Day 79: A Giant of a Problem pt. 2: Joy and Devastation

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I’ve sat looking at this blank page for what feels like an eternity… I feel I don’t even know who I am and can’t trust the memories I have, except all that I’ve written in these pages. Maybe this was the best thing for me; to journal. I have verifiable proof in these pages of what I’ve experienced. And I must start writing before the events of tonight become too faint.

Part of me wishes I had died tonight, for I’m confused how it is I’m writing this. How many times had I come close to death? How confused and angry I am and the grief that I must bear. I was a fool to call upon Heironious!

As I sat in the tree, watching the sun slowly descend, I remembered what I had told Raæin last night. It was quite the opportunity before me now. I was away from everyone. No awkward excuse to raise suspicions. Just me lost in the jungle, up a tree and if I died as a direct result, they’d be none the wiser as to what happened… though Raæin may suspect.

Yet that got me for a moment. I hadn’t expected to do this so suddenly. What if He did answer? I hadn’t pondered too deeply the key things I wanted to know. What would I ask first? I knew I wanted to find out if my sister was Malfeiya. I also wanted to know why was it they were trying to unite as one and what was to be gained. I figured that was at least a start. If Heironious gave me concrete answers, hopefully I would find peace and understanding.

I steadied myself on the branch, getting to my feet and bracing myself with a branch above. Not sure where to look, or if I should be looking, I called out in a voice as though I were calling to someone who had their back to me.

“Heironious?” I said, my eyes lowered and staring at the branch I stood on. Something warm, like a tremor, went down my spine and I heard Him.

“What is my lost child?” His warm and inviting voice said to me. I was stunned for a moment. I thought I would have had to beg and plead to hear from Him. His voice was dearly missed. How I yearned to go to Him, wherever He was. Yet I reminded myself that I mustn’t forget what He had done. With the initial surprise, and a desire inside me to go back to the way things once were, my clearly thought out questions ended up rushing out.

“What is going on? Who is Malfeiya,” I asked with a touch of desperation for Heironious to make it alright once more.

“Hmmm,” I heard him say, as if it were a thought in my mind, “Why is it that you are always asking me that question? Why can’t you just trust me,” Heironious calming and alluring voice resonated in me with a touch of exasperation. I felt slightly irritated he would make such a comment. Why was he being so secretive?

“I did put my trust into you!” I snapped, but quickly humbled myself. I especially didn’t want to be rude like I was when I last spoke with Heironious. I would figured this time it would end with my death and here I was hoping I could avoid that, “I know I’m rash and impatient and I’m… sorry,” I forced out while keeping my voice even and respectful, “I want to trust you again,” I began honestly, “but help me better understand what I’ve been learning and hearing then. Your mark is now aligned with Erythnul’s. The soul trapped creatures that have this new mark are lethal, though nothing has come of them yet other than Billy. You, Erythnul, and… Malfeiya or Meryth were at Podunk, but for what purpose? To Enslave those people as well before we ruined the ritual? What was it about Malfeiya that would convince you that working with Erythnul was a good idea? Why did you have to lie to me about my sister and the mark? Why didn’t you stop it before it got out of control!?”

I put a hand to my mouth as my emotions began to run wild with every question I had pent up inside from the hurt and anger I felt toward Him. Those, too, were questions I needed answers to. Part of me was scared the truth would be the ugly truth I’ve learned, but part of me still clung onto the hope that this would all be just a huge misunderstanding. And knowing how Heironious lied to me about Meryth and the true nature of the mark made me sick. Her innocent blood was on my hands and I hated that!

I heard movement behind me and instinctively I pulled my halberd to the ready. I’m then surprised by who I saw. I looked to see Heironious- well rather a version of Him, step from the shadows. He had vestigial horns protruding from his forehead and his fingers elongated with the beginning of claws. His brow was furrowed with frustration and his lips pulled back to show sharp teeth that weren’t quite fangs yet… As scared as I felt, I couldn’t help but look on in confusion and pity.

“Heironious… what happened?” I said, concern eminent in my voice.

“You do not know of what you speak!” I heard Erythnul shout at me. I my eyes grew wide and I felt myself shrink and start to tremble uncontrollably as the most feared God now stood before me. I knelt down to brace myself, worried I’d fall off the branch from my trembling. “The nature of our godhood was threatened and we will NOT be deposed by such beasts as the Sangrail!” He continued to shout, though now it was clear that it was Erythnul and Heironious speaking to me. I looked back up at him confused to hear both. I saw His eyes flash with three distinct colors in His iris.

“As for your sister, you were happy to have her Exalted! After campaigning for her soul for so long, even that wasn’t enough! You wanted all the Marked being to be saved! BUT YOU KNOW NOTHING! NOTHING OF THE BALANCE THAT MUST BE MAINTAINED!!!” He thundered at me. The fear that gripped me left me paralyzed. My mind scrambled to comprehend what He was saying, for it confused me to have been accused of petitioning for Meryth’s Exaltation and wanting to save all the marked beings. I did no such thing. When I had died and was told because of the mark Meryth couldn’t be Exalted. I came to accept that! Only when Malfeiya was Exalted did I rebel for she was marked!

In the fog of confusion, I was most certain I was given no clear answer. Yet I had to wonder if what I was experiencing was a test to see if I could maintain my cool, to see if I was ready to handle what really was happening. So with the little courage I could muster, I answered.

“You’re right. I don’t know of the balance,” I said, striving to keep my voice steady and calm, “I’ve only learned recently that I don’t know much about the deities. Just a few days ago I thought deities knew everything and lived without a care in the world other than to gain followers after their same views and standards and punished those who betrayed them. I just learned that you all still have problems, like this balance that needs to be maintained. If what you’re doing is for the better good, help me understand. Telling me the mark was evil only for me to find out it holds no power makes me wonder if I can trust you. Saying a marked being can’t be Exalted, only for Malfeiya to be, seems unjust! If there is reason to all of this, please explain. I know I’ve been impatient and I’ve learned now that that has done nothing but get me into trouble,” I pleaded with them. Then a thought came to me. What if they needed to feel like I was willing to help them? Maybe they’d trust me to know. And knowing who Rekka was, I knew I had to ask them what it was about the Sangrail that threatened them.

