The Abyss of Osnalond

Table of Contents
The River Has Frozen Over

The Glow on the Horizon

The Fields of Hankala and the Ruins of Spalding Pass

Thel'dris' Letter to Ella

The Ruins and the Ruin

The House Felt Different...

Thel’dris launched himself onto the rug of his chamber as a clattering roar of a bolt of lightning reverberated through the streets of Lochdanan. The screams of his alien mind tore away at his soul as he recalled that horrendous night that he had succumbed to death. The insufferable feeling as he helplessly watched his sister in law Theira’stra Naȉlo desperately chip away at the ice holding him under the water of the frozen river. He watched her frantically clawing away the snow, trying to locate his submerged, chilled screams. As his vision closed in around his head, and he felt his body go numb. The bitter stinging grasp of death started to gentle waft him off to sleep.

 

That was the first time he heard the voice.

 

Whenever he would close his eyes, he could only see that infernal Human wailing in pain as her brain matter seeped from her ears. Her pathetic cries for help and mercy were only drowned out by the voice that demanded justice. Justice for the corruption that destroyed Veronica. Justice for the sobs of the half breed, Ella. She would never be able to comprehend what lies Narissa had plagued her and The Circle with... her feeble little half human mind... Thel’dris could see it all. He knew this all to be true…The voice had confirmed it inside of him… Yet he was restless.

This was not Veronica’s fate. It was a putrid perversion, like a distasteful gag at one of Thel’dris’ father’s banquets. His father was going to wrongfully kill Veronica inevitably, but now it wouldn’t be required.

Thel’dris watched Theira’stra from a distance once she arrived back in Greenleaf. She hadn’t told anyone what had happened to them out on the river… When she was asked, she simply told them that Thel’dris had left her to do some extraneous activities out of town. If she had spoken the truth sooner… She may have survived the whole ordeal. If that wretch wasn’t the daughter of an illustrious and esteemed family, perhaps Thel’dris could of went back to his care free life. His life was so exceptional, but all of that has changed. Veronica was one of Thel’dris’ only acquaintances that his father ever allowed into their estate. This was particularly astonishing giving her obscene and filthy heritage as a half breed. It was only deemed fitting when Veronica was invited and then promptly chased from the Naȉlo manor and Greenleaf itself. Her footsteps only carried screams of hatred as the Naȉlo banner rose and a bounty was placed on her head. Thel’dris had planned for her escape, and did what he could to carry her to safety. She did not deserve to carry his burden, but Theira’stra’s death could not land on the Naȉlo family. Too much was at stake. A half breed’s family would have to be Its victim.

Ultimately Thel’dris lead Veronica to her death. He honored the voice that had saved him, and fulfilled it’s wishes to murder the beautiful girl who tried to save his life… and now Narissa joined them in their silent graves.

The Voice… What was it? If I am dead, then who are you? I fear that this voice is a part of me now. I am Thel’dris… I am The Voice.

The Glow on the Horizon
It had felt like only a moment had passed since Narissa’s brutal departure from our realm. Having outlived numerous generations of the lesser races in Greenleaf, Thel’dris’ mindset was warped to how insignificant and frail their brief life spans were. It was inevitable that Narissa would die, and her righteous destruction was only a meager and drably written chapter in a hefty novel. At least that is what he heard when he focused and tried to make sense of the esoteric murmurs that echoed from the darkest recesses of his mind. The same force that had brought him back from the river’s ice grip of death had also made him kill people he desperately cared about.

Once Thel’dris had regained his composure he hastily and silently packed his adventuring garments and slid down from the second story window of his chamber to the cobblestone street below. It would be another four hours until his compatriots rose from their slumber, besides Thorn perhaps. Thel’dris couldn’t stand to bare the idea of The Circle figuring out what had happened to Narissa. While he believed that what he had done was right, the guilt and paranoia was starting to become too much, and the restless nights were getting worse and worse. The rain was stinging his face as he made his way to the western gates. It was as if the voice was agitated with him… what did it want from him…  he had done everything it asked, maybe it wasn’t enough? It was as if it was fixated on Ella. He couldn’t understand what it was trying to communicate, but he could clearly hear her name… Ella…. Ella…. Ella… Nothing good can come from this agitation and The Voice’s relentless echoing of Ella’s name.It’s time to leave before someone gets hurt… It’s time to protect Ella from herself. Lochdanan was just a glow on the horizon, Thel’dris’ tabard was completely soaked, and his legs were starting to go numb, but he continued walking, one foot in front of the other.

 

The sun did not rise that day. The dark clouds in the sky were unforgiving and continued to punish Thel’dris for foolishly thinking that he would be fine with only a rucksack full of rations and clothing. It was the third day of traveling and Thel’dris found himself tucked up into the underside of a tree’s exposed roots. It was the dryest place he had found since he left that night for only the lower half of his body was continuing to get pelted by the vicious rain. Thel’dris’ father had a magnificent garden that sprawled into the forest, but Thel’dris had never truly had to survive in the wilderness. It was all leisurely relaxation back then. Even Elves have their limitations and exhaustion started to set in. Thel’dris searched for anything he could focus on to block out the dreary situation. The rain’s pitter patter was rhythmic as it hit the foliage of the forest on it’s way down. His stomach stops churning in a pain of emptiness. An aroma earthy wet bark fills the air. The blisters covering his cold soaked feet dull. The fever induced shivering slows to a melodic pulse.

The sun was warm on his back and he could barely see anything under the blazing sun directly above him in the sky. The spring air was filled with the fruity and delicious smell of flowers. The marketplace was filled with the warm glow of chatter and laughter. The Nailo family garden was so large that it could even been seen from here! Song birds of all sorts could be seen swooping in from the heavens above. It’s as if they never left that place! Thel never complained… their songs were so soothing and could he heard almost anywhere in town. A small ball whirled through the air towards him, and smacked him in the face. The soft grass walkways of Greenleaf were always good for softening a fall. As he slowly comes to his senses he sees  Lillian running towards him with an evil grin and a large yellow flower in her ebony hair. Boniva yells out from her fruit stand, “‘ey you kids best be careful! Lillian you know who Thel’s parents are right!? Don’t wan-be leavin’ marks! Don wanna see yah stringed up!”.

