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masterghandalfThis is a repost from Das_sporking2. Previous installments of this sporking may be found here.
MG: Well, everyone, it’s time to continue our journey through Ed Greenwood’s All Shadows Fled! Last time, we had yet another round of battle with the Zhents, Sharantyr, Belkram and Itharr got rebranded, and Elminster apparently died (not really, and off-page, because that happened in a different, better trilogy). Today, we deal with the aftermath of all of that, as characters react to Elminster’s seeming demise and more of the trilogy’s actual main antagonists get involved again. Joining us once again will be Errezha and Calassara!
Chapter Ten: Time to be Truly Heroes
Errezha: Which would be a first for Greenwood protagonists, in my experience. We open in The Castle of Shadows, Shadowhome, Flamerule 18…
MG: For real, this time.
Errezha: …specifically, in a secret chamber deep below the castle proper, where the thinking shadows glided endlessly through the gloom, vast and slow and where past Shadowmasters High have apparently been fond of disposing of the remains of their enemies. In the center of the chamber sit two seats, facing one another and bearing the personal sigil of Malaug, a symbol which can apparently be found in a handful of locations throughout the castle, all of them save this well-known to the Malaugrym. Apparently, this place isn’t much to look at but seethes with such ancient power that even relatively young and inexperienced Malaugrym can sense it – you know, there are places in Nidal that are supposedly like that, too – and apparently now two of those relatively young Malaugrym, Argast and our old… friend? …Amdramnar (I am deeply ambivalent about seeing him again…) have begun using the place for their secret meetings with each other. They discovered it from going through the writings of Melvydur, a previous Shadowmaster High from more than a thousand years ago who used the chambers to dispose of the bodies of his sons after they all disappointed him, at least until the last of said sons turned the tables and killed Melvydur instead. Hmmm, yes, I can understand the impulse, to be sure (on the son’s end, that is, not Melvydur’s) and now I wonder if the son in question may have been Dhalgrave or if it was someone else? We know the Malaugrym are so long-lived as to be practically immortal, but how many Shadowmasters High have there been between Malaug and Dhalgrave, anyway? I doubt Greenwood will ever answer.
Calassara: Indeed. For someone who supposedly created this entire setting, I can’t say as Greenwood has much impressed me with how he presents its history thus far! In fact, he has conveyed very little of it at all; enormously frustrating. Well, whatever the chamber’s history, it’s a place of power, and the Malaugrym are drawn to arcane power, hence why Amdramnar and Argast sought it out. We’re informed that Amdramnar and Argast are rivals but are considered perhaps the most talented Malaugrym of their generation, and their elders would apparently be surprised to see them working together relatively peacefully. Admittedly, they do both have combat spells prepared in case the other tries something… but for the moment, they’ve both restrained themselves from using them. Their elders were right to fear them. Well, I suppose a modicum of intelligence and self-restraint is rather shocking coming from Greenwood’s villains… The two Malaugrym each shed drops of their blood into a vial, where they mingle as they both swear on their own names that their alliance is sealed (what, are their own names the most sacred things imaginable to them? Can’t they at least swear by their ancestor, Malaug?). But apparently with their oaths sealed, their lives are now bound together so that they will share the same fate, which I suppose precludes the need for a more powerful promise, if one is possible.
Errezha: *sniffs* Devils do such things better. And no, I’m not merely saying that because some of my ancestors were devils. They go on to explain that only together can they release themselves from this agreement, and only here, and that neither of them would have agreed to this deal if so many of their kind hadn’t died recently, forcing them to drastic measures. Oh, yes, thank you, Greenwood, for reminding me of how your oh-so-frightening archvillains have suffered such catastrophic losses from your insufferable heroes! Truly, I needed that reminder *rolls her eyes*. Amdramnar, for his part, even hopes they can become real friends one day, though for the moment their goal is to destroy their mutual enemies, specifically the three beings who dared to strike down so many of our blood. They have done it once, and could well come again… and what if they brought the Great Foe with them this time, or an army of lesser mages? *she sighs* Oh, Amdramnar… I do wish you hadn’t tried to needlessly ensorcell Sharantyr, for I so wish I could like you… Argast points out that Amdramnar tried to befriend these very enemies and asks if he really thinks they’ll return; Amdramnar isn’t sure, but admits that they were accompanied by some other being he couldn’t fully sense, but who commanded magic much stronger than his own and not, despite Argast’s guess, Elminster himself. A gentler, more neutral regard … less knowing, less … afire with humor, let us say. *rolls her eyes* Oh, yes, that Elminster – so very witty! And Sylune, so gentle when she was calling for the genocide of Amdramnar’s species! Even the villains have to shill Greenwood’s pets!