“Why is the Sangrail a threat to you?” I asked calmly.

“The Sangrails,” He snarled, “are mortals born with the potential of usurping the Gods,” He then folded his arms and continued to glare at my pitiful form, “As for one of your other tedious questions, I already told you Araja! You were the one who argued for your sister to be Exalted,” He said to me clearly exasperated. He then took a moment and His face became more passive as He thought, “I suppose being cast down has addled your mind and altered your memories…”

Altered what memories, I thought and, Did I really argue for my sister’s Exaltation? Then it clicked. Why was it they couldn’t just say ‘Meryth is Malfeiya?’ So why was it I don’t remember petitioning for her Exaltation?

“Why was her name changed-” I began before looking more closely at whom I could only assume to be Heinulfia. Somehow they had combined! When had that happened?

“Meryth?” I called out to her, wondering if she was in there and could hear me.

“I’m here,” I heard Meryth call out. My eye shot right to her as she walked out of the shadows. Her voice was still gentle and light as I remembered it, but she was older. She had grown up… Isaac was right! Of all the words I knew, nothing could express how annoyed I felt at that moment of realization. Yet as annoyed as I was in that moment, joy erupted in my heart. I was looking at my little sister again! Meryth was alive! I lost all composure as tears sprang to my eyes out of joy. I rushed to her, not caring about Heinul (since the two deities were clearly one now). No resistance was met and I hugged my sister fiercely.

“You’re alive!” I exclaimed out of astonishment. I pulled back to look at her features, noticing her face had some scars on it, “Were you really Malfeiya?” I asked. She nodded giving me a warm smile. I traced her face with my fingers, careful about the scars to which she jerked her head as my fingers touched them, “Sorry,” I said. It was hard to believe she was really there. I feared if I stopped touching her, that she’d vanish. I worried this would be one of those dreams I had centuries ago, and ever so often still have, and soon I’d wake from it.

“You may go,” Meryth told Heinul, who bowed to her before disappearing into the shadows that were increasing as the sun turned into twilight. “What do you want dear sister?” she asked warmly giving a gentle smile.

I beamed through my tears, almost lost for words, “I’m just in complete amazement that you’re alive!” I gushed once more, “You’ve grown up so much. When did they revive you? Who watched over you-” I then caught myself. She was alive. She was working with Heinul… Why? I could feel the joy suddenly leave me as I realized the consequences of her survival.

“Meryth… Why are you having Heironious and Erythnul work together?” I said slowly with concern. She smiled at me with the smile I grew so fond of when she was a kid. Part of me was glad that hadn’t changed.

“Let me start with your first question,” she said, “I was never revived sister because I was never truly dead.” I looked at her quizzically. As painful as it was to know I had killed her, well tried to kill her, I couldn’t help but wonder how she could have survived my attack.

Meryth seemed to sense my thoughts, “You did make a very gallant effort to kill me sister. Had you succeeded you would have ruined us all.”

“I’m sorry about that Meryth,” I said automatically. I now felt embarrassed for having tried to kill her, “I’ve hated myself for so long because of that” I apologized. Meryth continued to smile, though it seemed to have shifted to something different.

“Well, I survived,” she brushed off, “As for your second question, I eventually found a way to resurface as Malfeiya and no one knew the difference.” Meryth then shifted, her eyes squinting just a little and her smile becoming a smirk, “As for my pets, they do what I will them to do. That is all you need to worry about with Heironious and Erythnul.”

My eyes narrowed on Meryth as she used the term ‘pets’ so casually in reference to the Gods. There was something about her… something that wasn’t Meryth at all. That feeling of ‘this is not my sister’ came over me which scared me. But maybe I was being rash. She had grown up and again, I needed to be patient if I was about to get any answers about all that has happened and is going on.

“That’s an interesting term to refer to them as,” I said casually, trying to feign my suspicion, “So if I need not worry about them, what is this I hear about you and them trying to become one? What are you to gain from this? And as I think about it, what is the purpose of the soul trapped beings that are marked by them?”

Meryth looked me in the eyes, her smile looking more fake by the minute, “Well, once we’re one, the other Gods won’t be strong enough to resist and they too will join with me. There will be peace at last in the heavens and hells,” then in a more sinister tone, “and the Sangrail will be no more.” She paused for a moment before continuing onto my next question, “As for the soultrapped, every deity needs followers,” her face lit up at this notion, “and the soultrapped are excellent believers. It’s their faith that makes me strong… and I will be strong for eternity.”

I looked at her with questioning eyes. My head filled with questions that only a few were able to form into words. When did power ever matter to her? And what peace did the Heaven’s need? The good lived there while the evil lived in the 9 hells. Combining all into one being? What made her decide she was the one to take charge of all of that? How was it Erythnul and Heironious even considered this as a good idea?

“Meryth, when did you start wanting to become a deity? I don’t recall you ever caring about power. We followed Heironious, but I never knew you desired to be deific like Him.” If this was a secret she had kept from me during our life together, then I truly was curious to know why and when this came about.

“There are… a lot of things you never knew… A lot of things you’ll never know,” Meryth said, this time not looking me in the eyes. It was then that I realize she had been toying with a dagger. I felt the breath in me escape and my knees grow weak. I felt like throwing up but instead tears start to fall from my eyes again, but not out of sorrow and fear for myself. No. It was out of sorrow for my sister and what she had become- what she was about to do. Was all of the darkness I saw in her because I failed to kill her? Because I tried to kill her when I thought it for the greater good?

