Rehash

In the Year 1400 of the Age of Faith, Prendor was in the midst of a civil war, known popularly as the Prince's Rebellion. It was initially led by Crown Prince Patrick, the son of the King. Prince Patrick revolted when King Harl ordered the destruction of the Colossal Avatars at Mount Aothlenn in Oldshire. He was joined by his brothers Prince William the Exile, Prince Edward, and Prince Gideon "Starlight". Other notable nobles joining the rebellion were Duke Nathaniel Gryne of the Courbonne, Duke Tristan Kierny of Oldshire, Duke Draco Furon of Pyraea, Duke Simon Bale of Mystria, and the Chancellor Othelius the Mourner.

In a horrific and unexplainable explosion at Mount Aothlenn, many of the leaders of the Prince's Rebellion were killed, including Crown Prince Patrick himself and his brother Prince Gideon, Othelius, Tristan Kierny and his brother Sean, and Sir Philippe-Emmanuel Gryne, the rebellion's most famous knight and heir to the Courbonne. Prince Edward returned to his father's fold shortly thereafter, as did the Duke of the Courbonne. The only territories remaining in rebellion as 1400 AF drew to a close were Pyraea, Mystria, and Oldshire.

The Castle of the Star

The children of Prince Gideon Harmonant and his wife, Lady Flora of House Bale, were many. Most remained throughout the early days of the rebellion at their home, the Castle of the Star, though the eldest son, Prince Jacob perished with his father and (it was thought) his mother at Mount Aothlenn, and the youngest, Prince Walther, remained a ward of the King in Larrae. The other children were: Princess Elissa, twin to Jacob; Prince Elias and Prince Josiah, twin brothers; Prince Lukas and Prince Oberon, also twin brothers; Prince Simon the Lame; and Gideon and Flora's adopted half-orc daughter Willa. When he heard of the Mount Aothlenn disaster, Prince Gideon's chosen custodian of the Castle of the Star, Sir Waylan Muld, imprisoned the Harmonant children in the dungeons there.

However, the Harmonant children escaped, and in the process learned that the man they thought was Sir Waylan Muld, was actually a doppleganger called Fradat-Nar, who was in correspondence with others named Zarthosht and “Lord Vareshna”. The doppleganger had killed Sir Waylan Muld and taken his place over a month ago. The Harmonants discovered the body of the real Sir Waylan Muld in the crypts, hastily buried in the tomb of his brother Sir Fletcher Muld. Fradat-Nar tried to impersonate the Harmonants’ ally, their father's kindly old chaplain Father Eldon Wilde, pretending to be a captive of goblins who were actually his servants. Then when it appeared the Harmonants might escape, he attacked them. But they proved more able than he expected, and Fradat-Nar was slain.

During their escape, the Harmonants found a portait of their mother that changed in an eerie magical fashion, depciting their mother's changing moods. This was their first hint that their mother had somehow survived the Explosion at Mount Aothlenn. They also found a mysterious glowing stone, the magical aura of which indicated an overwhelming power indicative of an artifact nature. Simon guessed from a dream he had that it was called the Eye of the Avatar. In their escape, they also took revenge on Sir Niles Kerby, the cruel knight that the doppelganger had kept as their gaoler, and who had brutally murdered their would-be rescuer, guardsman Brice Walderman.

The Harmonants were aided in their escape by the aforementioned Father Wilde, their mother's handmaiden Rowena Winterbrook, who aided the Harmonants despite her sick daughter, and a merchant by the name of Carter Longshanks who served in the employ of the Crake merchant family from Wynt. Following Rowena’s advice, they chose to escape to Mystria, where they stayed with their grandfather Duke Simon Bale, a leader of the rebellion.

Blackwater Keep

At Blackwater Keep, the Duke’s feudal estate in the Mystrian swampland, the Harmonants got to know their mother’s house and its dealings. Their Great Aunt Amelia Wurshing, sister to the Duke, tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to arrange marriages for the young royals. Their Aunt Rose Bale, the shy younger sister of their mother and the Duke’s daughter who still remains a maid, was kind to them, but quiet. The Captain of the Guard at Blackwater Keep was Sir Grimwold Balrimple, a gruff, full-bearded man of great loyalty to his lord’s house.

They learned that the key to the Duke’s power was his relationship with his most powerful vassal, his nephew Robert Molrose, Count of Zendron. The Duke’s other sister, Great Aunt Magdalena, was married to the Count’s father to tie the houses closer together in an earlier generation. Their son James was living as a ward in Blackwater Keep. And the Count’s uncle, Sir Geoffrey Molrose, remained the Duke’s closest friend, and was entrusted to lead the armies of Mystria. To Princess Elissa, the Duke gave the sword of his daughter Marigold Bale, who was a Bladesister, enshrined in legend for her glorious victories over Altaran forces during Sir Philip’s War. According to legend, she was slain in battle by the monstrous Prince Trevan of Altara.

The Harmonants spent a great deal of time in the nearby village of Blackwater, at the main inn in town, the Blackwater Blade. There, they befriended the innkeeper, a dwarf woman named Helga Goldhair, daughter of Olga Goldhair. And they got to know the visiting Baeler of Mystria, Jean-Marc Aloinde.

While staying at their new home in Blackwater Keep, the Harmonants investigated a strange cult that was harassing the peasants of the village of Blackwater. The cultists were revealed to be orcs from across the sea that worshipped a strange snake god named Ethlyssar. The orcs had as a captive Prince Drenlan, a lizardman prince from the Horde's neighboring kingdom of Sauria. As Iokrag, the orc shaman who led the cult died at the hands of the Harmonants, he let slip his last word, "Willa...", which astonished the young royals (especially Willa) as they had never told him her name.

