Disciples to the Forgotten

[thewhiteone]

Yasaedra nodded and rose, retrieving her sword from the celestial guard.

"Well if you hear anything, I would appreciate the information."

She walked with them, remaining nude as the holy water shimmered on her black skin. Opportunities to walk nude in public where others did as well were far to rare on the Material Plane.

Once they rejoined the others, she thanked the celestials for their protection, then hugged her celestial friend, kissing him on the cheek, promising to visit again, hopefully under better circumstances.

Yasaedra activated the ring and her clothing reappeared on her.

With the others clearly ready to leave, she sent a prayer to her beloved goddess, informing her of their impending arrival, then she cast the spell.

Arvardor, home of the gods and goddesses of the elves, home of the Dancing Maiden. Yasaedra was at her spiritual home once more.

 

[cats]

Agnimita

IC: The trio looked around. "So this is where you plan to go when you die?" Agnimita began, "it looks nice. A bit heavy on trees for a human like me, but nice."

Regalid looked at her. "If you weren't my sister I'd probably think your crazzy, you know that?"

 

[thewhiteone]

Yasaedra felt at peace as the scents and sounds of the perfect forest in eternal moon lit night washed over her. This was only her second time on Arvador, specifically Eilistraee's domain with in the plane. The last time being her ascension to sainthood, presided over by Eilistraee herself.

The drow priestess lost herself in the memories of her last visit, the glory of her goddess, her beauty, her wisdom, the kiss upon her forehead that bestowed the power of good on her. The other members of the Seldarine, the Elvish Pantheon, were there, as well as aspects and avatars of other deities of good, for those worth of the power and responsibilities of sainthood were rare and required the blessing of many to be accepted into such a noble few.

She became aware of the presence of another moments before the woman spoke.

"Welcome back, Saint Yasaedra," the woman's sweet melodious voice spoke clearly. She was a beautiful drow with red eyes and long flowing white hair down to her ankles. She stood nude, as Eilistraee and all who served her here did, the silvery moon light adding to her radiant beauty.

 

[cats]

Agnimita

IC: Agnimita and her brother turned to face the nude drow and there was a brief pause from the two fallowed by a smile on regalids face. "You must be tired," Regalid began "because..."

"So help me regalid if you finish that sentence you will regret it heaven or not!" Agnimita cut in.

 

[thewhiteone]

Both drow shared a smile at siblings' antics.

"I am not tired, young Retriever, quite the opposite," she smiled softly at the human.

Yasaedra activated her ring, and once again was nude save for her holy symbol and jewelry. She approached the drow and hugged her tightly.

"You look beautifuler than I remember Great-Grandmother..."

"Flatterer," the woman smiled as she held her youngest descendant.

Upon closer examination, the two humans could see faint signs of age on the beautiful drow.

"Come, you are expected," the elder drow spoke as she reluctantly released her great-granddaughter, brushing a stray hair from the girl's face before turning and leading them.

"Of course Great-Grandmother... Yasaedra looked back at the two humans, her smile grew to a grin as Regalid's face still frozen with the realization that he was hitting on her ancestor.

"Come now Regalid, did you not think someone dear to me would not be here to greet us in paradise?" she turned, still grinning and followed her deceased ancestor.

((OCC: She uses the elvish title for Great-Grandmother))

 

[cats]

Regalid

IC: Absent mindedly Regalid leans in close to his sister and wispers at her. "Thanks for stoping me, incest has always been creepy."

The pair fallowed quietly behind the drow. Regalid put the book bag in his hand eager to hand off the manuscript.

 

[thewhiteone]

Elven ears were sensitive. Yasaedra glanced back over her shoulder with a look that said 'Where did that come from?' She and Great-Grandmother Vialzdra had never so much as kissed, and had no intention of doing so.

As the walked, more people came into view, most were drow, a fair number of elves and eladrin celestials, plus a smattering of other races...most were nude except for jewelry and weapon sheaths. Those that weren't nude had ornate elvish armor on. Most nodded respectfully or approached and welcomed them, especially the drow saint.

Yasaedra returned their respects and thanked them for the welcome as she fallowed her ancestor, pausing only once to sweep a younger looking drow into her arms and kiss her passionately before reluctantly releasing her, sorrow and longing clearly written on both faces.

Sinaldri had been Yasaedra's first love, taken from her when they were both merely 32.

A few minutes after this, they reached their destination, a moon lit glade infront of a cave.

 

[cats]

Eilistraee

OOC: Ah the joys of reading half asleep. My mistake, again.

IC: The dark maiden stepped out of the cave. "Welcome child." She smiled warmly at her favorite servant. "I regret that time is short."

