Dark Flower Ch. 12 (previously The Flower Ch. 6)

[Mikayla]

The Flower, Part 6: Fertile Ground

***

In the great circle known as the Heart of Lonelywood, Mariiana LaureLasse held her newborn baby while the father, Jain’n, looked on. Those who had watched and helped with the birth, including Anolesa Silversong, Calia and Inthara, surrounded Mariiana. The one person who was not there was the woman who had actually delivered the child, Sheyreiza Auvryndar.

Sheyreiza had walked out of the circle as soon as the infant had been passed to the mother and the cord cut and secured. Despite the pleas of the father, Sheyreiza did not pause to see the newborn any longer than she absolutely had to. She had left the circle as quickly as she could and walked through the nearby woods until she came upon a tree Jain’n had once told her about.

Near the holy circle, there was a tree that glowed with a soft amber light. Beneath that tree were buried two Ilythiiri males, one called ‘River’ and the other called ‘Treeshadow.’ At least that was what Jain’n had told Sheyreiza. According to Jain’n, River and Treeshadow, though Ilythiiri, were allies, even friends of the sun-elf lord. In life, they had been followers of the Dark Maiden and allies of the surface elves and the Seldarine.

Now, Sheyreiza stood virtually naked before the amber-lit tree that served as their monument. She wore only a necklace from which dangled a warming stone, and pair of fur lined, knee-high boots. A fur cloak, matching the boots, lay on the snow beside her. Since the moment she had shed the dress she wore in prison and subsequently come face to face with the goddess Eilistraee, Sheyreiza had refused any clothing other than the fur lined cloak and boots. The enchanted warming stone and the heavy fur cloak were enough to ward off even the bitter cold of the north, while her boots kept her feet protected. Other than that, she wore nothing but a splatter of gore. Red streaks of Mariiana’s blood from the delivery ran through Shey’s silky white hair. Her hands were covered in blood, and she looked for all the world like she had just come from doing great violence, or having great violence done to her. In some sense, that was exactly what had happened. The birth of Averas, Mariiana’s child, had done great violence to Sheyreiza’s concept of herself and her purpose. Though the blood came from the birth of the child, it was, perhaps, symbolic of Sheyreiza’s own internal struggles and the war that raged in her soul.

Sheyreiza watched the amber lights move about the tree. The soft glowing points of light seemed to move up, towards the awaiting sky. She wondered if that was where the dead men’s souls had really gone.

“Did you make it my brothers?” She asked softly, looking at the base of the tree where the two Ilythiiri men were buried. “Did you make it to Arvandor? Do your feet now walk in those green fields? Are you at peace with your fair skinned sisters and brothers? Are you at peace with the Seldarine? Did the Dark Maiden really save your souls? Or do you, even now, rot in the Demon Web as heretics, to be tortured for all eternity by the Dark Mother?” She paused to look up and down the tree. She spoke again, her voice barely a whisper. “Did you make it brothers? Can the rest of us make it? Can I?”

A foot crunched in snow behind Sheyreiza and she turned slowly. Inthara stood there, her eyes tearing, a look of great sadness on her face as she watched Sheyreiza, blood stained and naked, query the glowing tree and the silent grave. Sheyreiza met her gaze and Inthara held it. Sheyreiza knew that Inthara was but a sorceress, and a heretical Eilistraee worshipper. Sheyreiza, on the other hand, was a noble priestess of Lolth. Still, as the women locked eyes it was Sheyreiza’s gaze that asked the questions and Inthara’s that tried to answer them.

