from dusk to Dawn
“My son, I sent you to this plane, to this island, to be the hope that banishes fear as sure as the sun does darkness, to be the break of dawn to end the night that befell it, but you can’t illuminate a kingdom that fears the sun and craves the shadows. Since the beginning people here from all races have denied you and therefore me, tarnished my name and made it a mockery, the very people that claim to follow my doctrine have twisted and corrupted it. I solemnly forsake Heeratat may it forever dwell in darkness and never see the light of day, return to me my son”
The words of my mother still resonated in my mind while I opened my eyes once more after being healed by Moonie. I can barely stand up. When I finally look up I see the wounded red dragon fiercely fighting the bronze dragon, Vasuki.
Samay and Milerion are gone, everyone else seems panicked, is this it? Has Samay gone through a portal?
The “fleau” rises ever higher, and I can’t help but feel relieved that it is almost over, this was never my fight nor my story, I had been sent here for a purpose that now was meaningless.
We all witness as the fleau envelopes Vasuki and now he stands with his father, this is it.
But something happens…
Seems like Anantakal recognizes something in my friend, Amellys, but what?
And suddenly it's revealed, she raises her hand, takes off her glove and my eyes can’t believe what I see, there it is, after all this time thinking it had been stolen, The hand of vecna.
Had I been too trusting, too naive, too blind? There were signs all along, but she’s my friend, how could she? All of this? For what?
My mother was right, this land doesn’t deserve saving, these people don’t deserve saving.
Time seems to move in slowly, it’s just a matter of seconds till they decide to finish us all.
Anantakal addresses Amellys and offers her a pact. He knows she holds great power with the hand of Vecna attached to her and so he wants to rule, with Amellys to his side.
Together they will be unstoppable. I can’t help thinking how fitting.
And so, unsurprisingly, Amellys, my childhood “friend”, accepts the deal.
Can’t say I’m shocked at this point, I wasn’t sure she coveted the throne and to rule, at first but it became clear as time went on. She had always desired power and rulership.
But, I don’t feel betrayed, my heart is incapable of harboring hatred, so I don’t. I don’t blame her. She had felt weak in the past, so she craved power, to not have those feelings anymore, she was just a scared little girl on the inside. I pity her. But she is my friend after all, and even now I stand by her side.
Then what I have been waiting for, comes. The dragons start tearing everyone apart.
Killing them in horrible ways, when it finally comes to the paladin, Amellys stops Anantakal.
“I want to do it myself” - she tells the dragon
“Very well, put up a show for us and your friends, my queen” - the dragon says with wicked delight
Amellys approaches the wounded paladin, forsaken by his own goddess, left to die alone, such is the will of nature after all. She raises her devilish hand and points a finger at him, and… I avert my eyes, the sight is too gruesome, I just hear the screams of pain, utter pain.
It goes for what seems forever, she’s killing him slowly, relishing in his agony, I can hear the demonic laughter of Anantakal as he watches, pleased. So much evil around me.
Then it suddenly stops. It’s over.
“Behold Lucens. Behold my new servant” - Amellys tells me, satisfied with her deed.
I finally dare to look, abomination, what once was a young paladin, now reduced to an undead corpse cursed to serve his evil queen, for eternity.
And I take a look around me, I see the slaughtered bodies of Pangur Ban, Kethot, Kath.
Only Moonie and Edras are still standing, terrified, awaiting their turn.
I turn to Amellys. “What now?” -I ask her, numb.
“And now we celebrate, for a new King has risen, and with him a queen” - She laughs
Anantakal lands in front of us, still bleeding from his wounds. He looks at me
“You were a nuisance, I thought I killed you at least 3 times, I wanted you dead and yet still you stand here in front of me. I should burn you to ashes. But I won’t, you are very powerful, I will admit that, you’re lucky my queen sees you as a friend, otherwise I would enjoy killing you myself.” - He lowers his massive head closer to me, I can feel his hot breath. I can smell the blood.
“Lucens proved to be a powerful ally, he can be useful in the future.” - Amellys says as she puts an arm around my shoulders, suddenly she turns me around to face her.
“I haven’t forgotten what you did back in the orc mine, that was MY POTION, MINE, you took it away from me. But I recognized it was to save a friend, so I decided to let it go.”