Calassara: *muttering* I’d rather Greenwood’s pets shilled the villains – it would certainly make the likes of Manshoon or Dhalgrave more threatening if Elminster treated them as actual worthy adversaries rather than minor inconveniences! Argast decides to take Amdramnar’s word for it, and then after a moment’s hesitation asks if it’s true that he fancies Sharantyr as a mate. *visibly winces* I beg you, Greenwood – don’t remind us of that! But Amdramnar bluntly says that yes, I did, and do. *she shudders* Savored Sting, Greenwood, if he tries to enchant her to desire him again, I may have to take… measures. Amdramnar admits he’s unsure as to the nature of Sharantyr’s feelings towards him, but he knows she was surprised he wasn’t the menacing, scaly thing she expected and though she never fully let her guard down, she did leave herself somewhat open around him, which he thinks was to see what he would do. But he does still desire her, wishes her to become a part of the House of Malaug, and thinks that even when she was attacking their fellow Malaugrym she was primarily doing it to protect herself and her friends (well, after she foolishly decided to invade your castle without a plan, that is…) and though it’s clear she considered the Malaugrym her enemies, it’s also clear she knew nothing about them as a people and was probably sent here by someone else. And honestly, seeing Amdramnar genuinely defend Sharantyr to his co-conspirator like this would almost be sweet… if, again, he hadn’t tried to take away her free will. Greenwood, why must you ruin everything?
Errezha: *muttering* Because he’s a hack? Argast thinks it was probably Elminster who sent her, and Amdramnar agrees that if not, they’ll find out who. In any case, he does plan to kill Belkram and Itharr, and though he doesn’t want to kill Sharantyr, if the needs of battle demand it, he will, and If the woman proves less than I believe her to be, death can come to her whenever her usefulness in breeding the next generation of Shadowmasters is done. *acidly* Oh, yes, Greenwood, thank you for so subtly making sure we can’t possibly sympathize with Amdramnar at all, how do you do it? In any case, he also promises Argast that there are many Faerunian women out there, some of whom with a strong talent for magic, and so Argast – and their fellows – will have their pick of mates. *disgusted noise* Try it. We’ll see how it goes for you… The two commiserate about how they’ve been denied all the treasures of Faerun by Elminster and by the Shadowmasters High who feared him; Argast claims to have seen much to tempt him in Dhalgrave’s scrying portal that even Dhalgrave was unaware of, and Argast isn’t even particularly interested in Faerun – but he can see why others, like the late, unlamented Milhvar, were. Apparently, Milhvar may have even sired offspring in Faerun while he traveled there hunting magic, who may even now still be alive and ignorant of their true heritage. Oh, dear, there’s another potentially interesting plot thread that Greenwood will no doubt do nothing with.
Calassara: The conversation then turns to how many Malaugrym may be in Faerun right now; Amdramnar knows Ahorga is there for sure, and he’s also spotted Atari and Yinthrim (who we, of course, know to now be dead…) two more working together (Lorgyn and Bralatar?) and at least one more whose identity Amdramnar hasn’t determined; he thinks some of them slipped through during the battle, while others have simply taken advantage of the fact that the throne is currently empty to invade Faerun on their own. Argast confirms that Bralatar and Lorgyn have been gone from the Castle for a while, and the two of them decide to enter Faerun themselves, taking the forms of mortals to watch and learn, and to avoid relying on magic for the duration of the current crisis (but of course, they’re villains, after all – they need to worry about wild magic!). Argast says he’s beginning to see why so many Malaugrym have wanted to go to Faerun over the centuries, even knowing the risks (come, now – you haven’t even left yet!) and Amdramnar agrees, since Faerun had always seemed a distant, fanciful place but is now within their reach. They let one of the shadows in the chamber carry them towards a staircase, where they march up into a crypt and then separate, so no one will see them enter the castle proper together. And then, once they’re gone…
The gigantic shadow that had been their steed drifted on to a place the two Malaugrym did not know. There it rose into a different form and called forth four spherical stones of winking blue fire to orbit one of its wrists endlessly. “And so two more of the restless of our house go to play,” it said in amused tones, “one at least formally welcoming the prospect! Interesting times in old Shadowhome, indeed!”
