Quyen turned the page of the journal log written by Calliope. Above him a small ball of light floated, providing light and warmth for those inside his magical shelter. After not being able to find a quick way back home, Quyen had decided to hide them both somewhere. Somewhere was the right word. Somewhere safe. Somewhere without exits and entrances. He bit down on the stick between his teeth rather than a cigarette, as to not suffocate them both with cigarette smoke. So she thinks me strange, huh? He turned another page and read about the merchant and eventually about the gnome. He wondered about the things she had written down. What did they mean? What did she discover that she had done? He squinted at her. Obsessions are dangerous, girl, he thought. With his right hand palm he touched her forehead and checked the temperature, pushing her black locks out of her face. Warm, but not feverish. He pushed his coat away and checked her bandaged body to see if any of her wounds had reopened again. But they hadn't. Smiling, he placed his coat back over her and leaned back.
The coat slowly moved up and down by her steady breathing. And a melancholic feeling crept over Quyen as he thought back of the past. Damn, you look so much like her. So this is what you meant Ror? Bastard. He closed his eyes and rested while he could. She probably had questions when she woke up.
The new tenant
A note has been pinned on the notice board in the common room of the Citadel:
============================================================
I've moved into room 201 as the former owner moved out. He agreed that I could move in and told me it would be a good way to get to know some new faces.
Looking forward to getting acquainted next time I'm around.
- Quyen
============================================================
============================================================
I've moved into room 201 as the former owner moved out. He agreed that I could move in and told me it would be a good way to get to know some new faces.
Looking forward to getting acquainted next time I'm around.
- Quyen
============================================================
Reclaiming the Merchant Sails
"FIVE DAMN YEARS, and you never saw fit to find send out aid!" Zelgadis stormed into the office of the man he'd left in charge of his fleets. "I should take you out and hang you from the cliffs!"
"Heya... Zel... I can't believe it's you man... Uh... We tried.. And uh...." The short fat sailor in blue and white stripes stammered from under a red bandana he wore as a cap. He grinned uncomfortably as Zelgadis walked across the room and grabbed him by the collar.
"Nothing you could have done my friend. But I see you've done a piss poor job at handling things." Zelgadis' grin caused the man to breathe a sigh of relief. Zelgadis pulled a map from the wall of the Great Sea, the Realm between Realms. And after brushing off the junk on the desk onto the floor he pulled out a dagger and marked their course.
"But Zel, there.... There's nothing there... In those parts... People have checked!" He gulped hard when he saw the evil grin spread across Zel's face.
"THAT my friend, is not the case." He chuckled lightly to himself. Fortune may not have been with him all those years ago, but he wouldn't let that stop him now. "How many ships do we have left?"
"Err... Just the one sir... The Blue Rose" The man looked down, knowing how disappointed Zel was with him.
"Cheer up, I'm back, you're not going to have to worry about being in charge anymore." Zel pulled the dagger out of the desk and put it back in it's place on his belt. "Get her ready, we sail at dawn." He walked out of the office and the pudgy man began busily running about the office and beat him to the door down to the docks to recruit some sailors.
"Heya... Zel... I can't believe it's you man... Uh... We tried.. And uh...." The short fat sailor in blue and white stripes stammered from under a red bandana he wore as a cap. He grinned uncomfortably as Zelgadis walked across the room and grabbed him by the collar.
"Nothing you could have done my friend. But I see you've done a piss poor job at handling things." Zelgadis' grin caused the man to breathe a sigh of relief. Zelgadis pulled a map from the wall of the Great Sea, the Realm between Realms. And after brushing off the junk on the desk onto the floor he pulled out a dagger and marked their course.
"But Zel, there.... There's nothing there... In those parts... People have checked!" He gulped hard when he saw the evil grin spread across Zel's face.
"THAT my friend, is not the case." He chuckled lightly to himself. Fortune may not have been with him all those years ago, but he wouldn't let that stop him now. "How many ships do we have left?"
"Err... Just the one sir... The Blue Rose" The man looked down, knowing how disappointed Zel was with him.
"Cheer up, I'm back, you're not going to have to worry about being in charge anymore." Zel pulled the dagger out of the desk and put it back in it's place on his belt. "Get her ready, we sail at dawn." He walked out of the office and the pudgy man began busily running about the office and beat him to the door down to the docks to recruit some sailors.
The Muse (Part 7)
*Scrolled in a neat blue script, a Journal log lays open.*
22nd Day of Eleasias:
Finally, it was found, the device of my imprisonment. The young cleric of the Tripower had been so eager to help her. It was the same day I met a strange wizard named Quyen, who oddly enough had been on his way to see Ror. As a healer, I felt the need to help the man in any way I could but our time was short lived as the device in the book would take me very far from this city. Packing my things I left for the City of New Thalos once more, where I hoped he would be able to help me.
