The journey back from the depths of the Maguuma to Kryta was long, hard, and involved a risky journey down a river. Siuil had never been happier that he had been talked into the gladiator armor. As it had been on the ship from the former Guild Island, his plate armor would have been a severe detriment to him if he had fallen into the water. The river was not shallow, and the bottom was weedy and likely soft. A fall into the water during a fight, or at any time, would have spelled an instant death from drowning. Not to mention the permanence of such a death as one had to have their body recovered for resurrection spells to work. If he sank, there would be no recovering of his body.
Even still, he had found it difficult to leave behind Selena. She remained the Henge of Denravi with the centaur and the Shining Blade, as per the deal she had made for their safe passage. Siuil sighed, and looked over at Arya, "Now, could you please explain why?"
"Why what?"
"Why you moved the Guild Hall from New Ascalon," he rolled his eyes at her deliberate avoidance of the subject.
She didn't immediately answer, "Well, I didn't want any guild battles to take place in the village. After seeing Prince Salamar, I didn't want the risk of having our homes destroyed again. Don't worry though, the new Guild Hall is in a suitable place."
He looked over at her, eyes thinning in thought, "What?"
It was Raistlin, who had decided to follow them from the jungles after all, who did; "She means she moved it to another place inhospitable to those who would take it from her. The new Guild Hall is in far Northern Shiverpeaks. She reached an agreement with Gatanx, who actually guards it from would-be invaders. Quite ironic, actually…"
Siuil's eyes moved from Raistlin to Arya in shock, "You are not serious… Arya, tell me he's not serious about that."
She sighed, "He's serious, and correct."
"But… Gods…" Siuil rubbed the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm glad I didn't get rid of my plate armor. That place is freezing."
Raistlin smirked, a half smile that didn't reach his eyes at all, "Yes, it is, isn't it. I don't truly relish such a place either. I would have far preferred one in the desert or perhaps a warmer place."
"I'll have to keep that in mind," answered Arya dryly.
Siuil laughed and looked back at his younger daughter who had been rather quiet lately. He walked to the back of the small barge to where she stood with one foot on the gunwale. "I can't get over how our allies are now enemies and our oldest enemy is soon to be our ally," she said. "I want to believe in them, but I find that too many years of hatred have gone by. I want to be like Selena and diplomatically bow to the thought of having a Charr fight by my side and not against me."
"But you can't," said Siuil, unsurprised at her sentiment. "To be frank, I am having the same trouble."
"That isn't everything," Terryann sighed as she straightened up. "I look at Selena and Salamar and can't help but feel incredibly jealous of her. Rurik was also a friend of mine, we fought together, and we talked. But… she ended up with him. I know I shouldn't be, but I wish I was Selena right now."
Siuil was not sure what to say to that, but Raistlin answered her, "Trust me, jealousy of one's siblings will get you no where. I learned that lesson long ago. But I know that it will never, ever, go away."
She looked at him quizzically, "And you would know this how?"
Another smile that never reached his eyes was her answer, "I have siblings of my own, one older by mere seconds, another older by eight years. I spent my entire life being in the shadow, or so I felt, of my twin brother, Caramon. But it was a one sided competition—one he had no clue I was fighting. One, if he had, he would have thought I was winning. You see, you may be jealous of your sister, but one the other hand, as I was, you may be surprised one day to learn that your sibling always wanted something you had but they did not. In my case, my brother had always been curious of magic, but never felt that magical tingle of casting a spell. I spent my entire life wishing that women would look my way instead of his. Only later did I learn that just as many looked my way, but I just didn't see their gazes as I was always gazing in jealousy at my brother's success. How ironic, isn't it? I wonder—if you were in Selena's role, I wonder if you would be jealous of yourself, eh? What would Selena be jealous of?"
Those standing around Raistlin, especially Akara, looked up in surprise. "Now, that was very well put, and perhaps accurate, Raistlin," said Ryniel. "So, Terryann, how do you suppose Selena feels about you?"
Terryann thought for a moment, "I don't know… I never thought about it before. I suppose she could feel slighted in the fact that I know my father better, which I can come and go as I please. That I have not felt the pain of losing my husband… or the worry that some other power has designs on my child or me."
"Ah, yes," said Raistlin. "How much so. You have freedom, where she does not. You continue to adventure with your father where as she cannot. Prince Rurik may have been her husband, but power such as that brings more weight of responsibility and less freedom that you may think, Ranger. Think on that. Could you continue to live your life among the wilds and the forest as a Princess?"
