The mercy of Auril.

[The Ice Hag]

Braghura walked the forest of the southlanders alone, searching the traces of the fallen Remorhaz tribe. Her passage masked by her ability to wear the skin of animals. The hag moved unmolested, hidden from the eyes of man as her footsteps brought her ever closer to the outlying civilizations.

She had grown accumstomed to surviving alone in the wilds, her only companion the great boar Hyrrokkin, sent by the mother to spare her life those many years ago. The beast had proven a faithful ally, its strength a mighty boon.
Her existance was filled with strife and suffering, marred by the compassionless judgement of Tempus.

The hag's revenge would prove a difficult task, but she swore to find the last of the tribesman an exact her revenge. Rippping out their exposed throats with her fangs, splilling their precious lifeblood and erasing her past.

[The Ice Hag]

She placed her clothing on the snow covered rocks, easing her naked body into the frozen pool, its icy waters sumberging her form in its embrace. She felt close to the mother at these times, her limbs numb, her mind focused and alert.

Braghuru's actions at the Viridale border had provoked the anger of the humans. Her masquerade had ended in bloodshed, her blade biting deep into the armor of the Human paladin. His strength was tremendous, his terrible sword nearly evicerating her with it's divine power. Her wounds healed slowly, but steadily, the work of the mother not yet completed.

Kneeling in the water, she focused her gaze northward and closed her yellow eyes.

"Hear the cries of your daughter mother, I require the cleansing strength of your fury to further your goals."
"I stand alone against many."
"The tribe of Tempus has many allies, their strength a stone wall against your bitter winds." "These lands harbor many enemies that would harm your faithful servant, and deny your terrible glory."
"Bring forth your wrath upon these lands, empower your daughter with the strength to smite her enemies in your name."
"May the embrace of Auril shatter these lands in her frozen gloom."

Braghuru remained kneeling in the pool for many hours, her words praising the glory of the mother.

[The Ice Hag]

Resting her mottled head against the side of the cave, Braghuru looked out across the snow covered peaks. She awaited patiently the arrival of the witch Samantha, if she had even survived the pursuit of her captors.

She gently lifed the delicate sheet of ice, shaved smooth and buffed to a lustrous shine. Holding it up to her face she peered at the image reflected in its view. She howled in rage, smashing the make-shift mirror into the rocky sides of the alcove. It shattered, scattering across the floor in a brilliant display.

The image of Auril, her divine beauty and regal visage lingered within the confines of her mind, shaming her with its rememberance. Her anger merely strengthened her resolve and fanned the fires of hatred she harbored for Tempus and his ilk.

Never would she know the warmth of companionship, never would she feel the love of another.....forever she would remain alone.
The blasphemy, the horrible crimes of the remorhaz would never be forgotten, its precious honor preserved........at the cost of a childs life.

The hag screamed in rage, her tears turning to ice long before their journey brought them in contact with the frigid ground.

[Lollercide]

Opening his eyes revealed the blurry figure of a man standing before him.. Towering over Hano like a vigilant Hawk. Watching him as if he knew the move and word the wounded knight would make before it had even started.

His words were deep and boomed through the quiet halls of the temple.. Hano could not comprehend them, but understood that it was not in his favor.. Reaching up to stop the departure of the man the knight is frozen in agony.. Painful jolts shot up his back crippling him to the ground. The pain tore through the blackest holes in his memories - The creature who caused it was burned into his mind.

It was brief, but the memory he had felt like it was an eternity staring in those feral eyes.. Covered in the rotting hides of creatures he could not determine. Remembering his response to her surprise attack; the jagged dagger she buried into his back. The swing and every motion he had taken to make it. He remembers cleaving the vile bitch and her screams of agony when doing so... Following the memory through like a play he stares at his hands envisioning his second swing.. The effort put into the blade to stop it's motion. The effort put into it to swing it back round in hopes of finishing her... As the blade reached but inches from the Hag his memory was split and torn, only able to recall the face of the Necromancer.

Hano clutches his forehead.. He had delved far too deep in his mind where it would not allow him. Gathering what little he could remember he set off in pursuit of the man that had left him there.

[The Ice Hag]

She watched the figure as it trudged up the hill, its steps steady and sure. Hyrrokkin sat by her side, chewing upon the flesh of a fresh kill, its muzzle covered in blood. The winds flowed about the ravine sending flurries of snow into the air, darkening the sky with their touch.

She could see cleary now the man that approached her small campfire. He was dressed in no more than simple leathers, his face obscurred by a mask, yet the frigid air seemed to impede his passage no more than it hampered her own. She crouched silently, unmoving, awaiting the visitor to announce his intentions.
Her hand grasped the hilt of her axe, its rough hide sliding easily into her embrace. Hyrrokkin turned to regard the stranger. The great boar setting itself for a charge.

"Who are you child that intrudes upon my domain?"

[Kangleton]

"I am many things at many different times, but here and now, you may call me Karthus." he spoke, before even realizing to whom he was talking to.

