Queen of the Light

Merlynar meets Illyanth – queen of Elenoria

The palace of Queen Illyanth of Elenoria is evergreen and bathed in a warm summers glow even in the depths of a cold northern winter. Despite the warmth Merlynar feels a chill as he leaves the royal temple, all eyes are on him, every elf, acolyte and priest alike watches him as he makes his way towards the queen. A mixture of awe and fear in their eyes. Once at the luscious gardens he receives a kinder welcome; bows and curtsies though the staring gaze of the elves is far from friendly.

Confused he enters the royal court…his heart stops momentarily as the queen – beautifully robed in green and purple gowns – fixes her penetrating gaze upon him. Stories of her beauty have not been exaggerated. Many of the tales inadequately convey her sense of presence…he wonders how many elven men have fallen for her steely beauty. As she smiles all the fear disappears, the tension of the royal court vanishes as she beckons him to sit with her.

“May I be the first to congratulate you on your ascension, high priest, I am not without my eyes and ears in the temple so I have followed your career as eagerly as many of your peers. It seems you can count upon the children of our Great Lady as allies…I suppose that means you are doing something right! [Clearly the queen does not know everything or else does not wish to engage in the struggle between the siblings]

Merlynar bows with deep respect before the Queen, attempting to gather his scattered thoughts. “Thank you, your Majesty,” he manages.

“I apologise for the inconvenience I may be causing you but I have information that I must share with you. To fully understand what I say you will need some background.

“It has long been known that Archibald harbours noble undead families within his realm…indeed they have traded their power as security and made him one of their own. Though it appalls me and goes against everything I stand for there is a certain nobility to his actions; Archibald’s word is as good as any contract in blood. [But she does not trust him! See below] His expertise in undead lore is as good as many necromancers and better than most.

“There is a state of existence when a mortal soul is on the path to becoming undead – a cusp just before the soul dies. When a vampire bites his victim there is a time of transformation when – in the act of the soul dying – the undead vampire is born. There are rare creatures that exist in this state all the time…neither fully undead nor fully human. It is usually the result of a union between mortal and immortal, a sexual coupling with the resultant offspring a shadowy representation of the two parents.

“The majority of these shadowlings (the Valinari) exist in or around Rosengrad, testimony to Archibald’s continued curiosity but others exist elsewhere. Until recently little was known about the plight of the Valinari but the birth of Vali, your companion, changed all that. It was no accident that she came to be a lady-in-waiting at Gundren’s court…what better place to protect her?

“You see, Merlynar, until that point every single one of the Valinari there has ever been have been male, it is a quirk of Nature or perhaps the Universes attempt to protect itself. [In scientific terms the Valinari gene must be held on the y chromosome, consequently Vali could be xxy as it were]  Since no reasonable census of these creatures was possible it is therefore hard to verify but what is known is that Illeum Runesabre, Archibald, Korven, and many others became aware of her existence. A female Valinari is impossible.

“The Necromancers and Demonologists have been fixated with the idea of bloodlines since the unfortunate appearance of Loramas centuries ago. If that period of history taught us anything it taught us that you should not interfere with the gene pool…but these powerful wizards seem to think only of themselves and their own ends. I despise such selfishness! But they are relentless in their quest for Vali’s blood – or at least her ovaries! Both Runesabre and Korven have designs on Vali…they have made a pact to share her, the very notion makes my blood boil!

“Whilst I have no fondness for Necromancy or Demonology I have no desire to let Vali succumb to a fate where she is a slave to these foul men’s desires. Even Archibald – who professes a desire to protect her – does so with a Necromancer’s eye, to see her back in Rosengrad would be like the lamb living amongst the wolves.

