Firiona Vie Everquest

The lady Paladin knocked on the door.

"Please Enter." Came the call from the other side of the door. Myrikel slid the door open and stepped into the room. The two Teir`Dal ladies bowed politely as Myrikel stood before them.

"You requested my presence?" asked the young Knight.

"We have indeed." Replied the Teir`Dal in the arcanist's robes. "Would you pray for an audience with the Avatar of your Goddess?"

"I can but I cannot guarantee that she will appear."

"You united the two of us in our love bond by bringing it to the surface in each of us. We wish to be life-bound as well. I already know that Innoruuk would never grant such a thing. Your Goddess is the only one of the Pantheon would would consider such a thing."

"You know that if the two of you are bound in such a way that when one of you dies so does the other."

"Indeed, we are aware of the consequences and neither of us is willing to continue without the other. We are sisters till the end."

"Very well then, Lady P`Nala, I shall pray for Her appearance. We shall have our answer soon." Myrikel left the room and headed toward the family chapel.

"Our Mistress will not allow me to enter into the presence of the creature of Hate." A familliar voice spoke into Myrikel's mind as she prayed in the family chapel. "She has however allowed me to bestow the power of Life-binding upon you for just this occasion. You may bind the sisters' lives together."

Myrikel turned around and looked into Lithian's topaz colored eyes.

"Thank you M'Lady. It is the love that D`Narr has for her sister that has softened her some. Perhaps that love will one day be her salvation."

"One can only hope. You will receive the power at the proper time and you are to use it immediately. You will feel it when it comes to you."

"It is good to see you again Lithian. It has been some time since I have been able to bask in the aura of our Mistress that you bring with you."

"It is good to see you again as well Lovebearer, however I must be about Her business. I will come see you again soon and perhaps we can have a real visit." The two ladies embraced for a moment before the Messenger of Erollisi faded away.

Stormfollower rose from his seat in the council chambers,

"I will agree to this under one condition, I will run the Trial in the way of my people. It will be a search for truth and not a battle of lies." The old men nodded reverently. He bowed towards the council of Judges to which he had only recently been admitted. This would be his first trial outside his tribe and he was concerned that his bias for those involved might interfere. But the council had put their faith in him and so he would not let them down.

"I have several things to take care of first, but I will return in a week and one day to set up the sacred event"

((Aiming for one week from tomorrow in P.O.K. (making it Fri June 5) I will set a precise time early next week upon hearing back from the main participants, everyone is welcome to give support, evidence and character reference hope you can all make it!!!))

The Shadow Knight, stripped of her armor and weapons, paced about the room that she was assigned awaiting notice of her trial. It was only at the request of her Sister that she even agreed to such a rediculous idea...

P`Nala had convinced her Sister to stand trial to appease the members of the alliance because she could not stand the thought of D`Narr being hunted for the rest of her life. She knew her Sister would not have killed the great Treant without a reason. No one else was willing to defend the young Shadow Knight so P`Nala took the task herself because of the oath the two had sworn to each other when D`Narr brought her Sister to the Shadowbane Estate to save her from being executed by their mother. Now it was P`Nala's chance to try to save her sister and return the favor.

The day before the trial came and Myrikel knocked on the door to D`Narr's room.

"You may enter." Came the call from within the room.

Myrikel pushed the door open and found the two sisters looking at her as she walked in.

"It is time, Sisters. I have received the power promised by the Messenger of Erollisi." Beamed the young Knight. "Please come stand before me and take my hands."

The two Teir`Dal ladies approached the Lovebearer and each took one of Myrikel's hands. A soft light blue aura surrounded the three ladies.

"With the power bestowed upon me by my Goddess I do bind your two lives together from this day forward. The two of you shall live as one being neither living longer than the other. May you both share long life and happiness. This is a little different lifebinding than what is sometimes bestowed upon Bonded couples. The two of you can still choose mates but will never be able to lifebind with them as my parents have with each other. This binding can never be undone. I sincerely hope the events of tomorrow go well for you both.