There was a brief moment of silence before they both bursted out into a fit of giggling. She was one of his best friends. She would always help get him out of his chores and help him sneak out of the Nailo manor. Thel never wanted the sun to go down… laying in the grass streets, talking to Lillian as the town folk disgruntledly made their way around them.

That is when mother came around the corner with her handyman Derivok. She looked like the representation of an inferno with her crimson dress flickering in the daylight. Her flowing curling fiery hair cascading down her shoulders down on to her gold trimmed and crimsoned gloves. Seemingly absorbing the light around her chest is a thin silver necklace with a swirling black gem mounted to it. A look of burning, passive disgust adorns her face.

“ Thel’dris Nailo…” she spoke in Elvish. “Wasting all of your time with this under blood? Don’t you realize that you’re spitting on your heritage and dragging your ancestors down into the filth by associating with this dirt licking lowlife cunt?” “Mother, I was just enjoying the market...and thought I could play for a litt…” Thel’s voice trails off as a piercing pain engulfs his face. He only sees Derivok’s fist as he’s bludgeoned by the brutish man.

“Listen... to your mother... young master.” he seems to grumble out.

 

Thel’s feet slide out from underneath him as a gust of wind knocks him to the ground. The leather canvases of the marketplace furiously ruffle. A burning sensation runs up his leg as he starts to be dragged towards the center of town. He claws at the grassy street, his nails bending backwards from the force. He sees Lillian and the others staring blankly at him as he plummets away from them. His peripheral vision is obfuscated as dark shadows wander in from the sides, his legs going numb. The sun is no longer visible and a chilling cold starts to fill his veins. The taste of salt in his mouth, the shivering of his body as he skips across the ground.

 

Mud sloshes as Thel’dris turns his head to the sight of two horses standing next to him. “Do you think he’s dead Mr. Montgomery?” says a Gnome with brass goggles matting down his frizzy black curly hair. A lone purple tentacle protrudes from under his jacket. Is that an octopus?

The other stallion pulls in front. “Sir, I am Lilith Agosto, Knight of the Order of The Radiant Heart. It appears that you could use our assistance.” As he looked up he could barely see her face under her full plate helmet. Her dark mahogany face accented with white lines of scar tissue of various sizes. Hanging off the side of her warhorse a large kite shield with some sort of burning sun framing a dragon head on it. “We are on our way to the Halfling farming village of Hankala. Perhaps you could take you there… get you bathed and fed.”

A gauntlet covered hand protrudes towards Thel’dris. Not ten feet from it, a flopping mackerel fish is also extended towards him. “Yes! Come and join us! Sir Montgomery is quite an admirer of your rather long ears!”

With trembling legs Thel’dris tries to stand. His boot fills with a trickle of blood as one of his many blisters that has burst starts to seem seep down his foot.

“Careful good sir. Here, let me take your luggage and your blade.” Lilith softly speaks. “You will do, no such thing… You may be clad in metal Human… but…. but… you do not impress me… trying to take Theira’stra from me… you really think I am...a fool? You… will never take her away from me again…” Thel’dris says as he stumbles out from under the tree, struggling as he starts to slide around in the mud.” “Sir, I mean nothing of the sort and didn’t intend to insult you in the slightest. You appear to be ill sir, let us take you out of this place. We are merely trying to assist you. We have the truest intentions. Right Arcturus?” she says as she shifts in her armor and looks over to the wide eyed Gnome. “All of us agree, you look horrible! Err… and yeah...help and stuff. Right Baron Montgomery!?!” Silence…

“So be it...take me from this place, but...Let it be known that I am a powerful noble of the esteemed Nailo family and... the leader of The Circle of the Leaf. Should you... try to disarm me, you will be met with a swift death.”

“Montgomery says that perhaps you can repay us when you are well again! We could use some assistance ourselves, if you are as powerful as you claim to be!” the Gnome says in a optimistic cheer. “He will owe us no such thing… but should he wish to accompany us beyond Hankala, we will generously welcome him in.” she responds with a gentle smile.

Swallowing his pride, Thel’dris clumsy pulls himself onto the back of Lilith’s armor clad warhorse, trying to make his grip around her waist as hidden as he could.

The Fields of Hankala and the Ruins of Spalding Pass
Weeks go by as Thel’dris is nursed back to health in the Misty Moon Inn. Hankala is like Greenleaf in the sense that it is known for its vegetation. Unfortunately it is known for it’s radishes, its aromatic and nutrient rich mud, and the Halflings that adore that mud and all it has to offer. The majority of the buildings other than the inn were odd structures that go by the name of “hovels”. Strange bubbles of land that are hollowed out and reinforced with stones from the inside out. At one point a small child at the inn tried to explain to Thel’dris that the hovels were gifts from the mud. Thel’dris had no time for the quaint midget creature’s ramblings about mud and shooed him from his chamber at the inn. He was there to clean the room and his voice was a rather unpleasant addition to his services. “Small thing… have you ever been to Lochdanan?” he says squinting at the pitiful Halfling. “Nah, I din’t tink I ever been outta Han’kala.” the child says sweeping the floor.

“I have ten gold pieces with your name on it, if you could deliver a message to a powerful magic user. She is a friend of mine.” “‘Owd yew get my name on them sir?” he pauses mid-sweep, looking up to Thel’dris. “... That is besides the point. Do we have a deal?” “Em momma won’t lek et too much, but I tink those gold pieces weal chenge ‘er mind...’sepcially wiff my names bein’ on them”.

“Good… now rid yourself from my presence…”

Thel'dris' Letter to Ella
A soft banging knock comes from the front wooden door of The Circle's guild house. As the door cracks open you see a small halfling child with ruffled hair and patchy clothing slowly start to hold up a piece of parchment rolled up and tied off with a red ribbon.