“I believe there is goodness within Vali, this has been demonstrated by her friendship with you and her devotion to Gundren, but whilst I want to wrap her in my protective embrace [this sounds like an encouraging, indeed attractive, idea if somewhat …]  she will shun me and the elves to follow her own development. Even as queen I am answerable to my people – such a decision is a weighty one and not one that I could sell to my people. [She would like to help but then is unwilling or unable to pay the price] But these sorcerers who would take her are missing some relevant knowledge…Vali has not yet inherited the full extent of her power. Her blood is the key – it changes even now. I can feel it. If she is to mature she is first to survive; Willowstar herself has given me guidance in this area. [it seems the great female souls of Greyhawk are lining up behind me – men must be no better here than on earth]

“The blood which flows through her veins is magical and it nourishes, protects, and enhances her normal abilities. In male Valinari this change is rarely seen as few ever live to their full potential…most find themselves shunned or forced into a life of vampirism or worse. [Go figure] In the rare female Valinari however the blood affects the very core of the thought processes of the brain (I do not profess to be an expert but the goddess is and this is her study). [God forbid the hyper-shopper has come] As a sorcerer there are a number of plateaus of power (just as there are in the Priesthood). Wizardry (DM: 11^th level) is the point at which a sorcerer gains the level of knowledge required to be a master of his profession but all that it means is that his or her brain is able to think in a specific way. The casting of spells is basically a complicated series of thought processes vocalised to create an effect.

“Once Vali achieves this level of thought process (wizardry) her transformation will be complete and her time as Valinari will end…but then her life will become even more interesting!

“Lady Elena torments Runesabre as we speak but even the child of Willowstar is no match for that Necromancer. In time he will make his presence felt. Indeed you have usurped a katana of gold from his daughter, a blade of considerable power and not something to lightly set aside or ignored…Illeum created it as a barrier, an awesome protection against the creatures from the lower planes. All devils and demons will fear it for it will take their souls without mercy and with brutal, deadly force. It is called Dreadstone in our language, a name coined by a powerful servant of the Abyss; the blade acts like a magnet to them, drawing them like a ripe soul so that it can sting them with its bite.

“Vali holds the blade at the moment, Majesty; is it safe for her to carry – or to use? We have been unsure of its’ true purpose up to now.”

“There is nothing safe about that blade although I suppose in the hands of a necromancer it should be OK. In the dark days ahead Vali may well come to rely upon it.”

“The mirror of Korven is called Malescan. It is a scrying device that will give the viewer clues to his or her past, yet will reveal more to the ruler of Gran Breton – every time you stare into it he can read your mind! Discard it, destroy it or give it away for if you keep it he will know your every step. Even now the Demon Guard can sense his minions close…they aim to ambush you. You have few sanctuaries if you maintain this item.”

“You may consider it destroyed, and I sincerely hope it has not caused trouble by being brought here!”

“Korven has no power or influence here. Even if came with ten armies he would find nothing but death…”

At this point the queen of the elves runs her long fingers over the leather hilt of her katana. Merlynar feels a strange mixture of fear and excitement. The queen is reputed to be the best swordswoman on Grayhawk and he senses she is close to exploding into violence. But her face smiles warmly.

“Forgive me, high priest,” she says, “I think better with a blade in my hand. I am torn between my role as queen and my role as warrior. Oh that I could tear these sorcerers to pieces! [I like this woman the more she speaks] Give me just a few minutes and I would have all three decapitated before you…but it is forbidden. [Unable to bear the price again – she only needs to take that last defiant step]  I have responsibilities now.”  She sighs. “So you must be my sword, high priest, you must be the vehicle to send these foul men to Limbo. Accept the fact that Runesabre, Korven and even Archibald converge upon Vali. There is no plane far enough away to hide. So you must now choose the battlefield and make ready your defences. Daunting as this may seem you must not underestimate your own power in this…Elena’s intervention will make your enemies think.

“I cannot command you to do this but I will implore you to think of the harm this poor girl will come to if the dark powers of Necromancy get their way. It is a moral imperative that you guard her. Do this for me, Merlynar, and we will become friends. A place in my court – and in my heart – will be yours. I have seen many women suffer under these men and I will not let them harm another innocent! [Charmed to be considered thus] Go then Merlynar…the Priesthood awaits you…a banquet in your honour I believe. Just promise me that you will consider my words…now go in peace high priest.”

“I owe a service to the Lady Elena, and I will dare to presume that accepting your charge will be a small start to paying that score. In many ways, it is a charge I already have accepted through my friendship with Vali; I would not surrender her for that reason alone. However, I feel she is herself anything but helpless. I see myself aiding her defend herself rather than shielding her entire; and that surely is as it should be – else she would be helpless in truth when I was no longer there. Your warning of Archibald is timely though; I had not considered this. Please, though, if you can, will you let him know that we tried our best to save his daughter? I would have returned her to him if I could, and sorrow at her death – but at least we preserved her from what would have befallen her after that death at Runesabre’s hands.”

