Kelian Hannen: Ashes of Dawn

[Ailander]

Waterdeep, Sun's Rest Inn, Main Hall- 1 Nightal1380

Rumthril looked at the aasimar in surprise rising an eyebrow

Kelian - "What?"

Rumthril - "Well, you may want to be sure Lyris wouldn't listen or she is gonna make a jokes about ancient being moving too much" with his usual teasing tone that makes the aasimar rolls his eyes a bit making a playful sigh adding quickly after "Still surprising you have taken such a decision"

Kelian - "What can i say...extra cash for the inn is always useful right?"

the elf was about to answer back when Alie arrived, distracting the duo from their talk, still the mind of Kelian was already elsewhere. He didn't lie to the first bard of the Sun's Rest , but there was another reason that he didn't say outloud. A conversation had in private days earlier with Naraviel on the balcony of the inn

Kelian - "...are you sure about this?"

Naraviel - "Yes, my love. You know how much my skills got rusty in simply keep teaching in the magic academy. As i always says to my students, practice is important"

Kelian sighs tired hugging the woman closer to him

Kelian - "Are you telling me you are missing that life?"

Naraviel - "No" says her cuddling gently against him " but you know we can't keep the outside world out forever...you know my kin are doing that and look how are they ending"

As always, he had a hard time counterarguing her logic, always been smarter than him still mumbling defeated he rests his chin on top of her head given the heavy difference in height

Kelian - "Still...We don't have to fight again."

Naraviel gently caress his cheeck as says gently

Naraviel - "I know you are tired. I know that you are still hurting after all these years...but you shouldn't let your faith disappear. I remember how many you helped back then.."

Even if she loved to hear her voice, when she touched that argument always made him a bit grumble as even her presence is not enough to sending the memories of the past away

Alie and Rumthril announce their depature, Kelian focuses only barely back on the world around him to say

Kelian - "I see, i will leave you to your business. Let me know how it goes"

fairly distracted as his mind goes back to few days ealier again with the words he said to Nara still echoing in his mind as if to remind him why he put down the sword

Kelian - "but what if something happens to you..or me...what will happen to our children,our home if something happens to us?"

He gets suddenly interrupted as gently her hand brushes on his chin and her index fingers stops him form talking

Naraviel - "You are overworrying again. It will be alright, my love. Just promise me that you won't lose faith"

she gentlye pushes her head on his chest then as rests against him completely as says

Naraviel - "There is no avoid what is coming...you know it.Remember though, no matter what happens, i will always love you"

He was brought back with her gentle attitude to when he met her, back many many years ago; the time spended in the nature watchign the stars, the happy times spended with the other eillistraeens and the friends they made in the nearby villages and cities...in another place, another time where he managed to slowly leave behind for a time all his strife. Where fear, pain and rage wont' constantly haunt him

that magic, however, suddenly comes to a stop as a new voice greets him at the inn

Theo - "Good day Kelian, how are you?"

the aasimar taking himself slowly back from his stupor turns to the man realizing where he was now

Kelian - "..Good. All good, thank you. How about yourself?"

Theo - "Could go better. At the outpost we received news of a new gang of ruffians taking root in the City. We have been asked to root them out but we are spreaded thin. Came here looking for some extra swords"

The aasimar has lived too many years and has seen so much to not recognize a sign when he sees one. Somewhat still hesitant his memory goes for a moment again to his beautiful wife as makes a little sigh

Kelian - "You know what?"

says standing up and stretching

Kelian - "Is a good occasion for me to get off some rust. I will help you"

[Ailander]

Waterdeep - Sun's Rest inn, Upper floors - 16 Nightal 1380

Walking up to the tower, to find some peace and quiet to make some of his paper duties, his mind stil lingered back to the early conversation instead. When hearing the name of Tamara washed him with a flood of memories he forgot in a time long gone, to the point of freezing him during the conversaiton for a bit. Finding a little piece of stone crumbled from the nearby wall he uses a bit his knowledge of trasmutation magic to reshape the rock and a couple of gems he had, summoning into existance a little sculpture of someone lost in memories long gone



Beregost - Bench in front of the Morning Song - 22 Tarsak 1353

... "I have no idea how you can stand her, she is so irritating!! i think she loves to hear herself talking and make everyone annoyed to her"

Kelian makes an amused smile "Not everyone is a priestess of Tamara you know. She wants to aid, she is just...very Tel'Quess in doing so"

... "I refuse to consider that blue clad thing an elf" she replies annoyed, sighing once more "I don't know how you do this Kelian. Just one meeting like this is exhausting for me"

Kelian says with a soft shrug "Someone has to do it right? besides, is not like i have anything better to do nowadays." trying to joke about but she could see how much tired her was himself

