(Eden Blackthorn)
It was the fifth week after that fateful dinner, Elea and the rest of the party worked hard to get themselves ready for the impending move to Onnwal. Donnan had returned three weeks earlier from his time with his father and the Cassandrean Emperor. He had been fully exonerated by the Emperor himself in a ceremony that commended the young swashbuckler on his attention to duty and his bravery. Also, Janort Curall was named the new Duke of the PerrinLands as a way of welcoming him back from the clutches of Iuz.
The second keep, a mile away from the tower, on the opposite side of Donnan's keep, had just been completed. Ratan, Winston, Sybl, Shamu, Demetrius and Gareth were beginning to move their stuff into their chosen quarters. Elea had a discussion about a portal to the Embassy from her lands but it was decided that it was not needed after all. If Winston wanted to return to his home in Midmeadow, there were a number of ways he could do it.
Ballarius was busy in Greyhawk, making sure things where set up there for Bretonius and Be'ornhelm when they arrived. Bretonius and Be'ornhelm worked to gather the necessary power to transport the Tower and the lands as well as hand over the care of the Tower and its Mistress to Alagorn. More than once, Elea caught Be'ornhelm imparting advice to Alagorn on how to deal with her when she got sick or moody or despondent. She was surprised that Be'ornhelm could read her so well and his advice was, for the most part, extremely accurate.
Elea, beginning to feel more and more paranoid about the backlash from Iuz, set up a few cautionary orders to the Tower. She was to know immediately when anyone entered the Tower and a magical scroll was set up to document the comings and goings on the Tower lands. Also, anything unusual was to be reported immediately. Two days before they were ready to go, Elea's paranoia paid off.
"Mistress, the Tower lands were just attacked." The Tower's voice floated through the room but the words stuck in the mind.
Elea felt her stomach drop. "Show me."
An image appeared before her. Two heavily armed beings appeared and attempted to step upon the Tower lands. They were harshly repelled by the Tower's defenses. Neither seemed hurt as they examined the wards. Both had the symbols of Iuz on them. It was plain to see that they were Anti-Paladins of Iuz. Then, both disappeared.
That was all Elea needed to see. She called for Be'ornhelm, Bretonius and Alagorn. Then, she mentally contacted Donnan, telling him that Anti-Paladins of Iuz tried to enter the grounds. She suggested that he and his family come to the Tower for safety. Donnan agreed. Within a short time, Elea was showing the scene of the Anti-Paladins to the denizens of the Tower and its lands.
"Where are the rest of our group?" Donnan asked.
"I don't know." Elea said. "Let me check." She began to weave a songspell of time to view where her companions were. At first, she found them all outside of the Embassy, looking very upset. She pulled the song back into time to see what had happened.
... Demetrius, Shamu and Ratan were on the edge of Midmeadow. It looked like Demetrius had just killed an orc when the area dimmed unaccountably until seven Anti-Paladins of Iuz appeared to surround the three party members. Demetrius tried to fight but was cut down in a very short time. Ratan tried to fight but was hurt badly and teleported away. Two Anti-Paladins approached Shamu, ordering him to surrender. Shamu, being the quick thinker that he was, offered the Anti-Paladins double the bounty on everyone's head for the Anti-Paladins to let them go. The Anti-Paladins agreed only to give the party a three day head start then they would hunt down and the kill the men, capturing the women. Shamu agreed to the terms and the Anti-Paladins disappeared....
Donnan whewed. "They were lucky. Let's get them to the Tower, now."
Elea nodded and conjured a talking mouth. She sent them the message that she had seen what had happened and suggested that they come to the tower as quickly as possible. At this time, none of the Anti-Paladins could enter onto the Tower lands.
Within six hours, the entire party was on the Tower grounds. Some within the Tower. Some within their new home in the general keep. Everyone was feeling very, very nervous. Elea asked if the move date could be moved up and was told no. The tower was not at its full power and the last minute things needed to be done when the Tower was ready.
Elea nodded. There was nothing she could do. They had three days head start by the Anti-Paladins and the Tower would be ready to go in two days. In theory, they would get away from the minions of Iuz just in time, but Elea was betting that these Anti-Paladins were not going to keep their word. Iuz had slaughtered eight hundred of his own people on the discovery of Janort, Matthew and Morena's rescue. She could not imagine what he would do to his own Anti-Paladins if Elea, Donnan and the rest were to escape.
It was time. Elea had been shown how to fly the Tower and its lands by Bretonius. Everything was ready. The whole group stood on the edge of the Tower lands to bid Be'ornhelm and Bretonius good bye. Elea could feel her throat constricting, feeling the loss of her father and friend already. She put a brave face on as she made sure the caravan, that would take Bretonius and Be'ornhelm to the city of Greyhawk, was well stocked and in good repair before she said her good-byes to Bretonius and Be'ornhelm. She left before she broke down into tears, leaving the rest to say their good-byes.
Elea reached the Alcove at the top of the tower where the Orb and Thunder resided. She stood on the dais and placed her hands on the waist high posts. Elea would be flying the Tower under her own Will but she needed help to guide the huge land mass. As soon as she touched the small orbs on the top of the posts, an image appeared - a 360 degree image of the Tower and its lands. The power hummed within her. She felt as if it would consume her. Magic was so easy with this much power at her command.
