A Life Transformed: Alistaria Rokranon

[Pentralia]

Lady Alistaria Rokranon

Basic Information
Name: Alistaria Rokranon
Aliases: Ali, Mouse
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Age: 21
Birthday: Unknown but is thought towards the end of 1326 DR
Profession: Cleric/Monk of Ilmater
Languages: Common and Elven
Speech Pattern: Speaks softly with soothing tones

Physical Information
Height: 5'0''
Weight: 100 lbs
Body Build: Small frame and well toned; she has an hourglass figure
Skin Type: Soft with a spattering of freckles across her nose and shoulders
Hair Style: Tucked up under her hood. When down, it is halfway down her back in soft waves. She usually keeps it out of her face with long braids on the sides.
Face: She is mildly attractive but not a classic beauty. Some would think her cute.
Tattoos: Crossed swords on the inside of her left wrist; like a brand. She is careful to keep this covered at all times.
Hair: Auburn
Eyes: Light Blue
Skin: Pale
Handedness: Right

Mental Information
Alignment: Lawful Good
Philosophy: Put the lives of others before your own; ease the suffering of those in need; always seek the truth before jumping to conclusions erroneously.
Deity/Beliefs: Ilmater

Personality Archetypes:

- Companion: She is a loyal friend and ally.
- Wanderer: She lived a hard life she rarely talks about before escaping and finding her way to Baldur's Gate
- Martyr: Ali will always step in front of anyone who is in danger to sacrifice herself so that others can live free of pain and strife.

Personality Traits:

- Calm: She is cool and collected when in the face of danger
- Disciplined: Everyday, she follows the same structure of meditation, study, work, and family.
- Kind: She is ever kind to everyone she encounters with never a cruel word.
- Loyal: She will never leave a friend or ally to fend for him/herself.
- Merciful: Ali will always give mercy to those who desire it.
- Peaceful: She will always seek the peaceful solution to any problem.

Additional Information
Gear: Ali wears plain grey robes, a grey cloak, and a grey hood, as is typical of a novice priest of Ilmater.

Jewelry: A wedding ring on her left hand composed of a mithril band with a 2/3 carat marquis cut diamond with amethyst and garnet studs around the band. A mithral signet ring on the right hand of House Rokranon's phoenix crest. The Holy Symbol of Ilmater around her neck. A plain red cord is wrapped around her left wrist, indicating she has taken a Vow of Nonviolence.

Habits/hobbies: She nibbles on her lower lip when nervous and has adopted her husband's habit of rubbing the heel of her hand on her forehead when frustrated. Ali spends her free time playing with Inara and the other children at the orphanage and with Jonas when he moon watches. She enjoys sewing and embroidery when there is nothing else going on.

General Health: Ali is in good health with no visible scars.

Favorite Drink: Mint tea

Weaknesses: Threatening her family, blood, marriage, or otherwise, is the quickest way to bring her to her knees and she considers her closest friends to be family.

Family
Sir Jonas Rokranon - Husband
Inara Rokranon - Daughter
Doriah Rokranon - Daughter
Harwin Rokranon - Son
Saint Merielle Silene - Oath Sister
Valerius Rokranon - Oath Brother
Auriel Elenviel - Oath Sister

Friends
Suna Meynne - Young priestess of Torm
Sativa Deathpalm
Jake
Tonan Ashaler
Siomir Danneren
Tomar Goodmannen
Rith'alaria
Randall Armstrong

[Pentralia]

The thunderous clatter of many hooves reaches the ears of the slave sitting quietly in the tower above her master’s chambers. She can hear faintly the jubilant cheers of the victorious soldiers returning from battle. Letting out the nervous breath she did not realize she was holding, she gets up and changes into the thin robes her master prefers; knowing his desire for her after such a rousing victory. She listens, with dread, as the celebration gets underway; this is her signal to make an appearance in the great hall. The girl goes to the mirror and arranges her long red hair around her shoulders in soft waves, her light blue eyes stare back at her with intense fear of what she knows is to come. The thin folds of her robes do nothing to cover her slight body and she sighs while trying to cover the soft curve of her small breasts. Biting her lip, she turns away from the mirror in frustration and breathes deeply to steady herself. She composes herself and leaves the tower, slowly making her way down to the celebration below.



