A déjà vu of night and light

[Kaeldorn]

When Yashia awoke in the morning, she felt right away that something was amiss. The fair haired human woman sat up in her bed at the Sundren Comfort and looked around, observing the room that had been hers for some time now, and which was already lit by the symbol of one of her favored deities: the rising sun. The fire was out, all was quiet and the sheets on the other side of the bed had remained unstirred. She was alone.

With haste and with some degree of clumsiness caused by a half-sleeping stupor, Yashia prepared herself to set out and discover what was going on. This was the first night she had given him the keys to her room so he could go out and return to be with her when her eyes would open again, and the first morning he wasn't actually there. Having equipped her armor and gathered her things, she left the room and stormed down the stairs with a clear just rolled out of bed look still about her. At first she wanted to rush out of the inn's doors immediately, but then she stopped and turned around to face Ol' Betty.

"Betty?" she asked in a worried tone, rubbing the sleep out of one eye. "Have you seen the elf who usually comes in here with me enter the inn last night?"

Betty shook her head a little. "No, miss Yashia. I'm afraid I haven't."

The ranger bit her lip and took a deep breath, as if to prepare herself for the answer she would receive to her next question. "Has anything... significant happened in the time I was asleep?"

"Oh, why yes..." the old innkeeper replied with a firm nod. "Something terrible, actually..."

Ol' Betty explained to her what she had heard from Tamryn's testimony. The Necropolis, the undead, the battle... and most importantly: the abductions.

Her gut feelings had been right, something had indeed gone terribly wrong. He had gone with them and had suffered the same fate. Yashia needed no confirmation of her thoughts on what had transpired. She felt it. She knew.

"Not again?!" She thought to herself in an urge of desperation. "Again I set in motion the demise of one close to me... Is this my punishment for giving my heart away while it already belonged to another? Have the gods forsaken me? Why? ... Why will it never end?"

The fallen paladin was in as miserable a state as she had been right before she was enlightened by those of the Healing House of Lathander in Scornubel. Before she had become a holy warrior. Again, she wished for her life to be forfeit, for the pain to come to an end. She cringed, and shivered... and wanted to cry as she did all those years ago, when she was still a teenage girl.

But just before Old Betty could move in to comfort her, the shivering stopped. "No..."

Yashia rose up, conquering her grief and more than regaining her composure. Breathing slowly and controlled she sternly looked upon the innkeeper.

"A night darker than any has passed and the morning has come. It's light still shines dimly, but we must keep our faith so it will tower above and vanquish all the shadows that now still seem to hold sway over many of our hearts. There is still hope, and I will fight for it until my dying day. I shall not sleep until the darkness is undone. That is my promise, and it's a promise I will keep."

A silence fell in the lobby that was unusual even for this early hour of the day. Until it was broken by the divine champion who had just spoken herself.

"Thank you." she said to Betty with a slight, almost invisible nod. She smiled warmly at the old woman, who sighed in relief and returned the smile to her.

Yashia turned around and headed for the door as she had wanted to do in the first place, though now with an entirely different mindset. She smirked.

"I will be back when I find my key."

[Kaeldorn]

While her heart was set on doing whatever she could to save the lives of her friends, Yashia didn't exactly know what could be done about it. Thinking the captured Landaren could possibly know more of what was going on, she made her way to the prison. But before it's doors, she halted. Landaren had absolutely no reason to tell her anything whatsoever, and she had nothing to convince him otherwise besides aiding in his release, which was out of the question. Out of ideas again, she slowly walked back and forth through the street, contemplating her next move.

She looked up in surprise when the doors of the city's jail house swung wide open, and Tamryn stepped outside. It became clear that she had spoken to Landaren, and tried to determine if there was still hope for the fallen priest. But as Yashia already knew, the man was beyond redemption. The ranger and priestess exchanged words, expressing their worries and asking eachother if they had any plans. Tamryn mentioned Karthus' possible involvement, and that she had tried to contact him to no avail. Yashia decided she would attempt the same, realizing that she could move him on a more personal level.

