Valkyrie's Page of Wonder

March 06, 2008

Sneak Preview! - Fallen Angel - Raid

The sound of light footsteps what the only audible noise as the group slowly worked their way toward the courtyard of the temple. With the front lines so far to the south the temple barriers, wards, and guards had been relaxed and in some cases entirely absent.
They reach the north west wall and Valkyrie helps Verana jump over the wall. The elf lands silently on the other side. Skye and Grey fly over the wall next leaving Valkyrie alone. Knowing magic would still set off the alarm he proceeds to carefully and quietly scale the wall. Within moments he is over the top and lands softly on the grassy courtyard.
While Verana, Skye and Grey didn't know the exact reason they were here, Valkyrie did. Perhaps it was dangerous, foolish and a waste of time, but he had to find it. That book was his, given to him by the High Priestess herself. Then, on that fateful day, taken away. His name was already in it, he had marked passages, poured over its contents for years. Perhaps it was mere nostalgia, but the knowledge in that book would help him one day. He knew that much.
The entirety of the temple slept save for a few guards and companions at the front door. No one expected an attack from the back. Approaching the door that led into the main hallway, Valkyrie calls Skye up to pick the lock. Magic could have unlocked it a lot quicker, but it would set off the alarm and it was not time for that yet. The book was still not found.
With a barely audible click, the door unlocks. They quickly but silently open the door and make their way inside. Once everyone is inside, Valkyrie leads the them through the twisting halls straight to their destination, a small storage room where old items are kept. Finding it unlocked, they all head inside, closing the door behind them.
The room was slightly cramped with the four of them, but still enough room for one person to move around. Valkyrie instructs the other three to watch the door while he lights a nearby lamp. Shelves from floor to ceiling were crammed full of odds and ends. Rows and rows of books filled one side of the room and he proceeds to search for the book. One shelf had several used magic books on them. He checks out each one, looking through certain pages until he finds the one he came for. An inscription on the inside front cover reads: "To the best student this school has ever seen. May you life be full of excitement. - Celeste"
He jams the book into his inside coat pocket then turns to the others motioning them to leave. He extinguishes the lamp and they proceed back into the hall. Verana shoots him a questioning look, asking without words if that was why they came here.
Valkyrie shakes his head and points back the way they came. He leads them back through the halls stopping at a large door at the end of the sanctuary. The words "High Priestess" were etched onto a plaque on the door. He opens the door and they all silently make their way inside.
They now stand in the office of the High Priestess of Bast. A book shelf to the left holds years of research on magic and the special link between Priestesses of Bast and their animal companions. The temple of Bast had only recently begun letting Priestesses have animal companions, but the results were amazing. He grabs all the books on the subject he can and hands them to Verana who puts them in her bag. Valkyrie then checks the desk for any communications they could use against the temple of Bast. He finds several and hands them to Skye. Having gathered enough information they begin to file out of the office, but Valkyrie stops feeling someone behind him. The others leave the office and head for the designated meeting place.
Valkyrie turns to see the High Priestess looking at him from the doorway that connected her sleeping quarters to the office. She watches him for a moment, knowing who he was from the start. Memories rush back to Valkyrie, reminding him of the last time he saw her. He draws his sword.
"Is this how it ends for me, Xannon? Slain in the night by the one man who haunts my dreams?"
"Xannon is dead. Only I, Valkyrie, remain."
"I have dreamed about this moment for years, ever since you left. I always wondered if I would sound the alarm and fight back. But I feel calm, relaxed. I feel like it is supposed to happen like this. Like fate."
"I swore I would make her pay for what she did. And now my payback begins."
"You know if you slay me, that another will rise. One without the sympathetic attachment we have. She will not waver in her devotion to the goddess. She will be a thorn in your side for centuries. She will see you, and treat you like a servant of Kardis, not like the fallen angel I know you to be. One with the potential to rise again like the phoenix, Zyst."
Valkyrie stares at her for a moment, his devotion to the causes teetering on the edge. On one hand, Celeste had helped him through rough times, and he had helped her when reports of Naveen's death came in. On the other, she represented that which he hated most, the Goddess Bast, whose actions drove him to leave the temple. He remembers Sarah's last moments and how alone she felt.
With a sudden burst of energy Valkyrie drives his sword through Celeste's stomach. She doesn't scream, doesn't sound the alarm, she just smiles. Valkyrie withdraws his sword and Celeste wavers for a moment before slowly sliding to the floor.
"I have much faith in you, Xannon. Your destiny was determined before your mother even knew you existed."
Blood begins to tickle from the side of her mouth.
"You are fated for great things. Things I can't even comprehend. But I must give you a warning."
She motions for him to come closer. Valkyrie kneels next to her and she leans in close to his ear.
"Beware the elf girl. The actions of this night will cause great strife for you if you are not careful. I assume you came for your book."
Valkyrie leans back, shocked that she knew why he was here.
"I kept it for you. In my dreams I saw you take it. So many times did I see you take it. So many times did I wish for your return. And so many times did I know it was not meant to be."
She coughs up blood which splashes on to her white night gown.
"You must hurry. When I die the wards I have placed around this room will fail and everyone will know I am dead."
Valkyrie stands back up, again shocked that she has protected him from detection.
"Why have you done this for me? I cursed your goddess, revoked my priesthood, killed one of your priestesses. After all I have done against you, why save me?"
She was already getting weak, the strain of keeping the wards up was beginning to take their toll.
"You will... understand in time.... Now Go!"
She waves for him to go.
Valkyrie turns to leave. He slowly pushes the door open to check the area outside.
From behind him he hears Celeste's final words, "You are still my favorite student...."
Moments later ward fails and the entire temple seems to cry out in agony. Everyone is alerted to her death and the guards at the front door burst in and begin heading for his position.
"Goodbye Celeste," he says before leaving the office.