Dwa 31st, 4288: 20 Days in the mortal realm
Yesterday was a day of utter chaos! I haven't a clue what to think of myself... maybe it’s absolutely wrong of me to think I’m doing anything right because everything I tried to helped that day went disastrously wrong! It's absolutely discouraging! It's quite possible that I'll imprisoned or killed for what transpired. Maybe, just maybe, the Clerics will let me go free. I just- ... I don't feel like a good person. I feel like a monster; hated and incapable of doing right.
As much as I don't want to reflect on what happened, I suppose remembering what happened would prevent me for doing it all again.
We were just on the outskirts Sardik’s city. The mighty walls were coming into view on the horizon. As we continued toward the dukedom, some dreth stones caught our attention. Rekka, who had gone out doing her usual scouting that morning, came back reporting that there were imps holding a boy hostage. He was tied up, laying on a stone slab as though he was about to be sacrificed. A prang of fury ebbed at my being. I loathed imps. I wasn't sure why, but I knew they were tricky and sly. We hurried to the dreth stone to rescue the boy, I intent on sending those fiends back to hell one way or another.
Carefully we snuck up to the dreth stones. as we peer in, we see the boy is on an altar, tied, but alone. We cautiously approached the large stones that surrounded the stone altar. We could see the boy, but no imps. I let my guard down for a moment and ventured toward the boy. Suddenly 3 imps descended upon me and my party. We fought hard, I killing one of them with a double fire bolt from my halberd. Billy had one grappled and the third imp was killed by Cortanna. With the one restrained, thoughts of discussing what was happening were made. I left Isaac to question the imp and turned my focus to the boy. As i turned around I was surprised to see a fourth imp on the alter poised to strike Rekka and the boy.
I must say, Rekka is quite clever. I didn't even notice she had gone to the alter amidst the fighting. Too bad there was a fourth imp.
"Isaac," I said, trying to get his attention to the alter. I knew he heard me for Isaac tried to negotiate with the imp on the alter. He was able to get out of him that a man named Pendral had summoned them there. When he said that, I reflected on some salt mepfits that we encountered a few days after the ogre incident. They too had complained about being summoned there by this Pendral guy and had mentioned dreth stones were part of this ritual. The imps, well the two of them at the time, were trying to perform the ritual that would send them back to hell. The boy was crucial to getting them back there in the sense they needed a substantial amount of blood. I knew of another way that wouldn’t involve killing an innocent boy, but the imps body's would have to stay here in the mortal plain. I didn’t get a chance to put that plan into motion because two arrows suddenly appeared and struck the boy, killing him instantly.
"What have you done!?" I cried out in a mix of anger and fear. The anger was because I assumed, for a moment, that the imp was the one who killed the boy. The fear was because as soon as the boy died, the dreth stones shimmered and began to spin wildly around us.
“You idiots!” the imp cried out before going invisible. The stones spun faster and faster, I bracing myself mentally for whatever terror we were about to find ourselves in. It was just a few short seconds, though if felt much longer, when the rumbling and shimmering stopped. We looked about our surroundings and I sighed a sigh of relief. Fortunate enough, we found ourselves still in the mortal plain.
We looked around, seeing if we could find any sign of the imp. I was able to make out the sound of wings fading As much as I hated imps, I knew we had quick work to make. It was clear now ho's arrows had struck the boy. Cortanna sheepishly looks out from behind a stone. I was livid with her. I knocked her with the end of my halberd and told her next time she fired an arrow, she best make sure it hit the correct target. Isaac had Billy talk to the soul of the boy and found out for us that his parents were camped nearby. We went to the camp and located his father. The father is understandably sad to find out his boy, Joran, was dead. We purposefully didn't state how he was killed other than imps were involved. I expressed how we wanted to assist in resurrecting his son. Joran's father referred us to a Cleric named Rob. Cortanna asked if he'd come with us, but he stated that he'd only go as far as the entrance. He explained he left the city for a reason and wasn't about to go back in after all his effort to leave. We didn't press the matter.
