Lyon's mystery

[Preedy1978]

I awoke all alone, in a temple of some sorts....a strange symbol of some god that i didnt recognise loomed above me like a behemoth that only legends speak of. I was afraid, for I knew not how I came to be there, nor of anything of my past, and the myriad of twinkling lights coming in from the stained glass windows scared me into a sense of near terror.

I was then comforted by what seemed to be a lady in a flowing white robe, she had golden hair, and eyes the colour of deepest emerald. She seemed to feel my despair, and laid a hand to comfort me onto my forehead. I fell into a deep sleep again.

I remember the dreams...of being held captive, by Elven people, but with dark skin...they took me away from my village and i felt the edge of a knife cut my throat out away from me....

I would awake, and everytime that I did so, this lady would be there, comforting me...she would show me a man with Pale skin and hair to match, who looked familiar to me, without my knowing why. I could sense her trying to show me something, but my mind refused to acknowledge what it was she might have said to me.

After a time, I remember her speaking to me...I remember the words well, and will never foget them:

" Arise Lyon Houton, although not your true name...it will serve until you find yours..." At this point, the lady smiled, and it seemed the pain and suffering of a million life times could be washed away by her merest glance, by her merest touch. I was struck by her sense of pure 'presence' at that point, and dared not move my gaze away from her face, in case she might be gone when I looked back, and the feeling vanish.

" You have much to do yet, and others who are suffering require your presence." I must have frowned at that point in confusion, because she answered my unspoken question: "Never fear, good Lyon, I will not ask of you what you cannot achieve...I have seen your heart, and you are a good man. I have called you here to this strange land to aid and comfort another good man whom I have kept a close eye on since his own arrival...he suffers greatly, and this is not just. Mayhaps your presence will heal his injured soul."

I nodded, but curiosity overcame my sense of awe, I spoke out to her: "Who is this man? Who am I? Who are you?"

She smiled, and replied: "You are Lyon Houton, until you learn otherwise. *cryptic, knowing smile* I have tried to tell you who you really are, but i fear if I force the issue your mind would reject it again. As for this man....You will recognise him...as you should, for he is kin." She pauses, then smiles again, as the image of her and the temple around me fade away. "I am Anah...you may hear my name again from time to time! Be well, and help heal this land!"

Then it seemed I awoke again, on the outskirts of some village, under a pillar of light and a small pillared structure. I stood up and looked around taking in my bearings. I would do as she asked, I had many questions that needed answering, and I was curious to know who this familiar looking man in my dreams really was.

With that, I walked into the village, my life in this land had just begun and i intended to get a good start.

[Preedy1978]

A week has past since my arrival, and I admit I am in awe of the island I find myself on.

Well, some of the few people I have spoken to say it is an island, but I believe it is more along the lines of a small country, it is that big, and I have yet to see the coast, apart from the southern. I will remember that view fondly, a small ship moored to the land, all quiet and peaceful. I was almost reminded of something when there, but the memory, like most others, seemed to slip from my mind's grasp.

Finding out why I am here is begining to get frustrating. I have heard little reference to this 'Anah', although this may be because of my unwillingness to speak to the people here...I just cant bring myself to trust them, a fault of mine I know, and maybe time will heal this mistrust I hold inside my soul.

As for the pale man...I have not heard a thing either.....I have heard rumours of a pale man being a Knight of this land...but is he who I am looking for? Isnt a Knight somebody that has earnt his place by the kings side through loyalty? How am I going to be able to approach this person to find out?


My investigation and my discoveries will have to continue until I find the answers that I seek, and I pray it is soon, so I may be able to form some sort of life from out of all this confusion.

[Preedy1978]

I now know all....and wish that I did not.

The memories of everything that has happenned to me have come flooding back...and as Anah predicted, they are too much for me. The knife ....the drow knife that penetrated my flesh....and the pain...it is too much!

The pale man...my brother, I have found, but as quickly as I had found him, he now goes away without a trace...it has now been weeks since I have seen him last.....and the knife....why wont he help me? Why didnt he stop the knife?! *words are a scrawling gibberish at this point*

I have met other people whom I thought I could trust, but with me the way I am now...will I drive them away in a fit of my uncontrollable state? Will they understand about what my memories are doing to me? About the knife?