Calassara: Oh, my… I wonder who this could be… the figure then vanishes to another, even deeper part of the castle, musing to itself that neither Amdramnar nor Argast knows of this other place, and that their ignorance hasn’t been fatal to them… yet. And on that rather ominous note, the scene comes to an end.
Errezha: And so, we cut to Faerûn, Shadowdale, Flamerule 18 as the moonlight illuminates the remains of the battle, and two women who stand together nearby.
One was the Bard of Shadowdale, Storm Silverhand, her face grim and smudged with dirt and old, dried blood that was not her own. She still wore her armor, and leaned on a sword that had seen much use this day. Had she not recently drunk of a certain well-hidden decanter in her kitchen, she would be trembling with weariness now.
The other woman had no body left to tire—she was a thing of ghostly radiance, a softly curved bright shadow in the night. She floated upright above the stones of her long-burned hut, face lifted to the stars, and began an invocation to Mystra more ancient than she was … and that was old indeed. No one disturbed them, or came near; such doings at the ruined hut were why the folk of the dale still called her the Witch of Shadowdale, and shunned this place.
Errezha: Oh, goody, more of the Seven Sisters, and more of Mystra, who we’re apparently still not free of even now that she’s apparently, finally and completely dead. Sylune begins her prayer – which seems remarkably unlikely to be effective, in the current circumstances – hoping that even if Mystra is no longer there to hear her vassal Azuth might be, and then she and Storm repeat the prayer in Azuth’s name to be on the safe side. And this does manage to get a response, as Azuth’s voice speaks out of the night, confirming he hears.
MG: Azuth would have also been cast down during the Time of Troubles, of course, but apparently his avatar manifested at a place called the Pool of Yeven, which is in fact located in the Dalelands, so he might actually be close enough to notice this prayer and retain enough power (if nothing else, he was a powerful archmage before he ascended and should still be one even without his full divine powers) to respond. So, I’ll let this slide.
Errezha: What is it they say about stopped clocks? The sisters ask Azuth if Elminster is dead; Azuth says he didn’t feel him die, but he also can’t feel him at all right now, so he doesn’t know any more than they do. Well, that was a waste of time, then. The sisters tell Azuth how Shadowdale fought off the Zhents, and Azuth confirms that Mystra is truly dead, and that Bane and Elminster were fighting over something called a Celestial Stair, which I presume is explained in that other trilogy we keep hearing about. Meanwhile, Sylune wants Azuth’s advice on how to deal with the Malaugrym, explaining how several of them came over with them into Toril after they escaped the Plane of Shadows. *waspishly* What, you’ve been handling the Malaugrym just fine so far, but now that Elminster’s dead you need a god to help you? I am disappointed in you, ladies! Very disappointed!
The great voice seemed to hold a tone of bitter amusement. “These days, it seems half the multiverse is loose in Faerûn, working mischief … one Azuth among them. My powers are twisted and lessened. Tis all I can do to hold the Realms together, with all the irresponsible spell-hurlers active. Red Wizards, Calishite lords, Zhentarim, and near a thousand ambitious lone wizards whose magic is mighty. Gods and mortals alike are trying to take advantage of the widespread chaos. And without Mystra, magic is truly unreliable. I work constantly to keep the fabric of all from being torn utterly by these ignorant wielders of Art so that Toril will not be dashed apart in utter destruction. You have my sympathy, Sister, and my regrets … but you must contend with the House of Malaug on your own; I dare not intervene. Gather your allies, and work as you have never worked before. ‘Tis time to truly be heroes.”
Calassara: Aha, and there we have our chapter title, then! Though it seems to me that Azuth was just summarizing the situation as it stood already, without really adding anything new… Sylune prays Azuth succeeds in his task, and he wishes her luck as well, tells her that he loves her (I think Azuth was Mystra’s… consort, or one of them, at some point? So, I suppose he’s her… stepfather, sort of? Why must gods make everything so complicated…) and though he can’t spare the strength to aid her he wishes he could, and then his presence vanishes. If only Greenwood had bothered to establish… anything… about the relationship between these characters beforehand, I might have cared rather more about this scene! But once Azuth is gone, Sylune is overcome with grief and begs Storm to take her away to your kitchen, and the fire, and your arms. *arches an eyebrow* Aren’t they sisters? Did Greenwood mean for that to sound romantic, or…? But in any case, Storm obliges, picking up the stone Sylune’s soul is anchored to and carries it back off towards her cottage while fighting back tears herself. As they go, they talk about how Shadowdale will change if Elminster really is dead (for the better, I can only imagine!) and how he was a father-figure to them all, but especially to Storm (well, I do think he raised her, so… that makes sense?). Storm still thinks Elminster is still alive, but if he’s not, the she agrees with Azuth that it’s time for them to be heroes without his comforting aid and guidance – and based on how bad he’s been at that so far, that can only be an improvement!
