The Harvest Moon Consortium

Posted 02/21/07 01:46 (GMT) -- Child of Stark

It was just a normal day for Randyl Vail. He walked down the streets of Lapis Port with an easy stride that didn’t indicate he had any real purpose. He enjoyed these walks because they gave him time to think without distractions or people talking to him. Not that Randyl didn’t like talking, on the contrary, it seemed he had a reputation for being a bit of a blabber-mouth. It wasn’t his fault. Like his mother, it was his nature to be friendly and smiley to everyone. He just couldn’t help it. That thought brought a smile to his face. Like mother, like son, and like father, like daughter. Ah yes, now his twin sister Seryne was so like their father. If Randyl had inherited his mother’s personality then Seryne definitely inherited her father’s. She was the quiet type. She always wore that stony expression on her face and spoke only when absolutely necessary. It seemed a bit odd upon reflection. Was she quiet because of her nature or because she knows that Randyl would always talk for them? They rarely did anything alone, so would she have been like that if she was an only child? Who knows? Where was she anyway? And just then his walk had taken him to the city gate. With shrug he continued his walk into the farmlands.

The site that greeted him was certainly not what he expected. Just outside the gates, bodies littered the ground. Randyl glanced around then quickly began examining the bodies. They seemed to be some sort of fiend like men. They’re skin was a dark red while the armor they wore was a light reddish-orange. Unwillingly the first thought that popped into Randyl’s mind was how the half-fiend’s outfit REALLY didn’t go with its skin tone. With a sudden jolt Randyl realized this wasn’t the time for worrying about how his enemy looked. So he glanced up to survey the area again and to his shock he spotted what could only be a lich coming toward him. To his own surprise he didn’t feel the slightest bit of fear. He calmly began casting one of his most deadly spells at the lich when suddenly a figure formed out of the shadows and began firing arrows at the lich. Between the arrows and Randyl’s spell the lich didn’t last long.

After the destruction of the lich, Randyl took the time to study his apparent ally. After a few seconds he realized it was Arrilan, an elf he had not seen in a very long time. As he began his greeting to Arrilan a bright flash and strange noise erupted behind him. Randyl spun in time to see a strange looking man with a mage’s staff standing where the light had been. With a smirk Randyl couldn’t help but mutter, “Show off.”

The strange man ignored Randyl and began talking to Arrilan and the air on Randyl’s right. It was only when Randyl followed the man’s gaze that another figure stepped out of the shadows, Seriand, a great elven archer Randyl had fought beside long ago.

Randyl then listened as the strange man talked about some Demi-lich, and this and that. Randyl didn’t understand exactly who or what he was talking about but he did know that evil had risen again and this man wanted Arrilan, Seriand, and Randyl to stop it. It also seemed that Seriand felt guilty about something but Randyl didn’t really understand. Seriand implied that this was partly his fault somehow. Randyl shrugged and went back to listening to the strange man. And so the mysterious man told them that they must journey into the caves to the north where a dragon makes its lair and retrieve a half-fiend. Once they have the half-fiend they would be able to go to the altar in the jungle and summon an angel to restore the Demi-lich to normal and thwart this new evil.

And so the three adventurers began their quest to summon an angel and defeat the rising evil that threatened to swallow the lands. But to Randyl, fighting against the evils of the land wasn’t anything new.

The journey into the north was long and fraught with danger. Gaining access to the cave that supposedly housed the half-fiend they needed seemed to be the hardest part. The Demi-lich knew they were coming and sent her forces out in full to stop them. The bridge leading to the cave was crawling with half-fiends, bugbears, and winter wolves. After a long, intense, and bloody battle the three adventurers made their way into the cave. Once inside moving was relatively easy. Only a few winter wolves stood in their way and with Seriand’s expert scouting, they quickly made their way deep into the cave. The ease of their movement was short lived however for it seemed the Demi-lich with a force of undead was waiting for them. When the lich spotted Randyl, who was the only one not hiding in the shadows well enough, it warned, “Turn back human. You cannot stop us now. Soon you and all your people will be our slaves.”