"No, I suppose not," conceded Terryann with a shudder. "Very well, Majere, you made your point."
"And a good thing too," said Arya suddenly. "Because we're here. Welcome to Sanctum Cay…"
Before Evennia would let them move on, they based in Sanctum Cay. I remember this as we had been sent out on a mission to retrieve the fabled Staff of Orr from the White Mantle. The mission was not extremely long, but hard fought. A few fell to never rise again.
Among those lost forever until meeting them again in the Mists was Io Lukas, Callie Bladesinger and… regretfully… Kristal La Rune the Mesmer wife of Terrence La Rune and mother of Xiyra La Rune and Markis went missing. The one thing I remember about all of this was how that even after all their deaths everyone fought to live, fought to continue their mission. It was as if even after their fall their comrades refused to give in and fought more fiercely.
In the end, the Staff was recovered and most of them escaped with our lives. When they returned to Sanctum Cay I felt an unusual feeling of loss and regret that I could not have gone with them. I regretted that I never got to know the ones that fell better than I had. Everything appeared to be well and while they mourned their losses, they looked forward to beginning the next mission.
But things were not all that they seemed…
The dock to Sanctum was not very far south of Fisherman's Haven, but the way was dangerous. More than once, Siuil found himself thanking his luck that there was enough back up from his guild to keep them all alive. They camped there for the night. When they awoke, more of the Guild was present, and then Selena walked forward with the Staff of Orr in her hands with Evennia at her side. Three bodies covered in linens lay at the foot of the dock.
She was lifted to the higher part of the dock where she spoke, "It seems that the last time we spoke of such things, we had more to celebrate. We had more people with us. In even that, my fallen husband had been there to lift our spirits. I cannot do that because my heart is too heavy with even more loss. Today we count four leaders that have fallen. It is those I wish to remember right now. The Elementalist Io Lukas, cut down before learning his true power and too young by any standard. He was younger than me and I am too young to see this much death. The Warrior Callie Bladesinger, who protected me on my way to Maguuma. And…"
Most stopped to look at Xiyra and Terrence who stood with each other before Selena continued, "My own Aunt, Kristal La Rune, fell while protecting another Mesmer. She fell protecting the one who was carrying this staff so that it would reach us and not fall into the hands of the enemy. One other, Markis, has gone missing and we pray for his safety, but know that he will likely also be in the Mists already for daring to fight against the injustice of the White Mantle."
The small crowd bowed their heads for a moment. "Now, I wish I could say that things will get better, they must, but even I am unsure. But I can tell you that I will not stop fighting, I will not give up. I will not let the darkness that fell upon Ascalon fall here nor anywhere else. To do so would dishonor our fallen heroes, would dishonor our families who now live on an island we have called New Ascalon. It would dishonor those who chose to stay behind and try to fight for a better day. I won't make you follow me, but I will ask you to keep faith that we have the power to stop the madness that has overtaken Tyria. Who stands with me?" she raised the staff.
"I do!" cried one voice, but no one was sure of whom.
With one voice, soon most, then all joined in the call. Selena nodded and smiled, "We will mourn our losses, but look forward to a new day! The White Mantle forces us from the Henge of Denravi, but in that we will continue our fight and take back was what taken."
Arya lifted Selena and brought her to stand on the ground. Selena looked up at the tall woman, "I wish I could be more like Rurik in rallying the troops."
"I think you did fine," said Arya. "You were honest, and they will follow you because you will always fight on and never give in. In that you have as much strength as Prince Rurik did."
"I just hope that I continue to find that strength," Selena turned to Raistlin a few moments after finishing. "I didn't think I would see you so soon since you were in Denravi."
"Call it a hunch," he said. "I want to meet this Vizier of Evennia's. So, I want to go with the party that goes to the monastery."
"I'll grant you that," Arya nodded. "That will be one Nuker down," she ignored his wince at the term, "I know Siuil wishes to go as well, and I will be going."
"I want Akara to come with me," his tone brooked no argument.
Arya blinked at his decisiveness, "Very well… may I ask why?"
He didn't immediately answer and even when he did, it was rather cryptic, "A necromancer where undead walks would have an immediate use, don't you think?"
Arya let that be, but rolled her eyes at the same time. Finally, in a loud voice, "All right, those heading to the monastery with us, fall in. We have Lynn Matheri, Akara Nikhiora, me, Siuil La Rune, any others?"
Akruan stepped up, "You'll need a healer, that would be me."
