Linu we've both shared much between each other. Friendship, tales, and we both have gone to great lengths to save or help the other. " I said explaining.
Linu looked deep into my eyes and I could tell she saw there the love and caring for her that I had. "I'm... Ryltar. I know we have both shared much we each other, its' just... Well.. I have one final quest to complete for Sephaine Moonbow." Linu said.
"Truly? Why don't you tell me about it?" I said.
"You want to hear my tale? I don't wish to bore you." Linu said.
"Linu you've never once bore me. Well except when you hit me over the head with your mace to get me to sleep in Akulatraxas's cave." I said laughing.
"That's a different kind of bore which I mean't" Linu said retunring my laugh. "Very well I will tell you my tale. I'll warn you ahead of time though that to fully understand my mission you must understand how I came into Sephaine Moonbow's service." Linu explained.
"Ok. I'm listening." I said
"I came to Sehanine Moonbow when I was very young, which is unusual, since my parents were both mages and followers of the god Corellon. It started when I was sent to Gaedolin Sentristi's School for 'Potentials'. You see, both of my parents were deep into the mysteries, and held positions of respect. It was assumed that I would take after my parents in the magical arts." Linu began expliaining.
"Potentials... there like gifted children with magic right?" I said.
"Exactly, dear. All children of gifted wizards in Evereska are sent to special schools as 'potentials', because they are expected to excel in furthering the art of spellcraft. My ability to get into trouble had already started by that age, but my parents had kept it quiet, thinking I would grow out of it." Linu said.
"I see, please continue if you wish Linu." I said quite interested.
"My first day of classes was a disaster, but I don't think it had anything to do with my ability for spellcasting. I had an insatiable curiosity, and Gaedolin was a crotchety old master who expected all elven children to be patient, quiet, and orderly. I barely possess those traits now, let alone when I was a child. The master decided to open class with a powerful spell, to awe us into submission to his tutelage. He turned his back and I moved in." Linu said.
"What do you mean you "moved in?" I said confused.
"I just wanted to look at the spell components. They were very interesting, especially the wonderful gem he had sitting beside the circle. Well, he went to reach for the gem, and it wasn't there. The spell misfired, causing him to ooze purple smoke for weeks." Linu said.
I started laughing imagining the look on this elfs face with purple smoke coming out of him. "HAHAHA Did he,... uh kick you out for this... event?" I said trying to contain my laughter. I followed with "Linu I'mk not laughing at what you did but how the teacher would look with purple smoke coming out of him."
"I know dear it was a funny sight." Linu said barely contiaging her own laughter. "Anyhow, Gaedolin was well paid for training us. He didn't kick me out right away, but he never forgave me either. It also wasn't the only 'accident' to befall the class when I was around. Despite all of this, I might still have become a wizardess, if it wasn't for the little trip I took. That was an accident that will long be remembered in our fair city. My fate became sealed to my faith in Sehanine that day."
"What fate was that, Linu?" I said now settled and enraptured by her tale once more.
"It was just over a month into our training when Gaedolin decided to let us examine some of his collection of magical artifacts. He took us into his vault, the part where the lower powered magic items were stored. We played with them for a while, but I was bored." Linu said.
"Oh boy, bored kids with magic, not a good combination." I said.
"Bored children with magic items? I should say that's trouble. Being from a wizard's home, most of us had seen items like these quite a few times. I was hardly going to be impressed by a wand of magic missiles. I noticed that one of the doors had been left open, so I thought I would have a quick peek inside. I didn't mean to touch anything, but two of the other students came in behind me. One of them asked what I was doing. His voice scared me, causing me to jump into the air, but I didn't land on the floor. I didn't see the rope that was hung to keep people away from this one display. The hole I fell into was a doorway into another plane of existence, or at least that's what they told me later. According to Gaedolin, no person, let alone a child, should have survived the experience." I interrupted Linu to say "Linu, I don't think anyone else could have survived what you have."
"Does that make me blessed, or cursed?" Linu asked.
"I think it's a blessing. You are the most dangerous, yet exciting woman I have ever met." I said giving Linu a grin.
"And is that problem for you, dear?" Linu said seductivly.
"No, though there are time I have trouble keeping up." I said giving Linu a wink.
Linu laughed at my flirtations. She continued with her story then. "All I know is that my body seemed to expand and contract at a horribly fast rate, like a hyperventilating toad. The feeling seemed to last for hours, but was over in seconds. I can't explain it any better than that. When it stopped, I opened my eyes."
"What was around you?" I said.
"There was a large, gray, squishy thing that looked at me with twenty large eyes. I whimpered a little, I remember that. Then it started to move. I don't think I have ever seen anything move so very fast. I screamed as it attacked and continued to scream as a bolt of glowing blue light ripped through its body, just seconds before it could reach me. I sat on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. Arms enveloped my quaking form and a soft voice whispered words into my ear."
"What did the voice say and who was it?" I said.