Randyl thought about that for an instant and laughed at the lich. How many times has he heard that one? So unoriginal! After laughing he held her in conversation, hoping to give his comrades time to scout her army. Randyl paused for a moment waiting for Seriand and Arrilan to reveal themselves to him. Arrilan looked at Seriand and Randyl for a moment and told them that they had to strike fast. Randyl nodded and both Arrilan and Seriand disappeared again. Randyl gave them a few seconds before moving forward and launching his own attack at the lich and its forces. The battle was short. The enemy was not as prepared as the lich made it seem. Randyl gathered the remains of the lich quickly and stowed them away.

And so they exited the first cave and traveled across the snow to a second. This short path was suddenly filled with goblins with unnatural strength. Randyl was the first to fall from his wounds with Seriand falling next. But as Randyl was about to give into the darkness he saw Arrilan fighting with everything he had. Randyl had never imagined someone could stand with all those gashes and blood pouring from them, never mind fight. But that sight inspired Randyl to try again. With great effort Randyl stood, and so did Seriand. With their new found energy the three warriors finally cut the goblins down. After taking some time to rest and heal the adventurers set off in search of the next cave. Upon entering the cave they discovered two small portals. As they were examining them, someone approached from behind. Randyl turned to see the great sorceress Shaia walking calmly toward them. Randyl breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her and he saw a look of joy cross over Seriand’s face.

“Swordbearer,” Randyl greeted her with a bow. Randyl grinned to himself when Shaia didn’t react to that title. Randyl and Seryne had been told stories about a great sorceress named Shaia by their fey’ri sword master, Amilielia, when they were children. At the time they didn’t know she was a real person and they would meet her later in their lives, before she even became the “Swordbearer.” But it was all true. Randyl and Seryne witnessed the time when Shaia bore the sword of the mighty Ammothrawen and lead a party of Anchorome’s greatest warriors to rescue Ammothrawen from the evil drow matron, Vitrial, who planned to use her to bread an army of fey’ri. Randyl and Seryne heard the story as children and thought little of it. But they lived it when they grew up. They fought beside Shaia in the battles to rescue Ammothrawen, the battles against Vitrial and her armies. Even after it was over and they had saved Ammothrawen and Shaia was no longer bore her sword, Randyl still looked up to Shaia, and she would always be the “Swordbearer” to him.

In response to Randyl’s greeting Shaia offered him a short nod and turned to Seriand and Arrilan who quickly brought her up to speed on their quest, and asked for her help with the portals they found. It took her a few seconds of studying them to determine that they were simple portals that probably didn’t go far. With that information Seriand and Arrilan decided to each take a portal and determine where it went. Shaia and Randyl didn’t have to wait long. In no time Seriand and Arrilan were back. Seriand’s lead to the docks in Lapis port while Arrilan’s lead to a strange land with a temple to some god named “Chokra.” Randyl could have sworn he had heard that name but couldn’t remember exactly where. With that knowledge all four continued through the cave and found a room at the back. The room looked like a forge. One of the forges was hot with recent activity. It was only when Arrilan said, “Hello,” that Randyl realized they weren’t alone.

There, in the corner of the room, stood Randyl’s past. Her wings made her look double her actual size, the dim light in the room reflected off her scales making her look menacing. Although there were a few more lines in her face than Randyl remembered, her stance was still that of a master swordswoman. The others didn’t know her for who she was, Amilielia Hener, daughter of Ammothrawen Hener. But this wasn’t the Amilielia that the others knew. No, this was Randyl’s Amilielia, the fey’ri who was hated by her mother and feared her mother in return. This was the samurai warrior who left her mother to go back in time, creating an alternate reality, who met Anjaiyi and Jonathan Vail, and who trained their children in the ways of the sword.

