Author's Note: Sadly I never finished this re-telling.  I had several screenshots saved of the in-game encounter, but lost them at some point.  It was intended to have four parts.  The three I did write are below.



~~~ The Road Less Traveled ~~~

 

 

-~-~- Part I -~-~-

 

It was a cold morning in Treegum as the Sun set out for its routine journey to the peak of the sky. Brilliant rays of golden sunshine streaked through the early fog, piercing the darkness and driving it back into another day of hiding.

 

Sarah was already at the temple, knelt before the altar with her priestess and friend, A'nadra. Routinely they would pray together at the crack of dawn, thanking their Lord for His glorious blessings and asking for favor on His church.

 

With eyes shut, the two smiled as they felt the warming rays gently carress their backs. "Sunrise. The most glorious event to ever be witnessed by mortals. And we get to see it daily. Truly we are blessed, Sarah." A'nadra spoke, opening her eyes and turning to face the spreading light.

 

"Mmm" Sarah rose to her feet and nodded gently. She seemed to sparkle in the bath of golden light, as if it filled her entire essence - body, mind and soul - with renewed vitality, "If only it would remain forever and not allow night its time."

 

A'nadra turned to face the avariel, tilting her head slightly as she spoke. "Yet without the night, there would be no sunrise to enjoy." Sarah thought on it for a moment before smiling and nodding in understanding.

 

The two discussed the proceedings of the church for the day before Sarah bid A'nadra farewell and left the temple. Though warmed by the embrace of the Sun and the thick folds of her heavy blue robe, the bitter cold of the freak winter chilled her to the bone. She pulled her wings tightly to her body to cover her exposed back and then moved on down the road.

 

As she approached the town square, she could see and hear numerous people screaming and arguing with one another, a few with weapons drawn. Stepping closer, she saw what all the fuss was about. Standing behind an elf she recognized as Thaleles, were two goblins shaking in their tiny loincloths. Peculiar, Sarah noted, as they seemed to be shivering solely from the cold, and not out of fear for their lives.

 

She sighed as she overheard their conversation. Thaleles, and a few others seemed to be protecting the goblinoids from the thirsty blades of a few, noble men. Noble, but hesitant and slow to action.

 

Shaking her head, Sarah closed her eyes and muttered a short prayer. A magnificent golden light enveloped her robe and swirled around her tiny frame. Within a moment it faded and she stood dressed in the ceremonial battle gear of a Champion of Ra'Ma. Royal blues mixed with silver and sparkling gold glistened in the light of the Sun as she dropped her hands to either hip, grasping the blades sheathed there.

 

She approached the scene with a calmness on her features, but a determination in her steps. Steps which gently danced atop the surface of the snow, leaving neither sound nor trail in their wake. As her calm stare fell upon the two goblins, the two blades were pulled from their sheathes and spun into hand, a brief flash of light from both drawing the attention of a few at the scene.

 

A number of voices spoke, either to stop her or cheer her on, but she payed no mind to any of them as she continued her march towards the goblins. Soon enough they saw her approaching and their beady little eyes widened with fright. As they now shook for all the right reasons, they turned and quickly fled south, heading across the bridge and back into their forest. Sarah did not persue, assuming the guards at the gate would handle it from there.

 

She returned to the Silverymoon and plopped down on the bench there, listening to the numerous people bicker back and forth as to if the goblins were truly evil or not. At this she rolled her eyes and sighed inwardly. It was beginning to seem as though she would be forever alone in her fight against evil. She thought that it was best to lead by example, but thus far none had come to understand the simple truth of things.

 

Well, there was Anne. Thinking of her brought a smile to Sarah's lips. Anne saw evil for what it was, just as Sarah did. Sadly, the overwhelming presence, and acceptance of it in Treegum was too much for her and she left shortly after their first meeting. "I hope to be as strong as you one day, but for now I must leave", her words echoed in Sarah's mind.

 

She was brought out of her reminiscing by the faint sound of a child's crying, somehow pushing its way through the noisy banter that continued on in the street. Sarah rose from the bench and followed the sound to the back of the clothier's shop. There, a strange little girl with black leathery wings and a pointed tail, was clinging Linsey Watar, crying into the folds of her dress.