When she enters the hall, she blinks at the vision before her. Long and crude tables were set up in rows and covered with roasted pigs, piles of freshly baked bread, and mounds of fruit on pewter trays. The benches are straining underneath the weight of the many soldiers who are partaking in the good food and free flowing ale. The light in the hall is dim with long shadows stretching eerily across the dirty floor. Mangy dogs hang back in the corners, waiting for scraps and bones to be thrown to the floor. Her ears are overwhelmed with the dissonance of obnoxious singing and laughing at their enemies who had fallen so easily beneath their great might. To the left of the tables, there is a dais with a plush chair at the head of the room. Upon that chair sits a massive half orc lord named Argrand. He looks over the festivities with his small piggy eyes and a satisfied grin, his tusks nearly reaching the bottom of his bulbous nose. His scrutinizing gaze settles on the slave, his grin turning cold and cruel.



“Ah! My Alistaria! It is so good of you to grace us with your presence,” the half orc lord yells as his slave enters the hall.



Alistaria winces at his brash voice but recovers quickly, forcing a shy smile to her lips. “You honor me, My Lord.” She curtsies low before him in such a way that he can fully appreciate her cleavage.



Lord Argrand lifts her chin with his finger and looks into her face with a cruel sneer before whispering harshly, “It is such a shame your face is not as lovely as your body. Your performance tonight had better be up to my expectations. I have little patience for mediocrity.” He slaps her across the face, sending her sprawling across the dais drawing jeers and laughter from the soldiers in the room.



She gets up and gingerly touches her tongue to the corner of her mouth, tasting the blood there. She gives another deep curtsey before going to her master’s chambers to await his return. All too soon, he drunkenly staggers into the chambers and sees her cowering in a dark corner. An evil grin crosses his face as he approaches her. He grabs her hair roughly and pulls her to her feet. The occupants of the keep learned long ago never to question the screaming and crying that issues from their lord’s chambers. This night is no different. The girl’s suffering lasts long into the night until it suddenly stops suddenly and all is quiet.

_______________



“Ali! Ali, wake up!” Every inch of her body screams in pain as she is shaken awake by the old nurse. “Ali! You must get up and get out of here!”



“Mmmph…wha?” The slave opens her eyes groggily and winces as the bruises and cuts covering her body protest against her getting up. “Lemme sleep, Orag.”



“Lord Argrand has been killed and the Shadow Thieves are blaming you. Ali, they mean to turn you over to the Red Wizards! You need to get away!”



Alistaria jerks herself awake and looks at the nurse in disbelief. “Lord Argand? Dead? But how?”



“His throat was cut. You have to leave…NOW!” Orag hands the girl a bag of food and wraps a cloak around her thin shoulders. “Go out through the gardens and then head north. Stay off the roads as they will be full of guards. There is a monastery ten miles from here; the monks there will give you sanctuary. The back stairs will be clear as long as you leave right away.”



Without a second thought, Alistaria grabs the bag and painfully makes her way to the back stairs, avoiding the cacophony of the guards and scared staff. She keeps to the shadows as she creeps along the garden wall and out the small gate at the corner of the keep. The forest along the protective walls is perfect cover for a fleeing slave. Once she reaches its edge, she looks back at the only home she has ever known…the only life she has ever known. She looks at the crossed swords tattooed on the inside of her wrist, signifying her enslavement to the Lord Argand of Thay. She speaks to herself softly, “I have a chance…I have to take it! I can’t ever go back to this life!” Turning her back on the keep, she runs away and never looks back again.

_______________



A monk at the Monastary of Illmater opens the doors to find a bloody and dirty little girl huddled in front of the door. She looks up at him and whispers hoarsely, “sanctuary…” before passing out. The monk gently picks her up and carries her inside. Setting her on a soft bed of straw, he quickly sets out to find a healer. The strange girl remains unconscious for two days before finally waking up in the dark room. She sits up quickly, afraid of the unfamiliar surroundings and instantly regrets the sudden movement. She lays back down with a soft moan and closes her eyes against the pain which is now pounding in her head. She opens her eyes again to see a young woman with a kind face looking down at her. “Who…where…”



The woman puts her hand on Alistaria’s head with a soft smile. “I am Marnie and you are safe here.”



Alistaria looks up at the woman and relaxes slightly, “Did I make it to the monastery? I remember seeing a building but…”



Marnie nods, “Yes, we are the church of Illmater. We will give you sanctuary for as long as possible. You must rest now; you were badly injured. We will speak again soon.”



Alistaria spent many months with the monks, learning and praying to the god whose followers had saved her. She felt a happiness and peace that she had never before felt in her short life. She learned to keep her soul calm and peaceful, how to defend herself only using her hands and feet as weapons, how to tend to the sick and injured, as well as many other skills she never realized was possible.



The peaceful calm that surrounded the monastery was broken late one night when it was attacked by a group of Red Wizards. Marnie runs into Alistaria’s room and finds her dressed and preparing to run out the door. “Alistaria! They are after you; you need to get out of here!”



