Firiona Vie Everquest

"You are almost ready to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting Norrath. Your first task will be to destroy the only being on that world that can destroy you."

The creature grinned maliciously as he bowed before the Father of Hatred. No words escaped the lips of this tormented soul that had once been a man of honor and integrity. His form now twisted beyond recognition of him ever being a mortal of any race. His given name long forgotten through the circles of torment as Innoruuk tore his spirit from him and infused him with great hatred and great power.

My last day in the service of Lord Gilliad Shadowbane was spent on a bed in the Temple of Marr. I was dieing from a dose of an incurable slow poison that D`Vinn had given me. I wanted to be among my fellow druids of Karana but I knew that they could not have given me as peaceful a passing as the clerics of Marr had. I traced the rune on the top of the music box that Lady Alani had made for me and listened to the melody that issued forth. I remember the first time hearing this melody had evoked erotic feelings in me as memories of my one night with Ethan filled my mind. This time was different. The music had a soothing effect that gave me peace and eased the pain that the poison had started inflicting on me as my life slowly drained away. Gilliad and his son were on each side of my bed.

“I will surely miss you both.” I said. “I have loved you both like sons.”

“I know you have, Willa.” Replied Gilliad. “I have loved you as if you were my mother at times.”

During all my circles of service to the House of Shadowbane, I never felt more appreciated than when I served Gilliad. He was a wonderful man. As I lay there, on the bed listening to the music box, Gilliad traced the rune on top of his music box and the music from both boxes intertwined. I felt alive even though I was not going to be much longer. Young Gilliadson did the same with his and the music from it joined in with the other two boxes. The melody that they formed together was beautiful. I could see Lady Alani’s face and she was smiling upon me. I do not know if Gilliad and his son saw it too. Gilliad and I talked and the music made me feel strong enough to actually laugh. Yes, I was laughing when I saw the last of the two Shadowbanes. Gilliad and Gilliadson each held one of my hands as I slipped into Karana’s bosom. I had never felt so loved in all my life.

“Willanaome.” A familiar voice sounded in my ear. “Willanaome.” It came again a few seconds later. I knew the voice as one that I loved dearly.

“Ethan?” I called out. “My Love!” Ethan appeared before me.

“Yes my beloved, it is I.” I walked up to him, threw my arms around him and pulled him close to kiss him. “I do not have much time, beloved. Karana has sent me to you with a message and an offer.”

“Lord Karana said that you are one of his most devout followers and would gladly welcome you into his realm but, because of your services to Mithaniel Marr, you have been requested to be returned to Norrath.”

“I must be separated from you again?”

“That choice is yours to make. Eternity with me can start any time. But Lord Shadowbane needs you. I do not have the details my love, but only you can provide the help he needs and yet he does not realize it yet.” But until such time you must prepare yourself. A young follower of Karana is departing Norrath to join him here. You will take over her body. It is not good to put all of your knowledge into such a young body so he will have to strip you of most of your power. You will have to relearn your magic.”

“If the Shadowbanes need me then I must return. I can relearn the magic.”

“So shall it be then. You will not reveal yourself to any of the Shadowbanes until the time arrives. You may however, gather what news of them that you can since you will be aiding them again when they restore the House of Shadowbane. During this time you will answer only to Karana and whatever emissary he may send. The Circle will know of your return and they will assist you in any way possible. Verlaine has taken your place in the Circle.”

“I am glad for her. So she has received the news of her mother’s death.”

“Yes she has. One more thing, you will find that some years have passed since you died. When this lifetime is done, you will have a choice of either joining me here or being with your husband. I will not blame you if you choose him. I know you loved him dearly.”

“One question I have been wanting the answer to for a long time.”

“Why did you go to Nagafen’s Lair on such a foolish adventure.”

“You will find the answer to that question during this lifetime. I love you Willa. Now go.” Ethan kissed me passionately.