Without making eye contact, the boy says " Hey-lo Miss... Dis 'er meh-sage is forra pow-ful  lady named Ella. T'is frem T'eldraes" As soon as the parchment leaves her hand he quickly limps away, blisters lining his bare feet on the cobblestone street.

As the child limps away, Ella whispers "Be well child." Still standing in the doorway, she opens the letter, and she reads it. Upon finishing, she holds it close, stares in the direction she assumes Thel'dris is in, and speaks, "Galu Thel'dris, return home safely," and returns inside.



The first stretch of his journey had nearly killed him, but his two new companions stuck by his side. Lilith was an odd human who was suspiciously concerned about Thel’dris’ well being. Her long concerned stares at Thel’dris made him quite uncomfortable. She would always question whether or not he was alright, even when it was clear that nothing was troubling him. Well at least she knew her place in society. It was more than he could say about others like her… like Wynter.

As Thel’dris regained his strength in the aroma that was Hankala, the others talked of some sort of desolate ruin they were trying to locate. Halfling don’t have any use other than as servants and to stuff their faces with food so it came as no surprise when the two who had rescued Thel’dris couldn’t find information about this place in any form. It wasn’t until a few of the little pipsqueaks went missing, and the mud of a radish farm was “dishonored” that the little ones came running to the group’s lodgings. Thel’dris was quite perplexed at the idea that you could dishonor something that has no honor to begin with… It’s fucking mud for the love of the Gods.

Lilith had been requesting a meeting with their mayor for quite sometime, but apparently the mayor only had the time for the three of them when trouble was knocking on their door. Rosie the mayor had nowhere to hide now. Thel’dris had to concentrate and go into a trance to make out anything. The sturdy stone walls of the inn did it’s job and guarded Lilith and Rosie’s conversation from Thel’dris’ long and delicate ears. “These ruins had been purposefully hidden… Spalding Pass… strange figures in the mountains… Hammer… fire…Mountain pass… Orcs……..“ Thel’dris mind drifted as his trance deepened.

Thel’dris opened his eyes to an ephemeral flicker of a  fire swaying gently in the distant darkness. He rose to his feet unsteadily and staggered into the cracking maw of a large, dead Oak tree, the blackened bark felt warm under his palms. He steadied himself and continued cautiously through the pale smoke, eyes starting to focus on the distant glimmer of amber light.

"Come..." a faint voice echoed in the distance. Blood ran down his leg as he tripped on a branch impaling himself and falling to one knee. "Almost there..." The voice was scattered, and gittered in an esoteric fashion, it’s pitch sounding almost mechanical and filtered.

Thel’dris shook his head as the smoke swirled gracefully around his body and then his face. The fire seemed to be dancing, beckoning to him. He felt a sudden force lifting his body, his heart flickered in an uncomfortable fashion, he clasped the hilt of his sword in his hands as a  sudden need to possess that fire overtook him.. He stood and set off again towards the ghostly prize, ignoring the bit of muscle protruding from his thigh.

"Us..." the voice buzzed against his left ear. He quickened his pace only to see the flames drifting further away, taunting his hurried effort. "Both of us..."

Thel’dris began to run, breaking twigs with each step, kicking leaves with each stride. The briar branches tore at his flesh, ripping away at his clothing and leaving gaping patches of exposed tendons and muscle. The fire danced on, the burning seduction within his heart spreading through him. "Now... reach for it..."

Each step brought the flame closer. Each step intensified the inferno illuminating from his heart. He needed to have it. He wanted it more than anything in the world. His chest devoid of skin started to pulse with a soft amber glow as his muscles projected him forward. As he drew near he dived towards the flame, a hand... desperate hand lunging to grab it, hoping to catch it while he could still muster the strength. The wisp of fire licked his fingers and Thel’dris suddenly saw a flash of light in his eyes. His sister's cries for help echoed in his head. He tasted watery doom as his lungs filled with ice. He latched onto the flame and fell end over end into the hard ground, choking for breath as water exploded from his mouth. He was sitting on the bank of Osnalond, a swirling dark yet familiar orb sat, floating despite its weight, on the spot where he had killed his sister in law. It then gently started to wade through the river, drifting to him, at his feet, and as he looked down he could see a ghostly image of her dying face briefly in the boiling madness of the orb, her face turning purple as he strangled her.

 

 

"WAKE UP!" the voice violently whispered as it trailed away. Thel’dris opened his eyes again. He lay in his bed, still within the Misty Moon Inn. He looked into his hand and saw the strange orb. It’s fog danced like the fire from his dream, the smoke softly obfuscating the night he just experienced, revealing slivers of the fire he had chased.

"The… the voice?" Thel’dris whispered to himself. The orb resonated with the cries of strange and distant creatures, the voice ricocheted around his skull. The fog swirled, away from the flame, making a soul piercing eye in the mist. It seemed to glared into his psyche.

 

Thel’dris, jumped back in horror, knocking over his empty mug from the bedside table. His pillow flying to the floor. He found himself tangled in the deadly grasp of a large serpent. The blanket twisted around his throat. "Are you alright?" asked Arcturus, coming in from the side door.

"Yeah," Thel’dris shook his head. "Just a bad dream. That's all."

"Sleep!? Where have you been? You've been gone all night."

"I… ahh was... was, ...going for a walk and got tired?"

"Well, get up. We must be off. Lilith heard that ruins are actually not far from here. We're going to investigate it to see if it has anything to do with some of the strange phenomena Hankala has been experiencing over the last few weeks. Montgomery says to not let your head play such mischievous games.  " Arcturus left the room, pulling the strange octopus from the back of his neck and gingerly petting it.. Thel’dris untangled himself from the blanket and stared bewildered at his hand. He still held the orb...

The Ruins and the Ruin
The howling wind pierced a frigid coldness through the group’s clothing as they climbed the mountain towards Spalding Pass. The surroundings were void of wildlife and much of the vegetation looked as if it had been gnawed away, exposing the rough and rocky ground underneath. It had been almost three hours since they had left Hankala that morning, and the storm clouds of the mountains had already found them. As they pushed deeper and deeper into the mountain pass, relics of a previous lives started to appear. The ground was littered with the rubble of fortifications long gone. Small shrines to those who died protecting this pass from an long forgotten Orcish invasion.