Some time later, a goblin army suddenly and mysteriously emerged from the caves under the Mystwood and lay seige to Blackwater Keep. The Harmonant children escaped from the castle using secret passages out of the tombs and snuck into the army command tent to discover an unsent letter from Garag-Nor, the hobgoblin marshal, indicating the army was bought by Sir William Grace, the King's marshal, without the King's knowledge.

The Harmonants then sought out and persuaded the Duke's nephew Jon of Casken, son of Lady Amelia, to bring his army to lift the seige. To convince Jon of Casken, they needed to persuade his vassal Baron Glen Griddick of Mawmouthe not to attack Casken while the army was gone. To that end, they agreed that Josiah and Lukas would marry Baron Griddick's hideous daughters Honora and Mirielda, a promise that has not thus far been kept. The Harmonants also learned there that Jon’s mother Amelia had arranged the marriage between Baron Griddick and his wife Mildred in order to thwart Jon’s interest in marrying her for love, and that Jon had still not forgiven his mother. The Harmonants then joined Jon of Casken in the lifting of the siege and routing of the goblin army.

A few weeks later, the Duke's allies from Oldshire paid him a visit. The Duke of Oldshire was 10-year-old Stephen Kierny, whose father Sean Kierny had died at Mount Aothlenn. With the young Duke came his aunt, Juna Kierny, another sister of Flora and daughter of Simon Bale, and widow of Tristan Kierny, the previous Duke of Oldshire. Also attending was the young Duke’s regent, Count Arthur Cannlen and his wife Gwendolyn, a sister of Tristan Kierny.

During their stay, the 10-year old Duke of Oldshire Stephen Kierny disappeared, along with the Duke's ward James Molrose, son of the Duke's powerful vassal Count Robert Molrose of Zendron. The Harmonants discovered a mystical portal in the pantry of Blackwater Keep that seemed to appear and disappear. They went through the portal after the missing children and found themselves in another world: the demiplane of Orbion.

Orbion was the realm that the Elf Druid-Queen Perawyn took her people to many years ago, along with the good faerie creatures of Aethe, to protect them as magic faded from Aethe for a time. The Harmonants discovered in the village of Winterheld that Queen Perawyn was ill, but that were she cured and conscious, she would be able to reunite them with the lost children and return them to Aethe. At the urging of her High Guardian Girian, the Harmonants undertook to seek out a cure. While searching, they discovered a dryad who agreed to point them toward the cure, but only on the condition that one of them provide her with a child, as was prophecied. Simon agreed to the bargain.

The dryad pointed the Harmonants to a hideous ancestor of theirs, Myrtle the Green Hag, who had been posing as a Bale family servant for many years until the portal opened. She had then slipped into Orbion, and poisoned the Queen. They discovered Myrtle had also poisoned the two missing children. Apparently, the portal's appearance was linked to the birth of one of Flora's children, and now follows the Harmonants around, appearing occasionally to allow them access to the town of Winterheld and to Orbion's more magical environment. The Harmonants dispatched Myrtle and cured Queen Perawyn.

Fully healed, Perawyn sent everyone back to Blackwater Keep, but upon arrival they discovered that time passes erratically on Aethe compared to Orbion. Their two-day trip to Orbion had been a month in Aethe. During that month, Duke Simon Bale had despaired of finding the missing children. The Count of Zendron had become very angry with the Duke over his son's disappearance and without the Count's support, Simon Bale had been forced to make peace with the King, and the King sent Sir Robin Bristolan to quarter in Blackwater Keep for a time to ensure House Bale’s loyalty.

Oldshire had fallen to infighting among the Counts. The Duke’s disappearance left House Kierny without an heir. Stephen’s maternal cousin Myles Hyllrune (with the support of House Plynell) and Count Robert Sithwyck had both declared themselves Duke and were battling each other for primacy. Houses Llan and Brywen had negotiated a return to the King’s good graces. Stephen Kierny and his regent returned to a single remaining loyal vassal, Count Riley Wythre.

Also, though not necessarily connected, the day the Harmonants had left, the Duchess of Pyraea, Margaret Furon, yet another of Flora’s sisters, lost her fourth child in childbirth. The Duke of Pyraea, Draco Furon, had viewed this as a sign and sued for peace as well. The rebellion in Prendor had ended, and the King was now seeking his rebellious grandchildren.

The Lyceum

The Duke of Mystria sent his grandchildren to the Lyceum in the Hathenian city of Suzergne to keep them safe in a foreign land, and out of the reach of the King of Prendor, and to get them an education in the meantime. There they befriended several other noteworthy Prendorians who attended the school: Adrian and Tancred Pendall, twin brothers who were the sons of the Duke of Archondel, Melodia and Beatrice Gryne, the daughters of the Duke of the Courbonne, and Philippe de Molliens, the son of a prominent Prendorian merchant family, and the dwarf Morgrim, who became fast friends with Oberon. Also while in attendance at the Lyceum, the Harmonants met (unknowingly at the time) their half-brother Victor, who was working there as an assistant to groundskeeper Ivon Bogue. Prince Lukas, at the Promotion Fundraiser Ball at the end of their first year, attracted the amorous attention of Ismerine Carnenne, the half-elven professor of rhetoric and composition.

Together, the Harmonants and their friends uncovered a terrible plot by the Implexor (Chancellor) of the Lyceum Charles Cavanaugh to turn the students there into an army of nightlings who would conquer the nearby city of Suzergne for him from the ruling Baeler Garnault Salle. The Implexor was using a vial of water tainted by a corrupted artifact to infect the students.