***

The human female talked excitedly. Though Sheyreiza knew the common tongue of the surface, the human’s spoke it with an accent that it made it difficult for her to follow. When they spoke as quickly as this female, Sheyreiza was lucky to catch one word in a sentence. Sheyreiza did not like the words she caught now, as the excited woman spoke to Jain’n. “Attack.” “Orcs.” “Gnolls.” “Giant.” As the woman talked the picture became clear even to Sheyreiza. A giant leading a band of gnolls, orcs and humans was attacking Termanline, one of the nearby human settlements. This woman had been on the lake when the attack started. Rather than row her boat ashore at Termaline, she rowed for the far shore and the village of Lonelywood. Jain’n, the moon elf warrior Vraja, and Kalina were talking to the distraught woman on the village dock. Sheyreiza and Rilralia stood some distance away listening: Sheyreiza because she was a dark elf and did not want to spook the human anymore than she already was; and Rilralia because she was pregnant and did not want to walk too far from the shelter of the cottage. In the distance, on the far shore of the lake, they could see smoke rising from Termaline.

Within minutes, Jain’n, Vraja, Kalina and Sheyreiza left the village on foot headed for Termaline. They had decided against taking a boat, as a boat could be easily seen coming across the lake. Moreover, a rock-hurling giant could easily sink a small boat like the ones tied up at the dock and none of the four elves wanted to try their luck swimming in armor.

Sheyreiza had been armed a few days earlier, just after the birth of Mariiana’s child. Amenia, Shey’s former bodyguard, had been growing restless and Jain’n had decided to let her go hunt to relieve that restlessness. Jain’n let Amenia and Sheyreiza have some of their equipment and weapons back. Sheyreiza’s enchanted breastplate and unholy morning star had been melted down, but her Ilythiiri made longsword was given back to her along with an elven bow and arrows. Jain’n saw to it she received armor as well. Amenia was similarly outfitted, and together with Jain’n, the two drow females had set out hunting. For an entire night, they stalked the dark killing orcs and ogres as they found them. Sheyreiza left the melee to Amenia, for it was Amenia’s hunt, and relied on the elven bow. While not possessed of the same blood lust that afflicted Amenia, Sheyreiza was not averse to killing whatever iblith she could. After that night’s hunt, Jain’n had let the drow stay armed.

Sheyreiza still preferred to go naked but for her cloak, boots and warming stone, though now she usually wore a sword belt under the cloak. She was not sure exactly why she preferred to go naked, however. It was not how she had acted in Skullport or even in Ched Nasad before her heresy was discovered. Naked meant unarmored and unarmored usually meant vulnerable, at least in the world in which Sheyreiza came from. Now, she found that her nakedness was something of a weapon.

Sheyreiza was adorned with several white tattoos of spiders and spider webs, including one massive tattoo of a calcified web that started on her lower back and then wrapped around one of her long legs like some sort of wicked tail. In the illustrated calcified web were drawn little white spiders. Every elf, indeed every person, Sheyreiza met while naked was instantly taken aback not only by Sheyreiza’s race and nakedness, but also by those clearly Lolthian tattoos. And Sheyreiza liked that. She liked putting people off balance. It served as a quick test of those she met. Would they talk first? Would they draw blades? Sheyreiza’s mere appearance forced people to confront their prejudices.

Showing the tattoos was also a way of showing that Sheyreiza was not hiding who and what she was, or at least, who and what she had been. Sheyreiza was nothing if not proud, and though she may have left that world behind, Sheyreiza had not left her heritage behind. No matter what spiritual path she wandered, Sheyreiza would never deny who and what she was or where she came from. Denial and self-delusion were for Ilythiiri like Anolesa who wanted, perhaps even needed, to believe they were different than their subterranean cousins. Sheyreiza knew the truth – all Ilythiiri were of the same race – but those of the same race could make different decisions and follow different paths.

Though Sheyreiza loved being naked and its effect on those around her, she doubted her nudity would serve her well against a giant or a band of gnolls and orcs. As Jain’n and the others had talked to the human woman, Sheyreiza had donned her borrowed armor and strapped on her weapons. Now, she jogged through the snow behind Kalina and Vraja as Jain’n scouted far ahead.

