A Glimpse In Time, Complete Series - 120-124AR: Aeriel's Tale
Compiled into 1 book for simplicity.
By: Aeriel, Priestess of Mystra, Written 186AR
1 OF 6: 120AR - AERIEL, HEINRICH, WEYER, VIVIAN LECHAUNCE
2 OF 6: 121AR - A WITCHES SACRIFICE
3 OF 6: 122AR - BANISHMENTS AND DEAD FEYLORDS
4 OF 6: 123AR - WHARFTOWN WELCOMED THE UNDERDARK
5 OF 6: 123AR - ARCH-DEVILS AND DEMON PACTS
6 OF 6: 124AR - AERIEL BANISHES ARELITH
A GLIMPSE IN TIME, 1 OF 6: 120AR - AERIEL, HEINRICH, WEYER, VIVIAN LECHAUNCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
PREFACE
AUTHORS NOTE
1. AERIEL'S BRIEF PRE-HISTORY
2. ELISE DAVONTIS AND THE TOWER
3. HEINRICH WEYER
4. VIVIAN LECHAUNCE
5. LIFE-ALTERING DEAL
6. CORDOR - MY FIRST BANISHMENT
PREFACE
I've never sought to read about people I don't know. I've never wanted strangers reading about me. It feels creepy, almost sleazy. But, I freely share my history with those I know and love.
I loathe the sight of people living in Arelithian libraries, wasting their time with stories of the past when they should be out generating their own. After 61 years away, I returned to the isle. A few historians eventually managed to convince me to write my tale. To preserve history. Just remember: My stories are no greater than anyone else's could or should be. Get out there make your own!
AUTHORS NOTE
Much of these volumes cover events which were concurrent. Each one details specific topics so parties interested in just one wouldn't be forced to read the entire series.
Also note: My brain has many abnormalities, one of the most pronounced: My short-term memory.
It's far worse than average. Even if I try to remember something specific, something -just- spoken, the moment the subject changes... poof! It's gone.
I live by tedious notes and journals to make it through any given day. My parchment brain. Writing and referencing these has made my long-term memory above average. There is beauty in human frailty, especially when it forces strength in other areas.
This account stems from a mix of my detailed-journals and my long-term-memory.
1. AERIEL'S BRIEF PRE-HISTORY
My failure to master even the most basic tenants of the weave, my deficient brain, disgraced my noble-family's prestigious surname. In 118AR, at age 17, my family banished me from my icy home in the southern ocean. They stripped my noble surname and even forbade me from uttering it. I was sold into a period of indentured servitude upon a ship to pay for my passage. After an -eventful- sea voyage, I arrived in Arelith in late 119, aged 18.
New friends quickly came into my life. The most noteworthy, Zoram Brightblade, then a paladin of Nobanion. He began courting me almost immediately.
2. ELISE DAVONTIS AND THE TOWER
This incompetent, anorexic priestess of Mystra applied to join the Arcane tower on 1/15/121AR. The parchment brain -never- forgets such dates. Zoram later became one of its wardens. Its other members: Angela Amana, Poe, Heinrich Weyer, Jacob Swift and Elise Davontis, who had only recently become the Arch-mage.
She came to a tower overrun with slime balls and dirt bags. Elise suffered no villainy in her presence and purged everyone of evil intent from its doors.
Can you imagine trying that yourself?! I call her the most courageous woman I ever knew.
Elise's tower felt like a family. She and her husband? Our parents. Mother, however, had a tongue that could rip your heart out. I figured she needed it to drive away scum buckets. Unfortunately, her tongue found me many times. Mothers and daughters don't always get along.
Speaking of my anorexia, she said: You look like one of Smoke's Skeletons. (See volume 4, Chapter 7)
Once when I asked why we were setting a strange nexus in the desert she said: "Did you not think you'd have to actually do something when you joined this tower? Did you think we just sat around?"
She also cut me off from drinking at the family parties. I lacked self restraint.
I never told her how much she meant to me. Oh reader, learn from my mistake. Tell those near you how you feel, now. For seldom do we get to say goodbye. </3
3. HEINRICH WEYER
For a time, Heinrich Weyer called the tower home. He fast became one of my friends. One time he acted out and I found myself in a position to administer punishment.
I put bow in his hair, tried painting his fingernails and applying other cosmetics.
"It's like the 9th layer of hell in here!" He said to another, hoping for rescue. Heh. I loved Heinrich. He made me laugh and the tower fun.
Imagine my shock when a short time later, in the middle of a Tower Meeting, Elise's wrath fell on him. She called him a monster, a wolf in sheep's clothing. She made him stand from the table, stripped his membership and sent him out.
Before he could leave, I stood, ran to his side, and hugged him. Partly to soften the blow, partly just to say goodbye to a man who had only ever been kind to me. I couldn't believe "mother's" accusations. I hated to see him go.
Elise later thrashed my heart for the warm gesture. If only I had heeded mothers warning. More on this later.
4. VIVIAN LECHAUNCE
Around 122AR, Vivian LeChaunce, a blight in human form, made herself infamous upon the isle. She and her Sencliffian ilk began near daily capturing unlucky individuals. Once in her clutches, they'd be tormented, humiliated, mutilated, and released. Or occasionally killed.
The triadist Temple, then in Cordor, as well as many other organizations actively sought her capture. For weeks she persisted. For weeks she evaded them all. I spent less than 1% of my time in Cordor back then, but I heard the rumors even at the Tower. This was big.
5. LIFE-ALTERING DEAL
This partial-pacifist saw a chance to act. Against Zoram's counsel, I reached out to her, to Vivian. What? I'm bull headed. =)
I knew if the paladins caught her, she'd be executed. I'm not one to stop a paladin from dishing out justice. I appreciate how they keep the isle safe for the rest of us. But I thought, hoped, maybe I could help change her from within. Maybe she could show remorse and make restitution. Maybe I could save her, help her be her best self. Redemption over Death.
Following rumors, I found the witch outside Sibayad. I told her my intentions of redemption. She declined. We parted ways.
But I persisted. We eventually met again in Wharftown. I spoke of a contractual period of exchanged servitude. She told me I'd likely die if I signed it. I didn't care. It was worth the risk for a chance to redeem her. We signed it. And later amended it verbally.
For 2 ten-days she would be my servant. Then for 2 more I'd be hers. We retained rights to say no to certain demands from the "master." I couldn't let myself be forced to commit some heinous act! We had protections written in as well so I couldn't be harmed.
I knew there was a chance she'd break her word. I -always- expect the villains I try redeeming to double cross me, but outside of this writing, I don't normally admit that. People often reflect back what you project. And I project an expectation of integrity, honor. I'd also ask: who are we if we don't risk ourselves, sacrifice of ourselves to help lift another?
As we prepared our contract, a high-ranking-politician from Cordor, unworthy of remembrance witnessed some of it. At least those parts we didn't whisper. We shall call her -B-. I knew B's reputation for slander. People either really loved or really hated her. She even had bounties.
Still, seeing her, I didn't care. I was there to save people from Vivian, and Vivian from herself. Politician B could go pike herself for all I cared.
