FINAL REWARD: PART I
by: Taliaferro Erucolindo
Kiren Tiradoio raced across the Dreadlands, heading for Karnor's Castle. He was joining his guildmates for a bold strike into the depths of a stronghold of evil. The plan was to magically ride the ethereal winds from Karnor's Castle into the Emerald Jungle, and then head overland to raid the City of Mist. The teleport was considered far safer than running through the dangerous lands of the Iksar the entire way, and would serve to misdirect the Dark Ones as to their true target. Upon reaching Karnor's Castle, Kiren, taking care to camoflague himself from nearby hostiles, checked the entrance of the foreboding ruins, and decided to head inside to the rendezvous point. As he entered the antechamber of the ancient ruined castle, Kiren quickly spotted his guildmates. Tatina, Taliaferro, Soaren, and Wulli were making final preparations. With them stood an old friend, Linidan Darkgaze, of Judges of Norrath, who would be joining them in this joint effort. The group looked ready for whatever the Emerald Jungle and the City of Mist could throw at them.
"Shall we get started then?", asked Kiren as he stepped out from cover, expecting to surprise his friends. No one seemed surprised at his appearance, which confused Kiren, until he remembered that Tal had a magic item that let him and his allies detect hidden things. "We were starting to get worried, kinsman," grinned Tal, as he drew his swords and went through some practice swings. "I always love to make a good entrance," replied Kiren, "Are we ready, Tatina?" "Almost. Now that you are here, we'll be departing shortly", came Tatina's reply. "Welcome, friend! It is good to see you again," said Linidan. "Master Darkgaze, it's always an honor to see you," replied Kiren, "Wulli and Soaren, you are both looking well. Ready for some adventure?" "Ready to kill something!" Wulli enthusiastically replied. "Ready as we'll ever be" joked Soaren. "Then let's be off!" said Tatina, as she began to draw upon the magick of Tunare, first to cloak the adventures from sight, then to open mystical portals of wind. One by one, the adventurers were drawn by the southerly winds into the portals around them. Just before vanishing, Tal shouted over the winds to Kiren, "This should be fun!", and then they all were gone on the winds.
In the midst of the Emerald Jungle, the wind came sweeping down upon the ground, opening five magical portals. From these portals stepped five adventurers. Tatina looked about, slightly fatigued from the exertion of the spell. "Have we all arrived?" The band looked about them, taking a quick inventory of their belongings and of their numbers. After a moment of silence, Tal spoke. "Where's Kiren?"
Kiren wasn't sure if he'd opened his eyes or not. It was still dark all around him. "Where am I? Where are the others?" thought Kiren. Kiren had emerged in a place of utter darkness. Instinctively touching his guild talisman, Kiren attempted to contact his friends, only to have no response at all from the magical amulet. "Just like the Time of Silence..." thought Kiren. Looking about was like trying to see through black ink. Not even in the deepest of caves had Kiren seen such a darkness. He could hear sounds though. The sounds of a forest. Various smells came to him too, though he could not identify them as any he'd smelled before. They were comforting sounds and smells, and yet his vision was somehow kept from seeing anything about him. Glancing down at his own hands, he could see them clearly. "If I can see myself, then why can't I see anything else?", thought the Ranger of Tunare. Kiren felt as though he were standing on solid ground, and yet he could not see any earth beneath him. No light source was apparent, and his preternaturally sharp eyes were seeing nothing save himself. "And I'm seeing myself normally, not through nightsight...." pondered Kiren. It was as though the sights about him were simply not visible to his eyes. Bending down, Kiren touched the ground upon which he stood but could not see. He felt the softness of grass, the firmness of rich soil beneath it. "This place.....it feels so.....familiar...." Kiren began to think. Then a voice called his name, and Kiren whirled around....
"We can't leave without Kiren!" shouted Tal. It wasn't a challenge to Tatina's authority, it was merely a statement of fact, as far as Tal was concerned. Tatina looked at her younger friend and shook her head. "We don't know where he is or why he didn't come through the portal. He could be anywhere. Tal, I agree with you that we must insure his safety, but first we must insure OUR safety. If we don't seek shelter soon, this Jungle will be the death of us! We WILL find Kiren, I promise you!" Tat knew that being a leader meant sometimes making tough calls, but she truly hated leaving a guildmate behind. Worse, she had no idea where he was. Tunare's magick had never failed her before, and she had no explanations for why it had failed now. They had tried to contact Kiren via the mystical talismans as soon as they discovered his absence, but he was not responding. Dangerous monsters lurked in the darkness of the Emerald Jungle, many of which could see right through any attempts at camoflague or invisibility, and she knew that as leader of the expedition, she was responsible for the safety of the group. "We march onward! Once we reach the City of Mist, we'll have cover. Then we'll do what we can to locate Kiren and mount a rescue if we have to. Now let's move out." Tal knew that Tatina was right, and joined the rest of the party as they began their run for the City of Mist. Kiren was a skilled fighter, Tal knew, and surely he would be able to take care of himself, wherever he was. Somehow, he knew his friend would be okay.
"Kiren" said a voice gently. Kiren whirled around, weapons drawn, only to see more darkness. "Be at ease, child. You are safe here. Safer than you could ever imagine. The sights about you are not for your eyes to see.....not yet. All will be revealed in time. For now, be at peace," said the oddly-familiar, matronly voice. Kiren did not like being unable to see the speaker, but her words rang true. A feeling of peace came over him. It was inexplicable, but Kiren truly felt safe, at ease and serene. Lowering his weapons, Kiren listened to the voice. "My child, a dangerous time is approaching. A time when you and your comrades will face great danger. You will be asked to risk everything, for the sake of your friends. Darkness strains at its bonds, and would be free at any cost. Only quick thinking and great bravery can avoid this fate. When the time is right, you will know what must be done. More, I cannot speak. Have faith and be vigilant, Kiren Tiradoio. The time is almost nigh, my son....". The voice faded, as though receding into the distance. A thousand questions flooded Kiren's mind, but before he could give voice to them, he felt the winds drawing him away.
"There it is!" shouted Tatina, leading the team towards the ruins of the City of Mist. The run had been difficult, but they were almost there. Soaren was still bleeding from injuries received in battle with an Erollisi Bloodthorn on their way, and there had still been no communication from Kiren. Finally, the team ducked under the cover of a doorway, and as Wulli, Taliaferro and Linidan set up a perimeter, Tatina cast healing magic on Soaren. "I didn't expect a Bloodthorn to be able to see us that easily," said Soaren. "Aye, and they hit a lot harder than one might expect as well. There, good as new," replied Tatina. "Are we ready to go inside? There's a safe place just beyond the entrance, where our recon teams have hunted before," said Linidan. "Yes, I think we're ready...wait!" Tatina, Taliaferro, Soaren, and Wulli all perked up as a familiar voice echoed in their minds. "Um, anyone want to give me directions to the City of Mist?" said Kiren, over their guild talismans. "Kiren! Where were you?", asked Tal. "I'm.....not sure. Something very odd happened. Maybe I just imagined it. At any rate, I'm in the middle of the Emerald Jungle and need directions," came Kiren's reply. As Linidan helped Soaren relay directions to Kiren, Tatina breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, Kiren would be with them, and everything would be back as it should be. Tunare must have had a reason, Tatina decided, for the magick of her spell to falter. She trusted the Mother of All's wisdom. Soon, Kiren was back with the team, and their adventures continued. For days, Kiren would wonder what had actually happened during the teleportation mishap, but soon, all things were indeed revealed.