 

Sarah tilted her head at the scene after identifying the girl. "Emmie?" she spoke, moving a bit closer to the two. Emmie turned from Linsey and dried her eyes as she peered on the avariel, not much taller than she.

 

"Sarah!" she exclaimed and ran over to give her a big hug. Sarah smiled and returned the embrace, looking up to Linsey, "What's the matter?"

 

Linsey seemed as confused as Sarah, but as Emmie pulled back from the hug, she explained that a great number of armor clad men had tried to capture her, to the south. Sarah had a certain affection for Emmie, as all who knew her did. However, Emmie being the daughter of her former friends, Pharioh and Charis, she had a special attachement and was immediately troubled by her attempted kidnapping.

 

"Who were these men?" Sarah asked, holding Emmie securely, "What did they look like?"

 

"Well..." Emmie looked over Sarah's robe and pointed at the various decorations of Ra'Ma, "They had symbols like that. And were in white armor!"

 

Sarah was immediately reminded of the heralded "Sir Griffon"; A declared knight of both Ra'Ma and O'Ma. She had heard word that he was coming from the south, cleansing the lands as he travelled north. Given Emmie's appearance, it came as no surprise that he would try to get at her as well.

 

"I think I know what's going on." Sarah said, letting go of Emmie and turning to Linsey once more, "I will go south and find Sir Griffon and explain Emmie to him." she looked back to Emmie and smiled softly, "I'll make sure he doesn't come after you anymore, okay?"

 

Emmie seemed comforted by her words and returned a bright smile, expressing her thanks. "Linsey" Sarah continued, "Can you take Emmie somewhere safe while I am gone?"

 

"My manor is close to being finished." she replied, nodding to Sarah, "I can take her there."

 

"Great, I will return as soon as I speak with him." Sarah stepped back from the building a few paces and thrust her wings out in preparation for flight. Linsey nodded and took Emmie's hand. Sarah smiled once more to the two, then leapt into the air. With a quick thrust of her wings, she was airborne and shot high into the sky, turning south from the square, destined for Elumbrae.

 

After watching Sarah take off, Linsey squeezed Emmie's hand, "Let's go, you'll be safe at the manor." With that they turned to leave as those in the street continued to bicker amongst themselves, oblivious to the events around them, and the chaos that was soon to come...



-~-~- Part II -~-~-

 

Night had fallen by the time Sarah reached the outskirts of Elumbrae. From the air, she could see the lights of candles glowing from the otherwise darkened homes, but her attention was drawn to an even brighter glow of torches just outside the west gate.

 

Silently she descended upon the large encampment where at least three hundred knights had set up for the evening. As she gently landed a short distance away, she noticed a most horrific sight just north of the tents.

 

Dozens of bodies swayed lifelessly in the cool breeze. Each hung from a gallows, it had looked like a small orchard from the air. As Sarah approached, a tall, muscular man, clad in heavy armor stepped before her and shouted out, "Halt!"

 

Sarah came to an immediate stop and looked from the gallows to the man. "What happened here?" She asked.

 

A hand went to his blade as he peered over her figure, seeming mostly interested in her wings. The gray hair of his beard and the numerous wrinkles lining his face showed he was of significant age, for a human. Still, his muscular tone and commanding voice were indication of an exceptional level of health.

 

"State your identity!" he called out, ignoring her question. Apparently his eyesight wasn't the best, granted it was dark.

 

Sarah had already identified the man and so she bowed as she introduced herself, "I am Sarah Kellei, Champion of Ra'Ma. And you must be Sir Griffon."

 

Griffon stood straight once more, withdrawing his hand from the blade. "Hmm... yes, that would explain the wings." he spoke to himself before addressing Sarah, "It is good to meet you, 'Voice of Ra'Ma'." Sarah blinked, unaccostomed to being addressed in such a way. "I am indeed Sir Griffon of the Eternal Sun and Crescent Moon." he continued, "And as for them" he motioned in a sweeping gesture to the gallows, "Elumbrae has been cleansed. Treegum is next."