***

Out in the barren waste known as Bremen’s Run, Sheyreiza, Vraja and Kalina had taken up a defensive position on a small bluff. Jain’n was off scouting the approach to Termaline and they were awaiting him, ready to rain down arrow fire on any enemy that might be chasing Jain’n when he returned. A large, four legged horned animal made its way up the bluff. Sheyreiza recognized it as one of the ones the elves called ‘reindeer.’ The elves had told Sheyreiza it was a peaceful animal, not a predator, and not to be harmed. As this one came up the bluff, Sheyreiza noticed its eyes were red and fixated on Vraja. The beast did not seem like a peaceful animal to Sheyreiza, but then, what did she know of the surface?

The reindeer charged Vraja, horns down. The spry elf dodged at the last moment, brought his bow up and loosed a shaft. Vraja’s shot was a snap shot however, and the arrow struck the creature’s hindquarters. The beast seemed not to notice. It circled on Vraja quickly, and the elf dropped his bow, drew his rapier and took up a defensive stance, ready to dodge again should the animal charge.

Sheyreiza knew the elves did not kill the wild beasts around the wood, including the predatory wolves, but this was ridiculous. The animal had actually attacked Vraja. What were they supposed to do? Wait for it to kill the moon elf or get bored and go away?

Sheyreiza did not hesitate. She drew and loosed her shaft sinking it deep into the creature’s body, just behind the front shoulders. The muscular beast staggered and then fell into the snow dead. Sheyreiza smiled with satisfaction but her satisfaction was short lived. The carcass of the slain reindeer burst open and thick, disgusting worms at least two feet long emerged. The grub-like creatures wiggled across the snow with surprising speed and attacked the elves. Vraja and Kalina were ready, melee weapons in hand, and slew the worms as they were attacked. Sheyreiza was less prepared.

Her eyes went wide as the monstrous worms came forth and she quickly transfixed one to the ground with an arrow, but another of the enormous grubs attacked her her thigh where she was unarmored. Sheyreiza bit back a scream. She dropped her bow and pulled the worm off with her bare hands, tossing it into the snow were Vraja quickly killed it.

In mere moments, Kalina and Vraja had killed all the disgusting creatures. Around the dead reindeer were nearly a dozen dead worms.

“What are those things?” Sheyreiza growled.

“The reindeer was infected by Talona.” Answered Kalina. “It was worm-eaten.”

Jain’n appeared as made his way up the slope. The other two elves explained what had occurred and Jain’n set about building a campfire. Sheyreiza inspected her wound and found a green, acid like substance eating away at the flesh around the circular bite wound. She did her best to clean the wound but Jain’n suggested cauterizing it. Sheyreiza wasted no time. She walked over to the campfire Jain’n had started and pulled out a burning faggot. She waved the burning piece of wood about until the flames were gone, then pressed the glowing embers of the burnt end against her wound. She gritted her teeth as pain shot through her and the smell of cooking flesh greeted her nostrils. After a long, excruciating moment, she pulled the glowing stick away from her wound. Quickly, she pulled a vial from her satchel, opened it, and downed the healing potion within.

Looking down at the leg, Sheyreiza saw that her wound was clean and closed, but there was a scar from the cauterization.

“Talona you say?” Sheyreiza asked. “Very well. Talona has scarred my leg, so, from this cycle forward, Talona and her followers are my enemy.”

Vraja smiled slightly. “Good.” He said, more than a little amused. It was nice to see the drow had at least some common sense.

***

An hour later Vraja, Kalina and Sheyreiza stood along side the road that led to the gates of Termaline. Termaline itself was on the shore of the lake and at the bottom of a long rise. The three elves were near the top of the rise, behind many traps laid by Jain’n along the slope path in front of them. For the last 15 minutes or so they had been picking off the gnolls and orcs of the assaulting force. Now, with the outlying pickets dead, the giant who had been pounding on the town’s gate, took notice. Jain’n came sprinting up the hill, the great blue-haired, white skinned giant close behind. Sheyreiza was stunned at its size. Vraja and Kalina loosed their shafts and a moment later, Sheyreiza let hers fly.

