Shadows of Shaudakul 2

[a_libertine]

This is closed for EllysGSpot

OOC: This is a reset from several years ago. It is an homage to a game, and setting, that has provided me many years of entertainment. Please enjoy. Al


He rose from the ruined city of Myth Drannor, the wind lifting him at the first light of dawn. His skin glistened in the morning light, small scales two points of light shimmered off the horns above the corner of each eye. His long black hair floated around his head like a raven corona. His intense fiery red and yellow eyes looked down one last time at the city, or what was left of it.

More than a thousand years ago, the finest of elven cities was destroyed by a horde of demons and undead. The precise circumstances that lead up to its fall long since have fallen from the memories of even the longest lived elves. The reasons no longer mattered. The fact was that the city belonged to the undead and the demons. Probably would for all of eternity.

In that place of evil, was one spot of sanctuary, a grandiose temple near the outskirts of the ruins, a temple to Shaundakul. It was there that Irith grew up and became the man, or cambion, that he was. Found as an infant, Irith knew no other parent than Shaundakul himself. Once a powerful deity, his focus had been on keeping his last temple safe to the exclusion of all the world.

It was under the ongoing condition of siege that Irith aged and grew in power. Power of arms, power of faith. He was the high priest of his 'father' and deity, not because he was the last priest, but because he had the power of a high priest.

The hours passed as the winds buffeted and pushed Irith faster and faster always further south, the great forest of Cormanthyr fell behind him, the outpost settlements of the Dalelands now below him. Irith had no idea what his 'father' had in mind, only that it was of great import and it would take him eventually across the continent to the Western Heartlands, or beyond. He knew the visions would come, like the one that had haunted him the last week of a fabulous beauty of fire hair and a penchant for the color green.

His elevation began to sink slowly as the winds eased a little at a time. On the horizon Irith saw a medium sized caravan parked for the night. The guards were rousing from their stations and he knew that in the murky sky around him, that they would have a tough time seeing him. One simply does not look up while packing a caravan for travel.

He landed not far from a female whose long fiery hair was loose and fell down caressing the tops of her lush breasts. Her grassy eyes widened in alarm at his landing, made softer by the leathery wings that spread from his back half again his length in each direction.

Her cry of alarm was sure to alert the guards and his eyes locked onto hers, "I am Irith, and pose not threat to you, or those with whom you travel. It is Shaundakul's will that I am here, for it is his breath that has delivered me to your caravan."

Despite the ornate greatsword strapped to his back, Irith opened his hands and turned the palms up assuming a non threatening, defensive, posture. "I am not here to fight you or the caravan, nor am I here to steal. If you have wounded or sick, I would tend to them."

He smiled slightly, "If you are not the one in charge of the caravan, then I would like to speak to those who would welcome me, or not."

 

[EllysGspot]

Octavia admired the lush trees as a calm breeze blew down the valley. The caravan would be back on the road soon. The Dalelands had proved to be a murky place so far. Since leaving Cormyr behind a fortnight ago she had hardly seen the sun break the cloud cover. Even in the morning dew and lack of sun she was never cold. Her draconic ancestry had always warmed her from within.

This caravan was her charge and she had seen it more than halfway through it's journey so far. From Arabel to Highmoon and now on to their destination the capitol city of Sembia, Ordulin. Although there were a few guards, men with spears and short bows. It was her that was the real protection against the dangers the caravan faced daily. For over thirty years she had mastered her sorcery to levels rarely achieved by most. There had only been one attack on them this journey, they considered themselves lucky. That was an uncoordinated band of goblins and a few bugbears. She dispatched them easily enough but three of the guards and been wounded, one severely. It was her hope that an earlier start to the day would help them avoid such ambushes in the coming days.

