Winds of Darkness

[Zakharra]

This is a story of Inthara Despana as she sits thinking about her life and that of her companions. In the windy plains of IceWind Dale. The basis is from a IC conversation that happened.


Inthara sat on top of a hill close to Lonelywood villiage. Bundled in heavy blankets and a thickly lined cloak. She was looking up at the clear night sky. The vault of stars shone brightly to her Underdark raised eyes. She had been sitting here every night that the sky was clear. Watching the stars.

While she watched the stars slowly turn in the ehavens, she let her mind wander. Thinking back over the last four months. From a fleeing refugee from the dank pits of Skullport, to being captured and imprisoned by the elves of Lonelywood and the dwarves of Clan Battlehammer, to a freedom in the community of Lonelywood. She, Amenia and the Yathrin Elvaelayl Tlabbar, or Sheyreiza Auvryndar as she was named, had fled Skullport. Fleeing the wrath of a drow wizard.

She thought about the flight above on the surface. The boat ride to near the port of Luskan. Why had she follwed Sheyreiza? She had offered to left Inthara go from her Oath, but the young sorceress had refused and had followed her into exile. Inthara felt a bond to the priestess. Even though she had become a follower of Eilistraee in the port they had left behind.

A gust of wind blew snow across her. Bringing her back to the present. Inthara shivered in the blankets and looked to the east. It was a few hours until dawn. Then she would have to leave, The stars hidden by the light of the rising sun. They had been able to walk around in the daylight for a month now. Sheyreiza and Amenia seemed to be adapting quite well, but not Inthara. She still had to wear a blindfold over her eyes when ever she went outside during the day. At night she didn't need it at all. Her eyes easily seeing the dimest light.

The young sorceress shivered and huddled deeper in the blankets. Everywhere she went, there was the cold. It was amazing in a way. Sheyreiza had always been the one who was cold, and now Inthara was the one who was cold all the time. Still she often sat out here watching the stars. Risking frozen ears and toes to sit and see something she had never seen before. There was nothing like this in the Underdark. Most Illythiiri had not seen the glory spread above her. Not would they understand it.

A shooting star streaked across the sky. The Illythiiri woman follwed the glowing trace of it's path. The star reminding her of the posible paths she faced here. They were watched as they went around, exploring the lands around Lonelywood. Inthara knew that there was someone watching her everytime she went anywhere. Even for all night star watching. A smile crept across her lips, as she thought about the poor person that had to sit and watch her all night.

She had follwed Sheyreiza to the cold surface for a simple reason. She loved her as if Sheyreiza was her mother. Not the mother that had birthed her or the one that had raised her, but a true mother. One of her heart. someone she could follow and not be ashamed or afraid of. Like the love of Eilistraee that filled her soul.

That night in the Grove had changed her forever. She had seen Eilistraee and knew she was loved. The goddess had freed her from her madness and Binding. Each of them had faced the goddess and had come out changed. Amenia had a sense of peace about her now. So different from the anger that she had shown before. Sheyreiza had found love. In the form of the male darthiiri Jain'n. She had not seen the Yathrin so happy before. So content.

After the visitation, she had been lost in thought. Going over what she had felt again and again. Eilistraee had given each of them into the care of a darthiir. Amenia had gotten Sirrill, Shey had gotten Mariiana and she had gotten Vraja. The darthiir, elves, had a known dislike of illythiiri. She thought that the way they had been told to watch out for them, was a way for them to get over their dislike.


Inthara huddled deeper as the eastern sky grew brighter. The light washing the stars from the sky. As the sun began to creep over the edge of the horizon, she stood. Shaking out her stiff limbs and gathered up the blankets. She bound a cloth over her eyes. Blocking the bright rays. As she walked down the path to the forest and Lonelywood, the wind blew a few snowflakes against her cheeks. Chilling her, but she didn't mind. In awhile, she would be in a warm room. Freshly bathed and fed. Ready to slip into reverie and let the morning hours pass by. And Eilistraee willing, the next night would be clear and she would be out there again. Watching the stars.

[Cayssan]

I always knew Inthara was a wuss :p

[Vendrin]

Interesting post.

[Mikayla]

I said this in private to Zak but then realized I should say it publicly since I am always trying to dig up my own praise – Zak – good story. I think you very accurately conveyed Inthara’s character and situation. The actual mechanics of your writing might need a little work, but the heart is there. Nicely done.