Right below where Sheyreiza stood firing was a small level patch along the sloping road. There, Jain’n whirled on the enraged beast and slashed at it with his sword. As Sheyreiza and Kalina continued to loose shaft after shaft, Vraja drew his blades and scrambled down through the snow to fight beside Jain’n. Both men were ensorcelled with an enchantment that made their skin like stone. Sheyreiza hoped the protective spell would be enough to ward off the giant’s blows, but given the giant’s size, she doubted it.

Thanks to the sloping road, the Jain’n and Vraja fought the frost giant at its chest level. The twenty foot tall monster was swinging an enormous axe that fell again and again into the snows. Clouds of white powder billowed up with every strike. Jain’n had his shield in one hand and used it not so much to deflect the giant’s blows, which would have been nearly impossible given the giant’s strength, but to mask his movements from the giant's sight. By holding up the shield, Jain’n could hide which way his center of gravity was moving and dodge more effectively.

Vraja had no shield and fought with a blade in either hand. He was quick, but he could not cover his movements like Jain’n could. Thankfully, the giant seemed intent on putting Jain'n to death first. Vraja’s long blade found the giant’s skin, drawing blood. The giant, now wounded by the moon elf, turned his attention to dark haired Vraja. The axe came down and Vraja sidestepped, stabbing up at the giant’s arm, drawing blood again. Jain’n likewise took advantage of the moment and swung at the beast, his sword opening up a laceration across the giant’s chest. The beast howled and brought his great axe up for another swing. The giant’s eyes fixed on Vraja and Vraja dodged as the great axe fell. Vraja had nothing to hide his movements however, and the giant had been paying attention. The axe tore through the protective enchantment and tore through Vraja as well. The moon elf fell into the snow, bloody and lifeless.

Kalina screamed but Sheyreiza moved down to Jain’n and the fallen Vraja. Jain’n slashed across the giant’s arm as the beast brought his great axe up again. Instinctively, Sheyreiza summoned her power of darkness around the giant. Jain’n slashed again and the giant howled. Sheyreiza felt the ground shake and she realized the beast was running. She rolled off the path, or at least where she thought ‘off the path’ was in the darkness and the giant ran by her. Quickly she was on her feet and she and Jain’n pursued the fleeing frost giant. Kalina followed and soon Bremen’s run was home to an odd scene. Three relatively tiny figures chased one enormous figure across a snow covered wasteland. Every few yards, Sheyreiza would pause to loose an arrow.

Suddenly, the giant turned on its hunters, swinging its great axe down at Jain’n with a yell. The nimble sun-elf dodged and stepped in for a quick strike against the giant’s legs. The giant swung again, and Jain’n dodged again. As the giant’s axe struck snow, Jain’n stepped in quickly and struck giant.

Sheyreiza fired arrow after arrow at the twenty foot tall monster. Most bounced harmlessly off the giant’s helmet or hauberk. A few lodged in its skin but seemed to do little damage. Sheyreiza kept up the fire along with Kalina and watched Jain’n dance with the beast. Frustration, anger, and fear all grew in her with each swing of the giant’s axe. She could see the beast was finding Jain’n’s rhythm. The axe came down again and this time scored a glancing hit on Jain’n’s shield. The mere force of the blow sent Jain’n rolling through the snow. Though the giant was sorely wounded, its blows were still unbelievably powerful. Jain’n rolled to his feet just in time to dodge the giant’s next blow. Before Jain’n could step for a cut, the giant was swinging again. Though the giant was near death, it had finally found Jain’n’s rhythm and the sun-elf could not do anything but dodge and run.

Jain’n fled and the giant pursued, axe swinging. Jain’n sprinted in short bursts, only to suddenly change direction, trying to catch the beast off balance and gain some distance. The giant was not fooled. It followed Jain’n accurately even if it could not hit the nimble sun-elf as he ran. The beast was no longer howling now; its frost giant curses and obscenities had been replaced by the labored breathing of great physical exertion. The only noise on Bremen’s run now was the sound of giant and elf footfalls, punctuated by the whistle of a few arrows and the occasional slam of a giant axe into snow and ice. This fight was to the death.