I try to hide what is happeneing to me, but the memories of the knife are too strong...all i see is the knife....and the pain.

I sit in my room in my brothers houseboat writing this in my journal- in perhaps a rare moment of serenity for me....of clarity, a rare moment where I can remember, without me losing control...and i still remember all the feeling of horror....and the knife...*the word knife is repeated over and over her for several paragraphs, in scrawling disjointed writing*

I know what is causing my madness, but I cannot deal with it alone. Everytime I try to end my miserable existence, someone shows up and manages to stay my blade. Its as if the gods themselves where conspiring against me! Why wont they let me die??!

I have completed my purpose, Anah.....and I know you now...so please, either let me go back to the peace that I so desperately crave, or help me to live in this life that I no longer- no, that I never wanted back!

*The writing degenerates into a mass of meaningless scrawl as Lyon loses control of his faculties, drifting into madness again*

[Preedy1978]

I am writing this in my journal now, with confusion at the forefront of my feelings....overiding my reaction to my memories.

Yesterday was actually a day I shall remember fondly...one of the few days I can claim to do so...

I remember it well...I awoke with a hangover, after a heavy nights drinking with the Lady Cymaniel and Red.

After they had left me, I returned to the forge, for what seemed only an instant, but in fact was most of the day. I remember Red approaching me and we went out exploring...and while I remember the venture did not go well...I did not remember why. (Note: Why can I not remember this, when i can remember everything else? Perhaps more thought is needed in this matter)

I remember afterwards we had fun and ran and laughed through Styne....and I felt happy...but....this is where my confusion takes a grip upon me...how could this ever be? She is a slave, and I am someone who really doesnt want to live....or do I now? I am 'so' confused, and I need to think more...and perhaps see what the next day brings. A mystery to be sure.

I fear what the next day brings though......the memories will surely....*writing starts to revert to a scrawl*

[Preedy1978]

I find myself able to control my emotions and outbursts now. The memory still haunts me, but I am able to withstand it for now. Matters have arisen that allow me to do so, and also matters have arisen and I have to focus on these.

Crafting has been good to me, and helped to take the sting and the pain of memories still too fresh to be called old. Also, crafting has made me well off money wise, and I no longer worry about my own personal welfare in regards to coin. I now have plenty, and am able to focus on other things.

I am also able to focus on other things other than Red as well...I think she "finally" gets the message I was trying to put across. Although, I have to admit, I wasn't really sure she would understand, considering the way I was acting. But she did, and even my over-obsessive behaviour has not forced her away. *Lyon pauses in his writings for a moment, smiling in memory*

As for these things I can focus on...I shall write on them as they unfold, for I have written enough for now, and action is needed now, not pondering or writing. I shall try to write again soon, although I know not when this will be.

[Preedy1978]

I write this now, with much to relate. Much has transpired since my last such entry.

I finally had a long and meaningful chat with Mala, Karl's long suffering girlfriend...she was at the houseboat...the first time I had noticed her there since Karl's dissapearance. She looked startled to see me for a few moments, then she semed to get ahold of herself, and we talked for a little while. I remember, I gave her some hides, and in return, she offered to make armour. I went and collected the ingrediants required to make this special armour, and after several hours, we met again at the desert trade hall, where she made me a suit of some of the finest armour I have ever seen!

What she said after me troubled me somewhat: "Please dont approach me wearing a helm and holding a shield so." Or words similar affect. I was slightly stunned for a moment, then realised that maybe she saw a little of Karl in me, and it was too painful for her. I bowed my head for a moment, realising that maybe other people also feel his dissapearance painful, and I felt somewhat guilty. When I raised my head, she was gone...she had left silently, and I was alone in the trade hall, wondering if my actions had truly been fair to other people who had tried to help me in the past.

I reflected on this, and my anger then grew. "I didnt ask for this!!" I thought to myself in a growing rage. That instant an idea popped into my mind. I would go to the panthion of the gods, and rave at the god who had so cruelly brought all of this upon me!

I dont remember too much of my journey there...I do remember deliberately heading into any encounter I could, and striking down anything within reach of my blade. My journey there was bathed in blood.

