CHAPTER 2: The Search for Answers.
Taking their fellow guild member's bodies back to the castle of the Ring of Destiny, the group met Shaderlee at the entrance. He instructed the group to follow him up to the great hall. The sight that awaited them was horrible. The bodies of several other guild members were laid out on the giant table in the hall. The hall looked more like a morgue then a meeting room.
"The officers and some of the guild members are in the court yard discussing this. I suggest you join them. I'll remain here to restore them when we find out what's wrong," instructed Shaderlee. Arclight and the others walked past the table silently, none of them wanting to believe what they had just seen. As they entered the courtyard Ckorik saw and motioned them sit down and join those already gathered.
"I take it you are aware of the situation then?" Ckorik asked. Vdaan nodded yes before Ckorik continued, "I'll fill you in on what we know so far. This…condition, is limited to the Ring. I've contacted allies else where and their spells are functioning normally. Unfortunately they also are unable to restore our dead comrades. This leads me to believe that something has happened to their spirits, something that prevents our spells from returning them to us. Aenau believes this may be connected to the Night of Darkness." If the situation had unnerved the members of the Ring of Destiny before, it out right scared them now. Even Vdaan and Arclight shuddered at the mention of that night.
Meiera saw everyone's reaction to what Ckorik said and asked, "What could possibly spook you guys so? Especially after all we've faced?"
"I'm not surprised you haven't heard of it Meiera. The Night of Darkness was the name Aerich used to describe several disasters that seem to take place at the same time every year for the last few years," explained Ckorik.
"Disaster is an understatement for what they were. I remember back when I was just starting to adventure as a ranger," Kayote said. "I came back to the Qeynos hills just after one of those nights. I was told the quiet hills I knew so well had been laid to waste by undead skeletons. The skeletons appeared out of no where the moment the sun set. Some were as tall as buildings. They were stronger then normal, like that night had given them new power. Several groups of rangers and paladins had been sent to eliminate the threat. I heard they all died."
"Well…some of us got away Kayote," Arclight replied softly.
"Damn you were in that Arc?" Kayote asked in surprise.
"Ya that was back when I was just a rookie myself." Arclight said as he recalled the fight. "Those skeletons were killing everything so quickly that a few of us dragged our wounded butts into the blackburrow and hid there while trying to recover. We figured we'd take our chances with the gnolls rather then let the skeletons finish us off. But a lot of good people died in that fight…many friends."
"It wasn't any better in Kithicor Arc," Teidden responded. "The ghosts and specters went mad attacking anything they could. They came to Rivervale and…
"Stole all the pies?" interrupted Yaman as he rolled his eyes. "How tragic for the halflings."
Teidden scowled and replied, "No Yaman, and this is nothing to joke…"
"Someone one say PIES!" asked Madhacks as he sprang up from the grass he had been napping on.
Teidden just sighed and bounced a pebble off of Madhacks helmet. "Go back to sleep Mad," he replied.
"Moorg knows most of us remember da year the Temple of Hate released big dead dragons that haunted Rathe Mountains for many nights," spoke the troll shadow night.
"Yes Moorg we remember, and most of us remember several guilds being wiped out in the struggle to rid the mountains of them." answered Ckorik. "The Night of Darkness has been the cause of many evil things and Aen thinks its happening again. Arclight survived his first Night of Darkness by keeping clear of it. Until we have a better idea of what we are up against I suggest you do the same and stay in the guild keep."
"At best it seems the safest course of action," said Aenau.
"We still need some clearer answers," pointed out Chielings. "I want some of you spell casters to come with me to the store room. Hopefully we can dig up Aerich's old journals. I know he was researching the Night of Darkness. Hopefully he found out something can use to give us an edge."
Quorthon and Arclight joined several of the spell casters as they descended the stairway to the guild storage room. Not so heavily protected or guarded as the guild vault, there was still a few traps Chielings and Schadoe had to disarm before they entered. Several glowing lights flew out of Wickedbrat's hand to various holders illuminating the room. The room was full of shelves, old boxes, and junk.