“No! I cannot let leave all of you to fight for me. I am going out to help.” She tries to move past Marnie but finds herself wrapped up in the woman’s arms.



“You do not yet have the skill to face the wizards; they will kill you…or worse.” Marnie holds Alistaria in a tight hug. “I cannot let you go out there.”



“Then I will turn myself in and face my fate at their hands. This is not your fight!”



Marnie sighs softly and shakes her head as she moves around the room, packing Alistaria’s meager belongings into a small bag. “I will not argue with you about this. We have already made our decision and that is to cover your escape.” She raises her hand for silence as Alistaria opens her mouth to speak, “no argument. Go through the kitchen and out the back door. We have taught you stealth. Use it.”



Tears fill Alistaria’s eyes as she nods and does as she is told. She is able to get away from the monastery without looking back as the sounds of magic and fighting assail her senses. For nearly a year, she runs. Many times, she feels eyes upon her and wonders if she is being tracked. Finally, she makes her way to Baldur’s Gate late one night. She explores the city and sees a man standing at the gates. “Excuse me, Sir; could you tell me if there is a temple nearby?” The man nods and motions for her to follow him. He leads her through the confusing streets and then stops in front of a small building with a plaque in front of it with two hands bound together with red rope. Alistaria smiles in relief and turns to the man, but he has disappeared. She bows her head in reverence before entering the temple with one thought in her mind, “I can finally stop running.”

[Pentralia]

((I'm posting a point by point background since Ali came to Baldur's Gate because it's rather boring and seemingly pointless to write out a bio that doesn't have much meat.))

* She has no knowledge of her family or even her own name other than Alistaria that was given to her by her master once she was old enough to frequent his chambers.

* Alistaria met Jonas Rokranon and found someone she could trust with her background and fears. He vows to protect her from Thay since she was wrongly accused of murder. They fall in love and are engaged. She finds herself pregnant soon after that.

* In his vengeance against Jonas, Noric Pateel takes his ire out on Alistaria by turning her into a vampire. Jonas is able to reverse this but their unborn baby is lost in the process.

* Jonas and Alistaria marry in a private ceremony at the Temple of Torm. After a ritual with a feylock (I can't remember her name and she isn't around anymore), Ali is pregnant again.

* Inara is born and Alistaria fades from view as she is busy caring for the infant. (This is the RP around my first leave of absence from the server)

* Due to some outside influences beyond their control, Jonas and Alistaria divorce but remain close friends.

* Once Inara turns two, Alistaria takes her to the newly built orphanage to help with the care of the children as well as to socialize her precocious toddler. (This was RP'd by Jonas in the forums, with my permission, while I was planning on a comeback before my wee one was born)

* Alistaria and Jonas grow closer now that the outside influences have been handled and have renewed their love for each other and are remarried.

* Jonas's twin brother, Kelorin, found a way into Alistaria's mind where they've have a couple mental sparring matches; the last of which nearly broke Ali, but she held on and was brought back to sanity by Jonas and Merielle.

((This takes us up to present day. I'll get to writing the rest of her bio now that things are getting interesting again))

[Pentralia]

Ali sits at a desk in the temple and stares at the blank pages of a leather-bound book she has yet to fill. She sits and collects her thoughts for a few minutes before taking the quill to paper. At first, her words come hesitantly but as she continues, the soft scritch scritch of the quill against the page becomes faster as her words flow more easily.


I often wondered how to keep my thoughts organized without the constant ebb and flow of recent events driving me mad and then I saw Sister Meri writing. Just…writing. She is a brilliant woman. There has been so much going on of late and I am afraid I’ll lose touch with my responsibilities if I do not lay everything out. Sweet Pages, would that this quill magically write out the answers to the puzzles with which we are now faced.

Jonas’s twin is evil. Pure evil. He seeks to destroy all that is good in this world by destroying its champion; the one man who puts the troubles and sadness upon his shoulders and bears the burden without complaint, ever steady, ever faithful. And how does this evil try to weaken Jonas? He goes after those whom Jonas loves the most. Those who love Jonas with equal fervor and would lay down their lives to stand by his side. To date, he has physically and mentally attacked Sister Meri, mentally attacked myself, Inara, Auriel, Siomir, and more who share a bond with my Dearest. The latest attack, I’m embarrassed to say, very nearly accomplished Kelorin’s goals. He made me believe Jonas and Sister Meri were having an affair. It was so ludicrous! How could I possibly believe that the two of them would betray me like that? He caught me when my concentration was focused on eradicating undead from this world. That is how. I was unable to focus my full attention to battling him head on. I am so thankful to Jake and Sativa being there with me. I would not have survived without them.

