Death's Answer

[Blystos Re]

The weeks that followed passed quickly, and my morning ritual of greeting the sun had also become a time to meet with Paris. It seemed that, while we had our own reasons for being there at the altar on the hill each day, each of us began to incorporate into the other’s routine. Often, if time allowed, we would breakfast afterwards either on the hill or back at the inn. Everything seemed to be pleasant…but that would soon change.

I rapidly trained my body and mind, developing my skills faster than I would have thought possible. The Orcs in the Black Hills were plentiful and made easy pickings. At times I would almost not make it back in time to greet the sun, for when there was rain it was often easy to lose track of the hours I had spent adventuring.

One night, the rain was particularly heavy and I decided that I ought to return early, rather than miss the dawn. The innkeeper seemed to have an internal clock that worked better than the other timepieces in Avendell, commanding him to wake hours before the sun rose. The closer to Avendell I got, the more the storm seemed to intensify, until the wind lashed the rain in my face like tiny bullets of water and thunder shook the sky and the ground.

When I arrived at the inn, I was surprised to see the innkeeper; already awake and standing at the back door. “Ah, there you are,” he had to speak loudly to be heard over the storm. “I’d begun to think those Orcs had finally had it with you and staged an ambush. I’ve not seen you miss a sunrise yet!” His eyes went back to the hill, a look of concern in them.

“I have missed it?” I exclaimed in dismay. “Oh, bother this storm! Bother nature!”

“There ain’t nothin’ natural about this,” the innkeeper said. “This is the doin’ of magic…And I think it’s got somethin’ to do with that war-priestess friend of yours.”

“Paris?” I was confused. “How is it that you figure she is to blame? She does not command the elements to this degree.”

“Oh, I don’t mean like a spell or any of that,” he shook his head. “But I seen her go up there for the dawn, and that’s when things started to get really bad.” Lightning flashed through the sky, followed immediately by a loud clap of thunder. The innkeeper and I drew further back into the doorway. “I watched her come back into town, draggin’ some staff behind her in the mud. She looked half dead, like she’d spent all her strength to come back. Now I don’t know for sure, but word is that she’s slain the Ogre king and that staff belonged to him.”

“So she intends to make a sacrifice,” I said, more to myself than to my companion. “I fear she may not have the strength to perform that kind of ritual, did anyone go to help her?”

“I asked about,” the innkeeper shrugged. “But I’ll be bugger’d; I can’t get nobody to go up there. They say it’s a god’s storm, and want nothin’ to do with it.”

“She wishes to gain Tyr’s favor…” I muttered. “It would be best for you to go inside, my friend. The storm will get worse.” As I said this, a huge flash of lightning arced across the sky, striking the alter at the top of the hill. The innkeeper nodded to me and went back into his inn, and I headed for the hill.

I had little time to reflect on the strange mix of emotion as I rushed to the path that would lead me to the top of the hill. I dreaded what I would find when I reached the top. If the gods were involved, I could not be sure what I would find. I was nearing the last turn in the path when I heard a cautionary voice.

“Stop right there,” said the voice. It was the dryad that frequented the hilltop. “You mustn’t go any further, lest you place yourself in grave danger.”

“Who are you to command me?!” I bellowed. “My friend is atop this hill and if you will not assist me in aiding her, you will stand aside or face my wrath!”

“You would not dare,” the dryad scowled. As I looked closer, I could see that she was in tears and trembling in fear. “Your faction would not approve risking their alliance with The Circle, and all of Avendell would turn on you for your violence.” She sobbed. “Though, for your cruel words, perhaps I should not prevent you from rushing to your doom.”

“Why should I heed…” I could not finish. Whether the dryad had used her powers on me, or perhaps just that she curled up at the foot of a nearby tree and cried, I was unable to raise my voice to her. I began again. “What is happening up there?”

“Death!” she cried out. “I have seen his terrible wings! I have heard his voice! I am so afraid for my tree, but I cannot go to it! He came and he spoke to her! Oh, that voice!” She beat at her temples with her tiny, delicate fists, her tears mingling with the rain.

“Death…” I gasped. “Then I fear I may be too late.” I left the shaking spirit to climb the last ridge, but never made it. There before me stood Paris, every inch of her body wreathed in flame.

“Hold on!” I cried, and began casting a spell to protect her from the flames. When I cast the spell, however, there was no change. She walked on, seeming to ignore the fire that licked at her skin. It was only then that I looked closer to see that the fire, while exceedingly hot, did not burn her. The priestess’ hair waved with the heat as if in a gentle breeze. “Paris…” I spoke. “Can you hear me?”

Her face turned to me, her eyes glowing with an unnatural light. “Fear not, my friend,” she said in a calm voice. “No harm has come to me.” She did not look at me, but through me. It was a most unnerving feeling. Paris did not stop walking, the rain and puddles on the ground hissing and turning to steam as they came in contact with the magical flame.

“What has happened?” I began to follow her. “The dryad spoke of Death himself. Please tell me that you have not made some sort of unholy pact!” The innkeeper had understated the severity of her appearance, she looked gaunt, exhausted and weak despite her bold posture.

“As I have said, fear not,” she continued down the hill. “Death has simply answered a question for me. I did not call upon him, but he has answered none the less.”

“What could Death have answered for you?” I asked. “How would Death release you from the Last Alliance and bring you any closer to The Holy Triad? Tyr and Torm frown upon that sort of consult!”

“I know what must be done,” she replied, seeming to ignore my questions. “I know what I must do.”

[Longfeng]

Very nice. Sort of like Dark Phoenix... but not... more like Light Phoenix? I don't know.... my brain hurts! Very nice though!!

[Blystos Re]

Thank you!

What's kinda cool is that most of this actually occurred in-game, with Paris anyway. That's one of the great things about ns4 is that the gods get so involved and actually play a big part in the game....anyway, thanks for the compliment.

How long did it take you to come up with that song? That was fantastic!

[Longfeng]

Hard to say, I was multitasking... on and off for an hour or so. Yeah, I like to write about things in game as well. So she was on fire in game?

[Blystos Re]

Something that looked like elemental shield (fire ring), but nothing showed up on her enchantments...? It was god-inflicted, whatever it was, and didn't go away until I logged, not even after resting repeatedly.

Now that I think about it I should have taken her out to see what it would do to an ogre, but I was too tired.