Sheyreiza realized it was a matter of seconds before one of those axe blows found Jain’n and split him in two, leaving him dead in the snow like Vraja. Jain’n might turn in on the beast and strike, but doing so would surely mean his own death. His hope lay in Sheyreiza and Kalina’s arrows, but those arrows were all but useless.

Arrows were not Sheyreiza’s only weapon, or even her most effective one. As a priestess of Lolth, she knew many spells that could deal out death. Some were useful in close, some were useful at range. Sheyreiza had prayed for and received several of both prior to her capture by Jain’n some months earlier. Though Sheyreiza no longer prayed to Lolth regularly, those spells had never been expended. She still kept their power stored. She could kill the giant. But would Jain’n want her to? Would Jain’n want her to invoke a spell given to her by Lolth? In effect, would Jain’n want his life spared by the Spider Queen?

Rage and desire overtook Sheyreiza and she ignored those questions. What Sheyreiza wanted was Jain’n alive. What Sheyreiza wanted was the frost giant dead. What Sheyreiza wanted was the power to save her lover’s life and slay her enemies and that power she had.

Sheyreiza hissed out the words to a stored prayers and a dark mauve radiance engulfed her hands. A black beam of pure negative energy shot from the dark elf’s hands to the giant and the giant roared in shock and pain. The beast turned towards its new assailant, but Sheyreiza poured on her spell and the black beam tore through the giant. It staggered backwards under Sheyreiza’s magical assault and then fell backwards into the snow, dead.

The black skinned priestess growled as the beast fell, spitting curses in her native tongue at her fallen enemy. She felt nothing but rage at that moment; pure, unadulterated hate for this thing that dared defy her, dared attack her love, dared fight for its life when she wanted it to die.

Across the snow, near to where the beast fell, Jain’n stopped running and looked back at Sheyreiza. As she cursed the fallen beast, he watched and wondered. Which goddess had she invoked to bring down the giant? Which goddess answered her prayer? And did he really want to know?

***

The walk back to Lonelywood was a long and difficult one. Jain’n had to carry the body of his fallen comrade, Vraja and the burden wore on both his body and soul. Jain’n, Kalina and Sheyreiza had first taken Vraja’s body to Bryn Shander, where Jain’n sought the aid of the Lathanderites. Sheyreiza did not know exactly what transpired in the temple, for she would not go inside, but it appeared that while the human priest was willing to try and call Vraja’s soul back to the realm of the living, Vraja’s soul was not willing to come back. Jain’n was clearly upset, angry at fate, his inability to save Vraja and Vraja’s own unwillingness to return to life. Sheyreiza did not fault Vraja in the slightest. If the dead elf’s soul really did walk in Arvandor, why would he come back? Why endure the living hell of this world when one could enjoy the fruits of the next?

Sheyreiza had once made the choice to comeback, but that had been an easy choice, or so she thought. She did not really remember making the choice, but she had died once and been raised once. She did not turn her back on an eternity in the green fields of Arvandor however, she fled from an eternity in the abyssal pits. Her choice to return made as much sense as Vraja’s choice not too. Sheyreiza would shed no tears over Vraja. Indeed, Sheyreiza had never shed tears over any one she knew who had died. Why would she? Death was merely another step in the path a soul, and a necessary one.

Jain’n grieved however, and Sheyreiza could not understand it. A day after Vraja died, Jain’n, Kalina and Sheyreiza returned to Lonelywood village. Jain’n carried the body out to the burial grounds and Sheyreiza followed. Kalina went to spread the news.

Sheyreiza watched with fascination as Jain’n dug Vraja’s grave. Despite the snow and the freezing temperatures, the ground of the ancient burial site was easy to dig in. Jain’n had said it would be so, and he was right. It seemed sometimes, the ground was ready to receive that which it was offered.