"Saying who it was would get ahead of the tale, dear." Linu said. "I can only recall images of journeys and safety, of life and death and of times to come. As the voice spoke, I began to feel very tired and I drifted off to sleep. When I awoke, I was in a comfortable bed surrounded by a curtain that stretched up to the ceiling and I could hear a man's and woman's voice talking softly beyond it. The voices were suddenly interrupted by the entrance of my master, who angrily asked why I was taken to the temple of Sehanine. A single word from the woman stopped him cold."
"What did say?" I said.
"All she said was his name. He looked at her with a piercing stare, then his eyes opened in surprise and he sank to his knees. I was confused, having no idea who was standing by my bed. The only word my master could speak was her name: Sehanine." Linu said.
"So Sephaine saved you from this... trip?" I said.
"The goddess came over and pulled the curtain back. She smiled and kissed me on the forehead. "My child," she said, "you have exceeded the boundaries of luck." A green light surrounded her body as she stepped back and disappeared. For years after that experience, people treated me with awe and called me the god-child. Sehanine did me a favor, but there were days when I wished she could have done it quieter." Linu said quietly.
"Linu, if a goddess herself tells you you've survived the boundaries of luck, why are you sad about that?" I asked.
"I have dedicated my life to the goddess. She gave me that gift, so I gave everything back to her. There is a task that she wishes me to accomplish and that is why she chose to save my life." Linu said.
"And this is your task you must complete for her?" I said.
"I overheard a few of the words she shared with the high priest, before my master came in the room. But that is a task for me and should not be allowed to interfere with your quest. You must concentrate on finding the Words of Power, Ryltar to many lives depend on you. My concerns are minewt" Linu said sadly.
"Linu tell me what your quest is maybe I can help you find it, after all I did help you find your other items." I explained placing a comforting hand on Linu's leg.
"Ryltar, you are my deepest companion in the world. I know now that we must work together to accomplish all of our quests. I overheard Sehanine Moonbow speaking with the head cleric of her order. The words that I heard would echo in my mind for the rest of my life. She told the elderly cleric that during her wanderings through this world, she had come upon a forest of breathtaking oak trees that grew in the middle of a range of volcanoes. While she stood in contemplation and admiration of the oak, one of the volcanoes erupted. The lava streamed down the mountain, burning its way through every form of life in its path." Linu said.
"Like how I could sit here and admire your beauty for endless hours?" I said flirting with her once more.
Linu was surprised at my comment obviously not expecting it. "Oh... now that's the kind of comment that could trip up a woman's heart. But... let's explore that later. Shall we?" Linu said finishing with a slight raise of her eyebrow. "But let me finish my tale first ok?"
"Ok go on then." I said.
"The lava reached the edge of the forest and destroyed every single tree. This saddened Sehanine, but as she prepared to move away, she noticed something very unusual. The seeds of the tree were floating on top of the lava."
"Wait? The seed's were floating... on lava?" I said confused and surprised.
"They didn't burn up. When the lava cooled, the seeds broke open and small shoots came out of the shells to take root in the newly formed crust of earth. Within weeks the forest had renewed itself and the oak trees stood tall, defiant of the surrounding volcanoes and their fiery destruction." Linu explained.
"Beauty standing amidst fiery destruction. That's you!" I said.
"What do you mean? Oh... oh I think I see. Thank you, Ryltar. That's an image I like. I guess it just makes me feel like I have a little more purpose in life. You seem to always surprise me in your actions. I like that in a man." Linu said with a slight grin. "Damn, if I didn't know any better I'd swear she was a drow." I thought.
"Sehanine was so smitten with the majesty of those trees that she made her favored weapon from one of the boughs. Sehanine left the forest, returning occasionally to enjoy the splendor of their beauty. One day she returned to find that the trees had disappeared. Not a single seed remained, which made her weep." Linu said continuing her tale while I talked to myself.
"What happened to them?" I said.
"Sehanine didn't know what had happened. She had been gone for several centuries, and there was no trace of the mighty volcanic oak trees left. This is my task, dear Ryltar. Sehanine thinks it is possible that one day an elf priestess will find a seed of the volcanic oak and bring it to Evereska to be a symbol of rebirth for the elven people. With this symbol, as the oak is reborn through fiery death, our people might be rekindled in spirit, though we might face adversity. I must find this seed, though I know not where one might exist. Besides that there is nothing else to tell, dear Ryltar. I shall defend your life with my own until the day that Neverwinter is safe again. Someday fate might guide me... us to the seed." Linu said. "The goddess has led me to be here with you. With your help I have recovered the Chalice of Moonbow and found my husband's journal. You are my guide to restoring the volcanic oak, to rebuild my people."
I chuckled at that image. "Huh... A drow being the guide for the elven people. Now there's one for the history books!" I said laughing.
Linu took in my words and laughed as well grasphing my meaning. "HAHA your right, dear, that is a funny image." Linu stood up from the bed and stretched her legs. "Now then, dear. Let's go see what Arain Gend has for us shall we?"
I stood up sheating my scimitars. "Lead the way, love." I said.
Linu laughed and headed out down the steps.
