Quiet Return

[Alais d Nitesong]

The Watcher whispered of the things it had seen in the shadows. I sat in silence taking in these pieces of information, and I wonder how to resolve the dissonances. There were more shadow walkers than I'd expected in RhyDin, and what appeared on the surface to be right and good had twists and turns lurking in the shadows unseen.

I' Taurn's library is extensive, and the addition of Morrin's makes it one of the largest collections in RhyDin. I have been making notes on some of the things Rhaine has said and done, and they are not entirely consistent with what I know about vampires. I am not convinced Rhaine is what she portrays herself to be in our world.

The next hours were spent delving into the literature on vampires and the undead. My conclusion is that Rhaine is not a traditional vampire. Precisely what she "is" remains hidden from me. The only certainty is that she is not solely vampire. This discovery coupled with Sylus' admission that Rhaine had once been his consort had me pacing before the fire. The proverbial Gordian Knot seemed to be laid in my lap. After many years of solitary existence, where I have avoided even my children at times, this is difficult to fathom. The secrets people keep are amazing. Nothing is as it appears, and perhaps Riverbend should remain my home.

Morrin was right. Telling friend from foe is an ever changing terrain, and at least in Annara I knew no friends, and only foes.

So much simpler.

Before I can go however, there are things that need doing. Legend needs to be dealt with as well as the Temple. I must seek release from my duties as wathu-Darelir, as I cannot serve and protect when I return to my mentor and Annara. This time, Annara will be for eternity.

[Rhaine]

Rhaine walked into I'Taurn, walked along the corridors, hidden from sight and senses. There were no doors or obstacles for the vampiress, drifting easily through the deepest shadows. Her eyes saw the real world, just enough to coordinate her movements. Emerging to medium shadow depth, she reappeared in the library.

She stayed in the shadows, taking the books into her hands and absorbing information through the shadow - gracefully and smoothly, with unnatural speed and ease. The Shadows helped her to acquire information directly, without the tormenting process of reading in languages she has just learned and wasn't too fluent in.

Rhaine watched Alais delving in the books. From the Shadows the elven lady seemed slow, as slow as the swirling colors of her emotions. The vampiress smiled sadly. Alais was too close to solving the riddle, and nothing could redirect her curiosity.

"Looks like the only way to stop this, is telling you the truth, elf. I don't want you to suspect things... "

[Alais d Nitesong]

Darkness.

Blackness of the Stygian deep.

Nothing moved.

No sound.

Sentience came slowly through this deep black void.

I was alone in the dark. There was no question that I was alone. There was not even a breath of breeze or movement in this lifeless place. Sleep had claimed me at I’ Taurn, but now I was in a place beyond sleep. I had been here before. The utter misery of the blackness told me where I was.

Annara

The thought sent icicles shooting through my veins. Why had I traveled to Annara now? My body chilled to match the place beyond the grave where my soul now traveled.

In the black void, something stirred. Its sentience touched my thoughts tentatively at first, and with dreadful force suddenly struck brutally with painful images of people I knew and trusted committing acts of depravity and cruelty with seeming glee. Faces of friends and loved ones were transformed into masks of rage and violence.

Death,
Suffering,
Blood.

My soul cried out for escape from the madness of the images being forced into my mind. Images that ripped and tore through my brain with pure agony pounding relentlessly against my telepathic barriers sent me to the brink of that same madness I was being forced to see.

Morrin’s thoughts cut through the visions, and the pain. Morrin. I clung to the familiar mind touch to avoid becoming lost in the roiling images of humanity gone bad.


Wakefulness snapped me back to the present and my own bed. The normal darkness of night, with its starlight and the artificial lights of the city could be seen as I lay there with my eyes wide open. My body was drenched in a cold sweat, and I was trembling from head to toe. The cold that can only come from beyond the grave moved slowly through my veins. I knew from years of experience that at the moment, I would have no color in my skin, and that I could not touch a living soul without bringing agony or death to them. Grabbing a gossamer robe, I slid it around my chilled body and silently headed for the balcony. I stood there beneath the starlit sky as the night breeze ruffled the robe, and lifting my hair in tendrils to coil and float around me. It is said that when you look deeply into the void, the void looks deeply into you. I can vouch for the veracity of that statement.

This had been no simple dream. It was a warning of things to come.