Upon confronting the Implexor, the Harmonants learned that Cavanaugh was in fact another doppleganger called Ainyu in league with Lord Vareshna, who had been dealing with a group of theives and brigands from Larrae called the Masked Martyrs, via their local leader Zela de Larre. They also killed his hired assassin Giacamo “Graves” Ganorelli of Treverac, who had murdered Mayor Anselm Laroque of the nearby town of Montmarnet.

They rescued their friend Philippe and several other missing students including Milo Haguus, Guillaume Gaulle, and Nathaniel Courve who had been captured by the Implexor, as well as the reformist Elosian Prophet Eric de Caember. They then helped conspiracy-theory-prone dwarven Professor Vermmond Haguus (Milo’s uncle) to concoct an antidote, saving the Lyceum and the city of Suzergne. Eric de Caember was grateful and he became a mentor to Oberon.

After the terrible events were over, the Harmonants learned that the corrupted artifact that had produced the Nightling water was in fact an Eye of the Avatar, and that it was high in the Mountains of Sorrow above the Dwarven mining village of Mirth, behind a powerfully sealed door called the Candlenox Door, that opened once a year, during the festival of Candlenox. The Harmonants traveled to Mirth, and got to know the town of 800 dwarves, mostly miners at the nearby mine Khad Markun, and briefly met the Lord Mayor Thrain Andorian.

The Harmonants traveled there and entered the door, discovering drow elves were performing terrible experiments in the caves there to try and find a way to use the corrupted Eye of the Avatar to defeat their enemy, King Nirikken of the dwarven Kingdom of Turingard. After vanquishing the drow menace, the Harmonants discovered the cursed artifact and lifted the curse, finding also another artifact after slaying the white dragon Nidhogrym: a glass tablet. Though Oberon had a dream in which writing appeared on the tablet, there was no trace of any writing. When the Harmonants decided to leave, they discovered the door had closed, and they were trapped for a year.

In the fight with the Drow, Josiah had died. Oberon was able to revive him using the powerful cure for Myrtle's poison, but only with the help that Prince Gideon's spirit was able to provide Josiah in the Afterworld. During that spiritual experience, Josiah learned from his father's ghost that his mother was not in the Afterworld, that she must be alive. He also learned that in order to find her again, the Harmonants would have to allow themselves to be taken captive by the Prendorian agents who would be waiting when the Candlenox Door reopened. They decided to do so.

The King's Court

In Larrae, Victor received a mysterious package with letters from Prince Gideon acknowledging that Victor was in fact Gideon's bastard son, and from Victor's mother begging her son's forgiveness and explaining that his stepfather had loved him very much, and that she did not want Gideon to be hurt by rumors of a bastard. There was no indication who had sent the mysterious package.

Princess Elissa was eventually married to Jon Algar, the Duke of Erodel in the neighboring realm of Altara. Her brother Prince Elias joined the knightly Oathsworn Order, a chaste organization of knights dedicated to the protection of others, and accompanied her to Erodel as her personal champion.

Prince Josiah fell in love with and married Anita Fletcher of Wynt, a commoner and exiled republican dissident. Josiah then made a public declaration of republicanism and renounced the throne, and the monarchy of Prendor. He was promptly disinherited and exiled by the King, whereupon he fled Larrae with his new wife, presumably to Wynt.

Willa has not been heard from for some time. She never attended the Lyceum with her adoptive siblings, but rather went her own way in an attempt to learn what she could about her true parents, who she never knew.

In Larrae, the Harmonants were reunited with their younger brother Walther, who had been a ward of the King. During the Prince's Rebellion, he had been somewhat a hostage, but upon the death of his father, the King began to treat him more like family. King Harl has been gradually lessening the restrictions on the rest of the family for the year they have been in Larrae, but they are still restricted to remain within the city walls of Larrae.

Although Prendor is largely at peace, one conflict remains. Prince William the Exile holds the title of Duke of Dryadern in neighboring Altara and remains at war with his father. Duke Thavian Melicter of Gloriana and Duke Dayne Turrant of Brascany have led an assault on Dryadern that has fared poorly against Prince William's superior generalship. Rumors abound of a coming reprisal by Prince William.

Simon and Oberon, in their studies of the arcane and divine magic of Aethe, have discovered that a terrible force is corrupting magic, and has been for some time. Spells cast normally have a lethal effect on nearby life, killing plant life and spreading disease and affliction. With some effort, these effects can be avoided, either by controlling and limiting the power of the spell, or exchanging some measure of control over the spell's effect for control over the corrupting side effect.

Meanwhile, the nation of Prendor is in shock over the death of Sir Victor Balroy, the King's chancellor and beloved bastard half-brother. The King's physician Luther Stills has declared he died of old age. The king will need a new Chancellor soon.

Also, the city of Larrae has been abuzz lately over sightings of goblins within the city walls. Not long ago, goblins were regarded as mythical in Prendor. But after the siege of Blackwater Keep and the recent sightings, people have begun to believe, and to panic. And to make matters worse, Tymon of Zendron, a popular priest who was an outspoken advocate for the poor, was recently cut down in the street, and multiple bystanders reported goblins were the culprits. The people of Larrae are frightened.

Hot Then Cold

The cold fog of the great hall drove into my feet like spikes, coming in through the thick leather of my boots. My feet dragged silently as I scuffled toward my grandfather to get a permission he would not grant. Still I moved through the frigid space as the paper-pushers and diplomats floated around the throne like ghosts. Hard-eyed watchmen weighed my intent as I got close enough to King Harl to notice the deep lines that crossed his face like a map of the world.