I remembering entering the panthion an crossing the floor to the stairs leading up the where I needed to go. My rage was reaching new heights, and I believe at that point, maybe I was beyond reason. I smashed the shapeless statue of some forgotten deity into a thousand pieces with a wild swing of my sword. I did not care that maybe long ago, that could have been a symbol of some powerful god, all I cared about was venting my anger! I marched up the stairs, to the upper level of the panthion.

I walked over to the pillar of light that I knew *had* to be Anah...I felt a moment of frustration. How could I smash a beam of light? How could I turn my sword onto something that was not physical in nature? I grew more angered by this. I *wanted* to smash Anah's statue...I had decided that on my journey here, but instead my revenge would be robbed by her twisted and peverted form of humour!! I yelled at the pillar of light, and started swinging my sword around at anything I could smash, reason now leaving me completely as I gave in to my uncoming madness. I gave into it and I let it overwhelm me...I was the madness, and I raged.

How long I did this I do not know, but I remember being stopped abruptly. It was not force that stopped me, just a mere simple, minute presence I felt *inside* of my mind. I stopped flailing my sword around and stood very still, my eyes very wide. Then for what must have been the tiniest moment, the presence in my head overwhelmed me. I say presence, as this is all that I can describe it as....but oh! The power of it! I felt as a spec of sand within a desert next to that presence, and it could have wiped my very existance away in less than a heartbeat if it so chose to.

It chose not to, instead I felt the presence leave, but as it did so, Anah's pillar grew bright and then I knew who it was who had stopped my anger so. The pillar of light pulsed once, and blessed me. Then I fell to the floor shuddering, as something else entered my mind......comprehension.

As I lay on the floor shuddering, I remembered Anah's words to me: "Never fear Lyon, I will not ask of you what you cannot achieve...."

I knew shame at that point also, shame at my actions, and I just stayed on the floor for sometime.

When I arose from the floor, something was different, I felt weird, different. I shook my head a few times, to remove the cobwebs I thought I had, but that did not help. I looked into my pack for some potion or remedy that I might be able to use. I pulled out a scroll, thinking it to be a restoration scroll. Perhaps maybe I had been poisoned on my journey to the panthion? I opened the scroll, but it was not Restoration. It was Stoneskin. I muttered to myself and went to reach in my pack for the correct scroll. Then I jumped in alarm. How could I know what that scroll was??!!

I picked up the scroll and looked at it more closely, indeed, I could read the writings on the scroll! I was stunned...just what happened to make me this way?

I stood there for several minutes, looking at other scrolls in my pack, finiding that I could read most of them, my confusion growing, yet also my exitement growing. What had happened?

It then dawned on me exactly what had happened, and I felt shame once again. I approached Anah's pillar of light, and knelt by it. I knew now that I had been a fool, and that I had been blaspemous in the extreme toward Anah...yet she still chose to bless me.

I stayed knelt there for quite some time. When I arose, I smiled, and felt more content than i had in a long time. I touched the pillar of light one last time, and again, I was blessed.

I then left the panthion quietly, with a head filled with wonder, and a much healed heart and soul.

[Preedy1978]

I write this now with a gladdened heart. My brother has been saved! He lies sleeping in his bed whilst i write this at the desk just outside of the room. Much has happened to him, and he looks....tired.

The first impression I got from him was sadness, and weariness, and it looked deep down, not something given to from tiredness. I asked him what was wrong, and reassured him that he was safe. His reply was: "I think it may be time for me to hang up my sword, Marten. I grow weary of all the bickering and fighting. I just want peace." He smiles at that point, a sight i did not think I would see ever again. Then he added: "Although, I think most people here want that also...I need to think, my brother. Please, let me rest. We shall speak more tomorrow, I promise."

I have to admit, I feel gladness in my heart at his return, and I although perhaps the cult that so cruelly took him away from me has not been fully defeated, I cannot help but hope for bright things for the future.
Hopefully also, other problems will resolve themselves as life continues. I can but hope.

[Preedy1978]

Lyon was knelt down by the pillar of light that was Anah's symbol in the panthion. The upper floor was as usual bathed in a more warmer light than the lower floors, and everything was peaceful.

Lyon was not a pious man, but he did enjoy the few moments of peace he found when he made the time travel to the panthion and pay his respects, show his faith in his god.