“Meryth,” I barely get out in a whisper before clearing my throat and starting again, not daring to look her in the eyes, “I’m really sorry for what I did to you. I am sorry for whatever hardship I have caused you. I hope you can understand how much I’ve missed you and how grateful I am to see you again-” which I was. Everything I said was with utmost sincerity. She was my sister.

As she continued to play with the dagger in front of me I couldn’t stop the trembling from setting in again. I knew something bad would come from addressing the Gods, but how disappointing to have found my sister acting in such away... I couldn’t believe it and what was I to do about it? I was at her mercy for I had no fight in me, especially knowing two Gods lurked in the shadows somewhere.

In a last effort of bravery, I looked Meryth in the eyes to challenge her. Knowing my end was nigh, I wasn’t too worried if my words offended her, “So what will it be Meryth? Kill me? Make me a follower by force so when I die my marked body will have no choice?” I had some bite to those words. My hope was to try and reason with her, to make her really think about what she was doing. “If all of this is for the better good, why do I feel so threatened and scared?” I barely clip out without shouting.

Meryth’s eyes and smile grew warm once more. “You can still join me dear sister. Accept my mark and serve me.”

I looked at her, dumbfounded for a moment. The warmth of her smile almost convinced me, almost had me prefer the mark over death. But the mark would mean I had no choice and that was one thing I refused to give up.

“No,” I said in a low respectful voice, but then the anger erupted from within and I continued on more daringly in my rebuke, “No! If I’m so dear, sister, why do I need to mark myself to prove my devotion!? We are the same flesh and blood. You dare question my devotion to you!? We fought the mark because we chose to keep our agency! Of course it makes no sense now that I understand it better, but I refuse to mark my body to ‘prove’ this devotion. Either you trust I’m devoted to you or force me against my will!” Once those words had escaped my mouth, part of me wished I had maintained composure a little better. I couldn’t help but fear her power over me. She was deity! ...She was my sister…

I looked back at her my heart filling with sorrow once more. Here I was, kind of getting somewhere, but now moments away from being killed by the one person I loved most in this world. Even if by some chance Meryth believed me, that I was devoted to her, I couldn’t look past the evil that was in her. How could I be devoted to her cause? How could I be devoted to her?

Meryth’s smile disappeared as she pursed her lips together. Her eyes became icy and a chill ran down my spine as I kept her leer.

“You fought the mark, not me! It was always that way. From the very beginning it was my design! My Mark! My pets played their parts all the while gathering strength for me through their followers,” a touch of softness came to her eyes as she continued; “I loved you like I never loved any other mortal. You were my sister, my blood, and yet you thought to kill me when you saw me marked,” her tone becoming condescending, “In truth, I had stopped to speak with my high priest. Then you came over in your delirium and thought we were under attack and so you struck. How great your ‘love’ must have been for me considering how little you thought about your actions before striking me down!” Meryth spat at me. Her eyes were hard once more and her lips curled as she continued to go one with the list of wrong doings I hadn’t known I had done.

“And then, not a year later after  I released you from Hell! I who loved you! I whom you fought for in the Heavens and lead the Holy Host into battle against me and mine! I who won by trampling your angels under my feet! I who bound you for eternity! I who couldn’t bear to see you suffer so, though you have given me so much grief, let you go!” Meryth said with such malice even I was confused as to why she loved me so and how it was I was standing there. I would have thought she was done, but she had a more to add.

“Despite my kindness, what did you do in return?” she paused for a moment, her eyes daring me to answer. I had suspected my being there, fighting against the mark, would have been the answer, but I was wrong. “In the moment when I was to finally be joined with my pets,” she continued, “when victory was so close, YOU RUINED THE RITUAL!!!” Meryth shrieked, “You could have destroyed me! I still bear the scars of that day and will never go unmarred because of you!” she then gestured to her face.

I held my tongue. I was numb inside. How ugly the truth was. My sister was behind the mark from the beginning. How? How was it I thought my sister so innocent? How was it a 12 year old was so dark and I not realize it? Why couldn’t I remember any of that? How was I so blind to all that around me? Was this a trick?  I was freed from Hell? I lead the Holy Host? Why am I still alive!? All those questions bombarded my mind as I stood confused in my own skin. And that was just it. What was there to do? I had no way of verifying if what she was saying was true, though what she said felt truthful. And was her love for me really that strong that she would just let me get away with all the grief I’ve caused her? I suppose as I looked at her still holding the dagger that she was finally ready to go through with killing me. In that  moment, I felt ready to die for my soul felt ripped open with the guilt, anger, sorrow, and fear there.

With no proof of who was right, I decided I wouldn’t argue the facts, but rather be honest with how I felt. I was certain the words I was about to speak would be my last.

“Meryth, I suppose you and I have very different views. I want a life where there is just rule. Where people are free to choose for themselves. Those were the ideals I remember Heironious to be all about. And now to see you forcing your power upon the people, 'buying' your followers to become stronger? Toying with the emotions of two Gods? I'm sorry. You are not the person I thought you were and I will be honest, I can't support you. I will not fight you for I still love you and will always think of you as my little sister, but I cannot follow you for it feels against what I stand for.” I then waited as she appraised me. Once more a softness fell over her. She looked at me, a sense of longing in her eyes as she considered my words and what she would do.

“Would you kill me now if you had the chance?” She asked simply. No malice. No begging. “This dagger has the power to do just that,” she informed me. She then held it out to me. Something about her looked as though she was ready to die, yet an innocence about her that seemed she wanted to be with me while deep in her eyes I could see her hunger to rule the universe fighting for control.

But here it was, her offering me another chance to kill her! How could she offer me such a cruel choice. Did she not hear the sincerity of my grief when I apologized for nearly killing her? Yet… what if she was pleading for me to set her free from whatever cruel thing that had consumed the good in her? If I refused, I’m surely dead, let alone she will continue about her dark works which wouldn’t be good for the welfare of this world and others. If I kill her, once more I’d have her blood on my hands, but she would be free and an important piece in whatever was happening would be eliminated... right?