I am afraid for those I hold dear. I am afraid for Jonas…afraid for Inara…afraid for Meri… The monster needs to be destroyed. I’ve tried so hard to break through the evil to the frightened little boy I feel is residing beneath the black veneer, yet I have failed. Miserably. As such, he needs to die. The threat he brings to the world is too great. It breaks my heart.
It would seem as though my past is finally catching up to me. I thought that after almost five years, Thay would have given up on wanting to come after a mere slave girl who was thought to have killed her master. I guess I was wrong. My monastery outside of Thesk informed me that a Red Wizard traveling with a young girl passed by their grounds. Ordinarily, they would not have thought much about it but this young girl looks very much like me. I do not know if I have any family but if there is any chance I have a sister out there, and she is enslaved to a red wizard, the information cannot be ignored. The monks sent scouts to gather more information and it was learned that the wizard confirmed the girl is my sister and he is using her as bait to get to me. The pair is heading to Baldur’s Gate. What could he want with me after all of this time? And why would Thay send a wizard? I would have thought it beneath them to hunt for someone as insignificant as I am. I suppose we will find out in due course. For now, I want to focus on happier things.

Jonas and I are to be married in only a matter of days! Nothing makes me happier than to know that our love has survived beyond all of the outside forces who worked so hard to part us. While I knew our divorce was for the best at the time, it nearly broke me with sadness. The only things keeping me sane were Mercy’s grace and our daughter, Inara. She is so excited to wear the fancy dress I made with the wild flowers woven in her hair. She says she is going to be a princess on that day and we need to bow to her. I had to remind her that as her mother, I am the queen in her fantasy. Oh, the pout she gave me! You would have thought I told her the sun would never shine again. I am very nervous about meeting the dukes and all of the church dignitaries Jonas has invited. Never once in my life did I ever think I would rise so far. I have to remember that such a rise means there is farther to fall.

After weeks of training with Sister Meri and study at the temple, I’ve been initiated as a novice priest! I finally feel as if I’m walking the path I’ve always been meant to follow. It came out of nowhere after we came back from searching for Beatrix’s daughter, Shiera. Meri said it was clear I knew my path and there was no reason to wait any longer. My heart swelled at the moment she placed the holy symbol of Ilmater around my neck. The fire I’ve been feeling for so long leapt and intensified. The energy is there, I just need to learn how to tap it before I am burned alive from the inside out. I know I’ll learn. I have faith that Mercy will show me the way.

[Pentralia]

Kelorin has struck again. He's crossed a line this time. The troll made Inara believe he was Jonas and actually touched my little girl. His hands and lips were pressed upon her in a twisted father's embrace just before encouraging her to go out into the city to help people. By. Herself. His depravity knows no bounds! He is willing to put an innocent child's life in danger just to show us that he can! I do not care what he does to me, just do not threaten my child.

Then, to push me further, he showed me what he did to poor Meri. The images he showed me had her in such a state I never knew was in her. My entire body was quaking with anger as he pushed and pushed at me. Finally, he offered a deal. A deal which he promised to leave Inara and Meri alone for all time...I would just have to give him one night. It left me sickened to the core. I did not believe he would ever keep his end of the bargain; he was just saying what he thought I wanted to hear to get what he wanted. And it left me with the realization that he was lonely. I still hold firm to my belief that there is a scared little boy beneath the threats.

Despite knowing he would never hold true to his end of the bargain, I agreed to his deal but with my own twist upon it. I always carry a small dagger at my belt for eating. That dagger is just the right size to stab him in the back and incapacitate him. I can't kill him but I can paralyze him if I stab him just in the right place in his spine. Unfortunately, Meri figured me out. As I said before, she is brilliant. After a long discussion, I conceded to her and we thought to anger him by breaking the deal in order to draw him out. He always acts stupidly when he's angry. That is his weakness and is one we must exploit. And angry he was! Oh, the torture he put upon Jonas after I told him I was backing out. My poor husband was subjected to images unspeakable, even for your pages. It is time for Kelorin to be ended.

[Pentralia]

(("Mawwage! Mawwage is what bwings us togevah....today. Mawwage, that bwessed awangement, a dweam within a dweam" The Princess Bride))

Jonas and I were married today! I am overcome with happiness at this very moment and feel as if nothing...NOTHING can pull me down from this cloud in the heavens. Before the wedding, I was such a mess! I was rushing around the orphanage, finding chores that needed to be done, just to keep my hands busy. Poor Thedran came in and I plied him so full of food that I'm sure he was nearly bursting from his armor. Bless him, he sat there and ate every bite. He was even kind enough to escort me to the temple; though we ran into Meri along the way. She was a vision in her white dress.