Errezha: Indeed. I remember Shandril, even if these two don’t seem to… Sylune goes on about how Elminster seemed as eternal as a natural feature like Mount Waterdeep or the Anauroch desert, and then they talk about how Sharantyr only barely restrained herself from killing the two prisoners with her bare hands…
MG: That’d be Midnight and Adon, who did not kill Elminster but everyone in Shadowdale decided to treat as if they had so they could have someone to take out their vengeance on, if you’ll recall.
Errezha: *flatly* Right. Not exactly something I can say I approve of, considering that in my home country when people go looking for scapegoats, the ones they tend to find tend to be people who look like me… but I suppose Greenwood is going to just brush over that. And of course we skipped that scene, even though it involved our main character in her lowest moment of grief and rage almost doing something she would no doubt have bitterly regretted… why, exactly? Oh, yes, Greenwood is a hack. Storm claims that her own rage has faded, though it may come back tomorrow; she considers letting Midnight and Adon go but decides that in Shadowdale they judge by trial, so a trial they will hold and leave Mourngrym the task of passing sentence. But Storm doesn’t envy him that position, because she doesn’t want to pass legal judgement right now, I want to go out and kill things. Ah, behold our gallant heroine, managing her grief with a murderous rampage! What’s not to love? Regardless, the scene ends there.
Calassara: And so we cut to Sharantyr as she, Belkram and Itharr drink and patch each other up. They banter a bit, and Sharantyr asks when they’ll have Sylune back (are you treating the ancient witch ghost like your pet?) and Belkram says Storm will return the stone to him the next morning. For now, he guesses Storm and Sylune are discussing how to defend Shadowdale now that Elminster is gone (actually, Storm was just expressing her desire to, and I repeat, “go out and kill things”) and wonders what’s next for them. Sharantyr wants to get back to hunting Malaugrym, since she promised Elminster she would, and Harpers and Knights of Myth Drannor shouldn’t go back on their word. Belkram looks taken aback but then comes over and kisses Sharantyr’s hand while promising she makes perfect sense. *grimly* As much sense as anyone makes in these books, at least, which isn’t all that much, but more than nothing? *she shrugs* This causes Sharantyr to burst into tears, and the scene ends. We then cut to Storm’s cottage as she steps inside to find someone already there – not a Zhent as she first fears, but Elminster’s scribe, Lhaeo (say, weren’t Storm and Lhaeo an item back in Spellfire? Did… did anything ever come of that?) who says he’s made tea. He then collapses into Storm’s arms, weeping, saying that Elminster always told him he’d know if he died, but now he doesn’t know one way or another. Storm stands there holding him, then she starts weeping too, while Sylune stands there beside them, wishing she could console them but unable to do so, as the chapter comes to an end. And that last image… in a vacuum, that is genuinely a tragic scene! Alas, that they’re weeping over Elminster the Cretin, but it seems Greenwood does on occasion have a knack for something striking. He just… doesn’t do that, normally, for some inexplicable reason.
MG: *sighs* He’s a hack? Well, that’s all for today! These chapters are mostly transitional, honestly. Having wrapped up the “Battle for Shadowdale” plot it’s now time to get back to the “Hunt for the Malaugrym” plot. And so here we have the first half of the chapter dedicated to reintroducing Amdramnar and having him connive with Argast as they bring us up to speed on what’s going on with the Shadowmasters (while they’re observed by the mysterious watcher who wears a set of circling, glowing gemstones on one wrist… whoever could it be?) and then the second half is all about the aftermath of the battle and Elminster’s apparent death (while dancing really awkwardly around the events already covered in the Avatar Trilogy, leaving this trilogy’s story with some sizeable holes in it). All told, it’s far from the worst thing Greenwood’s ever done, but aforementioned holes get more obvious the more thought you put into them. But the good news is, we’ve only got nine chapters to go before we put this trilogy, and Greenwood, behind us! Next time, we have more of our “heroes” trying to sort things out in Shadowdale, and we get a glimpse of what Lorgyn and Bralatar have been up to since the battle. We’ll see you then!
