Chapter 26
Ryltar
I rushed into the room, the mysterious woman was still tending to Drogan and Mischa, and Xanos were cleaning up the main floor. "Where did you go? What could possible be more important then saving Drogan's life! I see you found Dorna, did you get the herbs I asked for?" She asked.
I tossed her the bag "Here, there all there. Now please tell me who you are." I asked.
"Good, good you have all the herbs. As for my name, it's Alysaa." she said. After tending to Drogan she turned back to me. "It'll be a while till we know if the herbs take effect. Tell me drow what is your name, who are you?"
I gave her a slight bow. "I am Ryltar Kost'dora, known as one of the Heroes of Neverwinter. This is my companion Linu La'neral the other Hero of Neverwinter." I said introducing myself and Linu.
"YOU! You are the famed Hero of Neverwinter? I had heard tales that a drow and an elf saved the city... but... well... forgive me. Actually meeting both of you, well it was unexpected." Alysaa said. "But if your already an acommplished adventurer, why are you a student at Drogan's school?"
I called upon my inner power while closing my eyes. After a minute I felt my power, glow surround my body. I opened my eye seeing everyone but Linu looking at me. "Long story short. I've got issues with a special gift, Drogan has been helping me to learn how to control them." I said releasing my power back inside me, the glow faded.
"Impressive, perhaps there is hope in recovering these artifacts yet." Alysaa said. "Speaking of which do you wish for me to tell you about them?" She asked.
I nodded. "Of course,dear please enlighten us on what they are." Linu said before I could.
"I know a little about these artifacts, but keep in mind that anything I tell you comes mostly from memory. I wish I had more detailed information to offer. Let's see... if I remember correctly, there are four artifacts in total: a mummified hand, a dragon's tooth, a statue of a tower and a mask." Alysaa said from memory.
"Tell us about all of them." I said.
"Very well. The mummified hand belonged to a powerful lich named Belpheron, as I understand it. The hand was all that was left when he was destroyed. I remember it being said that some of Belpheron's power remained in the hand. Perhaps someone is trying to tap into it... or perhaps one of Belpheron's old followers wants him resurrected. If that was the case, it would be terrible news. Belpheron threatened to destroy Faerun the first time... we certainly don't need him trying again." She said. "Now the dragon's tooth was a remnant of the great wyrm Hephaestagon, a great dragon that also wielded the most evil of the black arts. The dragon died long ago... but it's possible that the kobolds could have some interest in it, seeing as they are of draconic origin themselves. I have trouble believing the kobolds are the instigators of this theft, however. It's more likely they serve another... perhaps even a dragon aspiring to have Hephaestagon's power."
I nodded giving a slight shutter at the memory of Klauth. "And the statue of a tower and the mask?" I asked.
"I... actually do not know much about the tower statue. I believe it was found in a desert tomb many years ago, and one of our wizards detected powerful and destructive magic within it. The nature of the magic could not be discerned, however, so it was put aside to be kept safe until more could be discovered about it. I have my doubts that the statue would be of use to anyone. Perhaps its theft was only incidental because it lay with the rest." Alysaa explained she continued. "The mask once belonged to a high priest of the Lord of Shadows, I believe, and is imbued with considerable power... though nobody has figured out how to use it. Seeing as the God of Thieves rarely produces items of benevolent purpose, it was decided best to keep the mask safe and out of his followers' hands. Perhaps someone has figured out how to use the mask's power? If so, any amount of mischief could be expected as a result."
"Why are these items so dangerous, dear?" Linu asked.
"All four of them have considerable power of a malevolent nature, although we have yet to discover an application for any of this power. The fact that the power exists could be tempting enough for some... and it's very possible that there may be someone out there who knows more about these artifacts than we do. The trouble will be figuring out which artifact the thief is, in fact, interested in... and what they intend to do with it. Considering the nature of these items, it is certainly evil." Alysaa said answering Linu's question.
"But why here? Why not keep them somewhere safe?" I asked.
"And where, exactly, would somewhere safe be? Behind the walls of a keep, surrounded by guards? What better way to announce that you hide something of value. No, the Harpers believed that this school was remote enough and nondescript enough to be considered safe from molestation. For many years that has indeed been the case." she said.
Her reasonsing made sense and I said so. "Makes sense when you put it that way."
