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| story:sarren [2020/08/20 11:47] – [Part 4: Aradoris] Kyle | story:sarren [2023/09/15 11:56] (current) – Changling to Changeling Kyle | ||
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| ====Part 1: The Deal==== | ====Part 1: The Deal==== | ||
| “You’ve got a deal,” I said shaking the old and grey hand of the crone, contrasted to my youthful pale skin, “when does it start?”\\ | “You’ve got a deal,” I said shaking the old and grey hand of the crone, contrasted to my youthful pale skin, “when does it start?”\\ | ||
| - | The crone cackled “It already has my dear boy” she withdrew her hand and held up four fingers, “Wasted so many so soon, anymore questions Sarren? | + | The crone cackled “It already has my dear boy,” she withdrew her hand and held up four fingers, “Wasted so many so soon, anymore questions Sarren? |
| I opened my mouth to talk, but for the first time I stopped myself from saying anything. I shook my head and pointed to the moss-covered door of her hut, then brushed my short white hair back while waiting for an answer.\\ | I opened my mouth to talk, but for the first time I stopped myself from saying anything. I shook my head and pointed to the moss-covered door of her hut, then brushed my short white hair back while waiting for an answer.\\ | ||
| “Ah, quick learner. Unless you have any other wishes, we have nothing to do with each other until the last word.” She said through an unsettling and ever growing grin, “You may leave.”\\ | “Ah, quick learner. Unless you have any other wishes, we have nothing to do with each other until the last word.” She said through an unsettling and ever growing grin, “You may leave.”\\ | ||
| - | Standing up from the worn and deflated cushion, in the process I came to face a pair of blue feminine hands floating in a small cage, past them on a shelf a jar of liquid holding a pair or elven ears, not unlike to my own. Staring at the collection of body parts and trinkets for a moment, wondering how many people have passed through the small hut and how many of those got their wishes or fell to the crone’s hold. I took a deep musky breath before turning to head out. | + | Standing up from the worn and deflated cushion, in the process I came to face a pair of blue feminine hands floating in a small cage, past them on a shelf a jar of liquid holding a pair or Elven ears, not unlike to my own. Staring at the collection of body parts and trinkets for a moment, wondering how many people have passed through the small hut and how many of those got their wishes or fell to the crone’s hold. I took a deep musky breath before turning to head out. |
| The jungle was a maze, the thick humid air weighing me down. After an hour trudging through the dense plants, the direction didn’t matter in the moment, I came upon a large enough flat stone in the ground; I cleared a five foot space of leaves and mud, then set started drawing the teleportation circle for my home with the chalks and diagrams I brought with me. I got to the last stage before I remembered the last component. A recital of three words. It’s only three words, or a two-month journey home, not counting the time it would take to find my way out of the jungle. Is it worth it? | The jungle was a maze, the thick humid air weighing me down. After an hour trudging through the dense plants, the direction didn’t matter in the moment, I came upon a large enough flat stone in the ground; I cleared a five foot space of leaves and mud, then set started drawing the teleportation circle for my home with the chalks and diagrams I brought with me. I got to the last stage before I remembered the last component. A recital of three words. It’s only three words, or a two-month journey home, not counting the time it would take to find my way out of the jungle. Is it worth it? | ||
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| After the crone stopped laughing, she finally turned to face me. “You should be more careful boy, or we’ll be seeing each other much sooner than you would like.”\\ | After the crone stopped laughing, she finally turned to face me. “You should be more careful boy, or we’ll be seeing each other much sooner than you would like.”\\ | ||
| - | I leant against the wall it creaked, letting out trapped dust. Staring at the crone as I took deep breaths to calm myself. Knowing that she knew what I wanted. | + | I leant against the wall, it creaked letting out trapped dust. Staring at the crone as I took deep breaths to calm myself. Knowing that she knew what I wanted. |
| She turned back to the shelf, still giggling to herself. “How about another deal?” she enquired. “No tricks, you apologise and ask me nicely and I’ll answer your question.” | She turned back to the shelf, still giggling to herself. “How about another deal?” she enquired. “No tricks, you apologise and ask me nicely and I’ll answer your question.” | ||
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| I held up my open book to the Spell Changer, | I held up my open book to the Spell Changer, | ||