 

The victims were all of evil blood... or so it seemed. Numerous half orcs hung with them which gave Sarah pause. She hadn't ever thought of them as evil. This unknown made her feel uneasy and troubled, but Griffon soon changed the subject.

 

"What can I do for you, 'Voice'?" he asked, returning Sarah to the reason she had come. She wasn't sure if she could ever get used to being called such, but refrained from correcting him.

 

"Well, your men tried to kidnap a little girl with wings and a tail." she started, but was immediately interupted by Griffon's response.

 

"Yes. The daughter of Livid. We will use her to bait him." he said matter-of-factly.

"Bait him? Oh... well what will happen to her after that?"

 

"She will die." he said flatly.

 

"Die??" Sarah's eyes widened, "But why??"

 

Griffon paused and looked at her as if her question was abstract and made no sense. He finally spoke with just three words, "She is devilkin."

 

Sarah's breath stopped. It was in this moment that she suddenly realized this plain and simple fact. Emmie is the daughter of Charis... and Charis was half-devil. Emmie has devil blood. Devils are evil, naturally and ultimately. It is her duty to destroy them.

 

All these thoughts raced through her mind as she stared at Griffon in a moment of utter silence. The morning's events replayed in her mind. How she had chased the goblins to their deaths without so much as a thought. And yet here she was trying to protect a... devil?

 

"Devilkin..." she exhaled. Griffon tilted his head slightly at her, perhaps confused by her revalation. "Yes... you are right..." she nodded slowly, eyes fixed on the ground.

 

What words escaped her mouth next would later seem as though they were spoken by a completely different person, "I know where she is..."

 

Yet these words were entirely her own. Words of a righteous Champion. One who would not be pettied with greys in the world. It was all black and white. There was good, and there was evil. She was good, and Emmie was evil.

 

Everything suddenly made sense again. In that moment, as she explained to Griffon how to find Emmie, there was no emotion, there was duty. There was no confusion, there was the clarity of goodness. Though they spoke, there was no sound, no color, no feeling.

 

Griffon relayed Sarah's information to a small group of dragon riders and they were instantly in the air and headed towards Treegum. The world remained stagnant to Sarah even as Griffon thanked her for the information and they bid each other farewell.

 

~|~

 

It was not until she had once again taken to the skies that reality came rushing back in. She spiralled towards the ground from several hundred feet above, falling lifelessly as color and sound flooded back into the world. Her vision blurred with tears as she stared at the rapidly approaching forest floor. But all she could see was a vision of Emmie; Her smile, her laughter, her innocence, her mother.

 

Through the high treetops she plunged as images flashed before her eyes. Emmie's hug, her promise, Emmie's trust, her smile, Emmie's smile, Griffon's smile as his blade cut through the child's neck.

 

"No!!!" she shouted as the world snapped back into focus. Her wings curled and thrust out to her sides, then back as her direction changed sharply. Not but a few feet from the forest floor, her verticle decscent imediately flattened out and she tore off above the ground, a whirlwind of leaves and usettled dust exploding behind her.

 

She had to hurry...



-~-~- Part III -~-~-

 

The Sun was once again cresting the horizon as Sarah swept down on the snowy town of Treegum. She glided swiftly down from the sky and met the ground at a full run, her previously light and gracefull steps now digging heavily into the slushy mud of the road.

 

Though the Sun had only just lit the skies, the morning had begun nearly an hour ago. Numerous sleepy-eyed proprieters went about setting up shop for the day, guard posts changed, and fishermen lined the docks, hoping to find something still living in the freezing cold waters. Still, there was a certain peacefullness about the town as Sarah passed through the square, looking frantically to and fro for any sign of Miss Watar.

 

As she passed infront the Ni'alo residence, the sound of hushed voices caught her attention and she immediately stopped, turning to face the alleyway. A jump and a quick thrust of her wings sent her up to the snow-covered roof where she silently crawled to the back of the building to better hear the two men.