I didn't know it then, but after this exchange, I'd never be the same. </3
A GLIMPSE IN TIME, 2 OF 6: 121AR - A WITCHES SACRIFICE
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. CORDOR - MY FIRST BANISHMENT
2. VIVIAN'S SERVITUDE TO AERIEL
3. AERIEL'S SERVITUDE TO VIVIAN
4. ELISE WARNED ME!
5. VIVIAN'S OFFER
6. THE EXTENSIVE HEALING PROCESS
7. REGRET
1. CORDOR - MY FIRST BANISHMENT
A short time before the contractual period began, I strolled into Cordor. Five guards promptly surrounded me. I knew only 2 of them. They bade me follow. Outside the city we marched. I queried. They said we'd speak once beyond the "pax." Eventually I just stopped.
"I'll not take another step until you tell me what this is about!"
One of them responded:
None of us want to do this to you Aeriel. But we have orders. You are to be exiled from Cordor for pacting to a witch.
My jaw hit the ground. Was this a sick joke? -B- wasted no time in reporting what she witnessed at Wharftown and apparently worded her report to cast as much shade on me as possible. -B- never even saw the contract.
What kind of team good leaves no allowance for the redemption of others? What kind of team good exiles without even asking for clarification on what happens? Arelith's team good. That's who. Guilty until proven innocent.
And no, I don't need political permission to work with scum bags. It's a wonder anyone comes to this isle at all if they're expected to get every idea of theirs approved by some power-hungry-politician, who'd probably just steal it and sideline the author anyway. Best to keep them out of your business.
Alas. My defiant self found exile. My first ever on Arelith. It wouldn't be my last.
2. VIVIAN'S SERVITUDE TO AERIEL
A short time later, Vivi, as I came to call her, reported to me for servitude. We spent our first eve' in the inn outside the Arcane tower.
There, I discovered a broken girl. A mother, fearful for her son's safety, terrified of the lord of Mist and Flies, her Pacted-Unseelie Sidhe. He controlled, manipulated and abused her in unexpected ways. She spoke about herself in the plural, in 3rd person. A splintered soul.
-We- don't want to sleep on the bed. - She said, opting to sleep under it instead.
Yes, we had separate beds.
Vivi gave me a copy of the pact-contract with her lord. Within, a promise that she, at some future point, give him her literal heart.
A friend had given me a note, but my brain... Gods my awful brain. I didn't make the connection.
"Vivian needs a maiden's heart.
Stay away from Sencliffe until the Spring equinox.
Keep everyone away.
The problem will solve itself. -CC"
I still have the note. A painful reminder of my failure. You wouldn't believe how many recorded failures I keep.
This clueless maiden began Vivi's "makeover" immediately. I wanted to show her unconditional love. I had her doing good deeds for strangers. I took her out for a favorite hobby of mine, a picnic. We did many simple-life things to give her a break from her cares and worries.
I had her learning and living the meaning of the phrase "When I do good, I feel good." I tried to help her find her smile. To reconnect her to the light from the womb we all knew.
Did I expect to redeem her in so short a time? Of course not. I hoped to plant a seed within her that'd grow over time. Sometimes all we need is an invitation to enact change. Please don't hate me for trying to bring out the best in people.
3. AERIEL'S SERVITUDE TO VIVIAN
At the predetermined time, Vivi took the reigns. She guided me to Sencliff. Her words and demeanor remained pleasant as I followed to the top of its tower. Once there, I was chained. She fished a hammer from a box. I tried to keep my tone, my energy, optimistic. She reflected my positive energy back vocally, then struck my thigh! A contract violation. Vivi laughed like an abusive child and left.
The following trine, I was brought to the beach of Sencliff and chained again. A door greeter of sorts. Throughout the day, I met many of Vivi's Sencliffian scummies. Over the night my thigh had swollen. One of the scummies eventually rendered medical assistance.
When the hourglass sands grew few, Vivi showed up again. She took me to the main structure. There, in front of all her Sencliffian scummies, Vivi began to act -very- different. Gone was the niceness in her voice. Gone was the girl who'd spent days letting me delve deep within her mind and heart. She no longer cared to reconnect to precious, forgotten wonders.
Vivian, the vile, disgusting, contract-breaking Warlock grabbed my arm and infused it with enough eldritch cold to destroy its use. I still remember hearing my own scream.
"AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
I've never cried out like that before or since. It wasn't just the physical pain, but the betrayal. The disappointment of my utter failure to change her in any significant way. And the fear of what lay in store for me now.
I realized that Vivi, the frightened mother, remained a prisoner inside. She had no control of the rest of her soul. Vivian Lechaunce, the "plural" personality, controlled Vivi. I'll add: Vivian was a coward. A slave to the whims of what she thought her friends wanted her to be. Vivian was not just evil and deceptive, but weak, lacking the will-power to carve her own path. You bet I shrieked like never before. I was now at the mercy of this monster!
4. ELISE WARNED ME!
Heinrich walked into the room. I was saved!
I called out to him. I'm not certain, but I don't think he even responded. Vivian spoke to him, though I can recall what she said.
He and a masked woman I'd never meet again escorted me to another room. That man, my friend, turned out to be a crazed cultist of the nightmare pagan outer realms deity Mak Thuum Ngatha. He threw me upon his pagan altar. His assistant held me down. Through my screams... Heinrich used a sacrificial dagger to cut out my eyes and my tongue. He offered them up to his monstrous, gross God. Parted from my vision, tongueless, I could hardly scream and only imagine what horrors awaited me.
5. VIVIAN'S OFFER
I heard a door open and footsteps draw near.
Vivian softly whispered an offer: My life would be spared if I joined her.
I struggled with my words, but my will remained indomitable. I caught my breath and spoke a defiant -no- as best I could.
She could have my body, piece by piece, and eventually, my life. But she'd never take my light. I learned a lot about myself that day. How far would you go to protect your light?
I think Vivi loved me. But in the only sick and twisted way Vivian allowed. She wanted me at her side and leveraged my life to get her wish.
I believe love is the most powerful force in the universe for changing behavior. Rivaling deity.
I believe the unconditional love I showed impacted her heart.
In the end, she couldn't bear to kill me.
Vivi put a heart-shaped-eldritch-mark upon my cheek. I felt an immediate change come over my body.
With ravenous intensity, Heinrich turned his dagger to my chest. He exhibited almost no caution as he hastily cut out his witch's-feylord's-prize: my heart.
Yet I remained alive. Conscious for the hastily-performed, excruciating mutilation. Heinrich cast me off the Altar. With motherly concern, Vivi caught me, mid air. She gently laid me down on the stone floor. She whispered one last thing. Then left me there, alone.
I never saw my heart again. I assume it was given to the Lord of Mist and Flies, so Vivian wouldn't have to give her own.
Knowing the contractual period was due to end soon, my friends contacted Shauna Tahir, then a stranger. This priestess of Chauntea, I think, conjured me away.
Though I was quasi-undead, blind, tongueless, ice-armed, hollow-chested-woman bearing an eldritch heart upon her cheek, I yet lived!
6. THE EXTENSIVE HEALING PROCESS
My friends safeguarded me in obscure huts around the isle for the next tenweek or so. My missing pieces... eventually regenerated. Except for my heart. Vivian's witch-hex proved a challenge.
