NPC - Bærwynnd's page

Alaquendai looks briefly for a moment at Malthazir, then observes each of you in turn. I sense more souls than the six I see before me. I fear that the rift, in its destruction of our world was powerful enough to rip your souls... the ethereal energy in all of you... out of your mortal flesh for a moment. I saw, in the rift, thousands of formless souls being devoured; their physical form left behind on this desolate world. As you seemed to have surmised as well, those three undead were such bodies. And more it seems are outside my door. Arrington will show you to the Underbridge. It should take you safely out of the Tower and to the city upon the shore. From there, you will need to be cautious.

Where the Hazards should be... and where the Hazards are... are two entirely different questions. They should be, or at least would normally be, at their own towers. Seak Sivantanpisil in Pyrae. His knowledge of Necromancy will be needed before the end.

The old wizard turns and looks to his apprentice, Arrington, lead them to the forges below the tower. They can dispose of the bodies there. Then equip them as best we can and take them to the Underbridge.

Yes. What Arrington says is true. The portal to Midian must be protected too. The undead cannot penetrate this tower unaided. But should Archeabus discover what has happened here, he will send his priests. The Brotherhood will come. They will command the undead, and should they take the tower, the Gates of Midian will be opened.

Alaquendai looks at each person in succession, Will you aid us?

Alaquendai looks to Niyut, Yes, yes, they should come, and they may yet come on their own accord. But, as of now, they have not come. I fear that some may have been consumed but we must know their fate.

Hearing Elannaris speak to him, Allaquendai's eyes dart to her. I am not her to protect you, young lady. Do you think I would remain a millennium on this world... in this body... enduring such pain as you can not imagine! A shadow arose about Alaquendai, and a dark, terrifying version of the man seemed to emerge as he spoke. His flesh rotting. His eyes hollow. His back bent low. The rift began to swirl stronger and you felt its pull, but then the shadow subsided and rift was quieted. No, I stayed to complete the task I started long ago. And if a few die so that the world lives, I will take that trade-off.

Looking about the room at the others, Alaquendai continued, But this was unexpected and unforeseen. The Bringer of Death attempted to escape. And that cannot happen. He knows I am weakened...

No, Garidan, the man, does speak some truth. I went where I should have not. Remaining in the ether, for as long as I did, was unwise. And for that error, I may the price in the end. But soon the rift will consume me... and with me, the world. But just as you survived the initial wave, others may have lived as well... some good, some evil... some familiar, others unknown to you...

The world has changed, forever, that is my doing and my burden to carry. the Hazard looks away from the rift and at the retreating human. I do not know if your family lives... I do not know if your village exists. But you are here today, and, by the will of Talmor and the merciful gods, you can make a difference for those that survived... and possibly for those that didn't. You must find the other Hazards. Find them. Bring them here. Only they will be able to...

For a brief moment, the Hazard turns his gaze upon Elannaris and smile crosses his face. It is now that you notice his lips have not moved. Ah the impatience of youth... My dear, Elannaris, I no longer control the rift. Even now, I struggle to contain it. Your help is needed if we are to close it...

The Hazard's thought is interrupted by a loud commotion echoing through the chamber. A gnome, beyond the southern pillars, gathers up a pile of tomes and manuscripts strewn about the floor...

In the strands of the ether, the future is not yet determined, my young hobgoblin. And you are only as expendable as you believe you are. As for what I have seen... too many things; both good and evil. But I have looked too far and across too many realms of possibilities. I rode the harmonic wave searching the strands of possible futures. There I saw failure and the Ealintaine free from Midian reigning over a dark world... then I saw glory in the defeat of Archeabus and the destruction of the world... then I saw the world as it was, renewed in the spring... but I went to far and I saw the gods. And they saw me. My hold on the ether was ripped from my control as He tried to use me as a conduit to return. I fought him off and returned to a world being torn apart... drawn into the ether and consumed. A few more moments, and the world would have been gone.

ARRINGTON!!! Where is that fool of a gnome?

Dead... or alive... the creature's life has little bearing on the future I have foreseen... and have failed to prevent. Sending him to his death or into the void would surely be more humane than dwelling upon the Nexus after today.

ARRINGTON!