The guards and tradesmen had finally begun to wake. Octavia had her things packed already and took up position overlooking the group. A quick breakfast and they should be off. No telling what sort of creatures may lurk in those woods. Was she paranoid? Maybe, but she had every reason to be. The fey in the Archwood just within sight of the road were known to be very territorial. She heard something then, a rhythmic beat and whoosh of air. Wings? She thought. The power within her flared to life just as something large landed just outside her peripherals. "Ah!" She stifled her yell feeling caught off guard and slightly foolish as she jumped to turn and face the creature. It was a man, or at least resembled a man. He had long black hair and piercing red and yellow eyes. Horns protruded from his forehead but that was hardly what threw her off, he had massive leathery wings like that of a dragon or bat only this was neither.

In slight shock while staring at the man she hardly noticed him introduce himself in a non threatening posture. "This caravan is my charge for protection but I am not in charge here. Nobody is these are merchants of equal standing." She looked to the sky where he had come from. I should have been ready for that, she scolded herself. There were many threats that could come from above. "Why have you come?" The goodness of your heart? I've met kinds similar to you. I don't believe it Shaundakul's will to send one such as yourself."

 

[a_libertine]

I looked at the redheaded sorceress then held up my hand, back toward her. On the back was a silver threaded image of Shaundakul. With my left hand I pulled out a pendant depicting an older symbol of faith, a great sword within a tornado. “In fact, he did send me, to you specifically, for he seems to have plans for you.

I saw what seemed to be a still dubious look and muttered, “Fine, maybe this will help.” I reached into a bag and pulled out a hat and placed it on my head. Once there the hat softened my scales into a more human skin and tone. My wings disappeared, and the horns became small nubs atop my forehead.

I pulled off my backpack and rummaged around in it a moment until I found what I was looking for, a pendant identical to mine, crafted in Myth Drannor hundreds of years ago. “This is for you,” I began, “The pendant was one that a forebear of yours wore hundreds of years ago.”

Before she could ask, “The answer to the question, is that indeed Shaundakul sent me, and I know of your family, for he was fond of that ancestor of yours. Ao knows I have heard the story every year since I was found, and after a couple hundred retellings of it, I know that story better than my own.”

I smiled, trying to keep my eyes on the green of her eyes, and not the green sheathing her breasts, for humab truly are fuller than elves. “Now that the main question is answered, do you yet believe?”

 

[EllysGspot]

Octavia watched as he donned the hat of disguise self and his wings disappeared completely and his features became more human. Lucky for him because she wasn't so sure the guards would have been so keen to hear what he had to say in his original form. He held the pendant out to her and before she could ask he was already answering her question. She recognized the pendant right away. She had seen it almost every day of her childhood. It was the very same pendant in a painting of her great great grandmother that hung above the mantle in her old home.

With a motion of her hand she guided his gaze to the carriage closest to her. "We have wounded in there, if your a healer and wish to help. One of them took a rusted sword to his abdomen the other two will live but with some broken bones." She turned back to look at him, doing his best to keep his eyes from wandering. She smirked. "I am but a few women in this caravan and the only one under fifty years. All these men however know I have a reputation that precedes me. My magic is unmatched by all but a few." With a wave the pendant floats from his hand to hers. She lowers her hood and points him towards the carriage with the wounded as she turns to walk towards the guards and merchants.

"I will bring the owners of the caravan and we shall all see if you will join us for our final leg of this journey. Save that mans life and you should guarantee your acceptance with us. I shall want to speak more with you on the matter of this pendant later. For now we must get moving, were wasting daylight now." Ocatavias bag of holding rises from the ground where she had slept the night before and slings over one shoulder. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked away, she was used to it. Her dress left little to the imagination, form fitting in all the right places yet draped and practically falling off in others.

 

[a_libertine]

I looked at the cartiage with dubious eyes. It did not seem it could hold the three men that were in it much less add my weight to it. Looking into the back of the carriage I could see the injured guards. I helped the two less injured out of the carriage, and with a couple swift prayers to Shaudakul, a gentle breeze washed over the teo of them and their wounds healed. “You two are good, go about your normal duties.

