Ch 5: Class
"You said you encountered possession?" Gabe asked.
"That's right," Misty said, somewhere beyond his field of vision.
"How's my case different?" Since stepping off Gabe had made it a point to learn as much as could about Faerun. He wanted at least a working knowledge of the world before arriving in Janan. Since Sunny made for a horribly one-sided conversation, that only left Misty.
The pixie suddenly materialized over his left shoulder out of a prism of light. Gabe barely blinked. Invisibility; Just another aspect of her Druidcraft. Her abilities had ceased being a surprise several miles back. He was either finally getting used to it or was just jaded to the shock of it all.
At least my headache is starting to subside.
"Hmm…" she floated about his head, tapping her chin before coming up with a suitably dumbed down answer. Yet another thing he was getting used to. Feel like I'm in grade-school again. "Most possessions are…imperfect," she explained, "The spirit is usually evil or desperate to finish something on this plain." Shrugging she went back to recline across the top of his pack. "The occupying spirit struggles to suppress the soul of the owner." Gabe ignored the feeling of her tiny finger plucking at his hair. "It's like the body refuses to obey the spirits will." A tiny digit prodded his left ear. "You don't seem to have that issue."
"Oh… That's a…relief?" Honestly, Gabe wasn't sure if it was or wasn't. If his ghost had taken over Ivellios' body that would've ruled out a number of his working theories. Unfortunately, without a definitive answer that wasn't the case.
So, along with magic, possession is a thing here. Pair that with alternate 'realms' and Gabe was coming up with a few working theories. Hopeful Theory #1: Gabe was in a coma and this was all one lucid hallucination. Realistic Theory #2: Gabe died, shifted dimensional lanes enroute to judgment, and ended up possessing the body of Ivellios. Amusing Theory #3: Gabe and Ivellios had a near-death experience and their souls switched places. Upsetting Theory #4: Gabe lead a messed-up life, and this was either purgatory or his own personal hell. Distressing Theory #5: His version of heaven didn't exist, and Gabe had been reincarnated as Ivellios.
At that point, each theory was as plausible as the next, though the last couple made his soul weep a bit. Unfortunately, they all failed to answer the same pressing question. Why? Why Gabe? Why Ive? Why this world? Why now? He was no closer to answering that question as getting his ears to retake their human shape.
Still too many unknowns.
His gut told him Faerun's magic would be the key. At least that's what he hoped. The more Gabe learned about how he got there the higher the likelihood he could figure out a way back. Unfortunately, the only thing he learned from Misty was how pitiful her knowledge was compared to the wider world.
Outside of her own Druidcraft, the pixie knew virtually nothing about the other forms of magic. What she did know was what she'd picked in her travels with Ive. Gabe surmised there were multiples classes to harnesses the various powers that permeated Faerun.
Basically: Wizards are the bookworm, Harry Potter types. Warlocks made pacts with devils and demons; Charlie Daniels would be proud. Druids, like the fey, harness the power of nature as hippies are want to do. And sorcerers pull magic out of their asses because somehow someway they were born with that power.
About the time Misty mentioned Bardic magic, Gabe pleaded for her to stop. Getting the gist of the magic-user types was already threatening another migraine.
His headache didn't improve when Misty clarified there weren't one, nor two, but three planes of existence. And those are just the ones she's aware of! Gabe had landed on the material plane, which is to say it was earth-like aside from the presence of magic. Misty was born in the feywild, a place of pure magic. Then there was Shadowfell. Misty didn't know much about it other than it wasn't a nice place to visit.
"But it sounds so inviting," he'd quipped.
It turned out the pixie was as adept at snobbery as discerning sarcasm. Sunny whinnied in agreement. Other than following them around, the mare's only contribution to the discussion was the occasional snort and odd defecation. The horse made it abundantly clear it had no intention of letting him ride. What good was the stubborn nag? At least Misty provided intel, albeit limited.
Maybe I can sell the horse and tack. Gabe was curious how much he'd get. Other than information, food and shelter would also become a priority. According to Misty Ive drank away the last of their coin weeks ago. He'd paid for supplies by pawning and selling various items and tools of his trade.
His bow and quiver had been the first thing he'd sold. Knew it was wasn't racist to assume the elf had one! The bastard had traded it for a cask of wine.
Just then some things the pixie had mentioned earlier coalesced in his memory. She'd said Ive had been a knight. Looking at his worn equipment Gabe wouldn't have known. Other than the ornate sword and gauntlets, these were not the vestments of a noble knight. Neither his shield nor tunic bore a coat-of-arms. Curious, Gabe asked, "What kind of knight has no sigil?"
"Oh, Ive hasn't been a knight for a while now," she replied quickly, a look of cold indifference covering her face. "Had to give up his title after bedding the princess," she murmured in a low voice.
Gabe spun so fast to face her he nearly fell over. Sunny whinnied angrily but was ignored. "He did what!?" he exclaimed eyes wide. Here I thought she could shock me?
Flushing a deeper shade of green Misty covered her mouth. She shook her head vigorously, but Gabe wouldn't allow it. So far Gabe had only known Ive as the 'drunken former hero.' Suddenly the elf was looking more like 'Ive the heartbreaker.' Can't drop a bombshell like that and suddenly go mute, sweetheart! Gabe was never the type to gossip. The rumor mill was among the most annoying things growing up in a small town. But this was different. Since occupying the elf's body any information was like discovering a lost piece of himself. Sure, at some point he'd like to learn about Ive's early life but now…
After a few moments of poking and prodding the pixie finally relented. Maybe any desire to keep her companion's secrets faded with his death. Or was it, since Gabe possessed Ivellios there was no point and keeping secrets? Either way, Gabe didn't care how the pixie justified it so long as she spilled the beans. I mean bedding a princess!? Details woman! Details!