Having planted her message to Karthus, Yashia waited patiently at the Exigo Trading Post for him to appear by 'the tree', or for new opportunities to arise. The ranger didn't have to stand idle for long before Tamryn once again appeared on the scene. She had been seeking out means to contact or locate Hano and those who were with him, but didn't have any luck thus far. The two of them together used a scroll intended to locate the prisoners. However, whether it was due to her inexpertise or for other reasons, Yashia was unable to catch even a glimpse of where they were.

A halfling in robes approached Yashia while the priestess of Torm had gone to speak with Elassir about any different scrolls that could possibly help. The little wizard Qybox greeted her, starting with the usual "Ahem." The hin requested her to speak in a private, and after walking a ways away from any other people visible in the area, he asked Yashia about Hano's disappearance. Telling him what little she knew, Qybox seemed concerned. He had tried to contact hano through magical means as well, to send him a message, but he had felt nothing happen. Nevertheless, he was determined to try again with a little help from the Hands of Mundus, and he asked the woman to accompany him to the Schild Mountains. Somewhat hesitant to leave her meeting place but eager to see progress, Yashia followed.

Master Rismal was cold and down to business as ever, but he was not at all reluctant to help the halfling. Yashia was a little surprised to hear Qybox pledging his services to one of the leading Hands, but refrained from opening her mouth about it as it would do more harm than good at this point. She watched from a distance, not to disturb, when Rismal and Qybox made their preparations to create an empowered sending spell to reach Hano with. Some time passed after the actual casting, and the hin concluded that their combined powers had been succesful, although no reply was made as was usual for the spell.

It may have given the abducted some hope, but they were still without information that was needed for a rescue. They would need a master diviner to help if they wished to find out anything themselves. Rismal mentioned lady Tao of the Thayan enclave in Aquor. There was little chance she would listen after being denied to buy the artifact in the hands of the Triumvirate, but Yashia and Qybox set out to meet with her anyway.

The meeting was as brief as suspected. Before they even entered the gates of the enclave, the wizardress appeared right in front of them. "To save you both some time. The answer to your question is no."

With these words, she was gone again, no marks of her appearance left except a shocked halfling lying on the ground. His companion, also startled by the events, took a moment to recollect herself and then helped him to his feet. "This is a dead end... unless you have any other ideas to convince them to aid us."

"No. I have not." Qybox replied.

Yashia looked up to the skies and saw the sun was about to reach it's highest point in the sky. It was noon already, and she had to go back if she were still to meet with a feathery little animal in time. They turned their backs on Aquor and parted, both to continue their efforts in their own way.

[Kaeldorn]

The ranger woman arrived back at the post and settled against the face of the rock formation by the campfire where adventurers would usually meet. From here, she had a good view of the heavens above her, which she scoured for any sign of Karthus. Several people passed by and made casual conversation, some she knew and some she didn't. But Yashia paid little heed to their words, only responding with what was required not to come across as impolite.

The Post quieted down somewhat and eventually Yashia was left only with another woodsman. It was Gelmir, an elf with whom she had travelled once before and who had shown her around the Viridale for the first time when she had only just spent a couple of days in the lands of Sundren. Yashia hadn't seen him since then, until today. He was a kind soul concerned with the well being of those around him, just like she was. "Why such an interest in the skies, milady?" he asked.

"Hmm? Oh.." she responded, distracted from her observations. "I am waiting for a sign from above."

They had spoken before, together with Tamryn, of the current happenings regarding the captured Landaren and the abductions. Gelmir knew that she was troubled and would probably assume that her words meant she was hoping for the gods to answer her pleas for help. While this wasn't entirely true, she was not lying either.

The sign came to her. A bird flew over their heads and landed on the great tree. Yashia moved closer and watched it, reaching out with her arm for the little creature to land on it. The feathery animal did exactly as instructed. It was Karthus... it just had to be.

"You have a way with animals... that is quite a gift." Gelmir said with a smile.

The young woman smiled back at him, feeling glad that a moment would come when she finally had a chance to influence the situation for the better. "I know my birds." she replied.