My voice cracked as I spoke. "Grandfather, have you considered my request to ride to the West, to fight for a unified Prendor?"

His head rose from a carefully folded note and he looked down the considerable length of his nose at me. "I just do not see what could be accomplished by sending you into combat against William the Exile. Maybe after your next birthday." A puff of frost hung in the air in front of his mouth as he gave me a moment to consider my next request.

Words failed me and as a response, I gritted my teeth with so much enthusiasm I was sure they heard it in the stables.

"Walther, continue your training," he said. "Your brothers will be back in Larrae soon." With a quick smile, he went back to studying the next carefully prepared scrap of paper.

"Thank you sir," I said feeling the weight of the room pressing in on me. My face burned as I turned and marched back down the length of the hall. A fire rose in my body as I slowed and turned back to look at the throne and another spurned request. The great space was empty and the throne had vanished behind me. My palms itched and on inspection, burst into flames. Flames lept up all around and even the flagstones burned with low flames that brought no pain.

A man-sized living flame burst up in front of me and spoke in a voice that sounded like two stones grinding on each other. "Where do you think you’re going?"

"I’m not in the mood," I grumbled. On closer inspection, my arms were burning and flames lept up and down my body. "Pheck, not this again." Just yesterday, I had charged into a burning building with little more than royal responsibility driving me. That had gone well except for the painfully red arms and the smoky chest.

The ignored flames disappeared from my clothing in an instant and left behind only a distant whooshing sound. My mother stood in front of me in the exact spot where the giant flame had been. She seemed to be wracked with pain and she spoke deliberately. "Walther, I need your help."

I screamed something and sat bolt upright in bed, a cold sweat running down my back and dampening my forehead. A ragged breath exploded out through clenched teeth. The bandages on my arms and hands were as full and heavy as sea sponges.

A knock came at the door and after a moment, Victor stuck his head into the room. "Are you well?"

I breathed out the words like a sigh of relief. "Well enough. How are you?" A quick shiver wracked my right arm and I realized that I was just being diplomatic with my half-brother Victor. I hardly knew him at all.

He answered with words that were quick and honest. "Restless. I am not fond of funerals."

"Me either. I think I’ll skip mine." I pulled my shoulders back and cracked my neck out of habit.

"You should get some sleep." Victor closed the door and padded away without another word.

I fell back into the covers and shifted to a cool spot. As I drifted back to sleep, I realized that I was just about done asking for permission to do the right thing.

-- by Bill Williams

The Way Beckons

Three months now we are locked behind the Candlenox Door. I have started to hate that name now, Candlenox Door. I fear that my feelings towards Candlenox itself, normally such a festive time, will forever be marred because of it.

“Candlenox, (murmuring), Candlenox, (louder), you’re no door! Pah!”

“What’s that Victor? Couldn’t hear you in the corner over there. What is that you’re doing with those pieces of wood?”

“Ah, take no bother of my words, friend Elias. As for this wood, once upon a time I worked a forge if you can believe. I thought perhaps another distraction might be worthwhile if I whittled out a practice weapon or two. Might we spar when I finish?”

Elias’ eyes light up, “Indeed Victor, my arm grows weaker by the day and my mind is no good for another craft. Simon speaks to me of magics and family lore and I simply haven’t the head for it. (whispering)Truly I don’t know what he’s said at all, but your words are clear. Call me when you are ready.”

Left alone to my little corner again, I patiently shape the pieces of wood I salvaged from a few wrecked barrels.

“Ah, Dame, I miss you more than even I had thought. Where are you now? Flying freely, I hope. If only we could all join you.”

The day draws on, or what passes for a day in this dark hole.

“Victor, won’t you join us for the evening meal?”

I put down my blade and my newly fashioned practice weapon, ”Coming along quite nicely, but yes Elissa, I am hungry once again, thank you.”

A few minutes later as I walk into what was once the mess hall for cursed Drow scum, a delightful smell wafts under my nostrils.

“What new delight is this? I have smelled worse in greater kitchens than this?”

Around the table sit the Harmonants. Simon pipes up, “You can thank me for such great deeds once again for it was I who found the cache of spices overlooked these months by some others, I won’t name whom, whose hands are not accustomed to such delicate work.” (a smirk towards Josiah)

“Yes, yes little brother, we’re all so grateful and far more humbled than such as you”, Josiah laughs, “Victor, Elias says you are crafting practice swords, is that one of them there?”

“Yes actually Josiah, have a look, I would wonder what a prince might think.” I toss him the wooden weapon, still proud of my waning skill, “Once upon a time I worked a forge in the service of no greater than yourselves. My father was often employed by the Hathainian royal military for his great skill at the forge. Such was my teacher.”

“And it shows, my friend, quite the piece you’ve made, almost a shame to ruin it with practice blows.”

“Let me see it Josiah.” Elias stands and swings competently over the heads of his seated brothers, “Yes, Victor, well done. Are there more?”

“Patience Elias, we have more than enough time I reckon. More will be made, for now that is all I have to show.”

“Patience, ha, you’re looking at the wrong face for that virtue. Hey! Ow!”

With a skillful tap Elias smacks, Simon’s cheek with the hard enough wood, “I guess you’re right, little brother. I lost my patience again, ha ha ha.”

Elissa walks over with the hardy smelling stew we were waiting for, “Enough, boys, Oberon and I are to blame for wearing all of your patience thin with the tease of such smells. Eat now, it’s very good, sometimes I surprise even myself.”