She nodded. "Is there anything else you wish to know?" She asked.
"Well... tell me about the Harpers, if you don't mind that is?" I asked.
"There's not much more to tell, I think. The Harpers seek to maintain a balance in the world even in the face of those who would abuse their powers. Some claim we are spies, others consider us dangerous meddlers or even outright assassins. In truth we are a little of all things, when the situation warrants it. You know..." She said looking me and Linu over. "it was always our hope that Drogan's students might take the cue from their tutor and become Harpers themselves, in fact. What do you think of that?"
I looked at Linu who shurgged. "Well... we'd have to think on it."
She nodded "Well, you have plenty of time. It would be too soon to even consider membership in the Harpers... but perhaps this is your chance, no? I'd admit you'd be the first drow, we ever allowed membership to. But again you talents alone almost make you qualified for membership."
"Uhh... thanks. But really, we must get going. Any idea where I should start looking?" I asked.
"You might want to try searching for the kobold's trail, that's the best advice I can give you." Alysaa said.
"Thank you, dear. We'll return soon with the items." Linu said as we turned to leave.
"Mind if I tag along?" Dorna asked.
"Sure, we can always use another pair of eyes, in case we miss something." I said.
As we walked along I thought back to how my quest in Neverwinter, began in a quite similar way. I turned to Linu smiling. "What?" She said seeing me smiling.
"I was just thinking, how my journeys with you began quite similar, in Neverwinter. When we were searching for the missing cure components? Remember?" I asked.
Linu nodded. "How could I forget the day you first came into the Trade of Blades? Who would have thought that back then we'd end up falling in love?" Linu said holding my hand.
"Maybe I was better off staying with the others." I heard Dorna mumble. She saw me looking at her and looked back at Drogan's School. She sighed, then turned back to me. "Something on your mind?" I asked. Linu came back looking at both Dorna and I.
"It's just... well..." Dorna started looking at both Linu and I. "It's just well... your both accomplished adventurers, your already both famed heros... I mean... well this is a big step for me. It's my first time on an adventure.. I guess.. .well I'm just nervous." Dorna finally said.
"You'll always be nervous when you first set out on your own quest. Why I remember when I first left Evereska to search for the Chalice of Sephaine Moonbow. I was scared out of my mind, at the lands outside Evereska, I had never left there my entire life." Linu said.
"Still its' just... well, I guess your right. I'll probably grow into this hero thing eventually. Any advice?" Dorna asked looking at me.
I scratched my chin trying to think of something relveant to her question. "Well... for one, never let your guard down, when your in a fight." I said. "Oh, and no matter how hopeless a situation is there is ALWAYS a way out. You just have to sometimes make one." I said.
"What do you mean?" Dorna asked me.
I looked to Linu as if to ask her if it was alright to tell her about the Host Tower, as if reading my mind she nodded. "It's ok by me, dear." She said.
Taking a deep breath I beguan telling Dorna about what happened on the Host Tower Roof. "Well, Linu and I had found that the cult that was plaguaing Neverwinter, was based in the Host Tower in Luskan. After seveal hours of fighting, we were on the roof. We found the Lady Aribeth had been tricked into betraying Neverwinter." I said.
"Aribeth, she's the elven woman you told me about that sacrificed herself to allow you to live again, right Linu?" Dorna asked.
"Yes, dear the same." Linu said.
"Well I jumped over the gate there, and..." I said interrupted once more by Dorna.
"How high was the gate?" She asked.
"Hmmm... about oh I'd say fiveteen feet or so?" I said.
"And you jumped it?" Dorna said obviously not believeing me.
"I did, anyhow I landed on the other side Aribeth and I fought after she was changed into a blackguard. She broke my left knee cap and I was wounded from all the constant fighting. She was sent away by Maugrim, the leader of the cult, and froze both Linu and I. He teleported her to him, and freed both our heads, he started crushing her neck, stranggling her. He simply told me that I had two choices. One severe the cult and he would allwo Linu to live. Or two, don't work him, linu would die, as I would have in my current state. I had only two minutes to decide." I said.
"Well obvioulsy that wasn't what you did, right?" Dorna asked. "What did you do?"