She grabs my arm, strongly, with the demonic hand, I can feel its chill touch, almost trying to absorb my life essence. She leans closer and says: “May it be the last time or I won’t prove as graceful as today” She lets go.
“As to these two” She says as she motions to Edras and Moonie - “spare them, I need servants after all.”
“What about the monk?” - The dragon says, Loen is pulling himself out of the ravine he had fallen off earlier.
“Well. I found him in a cage, so maybe he belongs in a cage” - Amellys says, smiling psychotically as she does.
And so it was. All four, we were spared. But at what cost?
Things were never the same at the island, just like my mother had said to me, the Sun never shone in the skies of Heeratat, condemned to eternal darkness, what once was a flourishing land, had turned into a desolate landscape.
Anantakal and Amellys started to expand their kingdom, to conquer the continent and siphon their resources back here.
I was relegated to studying magic and learning ways to make them more powerful and eventually immortal. Their thirst was unquenchable.
I quickly grew in power, but I tried my best to conceal my new found strength, in vane, she knew me too well, she would send me to the battlefield, against the resistance that had grown against the evil tyrants, but they were no match. Amellys was ruthless, what once was a cheerful and reliable elf, now was a proud and evil queen, merciless. But she still held a semblance of tenderness towards me.
I would also secretly commune with my mother, asking her for guidance and advice, she was the only reason that kept me going. I witnessed so much despair and death.
A few years passed, I had made incredible discoveries, but so had Amellys, despite my efforts to conceal as much of my research as I could, she is a cunning creature, she always seemed to be one step ahead of me. She had also managed to get a hold of the eye of Vecna.
One day she came up to me and said - “I know what my “brother” she said with visible disgust - “Well, my adopted brother did. He took a portal to the future, thinking it would break the time loop. But he failed”
I remained silent.
“I won’t let him get away, I will take care of him myself” - She said sternly
“And how are you planning to do so?” - I questioned her
“Well my beloved friend, you will assist me in that” - She said to me with a smirk on her face.
Like I said I had acquired an important spell she was intending to take advantage of, just like that ring I had found all those years ago inside the cryptex. But this time, I was able to cast it myself, wish.
I, naturally, hadn’t said anything about this to Amellys, it had been thanks to my studies and the help of my mother, that I had acquired such strength, as a mean to eventually escape from her, but Amellys had become too powerful herself, since she acquired both the hand and the eye of Vecna, she had been unable to cast arcane magic, cut off from the weave by Mystra, she was relegated to the cursed magic her demonic artifacts bestowed on her. That’s why she kept me around, I was just a means to and end for her, nothing more.
“What do you need from me?” - I asked reluctantly
“You will use a spell to put us on stasis, a state of suspended animation, in a secure demi plane inside the palace, and so we will wait for my brother to appear in the future, whatever long that will take” - She says determinedly.
“But that could take hundreds of years. We haven’t yet determined how far in the future he went, are you willing to give all those years away, for revenge?” - I’m heartbroken
“Whatever it takes, Samay will perish by my hand” - She replied
“Anantakal is perfectly capable of taking care of the kingdom and with Vasuki with us, we will be able to fool my brother easily, the poor soul will think he is still in love with him and will come running” - she laughed
“It will be done” - I say
“Perfect, you’re always so helpful” - she kisses me on the cheek, it burns my skin.
I had given up on this land long ago, whatever she wanted to do with it, wasn’t a concern to me. She had won.
And so it goes, I used the spell, and for hundreds of years we waited, in stasis, our material bodies, frozen in time, ageless, our astral bodies projected, wondering the astral plane, for what felt as an eternity.
Until that fateful day, as our astral bodies are shunted back to our material bodies by the contingency I had set up.
Samay’s presence had been felt once more, he had arrived, just like she had hoped for.
Amellys' plan, one she had set in motion a lifetime ago, was finally coming to fruition. Her thirst for revenge had transcended time and space.
As she had predicted, Samay fell for the trap like bees to honey, she used Vasuki to trick him into coming with him to find the cube, where she awaited for her destiny to finally come true, she would be once and for all, the only true heir. To a long forgotten and forsaken kingdom.