[Sylus Kurgen]

I have tried to reason with Legendazona's spectre but she is beyond rational thought. Her hatred of half-breeds clouds her sense. I learned long ago that it is elves like her that will be the end of the elven peoples. Her kind is ever unwilling to adapt, to change, to evolve. Their long years combined with their low birth rate will be the elves undoing. They spend centuries studying their magics and watching the other races while those with lesser life expectancies work towards making a better life for their people.

Legend has given me her final ultimatum...leave Rhydin ....or die. I managed to lead her away from the arena's...can't have her harming innocent people. I led her to the most heavily warded place I know...The Adventurer's Guild....

As I was letting the pretenceous spirit rant and rave about half-breed inferiority Dimitri found his way to the Guild Hall. It appears he too is looking for a way to destroy the dead Eldarie Druid. Legend even told us how.....Only an Eldarie can destroy her. She went on to try and convince us that we'd never be able to find one willing to do so. I know that she is both right...and wrong.....

I feel that she is right about only an Eldarie being able to destroy her....but sh eis wrong about us being unable to find one. After all..she did threaten to kill Alia Anor, Lady Alais' daughter....Alais is Eldarie...but is she strong enough?....For my sake, as well as Alia Anor's and my brother Artemus's...I hope she is....I truly hope she is...

[Legendazona]

::cold tendrils snaked and coiled around the one called Dimitri - another half elf - expendable....::

::the air hisses:: He is weak, no better than Alais' halfbreeds

::the words echo eerily into the darkness::



"Vincent...... Vinnnnnnnnnnnn cennnnnnnnt" ::the icy tendrils coil around his feet in the Annex::

"Half elves need to be destroyed. No good comes from half breeds" ::the voice whispers insidiously before trailing off into silence::




::the ghostly form sets off in search of Vanion Shadowcast, here was an alliance - someone who could kill the half breeds - including Alia Anor::





::The pale entity floated just outside a window on the fourth floor of the Golden Ivy Inn - studying the woman within - hatred welling into its essence::

"Alia Anor, Eldarie must not mix their blood with lesser beings. It is up to you to get rid of Sylus and Artemus. They are not for Eldarie, nor for Eldalie. Get rid of them."


::The auburn haired woman nodded absently, as though agreeing, and the ghostly form faded into the darkness::



::Forming inside the walls of the Dojo, during the daylight hours when it is open, she waits. Waits for the return of Xenograg::

::Studying how the Dojo has changed, she is surprised to see Xeno return without the ever present Ostego Blade. The very blade he used against her in the war in Nitesong.::

::icy tendrils brush Xeno's face:: "The wolf-kin needs to go. You have the influence to make that happen"

:: a rush of cold air whips out the doors of the Dojo into the night::

[Alais d Nitesong]

I stood on the balcony pondering the unexpected visit to Annara. My previous trips to Morrin's home had always been my choice. This trip was spontaneous, and that alone is cause for concern. Interpretting the visions was something else again.

The night breeze sang through the trees. A night raptor swooped off a tree branch to catch its dinner. Night blooming jasmine scented the air. Silver starlight glittered overhead, and for just a moment, the world felt at peace.

But, it is a false peace. The rise of the Temple of Light, the presence of Vanion Shadowcast, Legend's return all bode ill for quiet lives in RhyDin. I have resolved to send Alia Anor back to Nitesong. The temptation of the Temple and her new found friend Seraphina have now been complicated further by Vanion's attack on her last evening. If it had not been for Dimitri's and Artemus' presence, my daughter could be dead, or worse. I will not risk this!

Vanion Shadowcast, the name alone brings ugly visions. He is a necromancer with a vicious streak and a menace to living things. He is an abomination among elves, even worse than the Drow.

Legendazona's return also puts my daughter at risk. Her messages to Dimitri, Vincent, and Sylus have been very clear. She hates half-elves perhaps even more than Vanion does.

The quiet of the night is broken by the arrival of a golden skinned man wearing dark green. I'd have recognized him anywhere. Tass' letter had been specific. The purple eyes glitter in the night.

"Ah am reada tae journey tae see Tass."

With those words, he shifted into dragon form, and we left I' Taurn for the Emerald Isle and Tass.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Our arrival at the Emerald Isle coincided with another guest. I did not know that Tass was bringing Caleb into this meeting as well.

Tass got straight to business with his question "Who is Legendazona?"

