Seidhkona
09-27-2009, 11:59 AM
<p>I'd love to hear the elders among us discuss the lore from the Shard of Love quests in more detail. I wrote up the following for my guildfolk, incorporating all the text from the NPCs along the way. Hence, big spoilers!</p><p>Scroll down...</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Through the Gates of Bliss</strong></span></p> <p>As I set out on a fine autumn day in Antonica, I was halted by a young halfling, who looked quite worried. As a paladin, I could not let the obvious distress of the youngster pass me by, and swung down off my horse hailed her.</p> <p>"Hail, good traveler! Have you heard the news?" the halfling answered. I replied that I had not.</p> <p>"Then I shall tell you! The Sisters of Erollisi have returned, along with Priestess Swornlove. She had gone away with the Sisterhood while her brother stayed behind. They have now returned with grave concerns!"</p> <p>"What are their concerns?" I asked, intent. A concern of the Sisterhood was a concern of the Order of the Rose of Erollisi!</p> <p>"I... I cannot say. But, perhaps you can help them! You can speak with them in Antonica's Coastal Grove."</p> <p>"I'll do exactly that!" I said, and mounted my steed, and setting spurs firmly in rode for the Grove.</p> <p>It was but a short while later that I spied the Sisters of Erollisi, near the Antonica druid ring, and hailed the chief among them, the revered Priestess Annalisa Swornlove.</p> <p>That august lady greeted me, then said, "Though I was hoping to return to Karan with joyful news, but instead I and the Sisterhood have returned after my brother sent word of some disturbing developments. The followers of Hate have learned the terrible news. They too know that something has happened to Erollisi, stopping her from returning to Norrath."Frowning, I asked the Priestess, "Is that a threat?"</p> <p>"It would pose no threat if Innoruuk's followers were simply gloating about it, but they have surmised that the Plane of Love is now susceptible to their attacks!" she replied, with some force.</p> <p>The Plane of Love! Surely such defilers could not gain entry there? Or could they? "Are they right?" I asked.</p> <p>Priestess Swornlove answered, "They may be! What would happen to all love in Norrath if its embodiment were to be ruled or even occupied by the agents of hate? We now worry not only for our beloved goddess, but also for her glorious plane and all of Norrath! We must gain access to it before they do! As dangerous and as blasphemous as it may seem, we can think of no alternative. We must do whatever is necessary in order to keep it from being occupied by Hate!"</p> <p>While I conceded that this was an important goal, my Lady's fate was chief of my concerns. "We must learn what has happened to Erollisi!"</p> <p>The Priestess answered, "Or help her. I do not know. But we must attempt to gain entry to whatever is left of the Plane of Love. The sisters have a holy item that originated in the Plane of Love. By casting a powerful spell upon the planar artifact it should allow us to locate the weakest point between the plane and Norrath. That is the first step."</p> <p>Clapping my hand to my sword, the sword of Truth, I swore to aid her, and my goddess, in any way!"Bless you for asking!" the ancient Priestess smiled. "The spell that we hope to weave requires the essence of someone already welcome within the Plane of Love. Of the gods that have returned, Mithaniel, Tunare and Quellious were her strongest allies. But the familial bonds she held with her twin brother would always be strongest. Thus we need to obtain a bit of his essence. The most promising place to find such a virtuous component would be some place where The Truthbringer has touched Norrath. I have heard of adventurers encountering his avatar within the Commonlands of D'Lere. I would suggest you start your search there."Bowing deeply to Annalisa, I nodded. "I will!"</p> <p>Taking ship to the Commonlands was next, cloaked in dull cloth over common clothing. Having seen and been blessed by the Truthbringer's Avatar, I knew exactly where to ride. Making my way to the monument of The Mourned, I found the spirit of the Truthbringer and knelt again for his blessing, and spied by his feet the rare valorian flower, which grows where the blood of valor has been shed. Murmuring a prayer, I carefully plucked but a single blossom, then began my journey back to Antonica.</p> <p>Once again greeting Priestess Annalisa Swornlove, she embraced me and said, "You have returned! I pray it is with the virtuous component."</p> <p>"Yes. I found a valorian bloom," I told her.</p> <p>"Perfect!" she smiled. "And now with the help of the prophets of peace and valor we shall weave the spell upon the planar item, Lady Shae's Arrow."