From Evermeet

Upon finishing his song the humble bard paused to clear his throat and take a swig of ale. With aging eyes he observed his audience, each of them with some kind of scar pointing to their loss from the calamity. Surely their ears would be empathetic toward his tale.

“A female elf child was born one midsummer’s eve to Balanidhren of the house of Nierdre of Evermeet (brother to Lord Maiele ro ya Turya I’Pelekko Uthula) by his fair lady Tuarwen. The babe’s hair was as light as the noonday sun and her eyes as grey as the stormy seas. Her grip was strong and her countenance favored her father’s, ever was it stern and calculating. Nostariel she was called for under a noble star was she birthed and fate would seem to have handed her a grave destiny. The year was 1253.

"Ten years thence found blessings of progeny again to grace Balanidhren of the house of Nierdre for upon the autumnal equinox Tuarwen gave birth to a set of twins. Clear, bright eyes of piercing blue had the son, with hair like spun gold. His looks favored his mother’s and when Nostariel first looked upon him she stated his beauty to be unparalleled. Meldarion was he called for all that saw him loved him.

"The daughter however, was as different from her brother as the sun from the moon. Faint was the color of her eyes, ever changing between shades of blue and grey and her hair had little sheen and was pale orange as that of a harvest moon. Comely she was not yet when Meldarion, her twin, was laid beside her he reached out to her and whence he had found her the smile that lit her countenance did verily make her mother cry with joy. Gwedhiel was she so called for in that moment one could see how the fates had bound her to her brother.

"Gentle and sweet were the decades of Nostariel’s youth in the quiet peace and vibrant life of Evermeet. She had what comforts the house of Nierdre had to offer. Though stood she not to inherit, being mere cousin to the heir, yet did she have what was passed down to her through her blood-that of long patience and wondrous skill with weaponry. As fortune would have it Mystra favored both Meldarion and Gwedhiel, so tied were they in heart and mind and magic came easy for them. Not so for Nostariel, though bright she was and quick of faculty, the magic did not flow through her veins. However when she was quite small Balanidhren, her father, through her mother’s council, bade her uncle, Lord Maiele, come and test Nostariel’s strength and speed. Thus she was found favorable to learn the way of the house Nierdre in wielding the axe blade, from thence training oft with her privileged cousin under the swift hand of Naracion, master of the double blade. Truly for this Nostariel was born, for though lacking in the intricacies of magic was she under Naracion’s firm hand did she thrive, oft with quicker wit and more passionate dedication than that of her privileged kin.

"But time for Nostariel was not all spent in arduous training. For child she was and deep and abiding was her love for brother and sister. With naught to keep them occupied but what learning came down from their tutors in axe and magic or the studies of the great and wondrous fae that came before, many were the fortunate hours the trio Nierdre frittered away in childlike fancies. On the gracious summer eves would they spend in complete surrender to fantastical tales of their own creation—building whole worlds to fit their whims. And under the star lit sky did they set for themselves who they were to be and what great things they would accomplish their whole lives through. Meldarion with his talent the bend the weave in such a way as to make it dance, it was decided by his doting sisters, would one day guide others through such mysteries as have yet to even be thought of in the Realms. In the simple pride of his juvenile heart dwelt the belief from thence on that he would do such as his sisters had prophesied and more. Nostariel, by no admission of skills or encouragement on her part, was set by her brother and sister to not only surpass her dear cousin and heir as becoming the keeper of the legacy of the house of Nierdre as 're ya Turya I’Pelekko Uthula'--Uthula, the wondrous enchanted axe now in the hands of Lord Maiele. And her great skill would verily catch the royal eye and thence on would Nostariel lead all elves to glorious victory in conquering all of Faerun in her royal name. And of sweet Gwedhiel, her future plans were simple—for if she were to sing to the weave Mystra herself would stop to hear her. And thus would she become chosen of one of the gods and goddesses and take her place in the heavenlies for ought she was so pure and good.

