Firiona Vie Everquest

Verlaine and Myrikel stepped through the portal into the main Guild Hall in Surefall Glade. Linella was tending to an injured bear cub.

"I think a poacher tried to enter the Glade from Jagged Pine Forest, Lady Verlaine. I have been trying to heal the wounds but they just keep getting worse." Verlaine inspected the wounds inflicted upon the cub.

"This was not done by a poacher." Said Verlaine. "There is something in Jagged Pine that is much more evil than the poachers to have done this. Call the Circle together! We must go face this down and rid Norrath of it." The bear cub gave a final shudder and expired. Linella wept.

"This is a very grievous form of corruption." Said Xannuusus. "We must find whatever caused this and bring it to an end before too much harm is done." The other druids of the Circle concurred.

"Take me with you." Said Myrikel. "I do not know how or why but I feel I may be of some assistance."

"You are but only a child!" Scoffed one of the elder druids. "What could you possibly do to help."

"She is more than a mere child." Said Verlaine. "She is one who has been divinely touched. She has some insights that go well beyond her few years. Child go put on your armor and bring your weapons. We shall be going to battle."

"I will protect her as much as I can." Said Xannuusus. "Linella, transport yourself to the Commonlands and tell Mistress Willanaome that she may be needed in Jagged Pine. As for the rest of us, assemble the rangers and let us prepare for battle!"

The massive creature put his cursed touch on every living thing that he could find in the Jagged Pine Forest. Trees, Animals, Gnolls, Potameids and even the druids and rangers that had tended that forest could not stand against it. The forest was littered with the bodies of dead and dieing creatures and withering trees as the corruption slowly spread over the area.

"She will come to me eventually. She must."

The Circle of Nine and the forces of Surefall Glade entered the Jagged Pine Forrest. The inhabitants around the portal were all dead with horrific wound on their bodies. Several animals were found with the same condition and many trees had withered while others were on their way to dieing as well. Myrikel took her Great-Grandmother's hand.

"I feel a great hatred in this forrest and it is quite painful." Said the young Shadowbane.

"Come child, stay close." Said Verlaine. "We must find the cause of this. I sense a creature that I have not felt before, yet part of it seems familliar to me. There is a presence that I have not felt in a long time mingled in with the creature."

The Druids of the Circle gathered together and started prayers of healing for the forrest in their area. The Trees revived and slowly started recovering. Some clerics of Tunare arrived and started praying over the slain inhabitants. As they were revived they were sent into Surefall Glade for their protection.

"Let us seek out this creature and put an end to this carnage before our work here is undone and before we can begin restoring this forest." Said Xannuusus.

The small army headed into the direction of the creature that they sensed.

The Creature watched as the small army of Druids and Rangers aproached him and prepared for battle. Then he saw her. The only one who could destroy him out of them all. He knew he would have to battle through all of the others to get to her. For just a brief moment something stirred deep within him. A ripple of a memory long forgotten. The Creature focused on his hatred and quelled the stirring before charging into the army. Druid and Rangers were tossed aside as if they were mere toys. The spells and arrows launched against him had no effect. Xannuusus the great leader of the Circle of Nine was cast aside and lay unconscious. Finally it was down to just her and the child. The Creature paid no mind to the child as he considered her insignificant. He focused all of his malice and hatred upon the Lady Verlaine and knocked her to the ground with his will. A sickly green orb of corruption appeared in his hand and he unleashed it's power upon the fallen Druidess.

For a moment Myrikel felt love from within The Creature and then it was buried deep. The intense hatred pained the child greatly. As the creature advanced upon her and her Matron, Myrikel pushed her awareness deeper into The Creature's soul until she found what she was looking for. By that time Lady Verlaine was on the ground fighting against The Creature's orb of corruption and slowly losing the fight. Myrikel latched on to the creatures single glimmer of love and focused her will upon it as she forced herself to smile despite the great pain she was feeling. The glimmer grew slowly at first as The Creature's intense hatred fought to keep it quelled. As the Creature's will faltered the seed of love grew until the Creature lost the will to sustain the corruption spell he was fighting Lady Verlaine with. The Creature's hatred started fading away and Myrikel smiled brightly.

"Verlaine!" The Creature exclaimed at last.

Verlaine looked up at the creature and concentrated on the aura that she now felt radiating from it.

"Bralder?" She asked. "My Beloved Bralder? By the tears of Karana! What has been done to you?"

"I was taken by Innoruuk. You must release me, only you can."

"How? How can I release you?"

Divine inspiration hit Myrikel. "Only your love for him can release him, Matron. I do not know the outcome but I do know that his soul will be set free."

Verlaine stood to her feet and the creature stooped down. For a moment they looked at each other before Verlaine embaced the creature. Myrikel stepped toward them and placed one of her hands on each of them. Slowly, The Creature's hideous form changed as it shrunk to the size of a normal Human. Its features changed until he was wholly Human again. Myrikel stepped back an averted her eyes because the man was naked. Slowly the evil that was done to the Jagged Pine forrest was reversed. Leaves appeared on the trees and the animals were healed and started running around. One of the druids rose up and brought Bralder a robe, which he quickly put on. Bralder held his wife for the first time in many circles and kissed her.

"I do not know where to begin, my love." Said Verlaine at last. "But I think we should retire to Surefall Glade and take it from there.

"Well you can start by telling me who this wonderous child is along the way." Bralder smiled warmly as he looked at Myrikel.