</p> <p>"Lady Shae's Arrow?" I asked.</p> <p>"Yes. It was found by Lady Shae of Felwithe. It is what brought her and her descendants within the Sisterhood. Her story begins as a sad one. She was bitter and heartbroken over her crumbling relationship with Antonius Bayle IV, he who was known as 'The Great Avenger' It was a secret relationship, and because of this it was a doomed one. Antonius Bayle had fallen in love with Lady Shae during his adventuring days, but the Council of Qeynos demanded Antonius wed another Qeynosian and conceive children that would further the Bayle lineage within their city."</p> <p>I frowned, for the dictates of Love should not be so denied.</p> <p>The Priestess continued, "This did not stop the lovers from secretly meeting within the bustling trade city of Freeport, often at the Hogcaller's Inn. He would mislead the Council claiming these trysts were hunting trips. Then came the moment he could no longer avoid. He was forced into a marriage with a woman of the Council's choosing, a member of the House of Lords. When Lady Shae heard of his union, she was heartbroken. All she knew was that he had wed another with no explanation or discussion. Some days she blamed him for not being devoted to their love and other days she blamed the Qeynos Council for not recognizing their love, often enough she blamed them both."</p> <p>"What about the arrow?" I asked, thinking on our mission.</p> <p>"Erollisi had heard her cries and felt her broken heart. The goddess of Love visited Lady Shae in a vision and sent her upon a journey, one that would lead to enlightenment and healing for her soul. She tasked Lady Shae with a pilgrimage of sorts, to follow her ancient footsteps. Just as Erollisi had found love amongst Tunare's fair elves, so would Lady Shae, for it was there that she found the ethereal arrow. She felt the draw of the magical item, and when she touched it she was granted true serenity. She knew it was from the Plane of Love and for the first time she cried not out of heartache, but out of relief. She no longer felt burdened by the pains of love lost, but could now feel the overwhelming amount of love that remained within the world, and something else -- the unconditional love of the child she was carrying! She had been carrying a child since the last visit with Antonius, just a few weeks prior, but was not aware of it." the Priestess continued.</p> <p>"It is at this time that she decided to give the holy planar item to the Sisters of Erollisi. She delivered the arrow to the Sisters in their isolated village of Tearfall, and was welcomed by them. Her child, Shaonia, Antonius Bayle's true first born, was raised among the amazon warriors."</p> <p>that was a name I had not heard before. "Shaonia?" I asked.The Priestess replied, "Yes, Antonia Bayle's grandmother. Lady Shae of Felwithe was Antonia's great-grandmother."</p> <p>Comprehension dawning I answered, "That's interesting! And the arrow is what you will cast the spell on?"</p> <p>"Correct. Now stand back as the spell is woven!"</p> <p>I bowed in respect again and took my place to witness as Priestess Annalisa led the Circle, summoning mighty powers and calling upon the Divine. At last, the revered Priestess turned again to me and said, "The spell has been woven. Take Lady Shae's Arrow and search for the weakest point between the plane and Norrath."</p> <p>"Norrath is a big place," I replied.</p> <p>"It is," said the Priestess, "but the Sisters and I have faith that one of the places that have significant meaning for Erollisi is likely to be the key. Just as Lady Shae did, you too must follow the Loving Huntress' footsteps, the trail that led her to embrace the mortal trait of love to champion with her divinity. Do you know it?"</p> <p>I nodded, "Yes, but I would like to hear it once more."</p> <p>Taking my hands in hers, the Priestess began to tell the tale. "In the early ages of Norrath, before the arrival of Man, the Marr twins walked the face of Norrath searching amongst the mortals of Norrath for a cause to champion. During this time the most malicious of the gods sought to corrupt the young twins to strengthen the forces of hatred and fear. Innoruuk, the twisted god of hatred and spite, sent his mortal children, the Teir'Dal, to tempt Erollisi Marr and seduce her into the darkness. But she saw through their deceptions, and their wickedness was more visible to her eyes than even their physical forms."</p> <p>She went on, "So it came to pass that Erollisi journeyed to the lands of Tunare's fair elves to escape the sickening advances of the Teir'Dal. It was there, in the early kingdom of the elves, that Erollisi found warmth, peace, and beauty in the harsh realm of the mortals and it was there that she embraced and was in return embraced by a most mortal of traits -it was there she found love!"