"Well this was the first time my powers came to the surface. I was able to free myself from the spell, However, by this point Linu had passed out from a lack of oxygen. I didn't know this at the time however." I said.
"What did Maugrim say?" Dorna asked.
I smiled grinning. "He asked what my choice was. Raised my head still appearing to be trapped in his spell, I looked straight in the eye and said. I choose three, kicking your ass." I said.
Dorna laughed. "I see, I'm sure Maugrim was thorugly surprised at this? No?" Dorna said.
"He was, in fact I would have killed him had Morag not teleported him away, well long story short, like I said. If your ever in a hopeless situation, you sometimes have to make another choice. Nothing is ever truly hopeless." I said.
"Your words are wise, Ryltar. I'll remember them." Dorna said. "Come we have four artifacts to find." She said as we followed.
Several Hours Later
Linu, Dorna, and I had followed the tracks of the kobold's out into the mountainous areas surrounding Hilltop. I was walking along a path when I saw several odd tracks I walked over to them examing them. "Hmm... there almost like a deer's tracks, but yet..." I thought.
"What is it you see, dear?" Linu asked me.
I turned to her and Dorna. "There odd deer tracks of some kind, I've never seen any quite like it." I said surprised.
"Have you ever seen anything similar to it, besides a deer?" Dorna asked me.
I thought hard on her words. "Well... the closest thing besdies a common deer would be the tracks left by the Spirit of the Woods." I said.
Dorna looked at me confused. Linu looked at her explaining. "It's a sacred creature that is like a god to the animals in the Neverwinter Woods."
I nodded. "Exactly. But I'm almost sure that it is not the Sprit why it would be traveling on the Prime Material Plane I don't know. Perhaps it is an avatar of some kind? Regardless let's continue and keep our eyes out for it." I said.
Both nodded. We once more set out, from around a few trees I heard the cries of an injured animal. Moving in that direction I found and injured bear. It looked at me with despair. I reached out to the bear with my mind keeping both Linu and Dorna at a distance. "It's ok, I'm a friend of nature and a protector, please allow me to see what is wrong. I can help." I said soothingly.
I came up to the bear still careful, it allowed me to examine it and after a quick examination I found a broken shaft of a spear, most likely from a hunter or possibly one of the koblods. I pulled out the shaft and after calling upon the healing powers of nature in healing the wound, I patched it up manually keeping it in a wrap which would wear away after a few days. "Thank you, I will tell my brother and sisters of the woods to be friendly towards you." The bear said as it got up and left.
I came back to Linu and Dorna, saying. "Seems we just made friends with the local bears." I said smiling.
All three of us turned and left, walking along the edge fo the woods looking for the kobolod's tracks once more. I found another set of strange deer tracks which led off to a hidden pond. I saw on a far cliff, an elven archer. He was sitting around a fire warming himself by it. I pointed him out to Linu, and Dorna.
"What should we do?" Dorna asked.
"Well, I would suggest that you and Linu, go talk to him. I'm going to search for more of these strange deer tracks." I said readying myself to climb the cliff side.
Dorna and Linu nodded. "We'll meet you back here in an hour, dear." Linu said moving towards me. "Keep safe, no heroics."
I nodded. "No, heroics got it." then I started to climb the cliff side as Dorna and Linu walked towards the elf.
The rock face that I was climbing wasn't that steep, and the numerous outcroppings of rock provided me with subtle hand holds. I reached the top and after several minutes of searching, I found another set of tracks two to be exact one was going to the north, which seemed to be older, the other was headed south, I turned south and headed that way.
End Ryltar
Linu
Dorna and I approached the elven archer, he say us approaching and came to us. "Greetings, friends! I invite you to come up and share my campfire, if you've the time. If not, then I suggest you be cautious... creatures abound in this region today, I fear." He looked me over, then said. "Especially one with such beauty as yourself." He said smiling.
"We'll take you on that offer, dear" I said following Dorna and him to his campsite.
"I would gladly break bread with you, but I am short on supplies at the moment. Still, I'm gladder for the company. It has been a long and tedious winter's day for me. Now... what brings a beautiful elven woman such as yourself, and a female dwarf to these parts? You are both from the village of Hilltop, I take it?" he said.
"We're looking for a group of kobolds that attacked Hilltop, actually. There is another with us but he is busy with tracking a strange deer of some kind." Dorna said before i could. I mentally thanked her for keeping out the fact that Ryltar was a drow.
