A Broken Family Epilogue (Naomi)
From Toosigma
| Title | A Broken Family - Epilogue |
|---|---|
| Author | Philip Mann - Naomi |
| Campaign | Convergent Threads |
| Session | Intersession |
| Posted | |
| Game Date |
I took my Love to a small inn near Tavick's Landing, where I thought we would be safe for a while. Her mind was shattered, and only a bestial and destructive force remained, but I was sure that my Kayli was in there somewhere. Her sleep, when she did sleep, was tormented and the name “Llier” escaped her lips as if calling for him. He must be the one that did this to her. Each time she awoke, however, the beast that possessed her surfaced and directed its substantial abilities trying to damage me. Again and again I had to subdue her and administer sedatives to keep quiet her rage while I thought through my options. The only thing that seemed to help was the bracer that I had left from the prison, which subdued my abilities and seemed to do the same for her unusual characteristics. While it did not quiet her rage, it did reduce the amount of harm she was able to do to me and her surroundings.
I cried a lot those few days as I tried to help her and failed. I could not protect her and keep her safe; I could not bring her home safely; and, now, I cannot seem to help free her of what this Llier has done to her. I felt so horrible, so weak and helpless, but Kal'ryu reminded me that even I would have to ask for help sometimes. He was right, of course, and I think he already knew who I needed to seek: Elder Rystari.
When I made this realization, I asked my little friend to inform Maerin of our departure.
“Please,” I said to Kal'ryu as he headed toward the window. “Please tell him where we are to go, but ask him not to follow for now, okay.”
“As you wish.”
“Thank you,” I said, “for everything.”
He took flight and vanished into the clear sky. He had no need to at all, but I knew that he would do as I had asked and return for whatever purpose he accompanies me. I have never questioned why he stays with me, and I don't suspect I ever will. When the time is right, he seems to feel that I will know.
I only left Kayli's side one time, sedated and bound, to cremate and temporarily entomb my fallen brother. I prayed over him, knowing that his soul would ascend among the highest choirs. He was a great man with a huge heart, and he was my brother. I would leave him in the mausoleum only so long as it took to return the memory of my family, where he will then be honored properly by all who loved him so dearly. Yes, brother, I will be back for you...
When Kal'ryu returned, I cast the enchantments required to get us to Adar. The trip took several days, but the endurance trial that it became paled in comparison to the urgency I could feel from Kayli's condition. Arriving at Adar showed me that I was not alone in my concern as Elder Rystari sent an escort to meet us. They were swift and stealthy, but very gently assisted my groggy love along before we were detected by some Inspired patrol I imagine was nearby.
Once inside, Elder Rystari was waiting. I had hoped to see her again, but not so soon and not under such dire circumstances. She knew, however, exactly what my plight was and seemed very sure she knew how to deal with it. She surprised me when, in spite of my obvious and acknowledged concern, she asked me to leave. She explained that my emotional attachment, in this case, was a complication that she was not prepared to handle. Since I knew little if anything about what was to be done, I had to accept her at her vow that no harm would come to her.
“I...I trust you...” I told her, meaning that I trust her with that which is most precious to me. She understood.
As the guard escorted me from the audience chamber, I insisted “She will be okay.”
Kal'ryu, a master of saying only what he intends, commented in a way I did not realize until later. He said, “She must be.”
Hours passed, and I felt the tears dampen my face as if they were rain. The silence was punctuated by moments of such horrible screaming that Kayli's voice penetrated every part of the outpost. When the screaming passed, I welcomed the end of her pain, but also dreaded that she may simply be incapable of screaming. Even my little companion was so taken by what was going on that he seemed unable to control his tension. Clearly he was on edge in a way that I had never seen him before. His calm and collected demeanor was completely overpowered by some internal struggle. He said it was from his care for her, but I sensed there was something more. When he leapt into my arms, however, all I could do was hug him tight to me and reassure the both of us that she would be okay.
When Elder Rystari opened the door to retrieve us, I could tell that she has expended much of her energy to combat the evil done to my Love. She was shaken and visibly aged, but she also seemed relieved at the outcome of her efforts. She said that I could see Kayli, and I sped to the chamber even before the invitation had died in my ears.
Through the doors, I found a calmly sleeping beauty that gave no signs of her previous torment. Her gentle breathing and relaxed visage gave no clues of what had happened to her, but Elder Rystari thought better to tell me what she knew. She spoke of Llier as an ancient foe that she had met before and of the “craftsmanship” the Daelkyr practiced on my Love. She said that she had blocked the memories of what happened to her, but she could do nothing for the physical changes. She said that Kayli may live a much longer life, and that she may yet gain control of the abilities that she used so effectively against me while under Llier's control.