"ACHOO," sneezed Meiera as she breathed the dusty air. "Doesn't anyone clean down here?"
"Sorry Mei, somewhere between saving norrath and saving ourselves we forgot to dust the storeroom. I'll bring it up at the next officers meeting," Chielings replied with a sarcastic laugh. "Ok start digging folks." Everyone began searching through the various boxes and scattered tomes.
"EWW," cried Uudy. "Do we really need to be saving a box full of gnoll fangs?"
"Oops keep meaning to turn those in for free drinks. Just toss it onto those shelves Uudy," replied Chielings.
"Hey Arc isn't that your old lance hanging from the wall?" asked Tasheaba as she shook some of the dust from her robes.
"You bet it is Tash," Arc replied taking the lance from where it was hanging. The lance began to glow with a soft holy light. "The Lance of Thunder is still bonded to me, its powers can only be used by me. It will remain here till the day I die and then another paladin will use it to take up the fight."
"ACHOO…then I hope that lance gets awful dusty Arc," said Meiera rubbing her nose.
"Hey this box has a ton of different dragon scales in it!" exclaimed Wickedbrat.
"Where did you find those?" inquired Aenau.
"In a box marked 'love notes from Berit to Medicuus," replied Wickedbrat.
"Oh ya I wrote that so no one would mess them," answered Chielings.
"They're worthless now anyways Wicked, lets keep looking." replied Tinkwell.
"Hey guys this shelf is filled with journals. Some of them are yours Arc." Uudy called out.
"Ya I like to pen some of my more interesting adventures. Are Aerich's notes there as well?" Arclight asked.
"I don't know. I found some tomes written by Aerich but I can barely translate them." Uudy replied frustrated.
"Here let me have a look at it," said Tasheaba as she began reading over Uudy's shoulder. "What a mess, every other sentence is in a different language!"
"Looks like Aerich used a lot of different sources for his research. This is written in old Draconian and Ancient Erudian. Some of it is in script I've never even seen before," explained Wickedbrat.
"So how the hell do we translate it then?" Chielings asked impatiently.
"I'll take it to the Great Library in Odus. We should be able to translate it there," decided Wickedbrat as she picked up the tome. Magic encircled her as she disappeared.
"Come on Sis, they'll need our help." Uudy told Tasheaba as magic gates opened teleporting the other two casters.
"Damn it I wish they'd wait for us for a change," cursed Quorthon. "Come on Arc I guess we got to walk to the Hall of Portals."
Meiera just giggled and replied, "That's because we ladies know how to travel." Magic gathered around her and she disappeared as well.
Arclight simply let out a sigh and said, "That's it. I'm gonna go find Lyn or one of the other shamans and buy a couple dozen teleport potions."
Schadoe laughed and tossed Arclight a crystal vial saying, "Here Arc but I doubt it'll help. As long as I've been with Meiera I've never seen anybody keep up with her.
After entering several portals Quorthon and Arclight reached Erudin. A very elegant and tranquil city, Erudin housed one of the largest libraries in Norrath. Located in the center of the city. The tomes that lined the walls of the library were packed with as much knowledge and wisdom as the Erudites could store in them. Many of the books predated the building of the first human city of Qeynos.
If anyone could translate the ancient languages Aerich used, it would be the librarians there. Upon entering the Great Library Arclight and Quorthon saw their fellow guild members working with several of the librarians at a large table covered in scrolls, maps, and tomes. Meiera looked up from the table with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"What kept you two?" She asked with a giggle.
"Arc got lost again," replied Quorthon ignoring the scowl his companion threw him.
Walking up behind Wickedbrat as she was reading, Quorthon slipped his hand into hers.
"Your distracting me again hun," Wickedbrat said smiling as she continued to work.
"Good," Quorthon replied with a mischievous chuckle. Uudy just shook her head at the two and took Aerich's tome up to Ignacia Rellasp one of the Sages at the library.
