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*Elric ponders the fates that have led him back to Sundren, after almost two years away, ponders all that happened while he was last in Sundren, and all that had happened while he was away.*
When did Elric start on a path to evil, to madness, then ultimate clarity? He cannot remember the first act, or maybe he can. It was Landeren, he must have been the trigger, the beginning. He remembers Landeren, when he was still whole, still sane, instilled with good and some small, so very small level of evil. He remembers the battles they had waged against the blight at the Necropolis and the curbing of Veritas power. But when did the slide begin?
Elric had always been very chaotic and especially intollerant of authority and their puppets. That is why he made such a poor soldier, why they beat him to an inch of his life for insubordination and then cashiered him. He had never forgotten that episode in his life and it marked him, possibly marked him for the immense changes that would overtake him five years later.
Elric had fled to Sundren, for the chance at a new life and a new profession, that of a Bard, a singer of tales, and a power unto themselves. He had made quick friends of Landeren and also the tempestuous Kemnebi. They had all been fast friends, fighting those who they thought needed a lesson. But things began to change in subtle ways. Kemnebi became a Stormlord and his chaotic nature increased fourfold. He seemed to revel in death and destruction and their battles and consequently, their enemies widened. Soon thereafter, Elric was defending his friend in court, for the death of a rival. Elric lost that court case and thus, lost his friend to death.
Then there was Landeren. He started to change about the same time Kemnebi changed. His manner became dark, he spent more time alone, and especially, spent more time in the Necropolis alone. Elric tried to draw him out, but he did not succeed. Soon, Landeren was a worshiper of Bane and began to kill members of the Triumverate. It all happened so fast, Elric cannot remember all the details.
And then one night, Elric's life changed forever. He had gone to the Necropolis to seek out Landeren, to bring his friend back to some sanity, but, it was Elric that was drawn in and his sanity fled. Elric raved for perhaps a month, disheveled, dirty, raving, howling at the walls - running from room to room in the Necropolis. Every sound hurt his ears, but, every sound was bliss. Chanting started, then stopped, drums beat, cybmols clashed, laughter dominated the ceiling. His world was slipping away fast.
But, a hand came down and pulled him from the brink. Pulled him away from the cliff edge he was poised upon. And with soothing words and promises of power, Landeren changed Elric's life again, changed it forever. Because it was that night that Bane visited Elric and seduced him, bringing him forever to the dark side.
Everafter, Elric worked to bring the power of Bane to dominate Sundren. He even fooled all the members of the Triumverate. They thought he was still good, still on their side. For months, Elric was part of their strategy meetings and fought alongside them against the evil of Landeren....but, they did not know the real Elric. Then one night, Elric lured the Paladin Hano to a remote area and then overcame him, tied him up, and carried him away to an awaiting cell at the Necropolis. Unfortunately, Hano was rescued and Elric was now known, known as a follower of Bane.
It spiralled out of control after that. The triumverate, the local officials, all were hunting Elric. Even Landeren left, and Elric was alone, fighting a battle he was slowly losing. And then Bane came to him in a dream, telling him that he was needed in other places, that the time of Bane was not at hand in Sundren, that the time would come again. Thus, Elric left to spread the word of Bane, to plant seeds along his path.
Now he was back in Sundren. Bane had led him full circle, back to the place it had all started.
*Elric walks along the old familiar paths, through the Trade Tier to the Enterianment District, and hence to his favorite spot, Jimmy's Dice Den. Elric smiles as he enters Jimmy's.*
When did Elric start on a path to evil, to madness, then ultimate clarity? He cannot remember the first act, or maybe he can. It was Landeren, he must have been the trigger, the beginning. He remembers Landeren, when he was still whole, still sane, instilled with good and some small, so very small level of evil. He remembers the battles they had waged against the blight at the Necropolis and the curbing of Veritas power. But when did the slide begin?
Elric had always been very chaotic and especially intollerant of authority and their puppets. That is why he made such a poor soldier, why they beat him to an inch of his life for insubordination and then cashiered him. He had never forgotten that episode in his life and it marked him, possibly marked him for the immense changes that would overtake him five years later.
Elric had fled to Sundren, for the chance at a new life and a new profession, that of a Bard, a singer of tales, and a power unto themselves. He had made quick friends of Landeren and also the tempestuous Kemnebi. They had all been fast friends, fighting those who they thought needed a lesson. But things began to change in subtle ways. Kemnebi became a Stormlord and his chaotic nature increased fourfold. He seemed to revel in death and destruction and their battles and consequently, their enemies widened. Soon thereafter, Elric was defending his friend in court, for the death of a rival. Elric lost that court case and thus, lost his friend to death.
Then there was Landeren. He started to change about the same time Kemnebi changed. His manner became dark, he spent more time alone, and especially, spent more time in the Necropolis alone. Elric tried to draw him out, but he did not succeed. Soon, Landeren was a worshiper of Bane and began to kill members of the Triumverate. It all happened so fast, Elric cannot remember all the details.
And then one night, Elric's life changed forever. He had gone to the Necropolis to seek out Landeren, to bring his friend back to some sanity, but, it was Elric that was drawn in and his sanity fled. Elric raved for perhaps a month, disheveled, dirty, raving, howling at the walls - running from room to room in the Necropolis. Every sound hurt his ears, but, every sound was bliss. Chanting started, then stopped, drums beat, cybmols clashed, laughter dominated the ceiling. His world was slipping away fast.
But, a hand came down and pulled him from the brink. Pulled him away from the cliff edge he was poised upon. And with soothing words and promises of power, Landeren changed Elric's life again, changed it forever. Because it was that night that Bane visited Elric and seduced him, bringing him forever to the dark side.
Everafter, Elric worked to bring the power of Bane to dominate Sundren. He even fooled all the members of the Triumverate. They thought he was still good, still on their side. For months, Elric was part of their strategy meetings and fought alongside them against the evil of Landeren....but, they did not know the real Elric. Then one night, Elric lured the Paladin Hano to a remote area and then overcame him, tied him up, and carried him away to an awaiting cell at the Necropolis. Unfortunately, Hano was rescued and Elric was now known, known as a follower of Bane.
It spiralled out of control after that. The triumverate, the local officials, all were hunting Elric. Even Landeren left, and Elric was alone, fighting a battle he was slowly losing. And then Bane came to him in a dream, telling him that he was needed in other places, that the time of Bane was not at hand in Sundren, that the time would come again. Thus, Elric left to spread the word of Bane, to plant seeds along his path.
Now he was back in Sundren. Bane had led him full circle, back to the place it had all started.
*Elric walks along the old familiar paths, through the Trade Tier to the Enterianment District, and hence to his favorite spot, Jimmy's Dice Den. Elric smiles as he enters Jimmy's.*