 

"I want you to kidnap Sarah Kellei and bring her to me." A strangely familiar voice whispered to another. "What timing..." Sarah thought to herself as her eyes narrowed and she peered slowly over the ledge of the roof. A dark garbed, hooded man spoke to an unveiled Thaleles, who seemed taken aback at the man's request.

 

Sarah didn't really need to hear more. She was in a hurry and didn't have time to waste. She stood on the roof and leapt off in a forwards sommersault, twisting around mid-air to land just inches from the hooded man, a shimmering blade drawn and pressed to his chest.

 

"I'm right here." her words came as quick as her landing as she applied a bit of pressure to the blade. Peering into the man's hood, she quickly identified him as Nathell Colt and somehow that eased her tension a bit.

 

"Oh err... hi Sarah!" his eyes widened at her sudden appearance, but he replied with the usual non-chalant tone that was typical of Nathell. Thaleles was equally surprised by her showing, but seemed conflicted as to whom he should help in the situation.

 

"Kidnap me? What do you want?" Sarah questioned Nathell, putting even more pressure on the blade to show she wasn't joking around, "Remember... I have no reason not to kill you."

 

"I er... I just wanted to ask why you killed Linsey's kid." Though flustered, for obvious reasons, his words seemed sincere and after considering them for a moment, Sarah pulled the blade back from him, sheathing it at her hip.

 

"It was was a great evil. It had to be done." She replied calmly, "And next time you want to know something, try asking. Don't get someone to kidnap me."

 

"Oh okay." Was his response. It was clear that her answer did not fully sate his curiosity, but his questions would have to wait as Linsey soon approached.

 

"Sarah..." she started, "I want to talk to you.."

 

Sarah was glad she had found her and nodded in agreement, "I was looking for you too. Let's go inside."

 

They quickly made their way into the Ni'Alo residence leaving a bewildered Nathell and Thaleles out in the cold. Sarah and Gheden had been close friends and so he had given her a key to his house. Though he had gone and Seralin had moved in, she had yet to change the locks, allowing the two entry and a bit of privacy.

 

The main room was very dark. Only a small bit of light peeked through the closed shutters of a frosty window. Standing before it was the eery sight of a humanoid figure, casting a long shadow into the room. Sarah approached the figure and cast a simple light spell on it, illuminating the combat dummy and using it to brighten the room a bit. They both set down at the dining table and Linsey began before Sarah could start.

 

"I'm sorry for the way I've treated you." she said softly, her head turned down a bit. Sarah was a bit surprised at that. Linsey had shown particular hatred towards Sarah ever since their encounter in the Eveningfall Forest, but it was for good reason.

 

Sarah had chased her down after several days of searching, and extracated Livid's 'child' from Linsey's womb, while she was awake. Due to her struggling, Linsey had even died in the process. The babe was, in fact, evil, growing immensely in size once free of her womb, but Sarah understood why Linsey would dislike her after that.

 

"No." Sarah interupted her, rising to her feet and moving over to the silver-haired girl, gently setting a hand on her shoulder "No apologies. I just hope that you can understand what had to be done, and perhaps one day think of me as a friend again."

 

Linsey nodded slightly, "I do." With that, Sarah smiled. She hated being at odds with the girl as she had always been fond of her. Still, she wondered if she had truly been forgiven - for the pain Linsey had gone through, both physical and emotional, had been great.

 

As they hugged, Sarah was reminded of why she had been seeking Linsey, and immediately pulled back, looking up to her with a sudden urgency on her features. "Linsey! You have to get Emmie out of your manor and hide her somewhere else!"

 

"What?" came Linsey's startled reply.

 

"I told Sir Griffon where she was... he's coming to get her right now! Please hurry!" Sarah ushered her towards the door. Though a bit confused, Linsey feared for Emmie's safety and immediately took off for her manor.

 

Sarah turned her head upwards to the darkened ceiling of the room. As her eyes shut, she spoke aloud, "Forgive me, my Lord..."

 

-~-~-