My flesh was cool to the touch. My chest concave. My skin paled. I had no blood pressure or stamina. I could barely get around. I longed to resume my typical haste-running. But the magic keeping me alive resisted divine prayers. It had to be removed before my heart could be regenerated.
They considered killing me, but a dead body can't regenerate. We couldn't say if resurrection would remove the hex and restore the heart. Would I come back heartless, only to die seconds later?
Eventually, the greatest lore-master I've ever met, Alicia Lortal, proposed 2 solutions.
1st- She could entirely remove the eldritch magic, -and- implant within me a magical pump to replace the heart. I'd forever carry an arcane mark upon my chest.
I couldn't accept that. There's beauty in human fraility. I didn't want to forget the feelings of my heart skipping a beat when frightened. Or its racing when excited. Or to just -feel- it. Feel normal. Be normal. This Mystran priestess also wasn't willing to have tattoos of any kind upon her body. Not even an arcane rune. I'm nothing if not strong willed.
2nd- The chosen option. It involved a less certain, but more natural solution.
Alicia and Shauna performed a simultaneous ritual.
As one broke and removed the witches hex, the other regenerated a new heart. I was afraid to die so it had to be done as I lived and breathed. My request complicated the process. Alicia's abjuration magic removed the witches hex and her heart-shaped-mark upon my cheek. As quasi-undeath faded, my skin momentarily grew even more pale. I think I know what death feels like.
Shauna simultaneously prayed for my heart to regenerate. But Alicia's abjuration magic was powerful. Anything less wouldn't have worked. And Shauna found her regeneration magic stunted.
My severed ribs regenerated and most of my sternum too. I still have a gap in the bone about the size of 2 fingers just over my heart. As for what regenerated within my chest? An erratically beating, weak heart. But I was alive! Fully human.
Years later, I married Zoram, and bore him a son. But the process nearly killed me. My heart further, irreversibly weakened. I'd bear no more children. It's okay. There's -beauty- in human frailty.
The irony of living with a weakened heart after using unconditional love to help a witch's find her own isn't lost on me. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say.
7. 7. REGRET
I'd survived the hex. Survived Vivian. Most important of all, my -light- survived. But my own "team good" didn't see it that way. I sometimes wish I had died that day.
My "allies" would soon inflict me with longer-lasting, deeper scars than Vivivan's. That's Arelith's "team good" for you. What? I'm bitter.
A GLIMPSE IN TIME, 3 OF 6: 122AR - BANISHMENTS AND DEAD FEYLORDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. TRIADISTS TEMPLE OF CORDOR
2. DEFAMING SPEEDYS
3. STEALING HEINRICH'S ALTAR
4. TORCHES AND PITFORKS
5. AMBUSHING HEINRICH AND VIVI
6. OLD LIFE GONE - REDEEMER
7. NECROMANCERS GUILD
8. KILLING VIVIANS SIDHE LORD
9. THE COURT -NEVER- FORGETS
10. ARCANE TOWER'S REMOVAL
1. TRIADISTS TEMPLE OF CORDOR
A few days after the Sencliff incident, I found myself in the Triadists Temple. Back then, it was in Cordor. Despite my banishment, many paladinly types welcomed me, most of whom I'd never met.
My face bandaged, flesh cold, witch-hexed-heart upon my cheek, unable to speak a clear word, the triadists had one overwhelming question: Who did this to me?
Vivian they knew, but who else?
My thoughts went to Heinrich. I adored him when we shared the tower. I still hadn't processed his betrayal. But, I didn't want him killed. My sense of mercy remains overdeveloped to this day. But it wasn't only mercy that bound my partly-regenerated-tongue. I had to see my former friend again. Before they killed him. But on my terms.
I had to ask him why, how, he could do -this- to -me-. I refused to give the name. The tiny fairy, Nissa, was overcome with confusion and that pretty much summed up the general reaction. Perhaps I didn't explain myself well. Would it have even mattered?
2. DEFAMING SPEEDYS
Despite my reluctance to give them a name, the triadists remained open-minded. A short time later they invited me along for a sail. Rosalie Raynor led them back then. She and I spoke on the main deck. I even started to make some headway on explaining my actions. But then, a horribly timed speedy came. I don't remember exactly what it said after all these years. But I remember the jist of it "Aeriel, my dark inspiration. Lets get together and perform some more dirtbaggery.- Anonymous"
I couldn't believe it. A blatant attempt to defame me. It's timing, the company around me... They asked who it was from, but I had no idea. All things considered, It's a marvel of mercy I wasn't thrown overboard. Rosalie didn't appear impacted, but I felt like she was the only one. The tone of the voyage shifted.
In the coming months I'd receive perhaps over 50 anonymous missives. Most of them just insulting me with lies, accusations, some just outright insulting me.
3. STEALING HEINRICH'S ALTAR
Once I recovered my strength, I returned to sencliff, twice. Once to make notes and rubbings of Heinrichs Altar. Again to steal and replace it with an unconsecrated duplicate. And to leave a note to my mutilator, letting him know I was keeping his name secret.
I -needed- to speak to my friend again. I -needed- to know what happened to the man who used to laugh with me. I wanted him to know I wasn't seeking justice. Although, by the time I saw him again my wrath had boiled over.
4. TORCHES AND PITFORKS
By now, word had spread of my attempts to redeem a witch. Guldorand was just a small logging town back then and likely the most pure hearted settlement, especially when considering Cordor had a known palemaster in its leadership, Cassius Gallostone.
Guld's leaders asked me to close down my shop and leave town. They couldn't allow the presence of someone "caught up in whatever it was I was caught up in."
I returned 2 other times, but the message was always the same.
Zoram had some heated words for their boards in my defense, and then he left the settlement too. Another left a note saying my shop was the only reason worth coming to the settlement.
A second banishment wasn't all bad. The roads between settlements were great ways to socialize back then. Source portals weren't as common and everyone walked to get around.
However, I quickly found the roads inhospitable. Former friends and total strangers just wanted to argue. They'd demand to know why I pacted myself to a witch. Why I joined the sencliffian rabble.
Eventually, Bendir Dale uttered the same warning as Guldorand. Literally almost word for word. A third banishment.
5. AMBUSHING HEINRICH AND VIVI
Heinrich and Vivian had a witch's hut deep in a forest. I don't remember how I knew they'd both be there. But I knew!
I laid in wait, intent on confronting them. This was a huge deal for me, and not because it was 2 on 1. I've got a "can kill" list. Undead, demons, devils and such are on it. Wanna know who's not? -People- races. Never before had I attacked them and of all the races, humans would be my first. Uuuugh!
I was furious, heart-broken. My questions needed answers. They had to be stopped. I was prepared to kill those scum-buckets depending on the answers given. Or so I thought.
I warded up Kar't'el, my silver dragon companion, with Mystra's finest divine wards and had him hide within earshot.
The stars aligned. Perhaps it was fate. Vivian and Heinrich both came out of their dirty little hut, unwarded. I whistled for Kar't, and emerged from invisibility, nocking an arrow and pointing it at Vivian. Kar't's furious gaze fell upon Heinrich. He knew what that man did to me.
This was the first time I'd seen him since he cut out my eyes.
"HEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNRIIIIIIIIIIIICH........." I screamed!
