Post by Merla, the Daughter of Summer on Nov 9, 2020 13:44:13 GMT
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Reckless. Uncoordinated. That was how their mission went.
She had been quick to take action when they arrived in the demiplane, but then Sheryl had gotten stuck behind the Knights of the Sword of the Dawn, just out of reach to help her friends. Her thought had been to leave Astra behind because they were to infiltrate and investigate, not to face the lich then and there. Sheryl had been under the impression they would be trying to sneakily investigate Marduk’s lair. Of course, she should have known there was no way to know if Marduk would or wouldn’t be there.
A foolish assumption on her part.
Sheryl had watched on in horror as Marduk attacked Ghesh with a sickly green necrotic energy that had him bending over in pain as he fought next to Kanorax in his bronze dragon form. She was too far away to counter the spell and could only watch as her friend tried to hold on. He was tough, the toughest of all of them bar the bronze dragon, but Sheryl could see how everyone around her was slowly weakening due to the necrotic magic that permeated the room. A wave of healing Summer magic from her helped to push it back a little and even though Lady Macida smiled and nodded her thanks to her, Sheryl couldn’t help but feel something dreadful would happen.
And then it did.
Taz, her brave dragonborn friend, smouldering armour leaving a trail of smoke in his wake, was fighting a particularly strong wraith that had been casting spells at all of them, when he rushed to Marduk, leaving Ser Lytton to finish the wraith off. Sheryl watched as he bravely charged at the lich, moving so fast the swings of his icy maul were a blur. It looked like Taz may have done it! But Marduk, one hand rubbing at his face where his magically supported body was starting to show the signs of the battle, spoke.
“Impudent wretch.”
Lady Macida brought down her shield and a blinding flash of radiant light sears through the dark wraiths surrounding them. Sheryl tried to blink the light from her eyes. She needed to be able to see Taz. He was in trouble, something was about to happen!
When the light cleared, she saw him slump to the ground, unmoving. A diabolical grin spread across Marduk’s face as he looked down at her friend, then up to her.
Face shifting, emotions roiling, anger filling her heart, Sheryl grabbed a bead of crystal from her belt and crushed it in her hand, the shards digging into her flesh whilst colour burst from her eyes in fiery oranges, magentas and pinks directed at Marduk. Part of her consciousness goes with the spell, blasting his mind, trying to shatter the lich’s intellect.
But it doesn’t work and he laughs at her.
She shouts something to Ser Lytton. He is closest, having just banished the wraith spellcaster he has been fighting, but it is Ghesh who rushes Marduk. With a roar that Sheryl feels in her bones, Ghesh swiftly and effectively cleaves Marduk’s head from his body.
It was then the rooms started to tremble and the lair they were meant to investigate started to disappear. Arkadius behind her is in a giant, lizard-dragon form, Wren is blasting the last wraith with their radiant eyes and Bones is limping, holding himself a little more stiffly. Looking closer at him, Sheryl sees how old he suddenly looks, almost on death’s door.
Kanorax roars, telling them they must leave, and quickly. Lady Macida is already chanting, holding herself upright by her shield.
Ser Lytton has gone over to help, grabbing Marduk’s robes whilst Ghesh, still in his rage, picks up Taz. But Ser Lytton is moving too slow, the floor disappearing faster and faster from the edge of the room.
With another roar Kanorax opens the portal, the familiar pavilion tent on the other side. Sheryl sees Astra with Stripes, Wren’s badger, the relief flooding into her mind from her partner. She goes to step through, but looks back to see Ser Lytton has fallen behind, the darkness right on his heels, ready to devour him.
The imperial topaz gem in her circlet glows brighter as Sheryl calls out to Ser Lytton and the others struggling to move, a kulning call that adds a burst of sudden speed to everyone’s step, inspiring them all to get out of the collapsing demiplane. Kanorax is the last one through, closing the portal swiftly behind him.
What Ser Lytton had grabbed was the only pieces of information they were able to get, but to Sheryl it seemed hardly enough and certainly not worth the sacrifice of her friend’s life. She knew any bit of information they got would help, but Taz was dead. This wasn’t his first time either, and she had no idea if it would be harder for the red dragonborn to come back or not. Still, Sheryl had to try.
She asked the Knights if she could perform the spell here at the pavilion to which they acquiesced. Bringing Lady Antonia back had been different. This was one of her oldest friends, someone with whom she had seen and done much with. Arkadius was right by her side, another thread to bring Taz back. She prayed to the stars these two connections would be enough.
“I won’t leave you in the dark, Taz,” she said quietly to him, carefully laying a diamond of exquisite quality on his chest. She brought her harp to her lap, resting her hands on it, ready to play. “Follow my voice back to us, back to Life and Love.”
In a graceful twirl she stood up, strumming a chord on her harp and she started to sing.
I am the fountain of affection
I’m the instrument of joy
And to keep the good times rolling
I’m the girl, I’m the girl,
You know the world could be our oyster,
If you just put your trust in me,
Cause we’ll keep the good times rolling
Wait and see, wait and see,
Oh wait and see!
For an hour she played and sang all manner of sea shanties to call Taz’s spirit home, the diamond floating above the dragonborn’s chest to spin and glow. Arkadius accompanied her on his lyre, whilst their friends all sang along to varying degrees of volume and enthusiasm. Sheryl felt it, their shared desire to bring their friend back and she fed it into the music she played and the spell she cast.
Fingers aching after an hour-long medley, the spinning diamond stopped. As it touched Taz’s chest it began to melt, the smell and feel of fresh sea air assailing their senses. Sheryl breathed a sigh as the liquid diamond crashed like a wave over Taz. And then there was stillness.
Slowly, Taz opens his eyes, looking up. All of them come over, kneeling beside him, a warm, hopeful smile on Sheryl’s face. He looks at her and groans.
“Damn. I will never get used to that.”
Merla was pacing in her room at the Four Fair Winds. The autumn sun was trying to push through another fog laden morning but it was still considerably bright outside. Her research into the tuning fork they had recovered from Marduk’s body had been fruitful, though it raised more questions. She intended to tell the others, but had stayed very late the night before in Daring Academy completing her research, so she decided to tell them later today.
It was not what she found out that had her restless so early in the morning however. No, Merla was distracted, thinking of doing something she has wanted to do for a long time, months even. She had even thought about it before her last trip back home to the Summer Lands but had hesitated. As with everything, contingency plans notwithstanding, Merla did not want to leave things be anymore. Not after nearly losing a friend, again. She would not have regrets or leave things unsaid.
So why did she hesitate now?
The worst that could happen is he doesn’t respond. If that's the case I could try again.
Merla bit her lip nervously. How many times would she have to try though before she got a response? Would it be seen as desperate? Pushy? Needy?
But that look he gave me...
With an exasperated sigh at herself, she picks up her harp and plucks a C chord, quick as a fox. She could feel the magic swirl around her, taste the essence of summer in the back of her throat. It gave her confidence and she used that to bolster herself as she sent her words across the Planes.
“It’s been many moons... and there aren’t enough words to say it all. I yearn for your guidance, Kruxeral. Will you meet with me?”
There is a very, very long pause. Several minutes in fact. Merla kept up the concentration for the spell, hoping, willing for a response, her pacing starting up again. She began to think no answer must be coming, when she finally heard his voice.
“Guidance is the last thing you need. But... it would be good to see you. Southern edge of that crossing point in the Feythorn. Midnight.”
Continued in ‘Moonlight Sonata’ 💖
