Reflections

[Gilliadson]

((OOC... This thread is partly a continuation of the Trial and partly to give a little background information to better understand the two Sisters and how they relate to each other despite their different views.))

"I will send for you when Lady Jetamio brings the Seedling and we can go plant it together." P`Nala said as she embraced her sister.

"I would stay longer but I know Lady Shadowbane has been quite uneasy with my presence here and since she is so dear to you, I would not wish to cause her undue stress." Said D`Narr. "I will be about the Queen's business in Neriak. Perhaps I can find a Sanguine along the way home. The head of one would be a fine token for her so she would not have questions about my absence."

"There is a small group of them lurking about in Freeport's Sewers I have heard. I would be more than happy to assist you with them if you like."

"As would I." Gilliadson added as he strode up to the Ladies. "If you can stomach the presence of a Paladin for such a task."

"Well Sir Gilliadson, I know we do not always agree on methods but if you can handle being around me for a little while, I think we may have a much easier time with it having your powers along with us." Replied the Shadow Knight.

"Very well then. If you will come with me to the armory, you may gather your weapons and armor and we will be on our way." The Teir`Dal Swordmaiden followed the Knight to the armory and gathered her equipment. It felt good to have the weight of her armor on her body again after such a long time without it. It had been several months since she had surrendered herself for the trial and now that it was over, it was time to get back to doing what she did best... Releasing Undead into the Afterlife...

[Jetamio]

It took Jetamio a couple of days to find that which she sought. There were many treants in the Karanas but not all were decended of Xanuusus. Focusing her attention entirely on the task at hand, she was drawn to the seedling like a moth to flame. Carefully packing the seed in a pouch of moist soil, she nestled it securely away among the many folds and pockets of her leather attire. Then with a muttered word she vanished from the site in a puff of golden smoke.

She was not sure where D'Nar would go once freed, but she didn't think she'd hang around the Shadowbane estates for long. Logically, she reasoned that she would return to Neriak so it was there she awaited not too far from the gates. She took on the form of the Tier'Dal, using a worn old mask that she had had since her youth, a rare artifact. Her red dyed leathers gave her away to those who knew her despite her now blue skin and silver hair, but the guards treated her with wary indifference. And so she waited.

[Gilliadson]

The three silently ventured into the dark sewers beneath the city braving the stench of waste from the city above. D`Narr could sense the presence of the Sanguine group and knew now that the rumor was true. They did not have to travel to far to find what they sought. There were four of them gathered in a small chamber in the darkness awaiting nightfall so they could venture forth to feed. Gilliadson's helm gave him magically enhanced vision so he could see them as well and his blade glowed brightly inside it's translucent scabbard. As the three readied their plan of attack, D`Narr thought about the events of her life that brought her to this pass...

She had killed this knight once long ago for the sake of her family honor. The fact that his God had decided to send him back mattered not to her now since she had satisfied that honor. They were not friends but they were no longer enemies either. She had discovered P`Nala's distaste for the ways of the Teir`Dal early in the young Enchantress' life and kept the secret from their Matron for as long as she could. It was a chance encounter with the Lovebearer that exposed the reason she did so.

Myrikel and D`Narr were locked in battle. The young lady Knight was surprisingly well trained and accounted well for herself. Myrikel looked into the Teir`Dal's violet eyes during a break in the action and smiled.

"Who do you love, Lady Vel`Dynn?"

Until that time, D`Narr was unaware that any kind of love ever existed in her but in that moment it became clear that there was only one in her life that mattered to her... P`Nala.


"You have fought well this day, young Lady Shadowbane. I will spare your life this time. Go now in peace before I change my mind."

D`Narr secretly got her sister out of Neriak to save her from execution when their Matron had discovered the young Enchantress' heresy, and took her to Freeport where the young enchantress took on the form of an Ayer`Dal and entered the Academy of Arcane Arts. While P`Nala was there, she encountered a Koada`Dal Enchanter named Elwinde Eledhwen. The Koada`Dal sensing that the young enchantress is not all she appeared to be, took her under his wing and brought her to his lab to train her himself where he discovered the true nature of the young lady.

