Part 2:Palanthas

***

In the small hours of the morning, Krynnas said his farewells to Selinara. There were unshed tears in the elder elfs’ eyes, as he placed a golden pendant, the same that had been given to him by the Speaker of the Sun and Stars, around her neck. She was so much like her brave mother, always willing to help combat the evil that constantly tried to destroy the elves' peace.

“This was given to me for my services to the Qualinesti elves, and now I would like you to have it as you go on this journey.” He told her solemnly. She nodded her head in thanks and picked up her pack, unable to voice the words of a farewell. Krynnas knew this, and did not expect it of her. “May you always find sweet water and light laughter.” He said, as the traditional elven farewell, as Selinara glided out the door.

Selinara approached the spot where the war riders were already waiting. Tyrinnas walked over to the priest. He noted her sword at her side.

“My dear Selinara, you will have no need for a weapon here. You will be protected, as your position dictates.” he told her, touching his forehead and bowing. She shook her head once, briefly.

“One must always be prepared, even a priest of Corellon Larethian.” She said, touching the weapon at her side. “Even priests are taught at a young age to use weapons, if need be, in defense for their lives when their spells fail.”

It was true that Selinara was dressed in a strange garb for a priest. This was to avoid any other magic users from easily recognizing her by her outfit. Instead of her traditional gold and purple robes, she wore a ranger’s outfit, covered by a dusky purple cloak. At one side, she had a long sword in a leather scabbard, and into the other side of her belt was sheathed a silver dagger. The long sword was that of her deity, Corellon Larethian, and had been blessed with spells of his power, including the very same that had enchanted the soldiers’ swords and bows in the past. She didn’t plan on using it, but she knew that her deity would approve of her having it on hand. Of course, she also had her pack of priest supplies on her back, hidden under the cloak.

Suddenly, there was a commotion, and a band of silver and gold dragons swooped from the sky to land in front of the group of elves. The leader, the same great silver dragon that had addressed the elven village the other day, snaked her great head down to the level of the elves and addressed Tyrinnas and Selinara.

“If the war leader and the priest would like, we are here to leave now.” she said in her great voice, the other dragons crouching down and spreading their wings to enable the elves to climb on. “I will take the commander of the army, and my comrade will take the priest.” she said, another great gold dragon coming near to stand beside the silver.

The elves climbed aboard the dragons, and they took off, heading towards the great city of Palanthas. Arriving, they saw that the fighting had already begun, and the elves were dropped off besides a band of fine war horses, Selinara by a snow white steed much like her father had rode in his battles.

“Good luck, proud elves.” The silver dragon told them, flying up into the sky again to join in the battle to keep the blacks and reds out of Palanthas. The elves climbed on their horses, ready to defend the great city. Tyrinnas gave instructions as the rest of the party readied themselves for war.

“We ride to defend this city against the forces of evil which strive to destroy it. We go in the memory of our previous commander and with this inspiration, we will achieve victory!” a cheer went up from the army as he finished. Riding up to the front of the group, he passed by Selinara, who was readying a spell.

“My good priest, I am honor bound to see that you are done noharm.” he told her. “On the honor of your good father, a fine war leader.”

“Thank you, Tyrinnas.” she said, looking up at him, a slight smile on her normally serene face. “Fare thee well, also.” she simply said, turning back to her spellbook. Tyrinnas looked at her a moment longer, and rode up to the front of the party. Holding a hand up in the air, he signaled for the elves to ride into battle.

***

The elven war riders burst out of the city’s front gate and began driving the enemy soldiers back, Selinara at the back. The fighting soon became fierce, Selinara finally having to call an earth elemental in hopes to drive the enemies to another target so she could heal her troops. As the elemental crushed foes beneath it, she knelt down by her comrades, casting healing spells. Finally, she came to Tyrinnas, who was kneeling on the ground by an elf of their group.

“Please, help him. He is my brother.” he pleaded with the priest. She nodded and began to cast a spell. As she completed the spell, she suddenly fell to the ground. “Good priest, are you all right?” Tyrinnas asked, worried.