But right before I could witness what would be the end of this tragic tale…
The sun seems to shine once more over Heeratat, if only once. I pull out the forked, metal rod attuned to Mount Celestia I was able to finally acquire all those years ago, and before I could be stopped by my childhood friend, before I could witness her doing to Samay what she did to that paladin, before she could realize I was finally escaping…
I wish to plane shift to “The Radiant Dawn” in the second layer, Mercuria, of Mount Celestia.
I’m writing these words, under the golden light of my new home, where, finally, I am free. Not to remember what happened to me. But as a cautionary tale, not every kingdom wants to be saved, not every kingdom deserves to be saved.
Some are doomed to eternal darkness, because they crave the shadows.
But even after the darkest night, the sun will always rise, and so I do, I rise once more, eager to see what lies ahead…
Lucens's Journal Ordered oldest to newest
-
Not here, not now ...
07 Nov 2023 02:31:14
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It is not yet your time
07 Nov 2023 02:59:50
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The road to the lake
14 Nov 2023 02:03:33
-
On the path unwinding
09 Dec 2023 10:42:44
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Dawn Touched
24 Jan 2024 07:24:32
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My goddess
24 Jan 2024 07:25:34
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Snake island
24 Jan 2024 07:29:04
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Elvenbleak tower
24 Jan 2024 07:59:03
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Plumeria bouquet
17 Feb 2024 03:37:41
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Edgewind
16 Mar 2024 10:15:32
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LUCENS IMPENETRABILIS VOTUM PRAESIDIUM
03 Apr 2024 05:56:51
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Letter to Diene
09 Apr 2024 04:47:10
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A ballad for the departed
09 Apr 2024 04:49:37
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Solstice Day
23 Apr 2024 06:05:28
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from dusk to Dawn
11 Jun 2024 07:50:47
07 Nov 2023 02:31:14
07 Nov 2023 02:59:50
14 Nov 2023 02:03:33
09 Dec 2023 10:42:44
24 Jan 2024 07:24:32
24 Jan 2024 07:25:34
24 Jan 2024 07:29:04
24 Jan 2024 07:59:03
17 Feb 2024 03:37:41
16 Mar 2024 10:15:32
03 Apr 2024 05:56:51
09 Apr 2024 04:47:10
09 Apr 2024 04:49:37
23 Apr 2024 06:05:28
11 Jun 2024 07:50:47
The major events and journals in Lucens's history, from the beginning to today.
"Rising Light" finally free. To live on...
08:00 am - 11.06.2024from dusk to Dawn
“My son, I sent you to this plane, to this island, to be the hope that banishes fear as sure as the sun does darkness, to be the break of dawn to end the night that befell it, but you can’t illuminate a kingdom that fears the sun and craves the shadow...
07:59 am - 11.06.2024Chapitre final : Saṃsāra
03:20 pm - 10.06.2024Chapitre final : Saṃsāra
03:20 pm - 10.06.2024Chapitre 20 : Les larmes de la haine
01:31 pm - 06.05.2024Chapitre 20 : Les larmes de la haine
12:33 pm - 04.05.2024Lucens, radiance unbound.
06:17 pm - 23.04.2024Solstice Day
A major holiday celebrated by worshipers of the goddess Diche, to celebrate the gift of the sun and its light to the material plane, as well as the dawn of a new year. This marked the day where farmers would harvest their crops at the earliest rays of da...
06:06 pm - 23.04.2024But today we can rest peacefully, having gained a new powerful ally. We celebrate Diche's gift of sun and light.
05:57 pm - 23.04.2024We are determined to put an end to this corruption! I have faith that together we can do it! Maybe this deed would allow me to have the privilege of singing the "Song of Dawn" next Solstice day.
05:55 pm - 23.04.2024Before coming back, I used to have nightmares of what would happen if we fail to stop the "fleau", how darkness would spread around the world. I won't allow this, we cannot fail!
05:51 pm - 23.04.2024I made this flower crowns for everyone so we could celebrate!
05:46 pm - 23.04.2024This is the longest day of the year, when the sun shines the brightest!
05:45 pm - 23.04.2024In this day we celebrate the gift of the Sun made to the planes by the Golden Goddess Diche. Its light brought fort life.