When the kiss was over, I found myself in the Misty Thicket. I looked at my hands and they were youthful again though they were not my own. I looked around and saw a group of goblins leaving the area where I was now sitting. I looked around me and saw the bodies of several other Halflings, two adults and a child. I bowed my head and wept for them. I was still weeping when the deputies found me and took me to Rivervale. No one knew the names of the dead Halfling family. Somehow, I knew and told them. I also knew the name of the body I had inhabited but I did not use it, instead, I gave them my own.

It is quite an experience being an old, shriveled up but powerful druid one day and being a young but much weaker one the next. My hair was no longer gray nor was it the chestnut color that it was in my previous youth but was now white as new snow. I had no recollection of the magic I had learned in all my years of service to Karana. I did remember my friends, the Shadowbanes. I knew I had to get stronger so I could go out into the world to seek news of them. I also knew that I had to be ready for whatever service I was to give to them when I was finally revealed to them…

"NO!" The half-Dal Druidess sat up in her bed. The creature had been haunting her dreams again. Each time it stood over her about to deal the final blow to her already severely injured body as she strove to protect her great-granddaughter. It was in that instant that recognition of the creature came to her but when she awakened it was forgotten...

Lady Verlaine Shadowbane rose from her bed and washed her face in the basin.

"Are you well Matron?" Asked the young brown-haired girl. "I heard you shout."

"I am well Myrikel, it was just a bad dream." Replied the Druidess. "Go back to bed."

The young girl returned to her bedroom. Myrikel had been visiting with her Great-Grandmother while her parents were working to get the Shadowbane land restored to them. The appearance of a new Halfling Druidess in Surefall Glade had heralded much excitement and bustle but no one would tell Myrikel who she was beyond the fact that she was an old friend of her Father. How that could have been Myrikel was not sure because this druidess was barely seventeen circles old but she seemed to have gathered much power quite quickly and even obtained a Naturewalker's Scimitar. So she had achieved at least the fourty-sixth ring in her short career as a druidess of Karana. The Circle of the Nine had been meeting a lot since the arrival of this strange Druidess.

The blue bird lighted on the windowsill and chirped at the young girl.

"I know you." Said Myrikel as she turned to look at the bird. "Though I do not know how I know you. You are Lithian, the Avatar of Erollisi Marr."

The bird changed form to that of a young girl with sky blue eyes like Myrikel's and platinum-blonde hair.

"Greetings Lovebearer! You have been given the knowledge by my Mistress, the Queen of Love. Come take my hands. It is time for you to receive that which you will need to do the will of Erollisi Marr on Norrath." Myrikel took Lithian's hands and a soft glow enveloped the two of them starting from Lithian and fading into Myrikel. "You now have the power to bring love to the surface in any creature no matter how deeply it is buried. You cannot make someone love another, that love must already reside in that person. It is a great gift you have to share but it must be used wisely. Just because there is love deep inside someone does not always mean that it needs to be brought to the surface. You will know when to use this gift and when not to. You need only smile upon the person you wish to use this gift on and will it to be so." Lithian turned back into a blue bird and flew out of Surefall Glade.

The Knight and the Elementalist entered the Shadowbane family crypt. Gilliadson looked at his mother's body, still preserved by the magic of the vault. Gilliadson then looked at his father's urn. Half of his ashes were buried in the Greater Faydark at the place where Sir Gilliad and Lady Marial met. The other half was brought here to rest between his wife and the Druidess who had raised several generations of Shadowbane. Gilliadson laid his hand on his father's music box and then noticed that Willanaome's box was missing.

"The tomb has been defiled!" Cried out the Knight in the silence of the crypt. "But how? Only a Shadowbane can open the vault." There were only four Shadowbanes alive other than Gilliadson. One of them was with him. Two of the other three did not even know how to open this place, nor did they know the location. That left one... Lady Verlaine, Gilliadson's Grandmother. The Knight would have to confront his Grandmother after the meeting with the new city council in Freeport.