If that old Treant had minded his own business and left her alone he would still be alive and D`Narr would not be in this predicament. The Druids and Rangers of Karana are seeking her head on a pike. Ah well... all for the glory of Innoruuk! She can feel the hatred towards her and it is glorious. She has inadvertently brought more souls closer to her God. Her life would be a small price to pay for such an honor. Her sister, P`Nala, is planning her defense since it was she who talked the young Shadow Knight into turning herself in. Tomorrow will either be the end of both of them and the damnation of the accursed Alliance of Light or D`Narr will be spared. Tomorrow will decide whether love or hatred is stronger...

The sound of heavy armored boots approaching her door awakened the Lady Knight of Shadows. D`Narr sat up in her bed and covered herself. Not that she was ever ashamed of her body but out of respect for the ones who have taken her Sister in and given her a home and protection. A gauntleted hand knocked on her door.

"Enter." Her voice soft but still with a commanding quality befitting a Lady of her position.

The door swung open with a slight creak of it's hinges revealing a Knight in the full crimson and silver ceremonial armor of the Shadowbane Knights.

"Get dressed Lady D`Narr, your day has arrived." Said the Knight. "I will await you out here."

"I shall not be long." The Teir`Dal Lady quickly got out of bed and put on a simple violet silk dress and quickly brushed her long platinum colored hair. D`Narr exited the room to find her sister and the Knight having a conversation about the upcoming trial. "I am ready. Let us get this done with." It had been a long wait for this day since the Lady Shadowknight had turned herself in at the request of her sister. The first prosecutor that had stepped up to take the case had disappeared and now finally another has stepped up. "Matron should know nothing of all of this so it is not likely that she had a hand in any of this" D`Narr thought.

"You know, Lady D`Narr, if it had been anyone else I would have brought them in dead." Said the Knight.

"I know."

In his private chambers somewhere on the plane of Justice Stormfollower read the case both for the prosecution and for the defense. Both sides had valid arguments and ample proofs. This trial would prove to be very interesting and would no doubt set new precedence when it came to the relations between the followers of Tunare and Innoruuk. Never before had two more different parties been engaged in a trial such as this. Though it was definitely not going to be what everyone expected...

As appointed judge, the great Shaman of the nomadic northron tribes had been given permission to conduct this trial in the way of his people. In the north nature served as final judge, and she was both terrible and just. Nature had no priciples and she made no distinction between good and evil and yet still pardoned no mistake, her yea was yea, and her nay, nay.There was no week mercy in her, cause and consequence were inseparable and inevitable in her eyes. Her four elements had no forbearance. Her fire burned, her water drown, her air consumed and her earth buried all. Only nature knew how to justly proportion to the fault the punishment it deserved. Things were never muddled in the confusion and emotion of most mortal trials for justice.Yet still natures laws affirmed rather than prohibited, if you would violate her laws you were your own judge, prosecuting attorney, jury and hangman. And it was this model that his tribe had tried to emulate for thousands of years, keeping as close to the laws of nature as mortally possible. Were that they as unerring in their judgments as nature. Both parties will be quite surprised at the precedings he thought as he smoothed out the ravens feather that would serve a key role in the trial.

Animals had no need for trials he thought, they did not sweat and wine about their condition. They did not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins nor did they sit in countless councils disusing their duty to a god. Not one was dissatisfied, not one is determined with the mania of owning things. Not one kneels to another, nor to its kind that lived thousands of years ago. How much simpler this trial would be if it took place outside of civilizations controls.

He placed the ravens feather in his hair and left the confines of the plane of the Tribunal. Everything was now in place and Stormfollower began the long walk of silence and reflection that would both prepare him for and bring him to the trial. Lightning flashed in the distant plane of storms, the shorthand of its Lord and it told of chaos.

The three stood at the entrance to theJudgement Hall and awaited the call to Enter...