"Why?" I cried. Literally, knowing what I had to do to my friend, lacking some -very good- explanation.
He and Vivian both cowered in fear at the presence of Kar't and I. They dropped to their knees.
That crazed cultist looked up at me, absent remorse, dead eyes, and responded:
"The 9 wormed tongue needed your eyes. And your tongue."
I was crushed! What a coward! How could he let his pagan god control him! His life on the line and he didn't even try to appease me with some kind of an excuse. My mercy failed. To this day, the only time it ever has.
My eyes narrowed and I nodded to Kar't.
My beloved dragon-knight ripped that un-warded mage to shreds. His remains fell before Vivian. Silver scale and divine wrath lorded over her next. She began crying, drenched in fear. Kar't practically drooled for his chance to dish out justice.
I wish I could recite the fantastical dialogue between us or make up something interesting. But it'd be a lie. I didn't record our conversation. Even my above-average long-term memory fails here.
What I do remember is that we spoke for a minute or two. And that I took pity on her, on Vivi. Even after all she did to me, I couldn't bring myself to hurt her.
I cried. I fled, leaving Heinrich's corpse at her feet.
Even though she later revived him, I carried the pain of having let my wrath get the better of me for decades. I try to be mercy incarnate. It's not for me to dictate who justice falls upon. That's what Paladins are for. I'm not wise enough to make those calls. That's why I'm a pacifist where -people- are concerned.
6. OLD LIFE GONE - REDEEMER
I tried to get back to my old life. It was impossible.
About half of my time on the isle was spent in arguments, dealing with false accusations of being Vivian's ally or a pacted witch myself. I didn't realize then how good I had it then to only be spending half my time with such. But it taught me 2 transformative ideals:
1st - My willingness to redeem rather than purge was a virtue. One few possess.
2nd - I'd better not squander this rare gift.
It became my calling in life to redeem others.
Just like the doctors who work with leppers, I expected to be shunned. But I thought I'd at least be respected. The problem is, Arelith doesn't know that word.
They'd just have to hate me. I wasn't willing to compromise. -Never- submit to anyone trying to make you walk a weaker, easier, path. Don't listen to those who try telling you how to live your life. Counsel should be welcomed, but not controlling behavior.
7. NECROMANCERS GUILD
I called a meeting with Wharftown's newly-formed Necromancers Guild. They invited me into their guild hall. I joined about 6 of them around a table. I spoke of my newly-self-appointed Mystran duty to gather anywhere magi gather and try to keep the weave from corrupting its users.
For power corrupts and the weave is power indeed.
They welcomed the challenge and accepted my membership. I didn't expect the guild to warm to me so much. But they treated me like any of the others. About half of them treated me like family. The other half though...
I later converted one of their own away from the guild, away from the dark corners of the school. <3 Elan Talwen.
News spread of my Necromancers Guild Membership. More fuel for my detractors' flames. Now, according to some, I was a necromancer and an animator. Too many Arelithians need more things to fill their days.
8. KILLING VIVIANS SIDHE LORD
Vivian LeChaunce came upon me one day. I almost ran.
By now she was calling me the "beaten puppy." She spoke of a plan to murder the Lord of Mist and Flies, her pacted unseelie fey. She asked if I still wanted to help free her from the court.
My mind raced. Feared. Hated. And, eventually, accepted.
At a chosen location, myself, Vivian LeChaunce, Shauna Flanagen, Elenia, Stellen Varg, Claire Sala, Lodi, Victorio and yes, even Heinrich met at a specific location. They formed a ritualistic circle to bring the lord to us. I stood far back, refusing invitation to participate in such dubious behavior.
The lord appeared, mounted on horseback. I scarcely remember what was spoken. But I remember enduring some chuckles as some of their eyes turned to me. Maybe a heart-donor joke?
Words turned to combat.
Back then, dragon-knights were tied to those with similar hearts. I summoned Kar't as 2 of the others summoned a prismatic and a red dragon. It was actually awe-inspiring to share the field with those magnificent creatures. Even more magnificent seeing them come together for a common goal: Killing an unseelie feylord.
It quickly became evident the Sidhe was beyond our abilities. My bow, everyone else's spells and blades did only minor damage. The dragons and the warriors, however, could drive it back. They backed him onto a narrow outcrop of land high above a canyon.
Magic worked differently back then. I laid down about 10 maximized and empowered blade barriers. I tell you, I completely covered the outcrop. Not even a fairy-sized-fey could've found a safe place to stand. And the warriors wouldn't let the sidhe escape. The front line held. The Lord of Mist and Flies took "the dance of blades," as I call it.
To this day, I'm still in disbelief of what I tell you now. Unable to advance or retreat from the cold-iron swords, the feylord simply had to endure them. First they cut down his steed, then we watched as the Sidhe himself fell to the ground. Dead!
Vivi was -FREE-
But, Vivian lied. Again. She deceived. Again.
That vixen never sought to be freed from the Unseelie Court. She just wanted to advance higher into the court. And used us to do it.
Gods, I cried so much.
I screamed at myself in the mirror until my voice failed.
"How could you be so stupid Aeriel!"... "Why do you trust beyond reason!"
Weeks later, she and I laid in the grass at Wharftown together. A final moment. She confided in me: I changed something inside her. Left my reflection upon her. I don't recall hearing her kidnap and maim anyone else after me. But I can't be certain she quit forever.
Still, I was done trusting her. I hope there really was a seed of goodness inside. I hope she watered it. But I couldn't delve into darkness anymore to try lifting her out. I gave her a "farewell note" and banished her from my life. Forever.
9. THE COURT -NEVER- FORGETS
Decades later, in 185AR, the unseelie court captured me. Speaking of the Lord of Mist and Flies., one of their shadowy fey spoke the following:
"The guilt of the death has your name beside it. Something belonging to you has circled amongst the traders... They will track you down..."
One day I may write another volume detailing this and other stories. But, this nightmare yet rages. I put this in here at great risk to myself for you, dear reader. Learn from my mistakes. Think twice before you meddle with the Unseelie Court.
10. ARCANE TOWER'S REMOVAL
I have conflicting notes on this section. I can't say if it was my initiative or Elise's.
But she had worked too hard to clean up the tower's reputation to allow a hurricane of drama like me within its halls. She knew where my heart lied. This loving woman I had adopted as a mother figure kept me close. <3
But, Elise had to play politics. And politicians have to make compromises not only for what's actually good, but for what looks good. This is why I tend to believe the account where she asked me to leave, rather than me choosing to leave. I'll never know which of us drove the decision.
I vacated my room in the tower and gave up my membership. The core tower people remained my friends afterwards. Elise continued to permit me to join occasional "family-gatherings."
She later told me: "Aeriel, do you realize you spend more time with us now than you ever did when you were part of the tower?" I felt her regret that I hadn't been closer to them all sooner. She wished me to change my path so I could rejoin the tower and help her.
I loved Elise. She made me feel needed. But redeemable dirt bags need me too. Arelith made me choose.