"You are a rarity among your people, Lady P`Nala and for that reason I will continue your training."

The young Enchantress learned quickly and was soon ready to begin her own travels. She found her sister and traveled with her for a while until it was time for D`Narr to return to Neriak. Word had reached the Sisters that Shadowbane had rebuilt his family home in the Commonlands so the two of them decided that P`Nala should go there as a hired servant. D`Narr watched from a distance as her sister was admitted into the Shadowbane Estate.

It was some time before D`Narr received an invitation from her Sister to meet with the Shadowbanes. Gilliadson, Sineliniel and Myrikel sat down with the sisters to discuss P`Nala's future at Gill-Alani.

"I can feel that the love between the two of you has grown much since we last met Lady D`Narr." Said the Lovebearer. "I had recommended to my parents that your sister remain with us here as Mother's personal assistant and that you be allowed to come visit her as often as you like." The two elder Shadowbanes nodded in agreement.

"You all have cared much for my sister and for that you have my gratitude and my word that none of your House will ever feel the sting of my blade for as long as she remains in your care."

D`Narr returned to Neriak and her duties there and would visit the her sister as often as her duties allowed her...

D`Narr's mind snapped back to the present and got her bow ready on one of the Sanguine. Gilliadson had his bow out and trained on another. P`Nala had a spell ready for a third one and just needed to utter the final word of it. D`Narr signaled to begin and the three of them let loose. Two of the Sanguine fell pierced through the heart with enchanted arrows. The one that P`Nala chose turned on his companion and started attacking her. Gilliadson and D`Narr jumped down into the chamber and joined P`Nala's charmed. As the Sangine fell the charm wore off and the final Sanguine turned on P`Nala. The Enchantress swung her scepter at the creature and struck it with a time lapse. The Sanguine stopped long enough for D`Narr to run her blade through the creature's heart.

"Well it looks like you have four heads to take back to your Queen." Said Gilliadson as D`Narr started collecting the grizzly items into an enchanted box designed to preserve whatever is placed inside.

"Indeed, however, I may keep one as a trophy."

The three made their way out of the sewer and parted ways at the gate to the Shadowbane Home.

"Be well, Sister." Said P`Nala as D`Narr mounted Nightmare.

"You as well." D`Narr urged her mount into a gallop and rode into Nektulos Forrest.

[Gilliadson]

P`Nala watched her sister ride off toward Nektulos forest. The young Enchantress had worked hard to prove herself to the Alliance. It could have all come to naught because of her defense of her sister but that was a risk she was willing to take. Despite D`Narr's dark ways, she was still family and the only member of hers that actually loved her despite her desire to follow the Path of Light. It had been quite a trial for the mistress of illusion and she was still not welcomed by the guards in some of the places that she desired though she was welcome by the Priests and Knights of those cities. Even the Clergy of Tunare welcomed her with open arms. P`Nala had not given herself to any of the Pantheon up to this point, mostly because none would have her as a follower and partly because she just could not decide on one to devote her energies toward serving. The more she thought about it, the more she leaned toward the Mistress of Love. Myrikel had touched her life so much since the Enchantress had been taken in at the estate. The young Lady Knight had shown her love unconditionally from the beginning and it took a while for P`Nala to accept it, having grown up in a world where Hate was the rule. Now, she decided, was the time to approach Erolissi Marr and see if the Queen of Love would accept her service. Myrikel had described the feeling that Lithian brought with her whenever she visited the Lovebearer many times. P`Nala made her way into the Manor and went to the family chapel for the first time since she had been in the employ of the Shadowbanes. There were symbols of each of the Dieties of Light along the back wall of the room. Tunare, Quellious, Karana, The Marr Twins each had an area set up for their faithful to come and pray or just commune. The young Enchantress went to Erollisi Marr's area, knelt down and prayed for the first time in her life...