"Yet what becomes of infant promises and youthful vanities for all good things must come to an end. Our selfish wants cannot stop the passing of time but for a moment. And such did it happen that calamity struck, its striking true, and cut deep Nostariel’s heart, turning what was once warm and beating into ice."

A small group of elves were listening with rapt attention to the story from the far corner of the room. During his short pause to wet his whistle the bard acknowledged them with a small nod of the head. He was almost certain that they had heard his story before--seeing as how he heard it first from one of their race. He hoped his retelling did the story justice in their eyes.

“As youth’s sweet bud burst into full bloom and Nostariel, Meldarion, and Gwedhiel looked to cross the threshold into manhood and womanhood their father, Balanichren decreed their training be done now in earnest. For time was, he put forth, that they cease in childish games and learn what it was truly to be one of their fair race--giving oneself so wholly to a task as to bring about wondrous marvels of accomplishment and thereby bestowing honor to all the elves past, present, and future. Balanidhren, though being an elf who oft would spend months on end in his private study companied only by such mysteries as he sought to unravel, was truly a wise man who valued diligence and excellence of achievement above beauty of life and mirth of heart. Though dour and stern was he yet did he still enjoy some fair things that pleased the eye, as was apparent in his choice of women. Tuarwen, his fair, young bride (for nigh almost two centuries younger than he was she) was the very picture of elven beauty and graces. Some even believed her beauty to surpass that of their royal Lady in all her glory. Light of heart Tuarwen was, and gentle of spirit--smoothing over her wise husband’s rough edges and bestowing upon her children all the merry love her heart contained toward them. But that love could do naught to lengthen their childhood, though lightly protest she did of Balanidhren’s decree (and only on the grounds that she felt the desire of her children to stay longer in their years of youth without a care upon them) yet in the end saw she the wisdom of his decision.

“Though change this meant for Nostariel she welcomed it with all her being. For like her father was she in diligence and the desire for excellence and the simple pleasures of youth grew thin as her heart yearned to become something more. Her days were now so entirely spent under the tutelage of Master Naracion that he and her axe became her kith and kin. What stern words of instruction he gave her were like water to a seed and verily well did her noble plant grow.

“Under this paternal decree it seemed Meldarion and Gwedhiel would be somewhat torn apart for as Meldarion’s skill directed him to Taltempla, Gwedhiel’s body was weak and required her to study at home under her mother. The focused life did not suit Meldarion, though wit he had aplenty and skill with magic making much to come easy for him, still he longed for the days of his own command to do what he pleased for his heart was yet filled with foolish fancy. His masters who taught with great wisdom did not seek his love but demanded his respect, requiring of him long and tedious tasks Meldarion thought beneath him. Lacking as he was in his father’s discipline of mind and so used to the doting of mother and sisters (sadly their sincere love was to his detriment for they had coddled him) that the strict teaching of his master’s was wearisome and so sought he for things which spoke with greater resonance to his sensibilities. It was through thus seekings that he found himself a cohort by the name of Neurion Dwinitlarn, a fellow student but three years his senior. Neurion shared in Meldarion’s greed for power and dissatisfaction with the traditional form of learning. Together they conspired to swiftly seek the power they so desired through their own means and so did they connect themselves to those of ill repute, feigning the studious life only to gain the shadows as would further their lust for potency.