28th Day of Eleasias - The Merchant Knight:
The city was much as I remembered it a few months ago. A new business had opened up though it seems and karts and workers with a Blue Rose entwined around a sword were nearly everywhere it seemed. Even some of the larger ships in the harbor had the insignia emblazoned across their sails that could be seen from even the markets. It was difficult to find him at first, but I soon realized that it was his insignia that everyone seemed to wear these days. After finding his office I was told by a rather frustrating goblin secretary in bright pink glasses that only visitors with appointments could be seen. He recognized my voice however and upon opening his door and seeing me greeted me as a long lost friend.
He was a powerful man once again, a story he briefly told me but more important was that he had clues to my past. He mentioned the gnome I needed to find. The gnome even he had been searching for and the one that had got us into all that trouble so many years ago. After some debate about sending guards with me to help, I convinced him to let me ride in an airship bound for Waterdeep.
5th Day of Eleint - The Gnome:
I found the little bastard. Right in the middle of the market. He gasped and tried to run as soon as he saw me. The slippery eel nearly tore his own coat off trying to get away. In the end, he yielded. Even though he had was the one who started us down the path of creating the instruments, I didn't harm him. The words he spoke were those of remorse and sadness. The short balding gnome with bright green hair had something he hoped to show me. Something I would have to let him leave and then return for. What this item could be I could only guess at, but I let him go to find....
*The words scroll off as if interrupted or the Journal was closed quickly with the quill still in the pages.*
Quyen looked up from the book and back to the sleeping priestess whom he had tended to all last night. There was something very odd happening, very odd indeed.
22nd Day of Eleasias:
Finally, it was found, the device of my imprisonment. The young cleric of the Tripower had been so eager to help her. It was the same day I met a strange wizard named Quyen, who oddly enough had been on his way to see Ror. As a healer, I felt the need to help the man in any way I could but our time was short lived as the device in the book would take me very far from this city. Packing my things I left for the City of New Thalos once more, where I hoped he would be able to help me.
28th Day of Eleasias - The Merchant Knight:
The city was much as I remembered it a few months ago. A new business had opened up though it seems and karts and workers with a Blue Rose entwined around a sword were nearly everywhere it seemed. Even some of the larger ships in the harbor had the insignia emblazoned across their sails that could be seen from even the markets. It was difficult to find him at first, but I soon realized that it was his insignia that everyone seemed to wear these days. After finding his office I was told by a rather frustrating goblin secretary in bright pink glasses that only visitors with appointments could be seen. He recognized my voice however and upon opening his door and seeing me greeted me as a long lost friend.
He was a powerful man once again, a story he briefly told me but more important was that he had clues to my past. He mentioned the gnome I needed to find. The gnome even he had been searching for and the one that had got us into all that trouble so many years ago. After some debate about sending guards with me to help, I convinced him to let me ride in an airship bound for Waterdeep.
5th Day of Eleint - The Gnome:
I found the little bastard. Right in the middle of the market. He gasped and tried to run as soon as he saw me. The slippery eel nearly tore his own coat off trying to get away. In the end, he yielded. Even though he had was the one who started us down the path of creating the instruments, I didn't harm him. The words he spoke were those of remorse and sadness. The short balding gnome with bright green hair had something he hoped to show me. Something I would have to let him leave and then return for. What this item could be I could only guess at, but I let him go to find....
*The words scroll off as if interrupted or the Journal was closed quickly with the quill still in the pages.*
Quyen looked up from the book and back to the sleeping priestess whom he had tended to all last night. There was something very odd happening, very odd indeed.
Falling Shadows and Angel Dust
They were knocked back from her by Nightmarish Magic. I screamed in agony as the full force of living it out again hit me. This was no dream, no nightmare, this was induced by Shar and it burned in her viens. They began chanting spells to contain her magic which was bursting from her at this point through fits of sobs and rage. And then I felt it. It was like a cold hand tearing out my heart. The pain became real all over again. The sorrow within her heart spun around me and I knew they were gone from this world, claimed by death. I slumped to the ground, tears acid down my cheeks as they came to me and helped shield my soul from the sorrow with magic.
"No, Noooo, please not again..." I screamed and succumbed to tears as I was shaken awake. Someone was holding up a very bright ball of light and there were dozens of people around me.
"Find out what she did! " A voice of command came from the group and she started to recognize the symbols on the armor of the Radiant Hearts. The strider came to me, Inigo pushed aside one of the knights and picked me up. His arms reminded me once more of my loss and I cried out again and wept into his shoulder.