Getting into Sardik's dukedom wasn't difficult. It was quite busy with the amount of people coming and going. I actually had to wonder why Joran's father had to make such an effort. There was a small market just outside the gates that we left Joran's father at with our wagon. Isaac gathered a good portion of the treasures into his bag of holding. In another bag of holding, we carefully placed Joran's body into it. We then went into the city with the crowd. The first thing we did was we got some rooms at an Inn. Once settled in, Cortanna and I took off to get Joran resurrected.
The Court of the Gods was where we were directed after asking where we could find a Cleric. It was a huge sector with probably a shrine or cathedral for each deity in existence. It didn't take long for someone to help us locate Cleric Rob. We entered into the cathedral for Palor and inquired about Cleric Rob. We then waited for him to be summoned. As we waited, some guy who was despreately seeking to be a cleric, saw me and asked for my blessing to be a Cleric. He clearly knew I was an Angelic. I didn’t really care and was sorely tempted to point out my fallen state, but held my tongue. I looked around, spotting the other Clerics eyeing me. I said I saw no reason why someone so well informed of this deity wouldn’t be a worthy Cleric. With that everyone in the room, other than Cortanna and I, swarmed the man who sung praises to me, while the Clerics rushed him off to ordain him.
I thought about following after, but as i took a step after them a side door opened. Out came an aged man with the Cleric I had inquired about Rob with. That old man was Cleric Rob. It took awhile to get across what was needed to be done. His hearing was terrible, but once Rob understood what we were in need of a he informed us that resurrection was forbidden. I looked dumbfounded at the two Clerics. The other Cleric mentioned it was because of Pendral that it was forbidden. For a moment I was discouraged and was about to ask if there was a way to preserve the boy’s body since we had it with us. I figured the party and I could go to a different city to do the resurrection. Before I could suggest that idea, Cleric Rob looked around, giving a nod to the other Cleric who then left the room, and instructed me to present the body. I did so. Rob then pulled out a bag, mentioned he had been saving it, and dumped out what I could only assume to be diamond dust on the boy. Through my haze of astonishment that Rob would risk doing something that was forbidden, I barely caught the Cleric muttering words to which Joran woke up.
I was grateful for Rob's kindness. He wouldn't even let me offer to repay him. With that, all I wanted to do was get the boy out and pretend like nothing had ever happened. Cleric Rob did warn us before we left to avoid the black guards. If we got too close to them, they'd know that the forbidden magic was used. We shook our heads to confirm that we had heard him and took off toward the city gates.
All was well until we got in with the crowd of folk leaving and entering the city. We could see on each side of the entrance was a black guard. I debated whether we should go back to the Inn to see if the others had an idea to get the boy out unnoticed. If we pressed forward, it would be very risky. We'd have to keep to the middle of the crowd and even then, I wasn't sure if that'd be enough coverage for us to get out undetected. I opted to try the first idea and so we turned around only to find black guards flanking us. It was now no choice. Either they noticed and were coming for us or they were about to change shifts with the two guards at the entrance. Either way, I hoped with all my might that we'd be able to squeeze Joran out safely.
I could hear my heart beat ring in my ears with the stress of the mission. We kept getting jostled and bumped so much that my panic continued to steadily rise knowing the guards were gaining. I had a glimmer of hope as the entrance drew 10 feet before us. I remember thinking, 'just a little more!'
Then I heard it.
“Stop! You have used Forbidden Magic!”
I shoved Cortanna and the boy forward. If anything, I would stick behind and hope that Cortanna could get Joran to his father safely. I then swing around, sprawling my wings out in a dramatic spin of surprise.
“What?” I exclaimed in astonishment. With the anxiety I was feeling, I sounded a little surprised even though I knew they were there. Here was hoping I was feigning confusion of what was happening. The Black Guards charged toward me. Seeing them come at me so aggressively, I placed my hands in the air and glared at them before shouting, “I surrender!” 3 guards surrounded me while the other 3 ran past. My heart sank though I continued to hope that Cortanna and Joran would make it off safely. I also worried that with me being caught, that quite possibly I had endangered Cleric Rob’s life. For the great risk and kindness he bestowed upon Joran, I would hate for him to be punished because of some evil guy's absurd law. And to think it was only 11am in the morning.
