A past revealed

Memories....

They seem so fluid, so unpredictable....so.....elusive...and yet, when they flood one's mind, it is like a great see that is ever expanding.

With my recent trip back to my home, they seemed to return almost as quick as my power. However, I did not ha ve time to comb through them and reflect upon my life. We had all been tasked with removing Azonin from the tower of the White Owls. With Freyla's disappearance, I had to rely on my own judgement and intuition when dealing with those that I once called brothers.

Crossing through th portal into the tower, I was assaulted by the power of the ring......feeling it's essence so near, and radiating so much power was almost like drowning. I knew that the corruption had spread through my former comrades and the taint of that evil flooded this place. It was evident what had happened though once we arrived. The fools now wore the robes of Tiamat's followers, and that alone was enough to push Kharask to action, as well as Merric. I myself was out for blood.....they stole my life from me, and I wanted to return the favor.....yet, maintaining control was a priority. I needed to remember exactly why we were here.....and thankfully, even when faced with the summoned elementals and powerful magic wielding fools, I maintained some semblance of control, yet even still....I found myself putting more effort than necessary into my spells.......it was inevitable.

As we made our way deeper, I remembered more of what had happened, and while it is true that I was distracted, I still found that my spells were never missing my enemies.....I could not afford to allow them to hinder our movement. When we reached the vault, we found more of the fallen ones standing in our path, and I had no choice but to show them exactly what it was that they feared in the beginning......I had worn the ring before....and it had shaped my magic into what it was now.....powerful, consuming, and frightening. The ring had imprinted a small bit of madness into my mind, but not the madness that consumes.....the madness that can be directed into the minds of others. They proved no match for us.......between my mental manipulation and icy resolve, Ehrentaelic's swordcraft, and Kharasks ever commanding presence they were decimated. Of course, Azriel seemed to relish the battle, almost as if he himself was taking his own revenge....and Merric, well merric is always lethal in combat, as he is overlooked because of his size.......

When we finally entered the vault, there it sat......as it always had. The guardians of the vault recognized me.....moving to stop our advance and as they did, they revealed their nature. There were two Basilisk's, and a Naga....all vile creatures that have as many tricks as they do deadly attacks. We dispatched them with some effort and after they were dealt with, we moved to the ring. It was calling me.....it knew me and knew my power could compliment it's own. Azonin was indeed tempting...and as I felt it's call, my mind was nudged.....yet I had been so conditioned to the powers of the ring that I managed to fight it off....however, not without some effort of will. Had I put that ring on, I'm not sure what would have happened........but if Azriel thinks that he would have been enough to take me out after putting the ring on, he was mistaken. I knew his position, and I know what he had planned on doing.....perhaps he still held on to a certain measure of contempt for me and saw it as a chance to end me for my past deeds....whatever the reason, he would have failed.

I say these things not out of arrogance, nor out of any sort of contempt for my comrades, but merely out of knowledge of what Azonin was capable of. Kharask quickly moved to take the ring....and i saw him falter for a moment.....knowing what it was showing him......the same things it had once showed me. It showed him power.....perfection.......the pinnacle of what he could be. It showed him what he needed to see to put it on. Thankfully, he did not......else he would have gone against everything he believed....everything he stood for.

Leaving the tower, we were instructed that it would be in our best interest to leave.....but we were thanked and rewarded for our help in the matter. I drew a portal to my tower...which was formerly Zolnic's....and I could see the uneasiness in the others at being in this place. Good. That meant i would be relatively secluded when here so that i could devote myself to my studies. We rested there for the night and I took that opportunity to reflect on my returned memories.....as well as speak with freyla. She had disappeared when we first got to greystar, and I was intrigued to see her appearance had changed. Much like myself, when we went into Greystar, she was incomplete, and after our trip, she had been restored to her former glory.

You all want the truth of the matter of my past? Let me tell you.....

I was a Junior professor for the White Owls, in charge of training pupils in the basics of wizardry.....and even going so far as teaching an introduction in planar magic. I had been introduced to Azonin at a young age, and that had started my interest in the artifact. I studied and strived for greatness, but could never commit to a set path. There was love in my life at this time....a young female mage named Neeala.....she was beautiful....articulate...intelligent and very gifted. She was much like myself, and that was what drew me to her.....and when she became pregnant, I found my purpose. I took initiative, and began my studies of Azonin....and my Master actually granted me access to the ring itself.....she set me on the path I am on now.....because when I entered the vault, the ring was there, ready for me...waiting.

When I put Azonin on, I saw what my true calling in the arcane was......my gifted mind could be used to influence others......and direct my own hint of madness into their minds. This did not happen until I put Azonin on however......so in part, what I have become, I owe to the ring.
I did not get to relish the power of the ring for long.....because no sooner did I put the ring on, I was confronted by the elders of the order, claiming that I did not have access to the vault.....and they came up with a charge, claiming that I was trying to syphon the power of the ring for my own purposes. This charge was false however.....and when I spoke out about it, i was brought to trial and banished from my home......but not before the elders used the ring to influence the Eladrin senate. I fought against the power of the ring when it was turned on me, and thankfully so....because I think had I not fought so hard against it's power, I would not be where I am now......

The last time I saw Neeala alive was as I was having my mind shattered by Azonin.....

I miss her......more than i can say.....and finding her dead within the tomb of Phaethon was hard.....but at least it was I who buried her.......it was I who performed the funeral rights.....a nd that is all I can ask now. As for my daughter, she is safe for now......I know that much. I know she is being looked after.....and I hold on to hope that one day, she will be able to know her father.....

I have a long road ahead of me.....mistakes to correct.....and above all, I have my current goals to see through. Tiamat is responsible for all that has happened in my life...even if indirectly.....and she will pay. I cannot allow her influence to spread as it has through my people, and that is why I am drawn to kharask. Hopefully, he can see that i am learning from my mistakes, and hopefully together, the Two Scars can end Tiamats influence in the world.....because if not, things will be far worse than anyone can imagine. I will do my part......I've even been sought out by one of my previous apprentices......and she seeks to continue her training. I will start there, guiding her through the arcane to the best of my abilities. Breena is young, inquisitive and very gifted.....and being that she is a Gnome, she will do fine with the powers of illusion. Because of her heritage, she has a natural affinity for that particular form of magic.....and I believe she will shape into a fine mage. For what I have planned, she will indeed need all of the tutelage i can give her......

Soon we depart for Narjhon.....and from there, Kharask wishes to set out into the desert to search for an artifact belonging to his people. I will aid him...as promised. He is going to need me...especially considering what we are facing.....I must rest now......these next days shall be trying and I shall need all of the preparation I can get.....