</p> <p>"So I should search Greater Faydark?" I asked.</p> <p>The Priestess replied, "The elves were not in the Faydark when Erollisi sought refuge with them, though that is where Lady Shae found the arrow. So, yes, you should travel to Greater Faydark. But it is not the only place, for Erollisi's children are not the elves. She and Mithaniel brought about the Northmen."</p> <p>Remembering the skald's tales in the longhouses of my Halasian youth, I nodded. "I know about that."</p> <p>"Then you are prepared," Swornlove replied, handing me the enchanted relic. "Take the holy arrow and search out the weakest point between Norrath and the Plane of Love. Bless you and be careful!"</p> <p>I carefully wrapped Lady Shae's Arrow in a silken scarf, and stowed it securely in a saddlebag, then turned my mare's head towards the sea again. Thus I traveled to the lands of Faydwer, and made my way to Kelethin, the tree city. Greatest of all the mighty boles in that forest is Tunare's Sapling, and as I circled its great trunk, I spotted a warm rose glow. An answering glow seemed to shine from my saddlebags, but the light -- as it so often does -- caused the insects to scurry! Seemingly from nowhere, one of Innoruk's Disciples of Hate sprang forth, shouting, "Glory to Innoruuk!"</p> <p>I am pleased to tell you that the Hatefather had no glory that day, for swift and sure was my blade to sever his slave's neck. I cleaned my sword upon his ragged clothes, then checked Lady Shae's Arrow. It glowed still, blessed by some force. Now it was time to seek out my own ancestral lands, the ice and snows of Everfrost. More riding and sea-travel ensued.</p> <p>On the frozen docks, as I prepared to sail out to the glaciers, I saw an unlikely sight - rubble and, of all things, the remains of pomegranates. Now, pomegranates are sacred to Erollisi, being the fruit of love and prodigal in their gifts of seed and juice. So I suspected these to be a clue. It was time to travel back to Antonica, and a few minutes on the busy docks found me a druid, who sent me back to the Druid circle on Antonica's coast. There I hailed the venerable Priestess.</p> <p>She greeted me, saying, "We have anxiously awaited your return! Tell me, what did you find in Faydwer?"</p> <p>"I found an area near the Battle of Burning Roots memorial that blessed Lady Shae's Arrow," I told her.</p> <p>"Astonishing!" she exlaimed. Perhaps, that is where Lady Shae found the arrow originally."</p> <p>"And then I went to Everfrost," I continued. "There I found rotting pomegranates and rubble that is not Norrathian on Stormedge Isle."</p> <p>Priestess Annalisa said, "The blessed arrow allowed you to experience these disturbing signs of unrest from what is left of the Plane of Love. I do not know if this means that the powers of hate have already gained access or if it is a repercussion of Erollisi's continued absence."</p> <p>These signs and portents worried me. "Either way," I said, "the Plane of Love is suffering."</p> <p>"Without a doubt, which is why we must gain entry to it," the Priestess replied. "And now you have found the location where we will have the best chance of doing exactly that. Return to Everfrost and we will meet you there on Stormedge Isle."</p> <p>I knew I'd need my best war-gear to withstand any threat, for it was my sworn goal to seek out the Plane of Love and find what had happened to Lady Erollisi! I returned to my home, and there geared myself for war, then traveled back again to the cold land of my fathers.</p> <p>Riding to the dock's end, there around the strange rubble and forlorn pomegranates were the Sisters of Erollisi. I greeted them.</p> <p>"You made it just in time," the Priestess told me. "I hope you are not offended, but time is of the utmost importance, so we did not wait for your arrival to start the portal ceremony."</p> <p>I heatedly replied that haste was of the essence, and that I was prepared to dare the portal.</p> <p>The Priestess smiled again and answered, "But I am glad that you are here to witness this monumental event, for you deserve it! It would not have happened if not for you."</p> <p>She turned then and joined her Circle's chant. Again, I felt the power of love and magic combine, and with a strange wrenching feeling my ears popped as a portal opened there upon the dock.</p>
Seidhkona
09-27-2009, 12:11 PM