Inigo walked slowly back to camp, telling the few who came after us that it was obvious I needed rest and that in time we'd learn what had happened. After building a small campfire he began crushing herbs like he'd learned in the islands to make potent teas that could sooth the aching soul. It took some time but I managed to calm myself enough to sip the tea and I told him what had happened those few years ago.
I explained where I was from and that we simply called it heaven, it wasn't the true immortal plane but there was power there. We talked about how I met the one I wanted to be my husband and who had been father to my child. And I told him how I had been expelled from my office because it was forbidden to harbor such sorrow in your own heart. He was very good at understanding and it calmed me enough to remember the Weeping Child who was still trapped within that Nexus Temple. It had been hours, it would be morning in most places, but it was never really day in this place. I stood up and Inigo tried to get me to stay.
"I can't leave him there" I began walking back to the circle my pace quickening as I remembered more about what had actually happened, picking up my pack I hugged Inigo, and shielding myself this time I asked the monk to send me back. The flash of light was again blinding and again the child was there weeping. "Don't fret child, we're going to find out how to get you home. "
"No, Noooo, please not again..." I screamed and succumbed to tears as I was shaken awake. Someone was holding up a very bright ball of light and there were dozens of people around me.
"Find out what she did! " A voice of command came from the group and she started to recognize the symbols on the armor of the Radiant Hearts. The strider came to me, Inigo pushed aside one of the knights and picked me up. His arms reminded me once more of my loss and I cried out again and wept into his shoulder.
Inigo walked slowly back to camp, telling the few who came after us that it was obvious I needed rest and that in time we'd learn what had happened. After building a small campfire he began crushing herbs like he'd learned in the islands to make potent teas that could sooth the aching soul. It took some time but I managed to calm myself enough to sip the tea and I told him what had happened those few years ago.
I explained where I was from and that we simply called it heaven, it wasn't the true immortal plane but there was power there. We talked about how I met the one I wanted to be my husband and who had been father to my child. And I told him how I had been expelled from my office because it was forbidden to harbor such sorrow in your own heart. He was very good at understanding and it calmed me enough to remember the Weeping Child who was still trapped within that Nexus Temple. It had been hours, it would be morning in most places, but it was never really day in this place. I stood up and Inigo tried to get me to stay.
"I can't leave him there" I began walking back to the circle my pace quickening as I remembered more about what had actually happened, picking up my pack I hugged Inigo, and shielding myself this time I asked the monk to send me back. The flash of light was again blinding and again the child was there weeping. "Don't fret child, we're going to find out how to get you home. "
A Mortal Arrives
Mask listened intently as he heard footsteps in the rooms just north of his private chambers. Could it be that someone had finally traversed to the final Temple, to Mask's very own private chambers?
After a few moments a mortal figure appeared in Mask's private chambers unbeknowest of his presence in the room. Mask grinned as she lurked about cautiously. Mask recognized her as Belldandy and simply stood in the shadows making sure not to be noticed.
"Was it a fluke?" Mask thought to himself, yet many times Belldandy would come and go from his chambers.
"It's time," Mask told himself, "there is enough light that I can now grant Belldandy her reward for being first of hopefully many more mortals to visit me. More importantly though, I can now take mortal form, challenge them, and guide them into the City of Shade so that I can once again travel freely between realms."
After a few moments a mortal figure appeared in Mask's private chambers unbeknowest of his presence in the room. Mask grinned as she lurked about cautiously. Mask recognized her as Belldandy and simply stood in the shadows making sure not to be noticed.
"Was it a fluke?" Mask thought to himself, yet many times Belldandy would come and go from his chambers.
"It's time," Mask told himself, "there is enough light that I can now grant Belldandy her reward for being first of hopefully many more mortals to visit me. More importantly though, I can now take mortal form, challenge them, and guide them into the City of Shade so that I can once again travel freely between realms."
The Weeping Children
The night was filled with shadows after we had received Mask's aid. As usual, I couldn't sleep. I'd often divine where sorrow was in the world when I had tried correcting it and to have it so close to me was painful. The lost apprentice paced back in forth in the circle, more apparition than actual person. I shed my invisibility spells and tried talking with him but he proved not to enjoy such banter. The gift the Weeping Child had given me did catch his attention though and after a small ritual bright light burst through the circle and engulfed me. I was somewhere else, a new temple. One I hadn't been in before. Again sobs filled the air, and the cries of a child no more than six or seven echo'd in a room full of light.
The sorrow ran deep in this place. Shar and her touch was visible though out the temples but this was different. Sitting next to the Weeping Child I put an arm around him to comfort him. He talked much better after coaxing him to speak about his brother whom I had met in the ruins. He couldn't remember how to enter the City of Shade and that's why he and his brother were stuck here. He was grateful to know his brother still lived and I began to think of my own loss. Such young eyes to have seen so much, I thought to myself. A tear came across my own eyes and the boy gave me a rose. It was dirty and old but it was a rose nonetheless and I thanked him for it.
