We were minding our own business, looting an abandoned cave just outside of town. Heck, Waterdeep's town guard even said no one had been there for months. Still, there we were. Me, Hathor, and this new kid. Hm. Jolin I think she said her name was. Someone appeared from the shadow, and told us to leave. Hathor hates being ordered around, and immediately took to attack. That's the last clear, un-blurred moment of the adventure. He ran toward the man, so old, decrepit and ugly. In a glance, I cast 'Light', only in time to see the man's eyes go from clear to bloodshot to pure red. His face turned dark, and a scary level of concentration and peace entered his expression, despite Hathor's 5-foot sword blade lending toward him. Jolin turned white and stepped backward, getting ready to run. I figured 'heh.. she's a wimp', and counted myself so very wrong the moment Hathor's magical blade turned hot and melted off where it should have hit the man. One instant later, Hathor's shadow, independent of himself, picked up a shadow of a battle axe, and swung. As I ran out of the cave, through the twisting tunnels, screaming, I could hear the all-too-clear crunch and pop that could have only been caused by a skull being split open. Jolin was laying at the mouth of the cave. She was pale, unresponsive, and probably dead. As I turned to run off, I felt a presence within me I had never felt before. A deep voice beckoned to me from within. "Come back here. I have things to show you. Glorious things.." Temptation The voice made me calm, but I didn't like it. Running didn't work either. All I could do was lazily walk off, my heart rushing like a horse after his race day. I turned back to look at Jolin, and discovered that she was gone, and panicked. I ran off, dodging trees, crossing trails, and jumping a small stream. The dark of dusk was making it hard to see in the woods, and the smell of the coming rain was overcoming me. I wondered what had happened to Hathor, and grieved while running between the trees. He and I had been together for at least two years, looting old deserted keeps and killing off worthless monsters. But, what bothered me more was Jolin. Did she come to and run off herself? Or.. No. I wont bother with that. Something moved behind me, and I peeked over my shoulder. Just then, I felt my head hit something. That's all I can remember. "So who's Jolin?" the priest asked. "She's (was?) a rather young elf. Couldn't have been any older than 90.. I have to go back and find her... "No, stay and rest. Tymora will care for her. Where are you from?" Memories of the Dalelands suddenly flooded my mind. My brother and I running in the grain fields, learning how to harvest wheat, and .. oh.. that silk coat grandma gave me. Oh how I wanted to go back there. If only I could go back, so today's memories would be gone. I answered, "Waterdeep," in a shaken voice. "Near the docks, but I was born and raised in the Dalelands. I want to go back there..." I sat in the pew and sobbed softly. -- Returning home to Waterdeep was an easy trip. After the kind priest helped me recover from my errors, he sent me along my way with my belongings and some rations. Thank the gods for people like those. A few weeks later, I spread word that I was looking for a new companion, needing to get back on my feet before I gave up on exploring altogether. Not much more than a ten-day later, a quite young girl stepped up to me and asked my name. I answered, and got a surprise when she stated her interest in joining me. I didn't know whether or not to accept, since adventuring with a 12-year-old girl seems more like running amok. Still, there was something in her that grabbed my attention. I walked her to the market, and learned of her family's downfall and death. "It's not easy," she said, "to get a job at my age.." I had little else to offer than agreement. "People shunned us because of Mom's talent. She was trained as a mage in her younger years, and served for a caravan guard for many years.." We stopped at a fruitseller and purchased a pair of apples. I recognized the 'something' I had seen in her earlier. She was always quite sincere, and very disciplined. Not anything I'd expect from a child so young. "Where are you living now?" I asked. "Then Mom discovered a way to use magic without needing to memorize spells." She acknowledged my question with a glance. "This bothered the elders in the caravan, and talk of witchcraft had arisen. Mom, Dad, and I left the caravan a week later, and thought we were safe in a small town near Candlekeep." The sandwich maker's cart smelled of roast beef, and invited us over to purchase one of his 'fine makings'. "Are you living alone?" A light sigh escaped. "Mom was hunted down in broad daylight. They burned her at the steak, I hear. Dad was trying to get me to a safe place, and, I guess, was successful. He died in service for the City Guard a few years ago. I've since been a free-roaming member of