The bard leading the Questioner

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Lilira
Sojourner
Posts: 1438
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2003 3:53 pm

The bard leading the Questioner

Postby Lilira » Sat Dec 18, 2004 11:58 pm

I had been curled up in my cloak in a drafty room in Viperstongue working on my notes, and had hit a wall. I hadn’t been able to sleep in a week, between my travels, studies, and keeping an eye out for trouble. Deciding I needed to stretch my legs I decided to heard north to Baulder’s Gate to see what rumors I could pick up.

I had heard of the attack on the silver dragon. Sotana and I had tripped over some of the corpses in our wanderings that day. I had been advised by a former guild mate to stay away from the Lady Knight as she was highly irritated. I had heard somewhere, when she gets that irritated, she starts waving that big sword of hers around, and I didn’t want to be in front of her when she did. Granted, there were some very specific names on that list of people she was irritated with, but unfortunately I had been seen with a few of them lately, so I had just decided to stay clear all together for now.

Heading north, I passed the brownies, taking precautions to move quickly enough to avoid being a target for their mischievous natures. Through the forest, past the leftover wreckage of the battle, and to the ferry, singing the whole way.

While I waited for the ferry, I pondered my position. I had a job to do. I had promised to escort someone to the north. While normally I would wander up alone, I was concerned for our safety given the nature of the gentleman I was to escort. As I had offered my escort his safety was my duty.

The ferry arrived and I stepped on, my thoughts still swirling. I wondered about the knight I had traveled with lately. I wondered if his being a knight, even an evil one, would hold him to a vow until its completion, keeping anyone from buying his services behind my back. What would I offer someone like that in payment?

The ferry had traveled across the river during my musings, and I disembarked and headed into the city of Baulder’s Gate. I wandered through the Merchant Gate, my lyre out and voice singing a light song to announce my presence. Not the brightest thing I’ve done, but I needed to see if there was any rumor on the streets and people like to talk to bards.

After spending most of the day roaming the streets with no information to show for it, I decided to take a chance and make for Waterdeep. I needed to drop off a few things in my storage before I left, so I headed to the Three Kegs. I pulled some things out of my bag to add to my cache of belongings, and checked my pouch for the little rings and things I tucked in. I frowned as my fingers encountered a sheet of paper. I’d been pretty good at keeping my notes in my scroll case to keep them from getting crinkled and disorganized, so I pulled the paper out to look at it.

Though there was no signature, the Calimshite calligraphy forced every drop of my blood to drain out of my face, leaving me dizzy. I could hear his voice as the words of the note etched themselves into my mind. A thin line of what appeared to be blood was at the bottom in lieu of a signature.

I fumbled a thank you to the proprietor and fled out to the street with him looking after me, a concerned expression on his face. I ran out of the city, stopping to sprawl in the farming fields to the north in an attempt at pulling myself together. I had to stop running. I had been told by many people that I needed to face my fears, but right now my fears were catching up, and I was not prepared to battle them. There was so little time left and much to do.

I laid there watching the stars appear, marveling in the fact it had been so long since I had done so. A strange lethargy came over me and my vision blurred, causing the stars to dance. My eyes drifted closed, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, I slept.

********More to come*********
Lilira
Sojourner
Posts: 1438
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2003 3:53 pm

Postby Lilira » Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:04 am

Something was tickling my nose. Still mostly asleep I slapped at the offending object. It snorted, and I opened my eyes. A black destrier stood over me, sniffing my armor. I squeaked with surprise, scrambling backwards, and it gave an amused snort and stepped away. This was the trained mount of a warrior, so I looked around for his rider.

The sun shone on the raven curls peeking out from beneath his helmet as he stood watching me, ever alert for danger. I blushed under his dark blue gaze, aware of my appearance. I had passed out like a drunk in the middle of a field. Not one of my finest moments. In a poor attempt to be nonchalant I yawned and stretched, part of me aware that my night of rest was the best I had seen in some time.

“Good morning Ticarios,” I greeted him. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, and attempted to tame my tangled mass of silver hair. “Been there long?”

“Long enough to watch your slumber. Not the best place to sleep Lady Bard,” he reproached me. I felt foolish enough without him pointing that out.

“It served for the night,” I tried being nonchalant, but I knew it just ended up sounding sulky. Giving up my attempts to finger comb my hair, I muttered and pulled out my brush. Wincing as I dragged it through my hair, I asked, “So, what brings you down this way?”

“Looking for you,” he responded, to my surprise. I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Oh,” I asked, putting three or four questions into that little word. It was obvious he wasn’t here to hurt me, or he would have done so while I slept. But then I had sensed a kind of honor in the man, so maybe killing sleeping women went against that. Argh, such thoughts made my head hurt.

