The Third Age
Chapter 18: Allentian Voices 2
Guy's Thoughts
If the Shenga exists, he’s been running things for at least twenty years, keeping order so that he can control the city. Whoever’s been killing people with Blue Crystal, importing Ventrazi to terrorize the town, riling up a human sacrifice cult and openly threatening me, is not that calm, calculating figure who hides in the shadows. So either the Shenga’s real and something’s happened to change him, or this person is not the Shenga.Indexplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Story So Far
Chapter 1: The Blue CrystalChapter 2: Beating up a FriendChapter 3: The Battle of the Wyrm HoleChapter 4: Mugul Unleashed!Chapter 5: Queen of the OrcsChapter 6: Malus TriumphantChapter 7: The End of the MagistrateChapter 8: Efraim's GambitChapter 9: Mad with PowerChapter 10: Splintering PartyChapter 11: Ladiana's TrialChapter 12: Dutchess ClarysChapter 13: Malus's HistoryChapter 14: The Legend of the ThoraciChapter 15: Allentian VoicesChapter 16: Orcs BoundChapter 17: The Sheng…Nextplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigChapter 19: Ancient Airs and Tomes
Scroll
It is known that the First Age was the Age of Paladine, who created all things and all things that are good. It is known that the Second Age was the Age of Arioch, where evil took possession of all things and war had claimed many lives. The land was a wasteland and the sea was a dead sea. Men and Elves distorted magick and the Lady of Mysteries took back the Gift, bringing about the Third Age. It is also known that the Third Age was meant for Mystra, the Goddess of Magic. And yet, her pr…
Alex Centauri
We survived the night of the fires. We survived hell unleashed, inside the walls of Allentia. It had been over 30 summers since last we had been attacked. And on this night, hundreds of the dreaded orcs poured in, probably allowed access by those Sons of Arioch scum! So I took up shield and sword, resolved in defending this city, my neighborhood, Her honor. I was but a carpenter by day, a chemist by cover of night, and yet, on this eve, I would become like the paladin that defended me. I would stand side by side with Corporal Dederick. If he fell this night, so would I. My wife, Sophie, would be proud of me. My Ma and my Da would be proud also. I would die the hero, though I had lived the coward.
Why do I say I am a coward? Because I fell for the seduction of Ferengetti’s promise. He said he would protect my family. He said he would pour riches into my hands if I kept making the crystal. He lied. He gave me nothing but servitude and pain. And when his bashers came and took me, when they poisoned me with my own inventions, I knew I had lived a coward’s life.
I am no warrior, and there’s no great mystery. But I would pick up blade and shield and defend with my life this city that I love. I would defend with my life the honor of Lady Clarys and the Goddess Mystra. Even if alone I would stand, I would not fear.
But Lady Clarys came. Even then, on the twilight of battle, she had waded into the fray, fighting alongside me and Dederick. Though she be the governor of this great city, she defended us as if she were but a common soldier. And yet, she was no common soldier. She fought with fury and precision. I am no judge of fighting styles, nor claim any expertise in the martial arts myself, but what I witnessed Lady Clarys do, well, it would take the breath away from most men.
And her friend, the feared captain of the guard, Mugul! He too had been a whirlwind of death and destruction, easily besting all who came before him. Though he was only half an orc, he fought as ten orcs! I was elated at such companionship, for, who could lose with such company?
But then, some of his militia men tried to take hold of me, tried to “protect me.” I knew not from whence this order came and I had protested this sudden apprehension. Had it not been for the Lady’s chief advisor — what was his name? — I would surely have been accosted against my will.
Retreating back to the safety of the Great Library, I had time enough to pause and rest.
But out of the blackest, foulest depths of the Nine Hells came a menacing foe that I can barely describe. I had seen him before. I had seen his face, his multi-colored robes. He had been the duke’s advisor. He had been His Majesty’s chief counselor and strategist. Here, now, in the Great Library.
But, I wondered with ever growing dread, why did he incant the deadliest of spells and fire upon the Mother Superior? Why did she raise her hands in defense of her beloved library and sisterhood? Why did I now cower among the stacks of ancient tomes and wish for the very dawn to approach?
There would be but one more battle this night. There would be a reckoning.
Orianna
You were there.
You had come.
I know not why.
To search for truth? To search for answers?
To search for me?
You had money now. Power. You had influence and you had the guise of many faces.
How did you leave? How did you get free from the bonds of Mystvale?
It is said that no mere men could escape its deathly grasps, surrounded by everwinter and shrouded in mysteries. And yet, you are here, now, and free.
I suffered a more heinous fate, abducted in my youth.
I know you searched; I know you all wondered of me.
I shall not reveal the years of suffering, but know you this: I am strong now. Powerful beyond imagining. I too have power and influence and I fear no man, save one.
And know you this, for our bond and our history, I shall never harm you, all the days of my life.
For this, I give you my gift. It will protect you in your moments of need. When you find it, hidden among your garments, secreted therein during your sweet slumber, you will know that I still do care and I still feel.
Oh yes, I watched you, restful, peaceful. I ensured no harm came to you while you were in my quadrant. I shall ever watch over you, protecting you as you once did me, O my brother.
Sleep now. Be at peace.
Guy's Thoughts
If the Shenga exists, he’s been running things for at least twenty years, keeping order so that he can control the city. Whoever’s been killing people with Blue Crystal, importing Ventrazi to terrorize the town, riling up a human sacrifice cult and openly threatening me, is not that calm, calculating figure who hides in the shadows. So either the Shenga’s real and something’s happened to change him, or this person is not the Shenga.Indexplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Story So Far
Chapter 1: The Blue CrystalChapter 2: Beating up a FriendChapter 3: The Battle of the Wyrm HoleChapter 4: Mugul Unleashed!Chapter 5: Queen of the OrcsChapter 6: Malus TriumphantChapter 7: The End of the MagistrateChapter 8: Efraim's GambitChapter 9: Mad with PowerChapter 10: Splintering PartyChapter 11: Ladiana's TrialChapter 12: Dutchess ClarysChapter 13: Malus's HistoryChapter 14: The Legend of the ThoraciChapter 15: Allentian VoicesChapter 16: Orcs BoundChapter 17: The Sheng…Nextplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigChapter 19: Ancient Airs and Tomes
Scroll
It is known that the First Age was the Age of Paladine, who created all things and all things that are good. It is known that the Second Age was the Age of Arioch, where evil took possession of all things and war had claimed many lives. The land was a wasteland and the sea was a dead sea. Men and Elves distorted magick and the Lady of Mysteries took back the Gift, bringing about the Third Age. It is also known that the Third Age was meant for Mystra, the Goddess of Magic. And yet, her pr…