| “My, where did the time go?” he replied. Quickly followed by my gesturing around the sizeable house. Bought just as a place to study as both of our homes were already full with books and papers. Now that I had the answer to the question I had from the start, it invigorated the two of us to further our research. | “My, where did the time go?” he replied. Quickly followed by my gesturing around the sizeable house. Bought just as a place to study as both of our homes were already full with books and papers. Now that I had the answer to the question I had from the start, it invigorated the two of us to further our research. | ||
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| ====Part 3: Love & War==== | ====Part 3: Love & War==== | ||
| I have never stopped researching, | I have never stopped researching, | ||
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| + | "I agree." | ||
| During my travels I frequently passed through Ferrabreeze, | During my travels I frequently passed through Ferrabreeze, | ||
| - | We got to know each other quickly whenever we were together we rapidly passed each other notes. When I wasn’t in Ferrabreeze, | + | We got to know each other quickly whenever we were together we rapidly passed each other notes. When I wasn’t in Ferrabreeze, |
| Over the next year and a half, I put a hold on all my travels and study. I found and developed all I could to heal Aradoris’ hearing. In my haste to restore her hearing, I decided on some spells I had not converted yet. Looking into alternatives with fewer words, I ended up needing to use 5 words. The procedure took a few hours to complete, but once I knew it had worked, I got down on one knee. | Over the next year and a half, I put a hold on all my travels and study. I found and developed all I could to heal Aradoris’ hearing. In my haste to restore her hearing, I decided on some spells I had not converted yet. Looking into alternatives with fewer words, I ended up needing to use 5 words. The procedure took a few hours to complete, but once I knew it had worked, I got down on one knee. | ||
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| Tasked with cleaning up straggling demons, we travelled the scorched lands, killing off any remaining. We received reports that the shapeshifters took the form of Dragonborn and Tieflings in nearby towns, following orders we cleared entire communities without hesitation. | Tasked with cleaning up straggling demons, we travelled the scorched lands, killing off any remaining. We received reports that the shapeshifters took the form of Dragonborn and Tieflings in nearby towns, following orders we cleared entire communities without hesitation. | ||
| - | As soon as we learnt, they were false orders and realising what I; We had done, I teleported to my study and tried to write something, anything, but after sometime I only had a crumpled blank page soaked in tears, returning | + | As soon as we learnt, they were false orders and realising what I; We had done, I teleported to my study and tried to write something, anything, but after sometime I only had a crumpled blank page soaked in tears. Returning |
| “I am your leader, and as your leader these are my final orders.” Zyllis spoke with a heavy heart. “You will leave, run, never speak of this to anyone ever again. Blinding Spear is no more.” | “I am your leader, and as your leader these are my final orders.” Zyllis spoke with a heavy heart. “You will leave, run, never speak of this to anyone ever again. Blinding Spear is no more.” | ||
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| “I agree.” I said wiping my face, 73. The first words a majority of the group had heard me ever say, and likely the last. From there I don’t know what happened to them, I returned home, wishing to forget it all. | “I agree.” I said wiping my face, 73. The first words a majority of the group had heard me ever say, and likely the last. From there I don’t know what happened to them, I returned home, wishing to forget it all. | ||
| - | Aradoris, she was furious; The war, the words. I know she was concerned for me, 100 drawing ever closer. I should have seen it coming, the newly formed conglomerate wanted to point fingers and assign blame for the war and damages. They chose the Tieflings, Dragonborn, | + | Aradoris, she was furious. I know she was concerned for me, 100 drawing ever closer. I should have seen it coming. The newly formed conglomerate wanted to point fingers and assign blame for the war and damages. They chose the Tieflings, Dragonborn, |
| ====Part 4: Aradoris==== | ====Part 4: Aradoris==== | ||
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| “Shit!” I exclaimed, 74. I knew I should be better than to waste like that, but I had a larger threat than a crone, the Kingdom. | “Shit!” I exclaimed, 74. I knew I should be better than to waste like that, but I had a larger threat than a crone, the Kingdom. | ||
| - | “GO!” Shouted Folluin. I tried teleporting again, but it failed, I spun around to see a war mage finishing a counter. Still holding Aradoris’ hand, I ran for the door but another knight blocked the way. | + | “GO!” Shouted Folluin. I tried teleporting again, but it failed, I spun around to see a war mage finishing a counter. Still holding Aradoris’ hand, I ran for the door, but another knight blocked the way. |