She walked forward and took Dark Maiden's Light from its sheeth. She smiled at her other favorite servant.

"Agnimita, I will send you and your brother to the safety of your home, and Yasaedra back to the guilds academy. I believe you promised to pay her."

Agnimita smiled but kept her eyes on the goddess, she seemed unerved by the gods ability to know more about what was happening then she herself knew. "Yes, I did... Thank you for your help."

Eilistraee looked at the finely crafted blade. "A tough decision lies before you." She turned to Yasaedra and handed DML back with a smile.

Agnimita gave a funny look to the drow goddess. She then handed a bag of gems to Yasaedra. Yasaedra would not notice it yet, but inside the bag next all the gems was a single unique gold coin, a clue that would help her later with the book.

"And Regalid, please hand me the book." Eilistraee spoke softly.

Regalid wiped some sweat from his brow. "I'll just leave you with this bag. The book is very heavy with out it."

"Yes, I expected as much." Eilistraee looked at him deeply but warmly. "Will you be needing a replacement bag?"

"No I have many of them back in the city of union."

"Then it is time for you two to be home. I must speak with Yasaedra."

The pair waved goodbye to their companion. Then a moment later They faded from this realm and returned to the safety of there homes.

"Yasaedra, I am saddened to tell you Vanya is now in my fathers domain. She will not grace the mortal realm again."

 

[thewhiteone]

((OCC: at least you finished your post and didn't stop half way through, thinking you had done it all like I did last time.))

The glory goddess washed over Yasaedra, her smile filling her with joy. She surrendered Dark Maiden's Light to the glorious woman she was named for. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she and her companion stood high in their Lady's favor, graced by her presence once more, secure in the knowledge that she loved them. There was nothing she could equate that feeling to.

"My Lady," spoke in a soft reverent voice, kneeling before the salvation of the drow.

She graciously accepted her companion back into her care once their goddess had finished admiring the sword that was both sharp in mind and in body.

"It was my pleasure Agnimata, I am just happy we were able to find him unharmed. This book an unexpected boon. " she smiled at the unnerved woman. Yasaedra accepted the bag of gems and coins, having already accepted the staff.

She bid them both farewell and wished them safety before the left, then gave her beloved goddess her full undivided attention.

"What is it you wish of your servant My Lady?"

"Yasaedra, I am saddened to tell you Vanya is now in my fathers domain. She will not grace the mortal realm again."

These words hit her like a blow to the face leaving her stunned, her mind trying to deny what it had been told. But Eilistraee would not lie. The blow to the face was followed by a knife to the heart.

First Sinaldri...now Vanya...

Tears began to flow as grief wracked her heart.

"When? Why?...Did she suffer?" her voiced cracked.

 

[cats]

Eilistraee

IC: "While you were away the academy was attacked. Your fortunate to of been away. Only the strongest and luckiest of your peers remain there now."

She hugged Yasa. "Do not worry about your love. She is with my father now, and any and all suffering she had in the mortal plane is wiped from her soul. I can only imagine she has one regret... She is with out you for now, but that regret shall fade too. You will see her again."

Eilistraee let her embrace go and took a step back. "That battle ended 4 hours ago, but the attackers are swift. Allies wait for you at the academy, some familiar with you and some to be familiar with you."

 

[thewhiteone]

She melted into her goddess's embrace, burying her face into her shoulder as she wept for her lost love.

Vanya, the quiet elven beauty that knew how to make her heart sing with but a simple smile, the woman who welcomed her to the academy, to her room, to her heart. The woman the drow loved had been taken from her when she was away, when she was not their to protect her.

Eilistraee's love permeated her, comforted her, soothed the jagged edges of her pain, not removing it... not dimming it, just soothing it enough for her to pull herself together.

Yasaedra rose with her goddess, immediately missing the comforting warmth of Eilistraee's divine flesh.

Only the strongest survived...

It was another blow to the face and knife to the heart. The congregation she had nurtured and watched blossum under the moon-lit nights too had perished while she was away. Valainistima, her assistant cleric... her fiancee, so many... Even Gertha, the pregnant dwarf smithy and her unborn child...

...the students she had helped embrace the goodness of incarnum... the lovers she had taken there... she doubted more than two stood a chance of surviving such an assault...

"The others...are here as well?" she asked, inquiring of the congregation, her voice choked with sorrow and guilt at the shear number who counted on her that she had failed to protect.

 

[cats]

Eilistraee

OOC: Pregnant dwarf smithy?

IC: "I am afraid that I must send you back to a darker world then you left. I will let you grieve here for the night if you wish, but I can't let you remain here for long. A saint is a source of goodness and that is what is needed in your home. Beyond that many of those that remain need a leader with a good heart, and your the best to fill that role."