Jetamio did not know well the story of these two Tier'Dal, but she knew who they were, enough to for her to keep track of the trial from a respectable distance. Until Stormfollower was chosen to be the judge. The Druid normally cared little for the official trials and tribulations of Human society and generally avoided them. If needed, she took the law into her own hands, and despite her many difference with the people of her husband, in that respect their beliefs were similar; they lived by the law of Nature.

So naturally she was curious as to how Storm would apply the laws of nature to this case. Jetamio had known Xanuusus, and fondly remembered the day so long ago when he had granted her her first Scimitar. She was angry at his death, and luckily had not been present at the incident or there would likely have been no trial now. Her wrath was swift and fierce when at the scene, but given time to brood, the druid normally yeilded to more socially acceptable methods of punishment.

So sitting high up in an oak tree not far from the place of the trial, Jetamio listened to the thunder and watched the lightning flicker across the darkening sky. She did not fear the lightning or what it could do to her in such a vulnerable position. So turning her attention back to the proceedings, Jetamio sat and waited patiently.

The call came and the three entered the court. Gilliadson marched D`Narr before the judge and halted.
Gilliadson bows before Stormfollower
Ogatai: Greetings Sir Gilliadson. Thank you for escorting the Lady D`Narr.
Stormfollower: Gilliadson have you prepared your account of her incarceration for the court?
Gilliadson: I have
Stormfollower: Go ahead and read your account then Gilliadson so that all may hear the events since her incarceration.
Gilliadson: She came to me willingly and surrendered of her own free will.
Gilliadson: And during her time in my keeping has made no attempt to escape.
Gilliadson: She has been duly stripped of armor and weapons and all such implements are being held in the Shadowbane Armory.
Gilliadson: I questioned the prisoner in regards to her actions against the deceased. She claimed to have been attacked unprovoked and defeated him in fair combat... I could discern no falsehood in her statements
Gilliadson: I now transfer custody of the prisoner over to the court.
Stormfollower: Now shall the truth enter from both sides
Stormfollower: Hail, P`Nala
P`Nala: Greetings Master Stormfollower
Stormfollower: Would the accused or her council please admit her guilt?
P`Nala: The accused claims the right of self defense against the deceased
Stormfollower: very well. hands a raven's feather to D`Narr
Stormfollower: speak your case or hand the feather to whom you would have speak for you
D`Narr takes the Raven's Feather
Stormfollower: Whilst holding the feather none may interrupt you until you give them the feather to talk. Proceed
D`Narr: I was with some friends preparing to fight the Dire Griffon and the Plains Dragon when I was struck from behind.
D`Narr: I turned around and saw the Treant preparing for another blow so naturally I engaged him.
D`Narr: He fought well and died in combat to a superior opponent.
D`Narr hands the feather back to Stormfollower
Stormfollower: Ogatai please take this feather as a token of your right to be heard
Ogatai: If pleases the court...
Ogatai: Lady D`Narr claims the right to self defense. What is this right she speaks of? I have spoken to Sir Gilliadson who states that D`Narr is a Shadow Knight in the Service of Innoruuk
Ogatai: But I would hear this or otherwise from D`Narr's own lips. Are you a shadowknight in service to the Father of Hate?
D`Narr: I am
Ogatai: Thank you D`Narr.
Ogatai: Now, I have debated with Lady P`Nala, and we disagree on a point Peacemaker....
Ogatai: Lady P`Nala says D`Narr's past and heritage are not an issue for this trial. I strongly disagree...
Ogatai: Was Xanuusus' attack unprovoked and just cause for the killing?
Ogatai: I will ask the question as a story...
Ogatai: There was a murderer of the worst kind. He was judged, found guilty and sent to the headsman. At the last moment, he struggled free and seized the headsman's ax and slew him. "It was self defense" he claimed.
Ogatai: Lady P`Nala also disagrees with me that Xanuusus had the right to judge D`Narr.