Karthus in his shapeshifted form flew away to the east, towards the mountains. Yashia turned towards her fellow ranger once more and excused herself, saying she was going for a walk. They waved eachother goodbye, after which she followed the bird's path on the lands below. Off to the Schild mountains again, where they had met before.

Upon their arrival on no man's land, inbetween the area occupied by the Veritas and the fortified base of the Sundarian Legion, the bird became man as she expected. "What was it you wanted to speak to me about?" he spoke as soon as she came near enough to hear him.

Yashia took a few steps closer before answering the question. "You are no doubt aware of the men who were recently taken as a ransom to demand Landaren's release."

Karthus gestured for her to stop before she could say anything more. "Not here. Then I would prefer to go elsewhere. Without anyone close enough to even see us."

He gave no further explanation, shifted back into a bird, and flew to the northwest. Yashia was slightly confused, but he did have a point. Total privacy was desirable. Her legs were getting tired of all the walking today, but that wasn't important enough to worry about now. She followed him yet again. To a place she didn't have all too fond memories of...

[Kaeldorn]

Yashia made her way across the muddy roads that led into the forests of Mossdale. Though it wasn't as much a forest as it was a murky swamp. Karthus was already waiting for her and he didn't seem at all bothered with his surroundings. "Well now. This place should be safe." he said.

She looked over the bogs on her right hand side, corpses of unfortunate travellers floating on it's surface. "I am not so sure about that. The last time I was here, me and my companions were attacked by an endless army of the marching dead, emerging from these waters filled with death and decay. We were forced to retread with haste, carrying the body of one who had fallen with us."

Thoughtfully, the druid inspected the swamps as well. "We'll be fine. And if something happens we can always run for it." He turned back to the woman who was possibly one of his last remaining friends, if not the last. "Now then... please continue where you left off."

With a nod, Yashia prepared herself to speak. She knew all too well that this could be the last and only chance she had not only to ensure those dear to her were spared, but also one final opportunity to turn Karthus back from the dark path he had set foot upon. She took a deep breath, and then looked him into the eyes.

"Tamryn mentioned that you might be somehow involved in all this, though she didn't know why. But... I think I might understand your reasons."

"Interesting," he replied coldly "Let's hear it."

"Well... I connected these happenings to what you said to me when we last met. I think you are doing this to take away the men who would inspire the people to follow those currently in power of Sundren. With them gone, the authorities' influence will dwindle, making it possible for a new group, one more in line with your own views, to take over to found a new order." Finishing with her first theory, she awaited Karthus' response.

His eyes still showed some indifference, though he was a little intrigued. "I must admit that the thought did cross my mind. But that is not really my reason. Do you have any other perceptions of my motives?"

Yashia bit her lip and then sighed. "Do not take this as an offense, Karthus. There is another reason I thought of, but I do not believe it to be true. I am merely telling you this because you are asking me to."

"Fair enough." he replied, anxious to hear it.

"You could be doing this in particular not to further your aims, but for yourself. Maybe you are trying to sever your ties to the figures that not only inspired the people, but which you also admired yourself. All to make it a little easier on yourself to stand against Sundren without regrets."

The druid known for his identity crises was a little thrown aback by these statements, but quickly shrugged it off and returned to his expressionless gaze on the blonde woman before him. "... No. I will tell you of my actual motivations, but first I want to ask you how you see the common people of Sundren. Uninfluenced by my own opinion."

"Alright." she said, still facing him with full focus and in control of herself. "The people of Sundren are hard working and diverse. They generally mean well, but are often unable to see the big picture. Their blindness makes them unable to accept difficult decisions that might seem painful in the here and now, but ultimately have to be made for the greater good. Therefore, a hero who gives up everything to serve the people's best interests is often misunderstood and may not always get the recognition he deserves. But in the end we must stand strong to defend those who cannot defend themselves, as to prevent cruel fates from befalling them. Fates such as those that you and I have experienced first hand."