05:44 pm - 23.04.2024After we succeeded in finding the treasure of the Naga mages, we were refilled with hope and resolve. It was perfect timing to celebrate Solstice day.
05:42 pm - 23.04.2024Kshama's words reminded me that we still need to recover the cube! it is imperative we do so.
05:40 pm - 23.04.2024We found a NAGA! Alive! I managed to gain its trust with an offering! He is so majestic! A powerful ally.
05:39 pm - 23.04.2024We encountered a horrible creature! A mindflayer! Its tentacles felt disgusting, trust me you don't wanna know how I found out.
05:35 pm - 23.04.2024After we managed to enter the mountain, we discovered a huge magma chamber inside.
05:34 pm - 23.04.2024This is what the view probably was after all the fireball I hurled at the Yetis at the mountain peek. They asked for it.
05:32 pm - 23.04.2024Amellys showed us an amazing new spell she had been practicing and it was amazing! She turned Loen into a T-rex!
05:31 pm - 23.04.2024as we finished setting camp and Amellys prepared to cast her ritual, we were attacked by Yetis, led by an alpha.
05:29 pm - 23.04.2024A ballad for the departed
In loving memory of Teddy and his beloved father, may their souls now eternal in Mount Celestia. *soft spoken singing by Lucens, to sooth the souls of those who lost their lives* “Her heart is big enough to hold your fears; You can fill it up ...
04:57 pm - 09.04.2024Letter to Diene
My dear Diene, How naive was I, today I have been confronted with a harsh reality, one I never thought could exist. My perception has been forever tarnished, from that pristine one I grew up in at the Cathedral, I have witnessed the wickedness of men ...
04:49 pm - 09.04.2024"sol, deae beneficium" in the dark of night we needed the light of the sun to help us prevail in our fight. After Loen asked me to illuminate the battlefield I cast Daylight and bring forth radiance.
04:45 pm - 09.04.2024After defeating the elemental we decided to set camp in the forest, thanks to Amelly's spell we can rest safe and sound, and comfortably! Although something caught my attention that night and I had to investigate...
04:40 pm - 09.04.2024I sent Valor drop an oil lantern over the elemental and cover it with oil to make any fire damege it would take more potent, but it seemed to resist fire regardless. Valor was so valiant, we make an awesome team!
04:37 pm - 09.04.2024We managed to restrain and slow the elemental's movements but it was still able to hurl giant boulders at us, and they really hurt, trust me.
04:35 pm - 09.04.2024After further inspection, I found the whole altar was magical, but before we could proceed it started to morph and transformed into a huge stone elemental, summoned here by Rufu most likely.
04:33 pm - 09.04.2024There is dark plot surrounding this town, we are trying to understand what took place here and we stumbled upon a stone altar in the forest, with human blood inside it.
04:32 pm - 09.04.2024The relic we found inside the statue of Diche. We need to unveil its secrets.
04:30 pm - 09.04.2024We arrived at night to a very suspicious town, it had an ominous vibe to it. Shrouded by darkness.
04:26 pm - 09.04.2024The landscape pathing north of the island is incredibly rich and full of life. This part of the kingdom has been isolated from the rest by the "fleu", so one could assume it would be a desolated land, but it is quite the opposite. It was a pleasant surprise but it does raise some questions.
04:23 pm - 09.04.2024Chapitre 16 : Les murmures du Fléau
06:35 pm - 08.04.2024Chapitre 16 : Les murmures du Fléau
06:35 pm - 08.04.2024LUCENS IMPENETRABILIS VOTUM PRAESIDIUM
“Dominus regit me, Deduxit me super semitas iustitiae.Nam, etsi ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis, non timebo mala. ut inhabitem in domo Domini in aeternum. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the sunlight of the Almighty...
05:58 pm - 03.04.2024Got this amazing golden dragon statuette! It also has a stunning image of a dragon at the bottom of it. Who knew magic could be this expensive? The higher the cost of the material components the higher the power of the spell? To be determined...
05:56 pm - 03.04.2024A sunburst pendant. It shines beautifully when hit by sunlight. Perfect for one of my signature spells.
