Klaudia deMemnoch

"Mama, Papa! Where are you?" the little girl sobbed, "Nynnia, Ardeo, are you there? I'm so scared, why won't anyone answer me?"

The little girl crawled her way through the smoke until she sat coughing violently and sobbing a distance from the burning house. Suddenly she heard a loud cracking sound and looked up in time to see the fiery roof collapse into the rest of the building. She cried out loudly and buried her face into her hands until the grief overtook her and she passed out.  "Papa, they're at the door! They have fire and they are trying to get in!" cried the girl as she awoke from her slumber and nearly jumped straight out of the bed.

"Hush now child, you are safe now. No one is going to hurt you here," said a comforting voice from the corner.

The girl whipped her head around and saw a Human woman sitting in the corner. She rocked gently in her chair and continued to work her sewing needles. The woman smiled gently at her and motioned towards the end of the bed. An oversized wool sweater and a pair of soft slippers sat waiting for her. The girl moved hesitantly towards them ever keeping an eye on the woman. The woman chuckled and motioned again for the girl to put them on. Slowly the girl pulled the sweater over her head but cringed when it passed over her arms. She looked down and saw that she had burns on her hands. 

"You poor dear, we'll take you to see a healer in the morning," the woman said reassuringly. 

The girl carefully finished dressing herself and sat back down on the bed and began to cry once more. The woman got out of the chair and moved towards the bed. She tenderly cradled the girl in her arms and whispered assurances to her that everything would be all right. The woman gently rubbed the girl's hair as she told her what happened. She explained how two hunters had come across the girl in a field not fair from the burnt ruins of a house. They carried her to town and brought her Mags, the firewood collector. She would know what to do with the girl. And so the woman continued to stroke her hair until she fell asleep.

The next morning the old woman took her to see Annael, a renowned healer in the Crossing. Annael gasped when she saw the little girl and immediately took hold of her hands. The little girl squirmed as a tingling sensation spread throughout the rest of her body. She was amazed as the wounds on her arms and hands began to heal and looked in wonder at the healer. Annael made a few gestures and miraculously the wounds disappeared.

"How did you do that?" the little wondered in disbelief.

"Do you really want to know? Annael asked as she closely watched the girl.

"Oh yes, I want to do what you do. I don't want others to hurt like I did," the girl said confidently.

"Well then tell me your name and I'll add your name to the guild register."

"Klaudia, Klaudia deMemnoch."

Annael nodded solemnly and took the girl by the hand and led her into a quiet corner. There came a loud yelp as a flash of steel pierced the girl's hand. Annael chuckled and once again healed the wound. After several lessons, Klaudia knew the secrets of the Empath Guild. 

Several years passed and Klaudia grew in age and experience. Everyday the sick and suffering would find their way into the infirmary and Klaudia worked to ease their suffering. Then came one day when Klaudia was in the infirmary when she noticed another young empath singing to herself at the other end of the couch. I recognize that song, she thought to herself. But where had she heard it before? She carefully studied the Elothean empath and slowly realization set in. 

"Nynnia! Is that really you?" Klaudia cried out.

"Klaudia! I can't believe it," Nynnia exclaimed as both girls burst into tears.

"I thought you were dead!" They cried simultaneously. 

And so the two sisters exchanged stories about that dreadful night. Neither could remember the details very well. Soon they discovered that their brother Ardeo had also survived the fire and was an apprentice in the Warrior Mage guild. They never knew what became of their parents but deep down they knew they were looking on from the Starry Road. Since then Klaudia has wandered through Elanthia, finally settling down in the city of Shard where she continues to ease the suffering of her fellow adventurers. 

Last Revised: 6/27/03