With a reluctant sigh, the pixie began her tale. "Long story short, Ive saved the princess from an evil sorcerer. They fell in love."
Gabe almost strained a muscle trying not to roll his eyes. God, can you get anymore tropey? It was like the plot of every early Disney princess film. Keeping his comments to himself he allowed the pixie to continue.
"They wanted to marry but the King wouldn't allow it. Even though he was a knight and a hero, he wasn't nobility." Gabe winced. Even after saving the monarch's daughter, Ive received no political mojo. Without land or coin, even a hero was no better than a peasant. Damn, the politics of this world suck worse than on earth. At least back home one had the freedom to marry up or down as they pleased despite social norms. He tried not to think of his ex-wife in that instance and instead refocused on Misty's story. "Their love persisted. And the day before she was supposed to marry a prominent Duke they…ummm…"
Wow… that's less Disney and a bit more Shakespeare.
Given the pixie's earlier boldness, he was surprised to see a bashful side. Not sure what to make of it he made a 'continue' gesture saying, "I get the point." Gabe had to admit it was a bit of a dick move for Ive to cuckold this Duke fella but to bed a princess? My man, aiming for the stars. "So, what happened next?"
Though still blushing fiercely Misty managed to keep her composure. "The King couldn't execute Ive," she said sitting atop Sunny, who'd taken to nibbling on roadside shrubbery. "Instead he was exiled under penalty of death should he return."
Gabe whistled. That was a bummer. Never getting to see his homeland or the woman he loved ever again? No wonder he drowned himself in a bottle. Thinking objectively, Gabe figured Ive had gotten lucky. Sure, it would've been a poor political move, but both the king and duke would've saved face by executing him. On the other hand, Ive could retreat, obtain fame and riches, before eventually returning more popular than ever. At least that's what Gabe would've done.
Misty seemed to have followed Gabe's thoughts. Sighing she flew to land on his shoulder, indicating for them to keep walking. Once they'd set out again, she said, "Ive sought redemption. He cleared dungeons by himself, defeated monsters by the dozens, and saved countless lives along the frontier." Her depressed sigh tickled his ear. "It was after we saved a city from a mad Alchemist, we learned the Princess had gone through the with the wedding. They'd had a child…and she was happy."
Oof. Gabe felt his heart pang sympathetically for Ive. To go through all that just learn the love of your life had moved on. That had to be a psychological kick to the balls. The pixie looked away just as Gabe heard a small sniffle. He pretended not to notice the moisture on her cheeks.
"That was half a year ago," she said after a while. 'And he hasn't been sober since' went unsaid. Heartbreak was a bitch-and-a-half to contend with, as Gabe knew all too well. Unlike Ivellios Gabe hadn't sunk into alcoholism, …but it had been damn close. They walked in awkward silence for another mile or so, Misty fading in an out of sight.
Unable to handle the tension Gabe said the only thing he could think of. "How'd you two meet?" A light giggle escaped the pixie. She turned back towards him smiling, her dank mood forgotten. Was this chick bipolar or something?
"Wasn't by choice," she said and continued at his questioning glance, "Ive was wounded. He knew pixie dust had healing properties, so he captured me." Gabe blinked several times, unable to think of a response. "A wizard performed a planar binding ritual." Leaning forward she touched her ankle revealing a small golden band. "And I haven't been able to leave his side ever since." Over the years she'd lost count of how many times she'd healed the elf, or how one of her minor spells had turned the tide of a battle. And yet Ivellios never gave her a name!? To him she just another magical item in his arsenal.
"Wait so you're his slave?" Misty shrugged, uncharacteristically blasé about the idea. Was this a case of Stockholmer Syndrome? Had Misty been ensnared so long it no longer bothered her? Gabe just couldn't get a read on Ivellios. One moment he was praising the elf as a hero, and the next… the next I just want to kick his teeth in. Sure, he saved a kingdom, but he essentially enslaved a pixie to help him do it. Was Ive an 'ends justify the means' type of hero?
Gabe may have occupied the elf's body, but he knew nothing of who the man was. Now he was stuck dealing with all his baggage; literally and figuratively. What an asshole. "There a way to break the spell?" he asked offhandedly. Listen to me, even I'm starting to be casual about this shit!
The pixie blinked before looking away. "I've never…" Misty went silent, pensively looking off in the distance. Finally, she smiled and shrugged. "Not that I know of."
Great so even if I wanted to get rid of this pixie, I can't. So, on top of trying to get home, Gabe would have to deal with the consequences of Ivellios' decisions. He was an exile, broke, with a pixie slave, and a horse he couldn't ride. …fuck…
Maybe early in his life, Ivellios had been a paragon of virtue. At some point, the elf had figured out that lofty ideals were borne of naivety and sometimes one had to do a little evil for a greater good. To save a kingdom and the woman he loved, had cost Ivellios a part of himself. And then despite his sacrifices and determination, he still lost everything.
So, the world chewed you up and spit you out… maybe we got more in common than I thought.