05:54 pm - 03.04.2024I was able to get this golden reliquary, so beautiful and crucial for a spell I wanna cast
05:50 pm - 03.04.2024Got this gem that can harvest the power of the sun, and set it upon this staff I got. Will help boost my magic I hope
05:50 pm - 03.04.2024Bought some useful spell scrolls! I need to scrib them into my spell book. They will come in handy later
05:48 pm - 03.04.2024My mother words were clear, I knew what I had to do to buy Duval and his man some time. Set the forest on fire
05:46 pm - 03.04.2024"And so shall I rain fire from the heavens"
05:45 pm - 03.04.2024Chapitre 14 : Le chant des étoiles
07:30 pm - 17.03.2024Chapitre 14 : Le chant des étoiles
01:21 pm - 17.03.2024Edgewind
We finally made it to Edgewind, after what seemed like an eternity of trying to reach the city after learning there is a temple dedicated to Diche here. I felt compelled to come, somewhat connected to the city. Ever since I left home at the main temple o...
10:16 am - 16.03.2024in one of the main halls of the Cathedral of light, there is a stunning painting depicting an avatar of the goddess Diche descending to aid a paladin in battle.
10:15 am - 16.03.2024A beautiful statue of the goddess Diche, radiant one
10:13 am - 16.03.2024The form Lucens' spiritual weapon takes when he casts the spell. You can see some of the statues and depictions of the goddess Diche holding the same staff.
10:11 am - 16.03.2024The building that serves as the library at the Cathedral of Light in Edgewind
10:10 am - 16.03.2024A stained glassed depicting the goddess Diche
10:09 am - 16.03.2024A stained glassed depicting the goddess Diche
10:08 am - 16.03.2024The main chapel area at the Cathedral of light in Edgewind
10:07 am - 16.03.2024one of the many hallways of The Cathedral of Light in Edgewind
10:05 am - 16.03.2024Lucens' Spiritual guardians, swirling around him.
10:04 am - 16.03.2024Chapitre 13 : Les braises de l'oubli
10:05 am - 26.02.2024Chapitre 13 : Les braises de l'oubli
10:05 am - 26.02.2024Sometimes, I like to think about Tholor becoming a proud paladin of Diche. After all these years, I still remember him so clearly that night we met. I wonder if I will see him again, and if he will remember me.
04:21 pm - 17.02.2024Beautiful Thalisius-Flora, my mind still wanders its streets, decorated with stunning flowers, filled with a delightful aroma. At least what I can remember from the few times I visited.
04:18 pm - 17.02.2024I still keep the flower Tholor gave me that night. Its smell reminds me of him.
04:15 pm - 17.02.2024Plumeria bouquet
Before facing two giant snakes, saving Milerion from what seemed almost certain death, going through some portals, skillfully defeating a golem and a moving suit of armor by myself and narrowly escaping the crumbling tower. Before all of that, while stil...
03:39 pm - 17.02.2024Chapitre 10 : les portes du destin
10:30 am - 28.01.2024Chapitre 10 : les portes du destin
12:24 pm - 27.01.2024Elvenbleak tower
After what seemed like an endless battle, won by my impressive display of skill to light the beacon, the orcs retreated. We were all exhausted and spent, yet we were overjoyed to see our efforts had paid off. We decided to camp at the beacon for the n...
08:01 pm - 24.01.2024Snake island
Thinking back to Pangur Ban’s sad backstory and the way the captain was so adamant not to let me board his ship judging solely by the way I look, made me reflect of how cloistered from the outside world I grew up, and makes me feel a bit guilty of the p...
07:29 pm - 24.01.2024My goddess
Diche, Radiant one, Golden goddess The goddess of light and the sun (including the dawn and dusk) She’s also tied to honorable combat and war. Her light is often seen as a beacon of hope in battle yet destructive to her enemies. Her symbol is o...
07:28 pm - 24.01.2024Dawn Touched
The Seven Heavens of Mount Celestia, are dedicated to goodness shaped by law and justice tempered with mercy. All aspects of Celestia are beautiful and perfect. As an outer plane, Celestia was spatially infinite and consisted of seven infinite layers (or ...
07:24 pm - 24.01.2024Lucens, Dawn touched.