| - | Turning around again I let out a bolt of magic shattering a tall window and jumped through it, both Aradoris and I getting cut by the broken glass. Once on the street, we saw a small group of mages running towards us, preparing spells. Flashes of fire let out from the group as I conjured an arcane shield, blocking the rain of fire. | + | Turning around again, I let out a bolt of magic shattering a tall window and jumped through it, both Aradoris and I getting cut by the broken glass on the way through. Once on the street, we saw a small group of mages running towards us, preparing spells. Flashes of fire let out from the group as I conjured an arcane shield, blocking the rain of fire. |
| Grabbing my wife’s shoulder, I tried teleporting us away, but another mage stopped the spell from completing. I looked into the eyes of Aradoris, glancing at glass cuts covering her arms and legs. I’ll never forget the fearful look in her eyes that night, as the smell of sulfur filled the air. | Grabbing my wife’s shoulder, I tried teleporting us away, but another mage stopped the spell from completing. I looked into the eyes of Aradoris, glancing at glass cuts covering her arms and legs. I’ll never forget the fearful look in her eyes that night, as the smell of sulfur filled the air. | ||
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| I saw another mage coming from a nearby alley, as the cold sea water swirled, maintaining the wall. I created an arrow made of ice from the water wall and fired it at the mage, distracting him just long enough to teleport away. | I saw another mage coming from a nearby alley, as the cold sea water swirled, maintaining the wall. I created an arrow made of ice from the water wall and fired it at the mage, distracting him just long enough to teleport away. | ||
| - | It worked, we were at the oasis, a secluded hideaway I found in my travels many years ago. I cradled Aradoris in my arms, as I walked into the fresh and cool water of the oasis. | + | It worked, we were at the oasis, a secluded hideaway I found in my travels many years ago. I cradled Aradoris in my arms as I walked into the fresh and cool water of the oasis. |
| - | "Thank you." She strained to speak but the relief from the water was clear.\\ | + | "Thank you." She strained to speak, but the relief from the water was clear.\\ |
| " | " | ||
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| After two decades, I secured the remains of my parents through a few contacts that I had formed while on the run from the Kingdom; they had mostly given up chasing me. More important and pressing issues plagued their minds. It was the first time in twenty years I had no pressure, no fear, no one actively tracking me. | After two decades, I secured the remains of my parents through a few contacts that I had formed while on the run from the Kingdom; they had mostly given up chasing me. More important and pressing issues plagued their minds. It was the first time in twenty years I had no pressure, no fear, no one actively tracking me. | ||
| - | I was travelling toward Reton, passing through the Cunning Expanse, a web of great mesas that dropped into deep red canyons. With the scorching morning sun burning my back, it was then I broke down, dropping to my knees, the clattering of three ceramic urns in my pack echoed in my ears. | + | I was travelling toward Reton, passing through the Cunning Expanse, a web of great mesas that dropped into deep red canyons. With the scorching morning sun burning my back, it was then I broke down, dropping to my knees. The clattering of three ceramic urns in my pack echoed in my ears. |
| “Why?” a sobbing whisper left my mouth, 85. The first words since the fateful night. I turned my head southward, toward the jungle beyond the horizon where the crone lives, a few weeks’ journey away. No. Facing back to the west, Reton was much closer, still several days but a fresh start, a new goal. | “Why?” a sobbing whisper left my mouth, 85. The first words since the fateful night. I turned my head southward, toward the jungle beyond the horizon where the crone lives, a few weeks’ journey away. No. Facing back to the west, Reton was much closer, still several days but a fresh start, a new goal. | ||
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| I have since moved into and cleaned up an island near Sestone, cleared out by a group of mercenaries who were closing rifts and portals. My previous study in Mulburg Castle wasn’t large enough for my collection and requirements as I’ve started to study the possibility of manipulating time itself. | I have since moved into and cleaned up an island near Sestone, cleared out by a group of mercenaries who were closing rifts and portals. My previous study in Mulburg Castle wasn’t large enough for my collection and requirements as I’ve started to study the possibility of manipulating time itself. | ||
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