After we all had eaten our fill and talked as much as we would, I sat back with a smile. We hadn’t anything half so satisfying in all these months, “Excellent you two, reminds me of my sister’s cooking back in Hathaine, she had a wonderful skill in the kitchen. What I wouldn’t give for a mug of ale now. I can almost see the inn now and with such fine companions as you all.”

“Hear, hear, I could do with the same. Oberon might not approve, but my throat has been too dry as well. Don’t look at me like that Oberon,” Lukas licks his lips with the memory in spite of his twin.

“Well, despite your drunken losses, it is good to see everyone in such spirits. It’s almost as if Elos’ sun shone on us even in this gloom. Victor, if I may, you haven’t smiled this much in a month. I remember well your loss, but I wouldn’t have it overcome you.”

“Thank you Oberon. I appreciate that. In fact, I do feel much renewed today. In fact I think it is time. Tomorrow, I will once again beseech Narduna for her wisdom in finding a new companion. I have thought long on the words in the tattered book I chanced upon from the Drow grave and it seems to be prodding me forward, reminding that there is more than entrapment and artifacts to be found here. If all of you would be so kind as to leave me undisturbed for twenty-four hours tomorrow I will pray again in the dragon’s lair for it is there I left Dame and it is there that calls me again.”

Elissa puts a caring hand on Victor’s shoulder, “Of course we will.”

“I know what this means to you my friend”, Oberon makes the motions of Elos’ blessings upon me.

“Let me know if you need any help Victor, I also feel more ready to do something though I know not what animal you may find within these walls.”

“Thank you Lukas, it may come to pass that I do need your aid. So it begins, tomorrow another friend shall we all have.”
_____________________________________________________________

It will be a long day. I walk to the dragon’s lair once more. Its stink has lessened in three months time though there is still an odor about the room. If it weren’t for the subtle beautiful drip of the water far below I would think I would almost be too distracted. I find a suitable space to sit upon and fold my cloak to make a seat of it, twenty-four hours of prayer is good for the soul yet hard on the bottom.

I take a moment to breathe as I ease down upon my cloak and let the ritual sink in again. It is remarkable that once learned you cannot erase it. Such is the power of Narduna. As I begin to recall, I stumble a moment, a choke, a tear. Dame, you always be my friend. I stroke her feather, all that I have of her, and remember my teacher’s guidance.

“A companion from the goddess is a great gift, never to be taken lightly nor to be given back on a whim. Do not test her, she will not forsake you in your need.”
She will understand that what I did was right. She must, those pages, and my dream, she has spoken to me already. The time is right.

Hours pass, the odor fades. All sounds but my own slowly disappear. The torch has long gone out though it seems as if I can see in the dark. See something in the darkness. It is different yet so much like the last time. I will not cry. Her guidance comes to the strong of heart.

More hours pass and now there is only silence and darkness. I have invoked her wisdom and now I wait.

What, what is that? I turn. Something has touched my shoulder. They wouldn’t disturb me.

“Who’s there? Come on now, no games. I asked you all nicely to…….”, wait, I am not in the cave. There is a soft green underneath me, grass. It is her. She has come.

I sit in silence again, fool that I am. There is a smell of soil in the air. There it is again her familiar laughter, like a running stream. A wind touches me again as my heart slowly fills with her.

He is here. Her boon is here in this very room, somewhere unseen, undiscovered. I know it. Thank you goddess. Thank you once again.

She is gone now. The ritual is ended. So tired now, so tired…sleep.


(calling)“Victor, Victor, are you here?”

“What, what, who is that?”

“It’s Lukas, Victor. Sorry to bother you, but many more hours than twenty-four have passed and I feared some unexpected creature might have disturbed you before me.”

“No, no, my friend, but I am glad you have come. Do you have a rope?”

“A strange question, but yes, in fact I have brought my pack. Since we were worried I thought it better to be prepared. Why a rope?”

“It is here Lukas, somewhere in this room, I feel it even more now.”

“What, what is here Victor?”

“My companion, Lukas, he is here though I do not know exactly what he is or where. Where have I not looked in this room? I have spent countless hours whiling away the time in here.”

“Well, I may not understand all of this, and I would think you a bit off if Oberon hadn’t spoken to me of your talk. I trust you Victor. I have some sense of the spiritual, of the goddess. Oberon may be more severe, but I feel it now, there is a touch upon you now. Let me help you Victor. Where shall we look? Why do you ask for a rope?”

“Yes, yes, a rope, that’s it. Over the side there, Lukas, can we fasten a rope so I can climb over the cliff’s edge above the water?”

“Let me see, yes I think it can be done. I’m not sure of the depth all the way around though. We pulled that treasure before from the shallow side where the dragon had easy access to his plunder. The distance between cliff edge and water grows as we come around this farther side. Where will you descend?”

“Here, here Lukas, at the longest fall.”

“I may trust you Victor, but this has become dangerous. What if you fall? Ah yes, I have it. Oberon thought to loan me the feather fall ring should we have need. He feared you could’ve fallen over yourself. Wear this Victor and I will be more at ease to help you.”

“Brilliant Lukas, your brother’s forethought will aid us now. Did you not hear her call yourself Lukas? You have arrived at the right time with everything we need. Your knowledge is more than you admit, I think. Let us secure the rope.”

After tying one end of the rope to a rocky arm nearby as well as around Lukas’ waist, I started to climb over the side, the feeling growing stronger on me. After a minute or so down, I stopped.

“I see it Lukas, there is an opening, big enough for a man or something larger. That is where I must go though I cannot quite reach it. Can you lower the rope anymore?”