one of Waterdeep's finest orphanages." "Free-roaming?" By then, we had left the marketplace and entered the park. I spotted a nice knoll and sat. "I'm not -- um -- imprisoned there like the rest of the children. Some of them dislike me because I can leave whenever I want, but most of the boys and a few girls understand that I can fend for myself." A light breeze from inland brought the pleasant smell of flowers and pine trees, and the sun warmed us gently. "I've been wondering where your talent lies." "I've inherited my mother's powers. I studied with a mage in Dad's neighborhood before he left us, and he often called me a chanellor.." The moment I recognized the word, I stopped chewing, and my heart tried to take off. I looked up at the pines, and memories of tales from the guild flooded my mind. Learen telling me of an inborn ability to harness the very power of magick itself, and meld it into most any effect desired. Mages with a spellbook that rarely used them. Such people were legendary, and none heard of since the murders near Candlekeep. Is this the Abblebright girl? "..always insisted on the best from me, and gave me special attention whenever I needed it, and most often when I didn't want it... Are you okay?" She peered at me with young eyes, seeing deeper than I had expected. "You work with magic too, don't you?" "Uh.. Um, yeah. You.. You're a chanellor?" I was completely faltered upon realizing what, even possibly who, I was talking with. She stood up and walked off in a huff. I didn't know whether to stop her, or let her go. Something in me recommended the first of the two. "Wait. I'm not placing you because of your skill. Don't go yet." The young girl paused at the bottom of the knoll and waited without looking back. I walked down quickly to meet her. "I'm sorry," she apologized, "It just gets so old after a while." "Right. I'm sorry if..." "Don't. It's a perfectly normal reaction for anyone who knows about the channelors. I'd known you were open-minded when you failed to rush me on to the playground like so many others had done." We walked on for a while, passing houses and streets. I hadn't even realized that she took the lead until we were at Eastgate. "Do you have a name?" "I call myself Lea-Ila. It's a name I gave myself when Dad died, as he had told me to do. I chose it myself, as a remembrance of my parents. The kids at Brighton call me 'Ila.'" "Brighton?" "The orphanage." She stopped and we stood quietly for a long while, watching people come and go through the great gateway into Waterdeep. We eventually found our way to a clear spot outside the wall, and sat again. I pulled my dagger and a whetstone out and began crafting a fine edge on my blade. Ila found it pleasant to run about in the honeysuckle for a while, and later mentioned that she was getting worn out. "How does supper sound?" I smiled and stood up, sheathing my dagger and placing my stone in it's pouch. "I normally eat at Brighton, since the few coin I manage to earn is reserved for practicing magic." "That's fine. I know of a nice spot to sit and eat a few blocks from Eastgate, if you don't mind helping me spend a coin." She gazed in my eyes for a few seconds and looked up at the sky. "Okay." Ila watched the high parapets on the wall as we walked back into town. I found it surprising how she could get my attention, and even hold it for longer amounts of time. The discipline in the young girl is more than people would expect from one my age, and well worth admiring. We ate, arranged meeting the next day in the park, and returned to our homes to study for the remainder of the night. -- I was called upon a week later to fetch some goods from a nearby town, and asked Ila to join me. She got permission from the orphanage master, and we were off to pack for the trip. Karn was nice enough to supply us with the needed goods, and even a horse and wagon to carry the goods back in. It would be a couple days before we get back, so we knew we were in for an adventure. "Where are we going?" Ila asked. "There's a nomadic settlement a couple days northeast of here, and they have some rare spices that Karn wants for his business." "Ah. Do you have everything needed for us to go then?" "Yeah. Let's go." Checking out of Northgate was easy, but I knew getting back in with the import goods may be a challenge. The Tuesday morning sun was just rising as Northgate opened and we were let out. The first day's ride was pretty calm. All to be done was just enjoy the scenery and make sure we stopped to let the horses water. Shortly before sundown, we rode across a pair of travellers trying to decide how to build a fire. Ila stopped the horses before we were noticed, and listened in. "D'ya think we should help them?" I sat and listened for a couple seconds, and quieted Ila's giggling. "Let's do this: I'm your father, and we have some oats here to be transported to the next village. It draws trouble to claim you're fetching goods