Gilliadson and Sineliniel walked into the new City Council Chamber and stood before the new city council of Freeport. Lady Verlaine, Myrikel and a young Halfling that Gilliadson had never seen before were present as well. Myrikel held her great-grandmother's hand while her Father and Mother approached the Council.

"Sir Gilliadson Shadowbane. We the representatives of the people of Freeport give you our deepest thanks for ridding us of that tyrant, Lucan D`Lere. We have dilligently searched the archives of the city and have been unable to find any documents outlining the property you described as being part of your family's holding. Without something to give us the boundaries of said property, we are unable to restore it to you. We truly wish that there were some evidence of such here but apparently Lucan D`Lere destroyed it all while he was in power." Gilliadson looked quite disappointed.

"I understand Councilman. I am afraid that the only evidence that I know of is locked away in a library that I do not have access to." The strange Halfling approached the desk and placed a parchment upon it.

"Perhaps this will suffice as proper evidence of such." The young Halfling bowed respectfully.

The Councilman looked over the parchment carfully. "Give us an hour to authenticate this and if it is what it appears to be, then we will have a copy of it scribed for our records and your land will be restored to you, Sir Shadowbane.

Gilliadson looked at the young Halfling in disbelief. "Who are you and how did you get that parchment?" The Halfling's hands moved inside of her cloak and a melody was heard. The stranger produced a small box that was playing the melody while the rune on top glowed brightly. "No... You cannot be! I held one of her hands as she slipped from this life and into the next!"

"Yes it is I. Lord Karana has seen fit to send me back to aid your family once more." The Halfling turned and looked at the Koada`Dal Elementalist. "So you are the one who keeps Gilliadson happy. It is a pleasure to meet you at last Lady Sineliniel. I am Willanaome Bramblerose but you may call me Willa." Willa's tush wiggled as she bowed to Sineliniel.

"It is such a pleasure and an honor to meet you." Said the Elementalist. "Gilliadson has told me so much about you." Sineliniel bowed to to the Halfling Druidess. Willa turned back to Gilliadson.

"You have grown up quite well, Master Gilliadson. Your father would be quite proud. I would like to make a trip to Felwithe and meet Lady Marial. Lady Verlaine has told me much about her."

The Councilman returned with a smile on his face.

"Everything is in order now. Here is a new deed to your property in the Commonlands." The Councilman handed a scroll to Gilliadson. "May the blessings of Marr continue with your family Sir Shadowbane."

"There will be a celebration the likes of which you have never seen once the new estate has been built." Gilliadson leaned over and whispered into Sineliniel's ear. "You and I will have a celebration of our own on that day as well my love. I would very much like our next child to be conceived in our home." Sineliniel smiled and blushed slightly as she kissed her husband.

"It is good to see that everything is returning to as it should be for you M'Lord." Said Willanaome.

"Thank you Willa." Said Gilliadson. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Are you going to take over your old charge in the Commonlands?"

"That is my intention if the Circle of Nine will approve."

"I can see no reason for you to be denied Mistress Willa." Said Verlaine. "Consider it done by my authority as a member of the Circle of Nine. We have no other druids in charge there though, there are a few who do reside there at the circle. They will be subject to you and assist in your duties."

"Thank you Lady Verlaine." Said Willa.

"Matron, would you be willing to keep Myrikel with you while we have the new house built?" Asked Gilliadson.

"Of course my dear." Replied Verlaine. "She is such a joy to have around and even Xannuusus has been visiting us more just to see her I think. Oh Willa, while I am thinking of it, we shall send Linella to join you as soon as we get back. You are her family and she should be with you."

"Thank you, Verlaine. I will meet her at the Commonlands Rings." The group departed Freeport. Verlaine and Myrikel left for Surefall Glade. Willanaome, Gilliadson and Sineliniel departed for Felwithe to visit with Marial.