Ogatai: I say that Xanuusus, elder Treant, a lord of the Stormreapers had as much authority to mete justice as any court ordained representative of any culture. He is an elder of a time honored druidic cult of Rivervale
Ogatai: The prosecution suggests then, that Xanuusus, seeing a dark elf in sinister armor with her fierce demeanor, sought rightly to defeat the evil invading North Karana. And by D`Narr's admission, she -is- a shadowknight in the service of Innoruuk
Ogatai: She claims the right to self defense. I would like to point out, trial by combat determines guilt, when accepted by a society. It is not a right given to one already guilty
Ogatai: Wooden Heart appears in Ogatai's hand...he looks at it sadly then puts it back in his pocket
Ogatai: That is the basic position of the prosecution Peacemaker. The woman was already guilty. Xanuusus sought to execute justice and was slain.
Stormfollower: Very well
Stormfollower: I will now call the only witness to take the feather and answer my questions..D`Narr
Stormfollower: You were in the service of Innoruuk that day?
D`Narr: I am in the service of Innoruuk every day but that day I was working with members of my guild.
Stormfollower: Who was the bard whose epic you were helping to complete?
D`Narr: I think it was Ziippy since he is the only bard in my guild that I know
Stormfollower: Also a servant of your Lord?
D`Narr: No he is a follower of Quellious I believe
D`Narr: There was also a Ranger there but I do not know who he followed
Stormfollower: And did they assist in the slaying of the revered Xanuusus as well?
D`Narr: No they did not. Xanuusus and I fought alone
Stormfollower: I will now hand the feather to Jetamio a Druid of Tunare and my wife
Jetamio: I have a question of D`Narr.
Jetamio: Why, if you killed the Treant in self defense, why did you go to Gilliadson, whom if I remember correctly is your mortal enemy?
D`Narr: My Sister implored me to turn myself over to him for this trial in order to remove the price tag from over my head. Sir Gilliadson agreed to hold me for this trial
D`Narr: Since he is a member of the Qeynos Law enforcement
Jetamio : Ah so your sister knew of the incident first?
D`Narr: She learned of it from one of the wanted posters that were hanging in various places
Jetamio: Hmm...very well.
Jetamio: I am finished for now
Stormfollower: Are there any others who wish to speak?
P`Nala: I do
P`Nala: In answer to Ogatai's reference to Xanuusus being judge... as a follower of Karana is he really not more a neutral party? The Rain of Karana falls on all whether they be of the Light or Darkness.
P`Nala: It is the natural way of things. It is Balance.
P`Nala: One of the primary laws of nature and balance is that victory goes to the strong, the swift and the cunning. Apparently the accused was a bit more of those than he was.
P`Nala: Xanuusus understood this law and knew full well that he stood the chance to lose. He was willing to take that risk when he struck D`Narr from behind.
P`Nala: We still maintain that the fight was honorable after that point and he lost.
P`Nala: If the laws of nature apply to all should not also the right of self defense?
Stormfollower: Well said P`Nala, who now would answer to things thus far?
Stormfollower: Jetamio
Jetamio: We could sit here all day and argue about why it was done and who had the right. But I do not believe that taking another life will fix any of it
Jetamio: So I have a proposal
Jetamio: Rather than take a life, she should give one back. Xanuusus is a Treant, his seeds are a plenty. D`Narr should raise one of these seedlings to full growth, to take the place of Xanuusus as an Elder Treant
Stormfollower: Ogatai the floor is yours
Ogatai: First, I would like to clarify that Lady P`Nala errs in characterizing Lord Karana as a neutral power. He is a force of good, as any druid or Knight of Thunder will point out. It is common knowledge that Norrath would be destroyed by the storms of the cosmos if Karana did not hold them back for love. No, he is not neutral towards us.
Ogatai: Secondly, please consider this. All the world stems from Nature. That includes mankind, and man's buildings, inventions and philosophies. The only thing in the world that is unnatural is the term unnatural