<p>More spoilers...</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Shard of Love: A Moment of Valor</strong></span></p> <p>Drawing my sword, I stepped at once through the portal, then I was standing within the home most sacred to me, the home of my goddess. It was obvious to my eyes that things were not as they should be. Instead of lights of love, angry wisps circled the yellowing leaves of the trees. The once proud structures in which a lover's fancy could wander showed crumbling masonry.</p><p>Before me was the Swan Stair, which I'd heard named before in the songs of the skalds in my youth. Yet first I must slay the diseased foes, wisps of agonizing and suffering fury, as well as the fauns who once tended this ream, now despairing custodians with their minds torn asunder by the events that had damaged this plane.</p><p><a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/b/b1/Swan_Stairs.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/b/b1/Swan_Stairs.jpg" width="600" /></a></p><p>Several short battles cleared my path, and as I mounted to the head of the Stair I found a ghostly elven maiden.</p><p>"Halt!" the spirit cried. "The Queen is not receiving visitors at this time. Go back from whence you came! Else, I, Lanielle, must slay you!"</p><p>"Who is the Queen?" I asked, and the spirit lowered her blade, and confusion blurred the misty features.</p><p>"The Queen of Love, Tarew's daughter... Wait, I seem to be forgetting something. Something is just out of reach... Oh, no! She is no longer with us. I failed her!"</p><p>"What do you mean?" I asked.</p><p>Lanielle replied, "My memories are muddled. They have been enveloped within a haze. But if she is no longer with us, then... I failed in my duties."</p><p>"What do you mean, you failed her?" I said, my heart sinking.</p><p>Lanielle answered, "I... I cannot say. Sorrow. Sorrow is all I feel. This is not right. This is not how her glorious plane should feel." She paused a moment, then went on. "A trap! I recall it now! She had been warned that a trap, intended for her twin brother, awaited his return to the Plane of Valor. She set off immediately to Valor's Plane in order to ensure her brother's safety."</p><p>"What happened there?" I asked her, intent upon her answer!</p><p>"I... I do not know," she stammered. "The clouds have returned. Those details have been lost to me. My sisters of protection, they may know! Ask Arawen and Gwestanna what they recall."</p><p>I moved deeper into Erollisi's realm. Then I was charged by what seemed a ghostly stag, proud antlers gleaming, yet tears rolling from its eyes. My sword flashed aagin, releasing the fragile melancholy sadness.</p><p>Making my way past broken walls, I spied another spectral figure. I hailed the ghost. The figure seemed to shiver, mumbling, "It is so cold. When she was here, it was the most pleasureful time. The flame of Love was always burning. But now she is gone, and it is not."</p><p>This was of no use. I demanded of her, "What happened to the Goddess of Love?"</p><p>The shade replied, "Her candle was snuffed. I... I am too saddened by this." Then she seemed to grow more substantial, and shouted angrily, "Begone! Or I, Arawen, shall surely slay you!"</p><p>I left the ghost of Arawen to her cold misery, and moved towards a dense thicket of trees in the west. A once-lovely golden gate had once protected the trees and their fruit, but now the portal stood ajar.</p><p><a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/8/86/Boughs_of_Tenderness.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/8/86/Boughs_of_Tenderness.jpg" width="600" /></a></p><p>I no sooner set foot within the holt before I was set upon by maddened bees! I called upon the divine powers granted me by the gods and smote the bees, but the explosion drew the attention of more inimical inhabitants of the forest -- wairy-fitches. The wairy-fitches are dragonfly fairies, and are the people of the fairy-queen Willowmeena. I learned this last when, upon slaying the last, the queen herself appeared and forced me to present to her my sharpest arguments!</p><p>Eventually, all the flying and stinging creatures laid to rest, I was able to make my way into a glade at the heart of the thicket, where I found Gwestanna, the last of the guardians Lanielle had named. I called out to her.</p><p>Gwestanna asked, "What are you here for, outsider? Haven't we suffered enough!?"</p><p>"I was sent by Lanielle," I answered. "She sent me to ask what you remember about the Goddess of Love."</p><p>"I recall how she filled me with love, but now sorrow is all I feel," Gwestanna replied.</p><p>Her sorrow was painful to see, yet I must know what had happened to my Lady, Erollisi! "What happened to her?"</p><p>Hesitantly Swestanna answered, "My knowledge is very limited. She is gone. That is what I know."</p><p>Sorrowing for her pain, I told the spirit, "I understand."