She gently sent out a mind-link, informing everyone that she was ready. It was time. Bretonius and Be'ornhelm sent loving thoughts her way and stepped from the lands. Elea missed the feel of them as they dropped from the link. Then, pushing that aside, she began to lift the Tower and the surrounding two mile radius.
Only... something stopped her.
Outside, she could feel the confusion of her group and see the confusion on their faces. Elea then sent out a scrying tendril, looking to find out what was stopping her. What she found made her stomach drop. She could feel the rest of the party's reaction. Just outside of the two mile radius, on the opposite side from where the good-byes were being said, the head Anti-Paladin had stood, cloaked - he, somehow, had woven a magical spell, much like Bigby's big hands, underneath the Tower lands and was holding it down. Try as she might, Elea was not able to break free of the magical hold.
Elea then caught Donnan's thought to her. 'I will deal with this.' As Donnan teleported himself to that side of the land, Ratan and Sparky took to the skies. Winston, Demetrius and Gareth headed in the direction of the Anti-Paladin, not willing to have Donnan fight it alone. Somewhere in there, Elea felt Bretonius and Be'ornhelm return, but lost track of them as seven Dragon Riders appeared out of the Northern skies.
'Stay within the two mile radius, Ratan - if you can lure them in, I can magic them from the tower.' Elea sent the thought to Ratan and Sparky. She felt his assent. Then, she was distracted by a thought from Donnan.
'Keep trying, no matter what happens.' Then, Elea saw Donnan pull his rapier and main gauche and step from the Tower lands, heading straight for the Anti-Paladin. Elea suddenly realized that Donnan was sacrificing himself to save his family and the rest of the party. Tears sprung to her eyes as she realized that Donnan had thrust the safety of his wife and his three infant children onto her shoulders. Part of her wanted to kill him for it. The other part was incredibly honored and humbled by his trust in her. No matter what happened, Elea had to succeed. She had no other choice.
Bretonius and Be'ornhelm stood opposite each other in the hastily drawn ritual circle. "You know if any of Iuz's minions find us, we'll be dead." Be'ornhelm said.
Bretonius nodded. "And you realized that this will drain both of us - probably severely."
Be'ornhelm nodded. "Yes. We have no other choice."
"This is their only chance." Bretonius added, looking at his friend.
Be'ornhelm began to gather his power. "Ah, the foolish things that fathers do for their children."
"And the foolish things that God-fathers do for their God-daughters." Bretonius snorted softly. "Admit it, you want her as happy as I do."
"Of course, I do. I love Elea." Be'ornhelm begin to feed the gathering power to Bretonius.
"Let's get on with it." Bretonius said. "And, if... well... you know. See you on the Other Side." He closed his eyes, beginning to concentrate.
"Just shut up and do it already." Be'ornhelm muttered, more to himself than to his friend and employer.
The two mages began to chant, calling on the Gods Above and Below. They used all of their arcane knowledge to battle against the Natural Law of things. Their personal battles of mind, body and soul was no less fierce than that battle being waged against the forces of Iuz for the Tower and her people.
Ratan sped through the clouds on the back of the great blue dragon. Eight against one - the odds were not in his favor. They dodged the arrows of the enemy as Ratan readied his own return attack. Sparky breathed fire-breath at the closest one. These Dragon Riders were well trained and worked in formation. They were also very intelligent, staying outside of the Tower's range.
Suddenly, the Dragon Riders, on an unheard command, turned as one and levied fireballs at Ratan and Sparky. It surprised Ratan and Sparky who fought to dodge the deadly magic.
Elea was shocked. She had not known that the Dragon Riders were also mages. Then, the realization hit. These Dragon Riders must be the Anti-Paladins of Iuz! She did not even have time to throw up a shield to protect Ratan and Sparky before the fireballs did their damage. Elea could only watch as one after another of the flaming spheres of death slammed full into Ratan and his mount. As the last fireball hit, Ratan and Sparky exploded in a huge tornado of debris and flame. The explosion rocked the Tower and threw the Dragon Riders back, tumbling head over tail. Elea felt their deaths within her mind, shedding silence tears for their loss.
Donnan had known that he was a dead man as soon as he stepped from the Tower lands. Weapons drawn, he was going to distract that Anti-Paladin if he had to bite him to do it. A second Anti-Paladin appeared between Donnan and his goal. This did not dissuade him at all. Donnan knew that the second Anti-Paladin recognized the green and brown of his Veseve Forest Knights of the Hart tabard. He knew the Anti-Paladins were to capture him alive. Donnan hoped to use this to his advantage.
When the explosion happened, Donnan did not even turn to see what had happened. He ignored the ash in the air, intent upon his target.
Then, there was a Presence behind him and a hand landed on his shoulder. Donnan turned his head and his eyes opened wide with shock.
"You want to live forever, don't you?" Britage stood there in his full regalia and weaponry.
All Donnan could do at this point was bow to Britage and offer him the first strike.
