FINAL REWARD: PART XI
by: Taliaferro Erucolindo
Darshan's portal opened at the Druid Ring in the Eastern Plains of Karana. Darshan stumbled through from exhaustion, behind him, the still, lifeless forms of Kiren and Taliaferro appeared, and finally, Thanoslug tumbled through as well. Mummie immediately concentrated into her guild talisman, "Telree! The rescue team is here! Get your team out of there!"
.......
Telree and the rest of the diversionary team immediately began their escape procedures. The Warriors, Paladins, Rangers and Monks held the line against the never-ending swarm of foes, while the spellcasters and bards kept up their magical assault, except for the Druids. Each Druid encanted the same syllables that Darshan had intoned, calling upon their deities to open similar portals for their friends, portals that would take them all to safety. Amidst the chaos of spells, the enemy failed to notice and recognize what the Druids were doing until it was too late. Before they could disrupt the concentration of the Druids, the portals opened, and the rest of Giliath Lang was drawn out of Nektulos Forest, and to the safety of the Druid Ring in East Karana.
.......
Tarina scowled at where, moments before, Kiren had been impaled on her blade. The sword cried out in dark hunger, angry that it had been deprived of its meal. Tarina reached up to the scar on her face, the one left by Kiren's Morin sword. Anger consumed her, and she let out a scream of frustration and rage. The few woodland animals that lived in Nektulos scattered from her for leagues in every direction. Looking with contempt at her dead co-conspirators, Tarina vowed to contact the Necromancers among her people and demand that the spirits of these failures be tortured for the next several decades. Still not satisfied, she turned and kicked the decapitated body at her feet, then stalked back towards Neriak.
.......
As Tatina and Telree stepped through the portal, they quickly took count and found that all members of Giliath Lang had made it to the Druid Ring. Some were mortally wounded, and some were already dead. The Clerics would beseech their deities to allow the deceased to be returned to their bodies. Normally, this request would be granted, but each one knew that eventually, when a soul's time had come, the request would be denied. Telree prayed that this would not be the time for any of his guildmates.
Tincture knelt over Taliaferro's body. Placing his hands upon the chest and forehead of the Fier'Dal Warrior, Tincture prayed to his deity. Many times before, Tincture had performed this ritual, this gift of life. Each time, he felt his place among his guild to be a truly blessed one, for only one who gives the gift of life can truly appreciate its worth. As it had in the past, the sense of tranquility came to him. The touching of another being's soul, as it hovered on the doorway of eternity, in the presence of the gods. Tincture spoke reverently to his deity, asking permission for that soul to continue it's journey in this world. The request was granted, and Tincture felt the healing wind of life flow through his body, and into Taliaferro.
Taliaferro's eyes snapped open with a start. Quickly trying to remember what had happened to him, Tal brought himself to a seated position, then reeled back, feeling the effects of the resurrection spell. Shaking his head to clear it, Tal saw Tincture smiling at him, and his guildmates all standing, sitting, or lying nearby, receiving the healing of Clerics and Druids in the reserve team. "My thanks, Tincture....did we win?" asked Tal. Tincture looked about and responded, "We all escaped, and I have no doubt that we shall be able to restore life and health to everyone involved. In that, I believe, we can claim victory." Tal nodded, and carefully stood. "Again, my thanks, good Cleric," said Tal. "It is my duty and honor, my friend," responded Tincture.
Tal staggered a bit, as he wandered through the company, searching. He saw Rekus and Greyharte, Soaren and Zosmann, and the rest of his guildmates, each bearing many scars and much blood that was not their own, receiving healing from various members of the guild. Smiling to each of them weakly but bravely, he tossed a salute to them. They responded with a smile and a salute in return. As he continued his search, Tal saw Thanos being similarly attended by healers. Tal was glad to see that the young Dwarf had survived as well. He moved to speak to him, when Telree clapped Tal on the back, drawing a wince from the still weakened Warrior. Tal looked at Telree and began, "I'm sorry we were fooled, Tel. I wanted so badly to believe that it was Glorelion and Lorfindur....", but Telree interrupted his friend, "None wanted to believe that more than I, my friend. We ALL wanted to be reunited with our friends. Rejoice that we made it out of the trap not only with our lives, but also with the Artifacts they attempted to steal from us. The four of you protected those Artifacts and we left many of them bloody and even more of them dead upon the ground of their own forest. As soon as the Clerics finish the resurrections, we'll head back to-" "TELREE!" shouted Tatina, motioning for her husband and Tal to join her, "we have a problem....It's Kiren....we.....we can't bring him back...."
All of Giliath Lang hovered around Kiren's body, as Mummie once again implored her deity to allow Kiren to return to them. All of the guild prayed to their own deities, as Mummie stretched forth her hands once more, and tried to summon Kiren's soul back to his body. The guild held it's collective breath as Mummie, sweating from exertion, removed her hands. "His soul will not respond, Kiren either cannot return to us.....or he doesn't wish to...." Mummie said quietly. "NO!" shouted Tal, "Kiren is NOT a coward! He would NEVER refuse to rejoin the battle!" Many of Tal's fellow Warriors, as well as many of the others, voiced their agreement. Tatina spoke, sorrow in her voice, "Maybe it was his time, the time for him to join Tunare and be at peace...." Tears streamed down Tatina's face, as she prayed to Tunare that Kiren's soul would find peace in her embrace. All of Giliath Lang bowed their heads, many with teary eyes, as they acknowledged that their friend and kinsman had fought his final battle.
"WAIT!" cried Darshan, pointing at Kiren's face, "Look......his eyes....."
Everyone crowded around, some even casting levitation spells to see over the taller members of the guild. Mummie knelt near Kiren, and saw that his eyelids were indeed moving....ever so slightly....as though he were dreaming. Quickly pressing her ear to his chest, the Gnome matron listened intently. "His heart still beats!" shouted Mummie, and a cheer went up from the gathering. Questions began pouring in, but Mummie raised her hands to silence the crowd. "His body lives, but for some reason, his spirit has not yet returned to it. I do not know why it hasn't, but we must protect the body until such time that it does." Darshan turned to Tal, "That's what you were like after the attack of Faydedar. Didn't you say you were speaking with Rallos Zek at that time?" All eyes turned to Tal, who nodded his head, "Aye, Rallos wished to speak to me, so he held my spirit with him until he was ready for me to come back. Perhaps Kiren speaks to Tunare right now...." Telree asked Mummie, "Is it safe to move him? We need to get back to the guildhall in Felwithe before our enemies locate us. No one will harm his body once we're there." Mummie looked at Tatina, who nodded, and then responded, "A teleport shouldn't make any difference. If his deity holds his spirit, then nothing we do to the body, short of destroying it, would stop it from coming back, if Tunare allows it." Telree nodded, "Then let us teleport to Felwithe, via the Butcherblock Mountains. We will do what we can to prepare Kiren's body for his spirit's return. Our wounded can get some rest there safely as well."
With various words and guestures of agreement, the Sword of the Star Host began it's preparations to return to Faydwer, to their guild hall in Felwithe. Darkness had struck them a mighty blow, but they had struck a heavy one in return. Now, it was time to mend.