Lochraven's Story: Divided Heart |
| You are standing in an upper-class neighborhood
on Teras Isle. The scent of wild rose tickles your senses as the warm breezes flow over
you. It is dark and the moons are full. You would feel at ease and peace here, were it not
for the ancient black marble hall that looms before you. The door of the Hall slowly opens and a slightly husky whisper touches your ears and beckons you to enter. The hairs on the back of your neck prickle slightly as you cross the threshold into an elegant, yet darkly ominous room. The room has a mild scent of wild rose, the floors black marble, the rug, black and silver silk. You see an elven enruned fireplace, over which hangs a beautiful diamond edged tapestry. Your eyes are drawn to the silver sleighbed upon which sits a beautiful, dark eleven sorceress. She is gazing warmly at you as you enter the room and inspect her home. She whispers softly, "Please have a seat and rest your weary bones." You settle yourself upon the soft silken rug. This elven woman's beauty and warmth beckon you to feel comfortable, yet your soul shivers and your skin tingles. "You wish to hear the tale of how I came into being?" she asks you. All you can seem to do is nod and so you do so. As she begins speaking the room darkens further, a lone black candle resting upon the table gives out very little light, a stray moonbeam through the window only serves to enhance the pervasive darkness of the room. You shiver slightly though beginning to relax as her husky whispers fill the room. This is the tale you heard. "I was raised by a blond haired, brown eyed, cleric named Lithana. She taught me kindness, giving and love. I was mentored, however, by a dark elven sorcerer who followed Fash 'lo nae. He taught me pride, power and love of a different kind. "When I was old enough to ask, I beseeched her to tell me how I came to live with such a kind and loving woman, one who followed the light, though it was the darkness which drew me. She told me of how she led a simple life, helping when she could, though not very good at her chosen profession. She would bless weapons and life keep the dead during invasions of the undead, which seemed to occur frequently at that time. One day, she was hunting in the woods outside of the town of Wehnimer's Landing, when suddenly a blood curdling scream pierced her world. Though the screaming was far away and in a strange language, it stabbed her heart and she dropped to her knees, praying to Lorminstra. It was a woman's scream and sounded as if the very life was being ripped from her. Shortly thereafter, the sounds of howling wolves filled the air and she became afraid. She began to make her way back to town when a blur of rags ran past her. As she traveled a little further, she came across an old human woman laying in the dirt, obviously near death, though no wounds were apparent upon her. Clutched to her breast was a dark elven babe. Lithana tried to speak to the woman, asking of her injuries, how she came to have a dark elven babe with her, why she was running. The old human would not speak and her breathing became more ragged as she clutched at the babe. Fearing the human about to die and knowing that she could not raise her once that that happened, Lithana wrestled the babe from the old woman and began to drag her back to town. The distant howling of what she could only guess were wolves chilled her to the bone and seemed to follow her as she hurriedly dragged the old woman. Once safely inside the gates of town, she asked for healing for the old woman and began to inspect the beautiful girl babe she held in her arms. When she noticed bewildered looks from the healers around her she realized the human woman she had so painstakingly and fearfully dragged to town had disappeared. The howling outside the gates increased and she began to suspect that the human had stolen a dark elven babe from its mother soon after birth. Fear for herself and the town clutched her heart. She knew that whomever or whatever searched for this babe would not care about the life which now held it nor the lives around her. Thus, fearing for her safety and that of the child, Lithana lost herself in the crowd and made her way home. She went into seclusion to raise the babe, always the feeling of darkness on the fringes of her life. The heart of Lithana was full of love, however, and her home was light, her giving unrestrained. Lithana's only visitors, were a dark elven sorcerer named Falston and her love, a young sylvan ranger named Fuinur. Lithana said that when Falston first looked upon the baby girl, his eyes filled with love and he named her Lochraven after a beloved area near his homeland. They also noticed that the babe's dark skin had a slight silver aura in the moonlight and so her full name became Lochraven Sylvershyne. "When I was still very young, the light and love that was Lithana passed from this world. Her death pierced my heart as only the loss of one's mother can do, for she was the only mother I knew. Falston took me under his wing, however, and taught me to be proud of my dark elven heritage, my dark powers and my dark feelings. Even now, my heart struggles between the passion for the kill and need to save. Part of my heart is darkness and part of it light." Lochraven smiles warmly at you, though you see evil behind her eyes and you feel as if you have just awakened from a dream. You shiver slightly as you struggle to regain your bearings and stand. You bow respectfully and take her hand in yours to kiss it. Her touch is warm, yet a spark of something you cannot quite name causes you to jump visibly. You quickly kiss her hand and release it as you notice a dark delight cross her features. You can tell she relishes your fear, though in your heart you know she would die to save your life. You mumble your thanks and make your way out the door. The world seeming slightly more chaotic to you now. |