 

[thewhiteone]

((OCC: in Forgotten Realms, at Eilistraee's primary temple in Waterdeep, they mentioned that there were several dwarves there who served Eilistraee, having been saved or what not. So I figured why the hell not...))

"Thank you My Lady, I will need some time to collect myself, to grieve."

She paused, slowly pulling herself together enough to ask important questions.

"Who attacked the academy and why? How did they do it?"

 

[cats]

IC: "Kain Rivet, but he is perhaps better known to you as The Immortal, he was made head master. With that power he sent many of the strongest away on missions and disabling the defenses. His strongest allies then arrived."

She paused. "I'll skip the details of the attack."

"That only leaves the why, and I do not know that."

 

[thewhiteone]

"The Headmaster?!?" she gasped. Why would he murder those under the roof of the institution he led? That it was believed he founded?!?

Even her goddess did not know why.

Yasaedra had to seat herself on the soft grass as she took this all in, as she tried to cope with all those she had lost, and at the seemingly senseless betrayal of them all by the Headmaster.

He sent the strongest away, scattering them to prevent them from banding together during the assault, and allowing him to build up defenses and hopefully defeat them one at a time later. At the same time, he stopped...

...he stopped giving out missions to the rest...

Her blood ran cold. That murdering bastard wanted everyone else there when he led them to their slaughter. He murdered her friends, her lovers, her students, the woman she loved...he ensured all of their deaths.

Unless they had been personally requested for a mission, they were all dead.

She cradled Dark Maiden's Light to her chest as they grieved together. The blade had made friends as well, most where also friends of Yasaedra, but they were still friends to the holy sword.

In their grief, the comforted each other. In their anger, they sharpened their just resolve to avenge the betrayed, and bring their murderers to their just fate.

As she lay on her side holding her dear friend close, she felt a familiar body slide up behind her and hold her in a comforting embrace.

 

[cats]

The Forgotten

OOC: I think your confused about the head master issue. Any how now is a good time for a headmaster cameo.

IC: "It has been a long time. Hasn't it." The voice was a feint genderless wisper. "Tell me do you remember when you first came to the academy years ago?" The figure sat next to her, an warm arm around Yasa's shoulders.

The figure reached with in its own shadows and pulled out a small yellow orb of light. "I managed to hide a few memories of me away, even from Vecna. This one I saved for you." The figure was genderless, the face fully non-discript. The nose was gone, the eyes with out color, the mouth the smallest slit. It is clear to Yasa that no one she has ever known looked like this, this is a new form of who ever.

He handed her the yellow light and with perfect clarity she was a young elf again less then a century. She was walking threw the grassy fields in front of the guild and there was a figure off in the distance and next to it was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen, a high elf of nearly the same physical age.

A wisper of a voice spoke, "See Vanya, I told you our new recruit would be like you. She is an elf, and a girl, and even your age."

Off to the side a young but fully grown man approached. He said something, a name, a name on the edge of your mind that you just can't remember no matter how hard you try, but the rest of the sentence is clear. "... can you show it to me?"

The figure knelt down and placed a hand on your shoulder and of Vanya. "Vanya please show Yasa around. I must attend to Kain."

The rest of the memory fades.

"I know that you can't remember me Yasa. But please believe me when I say, there is nothing you could of done against Kain or his allies. But in time there will be."

 

[thewhiteone]

To say she was surprised would have been an understatement. Someone cloaked in shadow, with a genderless voice she did not recognize, speaking to her so familiarly and resting a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"How could I not..." she began when the being reached inside it's shadow, producing a globe of yellow light, revealing it's face. It was clear to Yasaedra that no one she has ever known looked like this, this is a new form of whoever.

Saved a memory? For her? She did not understand, but whomever this was, Eilistraee had allowed them into her inner sanctum and presence, and that was enough for her.

She accepted the orb. She saw herself approaching, she saw...Vanya, sweet Vanya. Her breath caught as she laid eyes on her beauty once more...beauty none but Eilistraee herself could exceed.

This man, had guided them together!? This man who's name lingered, just beyond her grasp? The Headmaster himself arraigned their encounter?

"I know that you can't remember me Yasa. But please believe me when I say, there is nothing you could of done against Kain or his allies. But in time there will be."

Yasa? He used the name only her close friends and intimates used. The name which sounded like heaven when it rolled off Vanya's sweet lips.

He had said it. There was nothing she could have done to stop the attack, but she could avenge it. If he believed this, that she would take his word for it.

She leaned forward and kissed him softly.

"Thank you, for everything," she whispered softly, "She was the joy of my life since that day... thank you."