A GLIMPSE IN TIME, 4 OF 6: 123AR - WHARFTOWN WELCOMED THE UNDERDARK
Table of Contents:
1. ALICIA LORTAL
2. WHARFTOWNS NEW MAYOR
3. FIRST OPENED TO THE UD
4. EXODUS
5. ASSASSINATION
6. BATTLE AT SHADOVAR
7. NECROMANCERS GUILD
8. CASSIUS GALLOSTONE
1. ALICIA LORTAL
This tale can only begin in 1 place, Alicia Lortal. Already aged when I first arrived to Arelith in 119AR and a former Archmage of the Arcane Tower, she fast became a friend. To this day, in my many years and many traveled realms, I've never met another lore master so knowledgeable. Alicia also possessed the gift of getting along with others. She was easy going and resisted getting bogged down with trivialities, much like Wharftown of old.
To this day, she remains the most grey woman I've ever known. Grey in attire, grey in her purity. And, sadly, the most memorable to me, grey in her mood. I never once saw the poor woman smile. I lived by forced, fake smiles back then. Perhaps that's why I gravitated towards her. She manifest the saddened expressions I wouldn't allow myself to display.
2. WHARFTOWNS NEW MAYOR
Alicia turned her head towards Wharftown. She asked me to take up citizenship and vote for her in the upcoming mayoral election. For her, for the only Arelithian city I ever truly came to love, I did. She won!
What people might not have realized about Alicia was that her diplomatic nature had extended in many circles, including down below. She could even escort groups of surfacers around Andunor in relative safety.
I was little more than a door greeter in Alicia's Wharftown, having no stomach for politics. But we remained close. She even gave me copies of her then-old personal notebooks for safekeeping. They live in the parchment-brain now.
Wharf was so great back then. I used to love sitting in the grass and having casual conversations with people from various walks of life. That was "fishtown" in a nutshell. No formal, gross, cobblestone. Hardly ever did you see overly strict guards patrolling, ruining the relaxed atmosphere.
3. FIRST OPENED TO THE UD
For reasons I was probably too afraid to ask, Alicia opened Wharftown to the underdark. If it surprised me--someone who also tries to be friendly to any and all, yucky dirt bag or dreamy paladin--I could only imagine how others felt about it. Cordor's history books omit this period entirely. But Alicia was the first to do it. It happened around 122AR.
I was afraid at first. Speaking to gnolls or the occasional drow at the grassy benches required courage. I kept expecting there to be conflict: a robbing, brutal assaults, or something. But nothing.
Maybe the underdarkers weren't willing to jeopardize their welcome. Once a gnoll hugged me as I sat on the benches. I'll never forget that moment. He'd always been nothing but kind. But, I still feared he'd rip out my throat with his teeth. Alas, he just wanted to hug me.
4. EXODUS
Imagine our shock when one day, without any formal reports ever having made it to Alicia's desk, a massive excursion took place. Ships arrived at the docks. Hoards of citizens, entire families, boarded and vacated the town. They cited frequent thefts, robbing and assaults as their reasons. There were literal lines of folks waiting to board. A great many adventurers of the isle assisted in the effort.
5. ASSASSINATION
Someone placed a contract on Alicia for 1 million gold, if I recall correctly. Many thought a leader from Wharfs newly-formed Necromancers guild, Cassius Gallostone, placed it. As a former Cordorian politician, the power-play made sense to me. And he was even running against her in the ongoing re-election. In truth, we may never know for sure who placed the bounty.
I divided my time between "fishtown" and my beloved Tower. One day Alicia found me in the foyer. Panic in her voice. Two well-known assassins had shown up in Wharf. She fled to the tower, to my side. Alicia wouldn't let them scare her out of her own city and asked me to escort her back there. She asked me, a partial pacifist who at this point had only ever attacked -people- once before. Though hesitant, I couldn't let her go back there alone. I agreed to help.
My own fingers trembled as I warded myself and my dragon-knight with Mystra's finest divine wards. Magic worked differently back then, and Kar't was a lot stronger too, even before my wards.
Alicia went first. "To the bitter Coast" she said. I didn't know then it'd be the last time I ever saw her alive.
I grabbed the portal, fumbling around, clutching my bad heart, trying to be hasty. But my brain... my damnable brain... I ended up at the Skull Crags!
The bitter coast had to wait for me to crack a lense. I arrived just in time to see the last vestiges of a hellball fade. Alicia's corpse was picked up by one of them. How betrayed she must have felt in her final moments. Alone, facing 2 assassins in the fight for her life. And her trusted friend who she'd bet her life on? Nowhere in sight.
They wasted no words and drank attunement potions. I drank one of my own.
6. BATTLE AT SHADOVAR
I had been told before not to bring violence to Shadovar. But they never told me why, so didn't care to obey. And I certainly wasn't obeying now since it'd mean being indifferent to a murder!
As soon as I arrived in Shadovar, I told Kar't to eat the one carrying my dear friend. I don't remember if I had time to cast a spell or even fire an arrow at the other deviant before the Shadovarian's got involved. That fight ended as quickly as it began.
They let the assassins leave with their prize. And they detained me.
A Shadovarian dirt-shade spoke the only warning he'd any intention of giving. The terrors of the shadows were placed in this Mystran Priestess. I apologized for breaking their realm's serenity.
Fear never looked so real, so corporeal as it did in the form of an ethereal shadow. They allowed, ordered, me to leave, in peace. I fled in tears. Empty handed. A failure.
Alicia was never seen again.
7. NECROMANCERS GUILD
I'd recently joined the ranks of Wharf's Necromancer's Guild. (Vol. 3 Chapter 7)
Some welcomed the challenge, some hated me. I went on just 1 casual date with many of its male members. For posterity's sake the ones I knew were as follows:
Smoke - The funniest man I ever knew. And a dirt bag. Before the end, he let me "release" his undead minion, Kate.
Ta'il - She brought me down to Andunor a number of times and always made me sit at the foot of her throne. I loved hearing her talk, her accent, her stories. She called me a pariah. But, I was playing with fire. More than any other, I thought she'd kill me. Yet, she never tried.
Drasz - He was afraid of me, my converting light. He hid from me in a room once. Then he called me a vampire because I said I wouldn't come in until he gave me permission. He never let me work on his heart.
Arrinoch - Mister Growls, as I called him. He kept up a tough facade but I never believed it. He was surprisingly kind to me. But, still a slime ball.
Vance Redgrave(Graveill?) - the most terrifying date ever! That worshiper of Cyric brought me to a painted mural deep in the forest. He intentionally spoiled the mood when he made me think it'd turn into a canvas of my own murder. The finishing touches to the scene. But he didn't.
Sanctus - A geographer and sleeze ball. He took me to the nicest restaurant I ever saw on the isle, in Andunor. Then he tried to make me strip and bathe for his viewing pleasure.
Thurmore - Who -hated- my reasons for joining the guild. Yet he protected me from others who sought me harm. I wish I knew why.
Hidou - A surprisingly thoughtful man I wished I could have helped in return. My redemptive light failed him.
Iyzebel - Zizi had multiple personality disorder, completely disabling my efforts to redeem her. Just when I thought I was making progress with one, a new personality emerged to scorn me and I'd have to start over again.
Illia - She had an uncontrollable temper! But good intentions from within fought to emerge! I thought her the most redeemable of all. I kept messing up though! I mistakenly put her in bad situations. I almost got her killed! But, she didn't retaliate. I hope she knew it was an accident.