It wasn't long ago that I had chosen a mortal form. Chosen it so I could be with him. To descend from the stars and influence the world directly rather than by inspiration. It seemed like a dream, as if it hadn't really happened at all. Such as things are when recollecting them, the past is so fleeting, so misleading and so filled with foolish fancy and poor memory. Some things would drown in a sea of forgetfulness if not for the simple words we take for granted. This place was more Illusion than anything else. I wondered why the shadows seemed to flicker and take on lives of their own...
It was years earlier, the Summer Sun radiated warmth down into the valley. It was all a dream, like some insane play. The girl in a lightweight blue and white dress that didn't cover her arms or go below her knees was me. And there he was, I was filled with happiness just to see him in the dream but I knew it couldn't last. There was no life where death had already claimed what is inevitably his. Their lips met and then the horns could be heard. Faint at first but then like thunder off the mountain. The pale green skin of the former elves turned orcs could be seen even from a distance. A distance that was diminishing quickly. His arm grabbed her as they ran for the cabin they had built. How could she not have seen this, she knew the art, the old ways, the divination spells. Dream faded into nightmare as blood pounded in her head and no matter how her legs burned, they just weren't fast enough. Then I could feel magic exploding around them as curses landed close to us. I searched frantically through the small bag I had brought and couldn't find the spell components I needed. The sharp ring of a sword being drawn sent shivers up my spine as I knew what he was going to do. The Hoard of orcs chased us down, I could hear hear metal against metal but having no weapons I continued to flee. In could feel it in my soul how bad I wanted my bag of spell components. I wanted to turn and rain down fire from the heavens upon them. But the Orcs clawed hand grabbed at my dress which tore. And then another hand tripped me as it grabbed my ankle. And yet another grabbed my risk and as they turned me over to do horrible things to me, I found the stone I'd needed in my little bag. I closed my eyes and thought of the a place these orcs would never find me.
I shivered on the floor of the white castle. Screaming in horror and crying historically, the others members of the order that was such a large part of my life came running.
The sorrow ran deep in this place. Shar and her touch was visible though out the temples but this was different. Sitting next to the Weeping Child I put an arm around him to comfort him. He talked much better after coaxing him to speak about his brother whom I had met in the ruins. He couldn't remember how to enter the City of Shade and that's why he and his brother were stuck here. He was grateful to know his brother still lived and I began to think of my own loss. Such young eyes to have seen so much, I thought to myself. A tear came across my own eyes and the boy gave me a rose. It was dirty and old but it was a rose nonetheless and I thanked him for it.
It wasn't long ago that I had chosen a mortal form. Chosen it so I could be with him. To descend from the stars and influence the world directly rather than by inspiration. It seemed like a dream, as if it hadn't really happened at all. Such as things are when recollecting them, the past is so fleeting, so misleading and so filled with foolish fancy and poor memory. Some things would drown in a sea of forgetfulness if not for the simple words we take for granted. This place was more Illusion than anything else. I wondered why the shadows seemed to flicker and take on lives of their own...
It was years earlier, the Summer Sun radiated warmth down into the valley. It was all a dream, like some insane play. The girl in a lightweight blue and white dress that didn't cover her arms or go below her knees was me. And there he was, I was filled with happiness just to see him in the dream but I knew it couldn't last. There was no life where death had already claimed what is inevitably his. Their lips met and then the horns could be heard. Faint at first but then like thunder off the mountain. The pale green skin of the former elves turned orcs could be seen even from a distance. A distance that was diminishing quickly. His arm grabbed her as they ran for the cabin they had built. How could she not have seen this, she knew the art, the old ways, the divination spells. Dream faded into nightmare as blood pounded in her head and no matter how her legs burned, they just weren't fast enough. Then I could feel magic exploding around them as curses landed close to us. I searched frantically through the small bag I had brought and couldn't find the spell components I needed. The sharp ring of a sword being drawn sent shivers up my spine as I knew what he was going to do. The Hoard of orcs chased us down, I could hear hear metal against metal but having no weapons I continued to flee. In could feel it in my soul how bad I wanted my bag of spell components. I wanted to turn and rain down fire from the heavens upon them. But the Orcs clawed hand grabbed at my dress which tore. And then another hand tripped me as it grabbed my ankle. And yet another grabbed my risk and as they turned me over to do horrible things to me, I found the stone I'd needed in my little bag. I closed my eyes and thought of the a place these orcs would never find me.
I shivered on the floor of the white castle. Screaming in horror and crying historically, the others members of the order that was such a large part of my life came running.
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