[Kaeldorn]

The man before her took some time to let her words sink in, carefully comparing them with what he had in mind himself. "There are some similarities between your views and mine. But there is one important aspect of Sundren's common folk that you didn't mention: their indifference. They go about their daily lives, not caring much for anything else. They take it for granted that people like Hano, Nulinus and yourself will simply take care of all of their problems, all of the threats from the world around them. Never are they moved to stand up for themselves. They don't do anything, are unwilling to act."

His tone and gestures of malcontent ended, his eyes started to show a sparkle and he continued with his chest forward, full of pride. "But things are changing, Yashia! Have you seen how the people rallied behind Tamryn and Balthasar to fight against those who took away their heroes? Have you seen their reactions... the fury, the compassion, the conviction they showed when they came to me in attempt to kill me, make me repent for my sins or otherwise face the justice I so much deserve? They are starting to care! They are acting the way their hearts tell them to, for better or for worse. The time for indifference is over! I -"

"Karthus." Yashia spoke firmly to interrupt his rant overloaded with self-fulfillment, to prevent him from trailing off into sheer madness. "Your thoughts are not so different from my own, except you see things not for what they truly are. There is no indifference, just ignorance. The incapability of the people to fathom all rights and wrongs. What you are to them is nothing more than a scapegoat. The common man has always sought for individuals to point fingers at for being less than them, to make them feel better about themselves. All because they are unable to fully embrace the traits a true hero would show, even though deep inside they might desire to be so themselves."

"But I cannot stop what I set in motion. I am still a cause for them to act, to give them purpose!" he said, still fully convinced of his own right. "This is too important, and in the end I will gladly face what lies before me as a consequence for what I have done."

It was obvious that Karthus knew that such a punishment would most likely be death.

[Kaeldorn]

Yashia had to try a different route to sway him. One of faith and conscience. She frowned, and in all seriousness, she pressed on with a following argument. "You are a servant of Savras. Do you not value the truth above all? Everyone sees you as someone evil, someone dark of soul. You are deceiving them, blinding them from the truth. You aren't like Landaren, who will intimidate, torture and murder, and do whatever he can to get what he wants for his own selfish purposes. You are not evil."

The druid smiled upon the mention of Savras. He was enjoying this debate. A battle of words between two people who both had their own clear vision of how things were and what it all meant. Yashia was sure of herself being in the right. She had an opinion, and she cared. She was how he wanted everyone else to be. Each with a different set of morals of their own of course.

Karthus evaded saying anything in rebuttal about his deity, but decided to confront her on her other point instead. "Don't you remember the discussion we had some weeks ago, back at the grove? Good cannot exist without evil. People have no need to do good if there is no evil to vanquish, you said it yourself. The world needs villains like Landaren for others to take up arms against them. It is all one great but fragile balance that has to be preserved."

He paused a moment, but seeing that Yashia remained quiet, he went on to enforce his argument. "Good is not the opposite of evil. And evil is not the opposite of good. The opposite of both is indifference. All that lives should actively take part in keeping the balance, to be part of the whole. That is what I want to achieve."

"You already seem satisfied with what you have accomplished, Karthus. You area wise man... so you must realize that one can only do so much before his efforts will turn against him. Going too far will bring undesired effects or even consequences that are opposite to what was intended. By enforcing evil you will disrupt the balance."

Yashia's former stance, her certainty to bring Karthus back to the side of good, started to dwindle. She was getting slightly emotional, but she couldn't give in. She had to keep trying.

"If those three good men, if those that the people depend on and can look up to as a source of inspiration are slain, then the people of Sundren will lose hope. They will cower in fear, not daring to stand up against the enemy. There is enough evil in this world as it is, and they will plunge into darkness and the balance will shift even further in the favor of evil. You have done enough Karthus. Now is the time to stop."

"But..." he thought for a second on how he was going to word his response. "But those who would cower deserve a chance to overcome their fears and rise up to become champions of good as well! They shouldn't have to depend on others to do it for them. Sometimes sacrifices must be made to achieve something greater."

[Kaeldorn]

Karthus was steadfast in his arguments, not showing any sign of remorse for what he had done or what would happen to those around him as a result of any of his future plans. His grand scheme was all that mattered. Yashia felt he was gone from her. Her words didn't touch him or cause him to think and feel as a kind and considerate man would. The man she had seen within him, what she had believed him to be.