Elan Talwen - The one member I successfully converted back to the light, away from the guild! He hated Cassius and fled to Cordor. Gross. But, thank you Elan. Without you, I'd have been a guild-failure! <3
Cassius Gallostone - former Cordorian politician who seemed to hate everything about me. His charm though...2nd to nobody. He'd take out his pompous little throne and sit on it while debating, arguing unconditional love with me and still find ways to make me laugh.
8. CASSIUS GALLOSTONE
Cassius became the next Mayor.
I'd been Alicia's right hand woman, unofficially. I'd successfully converted Elan back to the light, out of the guild. Cass had to get rid of me.
My last time inside the guildhall, Mayor Cassius said it was time to sacrifice me over an altar, then he started warding. When faced with the option for violence, this partial pacifist did what she always does, save for the previously mentioned 2 exceptions. I ran. He and the others didn't pursue. Thankfully.
Cassius later called me to the Wharftown Mercantile. He told me to close my shop and vacate my home in the center of town. He told me the Necromancers guild would seek my life. And to flee the city. I'd been exiled from my 4th city.
The necromancers Guild ruled fishtown now. I can't speak to the full extent of changes Cassius made. But I knew the guild better than most, being among them. Many of them were truly walking plagues.
A GLIMPSE IN TIME, 5 OF 6: 123AR - ARCH-DEVILS AND DEMON PACTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. AN ARCH-DEVIL IN ARELITH
2. PREPARING TO SUMMON
3. AERIEL'S GREATEST FAILURE
4. THE CELESTIAL'S CHARGE:
5. FACING DOWN DRAZHMAL
6. PACTED TO AN ARCH-DEMON
7. SAFEGUARDED BY RYTH ELENIAR
8. EFFECTS OF THE DEMON'S PACT
9. FALLEN ANGEL - MY FAILURE
10. STANISLAU VS DRAZHMAL
1. AN ARCH-DEVIL IN ARELITH
Around this time, mid to late 123AR, an Arch-Devil named Stanislau came to Arelith seeking, I think, three chalices which were scattered throughout the archipelago or the planes.
Thankfully, we weren't alone against this cretin. Celestia sent an angel for assistance. He chose 4 champions, each representing various virtues. Unfortunately, I can't recall the other 3 names or stations to which they were appointed. But we loosely spear-headed the movement to resist Stanislau.
The Celestial chose me to be his -Angel-. I was both honored and humbled. He'd actually chosen one who'd been banished from 4 settlements, who readily found hate from the boards, on the roads and from anonymous speedys.
I was weak back then. Doubt for my path crept into my soul. Self-worth wasn't worth mentioning. I'd begun to second guess myself. But this reminded me, proved to me, they were all wrong. One can be a redeemer, surround themselves with slime balls, and still be good.
It meant so much that he found me worthy!
Despite this high calling, absolution evaded me. The hate continued. Unabated.
In time, the Arch-Devil came to possess one of the chalices and, I think, the 2nd, would soon be his. It fell on me to summon this Celestial back to Arelith. We hoped he'd direct us how to safeguard the 2nd chalice.
The summoning ritual felt beyond my abilities. I'd never conducted a ritual. But I had smart friends to guide me. Goodness, how lucky are we who have people who love and support us. Who see us through trials we'd never surmount on our own.
2. PREPARING TO SUMMON
I was taught that summoning a celestial required enticing them, baiting them. I had to give him a reason to notice us. I found 5 people who best represented 5 distinct virtues. We'd stand in a circle, each with a rune of said virtue beneath our feet. We'd garnish our thoughts with our virtue during the summoning.
The Participants:
Elise Davontis - Courage - The bravest woman I ever met. She who purged the arcane tower of villainy when she came in. One woman against many. She compromised nothing to them, and won!
Alicia Lortal - Knowledge, I think - The wisest lore master I ever knew. I swear she never met a challenge who's mystery she couldn't decipher. She'd be assassinated shortly hereafter.
Myself - Mercy - Overdeveloped it might have been, I hoped to use it to our advantage.
Unfortunately, I can't recall the other 2 virtues or the participants names. Going off memory here.
Ten minutes before we were to go to Celestia, this anorexic, overwhelmed girl drank herself to death in the middle of Wharftown. Accidentally! Someone soon revived me.
What should have been an omen that I didn't belong in a position to have so many counting on me went unnoticed by all it seems.
To this day, when I think back, I sometimes wonder if the Celestial made a mistake selecting me to be his Angel. Maybe he wanted to give me a chance to learn and grow? I'll never know.
3. AERIEL'S GREATEST FAILURE
I picked myself up, threw out the booze and gathered the others for travel to Celestia. We set down our runes, moved into position and had barely begun the ritual when the celestial appeared. He bade me, and only me, follow.
I gaped back at my friends... did he understand my brain? Goodness!
He led me up a hill where he told me many -critically important- things. I jotted them down as fast as I could. Then, he sent me back down the hill. I did my best to recant every last thing the Celestial had spoken. I'll never know if I recorded and relayed the most important detail of all. If I did, everyone else missed it just as I had. Knowing me, I likely forgot it entirely the moment the subject changed and my brain had to focus on something new.
The very next ten-day, I had an accident. -Half- of the of all the notes I'd made since coming to the isle were lost in a magical fluke. Was Mystra punishing me?!
All details from the Celestial's private conversation were gone. Forever.
The stage for my greatest failure had been set.
4. THE CELESTIAL'S CHARGE:
In short, we were to go to the abyss and recover the chalice from an Arch-Demon named Drazhmal.
5. FACING DOWN DRAZHMAL
A great host of adventurers soon gathered. We'd delve into the abyss. We'd be the Celestial's instruments.
We meant to save Arelith from Stanislau. But a disaster of epic proportion was about to unfold!
Damn it Aeriel! This could have been avoided if you weren't so stupid!
We broke into groups. I ended up in perhaps the smallest one, with just 2 others, strangers. Only one of which made it into my parchment brain - Ryth Eleniar, a man of position in Guldorand. The other I'll respectfully call Kelly.
The Abyss was a maze. If I recall, we bumped into one of the other groups. My memory may be off, but I believe they brought tales of one of the other groups having found Drazhmal and being utterly wasted. I remember hope fading and some abandoning the venture. Our group continued on!
6. PACTED TO AN ARCH-DEMON
The 3 of us actually found Drazhmal!
He displayed the chalice on his belt like some cheap trophy. I can't recall the ensuing conversation, but it ended in bloodshed. Ours.
We fell to the sands, beaten and humiliated .
I feel confident saying he was among the most powerful creature I ever faced. This coming from a feylord-slayer. He was about to fly away. I looked at the others, eyes wide... Ryth had nothing, Kelly, nothing.
What would you do? Really? Pretend you were there. How would you respond?
I thought to myself: No! We're not accepting defeat!
I forced myself to my feet and spoke:
Wait! You can have me, the Celestial's Angel. Just give the chalice to my friends and let them leave.
The demon paused. He seemed as surprised as my allies, but I promise none as much as me.
Had I really just offered myself to help an isle that hated and banished me?
