Prophecies of Lilira Silverwolf
1. Dark Clouds
I am lying on a grassy hilltop watching fat, white clouds drift lazily
by. On the horizon, the peaceful blue sky is invaded by dark clouds. They
increase in size and spread their ebony arms over the realms of Dragon's Exodus.
The encroaching darkness grows and thickens. One
can feel the evil emanating from the churning clouds. The deep rumbling
of thunder seems to shake the realms as forks of lightning, like swords,
pierce the sky.
As the dark clouds race towards me, a deafening crash of thunder wakes
me with a start.
A storm is coming.
2. Disquiet
After exploring the ruins of Dulmroth Keep, I head to the nearby town
of Prexion. After restocking supplies and buying one or two unusual items
found in various shops, I head to the fountain. The fountain is a favourite
hangout of adventurers, possibly due to Redexial, the healing spending
all of his time there.
Today is no exception and there are many adventurers about. I find an empty spot on the wide, bench-like rim of the fountain and perch myself between a young halfling attempting to steal a pouch tied to the waist of an unwary ogre sitting next to him and a beautiful drow necromancer with flowing white hair and ruby-red eyes.
Eating my venison stew, I listen to the stories and bragging of the other adventurers and watch the different faces. This is one of my favourite places to come. To see those of other races, clans, of both good and evil inclinations interacting on a friendly level, for the most part, is wondrous to see.
My attention is captivated by a well-seasoned, ranger she-elf talking to a dwarven warrior, the proud processor of a fiery red beard reaching down to his waist. The elf's hair is drawn back in a long golden braid, baring shapely, delicately pointed ears. It is the elf's face that has inexplicably drawn my attention.
A feeling of light-headedness overcame me and my vision blurred. All I could see were elven faces and a wave of disquiet swept over me. The vision lasted less then a minute, but the feeling of disquiet remained.
3. Uneasiness
Tired from the day's adventures in Dragon's Exodus, I limp wearily back to
the home of my heart, my clan guild. Within these walls I have always
felt the strength, love and support of the others and no matter how exhausted
and worn out I am when I arrive, I leave renewed. Today as I enter through
gates of the Circle of Fire, I feel the need of this even more. A feeling
of tension and uneasiness has been creeping into my being, slowly and
insidiously like a poison.
A welcoming fire burns within the common room and I settle myself into my favourite chair before it, letting the warmth envelop me in its soothing embrace.
As my eyelids grow heavy and sleep draws close, a vision of elves appear in my mind's eye. They are unfamiliar to me and seem quite happy and at peace with the world. Unnoticed by them a dark mist grows and slowly encircles them. As I watch the mist expand, the day's tension and uneasiness build within me, along with something else: fear.
4. Dark Shadows
I am flying like a bird over Dragon's Exodus. How and why I don't know. Little
things like logic usually don't enter the dreamworld. I spread my arms
wide and feel the air rush over me as I soar higher and higher until the
world below appears as a child's toy. The sky is light, and looking down
I can see Aden below me with Arnath lying to the southwest and Prexion
to the northeast. Many villages and ruins dot the areas between and beyond.
Dark shadows begin to form in an area and spill forth like an overflowing cauldron, spreading out and quickly consuming other villages, towns and cities. The stench of evil emanates from the darkness and the screams of the innocent become louder and louder until I awake from my slumber in unknown terror.
5. The Shadows Gather
The growing fear within me has been making me edgy and distracted. 'I
wish I knew what my dreams and visions meant,' I mumble to myself
as I pace the floor in the clan common room. I can not disregard them.
With every fibre of my being, I feel that something is very wrong. If
I only knew what! I haven't mentioned my dream to anyone, but something
in my face must have shown my thoughts for suddenly I found myself nose
to nose with a grinning troll.
'Youz thinkin too much, pointy earz,' Throg, my clan brother boomed as he bended over to face me (he is very tall). 'Youz come smush things with Throg!'
I smile back at him and agreed. We have partied together to wipe out evil in various corners of Dragon's Exodus in the past and it was just the therapy I needed. Throg, in his own simple way, was very caring about his clan mates.
Later that day found Throg and me on a shop killing zombies and ghosts. We have cleared this accursed ship many times in the past, but the evil beings inexplicably keep returning. As we fight the evil hoard, on the horizon I see something dark, like clouds or shadows, forming high in the sky. I watch as the darkness spreads out forming into a pair of giant wings. The wings grew bigger and bigger. Screams of terror reached my ears as waves of evil assault my being. 'No!' I cried out as I sank to the deck of the ship and fainted.
When I came to I felt nauseous and drained. I looked to the sky and saw it was clear. Throg looked down at me with a worried look. 'Youz okay, Leerra?'
I tried to stand, but fell back down. 'I'm sorry, Throg.' I weakly replied. 'I don't feel very well.'
'Don't worry, pointy earz,' Throg said as he picked me up in arms as thick and strong as tree trunks. 'Mes take you home.'
'But you don't understand,' I whispered. 'It's beginning.'
6. Storm Clouds
Dark clouds hung over the elven village. Thunder rumbled as the clouds
grew denser, blocking out the sky completely and shrouding the village
in an evil darkness. The elves began to run for cover as the rumble of
thunder developed into ear-piercing crashes and lightning lit up the heavens
in an unholy light.
One she-elf was caught in the storm. Where ever she tried to run, a bolt of lighting struck. It began to rain and her flowing, white dress turned red as the rain turned into blood.
I wake from this dream in a cold sweat, the rain of blood still in my mind. What in the world was going on!
7. The Tempest
Reports of strange dreams and visions have been coming in from around
Dragon's Exodus. Although I am sorry that others have been suffering as I
have, in a way I am relieved. I have truly thought I was going crazy.
My visions over the past few days have been centered on the attempted murder of Princess Kiran and the pursuit of Taliesin. I have no idea as to what had happened or who it guilty, but I get the strangest sensation that this is just the tip of the iceberg. I still see darkness hanging over the realms, drawing ever closer to ensnare Dragon's Exodus in it's evil grasp.
The storm is barely beginning.
By - Lilira Silverwolf, Prophetess
of The Circle of Fire