MG: Well, everyone, it’s time to continue our journey through Ed Greenwood’s All Shadows Fled! Last time, we had yet another round of battle with the Zhents, Sharantyr, Belkram and Itharr got rebranded, and Elminster apparently died (not really, and off-page, because that happened in a different, better trilogy). Today, we deal with the aftermath of all of that, as characters react to Elminster’s seeming demise and more of the trilogy’s actual main antagonists get involved again. Joining us once again will be Errezha and Calassara!
Chapter Ten: Time to be Truly Heroes
Errezha: Which would be a first for Greenwood protagonists, in my experience. We open in The Castle of Shadows, Shadowhome, Flamerule 18…
MG: For real, this time.
Errezha: …specifically, in a secret chamber deep below the castle proper, where the thinking shadows glided endlessly through the gloom, vast and slow and where past Shadowmasters High have apparently been fond of disposing of the remains of their enemies. In the center of the chamber sit two seats, facing one another and bearing the personal sigil of Malaug, a symbol which can apparently be found in a handful of locations throughout the castle, all of them save this well-known to the Malaugrym. Apparently, this place isn’t much to look at but seethes with such ancient power that even relatively young and inexperienced Malaugrym can sense it – you know, there are places in Nidal that are supposedly like that, too – and apparently now two of those relatively young Malaugrym, Argast and our old… friend? …Amdramnar (I am deeply ambivalent about seeing him again…) have begun using the place for their secret meetings with each other. They discovered it from going through the writings of Melvydur, a previous Shadowmaster High from more than a thousand years ago who used the chambers to dispose of the bodies of his sons after they all disappointed him, at least until the last of said sons turned the tables and killed Melvydur instead. Hmmm, yes, I can understand the impulse, to be sure (on the son’s end, that is, not Melvydur’s) and now I wonder if the son in question may have been Dhalgrave or if it was someone else? We know the Malaugrym are so long-lived as to be practically immortal, but how many Shadowmasters High have there been between Malaug and Dhalgrave, anyway? I doubt Greenwood will ever answer.
Calassara: Indeed. For someone who supposedly created this entire setting, I can’t say as Greenwood has much impressed me with how he presents its history thus far! In fact, he has conveyed very little of it at all; enormously frustrating. Well, whatever the chamber’s history, it’s a place of power, and the Malaugrym are drawn to arcane power, hence why Amdramnar and Argast sought it out. We’re informed that Amdramnar and Argast are rivals but are considered perhaps the most talented Malaugrym of their generation, and their elders would apparently be surprised to see them working together relatively peacefully. Admittedly, they do both have combat spells prepared in case the other tries something… but for the moment, they’ve both restrained themselves from using them. Their elders were right to fear them. Well, I suppose a modicum of intelligence and self-restraint is rather shocking coming from Greenwood’s villains… The two Malaugrym each shed drops of their blood into a vial, where they mingle as they both swear on their own names that their alliance is sealed (what, are their own names the most sacred things imaginable to them? Can’t they at least swear by their ancestor, Malaug?). But apparently with their oaths sealed, their lives are now bound together so that they will share the same fate, which I suppose precludes the need for a more powerful promise, if one is possible.
Errezha: *sniffs* Devils do such things better. And no, I’m not merely saying that because some of my ancestors were devils. They go on to explain that only together can they release themselves from this agreement, and only here, and that neither of them would have agreed to this deal if so many of their kind hadn’t died recently, forcing them to drastic measures. Oh, yes, thank you, Greenwood, for reminding me of how your oh-so-frightening archvillains have suffered such catastrophic losses from your insufferable heroes! Truly, I needed that reminder *rolls her eyes*. Amdramnar, for his part, even hopes they can become real friends one day, though for the moment their goal is to destroy their mutual enemies, specifically the three beings who dared to strike down so many of our blood. They have done it once, and could well come again… and what if they brought the Great Foe with them this time, or an army of lesser mages? *she sighs* Oh, Amdramnar… I do wish you hadn’t tried to needlessly ensorcell Sharantyr, for I so wish I could like you… Argast points out that Amdramnar tried to befriend these very enemies and asks if he really thinks they’ll return; Amdramnar isn’t sure, but admits that they were accompanied by some other being he couldn’t fully sense, but who commanded magic much stronger than his own and not, despite Argast’s guess, Elminster himself. A gentler, more neutral regard … less knowing, less … afire with humor, let us say. *rolls her eyes* Oh, yes, that Elminster – so very witty! And Sylune, so gentle when she was calling for the genocide of Amdramnar’s species! Even the villains have to shill Greenwood’s pets!