He pacted me without further delay. I was engulfed in burning flames that didn't consume. I screamed in agony, crashing back to the abyssal sands. I think Ryth and Kelly just about died from simply witnessing the horrid event.
He'd used the actual word -pact- and even said I was obligated to bring him the Arch Devil.
What?!
He wasn't killing me or making me his abyssal house servant. That's about what I expected. He'd given me a specific task. But how in the nine hells was "little old me" supposed to bring an Arch-Devil before an Arch-Demon?!
I was disappointed, mad, relieved, flustered... I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or scream!
He disappeared into the red sky. Had he betrayed us? No! The chalice lay serenely in the sand just a few feet from me.
I snatched it up, biting my lip, looking at Ryth and Kelly. They were utterly speechless. Stunned.
"Whatever!" I thought. We'd succeeded! Costs and penalties be damned. We turned despair to hope!
7. SAFEGUARDED BY RYTH ELENIAR
Kelly had to go, but Ryth escorted me back to the prime. Knowing and not caring about my banishment , he took me and the chalice I carried to Guldorand. Had a demon pact made me good enough for the logging community?
The moment remained tense as he brought me inside a governmental building. Although I barely knew this man, I feel confident saying he couldn't process what had just happened anymore than I could. We hardly addressed the subject. But, this much I know: My sacrifice had moved him to compassion for me. He left the room at one point, asking me to be patient, saying he'd return.
I felt so loved, so safe, even if the chalice was the actual reason for the protection.
A while later, long after he'd already returned to me, a woman entered the room. Remember B? (Vol. 1, Chapter 5; Vol. 2, Chapter 1)
It was one of her close friends, someone always at her side. I can't recall her name. We'll call her Jane.
Ryth apparently trusted Jane and started to tell her what had happened.
I'd shown carelessness allowing B to witness my deal with Vivian. I wasn't about to do that with Jane. I remember leaping on his back and climbing all over him trying to cover his mouth as he delicately resisted. I remember my exact words.
"She'll destroy me," I told him, accusing her of being like B.
I already had 1 foot on the docks at this point. They called my name daily as I hung to this isle by a thread. Anymore fuel for -B's- flames and I'd leave. I was so worn out from dealing with the same arguments all day, every day. Refuting false claims of being a pacted witch, a necromancer, allies to sencliffians was enough. I didn't want to have to explain why I legitimately, but unintentionally, pacted with a demon.
I'm my own person- Jane more or less responded.
Ryth set me back to the ground and waited for me to give my permission to relay recent events. I can't recall if I gave it or not. But I'll tell you something of Ryth.
Throughout my long life, I feel confident saying I've known more paladins than you, reader. I don't think Ryth was a holy knight. But he would've made those paladins proud. The loving chivalry he showed to me, a stranger: exemplary.
For the next few trine, he remained at my side. He wanted to keep the chalice safe, sure. But it was more than that. He also cared about my mental well-being. My safety. I trusted him with my life. I felt like for those few trine, his world revolved around me. And I know he'd have died to protect me and the chalice. Goodness Ryth. I wish things had been different. I wish we had more time together. I'll never forget you!
8.EFFECTS OF THE DEMON'S PACT
That first night after the pact, I realized what it meant to belong to an Arch-Demon. My dreams weren't my own, but another's. Impossibly chaotic, dark, twisted. Even evil people would've recoiled from them. We're talking the kinds of things I'd imagine Mak Thuum Ngatha'd be proud of.
It felt like another entity lived within. It was a constant fight to remain in control. I never told anyone of the battles in my head during this time.
This much I say: the same indomitable, bull-headedness that keeps me from submitting to control-freak politicians, witches that want me to join them or die, to condescending "friends" who tell me how I should live my life, is the same bullheadedness that withstood -everything- this entity threw at me.
It tempted me to hurt strangers. When that failed, it tempted me to hurt those who had hurt me. When that failed, it tempted me to spread chaos and dissent, which it believed I already did, so why not a bit more?
One day, I opened my pack and found parchment notes about one of my recurring dreams. I didn't write it. Did I have visitors in my sleep? I just don't know. But the demonic notes still live within the parchment brain.
This maddening battle took its toll. I was already anorexic and, despite a stomach ulcer, an unwilling alcoholic. Maybe I was becoming a masochist, for I developed a new, unhealthy coping mechanism: cutting my arms.
May none of you ever experience what it is to belong to an Arch-Demon. I only had to resist him 1-2 ten-weeks. But I admit, even with my unbreakable resolve , I've never been so close to falling from grace and doing another's bidding. I'm forever indebted to the one who saved me.
9. FALLEN ANGEL - MY FAILURE
Eventually, I met the Celestial at Bendir Dale, another trip inside a city that didn't want me.
Tears escaped his eyes as he took the chalice from me. The detail I had forgotten? To keep the Chalice off the prime material plane. At all cost. I'd made this already impossible task even harder. He and the rest of the isle would bear the weight of the burden I placed on them.
How many of you have known the honor of working with a such a glorious being? Now imagine failing them so completely to move them to tears. That's pain I wouldn't wish on anyone. Not even Heinrich.
Having neglected the most important detail of securing the Chalice, proving myself unworthy of the prestigious calling he had assigned to me, I was discharged from the position of angel. I was fallen.
I fled in shame, bearing tears of my own. Damn it Aeriel! Why are you so stupid!
10. STANISLAU VS DRAZHMAL
A short time after that, I and other adventurers watched as Stanislau the arch-devil set foot into the abyss to confront Drazhmal. We watched as Stanislau tricked the demon into drinking from one of the chalices. I remember being confused at the time, not understanding the exchange or why the Demon wanted to drink from the cup.
But drink he did.
There was a dark, twisted laugh. Then Drazhmal fell. No. He crumbled to the sands. Dead!
My pact broken. Freed not by a paladin, but by an Arch-Devil's trickery. Some dirt bags enjoy teasing me with this once they learn the tale. It wouldn't be the only time a Devil-blood saved me from something impossible.
Unfortunately, I can't speak to how this business with the Arch-Devil and the chalices ended. Or how much trouble I caused the isle for not relaying the ever important message to keep the chalice off the prime.
Drazhmal may have failed to corrupt or break me. But my previously indomitable resolve developed stress cracks. It began failing against another foe: my Arelithian detractors. Mere ten-days later, in early 124AR, I'd finally take the hint: Aeriel isn't wanted here.
A GLIMPSE IN TIME, 6 OF 6: 124AR - AERIEL BANISHES ARELITH
1. CORDOR REALIZED THE LIE
2. ROADS UNTRAVELED
3. CORDOR'S SENCLIFFIAN
4. MYONS BANISHMENT
5. VERBALLY OUTCAST
6. THREAD SEVERED: ANGELA AMANA
7. CORDORS BANISHMENT RESCINDED
8. FINAL THREAD SEVERED
9. AERIEL BANISHED ARELITH
10. THE RETURN
1. CORDOR REALIZED THE LIE
Sometime around 121 AR, I'd been banished from Cordor. But to help me get that banishment rescinded, I was given a temporary writ of access. A period to last 3 trine. During that time a woman unworthy of remembrance, who we shall call BS, for Backstabber, brought me inside her home within the city.
