Aeili Azenci - Mystran Meditations [Retired]

[Tsidkenu]

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Tarsakh 4th

"I must confess that despite my trepidations, weaknesses and failures this day has been the high point in my time on Faerun. I have been blessed to welcome a once wayward sorceress into the number of Mystra's faithful. I had bewailed her loss when she passed last tenday, but she was returned to us by Ilmater's mercy. Ameris is a good man and I am proud to number him amongst those sworn to the Mystran ideal as well.

While my mind anticipates the torment of various thoughts yet to come upon me again, I am trying to savour this moment. My time is being consumed more and more of late, so much so that I have not had time to persist in my astrological spell research. I am being sought for advice by all manner of folks, some seeking diagnosis of magically caused ailments, others who wish to involve me further in trying to unlock the power behind those fiendish masks, and this besides my own desire to share Mystra's magical creations through the shop.

My body is starting to fail me. These years of cloistered study have weakened me to the point that I broke my shoulder after being knocked to the ground by an inconsiderate person running through the street. I was fortunate to have had Berea at my side who called upon Silvanus to tend to my broken bone. I am resolved to go on a journey and strengthen what yet remains of my frail constitution. To where, though, I have not yet decided."

[Tsidkenu]

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Tarsakh 18th.
"What was it searching for? I don't understand. Or perhaps I do. The battle for Kheldrivver was a mixture of success and failure. Failure, because the undead breached the walls. Success, because that was as far as they went. They wanted the library. And shielded off inside was a being of great power and unimaginable mind, metaphorically devouring tome after tome, scroll after scroll, grimoire after grimoire.

Once the excavation site was secured that was as far as they went. Any attempt to disturb them would have met with further hostility I expect. I had the means to disrupt them, but a part of me is just as curious as they are. And the purpose of my journey here was to protect the town of Kheldrivver. That seems now a complete task.

I am at a loss what to think now. What was in that library that it wanted? Is this a step to something bigger or will this creature disappear back to its haunt, never to be seen again for the next few centuries?

Part of me understands. I understand the search for knowledge, the desire of a mind seeking to be sated with what is yet concealed from it. That thirst to uncover the mysteries of the ages, of ancient arcana and lost memories.

But why? What does it want that knowledge for? What is it plotting? Such a show of force all for an old repository of knowledge.

O Mystra, please. Show me the meaning of this."

[Tsidkenu]

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"Kheldrivver is lost. How could I be so foolish? And to think that they had no intention to sack the place after they departed as strangely as they had arrived the first time. At least Charraj was on hand to create a Teleportation Circle and help the citizens flee the destruction.

I do not know how much longer I can remain inactive about this severe threat. Could I possibly journey to the necropolis alone? Would they even heed my words and not sooner turn me into another undead servant of theirs?

It is a depressing, wearying burden, a dark spot on my soul. May my choices bless the Lady of Mysteries."

[Tsidkenu]

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Mirtul 17th.
"A most fortuitous turn of events! I had read the stars to predict that the date inadvertently chosen for Charraj's hearing was in fact highly favourable for pleading one's case in court and being subject to receiving mercy. Oh how the stars were right! And Duke Entar even asked me to perform the abjuration to remove the magical brand of banishment which had been resting upon his forehead all these years.

It was a very moving occasion, notwithstanding one factual error in my account of what happened when Charraj opened the planar breach all those years ago. Nevertheless I am more than happy to oversee his use of magic until his restrictions are fully lifted in this regard.

After the hearing I took him straight to the Bank, and afterwards to the Temple of Mystra. I left him have a long while of quiet reflection. If only all of the faithful were as reflective and considerate as Charraj is. My job to guide them might be just a little easier!"

[Tsidkenu]

((Yay I finally found a proper Espruar font!))

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Flamerule 4th.
"First Kheldrivver. Then Candlekeep. Then Wayfork beset by foul undead. Now Baldur's Gate has fallen to a clandestine threat. And here I am, deep in the forest, away from everyone else's problems and I cannot contain the grief I feel every day after I left.

Sparrow is with me here, and Ivan stops by from time to time. I feel, however, it will not be long before he too departs. I can sense it, ever since he got married. But that is his calling and his future, and he will be blessed in what he does.

As soon as this mirror is completed I hope Sparrow will be able to communicate more freely. It is a reasonable substitute until I can find out how to cure her muteness completely. But without the assistance of the Temple and the library I wonder how I can pursue that properly.

The forest has done me some good, although I am still terribly stressed. The elves of En Dharasha still have not told me if I am welcome among them. Part of me thinks that they never will accept me, just like my parents did not.