"I'll go as protective," Ryniel La Rune stepped up.
"That's one team, we'll need another to guard the boat," said Arya. "Any takers?"
Terrence lifted his hand, "I will."
A few others raised their hands as well, and the second team soon consisted of Terrence, Terryann, Sadsa Asd, Shala Jarias, Leiknar, Artemis Iocheaira and Ellantha Decameron. Arya turned to the other guild members, "Get on a ship and head to New Ascalon. Aliera, Sansa, pick out those for the ones to take with you to guard the new Guild Hall. If need be, don't be afraid to move it. Gatanx can lead you there. Until then, farewell and good luck!"
Sansa nodded, "Don't worry about it, we'll take care of everything."
The ship disembarked, and then when it was out of sight, Sansa turned to the remaining members of the guild. "All right, here's the deal. At least half of us need to head to New Ascalon and make sure it's well defended, as well as defend Lady Selena and Prince Salamar on their way home. Since the White Mantle knows who betrayed them, chances are that they'll take it out on the civilians first—and since Selena is Rurik's widow, you can guess whom their first target will likely be. Another group will head to the Settlement in North Kryta. Even if they don't attack, we can't depend on them to defend those still there. Move who you can to New Ascalon. Chances are that now that the truth is known the Krytans will not allow the White Mantle to remain in Kryta anyway, but we won't take any chances. Now, another team has to head to the Northern Shiverpeaks and defend our Guild Hall. Now, head out!"
Evennia turned to the twelve that stood with her on deck as the island came into view. She held the Staff of Orr that Selena had given to her to protect while she was taken back to New Ascalon with Salamar. "Siuil, Arya, I leave the Staff in your hands. It is up to you to get the Staff to Vizier Khilbron. You and your team will be on your own, and intelligence tells me the island is crawling with undead of an extreme type. We are counting on you."
Arya took the staff, and then turned and handed it to Raistlin, "Here, we need swords to fight, I leave this in your hands. But you have to keep with us, Lynn."
"I'll do my best, but to be honest, running and keeping up is not my best feature, Arya," he admitted. "We may have to take frequent breaks as I run out of breath quickly."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Siuil remarked. "It works best in the hands of mage, and you're that mage."
Akara interjected, "Another one of a kind staff to save all mankind handed over to the one man who could wipe out the face of a planet… again."
The glare from Lynn was scathing, but she ignored it. The boat docked and the gangway was lowered. The first group ran out, the staff in Lynn's hands and soon they were out of sight. Terrence sat on the dock, legs hanging over the edge. "I wouldn't do that," pointed out Evennia.
He looked up at her, puzzled. "Sharks," came here answer a few moments later and she laughed as he pulled his legs back up so fast that they were practically a blur.
As he stood on the dock, Terryann pointed, "Hey, what is that?"
They all looked over and Evennia shook her head, "It's the ghost of a small boy. None of us have been able to help him."
Terryann walked over and bent down, "Hey, kiddo, what's your name?"
The ghost took on definition and he said, "Simon."
"Hi, Simon, my name is Terryann, why aren't you sleeping?"
"I can't find my mommy…" he answered. "They said I would be able to find them, but I can't…"
"Hey, Evennia, is there perhaps a graveyard on the island?" asked Terryann.
Evennia thought for a moment, then shook her head in exasperation, "There is, but you cannot be serious… you have no way of knowing if that would help him or not."
"Has anyone ever tried to take you to a resting place?" asked Terryann to Simon.
The ghost shook his incorporeal head, and Terryann said, "There, you see, what are the chances that it will work? Hey, Uncle Terrence, Shala, you want to come with me?"
They shook their heads, but they followed anyway. Leiknar frowned, "We should not leave Evennia alone."
"I will be fine, there is nothing on this island but undead," she said. "And you will have taken care of all of them in the area anyway. Go ahead, but hurry back."
The second group, all but Artemis and Ellantha, went with Terryann. The two cats filled in the holes left. Artemis turned to Evennia, "Just how long do you think this will take?"
Evennia shrugged, "It might take a half day to journey there, and another back. More if they must fight all the way to Khilbron. It is all the way on the other side and the path is far from straight. In fact, it is twisting and hard climbing through jungle and up the side of a mountain. We may as well settle in on the boat."
"And this graveyard?" asked Ellantha.
"Not as far, but across the beach. It is a straighter path," answered Evennia. "They should be back in the afternoon… that is odd."
Artemis had also noticed the sudden silence, "I've got a bad feeling about this…"
"You aren't the only one," admitted Ellantha.