Lilith’s warhorse rolled to a stop as they approached a large stone wall embedded deep into the face of the mountain. A large ceremonial door laid blown from it’s hinges, flat on the ground. The dirt around the entrance kicked up by the feet of heavy traffic. “This relic of the past has been closed since I was a young girl... This is quite troubling indeed… Arcturus! I need you to head back to Lochdanan and send a message to Lord Kai Varurias. Here, take my amulet to show him. When you arrive tell him of the disturbance here and tell him that I sent you… Ride fast dear friend.” “Oh! of course Lilith! We will make due haste! Would you like anything else while I’m out and about!? Errrmmm… okay, I will see you soon!” Arcturus’ donkey galloped away as the crazed Gnome used Montgomery as a bludgeon to push the donkey onward.

Lilith and Thel’dris cautiously made their way through the archway into the ancient Dwarven construct. The air hung thick with a moist and musky aroma, clinging to them as they made their way deeper. The bones of small creatures could be seen scattered about, some of them still fresh with bits of cartilage and rotting flesh. Thel’dris drew his blade, Theira’stra, the orb was now firmly embedded in the steel of the blade. It had melded itself with the blade overnight, as if it had a strange affinity with it. Thel’dris jumped slightly as Lilith’s rough, war hardened voice broke the silence.

“Ever wonder why they built these magnificent archways instead of regular doors? I heard from a fellow that it was because they reserve using their thumbs for sacred rites, like fighting and crafting…” her voice trailing off and echoing in the huge chamber as she lit her torch and the walls started to flicker.

“That sounds utterly ridiculous… It’s no wonder that some of their empires have been so devastated. Ignorant dirt lickers.” Thel’dris retorted with a look of astonishment, continuously glancing down at Theira’stra.

“Sir Nailo, that is not a matter you should disrespect… Countless Dwarves have died for valiant reasons… Thel’dris… Thel’dris… where did you get that longsword?” she said cautiously.

“It is none of your business pink skin. Keep your envious eyes to yourself…” he snapped at her with a blank stare.

 

“You’ve been acting erratically lately… here, let me see it for a moment. I am a Knight of the Order, I am only looking out for your best intentions.” with a swift lung, she dived towards Thel’dris, grabbing at his scabbard, trying to disarm him.

The endless abyss of the orb swirled in a fierce hurricane, breaking from its prison and engulfing the pristine Elven blade. As soon as Lilith’s hand reached it, the sheath and sword was no more.

“What sort of vile magic is this!?” Lilith jumped back in shock.

“What magic is this? What magic is THIS? WHAT did you do to my blade, you righteous, ignorant bitch!” Thel’dris shouted, reaching for his crossbow with a crazed look in his eyes.

“T’was nothing of my doing! I am a lady of Bauhaus! Thel’dris… something is not right with you. It is hiding itself within you somehow… It is blocking my senses… When we are out of here, I am taking you back to our temple… I will have an inquisitor assist you!”

“It is not me who needs assistance… It is your hellish jealousy. Attacking me for my prized sword… The only thing that reminds me of my deceased sister-in-law…” he whispered.

 “Come… let us not bicker over this unfortunate misunderstanding… You are not thinking straight. You are not yourself right now. Let us finish investigating this ruin and leave.” she said pushing ahead of Thel’dris into the next room. Ahead was a small ceremonial chamber with Dwarven runes ritualistically carved into the stone floor in a circle.

As she made her way past the solid metal door and into the center of the room, the sound of a rock tumbling down onto the stone floor echoed loudly throughout the chamber. Lilith’s body suddenly became rigid and froze, suspended as she paused out of shock. The echoing silence was broken as she slowly turned her gaze to the ceiling. The roof seemed to breath, and twist and turn, like a cascade of a slow moving waterfall of metallic blue. In fact, every wall of this room was a huge shifting swirl of living creatures. You could've heard a pin drop as she slowly turned, looked back at Thel’dris and started to run towards the door. Thel’dris watched in bewilderment as the virtuous woman screamed for his assistance. The creatures scampered from all directions across the floor to her. Their legs sounded like small metal needles, digging into the stone floor below them. As she lifted her legs from the ground dozens of them flew threw the air as they were picked up. The floor became a shifting sea. She cried out in pain as they climbed her legs, squeezing between her plated armor and tearing themselves into her skin, quickly submerging. He could see the bulges under her skin as they made their way to her face.

“No…”

 The scattering sound of a thousand tiny legs stopped as Thel’dris threw the door shut. He could of helped her…

The only sound leaving the room now, was the pounding on the door, the screams of agonizing pain and pleas of help. As Thel’dris made his way to the entrance of the ruin, he could only hear his sister crying out behind him…. The piercing scream as he suffocated her… The look of pain on her face, both physical and emotional.

Lilith would have tried to kill the voice. She wanted to kill a part of Thel’dris.

This wasn’t murder, this was survival… for both of us.

The road was long… but it was time to return to Lochdanan.

The House Felt Different...
The house somehow felt different since they had gotten back from Highever. Adding new mementos to the shrine after every job was rough and quieted the house for some time. Four members lost to the winds in a little over a year. The tense situation with Varis didn’t help…Both Thel’dris and Wynter could see the potential uncontrolled danger in his magic, the same kind that had been manipulated to kill Veronica.

Although Harris’ death couldn’t be exactly pinpointed on him, they both had their doubts that he had no part in the events that took place. At this rate of expansion they knew that they needed some additional help, at any rate.

