Post by Dobian on Oct 13, 2011 8:48:59 GMT -5
In the early morning of a crisp autumn day, Sa'lina Nu'Ari Caffyn gathered her things in her room at the Blushing Maiden, and set out. That poem the Harpers posted in Great Gaunt both gave out her home location, and let it be known that she was being followed. Salina knew the kind of inevitable confrontation that would lead to, and she did not need that kind of headache now. Especially with potential reprisals from the Sharrans looming. Best to head west toward the Sword Coast, where she wouldn't be recognized, and could start anew. She had already left a letter for Erynne, which she had written the night before. She did want to say goodbye in person, but it would have been too difficult. She hoped Erynne would understand.
After leaving a generous tip with Andrio the barkeep, Salina teleported herself to Baldur's Gate, a city she had passed through many years before while traveling to Neverwinter. She spent the midday walking through the streets and reflecting on her time in Cormyr. Such a brief time, really, but it had forever changed her. Sixteen months ago she had arrived in Great Gaunt, a misfit follower of Shar. But now what was she? The Harpers' poem called her a liar, a deceiver. Erynne had asked her just before she left if she knew the difference between darkness and light. Did she? Had she really changed, or was she just a horse of a different color? It is one thing to say you have changed, but another to show it. She thought of Abigail, who had been going through her own trials lately, and who had even recently called Salina a child. She was right, of course. It reminded Salina of an old proverb her elven father told her when she was very young:
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but then came a time to put away childish things."
Salina took a long walk out to a bluff overlooking the Sea of Swords, and watched the waves crashing on the rocks below. Almost unconsciously, she touched her forehead, then her heart, her left shoulder, then her right. The mind, the heart, the body, and the soul. It was a gesture her elven parents sometimes made to signify their bond to each other. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a clay jar and turned it in her hands. The wind picked up, blowing her crimson hair back off her shoulders. Salina lifted the jar above her shoulder.
"This is for you, Erynne!," she yelled, then threw the jar with all her strength out over the cliff. It fell as if in slow motion down to the rocks below, where it shattered, spraying dust over the rocks and into the surf.
"I release you, Sakir," she said.
Salina gazed out over the sea, a single tear falling down her cheek. So much she had learned, so much she had gained. But that was the past, and now it was time to look ahead. She felt a warm tingling sensation on her left arm, and rolled up her sleeve. Still faintly glowing was not one, but two symbols of the goddess Selune, replacing the Sharran orbs that had been there only moments before. Her arm now displayed four symbols each of the immortal sisters at eternal war with each other. A fair fight, Salina mused.
As Salina rolled her sleeve back down, her pixie appeared hovering beside her.
"Can we go yet?"
"Yes, Bali. The day grows late, and we must rest for what tomorrow brings," Salina said.
She turned and walked back down the bluff, toward an uncertain but promising future.
After leaving a generous tip with Andrio the barkeep, Salina teleported herself to Baldur's Gate, a city she had passed through many years before while traveling to Neverwinter. She spent the midday walking through the streets and reflecting on her time in Cormyr. Such a brief time, really, but it had forever changed her. Sixteen months ago she had arrived in Great Gaunt, a misfit follower of Shar. But now what was she? The Harpers' poem called her a liar, a deceiver. Erynne had asked her just before she left if she knew the difference between darkness and light. Did she? Had she really changed, or was she just a horse of a different color? It is one thing to say you have changed, but another to show it. She thought of Abigail, who had been going through her own trials lately, and who had even recently called Salina a child. She was right, of course. It reminded Salina of an old proverb her elven father told her when she was very young:
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but then came a time to put away childish things."
Salina took a long walk out to a bluff overlooking the Sea of Swords, and watched the waves crashing on the rocks below. Almost unconsciously, she touched her forehead, then her heart, her left shoulder, then her right. The mind, the heart, the body, and the soul. It was a gesture her elven parents sometimes made to signify their bond to each other. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a clay jar and turned it in her hands. The wind picked up, blowing her crimson hair back off her shoulders. Salina lifted the jar above her shoulder.
"This is for you, Erynne!," she yelled, then threw the jar with all her strength out over the cliff. It fell as if in slow motion down to the rocks below, where it shattered, spraying dust over the rocks and into the surf.
"I release you, Sakir," she said.
Salina gazed out over the sea, a single tear falling down her cheek. So much she had learned, so much she had gained. But that was the past, and now it was time to look ahead. She felt a warm tingling sensation on her left arm, and rolled up her sleeve. Still faintly glowing was not one, but two symbols of the goddess Selune, replacing the Sharran orbs that had been there only moments before. Her arm now displayed four symbols each of the immortal sisters at eternal war with each other. A fair fight, Salina mused.
As Salina rolled her sleeve back down, her pixie appeared hovering beside her.
"Can we go yet?"
"Yes, Bali. The day grows late, and we must rest for what tomorrow brings," Salina said.
She turned and walked back down the bluff, toward an uncertain but promising future.