What a simple, and yet complex query. I sighed.

"Tass, yer quera ist a complicated oone. Legendazona was th' 'igh Priestess o' Nitesong manna years ago. Whence Ah lived 'n Nitesong, she was mine friend, mine confidante, an' mine advisor. Th' oonla person Ah trusted enou' tae share effery 'ope, d'sire, an' goal wi'."

"Whence Ah met Uly, she didst b'lieve 't was wrong fer me tae take 'im for mine lifemate. She tried verra 'ard tae stop th' union. She dids't b'lieve Eldarie mus' needs keep tae Eldarie blood, an' nae dilute th' 'eritage o' th' Tuatha de Danaan."

"Whilst Ah understood 'er disagreement, Ah alsae ken'd tha' Ulysses was mine true lifemate, an' Ah dids't nae heed mine friend. She was cool tae Uly, bu' 'e didnae mind 'er. 't was th' announcement o' th' conception o' our twins tha' didst put Legend o'er th' edge."


I paused, telling this tale again is very hard. Legend was my closest friend and ally until Ulysses entered my world. I was trusting Tass to have this room well warded against the wrong ears hearing the tale because it hurts to this day to remember what happened next.


"Tass, ye mus' needs understand, Legend was un'inged by th' news o' th' pendin' birth. We Eldarie dinnae haff manna wee ones, an' tae Legend, th' thought o' twins o' mixed 'eritage didst unsettle 'er mind."

"She didst seek tae d'stroy our bairns b'fore they breathed their first breath by poisonin' me. Whence tha' failed, she sought tae slay Uly. Th' war she started saw th' deaths o' manna from th' sacred mountain."

(vs) "Legend died wi'in 'er mountain 't th' 'ands o' Uly an' Xenograg."



Silence descended over the room. My throat constricted and threatened to cut off my air, and the thought of going on was too much. How do you tell an old friend that your best friend is back from the grave seeking to kill your children, and drive away the first man in my life since Ulysses? How do you put these things into words?

[Rhaine]

The Shadows have accepted her again, and Rhaine forced herself to submerge. Deeper... deeper into the misty insanity, draining color and shape, away from human eyes... As deep as possible, deeper than possible - never too careful, never too cautious... Isolating from any eye, either spectral or corporeal... She knew this would start draining her energy, but felt it was her duty to be ideally hidden. She knew that the ghost never noticed her... there was no need to jump into her field of view.

Unseen and unsensed, the vampiress walked into I'Taurn again. It was time to talk to Alais... Rhaine waited a bit, and emerged from the depth of shadows, swirl of blackness, cyan and crimson taking form of slim human-like woman with young face and grey hair. Her corporeal form, her disguise. She appeared behind Alais - probably because her soul kept remaints of that young human lass who has given away her life for success of research in life magic...

[Alais d Nitesong]

Unfortunate events indeed. Vanion has defeated Illusia and secured the keys and title to Keeper of Fire on the Twilight Isle. He is the last person I would wish to see as a Keeper!

Vanion approached me with intention to warn me that there are threats against my daughter, and other half elves. My reaction was not planned as I interpretted his warning to mean he was threatening them and I slapped him in the face for making such a threat. However, he clarified by telling me that it was not he who would make the attempts on their lives. Precisely why Vanion would seek to warn me is unclear, but his insinuations pointed to someone I know and trust as the source of the danger. Do I believe him or not? I have no reason to trust him. His reputation is very well known, and yet his words eat at my confidence. Could someone I trust in fact be more of a threat than Vanion or the Temple?

[Legendazona]

The ghost flowed into the Isle, news had reached her that Vanion was challenging for Keeper of Fire. She went to observe and be witness to how his defeat of Illusia would be taken by those assembled. And defeat her he would.

It was finished, and Vanion took the keys to the Tower, the new Keeper of Fire.

Good.

Now he'd have time to contemplate her proposal.

The problem had come while she was working on Dimitri. Sylus had used some sort of spell to capture her essence. She would need to give him a wider berth for now.

Dimitri was uncertain- in return for his departure, she'd promised him to keep Vanion from harming his village. Prevent his worst fears from happening. This was easy enough to promise if she personally destroyed it after he leaves. The ghost smiled. Ask Vanion to drop to Dimitri that he would honor such an agreement?? No, no point in raising that minor detail at this time.

