RP:Answered Prayers

From HollowWiki

Part of the Home Sweet Home Arc


Location: Recaptured Fort

Synopsis: Having sent out public notices stating a need of specialized help, Gilwen finally found a Paladin that could help counteract an aspect of the curse. After a brief meeting with Zahrani, Gilwen decides to employ the use of the feline paladin, and they quickly make for the Mage's Tower in Xalious.

Recaptured Fort

This small patch of land has witnessed the destruction and resurrection of major forces. Notably, the elves lived here first in a thriving, peaceful community before being decimated by the duergars. During their occupation of this land, the deep dwarves built a dark tower and spiked walls. What happened to the duergars is not known, but some time after the drow military occupied this fort and from here launched a war against the elves, driving them out of the forest and replacing it with darkness. The drow won the first war, but lost the fort in the second. The watchtower was destroyed by the elves, who must now build a future on these lands, whose very foundation is violence and war.


The forest that made up Southern Sage was gone; the decaying trees and other natural foliage around the fort had been cleared, though meters away, the proof of the curse was still prevalent: hollowed tree trunks still stood stubbornly, but yet held no life to continue the fight, and the shrubbery that had once decorated the woods with beautiful shades of green and an array of flowers, was now nothing more than malevolent brambles. A blanket of snow covered most of the area, but the death couldn’t be hidden. Despite all, however, the Elves who had fought to retake Sage remained, and had constructed a simple and small settlement that surrounded the reclaimed Fort. All were bundled up against the cold, but having spent years in the frozen tundra of Frostmaw, the current weather wasn’t something that kept them indoors. Children ran around, throwing snowballs, or building snowmen, and adults moved along the pathways between the houses and milled around the merchant stalls where fresh foods, furs, and general goods were on sale by a variety of people across Lithrydel who had agreed to provide their services to the people of Sage. Amongst the elves were also regular humans, and halflings, witches who had fled from the abusive Monarchy in Larket, and came in search of refuge. And there, to keep the peace, were armed and armored soldiers, dressed in thick, protective leathers, with swords and bows at their backs. Outside the main gate of the Fort, four sentinels stood watch, not to ban people from entering -because many came and went freely-, but to offer aid and protection if needed.


Zahrani silently passed into the settlement, the feline's armor stored tightly in a backpack over her shoulders; a warm-looking hooded cloak was wrapped around her person in the platemail's place, and beneath that, a sleeveless fitted shirt, insulated pants, and snow boots. She smiled warmly at a pair of children as they ran past her, her light blue eyes appearing to glow in contrast to the black velvety fur on her face. The paladin had come to answer a call for aid; the intangible sickness that plagues this land apparently required holy power to expel it. Zahrani looked around her as she approached the fort, her cat ears turning every which way. She felt humbled by the sheer resiliency of those who lived here. Stopping at the gate, the cat presented a wax seal to the guards, green and silver in its hue, representing the Elven order within. She would likely not speak unless she was asked.


A silver headed guard moved forward, androgynous in size and facial structure, but beautiful regardless, and accepted the extended seal. After a brief scrutiny of the wax, the guard nodded and moved to lead the Paladin deeper in the Fort. Despite the dilapidated state of its exterior, inside the Fort was refurbished; new stone had been hewn to repair the walls, floors and ceilings, and tapestries, old and new, hung along the walls to provide color and history; the newer hangings depicted the Duergar’s take over of Sage, and then the Drow’s, and finally the retaking of Sage by the elves. Those older tapestries told the stories of Archdruids, many depicted the Ascendi Lauria and Olric, and others far older were of ancient Elven Kings and Queens. The doorway to the council’s chambers was just off the atrium, sat into the eastern wall, and the large oaken doors were left open. Therein the room was a large table, made from a massive tree trunk that had been split cleanly in two, and lacquered, and ten identical chairs were situated around it. Atop the table were enchanted topographical maps of the surrounding forests, and in the early days of the curse, they were used to mark the spread of the disease- but it had been months since the borders of the plague had spread. Three elves stood around the table: Maegus, a silver headed man dressed in simple robes, poured over the maps and occasionally broke from them to write something within an open book beside him- Syelnar, also silver headed but dressed in similar leathers of the guards, and Gilwen, fiery headed and in furs and leathers, had their heads bent over leaves of parchment, quietly discussing something. When the guard delivered Zahrani to the council members, a simple knock was afforded to the door jam, and the androgynous elf remained long enough for Gilwen and Syelnar to glance up from the conversation to acknowledge the two, before moving back to their previous position outside the Fort. “Zahrani, I presume?” Gilwen greeted warmly, moving toward the feline with her hand outstretched; the courier had described the paladin enough that it wasn’t farfetched to assume that this visitor was indeed Zahrani. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”