They turned as a figure came into view. Artemis lifted her bow and was about to shoot the sudden intruder, but he held up his hands as he came out of the shadows. "Markis!" exclaimed Evennia. "We all thought you dead."
"Indeed…" said Markis gravely. "So, where are the heroes of Ascalon and the Shining Blade?"
"On their way to the Vizier as we speak," said Evennia. "Come, my heart rejoices at seeing you alive."
"Oh?" said Markis as he smiled darkly. "Are you so sure about that?"
Evennia looked at him in puzzlement. "Markis… what are…"
Just then the rest of the figures came out the shadows. It became painfully obvious that Markis had betrayed them to the White Mantle. "Surrender, Evennia, and you and your friends will not be harmed."
"Markis…" Evennia shook her head. "How could you do this to us."
"The Unseen Gods are powerful," he said. "And they gave me the power to bring you out into the open and into the hands of the White Mantle."
As more White Mantle spilled onto the beach, Evennia realized that they were hopelessly outnumbered. Evennia held up her hands in surrender, "My friends, we have no choice."
Ellantha lay down her staff and Artemis put her bow on the dock as the White Mantle ran up and took them into their custody. In a final blow, Markis ordered, "Make sure the others cannot escape. Sink their boat and we'll take Evennia and her escort with us."
The Seekers used pitch and kerosene on the deck of the boat, then the Elementalist cast Firestorm. The three watched helplessly as the boat burned and then sank to the bottom of the harbor.
Raistlin stopped at the top of the hill, Akara close on his heels as she watched his back. They stood with the other four as they faced an older man in front of the monastery steps. He looked at them gravely and Arya, knowing who he was, bowed. "Vizier Khilbron," she said as she motioned for Raistlin to hand over the staff. "An honor to meet… Lynn, dammit, hand him the staff."
Raistlin's eyes narrowed as he stared at the Vizier. "I know you from somewhere. Have we met?"
"I do not think so," answered the man. "But I thank you for bringing me the staff."
Finally, Raistlin handed it to him, although he continued to scrutinize the man as if he was peeling the layers from him. Unable to see past what he saw, Raistlin finally shook his head. He was likely wrong… but the feeling still persisted. Arya glared at Raistlin, who merely frowned in return. Finally, the vizier spoke again, "A sight for sore eyes. This is a welcome relic from my home country. But the reunion is bittersweet. You have been betrayed."
"Betrayed?" asked Siuil. "By who?"
"By Markis," answered the Vizier. "Yes… he survived. But he has captured Evennia and your other comrades, and sunk your only way off the island to the bottom of the sea."
"But… Terrence… Terryann… the others…" sputtered Siuil, paling.
Arya put a hand on his arm, "So we are trapped here?"
"No, if you get me to the dock on the other side of the island I will be able to call from the sea another ship that will take us from this place. But the island is crawling full of White Mantle who will seek all of our deaths," he answered. "I can call this ship, but I need five minutes to cast the ritual required and I will need you to protect me at the same time."
"But you just said the island is full of White Mantle," said Raistlin. "How do you profess we fight our way through all of them?"
"Ah, but you have allies now," said Khilbron. "Fear not the walking dead. With this staff, they are now allies."
He waved it and more undead began to crawl from the ground, more wraiths materialized, and those that were still giving chase peacefully stopped and turned from them. "Now you have an army to aid you, but hurry, the more time we lose here, the more White Mantle that arrive," with that Vizier Khilbron disappeared.
Akara cast a spell, and then giggled. "Hey, look, now I have a familiar to follow me around!" she exclaimed.
They all turned to face her and the wraith that seemed dead set on following her around. Lynn looked up at the sky, rolled his eyes and shook his head with his hands on his hips. "Akara… we don't actually have time for…" he was cut off as a White Mantle war cry was heard as they encountered the undead, now on the heroes side. "They come."
Arya and Siuil drew their swords in one fluid motion as they moved to the fore. "Siuil and I will get to the dock and defend the Vizier, everyone else follow and clear the path," said Arya. "I don't suppose…"
"I can only teleport to places I have seen before," responded Lynn. "Sorry, Arya."
"It's not your fault," she said. "Now, come on."
They began to run down the hill towards the dock that the Vizier had directed them to. The White Mantle was indeed everywhere. Arya and Siuil began to run ahead and Lynn led the rest just behind them. Arya would run ahead while Siuil tended to hang back and clear paths so that the rest could keep up. A short moment later, Leiknar backed him up when it became clear that he couldn't do it himself.
