Inside the mind of a mad gamer....there is but chaos: May 2009

Thursday, May 28, 2009

A reflection of one's past....

After what had been revealed to Dalanor in the library, his mind had been reeling, and he had taken to meditation to calm and center himself. He could see who he was, and who he had been....but who he had been still seemed so alien to him. Though he was the same person, he had found that who he was now was so different from who he had been. The natural affinity for the arcane was still there, and the love of knowledge was still there, but his very nature was changed...as though he were now purer and more reserved. He still could not see how he could have been so arrogant, so brash and so......cruel, while at the same time, being a good man.....it was too much to handle.

He decided that his actions now were what was important, and if he ever did truly recover all of his memories, he would remain as he was now. That being said, what of the revelation of his true calling? A Planeshifter? That was a high station, even amongst wizards......and if he set on this path, he would be of a select few who were able to freely travel between the planes, studying the finer details of the astral sea, or even visiting the abyss and recording data from that plane.....it was exciting.....however, what would become of him then? Would it be enough to regain favorable status amo ngst his people? Would he ever be able to step foot into Greystar again? Or would he have to involve himself with the Summer court of the Fey to regain his good name? He knew that doing so may require a hefty price, but he would do anything to return to his life.....he sought to teach and influence the younger generation of wizards in the proper practices and proper actions of being a wizard which he felt that The Order of the White Owls did not properly do.

Moreover, would he ever be able to know his daughter? Would she accept him? Would she shun him? Or would she already be too far under the control of The Order for him to save? In his heart of hearts, he knew that it would be a hard road ahead, and he knew Kharask would support him, but would he allow Dalanor to utilize the company's contacts to learn more of his daughter? Would he force Dalanor to choose between his daughter and the company? he doubted it, but if need be, the wizard would strike out on his own and take on the Gods themselves to be with his daughter and make up for lost time.......

That time would come soon enough......the time for choices.....but one thing was certain.....he would see all paths through to the end.......he had a commitment to the Two Scars, he an obligation to see to the safety of the realms, and he had a strong desire to know what having a family felt like. Muttering an oath to Correlon, he let loose a bit of his will, binding himself to the paths ahead of him......

"I know you and I have had our differences, but I make this oath to you Correlon......by my power, I swear to you that I will see my duties through till the end. I will see the terrible plans of Tiamat thwarted and lend what power I can to the cause, but know this, I will return to my home, and I will reclaim all that was lost to me.......though I was young, and arrogant, it appears as though i was correct so long ago....... That power has never come against the likes of me, and i will break free from it's hold.....with or without your help, but kinow this Correlon, I hold no grudge against you, for this was not your doing.....it was partly my own. I accept the responsibility i must take for what has happened in my life, and I thank you for the small grace of letting me keep my magic....but I ask only one thi ng of you....keep my daughter safe....keep her from those who would use her, and if it is too late, give her a fighting chance......not as a request, but as a favor, in which you can call on me to return at any time......."

Dalanor felt a tear slide down his cheek, and he hoped that the Patron Deity of Magic and art would hear his oath and prayer.....he hoped that he would have the strength to make it through the ordeals that faced him.........

"Neeala....I am sorry for all that has happened.....I only pray that you can forgive me for all that has happened...

After all was said and done, Freyla appeared, perching on his shoulder......

"Dalanor, you should tread carefully with what you learned.....there could be a hidden motive behind these visions you saw......"

Dalanor sighed......

"And you are foolish for a Spirit Owl......I know what I saw was the truth of things.....for each vision triggered memories and I saw thi ngs from two perspectives in each visio ns....from a first person perspective, and as an observer...at the same time. Do not question my intelligence.....I am not the young fool i once was....."

He was obviously emotional and it was quite unlike him......

"Dalanor....I'm sorry, I just think you should be careful of what you have seen.......some of it could be mistruth. No Eladrin has ever shaken the effects of the banishing....not one."

Dalanor swatted her away....

"It seems that there is a first time for everything......I am not some simpleton. My training delved into psychic manipulation, and as such, I believe I was cushioned from the effects.......now leave me be.....I wish to be alone for now. I am sorry if I seem rude, but I just need time to reflect........"

With that, Freyla left, and Dalanor returned to his meditation.........

A past revealed......

The perilous trek through the treacherous library corridors had finally paid off....the adventurers stood amidst a massive domed room that looked undisturbed and in outstanding condition for the age of the place. The group was instructed by the spiritual library guides to stand before each of the mirrors that were within this room. It seemed odd to Dalanor but it turned out to be exactly what he had been searching for.........