 Thel’dris didn’t know if he truly had anyone to turn to… He knew that if he returned to Greenleaf to live with his family that they would only truly embrace his return if he abandoned his adventuring lifestyle. He wasn’t sure turning back was an option anymore, he was past the point of no return and things were so different now. When he made meager attempts to open up to Ella, she died not too much longer. Nothing would ever come of the small conversations they had about Bahamut… Perhaps this was a hidden blessing that Thel’dris hadn’t thought of yet. If he was going to potentially outlive all of his friends besides Thorn, then he could tell them things and do things without fear. In a way, he would live their lives to the fullest. All of this death had sort of given him a new perspective perhaps…

Rain pelted the moon washed thatched rooftop of the Circle’s home. T’was the night before they were to leave with the dryad and look for the Fae Wild in an attempt to finally assist her as they had promised months ago. Thel’dris had waited until everyone had left the upstairs before venturing from his room to knock on Wynter’s bedroom door. The solid thud echoed twice against the stone wall as he waited for any sign of movement on the other side.

“Don’t worry Wynter… It’s me, not Thorn. I know the knock can be a little deceiving.”

Wynter had taken up studying in her room. She had claimed it was entirely because of Thorn after the incident with him getting a little too touchy on the caravan. It had some truth to it. She was in fact less comfortable around Thorn after he had revealed himself to her but that wasn’t the full truth of why she had moved her studies.She had written a secret cipher based upon the one her father had used in his journal and she feared that the others would judge her for the contents of his journal. She may not have given them the full means to read the journal but what was to stop them from learning how to on their own. Seeing as it held within it dark secrets she was reluctant to share its contents with anyone other than Rosalind. Wynter knew they were safe with her.

 

She also didn’t wish to speak about her discomfort with Varis. It was easier to just not be around him. Rosalind had made her attraction to him evident but he also had powerful magic that he seemed to have little control over. This left her feeling torn over whether she should help Rosalind in her romantic pursuit by allowing him to stay with them or protect her and the others from his dangerous magic. She didn’t really have any proof that his magic was the cause of Harris’ death but she had a nagging paranoid suspicion it was him. The blast of fire magic that had hit everyone had been centered on him when he reappeared after his teleport. She didn’t doubt that if it was him that it was unintentional but that just made him all the more dangerous. He could easily kill any of them unintentionally just like he when he killed Harris.

 

Coming back with him to a house that was beginning to grow more and more cold with each death had taken a toll on her, especially when she couldn’t help but blame him. She could forgive Ella fully. Ella had been a long time friend so Wynter had felt driven to help her. She felt no such urge with Varis and simply withdrew. One by one her friends were dying and, while she may have joked with Thel’dris and Rosalind that since they were the only original three left that it would be one of them who died next; what she really meant was that it would be either Rosalind or Thel’dris next. Everyone around her was doomed to die and she was certain she would outlive anyone she became close to. She would never admit it out loud but she was at least somewhat thankful it hadn’t been Thel’dris or Rosalind who died and that it was Harris who they lost. She was hurt by his passing but at least it was not one of the two most important people left in her life.

 

A loud thumping knock broke her train of thought causing her to jump up as she hid her father’s journal under her mattress as quickly as she could. She was relieved to hear Thel’dris’ voice from the other  was also glad she had been able to hide the book before he could see it. She creeped up to the door and poked her head out just a bit.

 

“Did you need something?” she asked working to mask the accusatory tone her voice tended to have. She had been getting better at it as of late but she was aware that it lingered. She opened the door wider to give him some space to enter.”You’re welcome to come in,” she said as she stepped aside.

Thel’dris shifted nervously as he heard the sound of papers being ruffled in the room. Wynter’s nature always seemed to unsettle him. Human emotions always seemed to be so vibrant and they flowed with the intensity of the Osnalond river. At one moment she could be publicly ridiculing him for something he had said to a stranger. Then of course there was the calm after the storm so to speak… the necessary heart to hearts that came from the traumatic events they had both witnessed.

He stood there in the dimly lit hallway, listening for each footstep with his heightened senses as she made her way to the door. As the door creaked open all Wynter could see was the dimly lit silhouette of the tall graceful Moon Elf. The golden flecks in his eyes reflecting the light in an amber glow from the open door. He was wearing a thin beige linen shirt that was laced in the front and his hair cascaded down his shoulders to the wrists of his white leather gloves. Seeing Thel’dris around the house late at night was always a curious occasion… Since he kept to himself the majority of the day, there was never a distinct time that anyone could pinpoint when Thel’dris rested or meditated. Regardless of whether he was cooking dinner, reading and lounging in the livingroom or laying on his bed with the door open, he was always seen wearing his prized possessions...Theira’stra and Thorn-Osnalond.

 

When a child scrapes their knee, they might react as though it is the worst possible thing that has ever happen to them. The interesting truth, that is sometimes pushed aside, is that events like that might in fact be the worst possible thing that has ever happened to them. A child’s first toy, a teenager’s first kiss, and ultimately a teenager’s first heartbreak. All of these things are milestones in someone’s life. Someone’s 12th first kiss… someone’s 7th break up…time and experience puts things into perspective and suddenly things aren’t as bad. This is why it was rare to see Thel’dris show any intense emotions, the reason that he seemed so reserved and sometimes didn’t come across as friendly. Time had numbed him. All of this had happened before, and all of this would happen again. That is why it was surprising to see Thel’dris looking flustered when Wynter answered the door. His cheeks a very soft and light pink.

Thel’dris seemed to avoid the question as he slid past the door and Wynter into the warmth of the room. “Is Rosalind here?” He had been keeping track and knew that she had left a half an hour ago, but he asked out of courtesy. “I was wondering if you had a few moments to talk… I was thinking about what transgressed back at the palace blockade in Highever. When… Varis engulfed Harris in flame while he was still trapped in the cell. I admittedly know nothing about the arcane arts, but I can’t help but think how uncomfortable it is that someone could possess that kind of power and not even know it. That sort of unfiltered, raw arcane power seems to follow you and I around… and although it can bring awe inspiring things… It has also brought despair and death into our lives. My mind cannot fathom how such things come to be. Do you know anything about Varis and Ella’s… condition?” Thel’dris asked as he paced the floor, the wood lightly creaking in a rhythm with each round.