“Yes, I’ve been told you could possibly guide me to meet this Priest everyone speaks of,” was that a spark of humor in his eyes? His face was impassive as usual. There were times I’d give a hand to have that kind of impassiveness available to me, but then I wouldn’t be able to play my lyre.

“I’ve seen him a few times in different places,” I told him, “Any particular reason why you want to see him?” I had to make a token attempt after all. I didn’t want to be responsible for the priest’s death at this time, well any time really, but even I am not so stupid as to realize it may yet come to that.

“I wish to hear him speak and I have many questions for him,” he told me seriously. I shrugged. Everyone has questions, but I trusted in the priest’s ability to not be found unless he wished to be, so I started to scramble to my feet only to find a hand out ready to help me up. I accepted his help and found myself pulled up too quickly, stumbling into a steel clad form. I chuckled self-consciously, trying to control my blushes.

“My pardons, you’re smaller than you look,” he said face expressionless. I backed away and shrugged, my burning face telling me I was still blushing from my foolishness. Would it ever end?.

“Well, mount up, and I’ll lead you to the last few places I’ve seen the priest. I have no way of knowing if he is still in the area, but we can try,” I told him pulling out my lyre. He climbed onto his horse, and I began my song lending its power to our travels.

I tried the road northwards where I had first met him, led by Teflor. He wasn’t there.

I took us to the Monolith in the swamps, site of my fateful meeting with the thanatar. He wasn’t there.

I traveled the road leading to Ragoth Swamps, where I had met the priest alone for the first time. He wasn’t there.

Lastly I decided to visit Mistress Cleona and see if he was there.

Ahh. There he was.
Lilira
Sojourner
Posts: 1438
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2003 3:53 pm

Postby Lilira » Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:24 pm

The following was found among the stored possessions of one bard, Lilira.


I had summoned a cloak of invisibility around each of us, the horse too, and not wishing to surprise the nasty little creature the priest kept with him, I removed mine, snapping into visibility. Ticarios raised an eyebrow in question.

“He is west,” I whispered, “And he has a ‘pet’ with him.” Following my lead, Ticarios snapped into view. I walked towards the priest, Ticarios riding behind me. I curtsied before him as is my custom, and Ticarios dismounted.

“Yes, my good friend, and hopefully my delivery will arrive before too much longer,” I overheard the priest saying to Mistress Cleona.

“Greetings Sir,” I said, smiling.

“Hello, my dear, it's good to see you,” he replied cheerfully as ever.

“Hail and well met! May I interest you in any provisions? The forest can be hazardous,” Mistress Cleona asked.

I like Mistress Cleona so of course I smiled in greeting, and told her, “Good day to you Mistress.” She returned my smile cheerfully.

“No, thank you,” Ticarios replied to her query, “My business is with this gentleman.” He bowed deeply before the priest of Auzorm'tvorl.

“Oh, well ok. Don't mind me then, I won't be a bother,” she replied, seeming a little downcast. Ticarios nodded to her politely before turning to the priest again.

“Sir,” I began, ever respectful to my elders, “I bring one who wishes to meet you.”

“Oh? How delightful,” he exclaimed. Taking a moment, the priest bowed before Mistress Cleona and asked us, “Shall we step aside, so we don't interfere with my good friend's potential sales?” Ticarios nodded, and we followed the priest out to the road.

Able to see the creature that has been keeping company with the priest, Ticarios took a moment to examine it. “An interesting creature you keep,” he pointed out. I had thought that many times myself. Since my last visit with the priest, I had learned more than I wanted to know about the silversaan.

The priest smiled, almost preening, before petting the creature lovingly. I suppressed a shiver and reminded myself I was here to observe.

“There have been many rumors and tales about you, Priest,” Ticarios began, “Much controversy. I thought I would hear the words from the horse's mouth before passing judgment.”

“Indeed there would be, my friend, indeed. Aren't there always rumors of anyone who seeks a different way to be,” the priest asked.

The priest seemed to notice the destrier for the first time, so he nodded at him in acknowledgement, and said, “There you are.” I had forgotten about the invisibility surrounding the poor creature. Ticarios murmured a quick order to it and the beast snapped into visibility.

“He is not accustomed to magics cast on him,” Ticarios told the priest in explanation with a shrug.

“I didn't wish a troll to mistake him for a snack,” I pointed out quietly, causing the priest to chuckle.

“You draw more than your share of controversy, Priest,” Ticarios marched on. Focused? Would I say such a thing? He continued,”You draw more than is common for any philosopher, even deep within a rival philosopher's realms.”

“And if story is to be believed, you are more the rogue revolutionary - hard to kill and inciting riotous behavior - than any priest I've met.” It was interesting to hear the perspective of a soldier.