“No Victor, all of the slack is let out. I know you must feel as if possessed to go forward, but perhaps you should wait. We do not know what could live in there.”

“I have it Lukas. I can swing near to the mouth and drop with the ring to land me safely. I will return shortly.”

“Victor, no. Wait! There is no more rope, how will you return?”

No answer as Lukas feels the weight drop from the end of the rope and hears the scuffle of feet far below and then nothing.

“Victor! Damn. Breathe Lukas. This is how it works. You don’t need to understand crazy Victor moods, just be patient. How can I lengthen this rope?”

After tying and retying the rope many times, Lukas finally admits that there is no way to get another foot out of it.

“That’s it, I’m going down, it’s been more than half an hour and if I go down we can help each other back to the rope end some how. Here goes.”

Lukas slowly starts over the cliff edge and slowly works his way down the side.

“This is madness, what am I doing? Wait, what is that sound, like the grunt of something large. Hekar’s bonds! I mean, Elos save us, what is that? This thing ate Victor and now for dessert, back up, up. Light of Elos, light of Elos, it’s getting closer. Oh dear god, there is it’s head. Oh, Victor, I’m sorry.”

“Whatever are you sorry for, Lukas?”

“What, Victor, is that you?”

“Of course, what did you think? This big softy doesn’t like the taste of people. If you were Drow on the other hand, ha. I already have something in common with him. Wait right there and watch this.”

As Lukas stared on in amazement, the large bulk of a lizard deftly twisted around and began to climb straight up the cliff side with Victor clinging to it’s scaly back. Lukas quickly clambered back up the rope himself as the great beast came up right behind. It seemed for a second as if Victor and this new “friend” glowed together, just a second, and then his senses returned.

“Victor, you must be crazy. What is this, this…lizard..thing?”

“I am fairly certain it is called a crag drake though I confess that I have less knowledge of beasts that dwell under the earth.”

“Won’t it harm you or rather harm me. It doesn’t look so gentle.”

“No, no, he’s all excited to get to know you all already. It seems he’s been about as bored as we have and the food’s been none too great either. Drow don’t really taste very good. I’m going to start training him right away.”

“Does he have a name, what should I call him?”

“Oh yes, he told me, but I suppose a better translation would be something like, Akreth. Call him Akreth.”

Lukas put out a hand to his odd scaly head, “Nice to meet you Akreth.”



-- by Jon

A Difficult Parting

Lost in thought, I reflected on our situation. Quite the adventure I’ve gotten myself into now. The ship to Turingard was fortunately uneventful. I’ve seen the sea many times though I had never taken a vessel upon its fickle fortunes. I wasn’t altogether sure of what brought me up the cursed mountain, at least that is how the dwarves saw it, to become locked behind the Candlenox Door. A name I now understand much more clearly as we wait now, hoping to exit again on Candlenox next year, a year.

Dragons, a pair of foully magical doorknockers and a garrison of wicked drow had demonstrated some of the cruel interest in this artifact we sought, this Eye of the Avatar. The price was nearly two of our lives, mine included. Where will this take us? And now….now what shall a year in a cold and dreary cave bring to us, alone and yet together?

A full month had passed since our victory and our entrapment. We thought we knew the price when we entered this enchanted dark, but the full realization of an entire year lost in this lonely cave began to settle upon us. The last pride and rush of battle well-fought and the satisfaction of the spoils, legend though they may be, had dwindled to little more than a reminder of our inability to go on. In fact, the certainty of escape was slowly becoming less sure every day.

I did my best to console my companion, who liked even less her fate of subterranean life. I never should have brought her here. What place has a hawk, no matter how noble or loyal, in a place such as this? Her agitation continually mounted and I began to fear for her mind. No words or actions I take now can soothe the ache for the sky of any of Narduna’s winged believers. Ah, Dame, what can be done for you? Watching your plight does naught, but increase my own.

“Oberon. Would you walk with me a bit?”

“Where would you have me walk Victor? You know the boundaries of this place as well as the rest of us.”

“Only to talk, away from barrels of dried food and the almost warmth of the torchlight. Would you talk with me?”

“If that is what will console you then, let us make another circuit of this hole.”

We walked away from the storage area of our enemies, which we now saw fit to make our own encampment and wandered back towards the dragon’s lair under a shrouded light of an everburning torch.

“What weighs on your mind, Victor, other than the dark, cold, and prospect of a year in it? What do I have to offer my friend?”

“It is exactly that which I wish to speak to you of. Friendship. I know that still you do not know me fully though we have bested much evil together. I also know that perhaps our faiths cross swords, if still unacknowledged. Do you really call me friend?”

“Victor, what question is this? You have thrown trustingly into our lot, the outcome of which we do not even know. You have bravely fought at our side. Were it not for your thrown axes, we may have never left that icy pass outside.”

“I know of my facility to a group, Oberon. That is no deeper bond than necessity and shared hardship. I am no coward, nor traitor to a just cause. These are not things I need reminder of at present. I wish to penetrate the walls of foreignness and estrangement. I wish your friendship and of all the party. I feel that there may be even more than that between us. I am an outsider. You are all family, nobility, born and raised in another country in a different life, my prayers go to a different deity, my age even, sets me slightly apart and yet I feel…..well, connected, I suppose.”

“It is my belief that you have our friendship and even that of our families not with us, whether living or no. Why do you ask these things of me?”

“It is with you most Oberon, that I feel a distance and a solidarity. A brotherhood of spirit and respect yet a nod of disapproval for a wayward soul. The others, less….religious, laugh and jest with me. Their acceptance is much nearer than yours. Would you honestly look into the eyes of another faith filled friend and tell me that you do not judge me according to the will of Elos?”