Lyon rose from his kneeling position, and was about to turn around and leave when the pillar of light seemed to pulse and throb gently with an even brighter light.

"What the-?" Lyon's eyes grew wider, for he knew this was not normal, and the light was getting ever brighter and was now engulfing the old pillar of light completely.

Then, a sense of presence was in his mind, and his knees buckled, sending him to the floor. Shaking, he just stayed crumpled to the floor, as his god spoke to him in gentle tones, not with a voice that could be heard by others, if there where others, but instead, in his mind.

"You have done well, and have fought off many dangers to yourself, in both body and mind. You have grown strong, and are now a man again." The voice in his head was very gentle, as if trying not to overwhelm Lyon's very human mind completely. "Yet, you still suffer my dear, dear friend." A warm felling spread through his entire body, and for a few moments, Lyon couldn't help but relax and think of nothing as the sensation of warmth and bliss passed through him.

"Alas, I cannot remain long with you, I have much work to do, as you well know, and I think you have much to learn still Lyon." A sense of sadness seemed to radiate from the presence in his mind, and from the pillar, making Lyon want to cry out in despair and anguish as it cut through to his very soul. This was short-lived, however, and the feeling passed, as did the sadness emanating from the goddess'. A small clink behind him made him jump, but he did not turn away from the light.

"Lyon, turn around and take my gift to you. It is a symbol, one half of a whole. Think on this symbol, and its meaning, and then maybe you will see." Another sensation of warmth emerged, and Lyon again almost lost himself of the sensation of pure love.

Smiling as he did so, Lyon turned around, still on the floor, and saw beside him laying flat on the ground a sword. He reached out to touch it and it raised in the air and seemed to hover over the ground, slowly moving to his outstretched hand, as if something invisible was handing him the sword. The sword was strange, it looked magnificent, but it didnt seem to have an edge to cut, nor a point to thrust with. Yet Lyon was mesmorised by it.

"Remember Lyon...I would never ask something of you I know you could not do...." The sword reached his hand and he took the blade.....and the presence, and light around him vanished abruptly. Lyon jumped at the lack of presence, and nearly wept, now shaking on the floor of the panthion, with Anah's sword in his hand. Then, he passed out....the blackness was not expected, but without Anah's presence, Lyon almost welcomed it.

.......Lyon awoke with a start in his bed in the room he shared with his brother in the small houseboat. He looked around, slightly fuzzyheaded, trying to make sense of his surroundings, then realised where he was. A dream. Lyon sighed a deep sigh and lay his head back down upon the soft feather pillow and tried to think back upon the fresh memories.

He thought perhaps he had been somewhat lacking in his devotion to Anah, he thought. He would visit the panthion and spend some time at her image. With that decided, and with Lyon not one to waste moments, he jumped out of bed.

A large clatter meeted his efforts, and he jumped in surprise, eyes widening at what he found to be the source of the unexpected noise.

There on the floor, was the sword.

[Preedy1978]

(( This is for all you guys wondering where I am. Dont worry, I'll be back ))

Lyon slowly rose from the bed, with his pack in hand. His brother, also with pack in hand, was waiting by the door leading from the room, into the main hall of the house boat.

They both silently madde there way outside, and up on deck of the ship. There, they stood by the rail, watching the sunrise, without a word spoken, just listening to the rush of the waves.

Then Karl broke the silence, speaking softly: " Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes" Was the reply: "I am unsure of any of my feelings, and I need time to mull over what has happened to me, regarding this sword as well."

"I understand." Karl placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Well, as I said before. I am with you, you wont travel alone, my brother."

"Thanks Karl." Lyon smiled at his brother. "This will be for a while though...are you sure the King will allow you to be away from your duty for so long?"

Karl sighed at this point: "Well, we shall see eh? I wont let you travel the wilds of this land alone, I know the Isle better than you, and I know where NOT to go. We've already discussed it, remember?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Well then. No more arguments! We going, or just looking at the water?" The last comment was made with a grin, and they both laughed briefly.

Then, they both set foot off the ship, and walked awy inland. Karl looked back briefly to the ship that was his home for so long a time and spoke to himself: "I'll be back girl, just wait for me!"

Then, the brothers walked inland, and their travels away from it all began.