[Gilliadson]

As the Knight of Shadows approached the gate to her city, she saw the Teir`Dal lady dressed in red leather. Something about the leather armor seemed familliar to D`Narr so she approached.

"Have we met before?"

[Jetamio]

"Once or twice."

She pushes herself off the tree she was leaning against and comes up to D'Nar.

"Are you ready to carry out your promise? If so, it cannot be here. Your kind do not care much for treants." The strange Tier'Dal smiled wryly, her golden eyes twinkling.

[Gilliadson]

"Very well then, let us ride." D`Narr responded as she realized who the supposed Teir`Dal was. "Shall we pick up my sister along the way?"

[Jetamio]

Jetamio nodded, then pulled out a strange looking bridle and whispered a word over it. In a flash a great fiery red Wrulon appeared at her side, its golden red coat shimmering even in the half light of the dark forest. She jumped nimbly onto its back and soothed the agitated creature before looking to D'Nar for directions.

[Gilliadson]

D`Narr turned her dark steed around.

"P`Nala is at the Shadowbane Home in the Commonlands. I believe you know the way." D`Narr urged her mount into a gallop and rode back the way she had come.

Upon arriving at the gate to the Homestead, D`Narr had one of the guards summon her sister. P`Nala arrived at the gate trailing her Sokokar behind her.

"We are off to plant the seedling now, dear sister" Said the Dark Knight.

"Very well. I can give you an Illusion that will keep your enemies unaware of who or what you are."

"That would be a good idea."

P`Nala read one of her Illusion spells and then cast it, D`Narr became a Lady Fier`Dal with Platinum hair. Only her Amethyst colored eyes remained...

"Lead on, Lady Jetamio." said P`Nala as she mounted her Sokokar and prepared to follow.

[Jetamio]

Jetamio gave an impish grin as she watched the two sisters prepare for a ride. Still sitting astride her own wild mount, the druid clicked her fingers and they were gone.

They appeared nearly instantaneously in a small sheltered grove. For one who knew the land well, they'd know they were in North Karana...somewhere. There was no sound other than the birdsong and the rustling of leaves as the wind played with them.

Jetamio jumped down from the great red cat, who then vanished in a puff of reddish smoke. She gestured towards the ground, where a small hole had been dug, then took the tiny seedling from one of the folds in her leathers. She cupped it in her hands like one would hold a small bird and looked expectantly at the Shadow Knight.

[Gilliadson]

D`Narr had never planted anything before but knew which way the roots should go, so she took the small plant from the druidess and carefully put it into the small hole and covered the roots with the surrounding soil.

"Should I water it now or should I let the Storm God take care of that in his own time?" D`Narr asked with a quizzical look on her face. P`Nala offered her sister a small talisman.

"This will make the treant think of you as a friend when it grows strong enough to defend itself. We would not wish to have a repeat of your previous encounter with its kind." Said the young Enchantress. I found it amongst some of the items in Willanaome's Library and under the circumstances I do not think she will mind you using it. It is the only trinket of its kind."

"Thank you Sister. I shall return it when I no longer need it."

[Jetamio]

Jetamio watched carefully, making sure the seedling was returned to the ground correctly. She smiled at the Dark Knights question.

"The Storm God is never far away when there is a Druid near." She eyed the strange trinket curiously but said nothing of it. When she thought they were done she looked up at the clear blue sky. "You'd better cover up if you don't like rain."

She uttered a simple incantation to the sky and watched as rainclouds rolled in fast from nowhere. Lightning flickered across the sky a moment before the heavens opened in a watery deluge. Jetamio grinned at the two Tier'Dal.

[Gilliadson]

P`Nala smiled and danced happily in the rain while D`Narr just looked on... Rain did not bother her since she was not going to melt away in it.