End Ryltar
Arain Gend
I was pacing around on the first floor, waiting for Ryltar and Linu to come downstairs. I heard faint talking and after a half hour of this, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Ryltar looked weary, worn out, but at least alive and healthy. He approached me saying.
"Greetings Arain."
"This has become something of a habit, has it not, Ryltar? Once more Neverwinter is threatened, and once more you and Linu are called upon to save us all." I said shaking Ryltar and Linu's hand.
"Yet this time you will be reporting directly to me. With Aribeth's defection, Lord Nasher has elevated me from the role of spymaster to that of his right hand. To be honest, I much prefer to stay in the shadows. Yet Neverwinter has need of me so I will serve without complaint." I said sighing.
"I do this because it is the right thing to do Arain. Times short, I'm sure let's get down to business ok?" Ryltar said.
"Of course, Ryltar. I shall get right to the point." I said pulling out a map and laying it on a table. "I have examined the reconnaissance reports of my operatives in the field, and the situation is grim indeed. The Luskan armies are marching against Neverwinter with Aribeth at their head, ravaging the land as they pass and leaving only destruction in their wake. Perhaps even more troubling are the reports of orcs and some of the Uthgardt tribes joining Aribeth and the Luskan army to pillage and plunder." I said pointing out the various trouble spots.
Ryltar slammed his fist on the table causing the corner to crack and splinter. "I can't believe Aribeth betrayed Neverwinter!" I yelled. I jumped back from his outburst but quickly regained myself. "Perhaps had we been more observant Aribeth's betrayal would not have been such a surprise. She was never the same after Fenthick's execution. She abandoned us, but part of me wonders if we did not first turn our backs on her suffering. But hindsight serves no purpose now. Aribeth has vowed revenge against Neverwinter; the pain of her loss makes her blind to anything else. It is up to us to see she does not get the revenge she seeks." I said. Watching the veins an muslces in Ryltar's arm flex in anger. "What the UOI'NOTA! Do you mean? You did nothing! You have no right to say you are not to blame!" Ryltar screamed at me. He roughly grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me up against the wall. "OMMPH!" I said as air rushed from my lungs. "YOU, NEVERWINTER, AND THAT FOOL LORD NASHER. HAVE CONDEMMED YOURSELVES, TO THIS FATE!" Ryltar screamed in my face. "Now you expect me to bring to justice, the woman who had sworn her life to the service of the city that turned its back on her, in her greatest time of need." I saw Linu approach Ryltar placing a hand on his back. "Ryltar, dear. Control your anger." Linu said.
Ryltar dropped me. Dusting himself off. he said. "While you stood around and did nothing in Port Last, Linu and I helped comfort Aribeth. You did nothing, while we risked life and limb to find the cult. Your "sources" turned up very little. Put simply, Arain, you are pathetic spy master, who couldn't even see the suffering that Aribeth was enduring." Ryltar finsished turning away from me.
He quietly said. "How can we stop her?"
I stood up fixing my attire. "I believe Aribeth and the Luskan invaders are but a decoy, a distraction to draw our troops and resources away from the true threat. It has not been easy to gather information on Maugrim's cult, Ryltar - but we know they are frantically searching for the ancient artifacts known as the Words of Power. You've already found one of them and I have sent it to Neverwinter already." I said explaining.
"I know that. Do you have any idea where the other two could be? Or anything new about Maugirm and his followers?" Ryltar said now regaining he composure.
"My operatives have gathered no new information on Maugrim's cult. We still have not learned why they started the plague, and we can't even guess at why they are seeking the Words of Power. But I would wager my life on the fact that whatever they are up to will spell disaster for Neverwinter. We are counting on both of you to stop them, Ryltar." I said. "You may wish to ask a lady friend of mine in the local bar. She's a historian and knows much about ancient artifacts. She may know something I do not."
"Very well, I'll do that." Ryltar said. He than left the Lodge.
"Safe journeys and may you find the other Words of Power." I said quietly.
End Arain
Linu
I followed Ryltar out of Arain's Lodge, I was stunned and relieved about Ryltar's outburst. It was so unlike him to act in this way, and I was genuinely concerned for his mental health. For over two months he had been pushing himself beyond his normal limits. Added to this was his gift for wearing him down even further, and I was worried that he would soon collapse, or snap from the stress. "Ryltar, dear. Is there something on your mind, that you wish to discuss?" I said.
"No... I'm just tired, but now is not the time for rest. I've heard rumors of ancient ruins to the west of here. Many people have journeyed there only to never return." Ryltar told me. I could tell he was hiding something from me, but I decided now wasn't the best of times to press the issue.
"Ok, dear. Just let me know when your ready to talk. Aren't we going to check the woman Arain Gend told us about?" I asked following Ryltar out the west gate.
"Later, for now I need time to distance myself from him." Ryltar said.
"Ok, dear lead on." I said following Ryltar through the woods once more.
(A/N: Chapter 18 now done. Chapter 19 will be up soon, action will also be present. Expect to see time traveling monkies and chimps in the next chapter as well. I'm out ya'll.)