For the first time that Randyl could remember, he was struck speechless. While the others began questioning her about who she was, he could only stare at her with his mouth slightly open. After a minute he recovered and managed squeak out a greeting. It took her a moment to realize who Randyl was and she seemed as shocked to see him as he was to see her. It was then that a realization struck him. This was why he was there. This was his purpose. His former master was the half-fiend they were looking for and only he could convince her to leave this place and help them. And so Randyl began to tell her of all that had happened since he last saw her. He told her of how he and his sister were part of the group that rescued her mother from Vitrial, how they rescued the fey’ri children from the drow matron, Fade, and how the lady Ammothrawen became an angel of Bahamut. From the expression on Amilielia’s face it was obvious that she didn’t believe a word of it but Randyl knew she would trust him. He also saw things in her expressions that he had very seen before. Fear. His swordmaster was frightened of the name Ammothrawen. Her fear ran deeper than Randyl had ever imagined. But even so, Randyl told her why they needed her help, knowing that she would not refuse their cause. He was right. She agreed to go with them the jungle altar and call upon her mother.

And so the four adventurers plus Amilielia left the forge to head to the altar in the jungle. As they past the portals Arrilan asked Shaia whether she could alter the portals to teleport them to the jungle. Shaia said she would try and try she did. It didn’t work out perfectly but Dandelion Dale was close enough that with a carriage ride and a short sea journey they were in the jungle. Although the jungle paths held little danger they were very difficult to navigate. After getting lost and walking in circles for a time the group finally came into view of the altar. The site that greeted them indicated one thing and all the adventurers came to the same conclusion. This was where the final battle would take place. This was where they would win…or die. The undead armies of the Demi-Lich filled the forest around the altar. It was one of he most formidable forces Randyl had ever seen. Without hesitation the heroes struck. Arrilan and Seriand popped in and out of shadows shooting from this direction and that direction. Shaia unleashed her most powerful spells and so did Randyl. During the battle Randyl had little time to think about anything but his spells but he did spare a glance for his former mentor. Amilielia was swinging her blade back and forth cutting through fiends and liches alike. That was the Amilielia that Randyl remembered, the greatest swordswoman he had ever met.

After what seemed like an eternity the battle was over with Randyl and his friends victorious. It was then that they all approached the altar. Randyl saw Arrilan give something to Amilielia but he didn’t catch what it was. He then watched as Amilielia knelt before the altar and chanted in Infernal. Randyl knew what was coming next. He could feel it. Even knowing what was coming he couldn’t help but cringe when Amilielia plunged her own sword through her heart. It was then of course Ammothrawen appeared before her looking as beautiful as ever but Randyl still could not hold back the single tear that flowed down his cheek. For a long time he stared at the body of his mentor. He was aware that Ammothrawen was talking to Arrilan and Seriand but he didn’t really hear her words. Quietly he placed the remains of the Demi-lich on the ground and approached Amilielia’s body. Kneeling beside the body he carefully cradled her head in his arms and found himself lost in thoughts about the past.

Randyl was suddenly jolted back to the present when he felt a hand touch his shoulder. He heard a voice that said Amilielia was strong and that she would live. With that Randyl released Amilielia’s body and both it and Ammothrawen disappeared in a burst of light and at that very moment he felt something flash through him. It felt strange. He suddenly knew that he could channel his magic easier and it would be more powerful. He’d have to explore this sensation more fully later. After a while he became aware of the others talking behind him and tried remember what Ammothrawen had said to them. He remembered her telling Seriand that she would do her best to help restore the Demi-lich back to normal. And he remembered a strange voice…a woman’s but not Ammothrawen. This struck Randyl as most odd. He remembered Arrilan talking to this voice and they mentioned something called THORN. He had no idea what that was but he assumed he would find out in due time.

And suddenly he was in the farmlands with the others. It must have been Ammothrawen, but he didn’t know for sure. When he looked at the others he could sense that they felt proud and more at peace. He also knew he should feel the same way but didn’t. He couldn’t help feel a sense of loss but he didn’t really know why. Well this would give him a lot to think about on his daily strolls about the lands. And in time perhaps he would be able to fully test his new found powers, for who knew when evil would show its ugly face again? Randyl sure didn’t know, but he did know that when it did, he would be there to face it.