I thought they would have taken me prisoner with no further questions. I couldn't fathom any logical way to worm out of the situation. I was determined to play innocent. Before they could place manacles on me, an Angelic pushed through the crowd and past the guards. After a moment I knew it to be Gideon. He pushed himself in front of me.
“What is going on!?” He exclaimed to the guards. I couldn't believe he was there. I still wonder how it was he knew where I was? Never the less, his presence was welcoming.
“The woman was caught using forbidden magic,” they replied. Gideon turns to look at me.
“What forbidden magic?” I replied. It was clear the guards didn’t by my innocence act. Even Gideon raised an eyebrow at me.
I’m then accused for resurrecting someone. Apparently such an act is unnatural here in Sardik's Dukedom, hence it being forbidden. The conversation soon turned into a debate between me and the one guard. I asked ‘how was it unnatural to give a body it’s soul back versus undead being raised’ and ‘was Pendral able to dictate to the Gods about what they could and couldn’t do in returning the soul to the body?’ The guard got a little befuddled and simply that I ought to have known better.
“I just arrived this morning!” I snapped. It was the most truthful thing I had said on the matter. The guards looked at the ones standing at the gates and gesture to them as to whether I spoke the truth. They confirmed it and admitted not having said anything thing to me about the rules. They quickly listed all the forbidden magics and deeds one might do. It was a short list, but clearly made up by a cruel man. For instance, helping those in need was forbidden! How aburd!
When he finished speaking, I was hopeful that I'd be able to make my escape... unfortunately, despite their attempts to convict me for using forbidden magic, they somehow knew I wasn't the one who performed the resurrection. I was asked for the name of the Cleric who performed it. Oh I wish I had lied! I was conflicted at the time. Did I lie and risk getting in further trouble if they find out I was lying? Or do I speak the truth and punish Rob for something that was honorable? As I debated the choices, a brilliant idea came to mind. I could use a wish from Isaac’s Sword of Wishing! I could tell the truth and go find Isaac while the guards went to get Cleric Rob. The Inn, where I assumed Isaac to be, was a few streets away from the main gates and I could use my wish to save Rob! There was no foreseeable consequence to that plan! How I looked forward to being honest and cheating the black guards of their victim!
When I saw the bolt of light disperse through the crowd, after I gave Rob's name, my stomach knotted up with panic. The bolt was headed in the direction of the Court of the Gods. I quickly excused myself seeing they had no other reason to hold me and made haste to find Isaac. When I got the Inn, I only found Jessica, the bar wench, there. I was slightly frantic at the absence of Isaac. She told me they went to eat at a tavern just down the road. I ducked out in the direction she pointed and quickly spotted the building. Once in, it was no chore to spot Isaac. I quickly went to him and as fast as I could told him to wish for Cleric Rob of the Palor deityt to be summoned to the merchant camp. Isaac thankfully didn't question my request. As he began to speak, a deep gonging sound echoed through the town. The folk around us immediately hushed and whispering ensued.
“Oh no," I heard someone say, "No’s done anything forbidden for so long.”
My heart sank- no. For a moment I could swear it ceased to exist. That gong could only mean one thing: Cleric Rob had been killed. I bit my lip.
"Never mind Isaac," I said defeatedly, "He's dead now..."
"Then how about this," Isaac responded, "Hubert, I wish for Cleric Rob to be alive again." My eyes looked eagerly at the sword.
"Um, sorry sir, but... his soul has been destroyed," Hubert answered. Soul destroyed? Had I known that was what would have happened to him, would I had still given his name? Had I know it would have happened so fast, maybe I would have tried another tactic. He didn’t deserve what happened to him. He didn’t deserve having his soul destroyed...
Pendral!
I clenched my hands into tight fists. I now had a vendetta. Pendral was almost as vile as Erythnul. That man didn't deserve to live and I was going to try to bring about his end. Perhaps find out if there was some under ground resistance. I didn't want to go back to the Palor Clerics, but maybe I'd be able to get assistance from them with the recent event... even if it was my fault that that happened...
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