Ogatai: Ants band together into hives, dolphins form communities, termites build shelters. Man is no different.
Ogatai: To claim that man must be as amoral as a rock slide is folly. Nature gave man the ability to think
Ogatai: Now, as to Lady Jetamio's proposition, the prosecution has no objections if D`Narr will swear never to kill anything ever again. Because 'to take another life' will solve nothing', let her prove this with her actions.
Stormfollower: We may all speak freely now
Stormfollower: D`Narr
Stormfollower: How do you feel about Jetamio's proposal?
D`Narr: While raising a seedling is reasonable and acceptable vowing to never kill anything again is not... I am a knight and a warrior... killing things is what I do... just as your Paladins do. I am a long way from thinking about retirement
Stormfollower: Would you consider this Life renewed as a payment for the life taken Ogatai?
Ogatai: No, not in the least. If D`Narr will not give up her path, how will she, a child of Hate raise an Elder Treant? Will she teach it the ways of Karana? Forgive me but I doubt she can.
Ogatai: A knight? A Warrior? Yes, but also a SHADOWKNIGHT! Let us not speak around that!
Stormfollower: A Treant will learn as Treants learn not from their protectors but from the impulses of the vernal woods this may teach us all more of man, of moral evil and of good than all the sages can
Stormfollower: Her nature and her upbringing is what it is, but on that day I say she was in the service of Quellious not Innoruuk
Ogatai: Beg pardon, but you are giving the lie to D`Narr when she states boldly she serves Innoruuk every day
Ogatai: The blighted rotwoods of the Moors show that even Treants can be corrupted. I think D`Narr's faith is a poison.
Stormfollower: We all may say what we serve but is not the action the truth of the matter, she was in the aid of a bard on his quest to obtain a relic of great power for the service of Quellious, surely this was not in Innoruuk's best interest but she forwent her nature in aid of a companion
Jetamio: Then what do you suggest?
P`Nala: My sister did not go there to Kill Xanuusus. Her target was a different creature. Xanuusus just got in the way.
Stormfollower: Are we trying her faith here or her action that day, for if it is her faith our docket may be quite full for a very long time.
Ogatai: Intriguing. Yet why was D`Narr there? To kill things. She claims she kills things by her very nature as a knight and a warrior. Is that your interpretation of Quellious Peacemaker?
P`Nala: Do you not also Kill things?
Ogatai Surely.
P`Nala: How many season are under your belt and how would you have gotten there without killing things
Stormfollower: We are here to decide what punishment should be incurred on D`Narr for the accidental killing of Xanuusus not for her choice of gods, that is a matter for full out war and beyond the scope of mortal courts.
Ogatai: Lady P`Nala, may I point out that I did not suggest that sparing D`Narr's life would be justice. But if the ruling of this court is killing serves no purpose, then let D`Narr do likewise
Stormfollower: The court has not ruled .
Ogatai: As for D`Narr's faith, there is no true faith without actions Peacemaker. She is a thing of evil.
Jetamio: There will come a time when our time is called the Age of Turmoil. For that is what it is. We all kill, we are in a constant war against Discord and even each other. We have all killed something that is revered by someone else. Should we not all then stand trial here?
P`Nala: That is my point as well.
Stormfollower: Or perhaps We will subject ourselves to D`Narr's laws as she has done here
Stormfollower: Is it your contention that D`Narr's life be forfeit for the life of the Treant Ogatai?
Ogatai: Those who follow the light perceive a fundamental difference between good and evil, law and lawlessness. To execute a rapist is not the same as torturing a man to death. If that is balance and neutrality, I want no part of it.
D`Narr: I am not on trial here for torturing anyone
Ogatai: smiles gently Peacemaker, in truth, whatever you decide will be fine. But while we debate, I have been told to be...aggressive.
Stormfollower: You cannot be suspicious of a tree or accuse a bird of subversion or challenge the ideology of a flower. forget for a moment her race. What would you have us do with this being beloved of P`Nala?