Vincent, she needed to know what his Achilles Heel might be. Her suspicions were aroused when she first met him, and she went in search of that which should get Vincent to work with her to get rid of Sylus and Artemus. Those two must be removed from RhyDin. Their meddling in Eldarie affairs must be halted. Now that she had her aces for Vincent, perhaps there were others she could influence - there had been 2 who openly cheered for Vanion, perhaps a talk with them would yield progress? Melgarth, yes, start there. The ghost headed toward the City in search of this one.

And finally, Alia Anor. She is such a disappointment. The ghost almost sighed. For all of her whispered words to the half-breed, she'd not openly asked Sylus to leave her mother alone. Maybe stronger tactics would work. She found Alia Anor sleeping at the Golden Ivy Inn, the foolish chit hadn't even warded her room! Legend flowed in through the 4th floor window casting the room in immediate cold. The sleeping half breed shivered and snuggled deeper into the blankets. Legend yanked the blankets off the sleeping elf, and with a ghostly wail brought the mongrel child wide awake.

"You are a disgrace to the blood that runs in your veins child! You let a non-Eldarie remain at your mother's side without so much as a single objection. What kind of Eldalie are you?"

Alia Anor's eyes were enormous as she sat upon the bed shivering.

"you are Legend, aren't you?"

The ghost nodded. "Yes, and you are worthless if you do not defend the greater half of your heritage. What are you going to do about this?

She shivered in the icy chill and reached for a blanket, but the ghost was faster - the visage grabbed a hank of hair and bent the girl's head back, a knife at her throat.

"Listen and listen well - get rid of Sylus. Get him out of I' Taurn."

The ghost was gone. The effort it took to convince the half elf that she really held her hair and a corporeal knife had drained the ghost almost completely. It would take a little time to regenerate.

[Sylus Kurgen]

He stood in the larger part of the library. Gliding with skilled grace he spun the twin scimitars in his hands. His steps were even and measured. Each movement fillied with fluidity as he parried and lunged, the ancient blades were a blurr in his deadly grasp. The blue glow of his left blade alerted him to Legend's pressence, but he ignored it. He knew she could not hurt him..but he on the other hand...had discovered how to hurt her. His breathing steady, and his mind calm, he began to move faster.

To a normal beings vision his movements would appear doubled or even trippled. Instead of two swords and two arms they would see six swords in three pairs of hands. The faster he moved the more graceful he became, the song of the blades in his hands was beautiful to those who could hear it. A song of purity and strength. A song of hope and light. A song of greatness and courage. The song was that of a king. Sylus knew that soon...all too soon..he would have to show Alais his families tomb..and all the history and greatness that they had once had....

He continued to flow and weave the weapons in front of him. His movements making even the most skilled elf warrior seem slow and clumsy. As his dance continued, sweat beaded down his back as the events of the previous night raced through his mind. He had some how managed to litterally grab the essence of Legendazona. The words of the spell come seemingly from nowhere, just came to his mind....this was useful. Then when he tried to warn Alia Anor of the serious danger she was in, the foolish girl laughed and said she didn't believe a ghost long dead would seek her life. The first thought that came into his mind at that moment was 'Naieve'...how could a child of one such as Alais be so naieve and clueless?....With such an attitude he knew that Alia would meet disaster...he just hoped that his warning at least gave her some road of caution to walk.
Vanion he was not worried about..the vampire was an arrogant fool....his end would be all too soon, Sylus just hoped he would be there to see it. This thought made him grin, which made his steps even lighter

How sweet the day would be....when it came time for him to kill Vanion Shadowcast...but for now...his only option was to wait for all the colors to arrive on his pallette so that the painting of mysterious events coming to Rhydin could be as greatly detailed in his mind as it could possibly be...

[Sylus Kurgen]

He stood in the larger part of the library. Gliding with skilled grace he spun the twin scimitars in his hands. His steps were even and measured. Each movement fillied with fluidity as he parried and lunged, the ancient blades were a blurr in his deadly grasp. The blue glow of his left blade alerted him to Legend's pressence, but he ignored it. He knew she could not hurt him..but he on the other hand...had discovered how to hurt her. His breathing steady, and his mind calm, he began to move faster.

To a normal beings vision his movements would appear doubled or even trippled. Instead of two swords and two arms they would see six swords in three pairs of hands. The faster he moved the more graceful he became, the song of the blades in his hands was beautiful to those who could hear it. A song of purity and strength. A song of hope and light. A song of greatness and courage. The song was that of a king....