Calassara: *muttering* I’d rather Greenwood’s pets shilled the villains – it would certainly make the likes of Manshoon or Dhalgrave more threatening if Elminster treated them as actual worthy adversaries rather than minor inconveniences! Argast decides to take Amdramnar’s word for it, and then after a moment’s hesitation asks if it’s true that he fancies Sharantyr as a mate. *visibly winces* I beg you, Greenwood – don’t remind us of that! But Amdramnar bluntly says that yes, I did, and do. *she shudders* Savored Sting, Greenwood, if he tries to enchant her to desire him again, I may have to take… measures. Amdramnar admits he’s unsure as to the nature of Sharantyr’s feelings towards him, but he knows she was surprised he wasn’t the menacing, scaly thing she expected and though she never fully let her guard down, she did leave herself somewhat open around him, which he thinks was to see what he would do. But he does still desire her, wishes her to become a part of the House of Malaug, and thinks that even when she was attacking their fellow Malaugrym she was primarily doing it to protect herself and her friends (well, after she foolishly decided to invade your castle without a plan, that is…) and though it’s clear she considered the Malaugrym her enemies, it’s also clear she knew nothing about them as a people and was probably sent here by someone else. And honestly, seeing Amdramnar genuinely defend Sharantyr to his co-conspirator like this would almost be sweet… if, again, he hadn’t tried to take away her free will. Greenwood, why must you ruin everything?
Errezha: *muttering* Because he’s a hack? Argast thinks it was probably Elminster who sent her, and Amdramnar agrees that if not, they’ll find out who. In any case, he does plan to kill Belkram and Itharr, and though he doesn’t want to kill Sharantyr, if the needs of battle demand it, he will, and If the woman proves less than I believe her to be, death can come to her whenever her usefulness in breeding the next generation of Shadowmasters is done. *acidly* Oh, yes, Greenwood, thank you for so subtly making sure we can’t possibly sympathize with Amdramnar at all, how do you do it? In any case, he also promises Argast that there are many Faerunian women out there, some of whom with a strong talent for magic, and so Argast – and their fellows – will have their pick of mates. *disgusted noise* Try it. We’ll see how it goes for you… The two commiserate about how they’ve been denied all the treasures of Faerun by Elminster and by the Shadowmasters High who feared him; Argast claims to have seen much to tempt him in Dhalgrave’s scrying portal that even Dhalgrave was unaware of, and Argast isn’t even particularly interested in Faerun – but he can see why others, like the late, unlamented Milhvar, were. Apparently, Milhvar may have even sired offspring in Faerun while he traveled there hunting magic, who may even now still be alive and ignorant of their true heritage. Oh, dear, there’s another potentially interesting plot thread that Greenwood will no doubt do nothing with.
Calassara: The conversation then turns to how many Malaugrym may be in Faerun right now; Amdramnar knows Ahorga is there for sure, and he’s also spotted Atari and Yinthrim (who we, of course, know to now be dead…) two more working together (Lorgyn and Bralatar?) and at least one more whose identity Amdramnar hasn’t determined; he thinks some of them slipped through during the battle, while others have simply taken advantage of the fact that the throne is currently empty to invade Faerun on their own. Argast confirms that Bralatar and Lorgyn have been gone from the Castle for a while, and the two of them decide to enter Faerun themselves, taking the forms of mortals to watch and learn, and to avoid relying on magic for the duration of the current crisis (but of course, they’re villains, after all – they need to worry about wild magic!). Argast says he’s beginning to see why so many Malaugrym have wanted to go to Faerun over the centuries, even knowing the risks (come, now – you haven’t even left yet!) and Amdramnar agrees, since Faerun had always seemed a distant, fanciful place but is now within their reach. They let one of the shadows in the chamber carry them towards a staircase, where they march up into a crypt and then separate, so no one will see them enter the castle proper together. And then, once they’re gone…
The gigantic shadow that had been their steed drifted on to a place the two Malaugrym did not know. There it rose into a different form and called forth four spherical stones of winking blue fire to orbit one of its wrists endlessly. “And so two more of the restless of our house go to play,” it said in amused tones, “one at least formally welcoming the prospect! Interesting times in old Shadowhome, indeed!”