“And so time passed with Nostariel-strength of arm and speed of eye becoming her more and more fitted as she was body and mind for mastering the axe, Gwedhiel-sweet and studious under the tutelage for her mother, and Meldarion-whose bright smile still received by many with surety yet in his proud heart a darkness grew. Whence came the year when many elven kin did congregate from the fallen city of Myth Drannor to the fair isle of Evermeet is was considered a joyous occasion with all inhabitants of the isle declaring a welcoming feast that would last for weeks on end. All work, noble and fair ceased for all elf kind that they may properly rejoice in the meeting of their brethren. It was thence after the fair share of a decade spent apart that Nostariel, Meldarion, and Gwedhiel were reunited. What sweet reunion it was as in joyous celebration were they aptly given as trivial pleasures together as such they had in their youth. Yet all was not as if one was and such did it catch Nostariel’s eye as the first highs of festival wore out. She found her sister quite wanting in the simple energies of her former days and whence she beseeched Gwedhiel if there be ought to trouble her Gwedhiel looked upon her elder sister with astonishment then quickly smiling, replied that nothing could ere be wrong when she had so close to her such a wondrous brother and sister. Meldarion, upon overhearing his fair kin in quiet confidence, in that way of his brotherly humor mocked his sisters for casting clouds with their speech. Was not this an auspicious occasion, quoth he, why then wouldst they bid it to rain? Then chiding he his elder sister with claims that her long time with the Master Naracion done naught for her but given her a sterner visage, bade he to let herself loose for the merriment of their fair kin. With such a speech he did grasp his twin’s hand and pull her into a merry dance, her very being at once illumined by pure gladness to such a degree Nostariel did heartily doubt any change she observed to be merely temporary in its condition.

“Yet her fears of familial change were not to be dissuaded. Mere days before the end of this great feast did she catch Meldarion and his cohorts in some dark dealing. Immediately did she go to confront them, her mind racing to guess what could have caused her fair brother to commit such an act when she was accosted by vile Neurion. With silver tongue and slippery words did he talk a labyrinth around her resolve and so to convince Nostariel so verily that the actions of her kin were but a youthful slip, a mere indiscretion of the immature and one so easily forgiven and thus forgotten. And turn her away from the scene did he after skillfully wrapping ‘round her such a web of lies that she left in such confusion to forget her purpose of speaking to her brother. Though a hint of the truth remained in her heart and was yet unearthed whence later she came to her brother and upon his face wore he such a look of guilt and shame as never before had she seen, and nary to her did he speak. So resolved Nostariel to meet with her brother when minds again turned sober to caution him gravely about such company as he keeps and to verily quit the company of Neurion lest he be ensnared by him--but such a time did not come.

“Heavy was Nostariel’s heart as she entered again into her training and many penalties did she endure under her master’s tutelage for the loss of her focus. In vain did she write letter upon letter to Meldarion beseeching him to heed her warnings but to no avail. No plaintive missive did she receive for her efforts. Neither parent nor dear sister did believe that her grave fears about Meldarion to be founded upon any type of consistency of disposition and so did they dismiss Nostariel’s claims to his utter change in character. In desperate state did she seek her brother out in what few hours of pleasure were afforded to her but ever was he with the silver-tongued Neurion. Between his tangling words and her brother’s dismissive smiles did she find failure in her mission to set Meldarion to right. All that was left to Nostariel was to hope her dear brother would but sow his wild oats and in its harvest they be meager and thence would he leave behind all former ways of villainy.”

The innkeeper slipped furtively up beside the bard to quietly refill his ale, not wanting to distract or interrupt the tale. The bard thanked him quietly and continued.

“Years passed until came we to that fateful day when Evermeet was betrayed by some of its very own and the peaceful isle was invaded in the name of Lloth. Such struggle was theirs to to protect their home tis known well abroad Faerun and as well known too that Death did visit their fair race upon that time. Nostariel herself did raise her axe to protect her kin and valiently did she fight. Yet all was not victorious for the house of Nierdre for whence the dust and ash of battle settled Meldarion was found to be dead. Such a blow it was to shake all their hearts in losing their beloved son and brother. Grief overcame them as they gathered Meldarion’s body to their house for the set time of mourning. It was during this time that Gwedhiel bade her sister to private audience with the body. Upon this meeting did Meldarion’s twin reveal to her sister the purpose of the black dragon pendant that hung about his neck. Great was the bond felt between the twins, so great in fact that soon after being sent to Taltempla did Meldarion send Gwedhiel a parcel in which was a matching pendant (and thus she showed her sister its twin in likeness about her own neck). With the parcel came a note stating the pendant to be their secret keeper whence they were apart, so that naught communion twixt them would be missed. So if prudence censored such detail from letters it would be thence stored in the dragon to be revealed to its recipient upon their next meeting. Gwedhiel confessed their brother of stored such meaningless drivel in his pendant for such purpose as to bring her merriment, yet whence last she saw him there was one dragon-held secret that spoke earnestly of his excitement of some new development in his plans to fulfill their childhood prophecy of him. The glint of greed in his eyes as he revealed it to her had given her cause for concern though never spoke she of it for he bade her keep it secret that he may revel in the familial surprise at his great accomplishments.