Mystra, I do not understand this. You gave us our magic, and many elves have paid homage to you in gratitude of your gifts, and yet I feel spurned for doing the same. When will it ever end? Will it ever end?"

[Tsidkenu]

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"En Dharasha Everae has accepted my presence on account of my race alone, however I expect that my love for the Mother of All Magic shall not be so widely received. But no matter. It is not as though I have forsaken the Seldarine, even if I so choose the Lady above them.

Sparrow has left. To where, I know not. Ivan asked me about her. I asked her by sending if she wanted to be found. She did not. What else can I say? She must learn her own life's lessons. I cannot help the unwilling, even if I do not regard her as unwanted. Let her roam free, O world. Harm her not, O wilds. Watch the stars, O wanderer, for Fate is not yet done with you.

O great father of our people, I am here before you, and with those whom you made. Let my love for the Art of Magic be pleasing to you; let it flow freely from me as your grace to me has all these years. May my creations for your people extol your virtue and your desires.

O Sehanine, she whose name has little left my lips, to you I pray for light and peace. Your stars shine upon me by night, their secrets enthrall me by day. Let not who I have become displease you, for I only wished to follow the light that was given me."

[Tsidkenu]

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Undated
"I finally met Mendel after all this time. He is very compassionate and thoughtful towards me and I will respect him with my trust. I told him as much as I could about what I researched about that necropolis. I hope it will prove to create some helpful leads for the First Mage and Kael. I have yet to meet the latter but I'm sure that will not be long away.

Sparrow is leaving for Neverwinter. It seems Elly has convinced her to accompany her. I am not certain that is the best place for her to be, considering how poorly she is able to deal with people. I said my goodbyes via sending only, despite how much I want to see her before she leaves I do not want to return to Baldur's Gate at this time. I am feeling more at home here.

After meeting Mendel I went to Doron Amar after I scried Drathyrra's body to be in-situ there. I was not able to convince Alsarias of her earlier confession to me as a servant of Elistraee. If she is to be raised, it must be by the servants of her goddess. And they have less than a tenday to do so before she will be burned. I pray I am right in this.

A new chapter begins now. I have discarded my Weavemaster signet. They are no more. They will never be again. No more running from my people. No more hiding amongst the humans. I am who I am and I will not change that, neither will I be ashamed of my goddess."

[Tsidkenu]

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"I'm back in Baldur's Gate having done the wildest, craziest thing since I left Evermeet! After talking with Elly for several hours about my feelings for Charraj she told me not to wait any longer. The argument was convincing and I portalled to the city immediately.

I don't know how he misunderstood when I told him by Boreskyr bridge that I missed him of all the things I missed in Baldur's Gate. But now he knows for sure! There was no misinterpreting what I meant when I laid my lips upon his in the bank. And he reciprocated! Blessed Hanali, how you have enlivened my heart!

Joy made way for consternation, however, when I told him of thoughts I have been having about returning to Sehanine's priestesshood. He did not understand why I would 'abandon' Mystra so easily. This is not the case, as I tried to explain, but I feel it has set our relationship off to a bad start. I tried to allay his fears of such by promising that as long as we are together I would remain in Mystra's service. I hope these fears do not overwhelm our recently sprouted affection for one another.

I must return to En Dharasha on the morrow, but I will stay here in the Temple with him until it is time for me to go."

[Tsidkenu]

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"I write with trembling hand and much consternation of spirit. What on earth did that vision mean? Masses of undeath crawling across the lands, festering with plague and transforming everywhere they go into a putrid blight, quagmires seeped in darkness, true sloughs of despond where all life has been snuffed out and replaced with utter revulsion.

Yet in it all I was left searching, wondering, desperate to understand what was the darkness just beyond the fringe of my vision. Four stood out amongst the hordes, the skeletal champion, the deformed abomination, the one in purple robes, and the vampire slinking in the shadows. But no, it was none of these I wished to see. It was something more. Something worse, perhaps? Something with powers enough to conceal it from the attention of our gods.

Mystra, I pray for more guidance, for further revelation on this vision. Help me to understand, Lady of Mystery, that I may know what you would have me do."

[Tsidkenu]

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"Relief. It is a welcome feeling, and an odd one that it is only after departing En Dharasha of late that I have acquired it. Quite simply, the Archmage Kael has proven to be a rather menacing figure, despite all that he does for the village and the people there is something so terribly off about him. I just cannot quite put my finger on what it is. I am afraid that his arrogant self-confidence in his magical talents is going the same way it always has throughout history: towards disaster.