It took several moments for the current of the wind to bring the scent of death and decay across the campsite, though it became apparent nonetheless. Squinting through the snow, finally seeing the source of the vile smell, Karthus did not know what to think. The creature before him was odd - almost freakish. It stood in the unrelenting cold as though unphased, and appeared unnaturally at ease with it's surroundings.

"What brings you to the cold of the mountains, child?"

Karthus knew better than to judge based on what he saw, but part of him could not release the unshakable feeling that something was amiss with that which he was conversing with. It took only only a couple of minutes, though, for his disposition to change for the better. The creature spoke with wisdom that he had not expected to witness in one that appeared so barbaric, and the enjoyable conversation that took place was in stark contrast to the bitter cold surrounding the two.

They spoke of the lands, the woods, the skies; they spoke of the seas and the mountains. They spoke of warmth, and cold, until finally stumbling across something that surprised Karthus, when finally, the creature said

"The Merciful One would be pleased to hear your words."

He had already known of whom she spoke, but to call Auril merciful was something that Karthus had thought to be odd. What is odd to one culture, though, is common sense to the next, and so he listened to the creature's reasons. She was well-spoken, and displayed insight that nearly caused regret when it was time for Karthus to depart. He could not last in the cold as she could, though, and as his enchantments began to fade, only a thin layer of fabric seperated him from the climate that was so unlike his own. As they parted ways, however, Karthus hoped with sincerity that their paths would cross again.

The sun began to rise over the white mountains as Karthus' footsteps carried him closer to the base of the Cold Climb. He looked back once more to gaze upon the oddity he had just spoken with, feeling a certain amount of sympathy for the beast. He knew that such a creature would be treated like filth if ever spotted near the mainland, despite her intelligence, wisdom, and insight.

"Sundren would be a much warmer place, if only it were better able to accept the contrast of the cold."

[The Ice Hag]

The witch, her skin pale and flayed, walked slowly towards the fire. She had escaped her captors, eluded their pursuit, and now her journey brought her to the frigid realm of the frostmaiden.
Her undead minion announced her approach, its voice steady and without fear, relaying its masters intentions to the hag. Braghuru waited patiently at the top of the rise, looking out over the great expanse below.

Few dared to make such a traverse, the treacherous conditions of the Cold Climb turning back all but the bravest, or most foolish of adventurers. She had not expected the woman to survive the judgement of the Triumverate, but here, now, she stood, her oath to Braghuru binding her to appear.

A shimmering gateway enveloped the undead creature, obscuring it from sight. When the impressive display of sorcery had finished, Samantha stood in its place.

"I see you survive child, you have kept your oath."

"Yesss, the paladin was left to guard me." "Overpowering him took little effort." "His weakness is his downfall." Samantha said, her voice like ice.

Braghuru motioned for her to sit by the fire, it was obvious the unforgiving winds were taking their toll upon her.

"They shall come for you child." "The knight desires your blood." "He will not cease his pursuit until your head lies at his feet." The hag settled herself on the ground.

Samantha laughed, her expression hidden behind her mask.
"He is of little consequence, I will deal with him in time." "For now we must focus on retrieving the items they have stolen from me."

"The allies of the paladin are numerous and mighty, we shall require the aid of others to complete such a task." "Even now the whispers of the mother bring to us those that will aid our cause." " In time...."

"We do not have time!" Samantha snapped back. Her face seething with anger.
The hag growled softly, her fangs jutting out. "Perhaps you are right child, but we must be prepared."

The witch nodded. Her calm features returning to her countenance as if the outburst had never occured.

"Call upon me when are ready, you shall have the paladins heart, but the blood of Snow Hawk shall stain only my hands."
Samantha nodded. " You may have his blood, the druid's life is yours."

The witch turned, her footsteps leading her away from the encampment. "I have matters to attend too hag, but I shall return."

Braghuru watched her leave, her thoughts turning to fervant prayers as she called out for Auril's blessings.

[The Ice Hag]

He called himself Neradnal and he wielded the fury of the Black Advance.

He had led the hag to the fortress of the Veritas, for within its walls the Tears of Auril were secured.
Braghuru followed the words of the mother, her melodic voice guiding her through the mountain keep, drawing her closer to the essence of Auril stored deep within the structure.

They did not realize the power they held.

They did not understand it's importance, but they had learned the error of their ignorance.

Neradnal cut down the Veritas with brutal efficiency, his twin axes spraying blood against the walls of the keep. The horde of enemies seemed never ending, but the warrior merely cried out to his god for strength, and in return he received it.

Retriving the shard of ice from the fires of the forge, Braghuru howled with delight. Its primal energies surged through her form, strenghtening her connection to the mother for the briefest of moments. Her task was complete. The mother would be pleased.

The fortress remained eerily silent as the three made their departure. The corpses of the dead would tell no tales of the events that transpired this day, but the remnants of their failure would forever stain the lands.

The eternal winter fast approached.

[The Ice Hag]

"You have done well child." she spoke approvingly to the man sitting across the fire. "You have gained their trust and walk amongst them where I cannot." She poked the wooden stick into the fire, rousing the flames that licked at the corpse of the slaughtered elk.