The fallen paladin started to tremble and to sweat. Her friends would die and there was nothing she could do to change it. It was destined to be. She was losing it, and not just the debate. She was losing herself.

The druid noticed just how uneasy she had become. And for the first time during their whole conversation, he did not appear displeased or triumphant, but showed some worry. "What is it, Yashia?" he asked.

Yashia was breathing heavily, a hint of tears forming in her eyes. She was stricken with despair. Her voice was shaky when she answered. "Do... do you truly believe that good souls should make a sacrifice to better the world around them?"

He said nothing in response. Nothing to confirm and nothing to deny. But looking into his eyes, she could tell that his answer was indeed yes... they should.

"Then please, Karthus..." she proceeded, though waiting a long while before she actually made her request, as if they were the hardest words she ever had to speak and ever would. "Please... take my life in their stead. And promise me to do anything in your power to ensure their lives are spared. I... I wouldn't be able to deal with losing even more who are close to me. I don't want to live any longer! I can't take any more!"

[Kaeldorn]

Bursting out in tears, Yashia fell to her knees. Karthus was shocked. She did not deserve this. He didn't want her to suffer, and much less to die. He didn't have the heart to kill her, especially not like this.

"Don't despair, Yashia..." he said in as comforting a tone as he could produce. "It was never my intention to murder, and to cause suffering. Sehron wasn't even meant to be taken, he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. As for Hano and Nulinus... their deaths might have been plotted... but they aren't gone Yashia! They don't have to die!"

Sitting down on her knees, bent over in the muck, Yashia spoke softly. She was clearly still not at ease and remained desperate, sobbing inbetween her words. "You know as well as I do that those in power will not opt for a release."

"But an important figure in the Black Hand has made it clear that Landaren's freedom is indeed desired! I am positive that your friends will be freed as soon as he is out, just as stated!" he answered.

Yashia looked up at the druid's face, shaking her head. "That is not what I meant. The authorities of Sundren will never let Landaren go. Not only would he be a danger to more lives than those that are currently at stake, it would also be a sign of weakness for their enemies to exploit in the future. Having to choose between two such evils is something I could never do, but they are forced to do it."

Karthus realized that he had to let some little details slip if he wanted any hope to convince her not to forfeit her life. "I... I have plans... I will liberate Landaren myself, and then everything will be as it should be! They aren't lost to you, I guarantee it!"

He looked satisfied, confident that his words would have the desired effect. Yashia seemed to calm down somewhat. She got back on her feet to speak with him face to face again, though hers remained pale. "You can't do that... Think of all the people you will endanger in doing so. It isn't right!"

The druid smirked slightly. "But what is right and wrong is in the eye of the beholder, Yashia. Your morals are not the same as everyone else's. They aren't better or worse."

Yashia turned her facing away from him, looking once more to the dreadful bogs and inhaling the damp air that reeked of death's stench. "Such moral relativism and 'objectivity' is one of the strongest sources of indifference." she said.

"Though my pursuits, while objective, are not of an indifferent nature." Karthus folded his arms and turned his facing towards the disgusting waters as well.

Her eyes focused on Karthus, looking at him not directly but from an angle. "Then tell me something. If you aren't indifferent, then would you rather see a cruel man such as Landaren meet his demise, or people like me, Hano, Nulinus and Sehron? We will stand against him if he is freed. We will likely lose our lives long before the common people of Sundren will rise up to fight."

"You should just stay out of it and let them fend for themselves!" he replied.

Yashia sighed deeply. "But that is not who we are."

[Kaeldorn]

Their discussion was interrupted when a half orc suddenly came barging in. Looking angered at Karthus, he exchanged words with the 'pouty man', with Yashia all the way attempting to prevent conflict between them. But things did not turn out as she hoped they would.

Much to her dismay, Karthus was actually satisfied. At least after she got him back up on his feet. She didn't pay much attention to Brak, not even noticing that he was wounded as well. She was still too down to think much about anything other than the long discussion with her fallen friend she just had.

