Old Enemies in Bastille

"I do not understand, Elen," said Lywnis Autumnleaf. "This is the mallorn tree beneath which I saw Tizer taking reverie but a short time ago. Yet, he is gone now."

"Uma," agreed Ilustriel Morningstar, Lywnis' bond mate, "And, I do not sense his presence anywhere nearby. Where could he have gone?"

Elenlanta Ranar, the elf known in the Common trade language as Starrbolt Wanderer, knelt and stared at the tree base where Tizer, a comrade in the Grey Company guild of elves, had recently lain. The impression of Tizer's body remained in the forest glade grass -- as well as a faint residue of magic.

Inexplicable intuition prompted Starrbolt to declare, "Bastille." He looked up at Lywnis and Ilustriel and nodded. "That is where Tizer has gone."

"Bastille?" questioned Ilu. "We have heard tales of that place."

Lywnis added, "Mere rumors, clouded in such secrecy that 'tis called the forgotten world. Mellonamin, how can you know this thing?"

"Tarna'ista im palurinea," said Starr. A magic spell of passage between worlds.

These three elves had used such magic before, traveling the multiverse in search of adventure and to protect the elven way. Their shared journeys had included exploration of Toril, Drakkar, Britannia, Dereth, Norrath, Hibernia, and other realms. They now realized what had become of their friend, Tizer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starrbolt stepped through a magical portal and emerged in the night-shrouded town square of Bastille. As always, the sensation of traversing the multiverse was disorienting. The nomadic high elf breathed deeply, letting the air of this new land fill his lungs, settling his shaking legs. He let the sights, sounds, and smells fill his senses, feeling comforted by the elven affinity for nature. "'Tis a realm much like old Neverwinter," thought Starr.

It had taken several weeks for Elenlanta to learn the spell and gather the components needed for the journey. As soon as the final preparations were made, he uttered the words of power and traced the gestures needed to open the magical portal.

Now, as Elen walked the sleeping city streets, exploring Bastille, he thought, "Perhaps 'twould have been wise to wait and gather other elves." However, he had no firm cause to rally the Grey Company. Starrbolt had come here only because of a feeling that Tizer, the former captain of Tel'Mithrim, was in peril. No, Starr decided, better for him to scout the situation first and then call for aid if needed.

The sound of approaching footfalls echoed from the cobble-stone street around the corner ahead. Elenlanta paused, his pointed ears twitching. The same sensation of foreboding and dread that Elen had felt for Tizer's safety now washed over him again, even more intensely than before.

The staccato rhythm indicated two pairs of leather boots. Something in the sound seemed deliberate, even dramatic, such that Starrbolt suspected the walkers wanted to be heard.

So heightened were Starr's senses by the feeling of impending danger that the scene unfolded to his eyes as if time had slowed. Moving languidly through the night mist came two dark elves, a female followed by a male. They were dressed in ornate finery, the style of Drow house leaders. They strode with supreme confidence and almost supernatural grace. Cruel, wicked smiles lit their onyx-skinned faces framed by bone-white hair. Their eyes, accustomed to the darkness of their underground domain, shone with evil mirth.

Starrbolt recognized them. Like demons from a recurring nightmare, the dark elves stalking toward him were enemies from the past -- Arielana and Zacnefear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the duration of a heartbeat, Elenlanta's mind flashed back to a time in old Neverwinter.

He had entered the Triboar inn breathless from a jaunt along tree-filled paths. Looking about the dining hall, Starrbolt spotted Culindar, the bow singer, seated at a table and sipping feywine.

Happily, Starrbolt greeted his mentor. Back when Starrbolt had first arrived in Neverwinter, it was Culindar who had initially welcomed him into the elven society of Tel'Mithrim -- the Grey Company.

The two elves shared some pleasant chat, until a third elf entered the inn. She was dark in both appearance and demeanor. "Matron Arielana!" Starr exclaimed.

"'Quel undome, Starrbolt," she replied in a gracious, patrician voice.

"Well said, milady! You speak the surface elf language beautifully!"

Upon invitation, Arielana joined Starrbolt and Culindar at their table, and Starr introduced the drow matron to the bow singer. For several minutes, the male elves engaged the dark elf female in a conversation which ranged from polite inquiries about the state of their respective guilds to a discussion of the relative merits of life above ground and below. Then Arielana excused herself and glided away.

In the following quiet, Culindar asked Starr how he had met the drow matron. The younger elf smiled, "I first encountered her at the Longsaddle inn, long ago, when I traveled there one day with Lywnis. Actually, I did not catch sight of Arielana then, for she kept to the shadows and Lywnis spoke to her from a discreet distance. In private, he spoke highly of her and told me that he had met her in the dungeon beneath Triboar -- not the most secure place for an elf to encounter a drow, but she turned out to be a trustworthy and capable companion. Lywnis also expressed appreciation for her obvious charms which, I'm sure, you noticed as well. Oh, this occurred sometime before Lywnis became acquainted with the Lady Ilustriel Morningstar ... hehe!"