I knew what I had to do and the obligation to uphold my morals weighed heavily in my mind as I committed to the choice. I almost unconsciously reached out and took the dagger. I looked at Meryth just standing there, stoic like I never could be. The tears flowed from my eyes and though my hand shook and my vision was blurred, I stepped toward Meryth and stabbed her. She clutched at my shoulders, her face mingled with pain and anger. I let out a sob as I watched her life begin to leave her. Feeling her body grow limp I knelt down and carefully laid her in my lap. I looked her in the eyes and watched my sister transform back into her 12 year old self. She gave me that warm smile I loved so much. How could she smile at me?

“Araja,” her sweet voice called to me. I carefully cradled her and looked at her through my tears, “This won’t stop them… they fear the Sangrail,” she managed to get out before she became more faint. With what little strength Meryth had left, I watched her mouth ‘thank you’ as the last breathes of life escaped her lungs. I hugged her close to me, sobbing into her hair and wishing I had more time with her. I could only hope she was now free, but she was also gone once more with no Exaltation. Just her lifeless body in my arms, lost in the middle of nowhere. And as I sat with her, my body racked in sobs, how alone I felt. I suppose I should have been grateful that no false comfort was being given to me, but the pain was too much for me to bear alone.

Then I recalled asong that I remembered singing to Meryth to comfort her when we lived our first lives. But as I sang it in my head, the words felt like lies and carried no comfort:

Darlin' dry those tears running down your face

You know I'll never let you go.

All this darkness cannot kill your light.

I remember how you never want to be alone

Just hold my hand, I'll be your shield tonight

Never ever look outside our window

Else you'll see this world's on fire

The war of who is right keeps raging on

Hold on to your lullaby

And I'll never be gone

Please rest your eyes

No need to make a sound

You’re safe tonight

Nothing can harm you now

By dawn’s first light

You and I'll be safe and sound

I wish I could have made the song stop, but the haunting words kept replaying in my head as I held my sister. The words pierced me as I sat there seeing how I had failed her.

There is so much to still digest from this night, but I am in mourning and honestly don’t know when I’ll be able to carefully ponder these words again without completely losing it. Did I really do the right thing for my sister tonight? When will this pain end? I can only hope my party finds me soon, though I know there will be no any sympathy or comfort there. However it might be wise to have Isaac speak with my sister’s soul. By doing so, maybe she’ll be able to tell me what happened to her and maybe more about what Their plans are... I dunno. It could very well be too painful.
Oh, and one final note. That dagger I used to kill Meryth with; strong magic- healing. How did I kill my sister with a dagger that heals?

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Day 79: A Giant of a Problem pt. 1

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Baer 18th, 4288:  79 Days in the mortal realm

And here I wait in a tree, hoping my party will find me. How might I have ended up in a tree by myself you might ask? I suppose having wings would make it seem obvious, but it was rather an unfortunate accident that lead me to sit tight as I wonder where my companions are.

The morning had started off fairly calm and uneventful. I was rested and in quite a good mood. The fortress continued to travel and it appeared as though we were traveling over water. It took a good portion of the day before we recognized land under us. We stopped the contraption, figuring it’d be a good idea to see our where abouts with the Marauders map. Before taking us back into the mortal realm, Isaac melded the fortress into the ground once more to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. Once the controls were left, Isaac poked another button to which the controls compacted into a small cube that could fit into Isaac's pocket.

We were then transported to the mortal realm. Out of the haze of the Ethereal plain we could see clearly it was night. The sounds that accompanied the night were haunting. Yowls, growls, hissing and snarling. The jungle we were in was very much wild. We quickly went back into the Ethereal plains to avoid any immediate danger. We waited the night out, I catching a nap before we entered the mortal realm once more.

The sky was beginning to glow with the red and oranges of a beautiful sunrise. Isaac pulled the marauders map out to see our location. We were on the south part of the continent, just north of an island I didn’t recall ever seeing in my mortal life. We ended up having to continue in the mortal plain. The gloves Isaac had was what he used to take us in and out of the Ethereal plains. However their magic had fizzled out, or so he said. At least we'd be able to follow our progress on the marauder's map without overstepping my home town. Traveling via Ethereal proved to be a very fast way to cross the world and now it was going to take an extra month to travel the last little bit to Rehm. There was a moment that I worried the fearsome creatures we heard last night would hinder us, but then I recalled that the fortress was equipped with a force field and that soothed my worries some.

Isaac then informed us of two more things. The creatures we heard last night, he was able to see their aura’s, meaning they’re all magical. He also needed a couple of hours to meditate. I would have volunteered to steer, but I didn’t trust myself to navigate the fortress. Rekka was the only one daring enough to attempt steering the contraption. She was nervous herself, but she managed the controls quite well and without crashing us into a mountain or whatever it was Isaac crashed us into on his first try. This is said also considering the large birds that attacked the fortress on occasion.

Seeing Rekka had everything under control I went over to Raæin. There was some kind of nostalgia wanting to set in knowing the land was once my home, despite how different it looked. As I stood with Raæin I wondered once more about his memories. Maybe something about the land would trig them. So I ventured to ask.

“Raæin, this may be a dumb question, if not tediously annoying, but by chance does this land remind you of anything? Any past memories remembered?” Raæin pondered for a moment. He then shook his head slowly.

“No. I’m afraid not Araja,” he said, his voice forlorn.

I went to the top of one of the buildings in the fortress to observe our travels.It appeared the further North we traveled from the island, the less aggressive the animals became- at least the less attacks we encountered on the fortress by those bird like creatures.

While we traveled I pondered about Rehm. I was curious if we’d find it or if answers would come of it. As I thought about it, part of me worried this would be a pointless trip.

