Merlynar and Ferreziel

The priest grapples with his shock. For a while he struggles to lock everything into place, but then his innately orderly mind sorts things into shape.

"Just because I am - you say - Echeronian, makes no scrap of difference to what I am and have become during my life as an elf," he responds. "A priest of Willowstar I am, and one I remain; I shall not turn from my faith nor defy my Goddess. None the less, as you say, the calling that I follow feeds naturally into my apparent heritage."

Ferreziel seems unconvinced by your piety. “Surely you know all gods are False?” (DM: In Echeron the gods are to be frowned upon and ridiculed, the only thing that seems to matter are the noble families that run the civilized parts of it). Ferreziel continues, “Though it is to our advantage that you have lived among demon hunters.”

The burning flames of his faith crackle harmlessly around Merlynar's hand as he holds it up in example [Faerie Fire]. "I know no such thing, Ferreziel. Willowstar's grace guides and empowers me. Perhaps such a thing is inconceivable to you. Maybe I too am a sleeping secular Echeronian in reality; but as a mortal elf I dream the mortal dream, and here faith is power. I am true to my Goddess and she is true to me. Mock not."

“I do not mock you I merely wish you to open your eyes to the reality of your situation. In Echeron there are no cults to obscure your view of what is going on.”

"Far better men than I have hunted for Muziel futilely. He cannot be hunted, tracked or found it seems. Therefore, if we have a bait, a lure that will draw him to us, we stand a better chance of bringing him to battle than any before." He pauses, and laughs rather happily. "The chance to hunt the most infamous demon ever to walk Greyhawk's hills. How could I resist?"

Ferreziel smiles uneasily. “The trouble is that before Muziel we were a people at peace without the need for violence or deception or the kind of skills you mentioned. Muziel learnt arts forbidden in our peace-loving world then turned them on Echeron. He trained our people how to hunt and track but not even Grayhawk’s finest hunters have succeeded in finding him…he was always a shadowy one.”

"Such arts are known here, and they will bring him down. These people, Ferreziel. The courage, the fortitude they are capable of for who knows what reason; their versatility; and their might. In the end, they will bring him down."

“I hope you are right.”

"But the knowledge that this is who we face could trouble my comrades. Do not reveal it to them, I ask you. Time enough to tell them if we do get the chance to fight him."

“I respect your wishes and have no desire to interfere with your current path. The only reason I am here is because the Elenorian forest is a place you visit frequently therefore making it easier for me to find you…”

"Can I seek you here at great need? Does the Queen know of you, and if so, who as?"

“Illyanth is not aware of my presence but you can contact me here if you so wish.”

"I have two questions, however. If I meet another Echeronian living in the world, will I know him? And tell me, what was my father's name?"

“There is no easy way to identify an Echeronian. Each one sent to Grayhawk was transposed into a being more capable of surviving the plane. Our sorcerers’ mastery of the souls made the change permanent…like it or not you will remain Allorin until you die…or until you find a Soul Changer.

"What is a Soul Changer? Not that I wish to change; I am content as I am, proud of my people, adoptive though they may be. Though... are there any powers open to me as an Echeronian?"

“A sorcerer who has power over the soul is called a Soul Changer. Many different varieties exist but essentially they all have similar powers. Once the soul is changed it acts like a permanent polymorph…you should be aware that this is the main reason why Muziel is so difficult to track. He could be amongst any of u and we would not know. Muziel was the greatest f the Soul Changers.”

“Your father was called Kalziel; the extension Ziel in Echeron means ‘noble one’ and is a marker to the heritage of the individual. He hid our true purpose from you – I don’t really understand his motives – but know that he fell to Muziel before he could reveal your true identity. He was an honourable man and did not deserve to die at the hands of The Monster. Muziel knows that we are few now but it does not stop him picking us off…there are few left Merlynar…few to stop him…”

"It takes only one, or a few; Valadain is proof of that."