Starrbolt related his subsequent interactions with Arielana -- the times when their paths had crossed and they had exchanged companionship and kindnesses. He explained how she had risen from the position of a priestess in one drow house to that of matron for another.

"I get the impression," Starr mused, "that she has a fascination with the surface world and surface elves in particular."

Culindar smiled, "Yes, most drow do. They seek to destroy us!"

Starrbolt laughed, "Oh, not Arielana! She's different! There's good in her heart ... I can sense it!"

The bow singer raised his eyebrows, "Perhaps, but, still, she is drow. Do not forget that."

Starr looked into Culindar's eyes for a moment, then nodded, "Of course." And the two elves finished the bottle of feywine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Silently, Starrbolt berated himself at the memory of how impetuous and naive he had been in his youth. The depth of his folly proved costly when Arielana betrayed Starr's trust. During a "friendly" sparring session at the Triboar arena, Arielana commanded Zacnefear, the priestess Karamiran, and other drow of house Dur'Eben to attack in earnest. Culindar was taken prisoner and Elenlanta was severely wounded, although Elen managed to escape. A party of Grey Company elves raided Westbridge Under and fought the dark elves of the Temple of Lloth in hopes of rescuing Culindar. Starrbolt found the bow singer at the drow altar, bound and helpless, about to be the victim of ritual sacrifice. The sight of Arielana -- her eyes rolled back in their sockets, deep in the throes of worship for Lloth, the spider queen -- proved to Starr that the drow matron's heart was evil. Elenlanta and Culindar escaped the dungeon, but the "victory" came at a high price. Much faerie elf blood was spilled in the battle against the dark elves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Vendui', Starrbolt," spoke a gracious, sophisticated feminine voice.

The sound sent a shiver up Elenlanta Ranar's spine.

Elenlanta Ranar ~ Starrbolt Wanderer
o'Tel'Iantdor ~ One of the Old Land
Tel'Mithrim ~ The Grey Company
>>>==========>