Alicia and Shauna had already purged the witch's quasi-undeath-hex at this point.
BS performed a ritual to verify that all witch-hex magic had been removed from me.
Shortly thereafter, my banishment from Cordor was rescinded! But I continued to spend less than 1% of my time there, the same as before my banishment. I've just never been a city girl, Wharftown being a limited-time-exception.
Despite the rescinded banishment from Cordor, Guldorand's and Bendir's banishments remained. Of course the Necromancers of Wharf still hunted me, so I wasn't allowed back there, either.
2. ROADS UNTRAVELED
I quit traveling the roads. I quit seeking people in general. I sought and spent time with my friends and no one else. An act of self-preservation.
There was truly no end to the arguments and yelling. I wasn't known as Aeriel anymore. I was called the Witch. Pacted witch. Sometimes the Demon-Pacted-Witch. Occasionally the Necromancer. Even those who knew better, turned on me. BS turned on me.
The overarching issue with these arguments was that they came from people who weren't looking for the truth. They just wanted to pick a fight or tell me how vile I was. I don't remember any conversation where I walked away feeling I had convinced them otherwise. Gods, it was exhausting.
I posted one, final defense of myself on the boards, a 6 part series titled "Confessions From The Horses Mouth." I can't remember if it made a difference or not.
Curiously, no one ever physically attacked me. Not my detractors, not the Necromancers guild. Not the Sencliffians. Maybe they knew my partially-pacifistic ways? Maybe they didn't actually believe it enough to want to kill me. People are sick. Whatever it was, I appreciate their temperance, if I can call it that.
3. CORDOR'S SENCLIFFIAN
After having killed the feylord, I bumped into Vivian and her Sencliffian scummies at the Crow's Nest. I tried talking some sense into them. I threatened:
Cordor is coming for you, Guldorand is coming for you, the Triadists are coming for you. Even some from the Necromancers guild are mad at you over what you did to me! How much longer can you keep this lifestyle up and survive?
What I didn't know was one of the Sencliffians was secretly a Cordorian spy. A woman we'll call Sharess. She claimed she was more or less an unofficial, uncollared slave. She claimed she was beholden to her master's will. Yet, even the one time I was alone with her, she continued all the same ruthless and vile behaviors as when with her master.
I walked in on the pair of them once in the tavern doing something gross. I said "what the hell arelith" and walked out. Neither worthy of remembrance.
It burned me up, though, that everyone I ever heard speaking of Sharess defended her so vigilantly, yet thought so poorly of me.
Sharess told the chancellor I was spreading Cordor's secret plans.
Apparently Cordor was planning a military move against Sencliff. As if one like me would've known. I simply spoke to the general sentiment I'd been hearing for weeks.
That half-orc chancellor of 123AR, whose name I hold unworthy of remembrance, formerly reinstituted my Cordorian banishment for the crime of divulging state secrets. I discovered this banishment only after I tried entering the city days later and was magically barred. No one could tell me why.
4. MYONS BANISHMENT
After necromancers took control of Wharftown and told me not to return, I hid out from the guild.
An elven friend brought me to Myon for safe-keeping. I can't be certain, but I suspect it was Arawen Winsbane. A genuine woman and a dear friend. Whoever it was, they brought me through the mythal portal. Inside, we relayed the situation.
It took less than a ten-hour for a Myonic elf to reject my welcome. An allegation had been made about me. I stood accused of hexing one of their elves. A man we'll call Lyr, for liar.
Back then, I gave frequent gifts to people. Everything from mundane trinkets with uplifting words inscribed on them to enchantment basin items.
The first and only time I'd met Lyr was in Cordor, near the Cobblers shop. I gave him a mundane gift, for luck. He apparently became deathly ill for a few days and told everyone it was my gift that caused it. What the hell, Arelith.
The myonic elf wouldn't hear my own defense. He said as another had accused me, only another could exonerate me. Myonic logic? Guilty until proven innocent... by someone else.
I was promptly kicked out of the city and told not to return. At this point, I was banished from Cordor, Guldorand, Wharftown, Myon and Bendir Dale. It's a good thing I never went to Brog! I think I got a pretty good idea how that would've gone.
5. VERBALLY OUTCAST
Over the coming trine, as Lyr's lie spread like wildfire, I went from spending 50% of my time on the isle arguing with former friends and total strangers to 80%. That's not an exaggeration. I now had a "witness" testifying to my witch-hexing-abilites so everyone seemed to believe it.
I'd had numerous speedy messengers insulting me. But by this point I was receiving two to three each day. Virtually all were anonymous. Cowards.
The call of the docks began to ring loud and clear in my mind.
6. THREAD SEVERED: ANGELA AMANA
At this point, I had only a handful of friends. While Ryth was sheltering me, we visited the Arcane Tower so I could speak to them about the chalice I still carried. Angela was dealing with another tower matter. I implied the demon chalice was more important. The look of death she gave me... I was so used to friends turning on me, I assumed, incorrectly, she had joined my detractors. The thought of losing my arcane-tower-sister was just too much.
I think that was the last time I went to the tower.
7. CORDORS BANISHMENT RESCINDED
An unexpected turn of events took place. A brief candle-light amidst a sea of darkness. I finally met the half-orc Chancellor of Cordor, at the Crow's Nest, if memory serves. It turned out Sharess had died. I've intentionally omitted the details.
The Chancellor said her testimony against me had died with her and therefore I'd be allowed in Cordor again soon. What?!
The man was surprisingly cheerful and nice and I should have been happy. But by this point I was just bitter.
8. FINAL THREAD SEVERED
I eventually found Lyr about a ten-month after our first chance meeting.
Gods, I was so mad at him! I demanded to know why he lied about me and my gift.
He doubled down on his position.
I asked about testing my trinket for magic. He said -B- or one of -B's- "twins" had cast it into a fire already.
The worst part: I remember him laughing like it was no big deal. A practical joke.
There was no way to verify my innocence and his false accusation had shattered the pitiful remains of my already broken reputation. I'd spent almost 2 ten-months going through hell. The last 2 ten-weeks being the worst and the fault largely on his shoulders. And all he could do was laugh? I was crushed. I left his side in tears. I had nothing left to give. I -think- that was my last trine on the isle.
9. AERIEL BANISHED ARELITH
Though not yet married, Zoram stood by me throughout all this. My rock of stability. He hated my exchange with the witch but supported me anyway. I eventually learned to listen to his counsel. To submit, at least to him. If only I'd have learned this lesson sooner.
I'd resisted the "good" people of Arelith for as long as I could. I'd endured their spiteful speedy's, fought with them on the boards, argued with them face to face.
The heart longs to be where it's wanted and it wasn't here. My resolve was broken. I'd been broken. I granted their wish.
In early 124AR, we boarded a ship and sailed to another realm.
I dropped everything I was working on and didn't say goodbye to anyone. Something I'd later regret.
I stayed away for a touch over 8 trine-years.
10. THE RETURN
Surprising no one more than myself, I returned in late 184AR. By late 185AR, the docks were already calling my name again. Arelith's culture remains much the same. It's not as severe, but similar. And I've no tolerance left for this place.
I might write one more volume before I return to where I'm accepted. We'll see.
This time, before I leave, I'll say my goodbyes.