</p><p>Still, this had led me no further along the path to aiding my goddess! I turned my path back again, and sought Lanielle once again. The spirit started as I approached her, shouting.</p><p>"I am helping you, Lanielle," I reminded her</p><p>"Helping me? I serve the Lady of Love... Oh, no! She is no longer with us. I failed her! She went to Valor. I remember that. My sisters of protection, they may know more!"</p><p>"I tried to ask them," I told Lanielle, "but they know even less than you."</p><p>"They must be unable to see past the fog that has enveloped us. You must be helping me see through it!"</p><p>"Why can I help you and not them?" I asked her.</p><p>"My blessing. The one I was gifted with when I chose to defend Tarew's daughter, Erollisi Marr. She was bathed in light, a goddess amongst mortals, chased by the children of Hate and Fear into the Elddar Forest! We welcomed her and embraced her in love, just as she embraced love with their divinity."</p><p>"Ah!" I said, understanding, "You were there, so many centuries ago!"</p><p>Lanielle responded, "My eyes did see the miracle! I was one of three who were chosen by the Mother of All to protect the young goddess from the minions of dark. We escorted her to the frozen lands. Mere mortals we were, each blessed by Tunare with the strength and ability to better protect the expecting Goddess from the advances, trickery and corruptive plots of the Prince of Hate, the Faceless and the Dream Weaver. I was to protect her against the influence of dreams. Arawen is... was? Love's Protector against hate. Gwestanna was blessed with powers against fear. But we failed her. She is gone..." her voice trailed away.</p><p>Before her memory could fade away again, I quickly asked her, "What happened in the frozen lands?"</p><p>"Ah," she said, smiling, "the day of the birth. My last day upon Norrath. We had been tracked by the forces of dark. We each fell defending the Goddess but our prayers to the Mother of All had not fallen upon deaf ears."</p><p>"Tunare saved you?" I asked.</p><p>Lanielle replied, "She saved the young Goddess and her newborn mortal children. We had fended off the dark minions long enough for victory to be ensured. And so, there it was, in an area later to be known as Snowfist, that the Barbarians were cradled. That is where my mortal self fell. But Tunare granted us with a choice. We could be escorted to the Ethernere or we could accompany the Goddess of Love to her own home, the new Plane of Love. She could not breathe life into our mortal shells, but since we were guarding the Goddess in life and had been blessed by The Mother to do so, we had the ability to serve and protect Erollisi further. But there was one caveat. We could not leave her ethereal plane. It would be the place our spirits were bound to. That is why we failed her. We could not accompany her to the Plane of Valor. And now the state of the Love is uncertain. Something is amiss here! This used to be a place of beauty and unconditional love. But I feel sadness and righteous anger now. This is not right! You must remove whatever is causing this taint."</p><p>I told her, "I will do my best."</p><p>Armed with these revelations, I made my way back up the hill to Arawen. I called her name, and she replied, "It's cold. Can't you feel the chill? I can feel the flame's death and yet it was to be eternal. It is flickering -- struggling to stay lit. How could this have happened?"</p><p>"I don't know," I told her, with pity in my words.</p><p>"Nor do I," Arawen said, "But there it sits, just the same, surrounded by its sentinel drakes. Little good they have done to keep it burning. Now it is up to us! We must respark the flame of love by adding passion and tenderness back to it."</p><p>That was all the information Arawen had to offer me. I thought a bit upon the Flame of Love. I am not an expert on planar matters, but any Halasian knows that chill must be battled with a good flame, and wood is what fuels the fire. I turned again to the thicket. Among the trees I gathered downed wood, then started back to Arawen. Only a few steps outside of the thicket, however, a burning white wisp appeared and attacked! Casting the wood aside I drew, and met the lashing energies of the wisp with the Truthbringer's blade! The glowing light of sword found the heart of the wisp's flame, and its light snapped out. Where it fell, I found a small burning ember, like the light of passion. Carefully, I scooped it into one of my gauntlets, and gathering my wood and carrying the ember, I continued along my way.