The undead helped as well as they could, and Akara's wraith in fact did wonders to block incoming spells and arrows. Lynn stole a healing spell from a White Mantle monk, and began to use a protective spell on the party that he could reach. Akruan shouted to him, "Dammit, why can't you Mesmers do your own jobs?" but Akruan was smiling as the stolen spell prevented the White Mantle monk from using it.
"Funny, I thought I was!"
Leiknar's axe flew to cleave into a Scout's head, saving Sadsa from being shot by an arrow from behind. It was at this point that they realized that there was a lot more arrows flying around, and not all of them were directed at them. Siuil turned his head and could see a familiar Melandru's Stalker running through the undergrowth to jump and rip out the throat of an unsuspecting Justicar. He went down heavily and Cambe jumped off with a snarl as she clawed another White Mantle close to her.
Half the arrows became flame arrows and he could hear the snarling and growling of another Melandru's Stalker and he smiled. Back up had just arrived in the form of Terrence's team. They fought hard to get to the dock to find Arya engaged in keeping the enemy from the dock by distracting them to get them to chase her. The cats ran to back her up as they ran in to even the odds. Just as the Vizier finished his spell and shouted, "Run onto the boat!" he realized that the wave of White Mantle that had been attacking him were now all dead. "Incredible… you are all as I have heard. Now, we must all go. I will explain on the ship."
They ran onto the ship, it sailed away, and he quickly counted them, "I count ten, plus two Melandru's Stalkers. So, some of the other team escaped Markis' treachery."
Siuil nodded, "Vizier, this is my brother, Terrence, my daughter Terryann and their team."
"Greetings, Vizier," said Sadsa.
"Greetings," he said. "Now, I explain things. The White Mantle are led by what are called the Unseen Gods. I do not know what these Unseen Ones are, but I know that the Flameseeker Prophecies have led the White Mantle to fear the Chosen."
"Why?" asked Leiknar.
"Because the prophecy clearly states that the Chosen will Ascend and defeat their Unseen Gods, and bring about their fall," answered the Vizier. "Among other things."
"So that was why they were killing them in Bloodstone Fen," mused Arya. "What does this have to do with us?"
"You are all Chosen," was the blunt and short answer.
Raistlin's eyebrows rose, "What?"
"You are the Chosen in the Flameseeker Prophecies, and you have been Chosen to Ascend and defeat the White Mantle's Unseen Gods, and save Tyria," answered Khilbron. "In some of your cases, I find this ironic."
Akara got the distinct feeling that this had been aimed towards Raistlin and herself, but she didn't say anything. It was bad enough that were enough glances in their direction anyway. Arya mused, "So… what do we do?"
"All of you head to the Crystal Desert and seek Ascension," answered Raistlin.
"All of us?" asked Siuil, suddenly suspicious. "What about you?"
"I am already Ascended," he answered. "Or so I should be considering my origin… isn't that right, Vizier?"
The Vizier looked at him, then a sudden recognition raised his eyebrows, "Ah… so I understand finally why we know each other. Greetings, little mage, I did not expect to find you here. For if you are here and not… from your origin… then you have grown in power. Perhaps to finally match me fully, but we will see, will we not?"
The look between the two was clear challenge, and Raistlin said, "I begin to understand why I am here. But why you?"
"This is my origin, before all has happened in your timeline, old friend," answered Khilbron. "And so you prove your mastery over both time and space by bringing yourself back to this. Do you seek my final destruction?"
"That depends entirely on you," answered Raistlin.
Akara watched as the two of them faced off, as did the others. They didn't understand, but considering what she knew of Raistlin, she did, "Fistandantilus."
"Yes…" said the Vizier. "And now you know my true appearance, and my true self."
Then he realized, "But you did not know about me being here… so… that was not why you were sent here, was it?"
"No, I was not," Raistlin sighed. "It has something to do with the Unseen Gods."
Arya interjected, "Okay, fellas, obviously by some means you know each other but you aren't about to tell us. Now, about this so called Ascension…"
The vizier looked over at her, "It is an arduous process, one that your companion does not need to go through as when he came to us he had to go through the Hall of Heroes to come here. For in the Hall of Heroes is the pathway to other worlds. But that is neither here nor there. I will direct this ship to head to the Oasis. From there, he is actually more familiar with the denizens and layout of the Desert since it is the first place he saw when he arrived here."
"Well then," said Sadsa. "I guess we have a whole other adventure to go on now…"