I clambered into the carriage and looked at the remaining guard. I could see Moander was working his foul magic. The disease was spreading from his stomach up and down his torso. I scowled at the wound which also had a foul smell, much like that of a demon farting. I carefully removed the bandage to get a better view and the smell made my eyes water. Truly foul.

A longer prayer was needed this time, and the winds buffeted the carriage more and more violently. I vaguely was aware of a couple cries of alarm and foot steps hurriedly approaching. At the completion of the carriage. The three things happened nearly simultaneously:

1. The winds died down suddenly.
2. An unfamiliar face bellowed “What the fuck are you doing!?!”
3. The disease died​

I looked at the person and replied, “I am saving this man’s life. If you wish me to finish, then I would leave me alone for another moment or two.”

The man looked then nodded slowly, “Go ahead.”

I started a new prayer to Shaundakul and the winds began to pick up again, this time not as violently. When I finished the prayer, the wound closed and the guard opened his eyes. I patted him right over the wound and said, “Give tithe to Shaundakul when you can, for his will is for you to live. Thank him.”

A moment later I crawled out of carriage, to see a small crowd. I cocked an eyebrow and said, “I am done. This man should rest until morning, then he may resume duties.”

 

[EllysGspot]

The crowd of merchants and a few guards seemed quite pleased with this. The two men with previous minor injuries were testing out their legs and arm which her broken or sprained. Torrin the man who owned most of the trading supplies in the caravan stepped forward. "We were all sure he would be dead before we could reach Ordulin and a proper healer. Thank you stranger, you have our gratitude and respect. What might we call you cleric?" He put out his hand to Irith.

Octavia had a thousand things on her mind. Where did he come from? Why was here, now? How did he come to have the pendant and know her ancestor? Could he really be sent by Shaudakul himself? He must have to know so much. She wasn't quite ready to trust him. Not after what she saw of his true form. After he introduced himself she stepped forwards. "He is to come with us if that is his wish but we must set out now. Please everyone grab your things and get to your posts and carriages. Me and Irith will scout ahead a few miles, stay in your marching order."

She motions for Irith to follow and starts down the road heading east. Everyone hustled to do as they were told and most of the remaining guards had already packed everything while the rest were admiring the newcomer. Just as she was sure they were our of earshot she spoke the first of many questions."What do you know of my ancestor? You have a lot of explaining to do. How can I know your just some devil with tricks?" She doesn't turn to look at him as they walk. She touched the pendant which she had donned while he was healing the men.

 

[a_libertine]

We were walking at what had to be a very quick pace for Octavia. She was trying to put distance between us and the rest of the caravan, and probably for good reason. As soon as she felt safe, she fired a ton of questions. I listened to all of them then looked around, wondering if it were safe for me to take my hat off and be myself.

Deciding against it, I shrigged, "I will take them one at a time, all I askipped is that you wa it unail I am doNE before asking more questions."

I turned my head toward Myth Drannor, and then said, "For the first question, how do I know your ancestor. I don't know him, or didn't, personally. I am about 200 years old, your ancestor died about 100 prior to my birth."

We walked side by side, Octavia well within my wingspan. I towered over her, being nearly 7'0" tall. "When I told you Shaundakul was fond of your ancestor, Gaius, I spoke true. Gaius was plucky managing to pull off stuff no one else would even try. Heard that damn story every anniversary of Gaius' death. Shaundakul always tried to hide the pain Gaius' premature death caused him."

I waited a couple moments, drinking deeply from the all too small wine skin I had. "Now, for how do you know I am not a devil full of tricks."

I gave her a crooked, and hopefully charming, grin, "First part of the answer is that in no way am I a devil. Quite literally I am half demon. My mother was a human adventurer who was raped by a major demon, one of the leaders in fact, for she was a paladin of Lathander."

I looked at her and concluded my mother's portion of the story, "She died in childbirth, and because she was a follower of another, major diety, Shaundakul could not bring her back directly, and at that time he did not have a priest in Myth Drannor. So Shaundakul found himself the father, of sorts, to a cambion, namely me. "

We continued walking and I said, "Trust is earned, I know. Give me the time, or pray to him, and you will get your proof."