"Were you able to find any reference to what we've translated already?" asked Uudy.
"One of our head sages Raine Beteria informed me that the enchanter's guild here in Erudin had some reference material on the Night of Darkness that would support Aerich's findings. She should be back with them soon," replied Ignacia. Arclight wandered off to a quiet corner of the library, his thoughts still on the recent attack he had survived.
Ckorik I need to speak with you for a moment, Arclight telepathically called out.
What is it Arclight? responded Ckorik.
I was thinking about the so called accident that happened to my group earlier, said Arclight.
Ah yes I was just discussing that with the other officers. Wait a moment while I link your mind to theirs, replied Ckorik. A second later Arclight sensed the presence of the other officers.
Well paladin you have something important you need to share with us, or are you just lost and looking for directions again? asked Aenau impatiently.
Bite me Aenau, Arclight replied. I was thinking about the forest I got ambushed in. I've been so wrapped up in the fact that our resurrection spells don't work that I didn't make the connection. What happened was no accident and who ever caused it probably knew of our spell failure.
We just came to that conclusion ourselves Arc, pointed out Vdaan. Like Teidden said there was nothing there. Those things came out of now where. We were set up.
Great we're in agreement on that. Next question is who did this and when do we go put the RoD stamp on his or her ass? asked Chielings.
Wait a second if this was a deliberate attack, then how the hell did they know where we'd be to set up the ambush? The only people who had that knowledge were other guild members! exclaimed Arclight.
And so the paladin reveals what I had feared, we have a traitor among us. said Ckorik. No one said anything but Arclight could feel the disbelief of the other officers as tried to accept what Ckorik just told them.
Ckorik…I can't believe it. I don't think anyone would stoop this low, especially one of our own! Ilyeana exclaimed.
For the moment Ilyeana, it's the only thing that makes sense. As rotten as it is to think about. replied Arclight.
That's our friends we're talking about! People who've saved our lives more times then we can count! protested Arnwolf.
For once I agree with the paladin. Aenau retorted. Quit letting your feelings cloud the facts. Too much is at stake for us to turn a blind eye.
But if that's the case then who the hell could it be? asked Qasar.
I'm not gonna let this turn into blind accusations. If you've got solid proof of someone's guilt come see me in private. Ckorik ordered. Otherwise keep your thoughts to yourself and keep this between the officers and Arclight. I also don't want you second guessing your people and I don't them second guessing each other. All of our guild members deserve better then that. Just…keep an open mind.
I'm sorry I still don't buy that one of us is responsible. Maecbeth replied.
Even a paladin may fall from grace Maec. It may only happen once in a blue moon or in this case once in a damn dark night, but it can happen. said Arclight as he recalled one of Qeynos's former commanders.
I'm going to go research the records at Neriak. They may have some answers the Erudites don't, decided Aenau.
Careful Aenau I want you to take some others with you to watch your back, insisted Ckorik. Get what you can and then get back here.
Have Erudites been able to uncover any new information Arc? Berit asked.
Not yet, the enchanter guild is doing some research for us. But Aenau's right, this is all tied to the Night of Darkness, replied Arclight.
What makes you say that? asked Ilyeana.
Cause I can feel it coming. Its like a chill on my skin. said Arclight. Paladins and Clerics are sensitive to evil like that. Even before I was a knight of Karana I could go outside and tell by the air there was going to be a storm, its just like that. There is something evil in the air. I can feel it growing. Don't know any specifics except… this is gonna be a bad one.
The researchers had returned with news so Meiera went to get Arclight. After they both returned Raine Beteria introduced the enchanter with her, "This is the leader of our enchanter guild Morganel Yaf."
"Greetings members of the Ring of Destiny. We of the Enchanter's guild hope you find our knowledge useful," said the spell weaver. "While the cause of the Night of Darkness is still unknown, we are only just beginning to unravel its effects. The magical energy released by these calamities is tremendous. The power seems almost divine in nature but completely corrupt and tainted."
"You have no idea where this power is coming from?" asked Quorthon.