"Ah, I see. In that case you have both good and bad luck. The kobolds passed by on this very road. As you can see, however, they met an ambush. I was nearby and watched the entire event as it occurred. I can tell you what I saw, if you wish." He said.
"Yes, dear. Please tell us what happened." I said.
"I was nearby and happened to see a group of kobolds fleeing from the direction of Hilltop. As you can see, they met with an ambush. A group of gnolls leapt out from the forest, taking the kobolds by surprise. They exchanged words, but I could not hear clearly... I believe the gnolls were demanding something. Regardless, it was obvious that the kobolds were not about to comply. They fought, but the gnolls had the obvious advantage." He explained.
"No doubt. That could not have gone well for the kobolds. Gnolls are large and fearsome creatures." Dorna said.
"Some of the kobolds ran towards the elven crypt, I believe, while a larger group fled north towards the mountains." He said.
"Did you see anything else happen, dear? We really need to find these kobolds they took some important things from the town." I said.
The elven man seemed to be in deep thought he finally said. "Hmm. As a matter of fact, I believe I saw a single kobold come out of the elven crypt not long ago. He seemed skittish and frightened... perhaps a messenger or lone survivor. He headed east, strangely. I would have thought he would go north towards the mountains... east lies the human village of Blumberg. Why would he go there?" He said. He then looked at me and Dorna and said. "You said there was a third member of your party, correct? Tell me who was he?"
"His name is Ryltar Kost'dora." I said simply.
"Now where have I heard that name before... no matter. You said he was tracking some mysterious deer tracks correct? Then he is more than he seems. Those tracks belong to the elusive Shadow Hart... my quarry and the reason I am hunting in these foothills."
"Shadow Hart? Who, or what is that?" Dorna asked.
"It is a rare and wonderful beast, white as the snow all around us and possessing the unique ability to vanish into the winds.I am loathe to kill such a magnificent beast, but I simply must have its horns. They are part of the only cure for an illness my wife has contracted, I'm afraid." He said.
"Doesn't it seem wrong to kill one thing to save another, dear?" I said. While I knew is quest was a truly good one. Ryltar had taught me much about nature and its natural beauty, I had to ask this question on his behalf.
"The Hart is a unique and lovely creature, it is true... but so is my wife, friend. Killing the Hart is a tragedy, but my wife is worth more to me than my own life. The Hart is a unique and lovely creature, it is true... but so is my wife, friend. Killing the Hart is a tragedy, but my wife is worth more to me than my own life. I do not expect you to understand. This is something I must do. I must get the horns of the Shadow Hart or perish in the attempt." He said sadly. However heartbreaking his story was though, I got the feeling there was more to it then he was saying. Still I was willing to give him the benefit of a doubt.
"I might understand more then you know, dear. I'll see if my friend has found the creature." I said. I turned to Dorna, "Let's see if we can catch up to Ryltar." Dorna nodded as we moved away from the Elven archer.
End Linu
Ryltar
The pure white stag stared at me, its flanks heaving, and its thoughts skittish. The one thought that stood out was an image that was quickly translated into a name, Shadow Hart. I reached out to Shadow Hart with my mind calmly approaching it. "Be calm. I am a friend of nature, I will do nothing to harm you."
The stags mine reached into mine, seeming to search it for the truth to my words. I opened my mind to it's search. I saw it see my times recusing various animals and people in danger. I saw it see me save the Spirit of the Woods back in Neverwinter. It say me slaw the evil queen of the Old Ones, Morag. It say my many other deeds in saving people, and finally it say the sadness I felt at loosing Mayra, my former wolf companion. I felt its touch slowly leave my mind. It spoke to me finally through our connection. "You do not seek to harm me like the other one." It said to me.
Fear filled my mind at its words, surely a party of drow elves had not been hunting this fine creature? ""What other one?" I asked it.
A picture similar in description to the elven archer I had seen earlier, formed in my mind. From what the Shadow Hart understood of the man, he wanted its horns, for a cure for his mate... wife. I corrected myself, "So he wants you dead for your horns? Can't you leave this area? Run away from him? "I said questioning the fine stag.