At one point in our travels through the jungle, Jessica pointed out a clearing of trees that were all broken down. We regrouped to spectate the uncertain scene. Rekka steered the fortress towards it to see if we could spot anything distinct. As we got closer, Raæin suddenly said, “There’s a giant laying there.” Rekka immediately began to maneuver the fortress away. We all could see the giant after Raæin pointed it out and unfortunately for us, the giant spotted us too.

The giant stood up in one continuous motion. Now, when I say giant, I really mean giant! That sounds funny I'm sure, but this was by far the largest giant I had ever seen! He must have been at least 40 feet tall! As I watched him, I felt the fortress jerk forward. I looked to Rekka and saw her, with Cortanna, struggling to steer the fortress. We were moving faster than I thought possible for the fortress. The giant was long behind us when my senses finally regained. Despite our lead in fleeing from the giant, a thumping sound could be heard and soon the giant was within sight. He was shouting something, but I couldn’t understand him.

“Let me speak to him,” Jessica called out, “maybe he knows a thing or two about this place and he could be of use.” Or maybe he’ll eat us, I thought. However Rekka stopped the fortress and soon the giant was leering at our contraption with much confusion. He appeared harmless and kept speaking some kind of gibberish. Jessica began to chat with him.

“Wow, he thinks we’re baby giants,” Jessica relayed to us. Jessica kept talking with him and from their body language, it would seem Jessica was getting no where and the giant wasn’t comprehending a thing.

“Jessica, how old is the giant,” I asked her. I can only assume Jessica relayed what I asked to the giant. He squinted his eye, seeming deep in thought, before reaching over and uprooting a tree. He snapped it in half and after a moment of careful studying points to a ring out of the hundreds of rings in the tree. Jessica looked intently and I could see she was counting fervently.

“Well over 470 years old,” she announced after several minutes. I was hopeful. If he was that old, then he had to know something about Rehm! As I got ready to tell Jessica to ask him about my home town, the giant puts the tree back together, mends it, and replants it in the ground. He then walks off.

“Where’d he go?” I asked.

“Beats me,” Jessica answered. Luckily the giant returned a moment later. Upon his return, I could see in his hand a current of water as though he had picked up a river! It flowed up and through his grip, though clearly he was hanging on to it.

“What’s he doing with that?” Isaac asked.

“Oh! He had mentioned that us ‘babies’ needed to drink water,” Jessica informed us.

“Well tell him we’re just fine,” Isaac said. Jessica began to speak with the giant but it was obvious she wasn’t making progress with him still. Isaac joined in waving his hands and trying to tell the giant that none of us needed the water. Despite his attempts, the giant then poured the river onto the fortress. We watched as the water hit and tumbled around the force field. It was rather pretty actually. Something I would have enjoyed just watching while drifting to sleep.

The giant was perplexed by what happened with the water. He pulled the river back and carefully placed it back down on the jungle floor.

“Jessica, try asking if he knows of the town Rehm,” I finally told the bar wench. Jessica talked to the giant again. Still her attempts of communicating weren’t getting through to the giant. His large hands reach out for us and grabbed onto the force field surrounding the fortress. His eye showed how very intrigued he was by us and it didn’t look like he was about to let us go.

The fortress then launched away from the giant, well rather attempts to.

“Hang on!” Rekka called out. She and Cortanna once more were working together to try and steer the fortress. With us still in the grips of the giant and Rekka trying to put more force into our fight to break free, I took to flying to avoid being jostled around on the floor of the fortress.

I remember a crashing and sucking sound ringing in my ears and the next thing I could recall was feeling like I was being pulled through a vacuum by a great surge of air. Once I collected my where abouts I realized I was a couple hundred feet from the giant. I flew as fast as I could back toward my party. I was nearly there when suddenly the fortress disappeared from the giant’s hands.

Quickly I halted and changed my course of flight. I was about the same level as the giant’s shoulders when this happened. I figured I would be better off flying straight up to get out of reach of him, but the giant looked around, seeming confused by the sudden lose of my party, and spotted my frantic attempts to get away from him. Before I knew it, I was caught in his large hand. He was gentle enough to not grab me too tight, but I knew I was trapped. I thought about stabbing him with my halberd, but I figured being nice would be best for that situation...

As the giant brought me right in front of his face I began to tremble and cry. If I was to die by being eaten by a giant, that was truly terrifying. Being eaten seemed so... awful... and being completely separated from my party, the thought of dying alone was equally scary.

The giant talked to me for a moment and through my hysteria, he did seem gentle enough. He had a grin on his face, but maybe it was a grin of ‘I just caught me some lunch.’ I don’t know, and I suppose I’ll never know. He then placed me in a bag. Once freed from his grasp I casted some lights and could see berries and other vegetation surrounding me.

Scared out of my wits and desperate to make an escape, I prodded the edge of what felt like a leather bag but had no success in piercing it. I was more hysterical than I thought, for my attempts to cut the bag open were feeble. I sat down and hugged my knees and cried some more, all the while trying to calm down.

I’m not sure how long I cried for, but I knew the giant was still walking somewhere. Once I could feel my sanity about me, and after taking a moment to be thankful that I was still alive, I stood up and swung with my halberd 3 times at the leather wall. I bit of hope returned to me as a good sized tear formed in the bag. I poked my head out of it to see where we were heading.

The first thing I noticed was the trees moving out of the giants way, like a cat or dog that would get out of ones way when walking through or toward them. Then there were the animals that followed suit. From what I could see there were other Unicorns, Dryads, Giant Eagle and various small Fey creatures I couldn’t make out.

I looked off into the distance the giant was walking in and could see a mountain. The direction was more west from where my party and I were headed, so without further delay I hopped out of the bag. I fell a couple of feet before catching myself with my wings. I then silently glided to a large tree and made myself comfortable on a large branch near the top.

The giant continued on his way, unaware of my departure. The animals in the jungle continued about their own business, none taking notice of me. I did camouflage myself as a safety measure for I haven’t a clue how long I’ll be waiting here. But here’s hoping my party will find me shortly.