“Then, in great solemnity, Gwedhiel took the dragon pendant from round her brother’s cold neck. Spake she a word foreign to Nostariel’s ears at the dragon seemingly to bring it to life. With a snort the tiny wyrm opened its mouth spewing forth fiery letters for form a message in the air before them. The last secret of Meldarion dictated on dying breath, full of spite for the one who have dealt the fatal wound, read of how found he a patroness in the Lady of Loss willing to bestow on him through the means of shadow magic the power he felt was his birthright. His contract with her was of such a surety that he was granted foreknowledge of the invasion. Shar desired to find a foothold in Evermeet and so used she the betrayal for her own nefarious purposes. Meldarion spoke of promised reward from the Dark Goddess if he gave aid to her cause in the time of the invasion. Yet upon the completion of his task did Shar’s followers wound him so grievously that they had left him for dead. So greatly felt he his entitlement that he cursed Shar--not for her ill repute but for the villainy she directly committed upon him. And yet out of the same breath that call curses down on the Goddess of Secrets he bade his sister to look toward Shar’s time of rule, for so it would come and sure as the Sun or Moon, and thence welcome her with open arms lest she incur the wrath of the Dark Goddess.

“With disbelief Nostariel found all her doubts and fears to be realized and in that instant verily was she paralysed. Gwedhiel, upon recognition of how deep had run the corruption in her brother’s veins, fell in anguish to the floor broken hearted. Gasping sobs wracking her slight frame as she pleaded with his spirit that this be not so. But it was in vain. For all the love they had bestowed on him, still it was by arrogance he lived so by arrogance he died. Faithful Gwedhiel never again left her brother’s side, bound to him as she was heart and soul. It was only a matter of days before she died of a broken heart. The death of her gracious daughter and the news of her son’s last traitorous act sent Tuarwen into a kind of silent madness thus she locked herself away with none to see her but Balanidhren, cutting herself off from all other living things.

“Nostariel, whence her senses awakened from grief, burned with such passion against Shar that regularly and with great earnest did she beg Balanidhren to allow her leave of Evermeet that she may seek revenge upon Shar o’er the face of the Realms. Her father paid her entreaties no heed and chided her for such foolish passions, wasting her energies when she should focus on greater things. What more what there in this vain life thought Nostariel, for taken from her were brother and sister both and well might even she count her mother to be lost. Verily she endured as grim determination drove her in her deadly craft to master the axe in such a way as to defeat deity.

“Thence, sometime after, Master Naracion summoned Nostariel to speak with him of a matter of some importance. Told he to her of how the recent evil hoards of Gehenna have laid siege upon their sister city, Evereska, and of the army of elves forming in Evermeet to march against the demonic foe in aid of the elf kin. He then told her that what training she had begun under him was nearing its completion and so gave he to her his final instruction: to take her swift axr and bring about freedom to Evereska. And in his unrelenting gaze did she read his meaning. Nary was she to return to the isle else she had exacted her revenge.

“And thus Nostariel, noble and fair, took her leave of Evermeet with determined mind and hardened heart.”

With a hand upon his staff the bard gave a small bow and picking up his instrument, left the stage.