As Jain’n dug, others from the village came out to watch. The lord dug alone, however. Vraja was Jain’n’s warrior, the burial ground was Jain’n’s legacy, and seeing to the dead was Jain’n’s duty. It was all so absurd to Sheyreiza, but she watched silently just the same.

Vraja’s body had just been lowered into the grave when Sheyreiza saw a spectral figure appear. The figure was male, armed and armored, and elven, but it was not Vraja. Sheyreiza’s eyes went wide as it approached. The spirit spoke and another appeared, and the second figure was Vraja. Sheyreiza stared in shock, mouth agape, as the spirit of the fallen elf spoke with Jain’n, Kalina and Rilralia. Vraja comforted those he was leaving behind and he thanked Jain'n for Jain'n's friendship and guidance. Vraja had been a lost soul when he came to Lonelywood, but with Jain'n's help, the moon elf had found himself and his gods. Now, Vraja's soul had completed its tasks in the realm of the living and it was time for it to move on.

Sheyreiza looked to the first specter, which had come from Arvandor to guide Vraja’s spirit. With tears in her eyes Sheyreiza fell to her knees in front of the stoic specter.

“Spirit, answer me true, do the Ilythiiri called River and Treeshadow walk in Arvandor?” Sheyreiza asked, her voice little more than a whisper. “Do any of my race walk in those green fields?” She was crying now.

The spirit, looked down at Sheyreiza. “Yes.” He answered.

And Sheyreiza knew he did not lie.

[Zakharra]

A sad story...

[Virvaldin]

DAMN YOU MIKAYLA!

I finally had it all figured out.. it was easy.. Drow are badasses.. very bad. And then this... *wipes a tear* I cry for damn drow? What have you done to my world picture.. DAMN YOU... DAMNYOU!!!!!!!

[Blindhamsterman]

*grumbles* there I go again, why do elves always get killed... once again your short story brought tears t my eyes, a mixed emotion however, sad that Vajra died but hearing that drow do indeed get a chance to go to Arvandor was nice.. Shey must be feeling really torn inside now..

[Killthorne]

Lolth works in mysterious ways.

Great work Mikayla.

~Killthorne~

[Mikayla]

Virv exclaimed:

I finally had it all figured out.. it was easy.. Drow are badasses.. very bad. And then this... *wipes a tear* I cry for damn drow? What have you done to my world picture.. DAMN YOU... DAMNYOU!!!!!!!

I am probably more proud of this story and its ability to arouse sympathy for Sheyreiza than any other story I have written. Who would have thought I could make a sociopathic, murderous, treacherous, arrogant, drow princess and priestess of Lolth into a sympathetic character? Granted, there are probably only like two people who think that, but still, its an accomplishment. Well, at least I think so.

I am quite glad you are all enjoying the story by the way. I cannot tell you how much fun I am having playing it. My thanks to all those players and DMs involved in the story.

[Souvarine]

This text didn’t hit me as sad at all, except for the giant. I didn’t feel anything for the dead elf…most likely because i did not get to know the character, but also because its death was actually useful to help Shey confirm that Arvandor is indeed a great place. I found there was more hope than mourning at the end. A good read, as usual with you Mik

“sociopathic, murderous, treacherous, arrogant, drow princess and priestess of Lolth” I’ll take those with pleasure, rest assured…once I find a %@#! place to play regularily

[Muse]

Speachless again...

[Nyarlathotep]

Great story as always, these are really an enjoyable read. Can't wait for future installments.
*and thanks for making Vraja look good in the fight rather than the speed bump he actually was

[Mikayla]

Thank you Nyar, I appreciate the comment.
Almost as much as I appreciated that 'speed bump' - at least you kept the beast away from ME!

[mr duncan]

another wonderful story. its still more fun to play thru this with you than it is to read it.. but both are damned good.



john