Takesis
This is a history, first of my Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Character, then of the adventures and misadventures of his adventuring group, the Heroes of Happenstance, as seen through his eyes. Glad to have you visiting.
 ALL MATERIAL IN THIS FILE IS UNDER COPYRIGHT BY ARIEL GOLD
 It was almost morning by then. I went back to my room and said goodbye to Bolten without him knowing it was goodbye. I wrote two letters, folded them, and left them where they'd be found later. Then I went to find Windsong. I spoke with her alone for a moment, explaining that I needed to speak to Lord Ariakan as soon as possible, and I would be eternally grateful if she would do me the favor of getting me there sometime soon. I wouldn't need to worry about getting back--after all, there were plenty of mages among the Knights of Takesis. Windsong agreed, but she had to memorize spells first. She said she'd find me sometime tomorrow.
There was a horrendous thump and we both went running out the landing pad, the others joining us on the way. We found the landing pad cracked by Flicker, who had landed hard with the head of the battle-scarred gold in her claws. She was still alive, and anger smoldered in her eyes. Then the green dragon perked up and said, "They're coming," and looked to the west. I silently hoped that I wouldn't be too late by the time I got to talk to Lord Ariakan.
We guessed the Knights of Takesis would head first for Waterdeep, as the most major city on the Sword Coast. Windsong went to warn them. I went to get some sleep. Bolten woke me with the news that the sun was dark. I went rushing out to see. It was like something was obscuring it, turning day into night. Chesintra was standing on our highest tower, and as we watched it was as if she spilled magical night down the entire citadel. It covered all of True's paintings and made the stone pitch black. Her eyes were glowing red and small lightnings were flashing around her, and she said, "The carnage begins now, and all your happiness is over." And she disappeared.
There was nothing more to be done just then. Windsong cast some sort of illusion on the castle to make it appear more reasonable and less like Lord Soth still lived here--though she didn't replace the wall of True's porn. All I could do was wait for her go-ahead. I went inside and found Nyda's door open. She was huddled on her bed and Alak was there, trying to convince her that the night was Chesintra's fault. I was inclined to believe it, since it conveniently let him roam any time he wished to. Nyda said she had to go talk to Raistlin, so we both went with her. I learned that her plan for defeating Takesis was to get swallowed by her, and try to damage her from the inside. Mielikki help her. Raistlin was able to give her a ring which would prevent the blood from affecting her, let her breathe and such.
We were barely out of Raistlin's room when Nyda simply fainted. Alak and I both moved to catch her, and together we carried her to her room and set her down on her bed. She showed no signs of coming around when Windsong stopped outside the open door and told me that she could help me out now.
It was time. I wasn't ready, but it was time. I couldn't say goodbye to Chantelle, she'd guess what I was planning. This was as close as I could come to a goodbye to Windsong. I'd already said goodbye to Bolten, after a fashion. And Nyda was unconscious. I did the first thing that popped into my head, that I could probably never have done if she were aware of it: I bent and kissed her hand. And left as fast as I could manage. I went back to my room, briefly, leaving everything behind but my clothes, my two metal longswords, and my second-best dagger.
I went back to Windsong, and shortly we were in Ariakan's office in a city I didn't recognize. Windsong disappeared and I apologized to him for showing up so abruptly and in such an impolite manner . . . but I had to speak with him about a matter of honor. I asked him to intercede for me in the matter of arranging honorable combat with Takesis. If I won, she would leave the lands that were once Toril alone, and if she won, the Heroes of Happenstance--with the exception of Nyda, who seemed to do whatever she wanted to--would not directly oppose her in her attempt to conquer those lands. And I said that if that seemed a little uneven, well, what were my chances of defeating a goddess?
Ariakan mumbled something about "You know that . . . " Or rather, started to mumble. He couldn't quite complete the thought, which must have ended with something to do with how likely I was to die. I said I knew. All that I asked was that it be honorable, and I trusted his honor and would ask him to witness and verify that everything was done properly--and that he return whatever remained of me and my possessions to the Heroes of Happenstance. He agreed, but had to try one more time to dissuade me. This time he said that of course, no one would consider it cowardly if I broke off the combat partway through. I said I understood.
He prayed to his goddess, then, and told me she had agreed. The invasionary force was over the ocean now, but they were coming to some islands. We would fight there. A mage come into the room and teleported us all . . . onto Takesis's back. Somehow, not anywhere I would ever have expected to be. I could see the blue paragon dragon nearby, with Kitiara on its back.
It took us about half an hour to reach the islands. Half an hour for me to dwell on what I was doing. Being dead didn't bother me--I'd been there before and it hadn't been that bad. Dying, on the other hand, terrified me.
We set down on a small island and Takesis took the form of a very beautiful human woman. She herself said that she had nothing against me personally, and that I was welcome, even now, to change my allegiance to her side . . . I politely declined. She wore no armor and held a longsword. I would have taken my armor off to make things look more honorable, but she charged me. The best I could do was fight with only one sword. I lunged at her . . . and hit, putting a thin scratch in her arm. She got this look of utter surprise and anger on her face, and said, "You little bastard!" She swung at me, and obviously knew how to use the sword. I got one more hit in, this one across her face. If possible, she looked even angrier. She reached out and touched my forehead with one finger, but nothing happened. I never got another hit; I wasn't badly wounded yet, but wounded enough I couldn't keep up with her. She tried another dirty trick, a magical blade forming and hitting me on its own.
I tried to fight, the gods know that. Then she said, "Die, fool," and lightning shot from her hands. I swear I could feel my skin sizzling, my hair standing on end. Oh gods, it hurt, I could hear myself screaming. But I was still alive. Then the lightning struck again. And again. And again . . .
And then I could somehow see myself . . . or what was left of me. Takesis was still running her lightning strikes through my body, what remained of it. It was little more than a mass of ash and blood now, and there was little enough of that. As I watched, a sort of flying object with a rope attached to it swooped in, wrapped the rope around her ankle, and flew back--to a night of Takesis. It tripped her, sending her sprawling to the ground. Ariakan ran up to her and they started arguing.
I don't know if I can help them anymore, but I have to try. And Nyda--she's slated to end up with Cyric if nothing changes. I don't know if the dead can pray. I guess I'll find out.
Maybe Califer will know.
Read the letters Li left.
See Li's character sheet.
Read the player's notes about Li's adventures.
Lacuna: See what happened between the time of Li's death and the time Dooley takes up the story of the Heroes of Happenstance.
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