Calassara: Oh, my… I wonder who this could be… the figure then vanishes to another, even deeper part of the castle, musing to itself that neither Amdramnar nor Argast knows of this other place, and that their ignorance hasn’t been fatal to them… yet. And on that rather ominous note, the scene comes to an end.
Errezha: And so, we cut to Faerûn, Shadowdale, Flamerule 18 as the moonlight illuminates the remains of the battle, and two women who stand together nearby.
One was the Bard of Shadowdale, Storm Silverhand, her face grim and smudged with dirt and old, dried blood that was not her own. She still wore her armor, and leaned on a sword that had seen much use this day. Had she not recently drunk of a certain well-hidden decanter in her kitchen, she would be trembling with weariness now.
The other woman had no body left to tire—she was a thing of ghostly radiance, a softly curved bright shadow in the night. She floated upright above the stones of her long-burned hut, face lifted to the stars, and began an invocation to Mystra more ancient than she was … and that was old indeed. No one disturbed them, or came near; such doings at the ruined hut were why the folk of the dale still called her the Witch of Shadowdale, and shunned this place.
Errezha: Oh, goody, more of the Seven Sisters, and more of Mystra, who we’re apparently still not free of even now that she’s apparently, finally and completely dead. Sylune begins her prayer – which seems remarkably unlikely to be effective, in the current circumstances – hoping that even if Mystra is no longer there to hear her vassal Azuth might be, and then she and Storm repeat the prayer in Azuth’s name to be on the safe side. And this does manage to get a response, as Azuth’s voice speaks out of the night, confirming he hears.
MG: Azuth would have also been cast down during the Time of Troubles, of course, but apparently his avatar manifested at a place called the Pool of Yeven, which is in fact located in the Dalelands, so he might actually be close enough to notice this prayer and retain enough power (if nothing else, he was a powerful archmage before he ascended and should still be one even without his full divine powers) to respond. So, I’ll let this slide.
Errezha: What is it they say about stopped clocks? The sisters ask Azuth if Elminster is dead; Azuth says he didn’t feel him die, but he also can’t feel him at all right now, so he doesn’t know any more than they do. Well, that was a waste of time, then. The sisters tell Azuth how Shadowdale fought off the Zhents, and Azuth confirms that Mystra is truly dead, and that Bane and Elminster were fighting over something called a Celestial Stair, which I presume is explained in that other trilogy we keep hearing about. Meanwhile, Sylune wants Azuth’s advice on how to deal with the Malaugrym, explaining how several of them came over with them into Toril after they escaped the Plane of Shadows. *waspishly* What, you’ve been handling the Malaugrym just fine so far, but now that Elminster’s dead you need a god to help you? I am disappointed in you, ladies! Very disappointed!
The great voice seemed to hold a tone of bitter amusement. “These days, it seems half the multiverse is loose in Faerûn, working mischief … one Azuth among them. My powers are twisted and lessened. Tis all I can do to hold the Realms together, with all the irresponsible spell-hurlers active. Red Wizards, Calishite lords, Zhentarim, and near a thousand ambitious lone wizards whose magic is mighty. Gods and mortals alike are trying to take advantage of the widespread chaos. And without Mystra, magic is truly unreliable. I work constantly to keep the fabric of all from being torn utterly by these ignorant wielders of Art so that Toril will not be dashed apart in utter destruction. You have my sympathy, Sister, and my regrets … but you must contend with the House of Malaug on your own; I dare not intervene. Gather your allies, and work as you have never worked before. ‘Tis time to truly be heroes.”
Calassara: Aha, and there we have our chapter title, then! Though it seems to me that Azuth was just summarizing the situation as it stood already, without really adding anything new… Sylune prays Azuth succeeds in his task, and he wishes her luck as well, tells her that he loves her (I think Azuth was Mystra’s… consort, or one of them, at some point? So, I suppose he’s her… stepfather, sort of? Why must gods make everything so complicated…) and though he can’t spare the strength to aid her he wishes he could, and then his presence vanishes. If only Greenwood had bothered to establish… anything… about the relationship between these characters beforehand, I might have cared rather more about this scene! But once Azuth is gone, Sylune is overcome with grief and begs Storm to take her away to your kitchen, and the fire, and your arms. *arches an eyebrow* Aren’t they sisters? Did Greenwood mean for that to sound romantic, or…? But in any case, Storm obliges, picking up the stone Sylune’s soul is anchored to and carries it back off towards her cottage while fighting back tears herself. As they go, they talk about how Shadowdale will change if Elminster really is dead (for the better, I can only imagine!) and how he was a father-figure to them all, but especially to Storm (well, I do think he raised her, so… that makes sense?). Storm still thinks Elminster is still alive, but if he’s not, the she agrees with Azuth that it’s time for them to be heroes without his comforting aid and guidance – and based on how bad he’s been at that so far, that can only be an improvement!