“Philosophy is an art of the old, my friend. That is why so many of the clergy are aged,” said the priest holding his hands forth in a self-depreciating gesture.

“What is called zeal in the youth becomes philosophy in the old.” Ticarios shrugged helplessly.

“What is this Auzorm'tvorl I hear so much about,” he asked.

“There are always tales, my friend. The decision is which of those you will believe, which you will question, and which you will discover with your own perceptions,” the priest told him solemnly. Ticarios nodded.

“My reason for meeting you,” he said, causing the priest to chuckle.

As I stood listening, much to my surprise, Master Gurns sped through heading to the south, obviously on his way to somewhere of import as he appeared to be in a really big hurry.

“Your 'different' view causes evil races and good races alike to join in battle,” commented Ticarios ignoring the interruption.

“I suppose it is time to ask and answer questions then. What a good choice to bring along the fair lady bard!” He beamed a wide smile at me, which I returned flushing just a little. For a priest he is such a flatterer.

“Mine?” The priest looked puzzled for a moment, “Do tell me more, my friend...”

“Drow, Troll, Duergar, Illithids, Humans, Elves, and Dwarves. A strange alliance. The first, I would imagine,” Ticarios told him. He continued, “All for the words and philosophy...a different view, of a single, small priest?”

“The blades do not justify the wound - it does not make sense.”

“Now, why do you say that these people are uniting on my behalf? Or at my behest, rather,” the priest inquired, smiling.

“They have sung it. They meet and they conspire against you. There is tension, but they share information. And all to see you, and your Auzorm'tvorl's, end.”

”Indeed not. My words speak of tolerance of others, but not to merge. That would be a choice enforced by Ao,” retorted the priest.

“You would agree that those races have never aligned as they have now against you. Why? What makes you such a threat to the Realms and their, collected, ways of life?”

“You seem to me only a man, aging. Definitely not the immense army of the type these Realms have never seen,” Ticarios finished. I inwardly shook my head. Insulting the man wouldn’t get him anywhere. Apparently the priest had thicker skin than most.

“It is a rather foolish thing, is it not? To suppress one's own innate strengths and abilities, for some peculiar thing called Order. The lack of strength and diversity is appalling,” the priest replied.

“Order is strength,” Ticarios retorted. It was like watching a sparring match between two warriors, one would strike, the other defend and strike in return, each blow a deadly dance of words.

“You confuse the issue, my friend. I do not seek to interrupt their way of life,” the priest corrected. “Enough order strengthens. Too much order causes all to perish.”

“They would have everyone believe so, in fact, they warn, with the monoliths of the desert and other areas, supports the fact that, you and yours shall destroy the Realms,” another swing.

“You bear something called free will, my friend. That requires individuality,” and another parry by the priest. “They misinterpret the runes placed upon the monoliths by the Lady Selune as being unimportant, and cite the horrors as being the only message.” The priest sighed loudly.

“Order does not require assimilation,” came the terse response.

“Extreme order does,” corrected the priest.

Something had been bugging me, and instead of thinking before I spoke, I interrupted, “Sir?”
Ticarios looked at me impassively. I wondered if he was irritated by my interruption, but was unable to tell.

“Yes, my dear,” the priest asked, smiling widely at me. Feeling like an idiot for interrupting a conversation that wasn’t mine, I braved on and stated, “Noone seems to be able to decipher the runes?” Ticarios stretched and stood at attention, hands clasped behind his back.

“Indeed,” he asked. “Why, the Lady Selune's words have always been clear to me. How are they obscured for you?”

Feeling foolish, I hazarded, “Perhaps because I have no particular connection to a god?”

“I recall the words of the monolith nearby. It speaks of the outer planes, do you recall,” he queried. I thought for a moment as he continued. “The host is to be crafted there, from the most lovely of objects, to restore form to Him. Their beauty will ease His pain, and in the midst of adapting to His new form, He shall be assaulted.”

I nodded, “I recently visited the one under the ocean.” Alright, not the best attempt at changing the subject, but it was ignored.

“Please tell me, my dear, that you are also capable of seeing those words,” he asked me.

“I have pondered that one on many occasion, but to tell you the truth it escapes my memory at this time,” I responded blushing. I had totally embarrassed myself with my ignorance, though both seemed to be too gentlemanly to point out my error. Perhaps in an effort to save me from myself, Ticarios chimed in. I shut my mouth and stepped back, letting him return to his questions.

“I have seen two of the monoliths, priest,” he announced, “And they depict the destruction of Waterdeep and the Drow city of Dobluth K'yor, and later the burning and evacuation of Leuthilspar by the Elves..' The priest of Auzorm'tvorl nodded at Ticarios as the soldier continued, “Due to the onslaught and building of this 'host.”