The two walked with me to the temple. I was not prepared for all of the people already there! Luckily, Auriel was there waiting so she and Meri whisked me into a side room to change and get ready. Auriel was beautiful, as she always is. She provided so much support and helped calm my nerves. Then, she was gone. She slipped out a side door and let everyone know we were ready to begin. The moment I heard the music and stepped out of the room and into the sanctuary, I saw Jonas and my nerves disappeared. It their place was the most glorious happiness that filled my heart. He was so handsome and strong standing next to the altar. I felt as though my feet were barely touching the floor as I walked to his side. Once I looked into those soothing lavender eyes, I felt as though we were alone in the room.

Meri spoke and welcomed everyone to our joining and spoke beautiful words that spoke of how our love endured and brought us back together again after our time apart. The ring touched my finger and it felt as if it belonged there. I touched Jonas and knew we were meant to be together and nothing will ever come between us again. He smiled down at me and my entire being belonged to him; heart, mind, body, and soul. I barely remember saying my vows, I was so wrapped up in being there with him, at that moment. Suddenly, it was over. Meri had pronounced us Sir Jonas and Lady Alistaria Rokranon and gave Jonas permission to kiss his bride. Sweet Mercy, that kiss...I felt it down to my toes! I could not help but chuckle at the emotions flowing through me then.

The walk to the reception was like a dream. I was literally tied to Jonas and we walked through the streets as man and wife with Aethor at Jonas's side and Madison at mine. There were so many guards in the streets to ensure our walk was safe. The attention felt very alien to me. I've always been the girl in the back of the room, watching everyone else rise and sing; never have I been the one at the front, doing the singing. It was very strange. While I loved seeing all of our family and friends together, I found myself wishing that Jonas and I could just get away. And then the dukes arrived. Duke Eltan and Duke Entar came in with a fanfare while heavily guarded. They both spoke to Jonas with the ease of friendship. This new life is going to take some getting used to!

We all enjoyed each other's company with drink and good food for many hours. I even found myself relaxing in the crowd. It was so wonderful to see my stepchildren and feel their absolute acceptance. I've often worried they would not accept me again. I know those worries are groundless; they accepted me once before so there is no reason to believe they would not again. Inara was trouncing around, charming everyone she came across until she finally fell asleep in Meri's lap. I saw that as an opportunity to make my escape. Meri would see to Inara going to bed so I needed to see to Jonas and my bedtime. I made my exit after telling him to wait a little while before coming upstairs to our room. I had to prepare, right? Well, I'm prepared and here I sit filling your pages. And here he comes. He always did have great timing.

[Pentralia]

Kelorin nearly had me last night. I’m so angry with myself for falling for his ruse to gain access to me. While Jonas was out, I received a message from my contact saying he had to meet with me about an urgent matter regarding the wizard who has my sister. I didn’t think twice before I wrote Jonas a note, telling him where I was, and leaving to go to the lighthouse to meet the messenger. I did not have to wait long before a cloaked man came up behind me. Kelorin kept up the ruse long enough for me to get close enough to him to strike. He grabbed my arm and exposed the brand on the inside of my wrist then the viper showed his fangs, calling me the most abhorrent of names; one that I thought to never hear directed towards me again. It nearly broke me to hear that word spoken in Jonas’s voice, despite the oiliness that is not present in my love’s voice. That word, alone, was a blow mighty enough to fell even the most stalwart of warriors.

I tried to step back so I could run away but he hit me with a blast of magic that nearly took my breath away, it hurt so badly. It was at that time I knew I had to defend myself or be completely ravaged by this man. I was able to recover quickly enough to land a kick in his gut, winding him for a short moment. He responded with a weak punch to my throat. While it was a glancing blow, it still brought tears to my eyes and I had to struggle to breath for a moment. I pushed through the pain and landed a number of flurried blows at his face. Even in my weakened state, I was successful in breaking his nose. He responded with a swift kick to my stomach. It was high enough that I could feel my ribs cracking under the strength of that kick. It pushed the air from my lungs and I fell to the sand, struggling to pull air into my chest. That was when help arrived.

As I was struggling to breathe, I could see Kelorin stepping towards me but then a griffon came down from the sky and a tall, heavily muscled woman hopped off the back. She took one look at me then asked, “Need some help, Girlie?” If I had been able to breathe, I would have screamed out in absolute relief! Kelorin immediately took on Jonas’s persona and attempted to convince Randy that I was injured and needed help but he made the mistake of revealing his golden eyes. Randy is no fool and he was a fool for thinking so. I didn’t even need to gasp out that he was not Jonas, but I did it anyway. Randy distracted Kelorin enough for me to catch my breath. Once I was able to get to my feet, I wasted no time in trying to incapacitate him by rounding a kick aimed at his head. Mercy must have been guiding my feet because I was able to connect squarely on the side of his jaw. He spit out a bloody tooth then threw out another blast of his abyssal magic at us but all it did was keep us back from him for a moment.