 

She stared back at him quietly for a moment with large soft brown eyes filled with concern set into pale, very human, skin and surround by dark unruly hair that framed her face like an oncoming storm. She wore a delicate light grey shirt with a high collar and long sleeves tucked into a simple and plain charcoal dress with medium grey stockings underneath. It was her usual drab pallet minus the occasional splash of purple or blue she would add.

 

Her eyes followed his entrance into the room with a sense of sadness and longing. She could never explain to him how much of her father she saw in him. To others her father may have been a wild storm of a man but she knew better. In his quiet moments, the ones where he was truly himself, he was a reserved, thoughtful, and secretive man. She could never understand why anyone would want to be quite so secretive, at least not if they weren't evil and wicked in their hearts. Thel'dris and her father were both good men. She had seen them both so good things and spent inordinate amounts of time with them. It killed her though to watch Thel'dris walk the same path that took her father from her.

 

While every death seemed to push Thel'dris to become more distant and reclusive it ripped open a still healing wound in Wynter's heart. As slowly one by one those close to her died all she could think was some day there would be no one left with her. Even though she had met new people with whom she could fill that void she knew that someday they would also die. She was a walking blight, a curse upon this earth. Those who grew close to her would always be taken before her. You would assume this would cause her to pull away from those she cared about but all she could do was try to pull them closer so she could cherish what little time she would have and try to protect them as best she could.

 

"It's just us," she told Thel'dris as she closed the door and moved to sit on the edge of her bed. She patted a spot next to her for Thel'dris to join her although she doubted he would take up the offer.

 

She sighed and listened to his concerns thoughtfully her brow furrowing slightly. When she noticed she forced herself to relax it. She found that was one of the many things people found unattractive in her and she had been trying desperately to fix those things. She worked to adjust her expression to one that was more feminine and soft.

 

"I traveled for a while when I was younger with a sorcerer who had very little control over his magic. Well I shouldn't say very little. He had quite a bit more control than Ella or Varis. His magic would go rogue and he would revel in it I think because of the immense power he held within him and the understanding that even though he could not control his magic like a studied wizard could he held within him immense power. I don't believe Ella ever reached that point and I don't believe Varis has reached it either. It is a dangerous path though. Unbridled power like that does things to people. My father was very insistent that his sorcerer friend was a dangerous man and that he was even a good man. He was blinded by his affection though. I fear that Varis will embrace this wild untamed magic within him and will be corrupted by it. He doesn't know it now but I think it is more dangerous that he pursue it in a non academic sense," she told Thel'dris in an expressive but fairly intellectual manner. She was passionate on the subject but not quite to the point of becoming zealous.

 

"I fear that he could kill us on accident like he did Harris. I know we have no physical evidence it was him but what else could it have been? I know in my heart and in my mind what I saw. He lost control of his magic and while he may not have had any fire magic like he says I believe he has found some buried deep within himself."

Thel’dris’ pace started to slow as Wynter starting talking to him and slow calm started to wash over him. She could see that he had been planning this conversation for quite awhile and as her words filled the room his sense of anxiety and  tension started to dissolve. Thel’dris thought about how loud they had been speaking and with a just a moment of hesitation started to move towards the bed, and joined Wynter by her side. He shifted around slightly as he listened to her discuss the person who had been troubling them. High expectations and eloquent forms of behavior had been beaten into him for decades growing up, and sitting on a human lady’s bedside was not something that his parents would look highly upon… Yet, he imagined a lot of things that had happened since Greenleaf would have horrified his parents. Personally even he was kept up late at night by some of the things that he had to do...things that he wouldn’t ever had dreamed of before the Circle.

 

In a more quieted and hushed voice he replied.

“Leave it to a strange and arrogant sailor to mettle in dangerous arcana...ignorantly. It has taken you semesters at the College of Eight to start to grasp some of the mind numbing techniques and forms that I hear go into these ancient spells. If he is willingly throwing unrestrained arcana about, then I would have no other option then to view him as an irresponsible fool. If he is completely unaware that he has an affinity for these type of things, then he is a danger that could destroy The Circle. Everything we have done will have been for nothing... All of our friend’s memories would be tarnished and their deaths in vain.

With my affinity to my Fey ancestry, us Elves of the Moon all dabble in arcana in  very minor ways growing up, but in our culture comes a feared respect of the unknown. A respect that seems to be lost upon some of our companions past and present. I knew that I would be the only person I could talk about it. Rosalin seems to be falling over her own feet for just a glance from Varis. For all I know, he could be casting some sort of hypnotic light out of his ass and using it to charm her. This corruption that you speak of… what happens when he influences her to follow his same path? What kind of future would Rosalin lead if she were to drop out from the College of Eight?

The longer we live with Thorn the more I think that he would trust the murderer of his own parents with enough charm and battle readiness from the perpetrator. I’m glad that you at least have the wit and perception to see what is happening. It begs the question, what is best for the Circle? Is an uncivilized mage sailor worthy of our time if at any moment his glass cannon could shatter, sending shards into the depths of our hearts?” The leather of Thel’dris’ glove twisted and moaned as he rolled his fingers around the handle of Theira’stra. Sitting next to Wynter, he just peered up near the ceiling, deep in thought.

As Wynter noticed Thel'dris begin to slow his pace her stiff and serious demeanor relaxed ever so slightly to show more of the concern she carried in her heart. She watched him with an expression of what almost looked like sadness and loneliness. As he approached her voice began to grow quieter no longer needing to speak as loud in order to be heard. She was a bit surprised when he actually sat next to her. The offer had been genuine it was just a shock that he could be bothered to sit next to her when she was merely human and she knew he didn't always think the most highly of her because of it.

 

A slight blush crept across her cheeks as Thel'dris spoke about her studies so highly. She was embarrassed that she skipped so much class to dabble in what could potentially be very dangerous magic and even though she suspected he also used the same dangerous magic she had begun to toy with she was afraid to tell him in case her suspicions might be wrong. He was finally beginning to trust her and she didn't want to ruin that.