Errezha: Indeed. I remember Shandril, even if these two don’t seem to… Sylune goes on about how Elminster seemed as eternal as a natural feature like Mount Waterdeep or the Anauroch desert, and then they talk about how Sharantyr only barely restrained herself from killing the two prisoners with her bare hands…
MG: That’d be Midnight and Adon, who did not kill Elminster but everyone in Shadowdale decided to treat as if they had so they could have someone to take out their vengeance on, if you’ll recall.
Errezha: *flatly* Right. Not exactly something I can say I approve of, considering that in my home country when people go looking for scapegoats, the ones they tend to find tend to be people who look like me… but I suppose Greenwood is going to just brush over that. And of course we skipped that scene, even though it involved our main character in her lowest moment of grief and rage almost doing something she would no doubt have bitterly regretted… why, exactly? Oh, yes, Greenwood is a hack. Storm claims that her own rage has faded, though it may come back tomorrow; she considers letting Midnight and Adon go but decides that in Shadowdale they judge by trial, so a trial they will hold and leave Mourngrym the task of passing sentence. But Storm doesn’t envy him that position, because she doesn’t want to pass legal judgement right now, I want to go out and kill things. Ah, behold our gallant heroine, managing her grief with a murderous rampage! What’s not to love? Regardless, the scene ends there.
Calassara: And so we cut to Sharantyr as she, Belkram and Itharr drink and patch each other up. They banter a bit, and Sharantyr asks when they’ll have Sylune back (are you treating the ancient witch ghost like your pet?) and Belkram says Storm will return the stone to him the next morning. For now, he guesses Storm and Sylune are discussing how to defend Shadowdale now that Elminster is gone (actually, Storm was just expressing her desire to, and I repeat, “go out and kill things”) and wonders what’s next for them. Sharantyr wants to get back to hunting Malaugrym, since she promised Elminster she would, and Harpers and Knights of Myth Drannor shouldn’t go back on their word. Belkram looks taken aback but then comes over and kisses Sharantyr’s hand while promising she makes perfect sense. *grimly* As much sense as anyone makes in these books, at least, which isn’t all that much, but more than nothing? *she shrugs* This causes Sharantyr to burst into tears, and the scene ends. We then cut to Storm’s cottage as she steps inside to find someone already there – not a Zhent as she first fears, but Elminster’s scribe, Lhaeo (say, weren’t Storm and Lhaeo an item back in Spellfire? Did… did anything ever come of that?) who says he’s made tea. He then collapses into Storm’s arms, weeping, saying that Elminster always told him he’d know if he died, but now he doesn’t know one way or another. Storm stands there holding him, then she starts weeping too, while Sylune stands there beside them, wishing she could console them but unable to do so, as the chapter comes to an end. And that last image… in a vacuum, that is genuinely a tragic scene! Alas, that they’re weeping over Elminster the Cretin, but it seems Greenwood does on occasion have a knack for something striking. He just… doesn’t do that, normally, for some inexplicable reason.
MG: *sighs* He’s a hack? Well, that’s all for today! These chapters are mostly transitional, honestly. Having wrapped up the “Battle for Shadowdale” plot it’s now time to get back to the “Hunt for the Malaugrym” plot. And so here we have the first half of the chapter dedicated to reintroducing Amdramnar and having him connive with Argast as they bring us up to speed on what’s going on with the Shadowmasters (while they’re observed by the mysterious watcher who wears a set of circling, glowing gemstones on one wrist… whoever could it be?) and then the second half is all about the aftermath of the battle and Elminster’s apparent death (while dancing really awkwardly around the events already covered in the Avatar Trilogy, leaving this trilogy’s story with some sizeable holes in it). All told, it’s far from the worst thing Greenwood’s ever done, but aforementioned holes get more obvious the more thought you put into them. But the good news is, we’ve only got nine chapters to go before we put this trilogy, and Greenwood, behind us! Next time, we have more of our “heroes” trying to sort things out in Shadowdale, and we get a glimpse of what Lorgyn and Bralatar have been up to since the battle. We’ll see you then!