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Day 78: The Ethereal Plains pt. 2: What a Nice Bunch of Drow

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From what I could tell inside the luggage, it was dark, I didn’t have to breathe, and ever so often I would feel something brush up against me. I couldn’t tell how long I had been in there, but I was very much angry with Isaac for having placed me in the luggage. Who was to say how long I’d be in there. Thankfully I was let out at some length of time. I felt the velvety tongue wrap around me once more and the sense of being swept up. The firm ground soon was felt under my feet and the first thing I registered in my line of sight was Isaac.

“You!” I shouted and tried to swing at him. Being disoriented still, I took too shallow of a step and I missed Isaac. I then grew my wings and flew up a few feet ready to curse at Isaac a little for trapping me against my will when I heard something from behind. I turn around and see a swarm of people coming toward us on Hippogriffs.

“Who are they?” I asked, feeling alarmed.

“Some Asterial Drow,” Jessica responded.

As the Drow approached us they called out warmly to us. They were perplexed by our presence in the Ethereal plains. They stated that they traveled in a well barricaded fortress, pointing in the direction they came from. Compared to them, we were exposed and looking like ‘fresh fruit’ ready for the picking. I looked to Isaac upon hearing how the Ethereal plain was very dangerous.

“Where have you taken us Isaac!?” and “You took us to a dangerous place!?” Rekka and I spoke simultaneously. Isaac seemed to ignore us, pulling out a book and began to browse through it. Rekka and I looked at each other, both of equally miffed by Isaac’s indifference to our concern.

“So, anything strange happen here lately?” Rekka asked.

“You guys are pretty strange,” one of the Drow said, “Other than that, we’re just trying to get past the dragon lands.”

“There’s Dragons here?” Cortanna blurted out. The Drow just gave her a confused look. I kept my mouth shut. I too was very unaware of the creatures that lived in the Ethereal plain. The Drow found our uninformed selves humoring.

“Well, how about you come travel with-” one of the Drow began to say before being cut off. A flare lit in the sky in the shape of a dragon. The Drow looked to us, “Come with us if you want to live!” the stated.

Isaac then put down his book.

“Why?” he asked.

“Dragon!” was the response he got. We all took off running. Raæin was gracious enough to let me ride him and Isaac casted haste on the group. The Asterial Drow encircled us, protecting us from the on coming dragon. I could see it dragon in the distance. The dragon sent out a beam of ice at the fortress. A force field of some sort protected the fortress from the attack. Now the question I had to wonder was would we make it there before the dragon saw us?

The dragon attacked a few more times before it finally penetrated the force field. As it swung back around to enter into the fortress, it then took notice of our group. Immediately it swooped down and landed in front of us. The giant beast was so alarming and frightening that we came to a halt instantly. I could see it’s silvery color and immediately something in my mind told me that something was wrong about what was happening. I mean in the sense that my first assumptions of the situation were wrong.

The dragon then let out a mighty roar and said something that sent the Asterial Drows scattering in all directions to get away. They were clearly terrified of the dragon and for good reason too.The Drow seemed like they would be defenders for us, but their conviction was very feeble once face to face with the good aligned dragon. The beast took no second look at us and took off after the Drow and their fortress.

“Huh,” Isaac said, “Apparently the dragon just saved us.” I had figured as much. Still, we waited a moment longer for Isaac to explain, “Oh. Um, it sounds like these Asterial Drows are slave traders.”

We didn’t take a second to discuss our next course of action. If they were attempting to trick us, then we’d defend the dragon that saved us. Cortanna had her weapon handle out and took off running toward the fortress. Raæin and I soon followed. There was something quite exhilarating about riding into battle on Raæin. Once in the fortress I flew off him and charged into a Drow, killing him. The chaos was intense as the Drow focused on the dragon in the middle of their fort. I went from building to building killing Drow while Raæin focused on the ones on the ground. I got really worried at one point when I noticed the dragon becoming bloodied. Then a fog appeared around the dragon and I renewed my focus to continue to take out the other Drow since the fog would help protect the beast.

I enjoyed tossing a few of my fireball spheres at swarms of Drow. Later I saw Isaac take out two mages that were unaffected by my fireball attacks. Suddenly the dragon sprayed a cone of ice at a group of Drow before attacking with his claws another group. Pretty soon the fight that was going on in the fortress was over. The fog left, hippogriffs and Asterial Drow bodies littered the fortress, and the dragon healed right before our eyes. Once healed he made himself comfortable and began to eat the Drow.

“Oh how I hate these slave traders!” the Dragon said between bites, “Always going around ‘helping’ those traveling in the Ethereal Plains. Granted, they are right about it not being the safest form of travel, I assume they told you that correct?” The dragon asked us. We nodded, “Well then, where are you folks headed to?” We explain that we are trying to go to my home continent, “You plan on using the Ethereal Plain the whole way? That is quite the risk you are taking. Besides, what are you planning on finding there?”

There was some silence. Would explaining our situation really matter to the dragon?

“Does the name Pendral ring a bell to you?” Rekka asked. The dragon’s eyes narrow on her.

“This Pendral and another name, Lupik, have been mentioned around here in association to stealing our eggs,” the dragon said menacingly, “And these slave traders assist them in this work and all I can say is us Gold and Silver dragons are furious about all of this!”

“We can tell you Pendral is dead, but Lupik in fact is another person we are going after. He’s in power still and is creating an army of werewolves,” Isaac said.

“Aw yes, I recall hearing about the increase in werewolves. But worst yet, that which is most maddening, is hearing about how our young are being corrupted! Is that something you’ve heard of?” the dragon asked. I wondered if the dragon we killed back at Podunk happened to be one of their young...