Britage leapt forward, meeting sword to sword with the Anti-Paladin. Metal clashed to metal in the short, brutal battle. But in the end, Britage stood there, victorious. He turned to Donnan and gestured to him, offering him the last Anti-Paladin standing there.
Aware that his Second in Command had just been decimated, the Head Anti-Paladin took this opportunity to teleport out of harm's way. He would return to hunt the prey another day.
Donnan looked at Britage. "I don't know... I ... Come on, we have got to get back to the Tower lands!" Britage looked confused, but bolted after Donnan.
Elea, true to her word, had still been trying to break the Anti-Paladin's hold on the Tower Lands. She felt the spell break and with a cry of triumph *pulled* with all of her Will to free the Tower and its lands from the confines of the earth. As the lands pulled free, she suddenly felt Donnan and.... Britage(???!!) on to the Tower lands. A quick mental flick and she teleported both of them into main hall of the Tower. Then, she dove back into the work of lifting her home into the clouds.
Donnan mrphed at the force of Elea lifting the Tower and lands into the sky. His ears popped and he sneezed. Then, he looked at Britage. Britage!! Donnan yelled in joy and began to pummel his lost friend.
Britage laughingly fended off Donnan's blows. "Donnan... Donnan... Donnan!" He grabbed Donnan by the shoulders and shook him until his teeth rattled. "Calm down!" Britage demanded. Donnan nodded, ceasing to struggle. "Good. Can you tell me what happened? The last thing I remember is being in Midmeadow and an arrow headed for Elea. Then, darkness. There something else but I don't remember. Then, I heard voices... Bretonius... Be'ornhelm. They were telling me that you need me. Then, I found myself watching you advancing on an Anti-Paladin of Iuz... with no armor!"
Donnan looked at his friend. "You don't remember anything else?"
Britage shook his head. "It's like a fading dream."
"I think I'll let Elea tell you." Donnan stood and popped his ears. "The Tower seems to have stopped moving." He looked around at Winston, Demetrius and Gareth. "Where's Ratan?"
"He's dead." Demetrius responded with a shrug. "Exploded. He and Sparky. Killed by the Dragon Riders."
Donnan looked down at himself and realized that it was Ratan and Sparky's ashes that covered him. He looked at the lack of remorse on Demetrius' face and wondered what had happened to the man that once was his friend. Rather than get into an argument, Donnan left, heading to Elea's garden. There, he torn a strip of cloth from his shirt and wrote: "Ratan. D. 10 SunsEbb CY 687. With Sparky, in Battle." He tied the cloth to one of his own daggers and stuck it into the ground. Over the dagger and cloth, Donnan dust the ash of his dead friend from his body. 'A proper warrior's burial.' He thought to himself and said a prayer for Ratan and Sparky. Donnan knew he would miss them both. Then, he returned to the main hall and to his friend, Britage.
Elea got the Tower stabilized about 2500 feet in the air. She tested the cloaking wards to make sure they were in place. She was very, very meticulous in every detail. More out of the need to keep her roiling emotions in check. Once she was satisfied, she hovered the Tower in place and then descended from the dais. Keeping her thoughts turned off, she headed for the main hall to see with her own eyes what her brain was trying to tell her.
Everyone was assembled in the main hall, looking around. They seemed surprised to see her, looking around uneasily, knowing that they were very high in the air. Elea smiled at Donnan and moved swiftly to his side. She hugged him fiercely. Then, she stepped back and decked him hard. Part of her was surprised that she actually hit him. "Don't you ever, ever do that to me again!"
Donnan half growled and then controlled himself. "Do what?" He rubbed his jaw.
"Sacrificing yourself. Making me ... your children... " She stumbled for words. "Valaria is going to skin you alive!" She finally spat out.
"Oh, and how is she going to find out?" Donnan inquired calmly. "Are you going to tell her?"
"Yes! I am!" Elea hissed at him.
But both of them knew that Elea would do no such thing. It was her fear and anger speaking. Elea heard someone shift behind her and looked. It was Britage. She blinked her eyes, making sure it was not just her imagination. She took a tentative step towards him and then threw herself into his open arms, clutching to him as tears stained her face again. Britage lifted her face to his and kissed her passionately. The two only knew each other for that time.
"Marry me." He murmured to her lips.
"Yes. Forever." Elea responded with her heart, happier than she ever remembered being.
Then, there was an uneasy clearing of someone's throat, bringing the couple back to Reality. It was Winston. "Ah, Elea, not to break up this happy reunion... but... if you are here... who's flying the Tower?"
Elea returned to the Alcove with Britage. She would be flying the tower ten to twelve hours a day and would rest while the Tower and its lands hovered. Britage stayed by her side almost the whole time. He memory of his half life began to return - remembering the dreams, the Dragon Riders, Elea speaking to his grave site. Elea caught him up on all that had happened since his death and when Bretonius contacted her, he and Be'ornhelm explained what had actually happened to Britage's body and soul.
The couple talked quietly on the journey towards Onnwal. They did not really know what awaited them or their friends, but they knew, whatever was there, whatever the trials and tribulations, they would face it together.
Continue on to: Onnwall Campaign