The man nodded, a dark smile crossing his lips. "They suspect nothing." "They share their hidden goals and information with me freely." "It suits my purpose to remain inconspicuous for the moment, and so I shall until it is too late for them to unplant the festering seeds I have sewn."

The figure produced a knife, cutting off a portion of the roasting animal, savoring the taste. "I have found several more individuals who may be perceptive to your words hag, and if not yours, then perhaps the witch may entice them.

Braghuru smiled as she considered the man's words. Many souls had ventured the rugged terrain of the Cold Climb in the past several weeks. Their numbers were growing steadily, gaining strength from those dissatisfied with the Triumverate and it's righteous dogma.

"I am most pleased with your progress child." "The wheels may turn slowly, but still they turn." "Patience shall be the key to our victory, patience shall be the key to the Trimverates inevitable defeat."

The man rose, tossing his cloak about his head to ward of the chill wind. "I shall return when I have further information hag." "Until then......."

"Yes, until then my sweet" she spoke, her words dripping with venom.

[The Ice Hag]

The pieces were laid out in the snow like some macabre jiggsaw puzzle, sorted by size and texture, color and shape. Packed in the frigid ice they remained as supple as the moment they were taken, pristine and beautiful.
She hummed to herself, much like a child content with their favorite toy. Her gnarled fingers worked the needle and thread meticulosly through the strips of flesh attaching it firmly to her withered face.

She too would find beauty........

[The Ice Hag]

She ripped at the dead skin, peeling it from her face in bloody chunks. The fleeting beauty the flesh provided was only temporary, it's luster fading quickly, leaving only the gruesome reminder of her own shattered visage in its place.

She would need more bodies, and soon, if she was too maintain her splendour.

[The Ice Hag]

The Nature of the Beast

What is the profound determination that classifies and divides one man from another?
What is the sustaining force that influences the behavior and growth of a an individual?
Does the answer lie within nature, or nurture?

One could argue that a person is born predestined to walk a specific path, their actions preordained and unmaleable. What hope of salvation can be found for one who holds such beliefs?
Perahps it is merely easier to prescribe to such a philosophy than to face the realization that the actions of society can create a ripple in the lives of those it touches.

Isolation, betrayal, hatred, fear.

Acceptance, mercy, love, and respect.

These are the tools of an awakening society. It is with these instruments that we shape the personalities and lives of those around us. Each of us held accountable for our actions, and ultimately, the ramifications these decisions may produce.

In the end, evil is not born, but formed from the actions of the combined collective.


Thalor Arudorn

Scholar of Candlekeep

[The Ice Hag]

Turmoil ravaged the lands spreading chaos in its wake. The capture of Neradnal, and his subsequent escape, had revealed the hidden alliances of several prominant individuals, their actions stinging many with with the barbs of betrayal.

Chaos had become the norm in these lands, it's tides rising and falling at the slightest whim. Through it all the hag remained stoic, biding her time, awaiting the oppurtunity to unleash the will of the mother upon the people, and return nature to it's rightful serenity.
The cold, cleansing embrace of Auril would extinguish all life, abolish all struggles, and renew the cycle of growth once more.

The machinations of the Banites were but a minor inconvenience. Their actions merely served to turn away the notice of the Triumverate from her destiny, allowing the hag to work in seclusion and quietly gain strength.

She looked out over the snow topped summit, her gaze encompasing the entirety of the lands. Soon only calm would remain, a calm that only complete and utter genocide could empart.

[The Ice Hag]

The delicate hands of the mother held her softly within their grasp, shielding her from the pain, mending her wounded body within a cacoon of impenetrable ice.
Visions flooded her mind in a choatic swirl piercing the very fabric of her consciencnous.
A sword rose and fell....magics erupted....the skies blackened as great shards of ice blasted the land...the paladin...the druid...the thief...the last of the remorhaz....pain...rage...darkness...death.....

She awoke in a frenzy, her taloned fingers clawing their way through her icy tomb. Her screams shattered the serenity of the plateau, her fury increasing her strength as she tore at the icy walls.

She clawed through the final layer of ice, her hand extending outward, bursting forth. Slowly she pulled herself free, though it pained her greatly to forgo the tender caress of Auril. She fell to the ground burying her face in the snow as she prayed to the mother for forgivness.
She had failed in driving out the invaders, failed in extinguishing their lives. They had intruded upon her domain, the realm of the frostmaiden, such blasphemous actions would not go unpunished.

Her body shivered as the temperature fell around her. Her blood thickened at the touch of the mothers hand. She could feel the numbing cold rising within her breast as her words of prayer echoed throughout the mountains. She recoiled as a shard of ice struck her from the heavens, driving her into the ground, but she stoicly accepted the punishment for her transgressions, elated that she still held the mother's ear.

She rose, her footsteps carrying her across the barren wastes.

The eternal winter was still to come, and she remained, the harbinger of the approaching storm.

[The Ice Hag]

The following post will be a continuation of the story posted here. Wrath of Auril and here Winter's Embrace