The Whispering Falls

Reading the job board, a particular rumor caught my eye. A voice, a melancholy voice seemed to whisper through the crashing of the water at some falls. I know what it is like to not be alive and not be happy. I felt compelled to investigate. I grabbed the ticket and visited the pay master. He approved my request and I posted for assistance in this matter.
 
Some familiar faces and some new. I guess it is the nature of an open call for work. We headed out for the falls. Quite the trek really. I was able to forage food for the others. The Tiefling and the Sorlock were not so appreciative, but the orc was quite polite. Upon arrival we discovered there were a series of falls. One great fall dividing into 3 others. Using my rope and pitons, I was able to ascend the cliffs. They were only about 15-20 feet high.
 
Upon ascending to the plateau of the great falls, only what I could describe as an Angel was sitting on a rock. I approached penitently, and prostrated myself before her. She approached, but she did not fly with her wings, or walk. She glided as she hoovered. Upon closer inspection, she seems translucent. Not here, almost non-corporeal. But she wasn't a ghost. She was more like a projection. I get the feeling she is at unrest.
 
She asked for our help. Her memories were scattered, in bits and pieces. My heart ached for her. Her sadness was palpable. I know what a fractured memory is like. Flashes, disjointed scenes, a feeling of separation from your past. I had to help.
 
She asked for willing volunteers. Boy was this familiar. The Spirit Wolf did the exact same thing! I really had no choice. By Kelemvor, I was determined to assist her. Maybe in helping her, I would also be helping myself.
 
I volunteered without hesitation and with full trust. Zugg Zugg did so as well. The others were not so trusting. I will remember their hesitation.
 
She entered my mind. Doing so placed me in a meditative state. While the others whined through mistrust, I was bathed in her sadness, and her need for help. It permeated my soul. Upon the others finally agreeing to the process, we were assaulted with flashes of things of her past. She was a great warrior, in a battle that scared this country side many many years ago. The scars of the land still exist. This battle was near Castle Drakenhoff. The memories were disjointed. Out of order. She needed assistance understanding the order of the flashes of memory.
 
She warned us, failure to order the memories correctly brought a sort of punishment. I believe this was part of her curse. The magic attempts to dissuade others from helping her. The images were an image of her in all her glory. Fully armored with gleaming shield. A sword in her hand, surrounded in radiance. An image of a ballista firing what seemed to be enchanted bolts. A great war of good and evil. A dungeon or caverns, which resembled Castle Drakenhoffs caverns. This castle seems to be a hotbed of evil activity. a pendant, and an image of her, wounded, stripped of all armor, clothes, crawling within the caverns of the castle.
 
Through many inquiries we attempted to order her memories. I tried and failed, and the whole party suffered. Remember what the Spirit Wolf said Renaldine! Exhibit more patience and be more aware. We tried again as a group, and the punishment was felt by Mal and Zugg Zugg, both paralyzed. At this point, she was able to confirm that we got the first 3 memories correct. The image of the great war, her flying into battle, and the large ballista firing.
 
Through a process of elimination, I was able to order the last 3 memories. In doing so, my heart wept at her story. So brave, giving all she had for others. I understand now why Kelemvor pointed me to this particular mission. He is giving me an example of the level of commitment and the potential consequence of servitude.
 
She asked us one more time to do something for her. We were to go into the past, and destroy the very ballista she was tasked to destroy in the battle, the very ballista that took her down. I agreed without hesitation. Zugg Zugg as well. The others were hesitant once again.......
 
Upon entering the battle dream, Mal and Zugg Zugg were both still paralyzed. I removed the condition from Zugg Zugg, and he removed it from Mal. The area was fraught with Kobolds and Duergar. Mal spearheaded the attack, but the Kobold, who appeared to be part dragon, commanded the ballista, and was highly effective with it. He forced Mal into a retreat, he almost went down. The battle was not difficult. I saved my Spirit Weapon for the commander since it does not move well. We were able to defeat the Deep Dwarves and Kobolds with little difficulty. The commander was not so easy. He did eventually go down.
 
We destroyed the ballista and the memories of the day flowed over the Angel like water over the falls. Her flight into battle, getting hit by the ballista, spiraling into the ground behind enemy lines, getting captured and taken to Castle Drakenhoff. The memory of torture, humiliation, pain, suffering, ....failure. Stripped naked, bloodied, fraught with fear, she attempted to crawl to escape. The final nail was her soul being stripped from her body and placed in the amulet. A prison for eternity.
 
I began to weep. Zugg Zugg and I asked what could we do to end her suffering. Parting the water from the great fall, she showed us the very amulet in the dream. I could see a face in the gem. It has to be hers. She instructed us to take the amulet to where her remains were in the dungeons of Castle Drakenhoff. Doing so would put her soul to rest.
 
This Castle is nothing but host to evil and should be razed. Perhaps someday, but in the mean time, I will put her soul to rest, or I will die (again) trying. Turning to the group at hand I ask, Will you assist me in this undertaking?
 
Zugg Zugg immediately agreed. The others looked at each other, and agreed as well. Right before we left, Zugg Zugg asked her name.
 
Seraphim, she said.
 
How Appropriate......... Seraphim, I will give everything, including my life to ease your pain.