When her turn came, Nym smiled down at her wine, swirling it gently as she began, "Since we last were together here, my life has been quite quiet... which is how I've liked it." She looked up at the group, and continued, "I was burned quite badly in Llewellyn, so I went home to heal..." "In more ways than one," she finished in her mind.
Her eyes glazed slightly as she stared into the middle distance remembering her life over the past three years. A soft smile spread across her face as she continued, "I've been able to rekindle friendships from my childhood, and... other times." She blushed slightly, thinking if Illuvaen and how their relationship had deepened and intensified in the last few months. Her hand absently went to her necklace, a simple silver chain decorated with a small moonstone, which had been a gift from Illuvaen shortly before she left for Baldur's Gate.
"Do you remember when we were sucked into the Dream Plane?" Nym asked, looking at Darvin and Talathel. "We were attacked by that monologuing purple worm? ...I am sad to say the entire plane collapsed roughly two years ago. Luckily, many of our friends escaped before its destruction. By happy chance, Illuvaen found me in Silverymoon just this last fall." She blushed a deeper shade of red and tucked her messy, long hair behind her ear.
"Apparently, when we returned here, Illuvaen's mother took control and ruled the land as ruthlessly as the shadowcasters." Nym frowned, feeling guilty that they hadn't been able to destroy the crystal. "Along with Illuvaen, about 100 members of the resistance survived the collapse and now live throughout the Silver Marches. Dohn Aeskmi, the ex-monk, lives in Silverymoon, as does Miss Stake." Nym looked thoughtful for a moment, adding, "You know, they have very strange names. I never thought about it before..." She shook her head, laughing, and added, "I even received a letter over winter from Druuv, the arctic goblin who helped us, telling me she and some of her people had escaped the collapse. They're living north of the Marches in the Spine of the World mountains near Mithral Hall." Nym's brow furrowed, and she added, "I'm not sure what happened to the shadowcasters or the half elf queen, though... They could be in Faerun as well."
Nym was quiet for a moment before adding, "I've been happy. Truly happy." She smiled, thinking of Illuvaen, her father, her friends, and the forest all waiting for her in the Silver Marches. Pipper scratched on Nym's leg, stretching and yawning to get her attention. She picked up the fox and set him on her lap, rubbing her fingers through his soft, white fur.
Friday, January 29, 2016
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Beranhond smiled, glad that Nym had managed to find some peace. The last time he had seen her she had. He paused not wanting to finish the thought.
ReplyDelete"Hmmm, I suspect that the collapse of the dream realm, the silence of the Gods, and the rise of the darkness are all related." He took a notebook out of a side pocket of his coat and jotted down some ideas. Beranhond had a few other questions, but as he looked around the table he decided that they would need to wait for a more private moment to ask Nym.
Johan's brow furrowed. "Dream Plane? I'm surprised they can stay stable in the Prime Material plane if that's where they're originally from. So can anyone even dream anymore, or are all sleeps dreamless?"
ReplyDeleteNym chuckled at Johan's question, replying, "The Dream Plane was created from dreams, but it doesn't control dreams. Everyone who dreams can still dream."
ReplyDeleteTalathel's ears perked up at the mention of the Silence of the Gods. Perhaps his was not the only missing god. "When we are finished here, Beranhund, I would like to speak with you about the Silence of the Gods."
ReplyDeleteEvelaen couldn't help but smile at Nym's story of recovery and his of love. Beranhomd had mentioned that the rest of then had gone on a journey to a different realm, but he hasn't mentioned any this Illuvaen character.
ReplyDelete"I hope this isn't too much to ask as we don't know each other that well yet... But who is this Illuvaen? You mentioned him twice and each time your face brightened into a gorgeous smile." She grinned more openly now. "lover, sometimes you want to be a lover, friend that you are heas over heels about. Please tell me to be quiet of you want, but id love all the details you are selling to share about this man."
At Evelaen's question, Nym's face turned bright pink, and she looked down at her soup, which she noticed Pipper had started eating. Nym pushed the fox onto the floor, and, playing with her necklace, she replied, "Lover." She felt her face turn a deeper shade of red and giggled.
ReplyDeleteNym cleared her throat and continued, looking at Evelaen, "Illuvaen is..." Nym furrowed her brows, thinking how to describe him. "Perfect. Gah, don't say that," she thought. "...He's... genuine and educated and just a little bit mischievous and... forgiving." Her smile looked pained for a moment at the last word before a wistful smile returned to Nym's face. "He sees the best in everyone. A genuinely kind person in this dark world." Nym's mouth turned to a slight frown as she added, "And... heartbroken," she looked back at Evelaen, "over the loss of his world."
ReplyDeleteEvelaen noted. "yes, I can only imagine what that would be like. I mean, it was tough enough to deal with the seems of a life I rather hatred. The loss of a world... And you said his mother had something to do with it?"
ReplyDelete"Yes... his mother, Aethea, was Queen of the H'alorith, a large half elf community. The shadowcasters controlled much of the land through fear because of a powerful crystal in their possession. Illuvaen and Dohn, a friend of Illuvaen's, were leading us to the shadowcaster's tower and his mother was taken prisoner."
ReplyDeleteNym frowned and sighed as she sat back in her chair, "I wonder now if she was behind her own kidnapping to get at the crystal... Well, we made it to the tower with the goal of destroying the crystal and using their Dream Gate to get home. Illuvaen went to get his mother and met us back upstairs with about a dozen armed half elves from the H'alorith. We took out the shadowcasters and did some damage to the crystal before Illuvaen told us to get through the portal - that the half elves could handle the crystal. As soon as we were through, his mother took control of the crystal and ruled the land through fear in the same way as the shadowcasters had. Illuvaen led a resistance, but..."
Nym wiped a tear from her face impatiently, "...but the Queen's lust for power somehow collapsed the plane..."
Nym sat quietly looking slowly around the table until her gaze returned to Evelaen. Quietly, she continued, "Very few escaped the plane's collapse. About 100 half elves and others who were part of Illuvaen's resistance against his mother, and various pockets of others who found some means other than the Dream Gate to escape. Illuvaen estimates no more than 600 or so survived... from an entire plane." Nym closed her eyes, trying not to think of how many lives were cut short when the Dream Plane collapsed in on itself.
Violet looked pained, and hung her head, looking at the floor as Nym described the collapse of the plane, "I know how hard it can be to lose your family. That must be terrible for him."
ReplyDeleteA harder look entered her gaze as she looked up, "I understand you correctly that his mother didn't make it? Otherwise she would have a lot to answer for."
Nym shook her head, adding, "We honestly don't know. She was powerful enough that she could have made it."
ReplyDelete