Zahrani dutifully followed the guard into the fort, keeping pace with the taller male elf. Keen feline eyes take in every detail; she saw many unfamiliar faces in the tapestries, but she could tell that they were all important to this history of this area. The smells of paper, old and new cloth, stone, fire, elves, magic; all picked up by her panther sense of smell. As the area became warm, the paladin reached up to pull back her furred hood, revealing a panther's head with serene blue eyes, and a head of long black hair, carefully braided and traveling to her left shoulder. She kept pace with the silver-haired elf while she removed the rest of her cloak, revealing a very athletic and androgynous form. That same black velvet coat covered her exposed arms, which look like they could have carried her over the fort's walls, even while covered head-to-toe in armor. Upon entering the council chamber, Zahrani rested her eyes upon Gilwen, offering a warm smile and accepting the woman's hand in her own. Had the courier not specified the paladin's gender, one might have mistaken the cat for a man. The only thing remotely feminine about her was a pair of slightly wider-set hips than a male feline with her height. She stood at least a foot taller than Gilwen. A black tail swished calmly behind her. A raspy-yet-warm voice came from the panther, "That is my name. It is so good to finally meet you, Gilwen." The magically sensitive would detect subtle hints of amber-colored, divine aura playing across the feline's fur and whiskers, like soft light refracted from a pool of shifting water. She looked about curiously, eyes, ears, and nose memorizing the features of all 3 elves in the room before she turned to the arcane map, "How may I be of service?"


Gilwen gestured toward the table in answer to Zahrani’s question, before moving to the table once again. The maps that Maegus had been pouring over were snatched from beneath his long nose, and he shot a glare at his comrade before realizing they weren’t entirely alone. “My apologies,” he quickly murmured, righting himself to his full height (which only put him just as tall as the panther), and moving toward Syelnar to assist the other man with whatever Gilwen had abandoned. “That’s Maegus and Syelnar,” she said, pointing to either man respectively before turning back to the maps. “The reason I requested aid is the current plague on Sage. Archmage Tiphareth cast it years ago, and we think we’ve found a way to finally remove it.” Her index finger traced the swathe of black that encompassed the Southern half of Sage before tapping on it twice. “Along with a skilled Magi, and Necromancer, I need someone well versed in Holy magic to combat the -un-holy magic of this curse. We need it broken on both an artifact and the forest.” She paused, and leveled an expecting gaze on the panther. “Does this sound like something you might assist with?”


Zahrani offered a polite nod to the two male elves before her. She crossed her arms and she studied the map with Gilwen, scanning the dark markings over the area that represented southern Sage. She ponders the scale of this unholy magic, thinking back to the training and knowledge provided by the clerics of Cyris. She met the gaze of the red-haired elf with a very cautious optimism, before giving her answer, "It's possible. Where can we find this artifact? What form does it take?" She needed to assess just how difficult this would be. She isn't 100% certain of her ability to help counteract this curse, but that has never stopped her from trying before.


Gilwen wasn’t the one to answer Zahrani’s questions, but Syelnar. “The artifact is an old elven diadem. It’s currently contained at the Mage’s tower in Xalious.” He folded up the parchment he had been perusing and tucked it within his leather jerkin before nodding to Gilwen. “Maegus and I are off to meet with Dyraxdiin. Should I tell him you’ll be along later?” A nod from the redheaded elf was all the answer he needed, and thereafter, both men left. “I intend to bring along a priestess of Lauria, so, should you need assistance in any way, she’ll be there to provide it.” She pushed the maps back into their original position before turning from the table altogether. “I need to get in touch with one other before I set off for Xalious. So we can expect you there then?” Her expression was one of tempered hope; clearly the elves intended to cleanse this crown as soon as possible.


Zahrani did not wait around, proceeding to wrap her cloak around her form once more, "Of course. The sooner we can cleanse this artifact, and the forest, the better. If now is the time, I will meet you at the tower. How soon do we need to purify the forest after the artifact?" She would also accept any help provided by the priestess.


Gilwen began the process of gathering up the more important documents and letters to store them away from prying eyes, but she paused in the wake of the panther’s final question. “To be honest, I do not know. That is a question better suited for Dyraxdiin. Both him and Larewen will know more about the exact workings of the curse than we will.” Or at least, she hoped they would. With her arms full of papers and books, she nodded toward the main entrance of the council chambers, murmuring a simple, “Thank you again.” Gilwen moved then toward a single door at the back of the chamber and disappeared through it.