</p><p>Below Arawen's hill I could see a paved plaza, above which fae-drakes shimmered. At the farthest end seemed to be a hearth, cold and forgotten. I carefully placed the wood and the ember aside, then stood forth to do battle with the drakes. One by one, the sorrowful flame sentinels fell, until at last the greatest flew above me, the hum of its wings the very heart of Woefulness. Despite the heat of its breath I battled it, casting aside its fiery blasts with the good strong curve of my shield, until at last I ended its sorrow forever. Then, carefully, I kindled a flame upon the hearth with the wood and the ember. The flickering lasted only a moment before the small flame became a roaring rush of fire, and the Flame of Love burned anew!</p><p>Thinking that perhaps Gwestanna might have more thoughts for me, I returned to the thicket. There the shade, all wrapped in shadows, called out to me, "Have you ever seen the grove so dark? It was a grove of plenty, once. Now it sits tainted, just like the Pool of Devotion. Maybe if the waters were clean the grove would grow back. Tainted waters cannot nourish the flora! We must clean the pool! We must clean the Pool of Devotion by removing any neglect and selfish intentions."</p><p>After this outburst, Gwestanna seemed to sink back into her own private misery. I had seen an algae-filled pool below, and that is where I went. All around the pool was a smoothly laid pavement, and setees were placed for the ease of lovers to enjoy what had been a beautiful fountain. Yet now the waters were dark green and slimy, and large dragonflies hovered above the waters, the sound of their wings reflecting a doleful listlessness.</p><p>Once again I summoned the forces of my god-given abilities, and began fighting and slaying the large chitinous creatures. Just as I thought I had squashed them all, a truly monstrous hum announced the arrival of Thane-Malach, the very chieftain of the dragonflies! I shuddered as my shield snapped up and cried out prayers! Blow by blow the bug sank lower, until with a great crack my sword smashed its carapace and slew the monster.</p><p>Looking at the mucky water, I wondered how I'd ever get the green stain and mucky smell out of my armor padding, but still I waded in and began stomping the muck creatures and heaving out handfuls of nasty goo. I worked hard, holding my breath as I could, and soon the waters seemed to be running more clear. Just then an evil eye rose up from the fountain's center and sprang upon me! Like the wandering eye of an unfaithful lover, it caused me pain, yet I caused it more!</p><p>I had answered the concerns of Arawen and Gwestanna, so I turned my steps back to the Swan Stair, there to speak once again to Lanielle and tell her of my deeds.</p><p>Lanielle heard me out, then said slowly, "This was once a place of ethereal beauty, but now it rots. It lies broken and in disrepair. Nothing is as it was when the Queen reigned here. When she was here the lands were tended, the waters flowed and the grounds were kept pristine. But we have lost sight of that. The sword resides where the heart should be, and grief holds us within its unshakable grip. At times righteous anger flares so hot. Flames on the side of my face..." As she spoke, the ghost was panting for air, panicked. Could I have reached out to comfort her, I would, but my hands passed through her insubstantial being. She shook herself, and seemed to calm.</p><p>"I apologize. I almost lost myself within it. I am trying to say Love cannot be left to decay. Will you help to reseed the grounds? Plant the seeds of a ripe pomegranate, not one that is rotten or tainted, in the Boughs of Tenderness, the Garden of Lingering Sentiment, and amongst the trees on Passion's Lower Portico and here, near the Swan Stairs."</p><p>I bowed and replied, "I'll do exactly that, Lanielle." Making my way back to the thicket, among the trees I found many rotten pomegranates, but also some that were luscious, red, and dripping with sweet juice. I chose the largest and most beautiful, and from it I selected the best seeds. Then I did as Lanielle had bade me, and planted the first seed there in teh thicket. I had no sooner covered the seed with the dark soil when a glowing shoot sprang up, growing proud and thick. Nodding, I thought that so ever must the Lady's gifts be. I hastened to plant the other seeds as Lanielle had bade me.</p><p>How else could I set these precincts aright? I considered, then turned to look upwards towards the heart emblazoned high upon the side of the Chapel of Love. That was Erollisi's chiefest place, I knew, and that is where I must go now.</p><p>As I mounted the steps, with no warning but a loud roar a glowing red ghostly lion the size of a horse sprang upon me! The eternal chapel guardian would bar my way from the Chapel of Love -- no, I could not allow it. "Virtuously you have protected my Lady's place," I said,"And it sorrows me to slay you, yet I must win my way to her!" I gave battle, forcing the beast back step by step, until my sword pierced its heart and it passed out of the world. I made my way higher towards the chapel, slaying more guard-lions, the emblem of valor! Until at last I stood before the doors of the Chapel.