The Ceremony was a celebration of the life of the few druids and rangers who perished in the battle against The Creature. None of the residents of Surfall Glade or Jagged Pine blamed Bralder, since he was not himself, but that did not lessen the sadness in his heart. Lady Verlaine stood next to him and held his hand as the biers were set aflame. Linella wept into her Great-Grandmother's dress as her best friend's bier was lit. Myrikel cried as well as she held Verlaine's other hand. One member of the Circle of the Nine perished so now they were eight. Xannuusus and the others of the Circle reinstated Willanaome even though now she was the second most powerful druid outside of the circle. The most powerful druid had vanished from sight but bards were about seeking Jetamio Wolfheart with an invitation to the Circle since Lady Verlaine desired to step down and spend the rest of her life with her Husband.

A young raven-haired bardess arrived in Faydark and started attuning herself to the forrest around her. She pushed her awareness to it's limits and felt the presence of who she was charged to seek. The presence was strong and powerful but she knew it to be that of a benevolent entity. Quickly she got her bearings, pulled out her drum and beat a cadence upon it that filled her legs with energy. Quickly she ran toward the one she sought...

The young platinum-haired Halfling approached the Fier`Dal Druidess.

"Greetings Stormcaller!" Said the young Halfling. "I am Willanaome Bramblerose of Rivervale, you may call me Willa. I am to escort you to the Circle's Hall. I know this must seem strange to you but you have been selected to receive a great honor if you wish to accept it. Please come this way." The young Halfling led the way through the glade to the house that the Druid council known as the Circle of the Nine held their meetings. The council room waqs rather rustic in appearance with a large table that bent around to form a circle with an opening in the middle. There was a walkway through one part of the table that allowed one to stand in the middle area. Seated around the table were eight of the most powerful druids in all of Norrath. Willanaome motioned for Jetamio to stand in the center area and went to her seat between Verlaine and one who appeared to be an Elddar Dal, though the Elddar were known to be extinct.

Jetamio looked over each one briefly, and noted the missing seat, beginning to get an inkling of what was to come. Though why on Norrath they would pick her, she had no idea.

((No empty seat yet but soon to be...))

The Elddar spoke up...

"Greetings Altáriël Súrion, Stormcaller of Tunare! It has been quite some time since I have seen you. I believe that last time we met was in the Northern Plain of Karana and I was in my true form. It gives us great pleasure to invite you to join the Circle of the Nine. Our Lady Verlaine has expressed a desire to step down and enjoy the rest of her life with her recently returned husband but she will not leave a seat vacant to do so. Normally a position on the in the Circle is for life and when one is vacated we seek out the most powerful druid outside the circle to fill it. You are currently that one and are even more powerful than several other members. We are the overseers of all things pertaining to the natural in Norrath. Some of us Reside here in Surefall Glade and others roam the lands, only to come here when a summons is issued. Those that reside here protect the Glade and the Jagged Pine with the other Druids and Rangers here. The invitation is open to you, if you wish to accept it then hand me your wreath."

She looked mildly surprised at being addressed by her true name but didn't comment on it. She met the Elddars eyes unflinching.

"It is a great honour you offer me. But I must ask why you choose me. You know my name, which very few left alive do. But that would suggest you know more about me than most. Therefore you must know the crimes I commited in my past among those of the Dark. Even now, I am unwelcome in the Druids Guild house in Kelethin. Yes, I am powerful, more than probably all of you here. But power is not everything. There must be a better reason to honour me with this request."

She made no move to find her wreath as yet, instead waiting for his response.

The Elddar gazed deeply into the druidess' eyes as if reading the depths of her soul.

"You have the heart to do what is right. We all make mistakes in our path of growth and some of them follow us for the rest of our lives. Long have I lived in this land. Long before even you, child of Tunare. I have felt the spirits of many a young druid and yours did leave quite an impression upon me when I handed you your Naturewalker's Scimitar. This invitation is open to you with the only advice that I can give. Do not concern yourself much over what you do not have the power to change like the past. Learn from the mistakes you have made and move forward. This is not a position that will bind you in any one place. If you wish to still wander Norrath, you will still be free to do so. If you finally wish to settle somewhere, that choice is yours to make as well."

Willanaome stood and spoke up.

"My friends Gilliadson and Sineliniel speak highly of you. I do not consider them to be bad judges of character. The honor we offer you is great indeed but just as equally we would be honored to number you among us." Willa smiled brightly as she took her seat again.

Jetamio looked from the Elddar to the Halfling and back again. She stood for the longest time contemplating it.

Finally she dug down into the deepest recesses of her bag and pulled out a wreath of ivy and the autumn leaves of an acer. She placed the wreath on the table in front of the Elddar.

The Elddar carefully picked the wreath up and looked at it a moment. The ancient being softly sang an incantation in the long forgotten language of the Elddar Dal and the wreath glowed brightly. The wreath was then passed around the table and each druid incanted some of their power into it. Willanaome as the last as she said her incantation in her native language.

Verlaine rose from her seat and bowed to the Stormcaller as the wreath was returned to her before leaving the chamber.

"It may take you a little time to adjust to the power the wreath will give you as you absorb it into your soul." Said The Elddar as he handed the brightly glowing wreath back to the new member of the circle. In your wreath now is part of the essense of the other eight of us. I Xannuusus, welcome you to the Circle of the Nine. We will have a farewell gathering for Lady Verlaine in two days. Judging by what I feel from you, you should have assimilated the new power of your wreath by tomorrow."

"It took me two weeks to do that when I first received mine." Chimed in Willanaome.

Xannuusus and the other druids rose from their seats and greeted the new member of the Circle.