for a tradesman." With a nod from Ila, we proceeded far enough to be seen, and waited. "No, you fool! We need to start with some grass or something!!" The two travellers were humped over a pile of branches, trying to get it lit. "If you just listen to me and put some smaller brush under..." "Oh, you fool, you just put some of this lamp oil on here and throw some spark on it..." Ila interrupted, "And watch all the hair on your face go up in flame." Her surprise startled them, and they rose, ready to defend. Ila smiled, courtsied, and said "I wont harm you gentlemen, so long as you dont threaten us." The larger of the two men guffawed, entertained by the idea of such a child having a chane in a heated disagreement with him. "Why don't you join us? It looks like you two could afford some protection for the evening." We joined, Ila lit a fire (to the smaller traveller's disgust) rather quickly, and we had our meal. The campsite was well-made, the grass trampled out, and set just off the path. A clear night sky warned of a cold night, so I quickly set up tents for Ila and I, and went to feed the horse and secure the wagon. Ila sat with the men, exchanging smiles and watching the perimeter. After assuring the horse's comfort, I stood at the edge of camp and watched the three near the fire. "Where'd your friend go?" Ila answered with a smile, "He's off taking care of the wagon and horse, I'm sure. He takes pride in caring for his help." After watching the edge of camp for a few more minutes, the larger one asked "What's your name, li'l girl?" Ila smiled at him, and looked about some more. I stepped back in, and politely sat down. "Her name's Erin." Ila looked at me and smiled. Can I ask your names, friends? "Wolf," answered the little man. The larger man stood tall and proud and said "My friend, I'm Alan Windmere of the clan Winthrop." "Alan, move to the left just a little. Dont turn about and look. Just move." Ila had an eye on something behind Alan, I knew for sure. A scent crossed my nose, and Wolf clearly smelled it as well. "It knows I can see it." Ila closed her eyes for a second, and touched the bridge of her nose. I sat ready to illuminate the situation, and watched Ila intensely. Wolf started to look behind him, so I caught his attention and directed it toward Ila. "Let Erin take this." He looked at me like I was crazy, and grudgingly sat still. I glanced down at Alan's stein, and saw his foot move toward it, knocking it over. I heard a bowstring's twang behind me, and a war cry from Alan. I froze, unable to look away from the stein. It slowly fell over, the lid flying open, and his ale spilling out in several directions. A few drops landed on Wolf's shoe, which was turning about. The moment I had glanced up, I saw a glowing ball release from Ila's thrusted hand. I stayed sitting, knowing Alan had something to throw, and had no will to get in it's path. Looking up, I saw the gleam of cold steel, and the flash of a throwing axe fly overhead. A tenth of a moment passed on, and I stood full up, and dove for Ila. I felt a bite in my right arm, and a burn travel to my fingertips. Wolf jumped the two of us and disappeared into the edge of camp. The ball tossed by Ila circled about, dodged a tree, and hit a gnoll full-force in the chest, knocking him to the ground. "Ila," I whimpered, "I'm hit, and I think it's poison. I cant feel my hand." Ila crawled out from under me and rolled me over on my back. Metal clanged in the forest, and another battle cry let out. Ila pulled her headband off and wrapped it around my arm above the arrow. "This is going to hurt," she warned. The sound of a bow, a woosh, and a flying arrow went overhead. "Alan!" Ila cried out, "Behind you!" She quickly tied a slip knot in her band and pulled it tight, full-force. "Lay still, and keep calm. I'll be back." I couldnt find the ability to say okay, so I just nodded. I tried to say "Be careful," but heard gibberish come from my mouth. Ila looked at me sadly for a moment, and ran off to the sound of more clashing. I looked at my arm, and noticed a black-fletched arrow. The wound around it had turned dark, and there was a streak travelling down my arm. I looked the other way, and saw the warm fire burning peacefully. Clashing traveled further off, as though the battle was headed down the road. Alan's cry sounded off in the far distance, and the fire blurred. I saw a thin man stand over me, and pull something out of his sack. I had too little strength to anything more than lie there and watch. "Drink." He poured a bitter liquid in my mouth, and I choked on it. "Drink!" He demanded. Another form, shorter, with long hair appeared by my side. "He wont harm you. Swallow this. Dont quit on me," a young girl's voice, echoing in the distance beckoned me. Another vial was emptied into my mouth, and I did my best to drink. "Throat... Dry..." I mumbled. "I know," she said. "You're poisoned." My eyes fell too heavy to hold open.