 

"I may have studied but I struggle to fear the unknown. My father tried to instill a sense of fear and respect for magic but it's difficult to fully fear such things when he and his companions could be as bold and reckless as they often were. Not to say I don't fear unrestrained magic in someone like Varas who seems entirely to bold for his and our safety," she responded a bit wistfully as she thought back on her childhood.

 

She chuckled softly as Thel'dris talked of Rosalind's infatuation. "I think she's smitten because he's an attractive man. I would be lying if I didn't admit he's set my own heart aflutter on occasion. Him leading her away from her studies is however something that concerns me. He's older and more experienced in the ways of the world. She's still young and quite impressionable. She is like a sister to me and I to her but I doubt I could hold as much sway over her as an older attractive man could," she said growing serious as she spoke.

 

"Thorn?" she scoffed. "Thorn may be an asset in how strong he is but he's an idiot. His opinion of a man's character is worth less than nothing. He chooses the men he keeps company on nothing more than their brute strength. He doesn't consider that those same men could mean us harm," she said pausing thoughtfully for a moment. "I don't want to hurt Rosalind's feelings but keeping Varas here is a risk to her physical safety.... Perhaps he isn't the best fit for the Circle and really it wouldn't be like we are leaving him to the wolves. He has established himself quite well as a sailor. He has his own ship and a seemingly loyal crew. I'm sure he would do just as well without us," she said more to vindicate to herself her agreement to possibly kick out a guild member.

 

She glanced over at Thel'dris after hearing the squeak of his leather glove on the hilt of his sword. Even though she rarely comforted others with her touch and her words she gently placed a hand on his shoulder and attempted to force a comforting smile.

 

"I know I don't always come across right but you can tell me anything that is bothering you."

Thel’dris nodded quietly and respectfully with each of Wynter’s replies. With each agreement he started to relax more and more, his persona of being a posh noble seemed to slide away revealing a more “human” side. Even though they had been guildmates for over a year, and what some might call friends back in Greenleaf, they had never really sat down and had a serious discussion or any sort of heartfelt interactions.

 

He had grown used to this sort of a thing though. Back when he was still being recognized by his child name of Thel, before any of his guild mates were born, he was a very passionate and emotional person. It was quite common to see him become very adamant and insistive in every argument with his parents, he would play his guqin daily in his father’s study and let it’s sweet tones resonant throughout the palace, and he could be seen playing in the marketplace with Rosalind’s Elven mother, Lillian.

Even in the present Thel wasn’t considered an adult by the majority of Elven cultures. To Thel’dris it was all a game of numerical perspective though. Although he was still classified as a child, he felt that he already had the wisdom and experience that came with time. Perhaps it was his noble upbringing that made him think this way or the power his family held in Greenleaf to insist that he be recognized that way. He had adopted a full adult name more than two decades ago and with it came the expectation to become detached from reckless and emotive behavior. He knew first hand how difficult it was to blend in with his father’s friends at the banquet dinner parties… It was no minor task.

 

“I was just thinking about the portal we found in the Vecna temple, and the trouble that still hangs over our head. At any moment, some sort of undead raven creature might come crashing through the window over there in an attempt to assassinate us. There is a part of me that would like to believe that they still think we’re on their side, but they can’t be too foolish as to believe that the Lochdanan military and the College of Eight just stumbled upon their reconstruction of that portal. Then wherever we go, it seems like this air of ignorance for the arcana follows us. Ella… Varis and his former acquaintance, lover, whatever she is… the one that Ella saved from those filthy bandits.

I’ve... just been struggling to accept how many things are out of my control. My thoughts have just been scattered and racing lately. Just talking to myself and… and thinking. Sometimes it just feels as though we don’t have control over our own destinies… I just want to make sure that the Circle prospers and that you all stay safe. I can’t make that promise though. I’ve done what I’ve felt was the right thing to do, and I’ve made sacrifices that I honestly regret...sacrifices that I can never take back. I do these things because I was forced! Our life is now kill or be killed, and for what? Veronica, Ella, Harris… What purpose did their deaths serve? If I were to stop this… stop fighting… stop killing… stop the voices… who would die next? You? Rosalin? Lochdanan? We live in a world so full of chaos… How can order and civilization be anything more than a comforting illusion?” With a defeated sigh, he reaches over and places his icy white leather hand on the tip of her knee. “I don’t have anything left. I have left that life behind me... family... heritage, peace... and my home. My great grandfather would be rolling over in his grave, but you and the others are all I have. Late at night, there are times that I can’t rest my mind… Terrors of the one day that I come down to the kitchen to make everyone breakfast and I am alone. You mean more to me than I let on.”

 

Wynter held back her emotions but she was relieved and honestly happy to see Thel'dris choose to finally be so open with her. It had taken months of persistence and honestly opening up about some things that still felt raw to her but here he was speaking candidly for once.

 

"I would honestly be very doubtful if they didn't know we had betrayed them. I'm honestly surprised they didn't figure it out sooner. When I realized what you were doing at that dinner in Hearthshire I was more than willing to play along but to be honest I'm a horrendous liar. I was astounded that they seemed to believe anything I said for even a second and Rosalind didn't seem much more confident in her lies either. I'm not afraid to face my own death though. If they come for me they come for me. What I fear is losing you and Rosalind," she grew much quieter as she spoke her last statement regretting admitting it out loud and hoping Thel'dris hadn't noticed it.

 

"To be honest in what little experience I had traveling about before being forced to settle in Greenleaf there are very few who actually have the patience and dedication to become wizards in order to control and tame their arcane gifts. Most of those who have arcane gifts who I've met tend towards toying and experimenting on their own or with the help of dangerous and powerful beings. It's been infrequent that I've met an adventurer with magical gifts that weren't self taught. Even the bard my father traveled with had picked up on how to use his magic through self teaching rather than a proper bardic college. Being a wizard is hard and for most who have arcane powers it comes naturally to an extent. They don't understand how dangerous it can be without proper study or worse they are like Ella and fear it to the point that they refuse to learn to control it because they believe it must be impossible," her voice trailed off with sadness for a moment before quickly snapping back to the now.

