Side Story 1
Titania hummed in happiness.
Despite her stoic face, anyone could tell that she was happy. The flowers around her bloomed,the sky was clear, and the atmosphere around her garden was filled with the fragrant winds of colourful petals. It was the extent of her powers that manifested her emotions upon the world.
After her meeting with the undead visitor, her number of subjects had increased way beyond her estimation.
A fey was a creature of emotion, that manifested the purity of one's mind onto the feywild. And if that emotion was strong, in terms of age, they would get the chance to evolve too. As for those who could not find that emotion again, would just limit the growth of the feys.
Titania herself was born out of merciful feelings of a great Saint. However, she never met this Saint in her immortal existence. Not that she cared at all. She was just curious about this person, who could push her growth limits beyond any other fey.
Except her sister.
Thinking about the Queen of Air and Darkness, the Summer Queen remembered about her deal with that undead archmage named Satoru. The lich who brought the new subjects through his alien magic. The magic that neither belonged to Feywild or Faerun. And yet, it resonated well with the world like it was a distant family member or something.
The fairies of his were stronger than average fairies in terms of magic. And almost each of them had affinity fir divination magic. She confirmed with Satoru that these fairies helped to find his way out of the colourless world.
He described that world like it was Deep Ethereal or the like. But Titania knew that such a feat was impossible as that world was beyond the boundaries of natural Inner Planes. But if his words were true, then she might be lucky enough to have over over 100 fairies with the potential of the greatest divination magic.
While she was interested to know more about his magic and his history, she caught few things about Satoru that other liches never had.
Firstly, he was very calm and collected about his situation. That alone was not enough to make him peculiar or anything. It was his calm demeanor that never changed even when standing in the Feywild.
Most undeads would either hated this realm or be afraid of living here. The Feywild was not an ideal place for undeads where only living things existed and life was everywhere in this world. But Satoru was different.
He admired the Feywild and the living beauty of this realm. He even let his defenses down to enjoy this world and got affected by it. As their discussion got heated up, and he lost his control over the emotions which he should never had, but the Feywild provided him.
And this was where she caught his another facade.
He yearned for his friends.
He never said that, nor even discussed over this topic, but she seemed to recognize it. After all, she was not the mistress of Seelie Court if she could not even read the emotions of others through their words and actions alone. In her view, he was seeking an equal with whom he could his insecurities.
Normally, liches were seclusion seekers. They wasted most of their existence to seek the knowledge of magical art and to become the strongest in the Art of magic. Satoru was different in this field as well.
Everytime she asked about his magic, he dodged her questions subtly. He acted way too humble for being such a powerful archmage. It was too confusing for her at the first time.
Though he ignorantly made a deal with her to free his sister from the influence of the corruption, the excitement in his words said that he loved to make these deals.
From there, she finally managed to conclude that Satoru was an Archlich of his world, the rarest lich who loved to help others with passion.
Titania smiled. She made a good deal with the best person. He might look like a demonic entity, but he could not hide his passion of goodness away from her. But at the same time, he emitted his evil aura that made her doubt at her own theory about him.
It further confused her as she had never seen a person who could be both a good person, despite having such a evil presence.
"Just what are you Satoru?"
Side Story 2
Mystra, or in case her Avatar, frowned as she watched the Kryptgarden forest with her scrutinizing gaze.
The entire forest looked extremely vibrant and enchanting like how it previously do. And while she was aware of the tragedy of what happened to the verdant prince of this forest, she never interfered.
It was not her duty to help every single mortal in the realm with a wave of her hand. Otherwise, they would become dependent upon her and the rest of deities would hate her for taking away their worshippers. However, she was not Mystryl at all.
Unlike the chaotic goddess of magic, that Mystryl was, there was an opposition between the first goddess and the current one.
Mystra wanted a balance. She demanded respect from her worshippers. To respect her providence of magic upon the world. She gave them a limited freedom to do whatever they wanted with her magic or to create a new spell or a potion. She administered the Weave as they often fought for her favor.
She was tired of all the pleading, treachery, and flattery from her worshippers. Sometimes they would go to a great length of impressing, like committing a mass sacrifice. Well, that would be counterproductive as Lathander would hate her for supporting such type of people.
It was fine, if they sacrificed with an intent of practicing magic, not out of obsession for reaching the status of magic.
She, as the Mother of All Magic, was tired of all this.
The only reason she was still sane and doing her work so well, was because of few good souls who often showed respect to her Art. They loved her for bringing magic to their realm, they respected her resilience against the likes of Bane and his psychopaths, and they worshipped as a form of gratitude towards her providence.
She sighed.
It was not the time to think about the past. She had a mission to do than thinking about her trivial history with Faerun.
She detected that her spell was used over this forest. She sensed the presence of necromantic spells being used here. But then, out of nowhere, it all vanished like someone splashed water upon her previous magic. This was the only clue she had so far.
She further looked around to watch for any other "alien" presence in the forest. But found nothing.
Growing bored of her failure to find this miraculous vanishing of her magical spells, she decided to get put of this forest. But then, a thought ran in her mind.
She quickly transformed in a raven and flew around the forest to check upon the sole Archfey of this area — King Witchthorn.
It took her few minutes to find the verdant prince of the Kryptgarden who, unlike any king, was taking good care of his wife. She was aware of a dark spell used upon her, buy the same alien power could be felt on her. As a goddess of magic, she was extremely attuned with the energies that permeated the multiverse.
Separating this alien form of energy out of others, was a daunting task. It was like this unknown magic was warping itself with weave to hide its presence. Mystra would have called this idea genius if only this came from her clerics or chosens.
As she erased her presence and heightened her senses, she secretly heard their conservation.
It was very sweet and romantic. Not one she heard from an evil-aligned creature like Witchthorn. But he indeed had some of his fair share of romantic lines.
She was regretting to come hear as they were not showing anything wrong with what transpired in here. As she was about to fly away, she heard what could be the key of the mysterious event on the Krptgarden.
"His magic is kind of unseen around here. To think he can purge the entire forest with just one
Super spell, I must say that he is extremely strong."
"Do you think Lord Satoru helped us out of goodness of his heart?" The dryad asked.
"No. I am not sure. We have talked before, but I am not good enough to read the true intent of others. He is similar to a lich and his lack of facial expressions make it hard fie me to know the truth of his personality."
So, this Satoru person was the one who fixed this forest, Mystra's Avatar thought.
She would like to meet this person right away. But a part of her mind was cautious enough to put her on guard.
She wondered of what kind of person this lich was.