</p><p><a href="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/3/3b/Chapel_of_Love.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/3/3b/Chapel_of_Love.jpg" width="600" /></a></p><p>Yet... the doors were fastened tightly. As I pondered this, a shadow passed over me. Looking up I saw a great griffon, Valoron the Just, the final guardian. "Great-hearted one, I may not allow you to prevent me!" I shouted, then battled the beast. After many hard strokes, and under heavy buffets by his mighty wings I struggled, but at last, Valeron fell.</p><p>As the griffon faded, the Chapel doors began to glow, then slowly swung open. At last! I was nearing my goal. But what was that I spied within? A great armored warrior, in shining silver, wingéd helm telling me that he was a paladin like myself? I stepped forward and the warrior turned, and I saw that it was the father of my race, Mithaniel Marr!</p><p>"You should not have disturbed this sanctum!" he shouted, face contorting with anger. Before I could speak a word, he leapt at me and I must defend myself or die. Yet, he who is the very soul of battle did not slay me. His attacks seemed to test my every lesson in the warrior's art, and though I knew I could not prevail I stood to meet each blow, determined that I would show my courage and quality at least before I died!</p><p>"Get away from me!" Lord Marr shouted. "You do not know what dangers you play with!"</p><p>Panting, I could not answer, for his blows never slowed a bit. I missed a parry, and his sword cut a burning slice along my thigh. "Now I am not the only one with regrets," he growled.</p><p>The sting of the wound made me redouble my efforts, and I prayed as I had never prayed before. What had driven Lord Mithaniel to madness? How would I be able to save my goddess? My love for Her gave me strength, and a crashed a mighty blow upon the god that would have cleft a mortal man in twain. To my surprise, he cried out, "I cannot take anymore! EROLLISSSSIIIIIIII!" and sank to his knees!</p><p>"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" he screamed to the skies! "Father and Fathom Lord, forgive me! Sorrow and anger had blinded mine eyes to reason, but these mortals, in a moment of valor, have opened them."</p><p>Collecting himself before my astonished eyes, he stood, then slowly stepped towards the dias at the heart of the Chapel. I followed him, and there, encased in ruby glass upon a bief, to my horror I spied my goddess, Erollisi, twin to her brother who stood beside me. Unclad and unmoving, I saw the ruin of what I held dearest.</p><p><a href="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/4/4d/Mithaniel%27s_Confession.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/4/4d/Mithaniel%27s_Confession.jpg" width="600" /></a></p><p>Mithaniel Marr said, almost to himself, "I had justified keeping her here, for so long. But the truth is I was weak. I did not wish to know any existence without my twin, and so, here I stayed under a shroud of guilt, sorrow and anger, refusing to let her go."</p><p>The great warrior addressed She who lay within, "You did not have to give yourself in my place, dear sister, but I should have expected no less from love. You foiled a heinous plan concocted by Hate, thus robbing them of one success, while I had foolishly handed them another. I allowed your death to distract me from my own plane and from getting involved in the erupting struggles. Forgive me."</p><p>Then, raising his sword high above his head he cried out, "Just as these mortals released me from the cage of your death... I now release you from yours! May your essence find its final resting place, be it in this existence or another, my dear sister."</p><p>The sword swept down and shattered the rose-colored bier. And a great light began swirling up from where the Goddess had lain, rising into the sky and towards the greater Light.</p><p><a href="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/8/8e/Erollisi_Relased.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/8/8e/Erollisi_Relased.jpg" width="600" /></a></p><p>"I must now return my attention to Valor," said the god in sorrow, and disappeared.</p><p><a href="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/9/95/Gone_to_the_Light.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/eq2/images/9/95/Gone_to_the_Light.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
vBulletin® v3.7.5, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.