I watched over Kayli in silence for many hours after Elder Rystari and the guard that stayed with her departed. Kal'ryu curled-up next to Kayli and slept off and on. They slept and I cried as all that my carelessness had allowed to happen to her washed through me. I had done nothing wrong, but neither had I done the right things. I should have protected her better, even if it meant only that I equipped our brothers better to act in my stead. No, I failed them both and I will forever regret my mistakes, and the empty perch above the door into the Gargoyle's Eyrie will serve to remind me to the end of my days that Fate allowed me to do the right thing for my family and I chose myself instead.
I drown in a pool of my own self-pity throughout the night, allowing the darkness to swallow my failures and hide my sins from my own eyes. Still, the peaceful breathing of the two others next to me reminded me that Fate had given me a second chance to do right by them. She had not taken me completely from my family. No, she had given me the opportunity to weigh what really matters against those needs that I only wanted to believe were real.
When dawn began to shine into the room and Kayli's eyes slowly opened, I knew then what it meant when one said their heart jumped. The emerald jewels that she cast sleepily toward me stole everything I had cried about all night right out of my heart. She asked where we were and I told her that we were very far from home. We said very little, but drifted into each others' arms and made love as if this one act would reaffirm how we shared our hearts...
Dressed and curled against her body, I gently pressed the ear cuff that I had given her so long ago into her palm. She did not remember taking it off, so I explained as best I could what had happened. I stopped and clarified several times, but the information must have seemed surreal to her. She could only remember glimpses as Elder Rystari had said, but she understood that she had tried to kill me without my need to explain it. She felt badly for me having to endure the rage she inflicted, but tears again came to my eyes when I explained what had happened to our brother, including the circumstances that made it murder in my mind.
Kayli tried to remember through the barriers that were protecting her mind. Elder Rystari entered the room as we spoke, reminding Kayli that it was probably not wise for her to do so. She told Kayli, as well as me I imagine, that she it would be unwise for her to dredge for memories she may not yet be able to handle. Over the food that the kalishtar leader brought her, Kayli just nodded and ate as if she had not eaten in a year.
Elder Rystari then produced another miracle: a vial that she said would cure the memories of our family. At that moment, had she wanted my life in exchange for what she had done, I would have gladly surrendered it. Kal'ryu agreed that she had done more than we could ever hope to repay, but she assured us that the potion at least was a small token. And, while she said she would love to extend their hospitality, she told us that we needed to return home as soon as possible using the fastest transportation she could provide.
My Love and I returned home and wasted no time curing our family. They, like Kayli, remembered everything up to the time their minds had been altered. Again, I found myself near tears retelling the story of what had happened. This time, since Kayli stood at my side and held my hand, I was actually angered when I told them of what Hero had done to Cald. The family was upset and angered, but everyone became solemn as I placed the urn of Cald's remains above the door where he had watched over us all.
Everyone told a story to honor his memory, of the joy that he had brought to the family and to each individual. Mama told of how she had found him and his brother Jelicar during the war. Papa spoke of numerous engagements, on and off of the battlefield, where Cald had saved the day. Jelicar spoke of his brother as the one who watched his back, and saved it, on more occasions than he could remember. Kayli described a brother whose calm and wise words had helped her to keep her singing dream alive even when the circumstances said she should give it up. And I, having known him for just a year, recalled him as a confidant and friend who had given so freely of himself and asked for nothing in return. I told of the times he had come to my rescue even when my friends were nowhere to be seen, and of how he risked persecution from the highest places in Sharn to be the one to save my dignity from an angered Aramil.
“Had I known you since the beginning, big brother,” I spoke toward the urn, considering in my heart the enormous span my life seems to have occupied, “I would yet ask for at least another day.” ...
After another day, I considered carefully what end I would have of Hero. He was a murderer that had killed one of my family and, while the outcome may be justified in his mind, he is still one that I think needs to be corrected. Rather than take him down, however, I think it best just to take his tools away from him, particularly since many of them came from my workbench. I will no longer be part of what empowers his evil and treachery, and I shall likewise take back the power from those tools that I have made. Mayhap, in this way, he will face and end of his own making, and Fate shall show him that his time is far nearer than he might imagine if he pursues the path he currently upon...