“Archibald is a powerful man, Merlynar, I suspect with his connections he had already spoken at length with the spirit of his daughter. A friend he may be but I do not trust him…there is too much at stake here…”

Queen Illythar disappears into her palace and Merlynar heads back to Vali and his companions in the temple. His head is full of her words and in his distracted state he almost crashes into a half elf. He is about to apologise but words freeze in his mouth…the half elf in question is none other than Malakar, the son of Malkar and Willowstar. Merlynar has never felt so alone. His blood freezes and he realises that the palace is deserted.

“The slayer returns,” Malakar says with a voice laden with contempt. “The women of this forest may fawn and drool over you, high priest, your exploits may give them stories to relish on dark nights but you do not fool me. My mother and the queen are weak…they cannot see through your façade.

“I am not so blind.

“Your eyes widen in the presence of my sister but know this priest – you are nothing but a servant not worthy of wiping the mud from her boots! Any designs you have for her you must put aside now. If I catch you even casting a casual glance at her I will slice your soul into pieces and feed it to the wolves! Elena will not court the favour of hirelings. [hypocrite]

“You may as well give up the Valinari for Runesabre will have her before long. [chewing his neck out from the rest of his body] He and I have an understanding…you do not seriously believe that my sister could contend with his power did you? To ensure her safety I made sure that he acted appropriately…but when the time comes my sister will be nowhere to be seen, you have a choice to make priest – Illeum Runesbare has promised to share the spoils with me. [it seems he has a habit of that, the young Godling is a vain fool trying to emulate the sins of his father] Imagine that! A second generation Valinari sired from the loins of an immortal…the possibilities are endless. [I’ll chew his nuts off for deserts]

“Stay out of it, priest or else I will make an example of you…an example that will make every priest in this universe sit up an take notice! That is my advice to you…I only hope that you do not heed it…I will take extra care to make sure your demise is both agonising and interminably slow…”

Merlynar gulps, but stands his ground. “I have no ‘designs’ on the Lady Elena, merely gratitude for her help and good regard. Were she to ask my help in turn I would grant it – would you not? For I feel you care for her, as of course you would. I also feel pain, great pain in you, Son of Malkar. You feel you are alone, unique, with a course to chart away from all others. It need not be that way. There are other paths, and those who do not fear you that can help you.”

“Do not even dare to patronize me priest! Save your sermons for the poor fools you will lure into servitude.”

“That said, I am a servant of my Mistress. I strive in the cause of my Goddess, and I may fall; anyone may. But I say to you, Son of Andurien, that my course is not to be deflected by threats of being made ‘an example’ of. Were I to fail my trust for fear of that then I would deserve it. I fear you not; while I wield her power, the Lady of the Elves approves my work, and it is not your place to change it.”

“My mother cannot shield all her priests forever, you insolent fool…there will be a day when her gaze is elsewhere…and all the gods in this universe will not save you! Heed my words priest – stay away from my sister!”

Malakar spits at the ground in front of Merlynar and is gone, his laughter echoes like a distant thunderstorm. The high priest is stunned, unable to react, his muscles paralysed by the sheer presence of Malakar. When life returns to his limbs the god-son is gone but there is another watching him. An ordinary human man, a plain face but with eyes that have seen a billion sunsets.

“Well met, Merlynar,” [reminiscent of the words used by the killer of Yarramorsh] he says, though the words do not come from the stranger’s mouth. They come from his mind. “There is a ruin in the north; a Menelothian outpost called Erlain’s Point – I will meet you there and protect the child of Valinar. For this service I will require a simple sacrifice. Not a drop of innocent blood will be spilt but a sacrifice must be made. Accept this and I will ensure your safety…deny me and the wolves will tear you apart…” Wolves wolves wolves and always tearing lambs apart]

The plain-faced human walks away…then he turns as an afterthought. “May Andurien smile upon you…” but his face is lined with irony…

“Who are you, and why should I trust you, un-named?”

“I am the only friend you have priest…” [Something Runesabre once claimed when talking with Vali]