"I'm afraid not," replied Raine. "We've had other spell casters attempt to research the night as well, but none seemed to make the great leaps your enchanter did. From what we were able to translate in his tome, the dark magic released on those nights seem to focus on the evil planes. Hate, Torment, Nightmare, and the other planes of existence that thrive on darkness and evil."
"Which is probably why we've seen so many attacks from each of those planes on these Nights," explained Morganel. "Creatures of the night, particularly undead spirits and cursed monsters seem to thrive and draw power from them. Almost everyone of these disasters orchestrated by a God or Goddess using the unnatural power of the Night of Darkness."
Which must be why we've had to bury so many companions on these nights. Arclight telepathically said to the other Ring members. Enemies that we were more then able to defeat usually, get blessed with evil strength and powers that we've never seen. Much less know how to fight against.
We should head back to the keep then. Quorthon decided. The others we'll need our help if that's what we up against.
"Thank you for your assistance," Tasheaba said. "We must return to our friends now."
"Take this pendant," said Morganel as she handed Meiera a necklace. The necklace was a silver chain with an onyx crescent moon. "It will allow you to contact me if you require further assistance."
"An excellent idea Morgenal," said Raine. The sage reached into her pocket and pulled out an emerald ring which she handed to Tasheaba. "If we discover anything else in the library, we'll contact you through this."
"Thank you for your assistance. We truly appreciate it," replied Uudy as she bowed. The group returned to the portals that would take them home.
Once they reached the keep Meiera and Arclight went to report to Ckorik at his study. Ckorik's study was filled with black spell books, staffs, wands, and strange spell components. The components ranged from small jewels and potions to bits and pieces of creatures the like of which Meiera hoped she'd never meet. Silver runes lined the dark red walls and ceiling. Arclight decided he was glad that Ckorik was such a powerful spell caster, because he'd make a lousy interior decorator.
"Did you find out anything useful?" Ckorik asked.
"Only that in the past the power of the Night of Darkness was used by several of the evil gods. We may be facing one of their schemes," replied Arclight.
Ckorik considered and thought about the possibility before responding, "That would be unlikely. All the gods have withdrawn from mortal affairs. Even if it was one of them. It is unlikely that they would single us out."
"Unlikely but not impossible," said Arclight.
"True enough," Ckorik replied. "Hopefully Aenau will discover something in Neriak. She's with Mizr N'Mar one of the sages there. I don't trust the bastard but Aen should be able to retrieve some information from him. It will take some time to complete her research so I suggest you both get some rest." Nodding in agreement Arclight and Meiera left. Walking through the hallways of the giant keep, Meiera paused outside the double twin doors to the great hall were so many of their companions now lay.
"I know what you mean now Arc," Meiera said her eyes not leaving the door. "About feeling the something evil in the air. It's like I can close my eyes and almost see it. Its out there and its not something you can use your weapons or my magic to stop. It just keeps getting closer and it scares me.
"Scares me too Meiera," replied Arclight. "But other things have scared me too. I'd rather face them instead of showing them that I was scared."
Meiera quietly walked over to the door and peeked inside at the bodies of her friends. "How do you face something that can't see or touch?
"I don't know Mei… but I know it starts with not giving up." Arclight told her as he pulled her away from the door. "You'll never get rid of the fear at least I never found a way to, but you go on as strong and with as much heart as you can. If you can do that, the fear will never takes anything from you. You beat evil by using every scrap of fight left in your heart. And on the day you lose you keep fighting anyways to win as much as you can before you go."
Meiera sighed a little managed to give Arclight a small smile as she replied, "I know Arclight I know, Vae Victus."
"Damn right little angel, never let anything beat you. Never give up. No matter how long it takes." Arclight said grinning. "This time I'm the one telling you to quit worrying and go get some sleep." Finally Meiera laughed as she went to her room to rest and Arclight walked back to his. Passing the great hall he caught a glimpse of the bodies inside. "Vae Victus." He said as he promised himself not to give up until his friends were back.