... "Be sure to not tire yourself out 'Morninglord'."

the aasimar sighs "I think i told you how much i dislike being called like that right?...is just a title given by the church and I used back in the Halls. Plus, i keep thinking Lathander may be offended at this point.."

she turns to look at him from under the hood with a soft smile "You have the patient of a saint only by meeting regularly with individuals like her, and you think is not deserved? plus, you are not a human like me. People tend to take that seriously in consideration"

he listens quietly looking at the fields in front of him as the sun was setting giving a faint nod, not seemingly taking heart in those words untill she pokes his cheek making the aasimar blink and turning to look at her

"You are working harder than anyone else, defending the lands around here, meeting with leaders of various groups, training adventurers and people that can't defend themselves AND helping in investigations for the Radiant Heart. I know how some of them treats you, but Vanira and Aaron really appreciate your work, you know"

remembering how difficult those two were he still didn't seem to believe her words but then she rests her head on his shoulder

"You aided so many..is only right to feel tired and let us aid you in return...and even if that won't work out, i promise i will be by your side. You have been my first friend in these lands and aided me when i had noone."

she then rests her head as watch the stars showing off and selune beginning to ride the skies, the aasimar does the same a bit in silence for a bit for then saying

"Thank you L. I know am not showing it much but...i really appreciate your aid and that of everyone else. Both in the Flame and outside."

she giggles as answers

"That's what Tamara sended me here for, right? to aid and protect...you will see...things will be fine.."

hearing her talking turning more into a whisper he turns his head to the young human resting her head on his shoulder as she snoozes of into the realms of dreams.The aasimar makes a warm smile and wraps his cape around her to be sure she wouldn't get a cold, remaining there to watch the stars as she sleeps.

Waterdeep - Sun's Rest inn, Tower- 16 Nightal 1380
Lost in that memory, he didn't even realize he reached the top of the tower. Looking ot the little sculpture of the human in his hand can't help but make a warm smile again. That usualy voice tried to scratch at the back of his head but he could not understand what it was saying this time. All the memories of his friend L and the time when she met her in Baldur's Gate managed to overwhelm and silence it,at least for that day.

A bit of malinchony struck at the Aasimar, sure, but this time around was more the times of laughter that rushed back to him than anything wrong she ever really did. The only regret he has is that after the madness of Baldur's Gate he has left her behind like many back then. Closing his eyes a moment makes a little sigh, poking gently to the head of the little human cleric as a phrase she said back then that very same day comes back to mind

"Whatever you do, don't you ever dare to turn like her"

For a moment he looks to his hood and his blue jacket, making a sudden realization that just few decades were enough for him to do exaclty that. After that realization he reaches a bit to his hood and take it down, looking at it quietly at the various reasons that brought him to hide again. Quietly, he puts the new miniature in a magic satchel on his belt and turns back, heading back down as a bit of a warmer smile lingers on his face

[Ailander]

Waterdeep - Sun's Rest Apartments - Hannen Apartment - 20 Nightal 1380 - The day when the Unknown City appeared

After waking up gasping, the Aasimar looked around in shock, reaching for something. However, the city was not destroyed, and those two figures were nowhere to be found. It took him a moment longer to realize that he had instinctively reached for a sword that was no longer at his side. Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths. Looking around, he saw that Naraviel was not there—she had probably gone out for her research at the tower again. It was not easy for him to stand up that day, given that the dream reminded him of all the reasons why he had given up that kind of life. Nonetheless, he had made a promise to his beloved, so, summoning his courage, he stood up and changed into his usual garments to head out. Many mocked his decision to wear a chain shirt under his everyday jacket and clothes, but old habits die hard.

After heading out and through the corridors of the inn, he met Allison and saw people generally panicking. A crumbled city had appeared on the far horizon toward Goldenfields. Leaving Allison to handle the general distress in the hall, he went upstairs to look at the horizon from the top of the Sun's Rest tower. Once on top, he found the town still soundly asleep. Selûne was ending her cycle in the sky, and Lathander was rising in the East. As the sun rose, the Aasimar could see in the far distance towers and pinnacles that had never been there before. Less than a day's march toward Goldenfields, at most. A few hours with magical means or horses. After that dream, he had a really bad feeling. Going down toward the hall, he found Allison again. It seemed his dream was not only his—others had experienced similar visions—and a party was quickly being assembled to explore the city that had appeared out of nowhere.