When he gazed upon the mirror, memories started flowing back from his childhood, from his training, even from the events leading up to and surrounding his exile. It was as if someone had let loose a flood gate of information, and even spells that he had known were returning to him. He saw the arrogance of his youth....something that left him somewhat regretful....he saw behavior and actions that would leave him deeply troubled for a while to come, and he saw Neeala.....

His suspicions about her had been correct.....there had definitely been something there....a nd he knew it when he laid eyes on her body in the tomb of phaethon. Everything he had suspected, even become curious about had been proven true......they had been in love.....and she had been forced to watch what they did to him during his trial. The most shocking revelation was that he had been an expecting father when they took his life from him. Neeala was dead , no longer would her beauty, nor her brilliant mind be there for him....no longer would he be able to hold her.....they had taken that from him too.....and while his thoughts strayed to vengeance and anger.....he snapped back into focus......he was far beyond this petty notion that mortals had of revenge, but that did not make the pain any less.

Dalanor let his thoughts trail back to the fact that he was a father, and that his daughter was still alive....and that was when the mirror showed him her face......she looked so much like him.....it was uncanny.

Once everyone had finished with their own visions, the group had departed the place, returning to Kharan Has with haste, all the while, noone speaking.....all of them just mulling over what had happened. Upon reaching kharan Has, Dalanor made his way to Vadriar's shop, and for the first time, he allowed himself to show emotion. He sat within the lab, his head in his hands and he wept.......partly because of grief, partly out of anger, and some out of joy......though he was Eladrin, and a wizard at that, he was still a being that experienced emotion and felt pain as any other creature.....

At some point, Dalanor regathered himself and finally calmed himself. he felt better, but he also knew what he had to do. His daughter had noone, and that alone frightened him. He would have to speak with Brennavon again and have the man check on her.....and also see if he could arrange for a meeti ng with his daughter....if it was not possible, Dalanor would fight to reclaim his name among his people, and he would be there for his daughter.....he would be da mned if she would be twisted and used in the way that he had been........but he would do so with kharask's help and guidance, because things had changed, and Dalanor among them.......he had a true reason to keep going forward...he had a purpose now, and that was all that mattered........

"I swear to you Neeala, I will see that our daughter is safe...even if I should give my life....I will see to it that she does not befall the same fate as either of us......"

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Dalanor's Thoughts

This is just a character post to give you some insight into Dalanor's views of his comrades

Dalanor himself, while very ambitious, and very driven, is also a good man at heart. He has allowed what happened to him in his past to change hi m and shape him into something colder, yet when one plays to his good natured side, he cannot turn away a request for help.....and many do not grasp this.....for he feels that he would be viewed as foolish and weak. However, there are a select few who he has gotten to know and he has begun to return to his true nature...slowly.....yet surely....

Baerd- Dalanor views the dwarf as a gruff, rash, sometimes impulsive man.....and yet, he senses a great pain within the dwarf. Dalanor doesn't truly know what to make of him at times, but Baerd has always proven himself as a capable ally. The dwarf, while not the most.....charming of the group, is still a friend and Dalanor trusts him at least to a certain degree....for he thi nks beard to be a walking time bomb....

Merric- Dalanor has an understanding of Merric that has come merely from observation. The Halfling, while trustworthy (So far) employs questionable methods to achieve his goals. Dalanor suspects that it was out of necessity for his own survival that Merric took the path that he did, and he suspects a certain code of ethics and morals that the halfling follows, though they may be of his own making.....

Azriel- Dalanor dislikes Azriel personally.....and not because of any wrong done, but merely because of the Wood elf's attitude. In some instances, Azriel can be worse than most Eladrin and that in itself is infuriating.....how can one such as he hope to ever be better than an Eladrin? Dalanor's views of the wood elf are biased, but he still trusts azriel, regardless of his nature....(though he would never tell azriel that)

Ehrentaelik- The Drow is an enigma to Dalanor. Knowing what he knows of the Drow and their ties to Lolth, he does not understand why the odd practitioner has not yet tried to kill him. The drow has saved Dalanor's neck many times, and has even proven himself as a worthy ally...perhaps that is why there is some trust in the man, but Dalanor is no fool and awaits the day when Ehrentaelik steps out of line......

Kharask- Kharask is the only member of the group that Dalanor trusts fully and completely. He knows what drives the Dragonborn...Honor, Pride, Justice.....and he knows that Kharask is truly a good man. The good nature of Kharask is actually beginning to influence Dalanor in ways that will only be more apparent as times goes on.....perhaps for the better?