We entered the larger opening now, where the slow current of the water just over the edge farthest from us could hardly be discerned. I might have thought the sigh was that of the water had Dame’s head not abruptly turned towards Oberon.

“Victor. Were it my simple lot to judge others, life would be far easier. Elos teaches not judgment, but goodness and hope for all creatures, to live and love under his guiding sun. I would be lying to you though if I said that it does not hang on my heart to see you sit off in your own prayers when the rest of us come together, or that you do not utter thanks to Elos for our safety or the simple blessing of our food. I do not mean to be so brash as to sit in judgment as if I were a god myself.

You must understand, Victor, you are not only an outsider, you lead a different way of life that we have never been exposed to until we were forced to leave our home under duress. Your words of our upbringing and nobility ring close to my heart. For I understand more now that knowledge, custom, and family are but a part of wisdom and understanding in this world. For my part, I can say that I respect your faith and your truths and in time I hope to call you friend as you mean it in your question now.”

“Thank you Oberon. Your words are fair and kind and gladden my heart in this darkness when I need it most. I sense in you a depth, akin to that of Elissa, but, I don’t know how to say it, deeper. Now, as my friend I ask your help in a difficult task before me.”

“What task faces you in this place, Victor?”

“You spoke truly when you said that I knew the boundaries of this place as well as any and now I tell you perhaps more so. I have spent many long hours wandering in the dark, in part to quiet my restlessness and in part to calm my companion, Dame.
Shortly after the boons of your healing arts aided my strength’s recovery I found something of interest. Nothing that would greatly interest the party, but something that has grown on my mind as Dame’s spirits have been sinking.”

“What is it Victor? Why do you speak as if some evil thing were afoot? Dame looks as fabulous as ever. Long have I envied your connection to the animal world. All creatures that fly, swim or walk under his light touch near to the heart of Elos, whom I also love. You speak as if she is sick yet I sense no malaise. Though my arts are seldom practiced on animals, I have a sense when there is pain or dis-ease. Speak plainly now, what is wrong?”

“Ah, was her malaise that which could be healed by magic or herb. I have senses too, as you have noticed, with regards to Narduna’s cherished. No, no, she is not sick, not yet, though I know in my heart that she will not make it a year trapped with us. Not for lack of love, but for lack of the life of a hawk. I need to let her go, Oberon. Many years has she been with me, long before I met all of you. She has been my only friend until now. How can I free her?”

“Surely, Victor you do not mean to kill her? In that, I cannot help, if that is why you called me. I will do no harm to things not wicked whether in mercy or not. That is not the will of Elos.”

“No, Oberon, no. Never could I bring myself to harm her, nor could I ask such a treachery of another. Perhaps I have done her much harm already, but now I will make amends as I can. See there.”

With that I gestured towards a small point on the far side of the cavern, past the cliff’s edge and over the water, high above us.

“What do you point at, Victor, I don’t see anything there.”

“Wait, let your eyes adjust after I shroud the torch.”

A few seconds passed and in the darkness there grew a faint light, almost imperceptible even in darkness. One would think it was just a trick of the eye after blinking, but no, there it was growing still a bit brighter.

“What is that? How did you see it?”

“I told you I have walked much in the dark and a still mind can notice such anomalies. As for what it is, I am no stone-worker or cave dweller, but I know it to be your god’s rays shining forth. How and why, I do not know and it is not our concern. What I do know is that no man could climb there though some tiny creature might. A creature that wants, no, needs freedom and the sky.”

The torchlight grew as I lifted the shroud from it again and stroked Dame’s neck.

“She would fly to it now, if not for our friendship, our bond. I brought you here, Oberon, as one who can understand the need for ritual and solemnity and now also as a friend. There are words that I could say alone, taught to me by a greater man, to release her from my service. I do not wish to be alone in the dark watching my friend leave to a better home than I could give her.”

“I understand. What would you have me do?”

“Here underneath her outer feathers are softer ones, not quite downy. After I ask her pardon for taking one, I would ask your blessings on her. She will not miss it, but it is not something a friend asks lightly for.”

“I am afraid I do not know the traditions of Narduna as I might sometime like to. I do not know what to do. What blessing would you ask that I could give?”

“I ask you to give the blessings that you know. Ask your god for her safety as I will of mine. Please, give her what you can.”

“Yes, Victor, I will do that.”

With that I plucked one feather from her underside and she almost snapped at me. Regaining herself, her claws kneaded my arm quizzically, annoyed.

As I held the feather up to Oberon, he softly began to chant. I didn’t know what he was saying as my heart welled with sadness, but I knew it was right. I whispered gently into Dame’s ears the words I knew would hurt me forever more.

I raised my arm towards the small opening I had found and bade her fly away. As she lifted off towards the little light, I felt she was grateful and I knew that I was truly her friend and her companion now.

“Go now little one. Go back to her. Fly back to your goddess….”

With Oberon’s soft chanting in my ear, I looked at my new friend and back to my old….

“…..and to your god. It is done. Thank you for your grace my friend.”

“Any time Victor, any time.”


-- by Jon Bohrer

An Elf Messenger In The Mists

As the sun rose over the hills and valleys of the kingdom, there hung a mist in the morning. In the Keep all slept, but two who lye silent under the mist. Since childhood Lukas had been sneaking off into the early morning with an Elven marksman named Amdr Sirfalas . They would lye silent and wait for the wildlife to come to life.