“My dear friend, you are sadly mistaken,” the priest told him.

“I do not make mistakes, Priest,” Ticarios growled.

“They are nightmares yes, forced upon the monolith by one who is insane,” the priest said, “The Lady Selune did not place those images upon her monoliths.”

“You mean the drow with the eyes of gold?”

“Yes. I know not her plight, and she will not allow me close enough to determine the cause,” came the sorrowful reply.

“You are good at defending against their evidence. But your story does not add up,” Ticarios said in a not quite accusatory tone.

“Do view the monoliths again, my friend. See for yourself the words placed by the Lady Selune,” the priest invited.

“Nothing - NOTHING - would make the Elves of Leuthilspar and the Drow of Menzoberranzan, or Dobluth K'yor, or any mix and match thereof, join together again,” Ticarios growled, “Trolls and Ogres do not ally with Humans, no matter how full they are.”

“Do not discount them because the scenes thrust upon you by the insane mongrel are more sensational. The prophesy has been set down by Selune,” came the retort. I fought the urge to blink. His words seemed to take on an edge I had never heard before, almost insulting. I could have taken offense at the mongrel comment, but I bit my lip and continued listening. “They do, when it has been fated so many years hence,” he continued.

“Prophesies are but warnings, and these seem such,” stated Ticarios.

“These great armies are marching to the Lady Selune's song, to temper Auzorm'tvorl's host,” the priest told him, “Why, I believe one of her own Priestesses leads the charge.” He chuckled.

“Who,” Ticarios asked.

“Lirela,” I whispered.

Ticarios nodded. “I have seen her, but never met her.”

“If you wish to understand the fullness of our mission, you must also speak with her and her allies,” the priest counseled him.

“I may,” came the response.

“You must, my friend. You cannot simply take my word, or anyone else's word, for the entire truth.”

“I have heard Teej's account,” Ticarios began.

“Ah yes, a most venerable warrior indeed,” the priest interjected with a chuckle. Venerable? Lady Teej? Her husband’s magic keeps her body as youthful as a stripling warrior. Venerable is the last word I would use to describe her.

“I have heard Sonon's account, though he left many more holes than you did,” Ticarios continued, as though he hadn’t been interrupted.

“The dear lad is a beginner in so many respects. Please do not hold his youth and eagerness against him,” the priest declared.

Again Ticarios continued, “I have Lilira here, who has informed me of much.” I blushed a little, again inwardly cursing my fair skin. Coming from the stern man, it sounded almost like a compliment. “I will speak to Lirela.”

“Please ask about Ao and his actions. He is out of balance, my friend, and we seek to restore that balance.”

“You presume much that there be balance between gods....” Ticarios’s tone was cautious.

The priest of Auzorm'tvorl nodded, “The Realms have done without balance for ten thousand years, yet it has only grown serious in the past few hundred. That is when Ao began overreaching.”

His forehead creasing with thought, Ticarios said “An interesting concept I will take much time in pondering. But I will think about your...plight.”

“Remember, my friend, that the gods are no longer allowed their own freedoms,” the priest reminded Ticarios, “They are held under the iron fist of Ao, who cares not if they live or perish. My friend, the armies massing are doing so for the sole purpose of Gods and religion.”

A human form stepped out of the shadows, grinning wickedly. I felt all the blood drain out of my face and just managed to stifle a gasp. The priest noticed my reaction as Cirath gave him a mocking bow and continued on his way to the south.

“You are wise, my child,” the priest murmured and patted me on the head in an attempt to comfort me. I shivered. I know not if Ticarios even noticed the exchange. He continued on as if he hadn’t noticed.

“We may..or may not, speak of this again, Priest.”


The priest nodded and replied smiling, “I am always welcome to discuss matters with friends.”

“Albeit you refute enough of my current information to stop my making a decision with this meeting, depending on what Lirela can tell me of Selune's purpose in this...”

“I am pleased. One must never make a decision based on just one perspective,” the priest told him benevolently.

Ticarios nodded. “I must take my leave now,” he was saying as shock of shocks, the Seeker passed through heading in the direction of the City of Splendors. The road was far too busy this eve. Events must surely be unfolding somewhere. Both men seemed to dismiss him.

Ticarios snapped to attention and saluted the priest, who nodded politely in return.

“You know the way Sir Knight,” I asked. I still had to speak with the priest myself.

“I'll make camp off the road,” he replied, bowing before me.

“May He guide your path, my friend, may we meet again soon,” the priest said benevolently, and the warrior and his steed headed north looking for a safe place to camp.

I asked the priest to step off the road, for we still had plans to make for his trip.

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