Sylus knew that soon...all too soon..he would have to show Alais his families tomb..and all the history and greatness that they had once had....

He continued to flow and weave the weapons in front of him. His movements making even the most skilled elf warrior seem slow and clumsy. As his dance continued, sweat beaded down his back as the events of the previous night raced through his mind. He had some how managed to litterally grab the essence of Legendazona. The words of the spell come seemingly from nowhere, just came to his mind....this was useful. Then when he tried to warn Alia Anor of the serious danger she was in, the foolish girl laughed and said she didn't believe a ghost long dead would seek her life. The first thought that came into his mind at that moment was 'Naieve'...how could a child of one such as Alais be so naieve and clueless?....With such an attitude he knew that Alia would meet disaster...he just hoped that his warning at least gave her some road of caution to walk.
Vanion he was not worried about..the vampire was an arrogant fool....his end would be all too soon, Sylus just hoped he would be there to see it. This thought made him grin, which made his steps even lighter

How sweet the day would be....when it came time for him to kill Vanion Shadowcast...but for now...his only option was to wait for all the colors to arrive on his pallette so that the painting of mysterious events coming to Rhydin could be as greatly detailed in his mind as it could possibly be...

[Artemus Kurgen]

With the greatest of ease he flitted from shadow to shadow, his quary a few yards ahead. Legendazona.

Keeping his eyes locked onto a spot that was always several feet away and off to the side, he made sure she would not sense him following her. From the turns the spirit made and the signs he spotted on the street below. Artemus knew right where the ghost was headed..

The Golden Ivy......

"What are you planning on whispering to the girl this night, spirit?" he thought to himself. He saw the spectre drift up into the air and hover outside of Alia's window. Saw the grimace on the spirits' face in the glass. And then he saw the ghost go into the girl's room.

He waited several seconds before he went across the street and stood under Alia Anor's window. Summoning the animal that all Kurgen's had in them his hands became great claws. Facing the wall..he began to climb....
He stopped just below the window, his ears picking up the goings on within. Then the scream came to his ears, with a mighty heave he brought himself up into the air and through the room's window scattering glass throughout the interior. But Legend was all ready gone.....

" Time to get you to safe housing, Alia Anor Graham...." he said in a steady and firm voice. Wasting not a moment he went through her drawers and stuffed several pairs of her clothes into a duffle bag. With a snap of his fingers she was in a pair of black robes like he had given Sylus to wear, the rosary beads tied at her waist.

Hoisting her up into his arms he leapt from the windo to a neighboring roof top, Alia squawking all the while

"Put me down" WHich was followed by much thrashing.

Leaping from rooftop to rooftop and finally through an awaiting shadow Artemus took the young Eldalie to the safest place he could think of.....

Kurgen Keep.....

[Xenograg]

Preoccupied with the situation in his homeland, Xenograg has fallen behind the events transpiring in Rhydin. This realization is brought home by the sudden and unexpected visitation at Dojo Darelir by Legendazona's spirit.

Why she would visit Xenograg is but part of the puzzle; he does not understand her intent or motives. Xenograg knows he must see Alais immediately.

Sadly, Xenograg must again visit I'Taurn out of necessity and not leisure.

[Alia Anor Graham]

Dimitri is convinced that Vanion's atrocities to others is his fault. This latest attack on a new comer to RhyDin has hit him hard. Thankfully Illusia was able to reach him. I hope that what ever she talked to him about will ease his pain.

The words Sylus and I had almost sounded silly as I reached my room, but as I closed the door, the room chilled, and I knew Legend was back. She rushed at me and I screamed.

The next thing I knew, there was the sound of breaking glass and something leapt into the room. It had claws and the face of Artemus. Against my will, he grabbed clothing, covered me in a black robe with rosaries and abducted me into the night.

We crossed the roof tops before reaching open country. At last we arrived at a place he called Kurgen Keep.

Now, how to escape? I will not stay here! The first thing I did was pull off the black robe and rosary. Staring at Artemus, I demanded to know just what he thought he was doing??

His answer was pretty funny - it was the safest place he could think of.

"Artemus, I am going to join the Temple of Light, I can be no safter than surrounded by priests and priestesses. Let me go."

I reached for my clothes.