Nevertheless I will do what I must. It was refreshing to see Ameris and Telia in the Misty Forest, and they brought their friend Herran with them. His afflictions were severe yet I sense, despite the suffering, that he is a peaceable and good soul. I am even more pleased that Lady Elvina was able to successfully abjure him of all but one of the curses using the Rashemi circle magic. This will prove to make the inevitable witch hunt all the easier.

Candlekeep will be my next stop. I really wonder if I will find anything for the First Mage. I can help in this last thing, at least. Successful or not, I do not think I can return to work in the Arcane Study. Not alongside Kael, no. Mystra's heart once again beckons me, and I will answer her."

[Tsidkenu]

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"A plan is in motion to recover Drathyrra. Charraj is with me, having agreed, despite all his innermost protestations, to accompany me on this trip. I feel this will either make us or break us. Both of us walk into the unknown. I can only hope this was not some sick ploy or trap, but my heart convinces me it is otherwise. Rilae'ar'an would not lie to me about this.

We did have the fortunate pleasure of meeting an elvish druidess along the Trade Way, Eva. I had a rather heartfelt discussion with her about a few pressing matters. It was good to have a compassionate, female ear for once. It's at times like these I miss my talks with Telia and Elly, although being back in Baldur's Gate means I will undoubtedly see more of them.

I still wait to see Mendel and tell him I will be leaving En Dharasha Everae. This war makes it difficult to contact him, let alone see him face-to-face. I hope he will understand. I hope they will all understand. With Merlara spending time in the village now I can only hope that her devotion to Azuth will continue to promulgate the faith of Mystra I hoped to instil in the students."

[Tsidkenu]

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"Beregost has been very kind to me during my extended stay here. The Lathanderite clergy were receptive to my offering, and in fact they went so far as to request my company on an upcoming mission of theirs. I could not decide without asking Charraj first, and he seems to be lingering in High Hedge much longer than I expected. I hope he did not ask Thalantyr about the. . . no. Never mind.

I have asked Merlara to take my place in the Dawnknights' quest and prepared her with additional means beyond what she is capable of herself. I gave her my philtre of last escape as well, should they find themselves in a place of hopelessness. She was optimistic that she would not need it, and promised to return it to me unused. I admire her optimism, but it is better to have and not need, than need and not have.

I heard my first sermon from Acolyte Alesea this morning. It was a beautifully crafted exposition about how the Morninglord's light illumines our path and enlivens our hope. She finished with the most candid of pictures: Darkness can never extinguish a single candle, but it only takes one candle to light another, pushing the dark back further. I can be a candle like that, I think."

[Tsidkenu]

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"Beregost is quiet. The Lathanderites left for the north country to put their new weapon to use. It has been a blessing to help them in the small ways that were put to me; I have not yet seen Merlara since she left with them on the initial expedition. I should dearly like to ask her about it.

Several days ago a female elf by the name of Ara came to Charraj and me while we sat before the warmth of the Risen Phoenix's hearth. She told us a devil was on the loose in the region south of Thalantyr's estate, where the xvarts have their village. Charraj was minded to go without me, but I could not allow it. Eva came with us too.

Sure enough, when we rounded the rolling hills which opened up upon the valley beyond High Hedge, a nine foot baatezu charged upon us. It immediately began to assault Charraj and quickly knocked him to the ground. I had no time to think, and even less to react. Fortunately I only needed two spells to put it down, albeit two of my most powerful. Charraj was appreciative, to say the least!

Later a woman came to us and began accusing Ara of being the summoner, and expressing contempt at her lack of control of the fiend. I did not believe her accusations from the start and I was minded to put her to sleep and search her for the truth of the matter, but in a twist of irony she not only resisted my sleep spell but my wand of paralysation as well. Hostilities ensued, but the woman slunk back to whichever pit of hell she came from when she was unable to bypass my magical foresight and Eva began whipping her with fierce lashes of wind from her elemental form.

This has left two distinct disconcerting thoughts in my mind. The first, that someone is audacious and reckless enough to let conjured devils roam the Prime. The second, that I now have new enemies, ones which are, as yet, nameless, lurking and one day going to seek their vengeance against me.

Mystra, keep me aware. I pray, let me see that moment ahead, just enough to preserve my life."

[Tsidkenu]

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She's gone. I. . .

Her life was extinguished; a rare candle in the darkness beneath, snuffed before even its wick had taken on a charcoal hue. She will dance with her goddess now and forever. You will be missed deeply, Drathyrra of Elistraee.