 

"I understand fearing destiny. I have the most horrific dreams. I've seen the deaths of all our companions before they came. Going to the College of Eight and studying Divination magic has helped me better understand my dreams before they happen but I feel that is honestly worse than not understanding them until what I had foreseen had come to pass. I thought learning their meanings would give me the ability to change my future but with every death that I have foreseen that I cannot stop I lose faith that studying and understanding my gift will ever help me save anyone. One by one everyone I've ever loved has died. I have no family left and my friends are dying. You and Rosalind are all I have left and you can laugh at me but I fear that I will end up outliving you even. I feel so responsible for all of this.

 

My father left me in Greenleaf because of my dreams, because he feared them. He was a man who was hunted and he feared me more than the men sent to kill him. I dreamed he would disappear and he did. I dreamed Ella would kill Veronica and she did. I even dreamed of Varas killing Harris and it came true. I can't prove any of it because it's all in my head but I know what I've dreamed and it always comes true. For all I know the reason I can't change anything is because I've already caused it to happen. I often fear my dreams aren't visions of the future but my unconscious mind creating the future. I've expressed my concerns at the College but my professors are insistent that it isn't the case," her breathing had grown shaky and her eyes had begun tearing up but had not begun to cascade down her cheeks. She lightly dabbed at the corners of her eyes to make sure she did not fully begin to cry.

 

"I'm sorry I'm so emotional about this. It does provide me some small comfort though to know I'm not alone in my concern for the others here," she said quieter now as she moved her hand to sit on top of the hand Thel'dris had placed on her knee.

 

"If it makes you feel better you aren't the first Elf of noble birth I've met to live behind their posh life to go adventuring and... I'm glad you're with us. I've always been glad to have you by my side in battle even back when we were clearing this house of monsters even if I still don't believe you killed an undead wolf sorcerer."

Thel’dris started to get himself composed again and under control as he  softened his voice as the subject matter started to get more serious. He shifted around a bit to face Wynter, keeping his hand on her knee.

 

“Unfortunately it seems that people like Ella accept the fact that they don’t have control, and push that responsibility on others. Even when she started attending services at the Temple of Bahamut, she directed her power and praise Bahamut while never realizing the intense power that she could possess if she could just learn to control it. I think that what happened with Veronica frightened her away from the arcana… Even after joining her holy order, she still wasn’t incontrol. Bahamut supposedly empowered her with gifts, but I could never tell if she really ever had control. At least this time it was a benevolent figure rather than just unbiased, raw, unfiltered arcana. I honestly couldn’t of blamed her for being frightened of what she could do. If I was in her situation… I would have also tried to seek help of some sort.”

 

He paused for a few moments in thought, trying to find the words he needed.

“I greatly respect her...which reminds me...while we are on the topic,  I wanted to see what you thought about something she told me once. While I was in my travels, Ella and I wrote back and forth… We briefly talked about Veronica and what was troubling her. She talked about how using her powers made her feel uneasy… like it was unnatural and surreal. It was kind of concerning to me, so I started to probe a little deeper, and try to get her talking about it. She referred to a sort of presence following her around… maybe it was Bahamut? When she needed it, there it was, a small murmur, a distant echo in the back of her head, whispering to her. I could tell it made her uncomfortable when I brought it up so I tried to be delicate with my questioning…I didn’t know if she needed help. I didn’t know if it was just a delusion or Bahamut. Once I got back from my travels she seemed quite content with life, and was not the Ella that I knew before. She had a focus in life, she was smiling again, and her new found abilities were immensely helpful. She saved my life on more than one occasion… as debilitating as the side effects were. I asked her a bit about her service to the temple and she said that Bahamut would send her visions in her dreams… That she couldn’t understand the language or how he was communicating with her, but that subliminally, she understood. I didn’t want to discredit the new found passion she had found, so I kept my mouth quiet about it… but I don’t think I ever really understood. I don’t know if it is right to talk about her after everything she did for the Circle, but I value your knowledge.”

he said as he started to get back to his feet, standing.

“Also, don’t apologize for getting emotional. We have had a traumatic last couple of months, and your feelings are shared by many of us. I share in your terrible dreams, and the looming sense of dread that I might be responsible for some of the death around us.

You may never believe what happened, but I can’t change the past.”

he smiled, looking down to her on the bed. “Well I should finish packing, and make sure our Dryad is prepared to make the journey ahead.”

Wynter grew tense as Thel'dris spoke of the strange presence that Ella had told him about. She was not religious and held little faith in the gods so for all she knew it could have been Bahamut but she greatly doubted it. "I don't know. Perhaps it could have been Bahamut but I fear it was something terrible. Perhaps it influenced her to fear her magic," she began as millions of thoughts raced through her mind.

 

"I've never imagined the gods would be such a quiet force though. Bahamut was a God of goodness why would he hide in the shadows? It doesn't make sense to me. Perhaps she was unknowingly pushed into dark magic by some greater evil. Perhaps that was why she could never control it," she said as her voice began to grow quiet.

 

"I believe if you are careful you can use dark magic for potential good but you must be careful and aware of what you are doing. It carries quite a lot of risk and isn't for those who are weak of will," she added in a hushed whisper.

 

When it became clear that Thel'dris was preparing to leave she began to straighten up. "You've given me a lot to think of. Perhaps my visions will for once be useful but I am doubtful since this was all in the past. Just... stay safe," she said as she gave him a look of concern. "You make me worry frequently."

Thel’dris made his way to the hallway with a small smile on his face. He didn’t expect to throw Wynter’s thoughts into a whirlwind, and her reaction amused him slightly. “Perhaps we can continue this conversation at another time… once things have calmed down a little bit more. ...I enjoyed having someone to share my thoughts with. I will see you first thing, bright and early in the morning. Sweet dreams Wynter.” With that he quietly closed her door. Quiet footsteps could be heard heading towards his room. The house felt different…