Episode Forty-nine - Fallen Champion
General Summary
As Arion and Kelaryn started to join their compatriots in clearing the mansion of staff, a vision of Eru Ilúvatar appeared before Arion. A purple light appear before Arion, it was hard for him or Kelaryn to see through the brilliance but the form of Eru Ilúvatar manifested within. He spoke to them with celestial resonance, his voice was like a beautiful symphony.
"Arion my son, my chosen, like Olórin, your dear Gandalf before you, hear me through the span of this great cosmos. Though I cast you from Arda to aid in saving the many strange worlds, the protection of the Void has not left you, know that I am with you; I see your trials and know your suffering. I see you Arion and know of you as I did in your first years. Thus, I know you well. Alas, I know your warrior's heart and will help you in retribution. Arion heed me, for when you first met me in my halls, we were besieged. I will deliver upon you a vision as you fall, know that it is from me and not an intrusion, I will deliver you a dream as you sink, it will be the truth; it will likely anger you. I will have you know now that the fault lies on Agrik, a Keléstial god. Arion, like Olórin against the Necromancer, I call upon you to serve me directly! As Gandalf conquered his fears, I ask you to summon the depths of your might and find justice. Go forth in my name into his lair, Arion my chosen, and defeat our enemy." As his voice faded the projection fell away.
The light of the lobby's candles above and around were all that remained as Arion stood in bewilderment. As Kelaryn questioned, Arion had nothing for her in the way of answers. Warm visions of dark times and times log past filled Arion's mind as the presence of Eru Ilúvatar entered him. In another moment, the candles of the room shifted the the visages of the Valar as a mighty portal opened withing the floor of the estate. Leading downward into a fiery hell, Arion accepted his quest and stepped in. After a moment of hesitation, Kelaryn followed suit, feeling duty bound to her fellow champion and overwhelmed by the responsibility of friendship. In a blink, both of them were falling through a fiery tunnel into Hell. Kelaryn had nothing but the hellish decent but visions started to flood into Arion's mind. He found himself once again in the Timeless Halls. This time, he watched as portals opened up all around him. Fire erupted from those portals and demons poured forth from them. He felt something seize on his mind and he saw his vision return to its prior state of events. Eru Ilúvatar called out to him and told him that his mind was being tampered with but a hole opened up beneath his feet. Arion fell into a horde of soulless men bashing him with clubs but as he stood he brought his sword up to the ready position. Two hands on the hilt he cut through a sea of soulless men before he reached an edge, upon it, Taebirn. Together he and Arion fought back to back before they were standing on a horde of corpses. As another mental attack grabbed Arion's mind, he rolled down the stack of bodies and found himself beneath the demon from his earlier memory. The Minotaur faded like the illusion it was as Taebirn pulled Arion over to a portal nearby. Arion's mind was under constant attack the entire time but as he watched himself fall into the portal with Taebirn, his false memories of the event fell away. Arion was then shown by the light of Eru Ilúvatar that Agrik was in his mind as he awoken in that little Hârnic village, he was trying to establish Arion as a servant but he failed to manipulate Arion's mind and only established the memory he wanted. In truth, through the false memories he'd carried, Arion was presented motive by Eru Ilúvatar. Agrik had wanted Arion's mind as he was the direct opponent of his servant after the death of Declaen. In a purple vision Arion watched as Duryo prayed for Arion's downfall.
As the dream faded Arion heard Eru Ilúvatar's voice whisper, "with a sword in hand you will never be a slave. Go with the blessings of Arda and claim your destiny, Godslayer of Gondor."
The two cast-away Champions of Destiny landed on their feet in the sanctum of Agrik. Before them stood the horned devil himself and in a shaded corner, a minotaur. With a sense of purpose, Arion strode into the room, Kelaryn quick on his heels. Agrik surged forward and attacked as the minotaur charged Kelaryn. A might battle of exchanged blows ensued but as Arion set himself for the rhythm of Agrik's attacks, Kelaryn was charged by what she thought was a fleeing minotaur. The beast's horns gored her stomach and sent her flying into the hands of death after just being struck by Agrik's tail.
As Kelaryn tumbled to a stop upon the ground and the blood pooled beneath her; her last thoughts were warm, happy memories of her childhood. She thought of her time with Baern, she remembered him telling her stories of fantastic creatures and adventures, while sitting on his lap in front of the fireplace in their Hârnic home.
Having watched his friend be tossed across the room, Arion took a risk and spun under the devil's wing intent on killing the great beast. Arion's sword sunk deep into the minotaur's kidney and he ended it thusly. After and exchange of blows, Agrik stabbed his pitchfork into Arion's left thigh only to pull it out and sink it into his lower stomach. Summoning what little power he had left between either of the two bloody figures, Arion raised his sword between them and with great might he slammed his sword into the devil's arm and grievously wounded Agrik, slicing off his hand.
"What is it you want," Agrik plead.
"I seek your death," Arion demanded.
Holding his missing hand as it held its fork on the floor, Arion slammed his sword deep into Agrik's already diced abdomen and pulled it out with a gush of blood.
"How?" Agrik questioned as the life faded from his eyes before choking out, "fuck you."
Arion then rushed to Kelaryn's side but her life was already destitute and forfeit. Having lost a comrade, Arion snapped the pitchfork of Agrik before retrieving his comrade's corpse and leaving for the Deepwinter Estate.
Rewards Granted
3950xp
Missions/Quests Completed
Quest of Fate Continued, Encounter God Slayers Completed
Character(s) interacted with
Killed Agrik.
Notes
Notable Party Damage: (New Noted Section)
- Arion has several faint scuffs on his shield from the tail of a horned devil. The same horned devil also left a stab wound in Arion's stomach and leg, which he bandaged for healing.
Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Head). The scar doesn't have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar. - Kelaryn has two mostly faded hand-print shaped bruises on her left arm. She has a scar from the stab of a spear that she received valiantly fighting an ice devil on her stomach. She has an infernal wound from a horned devil's tail in her chest. Kelaryn has two large gore holes from a Minotaur in her stomach and a slash mark from a large axe that splits open her chest from her left shoulder to her right abdomen.
Noted Effects: Dead. Her soul has left her body. - Varis is pristine.
Noted Effects: None
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