While Randy and I were dodging the blast, Kelorin drew his sword and called forth his magical energy, holding it in a ball in his hand. I watched as that energy turned from purple to green as he infused it with acid. Randy drew her sword as well and approached him. The three of us bantered back and forth, speaking of redemption and forgiveness. I was very impressed with Randy’s words. Who would know more about redemption than one who is working so hard to redeem herself? The tall warrior spoke from her heart as she tried to reason with this snake. The entire time we were talking, I watched that hand of his as he gathered more and more energy which is why I had enough warning to dodge half of the blast when he lost control of his temper. The pain of that acid eating through my skin was more agonizing than anything I’ve ever felt in my life! In my desperation, I pulled handsful of sand towards me and rubbed it into my wounds, trying to soak up the acid to stop the burning. In the end, I think I may have done more harm than good but it was the only thing I could think of at the time. After Kelorin shot that blast, I vaguely recall seeing Randy swinging her sword at Kelorin. She must have severed his arm because Jonas told me he had her burn his arm while he kept the sword.

I don’t remember anything before feeling Meri’s healing light washing over me. She then smoothed a salve over my burns and wrapped her cloak around me as my robes had been pretty much burned away and we were standing outside in a group of people. At that point, I was beyond all thoughts of modesty so I am thankful Meri was not. Tomar offered his services to help keep me safe from any future attacks. I am thankful for his concern and grateful for his company. He is a dear friend. Jonas then ushered me into the orphanage so I could change into some new robes. I was still in quite a lot of pain at that time, but it felt so good to get clean and clothed again.

I sat silently, watching as everyone whizzed around with business about the further protection of Inara and plans to cut Kelorin down. I do not know how much time had passed before the orphanage emptied and Jonas went to his temple for prayer. Meri was frustrated enough to sweep and mop the floor. Again. And I was facing Siomir across the table. I finally felt I could talk about what happened. I’ve heard stories about how Siomir could be so savage but I had never seen it for myself. He wanted Kelorin to die slowly and painfully. I cannot shake this feeling that beneath all of his insanity and hate, Kelorin is scared and lonely. I know he needs to die but if he would only repent, he will be able to secure his soul in whatever awaits us beyond death. As it is right now, his current path has him suffering into eternity. I continue to hold out hope that he will realize there is Mercy still at his disposal. No one believes he will choose the merciful death and no one believes he deserves it. I suppose I am naïve but I believe everyone deserves mercy should they desire it.

[Pentralia]

Redemption. It is just a word to most, but once that word is applied to you, it is plain to see how heavy a burden it can be. I have seen one who has shouldered this burden without complaint and is actually glad to do so. The reason for his desire to change? Love. Pure, devoted, true love. It warms my heart to see Randy so motivated to turn his life around because his love of Marjolaine has caused a sliver of light to shine into his misguided heart. When this light pierced the darkness, it spread and warmed his entire being. It is now his wish to turn all his ill deeds to right and it is my wish…my charge, to help him succeed.

It began when I asked Jonas if we could visit Randy so I could personally thank him for saving me against Kelorin. Once we arrived, Jonas began discussing Randy’s desire to redeem himself and his sincerity in doing so. I watched carefully as Randy showed his remorse. I have only seen such pain and vulnerability once prior and it shook me to my core then, as it did now. My heart went out to Randy when he laid out his wish to apologize to all those he had harmed. I saw his fear that no one would forgive him for his crimes and saw his desire to prove to the woman he loves, and the rest of the world, that there is goodness inherent within him. I told him that true forgiveness begins with himself, but that is something he will need to face on his own, in his own time.

We discussed it further and it was decided he would start his apologies with Lanaya and Rith’alaria the following day. Without even thinking, I offered Randy my support and assistance in his endeavors, feeling drawn to duty. We did have some difficulty with Alison feeding poison into Randy’s ear, saying that apologies will not fix anything because he will never be forgiven by Rith and that it was pointless to even try. I was able to remain patient with this until Rith and Siomir arrived. There was a volley of words between all of us before I finally lost my patience and asked Alison to leave. She was only inflaming an already volatile situation.