“Hey Araja, wasn’t Raæin being corrupted when we found him?” Rekka asked me before I could ponder further on the dragon. The silver dragon, seeing Rekka pointing at Raæin, let out a mighty roar. It was so loud, I could feel my head rattle a bit. The sky over head darken and it felt as though I was about to black out, but just then other dragons began to appear. They were silver and gold in color. They stayed above and continued to circle about us.

“We will go and investigate this Lupik,” the siliver dragon said decidedly, “If he is truly doing what we’ve just discussed, then he will no longer be,” the dragon declared. A sense of relief rushes through me. That would be one less person to deal with if they are able to find evidence. Let alone the sheer number of dragons was astounding. These mature creatures were more than capable of taking out Lupik if it came to that.

“Is there anything else you’ve heard about Lupik!?” Isaac called out, shouting over the sound of wings.

“No. Just that he’s behind taking our young,” the silver dragon said. He then took off to the sky. We watched the horde of dragons follow him. A portal opens up and soon all the dragons are no longer visible. As they disappeared, I suddenly had a sinking feeling. Would they be capable of just taking Lupik out? Or did we suddenly send an army of dragons to slaughter a nation for the crimes of one man?

It was then eerily quiet. Isaac the luggage to collect the bodies. While the luggage did that, Isaac then went to a control panel on the building he was on.

“Looks like I found what operates this contraption,” Isaac said. He hunched over it and the memory of him tinkering with the controls for the Plainer Portal came to mind.

With the worry that came to mind as the dragons disappeared, I knew I had to busy myself to not continue to fret about it. I felt my stomach grumble then. I was reminded that I had to find sustenance now that I was without my rations. I went off exploring the place since it looked like it was meant to accommodate a large number of people. I was bound to find food right?

Sure enough there was a large cupboard like area that was stocked with food. Fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, drinks. The food was plentiful, so I grabbed some things I could readily eat at the moment. Part of me wondered how long the fresh food would last.

“Hey Raæin,” I said between bites of an apple, “How long was I in the luggage?” Raæin thought for a moment.

“Roughly 8 hours.”

“What!” I exclaimed. I had lost 8 hours of this day! I then hurried back out to the main floor of the fortress to look at the sky. The sky was dark, which I hadn’t noticed much considering the way the Ethereal Plain looked made everything a hazy glow. Right when I was beginning to accept that it was late enough for 8 hours to have passed, the whole fortress jerked. The buildings all around began to slide into the ground. Raæin thankfully had followed me out.

Soon Isaac, Cortanna, Rekka and Jessica were on the same ground as me and Raæin, the fortress completely melding into the ground. All that was left was the control panel in front of Isaac. I was disappointed for a moment that he lost the fortress, though I was thankful I had at least grabbed some food to eat. Just as I accepted the loss of the fortress, the ground began to rumble and soon the buildings of the fortress began to rise again. In no time everything of the fortress was back. Then before I could feel secure about the fortress staying, I felt it rumble and lift up. I was impressed that it could float. Then it began to move really fast! I kept my balance, but no sooner had I gained my feet under me, we crashed. I still had my wings out and so was able to brace myself in the air.

“Isaac!” I heard Rekka shout before continuing to yell in some language that sounded like halfling. I went to her aid since the crash had made her fall off the building she was on. Isaac continued to tinker about, unconcerned with our welfare. I let Rekka go brood and I decided that I might as well get a full meal in me before Isaac really destroyed the place.

Once I was done eating, I went back out to the group to see Isaac away from the controls.

“Find anything interesting?” he called out to me.

“Just the kitchen,” I responded.

“Well then, we were musing over if we should go help the dragon’s or continue on to your home town,” Isaac explained.

“The dragon’s, I’m sure, are more than capable of handling Lupik on their own. I think we should stick to the plan and see what answers can be found in Rehm,” I responded. Then with no further discussion Isaac went back to the controls and presses a button. The fortress once more lifted up and begins to move once more. I hugged the floor as I feel it pick up speed. I looked to Isaac and could see he looked more sure of himself this time, but I didn’t trust him enough to stand up yet. It took about five minuts before I got to my feet, feeling Isaac truly had a clue now about how to fly the fortress.

We still had a long ways to go, but what else could be done while we traveled? Journaling for me and I suppose organizing my gear... Raæin laid next to my bed on a make-shift nest of excess beds and blankets that were not being used by the masses. Seeing we were alone, I decided to let him in on information I had told Isaac a few weeks ago.

“Raæin?” I asked. He opens an eye and looks at me, “I don’t know when, but I plan on... ‘praying’ to Heironious at some point. I had planned on breaking from the group if we had continued through the woods to Lupik, to do this but now we’re off to a place that is rumored dangerous. I also suspect...” I stopped. I didn’t want to worry Raæin with my suspicion that this would very well be a suicide mission but then again, if I didn’t come back, someone best know, “I might not return from  inquiring after him. Now I don’t mean to tell you this to worry you, but don’t try to talk me out of it for I must do this else I’ll be burden with this confusion that is in me, unsure as to what I want to believe,” I said, possibly sounding a little rude. Raæin was kind in listening and seemed to follow everything I said.

“Araja,” his warm voice began, “I will not hold you back from finding your answers. Good luck and may the odds be in your favor.”

I smiled at my friend. Raæin continues to instill in me a sense of confidence. Granted, I know my desire to seek out Heironious could very well be a bad idea, but the fact is he lets me think for myself and doesn’t point out all the flaws or problems that I already know exist. 

So with the excess time I have, I’ll be pondering what exactly I want to say to Heironious. What is it I truly want to know? I suppose if anything, part of me hopes that the whole Heironious and Erythnul working together and my sister or Malfeiya’s involvement is just one huge misunderstanding.

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Day 78: The Ethereal Plains pt. 1

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Baer 17th, 4288:  78 Days in the mortal realm

A few days after arriving back in Hommlet and helping them rebuild, I figured it was time to try and hand over my wealth. I disguised as my blonde elf because I figured it might be better if I talked to Burne, Rufus, and Jaroo about the generous donation I was about to make. I got them together and pulled out my notes, explaining what their use was to be for. They looked at me and seemed somewhat thrilled by the donation, but they did make one crucial note; if they could find the wealth, it’d be appreciated.