Karthus cautiously circled around her, keeping Brak out of reach, as he made his way to the path that led out of the Mossdale. But before he left, he whispered a final few words, even more food for thought, into Yashia's ear. "If Elric had had his way, you would have been there in Hano's place." He then darted off. She probably wouldn't see him anytime soon.

Without saying a word to Brak, who was still standing there, Yashia departed. Her head was lowered and she felt equally powerless as she did when she arrived. She knew she should warn the authorities of Karthus' imminent rescue mission, but she could not do it, for she also knew that it was likely the only hope she had left to see them again. To... see him again. As she had said to the druid before, it was a choice between two evils that was too difficult for her to make. And she had spoken truthfully.

The choice was up to Karthus. He had one last chance to forsake the darkness and tread the hard path back into the light. If he went through with his plans, it would be over. And then he could not be her friend any longer...

[Kaeldorn]

Knowing there was nothing more she could do, Yashia ventured back to the trading post to await any news that might fall on her ears. Standing there by the wagon, one of her favourite spots, she conversed with Gelmir and Tamryn about her feelings with regards to the position she and some of those closest to her were in. The ranger woman's answers to their questions were short, as she was not in a mood to speak with much elaboration, nor did she feel it would help the situation if any important details were disclosed. Nevertheless, she subtly hinted at something being 'off', hoping it would make herself feel less guilty should Karthus indeed break the Banite out of prison. Luckily, or not, neither of those present to hear questioned her further.


It was late in the evening. Tamryn had left and silence had fallen over the place, a silence that was soon to be broken by an elf who stormed towards the two rangers still hanging out by the campfire. Sylleth, who was normally known for his quiet and somewhat shy approaches, now hollered at the woman he had gotten to know on their hunt for a great demon that plagued the villages nearby Avanthyr. "Yashia! Come quick! Hano and Sehron are at the grove!"

A lot of things went through her mind as they crossed the farmlands, and later traversed the woods. "Is this real and will I see them again? Karthus... did he do it? What has become of Nulinus?"

...

"Have I done the right thing?"

They stumbled into the glade, with an unusually large gathering of people. They found them both there, just like Sylleth had said. Hano was explaining to the Keeper what they had gone through and that all this was more than just an abduction to attempt forcing Landaren's release. Yashia heard what was being said, that they themselves had just been a distraction, that the Banite champion was indeed freed, that the Black Hand wanted the artifact and that Nulinus had disappeared, possibly sacrificed to Bane. A fate that would have befallen all three of them had it not been for Tifton.

"And Karthus." Yashia thought to herself.

Most of her questions were answered, all but the last. Yashia felt guilty... but that feeling of guilt was soon overcome when his eyes fell upon hers, and even in his severely weakened and sorrowful state, he smiled at her. Then she ran, quickly but carefully placing her feet on unoccupied soil and nimbly avoiding contact with each and every one of those present that were in her way. She stopped right in front of him, and after looking at him for a second more, she threw her arms around him, letting out a sigh of great relief and a few tears of joy. He didn't answer the embrace, which some might have considered cold, but it didn't matter. For she knew that even though his strength wasn't there, his emotions were.

"All that time I spent imprisoned, almost certain my life would draw to a close... I never stopped thinking about you." he whispered in her ear.

She let go of him to see his face again and he smirked. "Poor Hano." he added with a chuckle that sounded more like a bad cough from someone on his deathbed.

Yashia smiled back at him but didn't speak. It wasn't necessary. She looked over the elven 'scout's' body to determine just how bad a condition he was in. All of his gear was gone and the clothes he still wore were nothing but rags. He was injured and ill, but he was going to live. And that was the most important.

"They took everything I had..." he spoke again in whispering, "everything but my thoughts of you, and this..."

The elf reached out for a small object, a little thing he had hidden underneath his garments with great care. He held it out and showed it to her.

Sehron held the key. Not only to her hearth, but also to her heart. And Yashia knew... she knew that she had done the right thing.