The next day, Jonas, Tomar, and I made our way to Randy’s beach to take the first step in his redemption. We met just outside of Candlekeep where Randy had made his first apology in private. He apologized for not waiting but I told him some apologies were meant to be private. Soon after, we made our way towards the city to meet Siomir and Rith. We caught up with them outside the Friendly Arm Inn where Jonas had a very pleasant surprise. His younger brother had come to the area, seeking him out. The two were happy to see each other and were catching up when I saw Randy approach Rith and speaking to her softly. I was not able to hear what was being said so I watched Rith’s facial expressions carefully to make sure no lines were crossed on either side. After a few moments, Rith told Randy that it would be better for him to make his apologies to Lanaya first. Since Jonas was busy with Renec, Tomar and I escorted Randy to the Merchant Camp so he could speak to the young elf maid.

The mood was tense when we first arrived and approached Lanaya but then Randy launched into her apologies. Lanaya showed wisdom beyond her years and said that the past was in the past and she was going to leave it there. The two talked a while longer and had a very friendly conversation. Tomar and I were very pleased by this outcome and asked Lanaya to come with us to speak with Rith and Siomir. It did not take us long to find the two elves across the road from the Friendly Arm Inn. Randy made her apologies and Rith asked if Randy would take the Mark of Justice that Jonas offered to perform. Randy said he had agreed to this which went a long way in convincing the two of his sincerity. The conversation came to a close when Siomir pulled his blade and told Randy that as long as he does not fall back to his old ways, this sword will never seek his blood again. In fact, it may actually dance along with him in battle. After a few moments of contemplation, Rith made similar comments.

All I could do was stand there and smile at the scene. Randy had taken a huge step along a difficult path and I could not be more proud. On top of that, he requested the Mark of Justice to be performed as soon as possible. Jonas acquiesced and performed the spell within the hour. All in all, it was a very good day.

[Pentralia]

I can’t believe it, I am pregnant again! I suspected it for a couple of weeks but wanted to wait to confirm it with Meri before telling Jonas. With all of the stress he is under right now, I would not want to give him hope for such happiness without being sure first. Meri checked me over and then told me that it was good she spend some time at the St. Jasper monastery because I’m going to need a midwife! Poor Jonas, he was not expecting such news when I told him. He looked at me as if I had hit him over the head with a frying pan. Of course he was absolutely ecstatic when it finally sunk in for him. We are both over the moon with joy!

Of course our happiness was dampened when Kelorin made his presence known again. I heard Kelorin pleading with the demon who he had bound himself to all those years ago. He declared to this demon that it was he who killed Jonas’s first wife and that he could come after me again, stating it would work this time. I was with Tomar and Madison at the time and once they learned I heard Kelorin, they immediately escorted me to the orphanage and to safety. I am very blessed to have such protective friends.

A few days went by with Kelorin pleading with Jonas for his help in destroying this demon and breaking his bond. The only problem was that Kelorin refused to face judgment for his crimes. It was because of this that Jonas did not agree to his wishes. Kelorin was becoming increasingly desperate to get away from his bonds to the demon and finally took action. He bribed a young girl named Tina to lure me away from the guards in order to catch me in a Trap Soul spell. Tina told me she had lost her chalkboard so I went with her to help her find it. I found it behind a hay bale and picked it up. The second my fingers touched the board, I was instantly transported into a Soul Gem.

I watched in horror as Kelorin appeared and gave Tina a gold coin for her troubles but it was a ruse. The moment the coin touched Tina’s outstretched hand, she disappeared into another gem. Kelorin picked Tina up and put her into his pocket then transported the three of us to his hideout. He kept Tina on him and kept me where he could see me. I watched as the man paced back and forth, occasionally screaming out in desperate frustration. I am unsure of the reason for his discomfort and I did not see much before he opened a portal and threw me into it.

The scene I witnessed after that was one of desolation. Nothing grew here, though it seems like it did at one time because there were withered trees, twisted in a silent agony. There, I sat; all alone, without the comfort of my connection to Jonas. Oh, how I missed him! I do not know how long I was there before I saw a clawed hand reach down and pick me up. I saw the ugly twisted face of a demon with an evil sneer. It is a face that will haunt me forever. It looked at me for a long moment before placing me in what I think was a pocket or pouch because it was very dark. I felt as if I had been swallowed up by shadows.

It was pure torture for me. Not only was my world completely black, but I could not feel any connection to Jonas and that, in itself, was enough to nearly drive me mad. The sounds I heard were muffled and frightening but I refused to give into the fear that tried to creep up my spine. What would happen to the tiny life I carried within me? Would I lose another child to evil? Dark thoughts swirled through my mind as dread consumed me. I do not think Jonas or I could handle losing another child. All I could do was pray to Mercy to end this torture. He must have heard my prayers because my eyes were suddenly blinded by the light as the demon pulled my gem out.