Later I returned to my normal disguise and continued about working. By the way, in those first few days, the town was really coming together. Burne’s and Rufus’s tower was nearly rebuilt, considering how the destruction of the temple had destroyed what they had rebuilt when my party and I first arrived in Hommlet. I attributed the surge in rebuilding to the magic of the lyre Barrok had given me.

After those first few days. the rebuilding the rest of the week came about at a more normal rate for the number of people who were there and available to work. Once the new week started Jessica attempted the Lyre again but unfortunately wasn’t able to play more than an hour. At least for the day there was a surge in productiveness.
Also, during our time in Hommlet, Rekka gave Raæin a circlet that was just like mine. Apparently she had got it as a gift for Brier so she could communicate with us more easily, but with the sudden disappearance of the beast, she thought Raæin might like it. He accepted the gift, though I don't know if he'd ever use it.

Now as for today, a lot has happened. Gideon, Isaac and Cortanna returned a lot sooner than I thought they would. Cortanna went to get her hide dealt with while Isaac informed us that the ruins were a volcano. Apparently the volcano was linked to the temple we just destroyed. Isaac said that it was becoming active and destroying the ruins. For all he knew, it could very well erupt any day and destroy the town. Rekka, Jessica, and I looked at him dumbfounded. All our hard work and now it was to be destroyed again! I told him he best march up to Jaroo and tell him everything and see if he could possibly prevent the eruption since he was a druid. Isaac quickly went off and did that.

I kept myself busy by helping some of the folk assemble a building. As I went and gathered more wood, I caught sight of Jaroo and a bunch of other druids leaving a while later. They all seemed grim. How I hoped they could prevent the volcano from erupting.

Isaac gathered us all together to discuss where to go. Cortanna said it wouldn’t be until morning before her things would be ready. Not knowing how much time we had before the volcano’s destructive forces would be unleashed, Cortanna decided to pick her armor and shield up the next time we came across Barrok.

Gideon informed us that he was going to stay behind in Hommlet to help out. We said our goodbyes right as we felt the earth shake beneath our feet. We looked to each other and knew we needed to get moving. I couldn’t help but pity the folk we were about to leave behind. May Jaroo and those other druids that went with him find success in taming that volcano.

Isaac then took us into the Ethereal plains. I had never experienced that plain before. I could see parts of the mortal realm but it was all wispy. Isaac said it was a faster way to travel. Considering we had to travel to the other side of the continent, the Ethereal plain would definitely save us time.

There was excitement and apprehensiveness knowing we were headed to my home land, my home town. Was it to be as wild as the Clerics at Sardik suggested it being or would I find familiar sights. Would my home still be there?

As we traveled Rekka spotted some beings that I recognized as Yuan’ti. I had heard tales of them and they were in the books I had read in the Kingdom. They had captives and knowing how vile those creatures were, I had no qualms in attacking them. Cortanna oddly enough suggested killing the captives since they could very well be evil. I told her until the captive prove themselves as evil, there was no evidence against them. However the Yuan’ti were preparing them for sacrifice and had to be stopped.

Raæin and I charged in without much hesitation. The ten Yuan’ti present were little trouble for our group. In the heat of the fight, one of the surviving snake like folk grabbed one of the captives and killed her. He then grabbed another and threatened to kill him if we didn’t back off. As much as I didn’t want another soul to die, I wasn’t about to back down. I gave Raæin a look and subtly jerked my head toward the Yuan’ti. The Unicorn, in a graceful bound, leapt toward the Yuan’ti and gored him. The snake like folk was dead before he could react and the captive made it away safely.

Shrieks of pain rent the air suddenly. I clasped my hands over my ears. I looked around a moment later and found over two dozen dead Yuan’ti sprawled about around me and those of us in the encampment. Isaac had seen the invisible folk and used a spell that killed them all instantly. I was impressed with Isaac’s strength.

We freed the captives from their shackles and went back to the mortal plain. We found we were in the mountains to the west of Podunk. We informed the group (who happened to be a traveling circus) that the mountains had Goblins in them that were friendly. Some of the members were less than thrilled to be in Goblin territory even though we assured them that they were friendly.

Seeing how destitute the performers were, I offered my Dwarven ring of sustenance to the group. I forgot to mention the flavor that came with the ring and the half elf that put it on quickly found out. He wasn’t thrilled by it, stating it tasted like Dwarf. The Orc then took it and seemed to find it very enjoyable. I then gave them the rest of my rations, expressing to my party a stop at a town would be needed since I was then out of food. I also noted how I ought to invest in a ring of sustenance that had no aftertaste of mead. Isaac also handed over 2 other Dwarven rings of sustenance before we bid them farewell.

It was about 1pm in the afternoon. After walking a good distance from the performers we discussed briefly whether we should make camp. A very interesting predicament suddenly came to mind. Everyone, except Raæin and myself, needed at most 2 hours of sleep. Would everyone just wait around while Raæin and I slept our full 8 hours or was there a way we could travel so each of us were able to get our full rest without holding the group back?

Isaac summoned his luggage and asked it to make a bed. The luggage opened it’s mouth. I looked in and the creature had a very comfortable looking bed in it’s depths. I asked if he would keep his mouth open the whole time? You see, the thought was the luggage would carry me while I slept so the party could progress, but I worried I'd suffocate if the creature closed it's mouth. Isaac said it could keep its mouth open. Suddenly I was nervous that somehow Isaac was trying to trick me. Then, sounding exasperated, Isaac told the luggage to put me away. The velvet tongue of the luggage shot out at me. I was able to dodge it, but the velvety appendage got me on the way back, my scream of ‘Isaac’ being nothing more than a squeak as darkness consumed me.

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