 

[EllysGspot]

Did he seriously expect her pray? Octavia was glad to hear that her assumption of him being Cambion was true and that he was raised up here in the material plane. "You ask that I pray to a lesser god whom I never had dealings with? Right after stating your mother was raped and she was a devote follower of a higher god. From what I can tell and have known is that the gods don't interfere easily in the lives of mortals, not unless it's of some importance." She noted that perhaps insulting him or his god might not be a good first impression. If a god was interested in her though surely they didn't care that she be herself.

Noticing that the caravan had only now started to move and was nearly out of sight she stopped there and turned to him. "Your trust shall be earned for me and mine for you. I wouldn't have it any other way. You seem genuine so I will ask. Are you willing to travel with us until we reach Ordulin? Once there my job is complete and I will collect the second half of my pay for protecting the caravan. Depending on how you do in the few days it should take there's coin in it for you as well." She had to admit he interested her, not an easy thing to do these days. She gave him a genuine smile and preceded to take off her dress. In seconds she had it off and neatly folded. She tucked it in her bag of holding along with the pendant and her boots. She twisted the gold ring on her index finger activating it's magic. It began to glow softly as she stood before him naked.

"Do you mind carrying this?" She holds out the bag. "I would usually stash it somewhere but since your here and wanting to gain my trust you can carry it." The rings magic was ready, all she had to do was say the word it needed. It would transform her into a giant eagle for up to six hours. Thanks to her other ring she had made especially for this she would be able to cast whatever spell she wished while transformed. It made for a potent mix of maneuverability for scouting and gave an advantage in a fight. She waited for him to stop staring and take the bag.

 

[a_libertine]

Not what I expected. She stripped naked, wiping out almost all of my cognitive ability. Yeah I might be 200 years old, and quite accustomed to elven nakedness, but there is something mesmerizing about a human female being naked. Humans are softer, currier, more lush than an elf. Looking at Octavia nakedness was having an immediate, visible impact. I silently drank in her beauty, memorizing every detail, from the fullness of her breasts to the gentle curve of her calves below.

Besides, my 200 years was not too unlike the same development in a human 20 year old.

Her beauty had an immediate impact, and blood rushed to my loins. It was then and there that I discovered both the assistance and drawback of wearing armor, even an elven chain. On the upside it hid to some extent the election that had sprouted up. On the downside, the armor did not give very much and I discovered the inherent discomfort that comes from being excited and having no real easy way to accommodate the excitement.

I closed my eyes a moment, got control of myself and reached out for the bag. “A couple things before you do whatever it is you intend whilst naked. First, I believe that my presence here, at the command of Shaundakul is an indicator that he believes that you are important. My job for now is to get you back to the Western Heartland, and if that means going east before going west, so be it.”

Feeling more in control of myself, “Second, the money from this, or any other caravan, that I may work for, will be donated to local charities that benefit the less fortunate. Material items mean very little to me overall. Except magic items those I like and use.”

The magic of the ring took hold and Octavia turned into a giant eagle. I moaned with a smile, “Not quite fair, that I am ground whilst you fly.”

She took off and I began walking along the road the caravan would travel slowly. I didn’t want to lose sight of them, not knowing when and where it would stop. Being alone did give me a chance to reflect on where I was, what I was doing, and the beauty of the woman with whom I would be doing these things.

A couple hours later a small creek ran along the road we were on. Cypress trees lined the creek which fed in a swamp a little farther to the south and west. I heard a noise, and turned to it. Two trolls came crashing out of the creek, water cascading off their rubbery bodies. I pulled the ornate great sword from my back and settled into a defensive stance. I glanced up and didn’t see Octavia, so on my own.

I uttered a quick powerful prayer to Shaundakul and a column of flame engulfed the two trolls which screamed horribly. A moment later, the trolls jumped out of the column of fire toward me.