Stormfollower: It is truth we are after not a win for the good guys.
Ogatai: They are the same. We are not here to excuse evil for the sake of sentimentality either
D`Narr: I have freely submitted myself to be subject to whatever this court may decide for the sake of my Sister.
Stormfollower: Evil is not on trial here it is D`Narr Whom for all her admittance I have never seen to be cruel or even rude
Stormfollower: Can you say that you know her to be faithful to her service to her Lord?
Ogatai: I wondered about that myself.
Ogatai: So I asked Gilliadson if D`Narr was a heretic among the dark elves.
Ogatai: He replied she is not a heretic. Her devotion is pure.
Ogatai: D`Narr, do you do evil?
D`Narr: Keep in mind also that I have slain many undead creatures in service to the Queen of Neriak
D`Narr: Mostly Sanguine
P`Nala fingers her Vampire Fang Necklace
Ogatai: Is your devotion to the Father of Hate a sham?
D`Narr: No it is not... if it were... you would not hate me so
Jetamio: I thought we had agreed her faith is not the issue here?
Ogatai: Peacemaker, you asked what -I- would have you do. Gilliadson said I should ask for her head on a pike. I say, let her go free.
Ogatai: You made a pronouncement. There was no agreement
Jetamio: Stormfollower made the pronouncement, not I.
Stormfollower: Let her go free?
Stormfollower: There is still the matter of equity would you feel vindicated of her actions were she to simply be let free?
Ogatai: There is also good in D`Narr, though the light be dim. For the sake of mercy, not justice, set her free. If the rangers get her, she will die satisfied. If they don't, what will be will be
Ogatai: Thankfully, what I want will not prevail here. That is for cooler and wiser heads to decide
Stormfollower: What is it you want?
Stormfollower: Her death?
Ogatai: No, set her free with no conditions or obligations.
Stormfollower: But that is not what you want
Ogatai: It isn't? Perhaps P`Nala will tell me what I want?
Stormfollower: You said thankfully what you want will not prevail here, what is that want exactly
Ogatai: I have told you. Set her free. But as you point out, this is not justice. So I am thankful that you will impose a just and fair verdict.
Ogatai: I did not come here to seek D`Narr's life, only to point out that what she did was wrong. The judgment shall be yours Peacemaker
Stormfollower: The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them, that is the essence of inhumanity. It is therefore my decision that D`Narr be made to plant the seed of a Treant and watch that it meets maturity , her progress will be monitored by her sister and she will continue to aid those who she had chosen to ride with, in the service of companionship.
Stormfollower: That our best works should be such bungling imitations of natures infinite perfection matters little.
Stormfollower: That we should make ourselves an imitation..this is the fact which nature moans over, and deprecates beseechingly. Be spontaneous, be truthful, be free, and thus be individuals! is the song she sings through warbling birds and whispering pines and roaring waves and screeching winds. Go now, it is my hope some peace has been brought
D`Narr: I believe the Shadowbane Property would be the best place to raise it since there are Druids and Rangers in employment there.
D`Narr: It can wander to North Karana once it has grown.
Jetamio: No
Jetamio: Plant it in the wild
Ogatai: Well, that is done. Though I do not hate D`Narr, it would be strange to congratulate her given the circumstances, so I take my leave.
D`Narr: Very well then
Jetamio: I will find you a seed soon
D`Narr: I believe Lady Sineliniel has a bag of them.
D`Narr: She planted some in service to Tunare recently
Jetamio: As talented as the lady Sineliniel may be, she is not a druid. You must restore Xanuusus, and for that you need a seed of his spirit
Jetamio: His presence is required for the druids who wish to earn the nature Walker's Scimitar
D`Narr: Hmm Ogatai has his heart now... will that be needed?
Jetamio: No, for that heart is now dead.
Jetamio: A new one shall regrow within the new Treant .
D`Narr: Very well then I will await the delivery of what you can find.
Jetamio: Go now, enjoy your freedom. I will come to you soon with a suitable seed.