Images of sadness filled my mind, as pictures of younger stags appeared, it seemed that it had young it must take care of. An image of one of its young appeared dead from an arrow, from the elven archer. "He killed one of your young, didn't he?" I said.
"He tired using my own young to lure me to a trap. It failed but in the process he killed my young. The elven one seeks only to hunt us. We are the last of our kind. Can you not help us?" Shadow Hart asked me.
"Are you safe here? For now at least? I have other friends as you know, with there help I'm sure we can come up with a way to help you and your young." I said.
Shadow Hart nodded. "Please, anything you can do to help my young and I. I would appreciate."
I nodded and turned and left to find Linu and Dorna.
I was once more traveling on a path which led north to the mountains and further on east to the town of Blumberg, when I saw a small figure running along the trees outline. I drew one of my scimitar. I said. "Show yourself, you along the tree line come out where I can see you."
The figure was small, coming out of the shadows it formed into a small kobold. "Ooo! Wait wait wait! Deekin must talk to you! You wait there!" It said.
"By the spirit! It's... a kobold. And it apparently wants to talk to me" I thought.
The kobold approached me, patting. "You...you runs so fast! Deekin so out of breath! It so hard to catch up!" He said.
I was cautious about fully trusting him but said, "What is it you want kobold?" I said.
"Deekin watches you, sees you be great drow hero! Deekin needs your help, he does... needs help real bad!" He said.
"You wish for my help?... After what you did to all the innocents in Hilltop... after what you and your fellows did to Master Drogan?" I said.
"Deekin not so bad! Honest! Deekin only go with other kobolds to human village because Master tells Deekin to. Deekin not hurt anybody! Deekin is servant to the Master. Deekin sings songs, tells tales that keeps Master happy. That why Master send Deekin on raid... so Deekin write story for Master later." He said.
"So you are some kind of jester kobold? How interesting. That doesn't explain why you're here. And why you need my help." I said.
"Only... Deekin do something very bad. Master will be very angry at Deekin! Deekin cannot go back to Master, not ever! Deekin so frightened!" He said.
"What did you do that was so bad?" I said carefully.
"Deekin... he carries little tower statue when we leaves human village. When gnolls attack, he get excited and he... drops the little statue. Statue is all broken now because of Deekin. He cannot bring it back to Master, because Master be angry at him! But... if Deekin stay away, Master be even angrier! Deekin knows you look for little statue. Deekin, he... gives it to you if you helps him...? That good idea, yes?" He said looking at me.
"So how am i supposed to help you?" I asked.
"You be great dorw hero! Deekin knows this... he be watching you, and he hear how you kill big bad evil lizard lady in human city NEverwinter! You go and seek out Deekin's old Master, Tymofarrar! Maybe you talks to Master, makes him let Deekin go. Makes him free Deekin. Then Deekin gives you little broken tower statue." He said explaining.
"What type of dragon is your master?" I asked.
"Master, is great white dragons. With baaaad breath. Deekin have to wear nose clip around Master sometimes." He said.
"Ok, well why would your master listen to me?" I said.
"Because... because you is smart. You is great drow hero. Deekin watches you, and he hears of you, he knows this. You think of something to convince Master. If you wants to talk to Master or kills him, Deekin all for it. Deekin gives you broken little statue when you done." He said. "Deekin gots complete confidence in you. Deekin knows that you is great hero, you is!"
I sighed knowing he was blackmailing me. Finally I said. "Alright, I'll see what I can do to free you."
Ooo! Deekin just knew that you would help him! He just knew it! Deekin is so happy now... but, ummm, still a little scared. You goes and finds old Master and do what you going to do. Deekin goes to human village off to east and hides there, okay?" he said.
"Wait.. What? You mean Blumberg?" I said.
"Deekin not know what humans call these places. But Deekin go there and hide good... you come and finds Deekin when you done, okay?" He said turning away and running to the east.
"My life keeps getting stranger and staranger." I said walking back to where I hoped to find Linu and Dorna. I only hoped they were alright.
End ryltar
(A/N: Ok so there's chapter 26. Deekins in! Can't wait to write for him, he's easy to write funny lines for. Got a lot of stuff going on right now. But I might be able to get Chapter 27 out by thursday or friday. Sorry but work and college taking a lot of time right now. As always please R&R)