??? - Towards a Village in Ruins - Same Day

Thar was on high alert as the group walked down the path. He asked Kelian for advice on how to proceed. Normally, he would have dismissed the notion of leading again, but the situation was dreadful, and he couldn't even explain why. After giving some quick directions, they advanced. The scenery put both him and Thar on the defensive. Allison was even more shaken; the nature of that place was unnatural to her. Only Lyris managed to keep most of her usual habits—joking or misinterpreting situations as she always did. A tiny bit of normalcy that made him smirk lightly.

Unknown werebeasts and monsters infested the woods, making him even more uneasy. Despite that, he pressed on, giving directions as best he could. He had learned in the past that even a moment of hesitation could cause more harm than anything.

Once in the village, they managed to find some locals willing to speak. They seemed to be from a nearby settlement, and the 'city,' as they called it, had appeared out of nowhere overnight. They had barricaded themselves as best they could, but for some reason, they could not leave. They simply wanted to stay. The conversation took a strange turn, as if the local was no longer speaking to them but rather for something else—or, worse, as if something else was speaking through them. A chill ran down the Aasimar's spine. He had seen something like this before and knew the scars it could leave. Now, it was only a matter of discovering what was causing it.

??? - Near the City Gates - Same Day

A dragon, a very old one—like he hadn't seen in years—was blocking their path. Surprisingly, there was no hostility in its demeanor. Instead, it gave them a warning: not to go deeper. Whatever was inside, the dragon had initially hoped to plunder its riches but had ended up unable—or unwilling—to leave instead. Something compelled it to stay.

Dread began to creep into Kelian's mind as a voice echoed in the back of his head.

"You have seen something like this before," it whispered. "You have seen the harm it brought. Go deeper. Find the cause. It must not spread."

He found it odd but, as always, dismissed it as a thought of his own mind coming to terms with Naraviel's request. Following along with the others, he stepped inside the gates.

The stench of death filled the air. Crazy individuals with pale skin and red eyes attacked them. Unable to do much more than fight, Kelian raised his shield, trying to hold the frontline while the others delivered the final blows.

After the fight, as they walked down the street, he couldn't help but feel distracted. He thought he saw something familiar out of the corner of his eye.

While he was looking away, he heard footsteps ahead. From behind a corner, the figure of Selshi appeared. It seemed he had the same idea as the dragon, and the group considered traveling together—until Lyris' eyes began glowing red. She started acting strangely, talking about how the place felt comfortable, saying they should stay.

The chill he had felt before turned into full dread. The last time something like this happened, he had been forced to kill innocent people to protect everyone else. Without waiting for discussion, he declared they were leaving immediately.

Thar was still lucid enough to help carry Lyris out, who was now resisting. During the walk, Allison's eyes also began to glow as she muttered about nature needing her aid. Kelian grabbed her wrist and dragged her along. They had to get out—fast. He could feel his own mind being assaulted.

He struggled to stay focused, but an explosion nearby knocked Lyris down and stunned Thar. Distracted, he turned—and saw the figure he had glimpsed before.

A golden-skinned elf with long blonde hair.

She was smiling sweetly at him.

"Kelian... it has been so long." Her voice was unchanged, sweet and melodious, as welcoming as a warm embrace. "There is so much I want to hear. Come inside... let's talk over a drink, like we used to."

"Just stay."

Instead of luring him in, those words sent him into pure panic. Gripping Allison’s wrist tighter, he reached for a teleportation rune to Waterdeep. He had no idea how magic worked in that area and hadn’t wanted to use it unless absolutely necessary—but all thoughts of caution vanished like a candle in a storm as he broke the rune, desperate to escape.

Waterdeep - Sun's Rest - Main Hall, Portal - Same Day

It worked.

They were back.

His mind immediately rushed to find one of the obelisks. He had avoided using them so far, but he no longer cared—anything that could rid him of that dread, that vision, ensuring Allison and himself were fine, was welcome. It seemed to work—at first. Lyris and Thar arrived through the portal shortly after, and Lyris’ mind began to clear. Slowly, he realized that whatever had held their minds had power only within that area... and that the panic he had felt had been his own.

There was little time to reflect, however. Amiryl arrived, causing him to bristle with anger, expecting her to be sent by the Masked Man again. He had jumped to conclusions. Taking deep breaths, he decided to step back from that discussion for now. Allison and Lyris followed him into the theater, expecting explanations.

He told them everything. Thar joined them, quickly dismissing Amiryl. But his explanation did not dissuade them from researching what had happened.

"Fools," the voice whispered again. "You know how this will end. It always ends the same way. You need to go deeper. Eradicate it."

He sighed.

There was no choice. He would retrieve his old gear and find others willing to delve deeper. The thought of seeing her again filled him with dread—but the risk of such horrors reaching Aurora or Amthril terrified him even more.

Whatever happened, he would not run again.