“The elemental that I have conjured was defeated. A great force is coming.” she said, slowly arising to her feet. “I must get to the front line. I can stop this.” she said, moving as to get on her horse.

“No! You cannot take the risk. I am sworn to protect you.” Tyrinnas said, placing a hand on her arm. She gave him a glare that told him that no matter what he did, she was still going to ride up there.

“This creature that is coming leads an army of undead. I am the only one who can attempt to dispel them.” she told him, climbing on her horse. She rode towards the front of the battle. Tyrinnas, after checking that his brother was ok, mounted and followed.

Arriving at the forefront of the battle, Selinara was met with a sight that chilled her blood. She had known it was an army of undead, but she had no idea that it was this particular army. A death knight and his army of skeletal troops was approaching, a flying citadel hovering overhead as they marched. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the knight.

***

Lord Soth, ruler of Dargaard Keep, and a powerful death knight, paused a moment in his march. He shook his head in distaste. His seneschal, Caradoc, halted the army and looked to his master.

“Is there something wrong, my lord?” he asked.

“The elemental that I destroyed was summoned by a great priest. She is trying to dispel us as I speak.” he said, appearing to think for a minute. “I cannot harm her, she is protected by a powerful deity, perhaps Paladine himself.” rather than frightened, the knight seemed amused at the concept.

Lord Soth, being a cursed death knight, was enslaved by Takhisis, Queen of Darkness, to an eternal hell of his own making. He had forsaken the Oath and the Measure of the noble Knights of Solamnia, of which he had been a part, and had committed many acts of treachery, the least of which being the death of his first wife to take on an elf maiden as his new bride. Thus, he was instrumental in the destruction of Dargaard Keep, now a blackened and ruined structure, and he had been placed by the gods in the hands of Takhisis, sentenced to an eternal hell of his own making, surrounded by those who had met their deaths in the destruction of Dargaard Keep. This could be a way to end that damnation.

“What are we to do, my lord?” Caradoc asked, floating worriedly beside his master. The one thing that the ghost feared the most was being dispelled to the land of the dead. The seneschal knew that his fate would be worse there than it was here, as part of an undead army.

“We continue on.” Lord Soth finally decided. Caradoc summoned the skeletal forces to follow and the troop marched on.

***

Tyrinnas came to a stop beside Selinara. She looked to be in a trance, and nothing he did could shake her out of it. He deftly deflected an orcish spear from striking her and set his horse up in a position to guard the priest.

Selinara sought the inner calmness that she had been taught as a young girl. She was envisioning a stream gliding past a forest in her homeland. She saw herself, kneeling by the stream, praying to her god, Corellon Larethian.

“Grant my prayers, good deity and dispel these demons who come with their flying citadel.” She was murmuring over and over, and outside of her daydream, Tyrinnas heard her and looked over worriedly. Another orcish spear struck him in the side, and he turned back into the fray, determined to protect Selinara. In her dream, she continued to pray. Finally she heard the voice of her deity.

“Selinara, you have been a wise and faithful priest in my following. I will grant you this dispel as long as the cause is a good one.”

“Yes it is. The city of Palanthas lies in peril from a death knight which marches in from the north.” she said in response.

“Then your prayers are answered. I grant you this spell.” the voice said, and Selinara’s eyes flew open. She extended a hand in front of her, calmly preparing to unleash the spell which would drive the undead forces back to their homeland. But Lord Soth’s captor, Takhisis herself, would not let him escape his fate as a cursed death knight.

The Queen of Darkness, using every power at her disposal, even undermining Paladine himself, opened up a magical portal before Selinara. As Selinara unleashed the bolt of holy energy, it, instead of hitting Lord Soth, flew into the portal, sending waves of magical energy back against her and Tyrinnas. The noble elven warrior flew off his horse and landed in the dust beside the priest’s horse. Struggling to get up, he saw Selinara slowly being drawn into the portal, as she no longer had the energy to fight back, being exhausted from the energy surge.

“Selinara!” Tyrinnas cried, reaching up to pull her back. The portal’s magic was too strong, and it pulled both elf warrior and priest through before disappearing from the mortal plane.

***
"The Portal"