The priestess' journal sat idle exactly where she left it: shelved discreetly in the clergy's quarters of the Temple of Mystra. Her final entry seems very unfinished, slowly written and smudged by droplets of liquid in places.

[Tsidkenu]

Whispers from the Fugue: Part I

The luminescent interior of the Temple of Mystra swirled and dimmed. The sun elf's limp form crumpled to the floor of the temple. The blows had been heavy, however willingly received. A curled hand grasped at the emptiness of the cold, stone tiles as blood soaked quickly through her robes and onto the ground. Spinning, darkening, gone. The faintest of gasps indicated the final breath of the priestess as her colleague, Lady Neela, rushed to her side but it was too late.

Aeili suddenly jolted upright in confusion in the opaque gloom of the Fugue. Everything was gray, colourless and formless. It was like no place she had ever been, or seen. Even what little she knew of it from the Church of Myrkul failed to do it any justice. Endless nothingness spanned before her; eternal empitness expanded behind her. Then a form materialised.

"Follow," was its only instruction. Not knowing where she was, she complied. The shadowy figure lead her through the gloomy, barren landscape until the shadows of a walled city began to grow on the dusky horizon. The sun elf watched on in curiosity as the city became more apparent. It was drab, dark; its walls seems to be almost living, filled with gnawing jaws, gaping mouths, glassed over eyes, protruding hands and feet. Elsewhere the intermingled forms within the wall merged into nothing more than a pale, grimy mortar-like substance.

"W. . . where am I?" she finally blurted out in alarm to the shadowy figure.

"Silence. No questions. You will wait until you are collected, unless you wish to bargain," the monotone voice replied, devoid of any emotion whatsoever. The figure motioned past the gates of the city into the grey haze settled upon it.

The gloom lifted slightly as she passed through the decrepit, ancient gates to the city. A variety of divine beings were coming and going through portals set up in the central square. In the distance loomed a large building which she could not quite make out. There were many other figures like herself mingling there: humans, dwarves, elves, gnomes, halflings, orcs; even some ogres, giants, dragons and other stranger races she could not put names to. Confusion filled most of their faces, some expressed fear, others looked peaceful as they were lead away into shimmering portals by luminescent beings.

Her eyes scanned around and they fixed upon a devil, a baatezu, who looked to be in deep discussion with a human. The fear expressed in the human's eyes was palpable. He was listening with wide eyes to whatever the fiend was saying before he fell to his knees, thrusting his face into his hands and began weeping profusely. The devil smirked and, stooping over, whispered something to him. He looked up again, eyes utterly consumed filled with terror and then nodded once. The devil grinned broadly and grasped the man upon the shoulder with a clawed, devilish hand. With a word and a flash of flame, the two of them were gone.

"Aeili of Mystra, it is about time you arrived," came a smooth, unsettling voice from behind her. Startled, she turned about to determine the source of the chilling sound. Another baatezu stood behind her, devilish teeth prickling the very air as it grinned coldly and malevolently. "I don't suppose you would consider taking another chance at life - real life, of course?"

Aeili's mouth fell agape. Was this real? Where was she? Another chance at life? She stood, half in stunned silence, half in terror at being in such close proximity to a creature she so despised.

"What? No!" was her blurted, forced reply. Her eyes narrowed in sternness, but inside her heart quaked with uncertainty.

"Oh, come now. Surely you should take it into consideration? After all, the dead are not much use to your friends, are they?" came its snarky, cunning reply. It feined interest in its appearance by picking at the nails of some of its curled fingers.

"I will never deal with a devil!" she answered with strength of conviction and determination. She lifted her emerald-turquoise eyes to stare into the evil, reddened devilish orbs that gazed down upon her.

"Such a pity. We had great plans for one of your delightful. . . talents. Do think it over, Aeili. We will ask again soon," the baatezu replied with a tone of snide disappointment. It then vanished.

Aeili let out a deep breath. "I. . . I am dead? I. . . I don't remember. . ." she thought to herself. She lifted the palms of her hands and stared at them. She patted herself down. "I. . . I don't feel injured. What. . ?"

The gloomy haze of the City of Judgement was of little consolation to the Mystran. She slumped down on her haunches and stared at the colourless ground. "Is it really the end? Am I lost? Is it now my time?" came all those uncertain questions to her frazzled mind. She looked up at the sound of fiendish laughter as another soul was whisked away by a devil. Other souls were meeting with glowing figures and being led by the hand into the myriad of portals which were opening and closing. Her shoulders fell. All she could do now was wait.