Resolve formed behind her tear blurred eyes, "What must I do to make Kain and his followers pay for their crimes?"

 

[cats]

The Forgotten

IC: Eilistraee had vanished off in the distance some time ago. Leaveing the two in privacy, well as much privacy as any one ever got from a god.

'What must I do to make Kain and his followers pay for their crimes?'

"Oh if only it was so simple that I could tell you. But it isn't I'm afraid. All I can do is point you down the right path and trust you'll reach the end of it." The shadow let out a cold sigh. "I should of seen this betrayal coming, I really should of."

The figure looked at you with dull colorless eyes, but on them seemed to be the signs of sadness. "While I like to claim the academy I spent 40 years at is the best the guild has to offer, it is not. There are still two portions of the guild remaining with equal power, although that power will be taxed more in this war torn world. Begin at the academy, the survivors have witness the atrosities and powers of Kain in a manner I have not. I hope they can arm you with some insight into Kain's true character. From there I would head to either the tower or the kingdom, they may not be willing to help you but as a member of the guild they must. Rebuild some of the academies power and they will have more resources to assist you."

The figure was now staring off into the distance, and from those shadows came Eilistraee, she spoke confidently but seemed to have the slightest sign of discomfort. "Lastly child you will soon come across a map. You must fallow it to its end; but don't speak of it to any one nor show it. At the end of the path you will find what you need to defeat Kain and even stop his allies."

 

[thewhiteone]

He wanted her to rebuild the academy? She was about to ask why he didn't, but then remember that no one, even her could remember who he was. Such a cloak of secrecy around him didn't take much effort to associate with Vecna. About all that told her was the information he held could do untold good or evil, he was protective about his secrets, and always looking for more secrets. And he was high in the lich god's favor.

If he had become so secretive that he underwent such a transformation and faded himself from memory...he wasn't likely to want to step back into the light. No, he had made the shadows and the night his home.

She however, was all about being visible, about being a symbol of good.

"Do you have any idea why Kain betrayed you and the guild?" she asked him before her goddess returned.

She bowed her head in respect as Eilistraee returned.

She would come across a map that could lead her and the allies she would gather to victory, but was to keep it a total secret. She nodded in understanding. The slight discomfort her goddess displayed unnerved her slightly. Hopefully, she would have a chance to ask her Lady more questions alone. She did not know if the forgotten headmaster knew of the Codex's new location, or if he knew what caused Eilistraee's discomfort, but such things were not for her to bring up in the presence of one of the Lord of Secrets' servants, no mater how much she wanted to completely trust him, no matter how grateful she was he had brought her and Vanya together.

 

[cats]

The Forgotten

IC: "All I can say is in the guild there are many secrets I have known, enough to tempt even a god. I do not know which secrets Kain knows of but I have my suspicions." The figure stood up. "For now I must go, I intend to reach my final resting place and it is no more here with your goddess then it is with... Well don't concern yourself with me."

Eilistraee watched him depart. "Are you ready to depart child?"

 

[thewhiteone]

"Farewell Headmaster, safe journey," she bid him as he left.

So Kain was after the secrets Headmaster had hidden...

"My Lady, may I ask what disturbs you? Is it something I can deal with?" she asked, anything that bothered her goddess, bothered her.

 

[cats]

Eilistraee

IC: "I am simply worried that when this is over I will not have you to depend on any more. But this must be done."

 

[thewhiteone]

"My Lady, you have always had and always will have my loyalty and service above all others. I gave you my oath, and with it, everything I am the day I became your priestess. You are my loving goddess, I am your faithful servant. Nothing will ever change that," she knelled before Eilistraee and kissed her hand, a sincere gesture of her loyalty and subservience to the Dark Maiden.

 

[cats]

Eilistraee

IC: The goddess smiled at one of her two favorite servants. "Thank you, now if you are ready to leave, I'll put about half a mile away from the guild and let you choose how to help those that remain."

 

[thewhiteone]

She wanted to stay and grieve for those she lost, especially Vanya. To let her mind settle some, to regain the spells spent getting here. However, every moment she delayed, gave Kain another to prepare and dig for Headmaster's secrets. It also gave him more time to attack the survivors.

No, she must go.

"When the time comes to use the Codex, will there be someone to guide me in its use?"

"May I ask one favor, My Lady? When I succeed, Kain and his followers dead, may I return and spend one night with my beloved Vanya?"

That asked, "I am ready, My Lady."

She gazed up at her goddess, etching every detail of her beauty into her mind. Few mortals, even ex-mortals such as herself got to lay eyes on their deity, much less twice. Each time was a gift, each word, each touch, something to be treasured.