My heart nearly wept with joy as I saw Jonas standing before me! I could see how badly my disappearance had affected him. He looked so lost and confused, almost as if he was unsure of where he was and what he was doing there. Once he recognized my gem, I could see the transformation into the determined man I love with all of my soul. I listened as Jonas spoke to the demon, pleading for my return, only to have it scratch its sharp claw down the surface of the gem. The loud screech within my prison was deafening and it was all I could do not to scream out in pain. My vision was blurred by the deep scratches the demon left upon the surface. Twice he did this. It finally figured out that Kelorin was attempting to betray it so it called him forth.

Kelorin cowered once the demon informed him of his stupidity. It ordered him to destroy Jonas, Meri, and everyone else who had come to help my dear husband bring me home, with the promise it would not harm him afterward. Kelorin didn’t believe the demon would keep its promise and an intense battle ensued. I was dropped in the heat of battle and could see feet stepping near me and blood spraying all over my gem, clouding my vision once again. The sounds of the fighting assailed my ears and I found myself cringing in the fear that my sweet child and I would be destroyed during the fray. Then suddenly, it went quiet and dark. The demon’s hand lay atop of me and I could see nothing. It was not long when light filtered through the dark and I saw Jonas’s beloved face.

I could feel the tenderness as he cradled my gem close to his body. I soaked up the love he radiated down into me. It was like heaven. I heard everyone talking about a coming army of demons and felt the urgency in Jonas as Meri channeled a prayer to Mercy to get us out of there. I felt jostled as another heated battle began but it did not last long as Meri was able to open a portal by a Miracle granted by Ilmater. Jonas must have stepped through quickly because we were suddenly bathed in a blessed light and I recognized the Temple of Tyr. Jonas set me down before the altar and I saw the hilt of his sword coming down. Reflexively, I cringed away and the next thing I knew, I was standing before my love and his arms were around me.

It was so surreal. I felt like I was going to be in that tiny prison forever and then I was suddenly in my husband’s arms. I’m unsure of how long it took me to get my bearings and but when I did, the full reality of what happened set in and I could do nothing but cry. I could not let go of Jonas and held onto him tightly. I felt like if I were to let him go, I would go back to that dark place and never return. Sweet Mercy, I still feel like this is but a dream and when I wake up, I will still be there…trapped…alone…cold. Dear Ilmater; please let this all be real!

I finally looked up from Jonas’s chest and saw so many of our friends…Siomir, Rith’alaria, Ramas, Leonia, Tomar, Charraj, and Meri. Sweet Meri; the poor dear was so exhausted from the ordeal she fell asleep on a bench in the temple. And Rith could barely stand due to the power she expended on my behalf. Everyone was scorched and covered with blood; some of it their own and some of it not. It warmed my heart that our friends felt such a loyalty to us that they would put themselves in such danger to bring me back.

The overall mood was exuberant. Meri lifted her head from her nap and told everyone she would make a feast after she rested and a feast she made! The food was amazing. I knew Meri was a talented cook but she really outdid herself. It is a shame I was feeling too nauseous to eat much of it. By some miracle, my tiny child is safe and sound. I thought it was my imagination at first, thinking that I could feel the emotions of the baby in my womb, but then it was unmistakable. He was happy. I could feel we were having a son. The emotions emanating from him were undoubtedly male. A son! I got up to make some tea when a cold dread washed over me in the realization that Tina was still trapped in a gem.

How could I have forgotten the life of an innocent child? Sweet Mercy, please forgive me; I do not know what came over me. By the grace of the Triad, Ramas had looted Kelorin’s body and a poorly cut ‘Onyx’ was found among his belongings. The large man wasted no time in pulling a huge club from his belt and breaking the gem, destroying the table in the orphanage in the process. Tina was pulled from the shards of the gem and looked around in abject horror of what had happened to her. She started to cry; the poor dear. I could only hold her close and sooth her as best as I could but she needed her family.

Jonas was standing behind me when Tina looked up at him and screamed in terror. She could not see the difference between Jonas and his brother and thought she was looking at the same man who had tricked and imprisoned her. Jonas had the wisdom to leave so we could calm her. Tina said she wanted to go home so I walked her across the road to her farm. Her father was standing outside of the barn looking lost and haggard. Tina squirmed free of my arms, screaming to her father in happiness to see him again. He seemed surprised, at first, to see his daughter hugging his leg but then let out a strangled cry and picked her up, holding her close. At first, he wanted to know what happened but then seemed contented simply to have Tina back. It was a happy reunion and made me glad that such a nightmare could end happily.

I just hope this is all real.