07:21 pm - 24.01.2024The goddess Diche, would also sometimes assume the aspect of a woman with the head of a lion, with a golden mane.
07:17 pm - 24.01.2024Diche, Radiant One, Golden Goddess.
07:15 pm - 24.01.2024A look of determination in Lucens' eye.
07:14 pm - 24.01.2024It's an endless hall, we can't escape! Is this an illusion? or is there more to it?
07:00 pm - 24.01.2024A shadowy knight, what could be inside the armor? Something tells me is not a person. It seems immune to certain kind of spells.
06:59 pm - 24.01.2024Lucens casting "Detect magic" inside the Elvenbleak tower.
06:57 pm - 24.01.2024I start the ritual, magic starts flowing from my spell book.
06:56 pm - 24.01.2024Lucens using his magic inside the Elvenbleak tower
06:55 pm - 24.01.2024the Hydra, for every head we cut off, two more grow, a formidable opponent!
06:51 pm - 24.01.2024We made it to the Elvenbleak Tower, but something isn't right...
06:50 pm - 24.01.2024As night falls, I reflect in pour journey, We set camp next to the river, alongside the drows we just saved.
06:48 pm - 24.01.2024As we continue in our journey, the Coppenwren mountains become distant in the horizon.
06:47 pm - 24.01.2024We make our way through the Elvenbleak forest.
06:44 pm - 24.01.2024The dawn, a gift from Diche. As beautiful as ever.
06:42 pm - 24.01.2024We made camp after the well fought battle. Arin and Thanael join us. We can finally rest peacefully.
06:41 pm - 24.01.2024the flowers I found were beautiful and now I know they were probably fey as well, as the butterflies.
06:39 pm - 24.01.2024We washed ashore a beautiful tropical island, full of mysteries. We found some treasure! Pangur Ban and Loen decided to stay and explore more of the island, I had to head to Heera'tat.
06:35 pm - 24.01.2024The mythical creature that attacked the boat, the Kraken. I've read of it before. some of my memories are still blurry but I remember it very clearly.
06:33 pm - 24.01.2024Chapitre 9 : la morsure du serpent
12:08 pm - 21.01.2024Chapitre 9 : la morsure du serpent
01:41 pm - 20.01.2024Chapitre 7 : dans l'ombre de la lumière
07:37 pm - 10.12.2023Chapitre 7 : dans l'ombre de la lumière
01:01 pm - 10.12.2023I found this beautiful flower field, their beauty is so magical and these butterflies fluttering around are so peculiar they almost look Fey-like, one landed on my forehead and...
11:19 am - 09.12.2023The bright light emanating from Neverview's beacon filled everyone with hope and determination, our efforts had payed off.
11:16 am - 09.12.2023The path to the Coppenwren mountains is quite the site, full of beauty.
11:14 am - 09.12.2023I made a quick sketch of that creature we encountered in the cave, a basilisk, I had read of those creatures before and well, they are as terrifying as they are portrayed in the books. I was able to snatch the eyes out of its dead body. I wonder if they will hold to the petrifying properties
11:11 am - 09.12.2023On the path unwinding
After what it seemed as an eternity and a series of tragic events, there was a glimmer of hope for us when we met Arin and were able to get out of that Diche forsaken cave, I much rather forget some of the things I saw take place there. Nevertheless, w...
11:00 am - 09.12.2023Chapitre 6 : la colère des fanaux
08:12 pm - 26.11.2023Chapitre 6 : la colère des fanaux
03:25 pm - 26.11.2023The road to the lake
"The goddess reigns forever; She has established her throne for judgment. She rules the planes in righteousness and judges the people with equity. The goddess is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who ...
02:03 pm - 14.11.2023It is not yet your time
As my body hits the ground, I start to bleed on to the forest floor, I can hear my breathing, inhale slowly, exhale slower, as if time is winding down, I hear noises all around me, but everything is unintelligible, I feel my eyes close as to the rhythm of...
03:20 pm - 07.11.2023Not here, not now ...
I don't remember much of the time before moving to the Cathedral, I remember meeting Diene years before but not much more. She tells me stories of how I was an apprentice to a great wizard called, Mohun, and how I was always so eager to use my magic, or ...
02:58 pm - 07.11.2023
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