Amdr was an Elf vagabond whom had befriended the young prince one morning, while he hunted the deer of the valleys. Lukas had just let loose his arrow, when he stepped on a twig sending an alarm instantly. As Lukas readied another arrow, one flew quickly by his head. Lukas immediately fell to the ground fearing for his life. Father had always said not to leave the Keep by oneself. As Lukas looked behind him he saw the slim shadow of a figure run quickly by and it was followed by laughter.

Lukas soon realized this was an elf.

He had heard of such beings only in stories his mother would tell him and Oberon at night. They were a timeless people that kept to their own kind for the most part and humans rarely interacted with them. They were masters of weapons and weapon making from what he remembered in stories. But why would an elf shoot at him?

Lukas scanned over where the laughter had come from and saw the slim shadow standing, looking down; and chuckling. “Not a bad shot for letting the animal know you were after it, young prince. It would not have gone very much further if I would not have shot it. Ha, ha, you had wounded it in the back flank my friend.” Amdr said as he pulled out the arrow that Lukas had shot.

“Let me introduce myself, I am no assassin although it may have seemed that way young prince. My name is Amdr Sirfalas, traveler extraordinaire. You’re not too bad with that bow, but you have to ask yourself ‘do you want to improve?’”

With this Lukas didn’t know what to say, he had never seen an elf before and was dumbfounded by it. “Are your ears really pointy?” were the only words he could muster up to voice.

“HA, HA, HA…Indeed they are my young friend, I also can move quicker than you would expect.” Amdr replied.

“Why would you want to help me elf? Are there none who need it more than me?” Lukas remarked with some hesitation.

“I see in you what I once saw in myself and I believe that our paths were meant to cross. You are young now, but I know you and your brother will grow to be kings of old one day. There is much wisdom to be found in the mean time though. Will you allow me to train you?” Amdr inquired again.

“What do you want from me in return good elf?” Lukas asked.

“Only that you remember me and all that I teach you. Also you can not tell anyone except for your brother of me. I live in these woods for now, but things are changing and I will be leaving. These valleys used to be filled with good berries and wildlife. Now all I see are briars and thorns besieging the land.”

“I’m not quite sure that I should trust you Amdr. What if you should take me off to a hunt, but I become the hunted?”

“HA, HA, HA…Humans are not a tasty meal and much too hard to digest, I JEST! I only want to help you. This has been a long time coming for me. I have traveled to many places and seen many people, but none bear the marks you do.”

Marks? Marks, my face Lukas thought. The scars from when he and Oberon ran off to the valleys against their Father’s will. The ones he received when running through thicket and thorns to escape the orcs that had come into the kingdom. This began his hatred of the orcs and the stench that all of them had.

“Well, when do we begin Amdr?” Lukas finally replied
“Now, and tomorrow and the next day…Until your hand is steady and you can reload arrows as quickly as me!”

This began the long friendship the two would share. They met every morning, hunted and fished and Amdr taught Lukas of the different foods that could be made from the land. He also showed him some tracking skills, but Lukas was never good at remembering these lessons. He was always focused on how to steady his hand and reload faster, shooting with more accuracy.

The teaching went on for years until the day that Amdr did not show up. Lukas showed up to the usual spot underneath the thick mists of the valley by the cypress near the river. He waited until the sun broke the mists. He had no idea why Amdr had not shown up. Finally he decided to leave.

As he did he noticed an arrow had been shot into a tree. Tied to the arrow there was a small parchment. It read “Will meet again, danger comes! –A” Lukas thought about the note for some time as he slowly walked back to the Keep. Was this from Amdr? Why wouldn’t he just tell me? They had known each other for years; Amdr knew that Lukas would harbor him if needed. He could have hid in the crypts for a long time, even though they were kind of scary.

As Lukas came upon the Keep, he saw the glorious flying of the Blue flag of the House. He had never seen it so animated in the morning time. Then he heard and saw the gates open and his father leading men fully suited coming out.

“Father,” he yelled and Prince Gideon strode over.

“Lukas, get yourself inside the Keep, I will return soon. I have to support your uncle Edward in a decision that we have all made together. Your mother and I shall return soon and remember we love each of you very much.” Prince Gideon remarked as his horse pulled him back towards his wife’s.

Lukas stood there as the dust began to fill the air, while horses and mounted men rode hastily out the gateway to the Keep.

-- by Keith

A Note on the Naming of Bastards in Aethe

Consider an illegitimate child named Randall, whose father was Jordan Fletcher and whose mother was Nyssa Simmons. These people all reside in the village of Thorpton. The question at hand is: what is Randall's last name, probably?

In Prendor, an illegitimate child's last name, if the father is known, is the father's last name prefixed by Bal-. So Randall's name would be Randall Balfletcher. If the father is not known, then the mother's last name is prefixed by Bel-. Randall's name would be Randall Belsimmons. There is one exception. When the father is of the royal bloodline, the child's last name is Balroy. So if Jordan Fletcher were the third grandson of the fourth son of the previous king, for example, Randall's name would be Randall Balroy.

If the child's namesake has only one name -- which is to say Jordan Fletcher was really named simply "Jordan" -- then Bal- or Bel- is prefixed to that name. Randall's name would be Randall Baljordan or Randall Belnyssa, or would have no last name himself and be simply "Randall".

In the Prendorian Duchy of Courbonne, however, as well as in the Kingdom of Hathaine, an illegitimate child simply takes the mother's family name. Randall would be Randall Simmons.

In Altara, Randall would take that town's name as a last name and be Randall of Thorpton. Or he would simply be known as Randall the Bastard.

In most other lands of the Long Sea, an illegitimate child takes the father's last name or the town's name. Randall would be Randall Fletcher or Randall Thorpton.

Questions?