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Response:
> "I do not understand, Elen," said Lywnis Autumnleaf. "This is the mallorn tree beneath which I saw Tizer taking reverie but a short time ago. Yet, he is gone now." > "Uma," agreed Ilustriel Morningstar, Lywnis' bond mate, "And, I do not sense his presence anywhere nearby. Where could he have gone?" > Elenlanta Ranar, the elf known in the Common trade language as Starrbolt Wanderer, knelt and stared at the tree base where Tizer, a comrade in the Grey Company guild of elves, had recently lain. The impression of Tizer's body remained in the forest glade grass -- as well as a faint residue of magic. > Inexplicable intuition prompted Starrbolt to declare, "Bastille." He looked up at Lywnis and Ilustriel and nodded. "That is where Tizer has gone." > "Bastille?" questioned Ilu. "We have heard tales of that place." > Lywnis added, "Mere rumors, clouded in such secrecy that 'tis called the forgotten world. Mellonamin, how can you know this thing?" > "Tarna'ista im palurinea," said Starr. <i>A magic spell of passage between worlds.</i> > These three elves had used such magic before, traveling the multiverse in search of adventure and to protect the elven way. Their shared journeys had included exploration of Toril, Drakkar, Britannia, Dereth, Norrath, Hibernia, and other realms. They now realized what had become of their friend, Tizer. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Starrbolt stepped through a magical portal and emerged in the night-shrouded town square of Bastille. As always, the sensation of traversing the multiverse was disorienting. The nomadic high elf breathed deeply, letting the air of this new land fill his lungs, settling his shaking legs. He let the sights, sounds, and smells fill his senses, feeling comforted by the elven affinity for nature. "'Tis a realm much like old Neverwinter," thought Starr. > It had taken several weeks for Elenlanta to learn the spell and gather the components needed for the journey. As soon as the final preparations were made, he uttered the words of power and traced the gestures needed to open the magical portal. > Now, as Elen walked the sleeping city streets, exploring Bastille, he thought, "Perhaps 'twould have been wise to wait and gather other elves." However, he had no firm cause to rally the Grey Company. Starrbolt had come here only because of a feeling that Tizer, the former captain of Tel'Mithrim, was in peril. No, Starr decided, better for him to scout the situation first and then call for aid if needed. > The sound of approaching footfalls echoed from the cobble-stone street around the corner ahead. Elenlanta paused, his pointed ears twitching. The same sensation of foreboding and dread that Elen had felt for Tizer's safety now washed over him again, even more intensely than before. > The staccato rhythm indicated two pairs of leather boots. Something in the sound seemed deliberate, even dramatic, such that Starrbolt suspected the walkers wanted to be heard. > So heightened were Starr's senses by the feeling of impending danger that the scene unfolded to his eyes as if time had slowed. Moving languidly through the night mist came two dark elves, a female followed by a male. They were dressed in ornate finery, the style of Drow house leaders. They strode with supreme confidence and almost supernatural grace. Cruel, wicked smiles lit their onyx-skinned faces framed by bone-white hair. Their eyes, accustomed to the darkness of their underground domain, shone with evil mirth. > Starrbolt recognized them. Like demons from a recurring nightmare, the dark elves stalking toward him were enemies from the past -- Arielana and Zacnefear. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > In the duration of a heartbeat, Elenlanta's mind flashed back to a time in old Neverwinter. > He had entered the Triboar inn breathless from a jaunt along tree-filled paths. Looking about the dining hall, Starrbolt spotted Culindar, the bow singer, seated at a table and sipping feywine. > Happily, Starrbolt greeted his mentor. Back when Starrbolt had first arrived in Neverwinter, it was Culindar who had initially welcomed him into the elven society of Tel'Mithrim -- the Grey Company. > The two elves shared some pleasant chat, until a third elf entered the inn. She was dark in both appearance and demeanor. "Matron Arielana!" Starr exclaimed. > "'Quel undome, Starrbolt," she replied in a gracious, patrician voice. > "Well said, milady! You speak the surface elf language beautifully!" > Upon invitation, Arielana joined Starrbolt and Culindar at their table, and Starr introduced the drow matron to the bow singer. For several minutes, the male elves engaged the dark elf female in a conversation which ranged from polite inquiries about the state of their respective guilds to a discussion of the relative merits of life above ground and below. Then Arielana excused herself and glided away. > In the following quiet, Culindar asked Starr how he had met the drow matron. The younger elf smiled, "I first encountered her at the Longsaddle inn, long ago, when I traveled there one day with Lywnis. Actually, I did not catch sight of Arielana then, for she kept to the shadows and Lywnis spoke to her from a discreet distance. In private, he spoke highly of her and told me that he had met her in the dungeon beneath Triboar -- not the most secure place for an elf to encounter a drow, but she turned out to be a trustworthy and capable companion. Lywnis also expressed appreciation for her obvious charms which, I'm sure, you noticed as well. Oh, this occurred sometime before Lywnis became acquainted with the Lady Ilustriel Morningstar ... hehe!" > Starrbolt related his subsequent interactions with Arielana -- the times when their paths had crossed and they had exchanged companionship and kindnesses. He explained how she had risen from the position of a priestess in one drow house to that of matron for another. > "I get the impression," Starr mused, "that she has a fascination with the surface world and surface elves in particular." > Culindar smiled, "Yes, most drow do. They seek to destroy us!" > Starrbolt laughed, "Oh, not Arielana! She's different! There's good in her heart ... I can sense it!" > The bow singer raised his eyebrows, "Perhaps, but, still, she is drow. Do not forget that." > Starr looked into Culindar's eyes for a moment, then nodded, "Of course." And the two elves finished the bottle of feywine. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Silently, Starrbolt berated himself at the memory of how impetuous and naive he had been in his youth. The depth of his folly proved costly when Arielana betrayed Starr's trust. During a "friendly" sparring session at the Triboar arena, Arielana commanded Zacnefear, the priestess Karamiran, and other drow of house Dur'Eben to attack in earnest. Culindar was taken prisoner and Elenlanta was severely wounded, although Elen managed to escape. A party of Grey Company elves raided Westbridge Under and fought the dark elves of the Temple of Lloth in hopes of <a href="https://grey-company.evernorth.net/Study/GCWorks/?lnk=bk2/rescueofculindar">rescuing Culindar</a>. Starrbolt found the bow singer at the drow altar, bound and helpless, about to be the victim of ritual sacrifice. The sight of Arielana -- her eyes rolled back in their sockets, deep in the throes of worship for Lloth, the spider queen -- proved to Starr that the drow matron's heart was evil. Elenlanta and Culindar escaped the dungeon, but the "victory" came at a high price. Much faerie elf blood was spilled in the battle against the dark elves. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > "Vendui', Starrbolt," spoke <a href="http://www.forgottenworld.com/index.asp?page=boards/message.asp&f=875&p=1&m=34445">a gracious, sophisticated feminine voice</a>. > The sound sent a shiver up Elenlanta Ranar's spine. > <font color="green"> > Elenlanta Ranar ~ Starrbolt Wanderer > o'Tel'Iantdor ~ One of the Old Land > Tel'Mithrim ~ The Grey Company</font> > <font color="gray">>>>==========></font>
Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL: