"Enough of that!" A mage with a Godsway staff walked into the prison block of the excavation site. He slammed the end of his staff against the floor and every pawn collapsed in agony. "You found your poor pawn, I see," he turned to Lena. "Well, you are too late! There is no cure for…
Rain’s Hand, 4E204 – Showdown
"We are going to the excavation site," Lena turned to her pawns. "They keep pawns as slave labour there, they have Godsway all over the place, I shall try to shield you but cannot guarantee it. You will get headaches at best or you will fall under their control at worst. There is no telling…
Rain’s Hand, 4E204 – Brother
"The throne has got a new crowned head, but the sun is still the same," Lamond smiled when Lena sat next to him at the Volcanic Springs. "To your health, cos." He took a swig of the Newt Liqueur that she brought him. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" "Need to talk to you,…
Rain’s Hand, 4E204 – Grains of sand
"Forgive me, I didn't see you there..." Someone walked right into Lena in the middle of a road. The man's eyes were almost white. "Not a problem..." Lena steadied him as he seemed a bit shaky. "Where are you headed?" "That way..." He pointed forward absent-mindedly. "Or that... does it really matter?" "It depends where…
Rain’s Hand, 4E204 – The sword of sorrow
When Lena said that finding Lamond would be easy, she meant that she knew where to find him - at the Volcanic Springs spa in the South East of Battahl. Actually getting there was nothing like easy. They had to traverse the entire Battahli kingdom along its crescent-shaped valley with so many twists and turns,…
First Seed, 4E204 – The oracle
"Let's do the obvious thing first," Lena pointed South when they reached the border checkpoint with Battahl. "Although I am not sure it would be of use..." "Stop talking in riddles, we are no longer at the shrine of the Sphinx!" Mason scowled. "What obvious thing?" "The oracle," Lena shrugged. "She did say to find…
First Seed, 4E204 – The Sphinx
"Another challenger stands before me," the Sphinx flew into the shrine and landed in front of Lena. Rook and Mason took several steps back. "Are you here to temper your steel or do you choose a battle of wits?" She towered over Lena but her eyes were not unkind... if a bit mad... The shrine…
First Seed, 4E204 – Still here, Arisen?
"I thought I would find you here, Arisen! And it appears that I was right!" "I knew you'd still be lingering here, Arisen!" "As ever, I am yours to command, master!" "Arisen! You need my help." As Lena and Rook set off on their long journey to the Kingdom of Battahl, they were being stopped…
First Seed, 4E204 – Her Majesty’s escort
Rook's teleportation to Vernworth did not go unnoticed. The porticrystal stood next to the Pawn Guild on a major thoroughfare, and an arrival of a single pawn covered in foul slime and dressed in prison garb, immediately got him arrested. "In the name of Her Majesty the Sovran, I am arresting you for disturbing the…
Sun’s Dawn, 4E204 – Pawns
"That's enough, this cargo is worth more than your lives taken together!" A sorcerer with an unusual staff barked at the guards beating up prisoners. "Count them and load them into the cart! And if any of them is seriously injured... I'll have your heads!" A dozen or so prisoners were manhandled into a covered…
Sun’s Dawn, 4E204 – A grain of sand in a desert
"This is like finding a grain of sand in a desert!" Sven shook his head when Lena told him they had to look for clues in Battahl. "How to tell which one is the right one? We have a stack of letters from Battahl, intimate and otherwise, signed and unsigned, old and new... Which one…
Sun’s Dawn, 4E204 – Strands in a web
It took many weeks collecting every little piece of information they could find - both about Battahl and Queen Regent's past and present connections there, and about anyone with designs to remove Her Majesty's personal guard, that is, Scorpio. Between Lena, Rook and Sven they figured out that it was all connected, but were still…
4 Morning Star, 4E204 – Engagement
"Word is - Her Majesty the Sovran and Regentkin Sven are engaged to be married!" "No!" "Yes!" "I heard others say the same!" "Happy days!" The rumours spread like wildfire, and within a day or two of Lena's outing to The Rose, the town was talking about her being engaged to Regentkin Sven. Which made…
2 Morning Star, 4E204 – Never thought I’d meet you here
"Your companion for tonight is here," Madam Wilhemina ushered Rook into the room Lena was in. "This room is yours for twenty four hours, or longer if you wish it," she smiled. "We do not skimp on time. Do ring for room service for refreshments." She left, with a glance of encouragement towards Rook. He…
1 Morning Star, 4E204 – A new year, a new perspective
"A new day, a new perspective" was what Scorpio used to say rounding up their party ready to set off again after a night's rest. It was the duty of the Main Pawn to keep an eye on the other pawns in the group and make sure they didn't try to idle, shirk combat or…
Evening Star, 4E203 – Strike where it hurts most
"That was a brilliant plan, congratulations!" Someone was gazing into a crystal ball. "Look - now she went and killed the dragon! And ended up right where she began! Genius!" "You wanted her out of the picture," another voice replied. "We've so far been trying to get her removed - killed, teleported, transformed - but…
Evening Star, 4E203 – Coronation
Lena killed the dragon and became the Sovran of Vermund, but she didn't get her heart back. The day of the coronation was all a haze to her. The best royal beauticians spent hours reducing the puffiness under her eyes and the inflamed redness of her face as she had spent the night crying. "I…
Hearthfire, 4E203 – Life is not meant to make any sense
Lena was once again waist deep in politics of the world she was in, regardless of how much she disliked to be mixed up in politics. She was being called upon to perform all sorts of "duties" to the "people of such and such kingdom" from thwarting regicide to abating rebellion to thwarting said rebellion...…
Last Seed, 4E203 – Glimpses of the past
"Let's just get to Gran Soren and be done with it," Lena and her companions stood on top of a cliff overlooking much of the land before them. "There - you can see the city in all its splendour." "It isn't Gran Soren," Scorpio said quietly. "This is Vernworth, the capital of Vermund. We are…
Last Seed, 4E203 – On the road
"What do you mean - I cannot have both daggers and a bow?" Lena was glaring at the sergeant on the encampment. "I am an assassin, I need both." "Assassin is not a vocation, it's a state of mind," the sergeant shook his head. "Choose between an Archer and a Thief." "A Thief?!" Lena couldn't…
Last Seed, 4E203 – Falling
Lena returned to Cheydinhal after her trip to Castle Volkihar. She was happy to be back home, to finally hold her newborn son in her arms without the fear of frightening him with her vampirism. Lucien was there too, having delegated any and all jobs to Ocheeva and Vicente during Lena's absence. Everything was peaceful…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Come what may
Lena had been asleep for several months, immobile in bed. Her body had long recovered from poison and starvation that she had inflicted upon herself; her blood was free of toxins and her skin free of festering warts. Yet when she finally awakened, she found herself barely able to walk - her strength failed her.…
4th Era, Year Unknown – The Arisen’s Bond
Commander of the Ducal Guard Ser Maximilian Eizenstern was seen leaving the castle dungeons by the door to the sewers, a limp corpse of a prisoner hanging over his shoulder. A few pairs of eyes squinted but no heads turned, as the people who dwelled there, were long used to various guards disposing of dead…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Release
"So it's true, the dragon is back and you are still the Arisen," Ser Maximilian smiled, greeting Lena near the castle grounds. "I've got tasks for you... err... rather similar to last time," he grimaced. "But duty is duty, so here you are." He handed her a list of tasks. "Are you still..." "...going after…
4th Era, Year Unknown – The second coming
The events followed an eerily familiar pattern. Olra stood on the pier in Cassardis at night calling Lena to explore the Bitterblack Isle. A hydra attacked the encampment, but retreated once one of its heads was cut off. Ser Mercedes from a neighbouring duchy was back, leading the men of the Enlistment Core, and once…
4th Era, Year Unknown – A dream
Lena was lying on a beach, her chest slashed open, her heart missing. A dragon was standing over her. "Take up arms, newly Arisen," he said. "Come and face me." Lena sat up with a jerk. Her heart was beating fast, it was still in her chest, with an ugly, rugged scar over it. She…
4th Era, Year Unknown – The life of a pawn
"I have a feeling this might be goodbye," Scarlet said quietly when they finished their meal. "Once you deliver the wakestones to Quince, something will happen and I shall never see you again. I want you to know..." She broke off, noticing Lena's bewildered expression. "I want you to know that walking with you has…
4th Era, Year Unknown – The meaning of life
"Two arenas, eight wakestones," Lena counted their trophies after a foray into the Everfall. "I don't get it. The fights were tough, yes, but it won't take forever to collect twenty wakestones at this rate... I hope." "What happens once we've collected them?" Scarlet mused. "Quite." "I think the purpose of this is to get…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Riddles
Lena was falling into an abyss. She wasn't trying to commit suicide, she was quite sure it was a portal. But she'd been falling for a while, and nothing was happening. "Am I supposed to do something?" She wondered. She tried to pay attention to the walls, but the fall was really fast and she…
4th Era, Year Unknown – The Final Solution
Lena woke up late in her house in Cassardis, Scorpio lay beside her. "Good morning, Assassin," he smiled. "How does it feel to have your heart back? You certainly slept soundly." "Shall we go see what Pablo has cooked for breakfast?" Lena stretched, but sudden pain in her chest made her crouch and cough. "What's…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Choices
"And now again, the choice is yours, Arisen," the dragon folded his wings and looked at Lena with interest. They had arrived at the end of their journey - they were facing the dragon on top of the Tainted Mountain. The dragon that could have burned them all to a crisp with a single breath…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Escort
"Ser Maximilian is requesting an escort," Lena was reading notices on the billboard in the Union Inn in Gran Soren. "Interesting." "Aha," Scorpio grinned. "Do I get the night off?" "Not that kind of escort!" She grinned back at him. "He has orders to march to the Greatwall Encampment by way of training," she shook…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Romance
"Must be nice to walk with a female who has no qualms taking her clothes off in your presence," said Ser Octavio at the camp where Lena and Scorpio had stopped for the night. "Do you to do 'it' a lot?" He grinned. "We do not do 'it' at all," Scorpio answered coldly. "Not that…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Affairs of state
"Arisen! Your urgent attention is required at the Southern Waycastle!" "Arisen! Ser! Fly to the capital at once!" "Cockatrice! Arisen! To the Southern Gate!" "Aaaaaaaahhhh!!!!" "Wait, isn't the Duke a world-famous dragon slayer? How come it's all up to me then?!" "Don't think - fight!" "Here - I'm not losing you again! Petrification antidote!" ...…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Wolves
"You are not using any of the special skills that go with your magic shield," Lena noted, having observed Scorpio's technique in a number of fights. "Isn't it the whole point of such a special shield?" "You are not using any of those skills either," Scorpio pointed out. "And neither do I see you use…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Skeletons
"We should look into those skeletons allegedly plaguing the city suburbs at night," Lena was saying as she and Scorpio were methodically putting down the undead along the road. "Ser Maximilian said it was more serious than the usual trouble." "Well, we have so far not encountered anything out of the ordinary," Scorpio replied, not…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Prison, again
Lena pushed a door from one part of the sewers into another and was not met by a fresh conglomerate of poisonous spiders and snakes. This could mean one of two things: either she was out of the dungeons, or she was back in. Although the dungeons of Gran Soren had a large and firmly…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Salvation
Gran Soren was bustling with life when they returned after another round of training. Lena had insisted that they should stay out for several days, fighting both day and night, since undead warriors would never appear in sunlight. Forty-five undead warriors was a tall order, as it turned out. Oh, there was no shortage of…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Bonds
"You found something there," the young woman at the pier on the Bitterblack Isle spoke first when Lena approached her. "I could feel it, you uncovered something." "We have?" Lena was surprised as they didn't find any clues to the meaning of the Isle. "How?" "By being here, I guess," the woman smiled. "My name…
4th Era, Year Unknown – A test of resolve
Lena touched a riftstone in a fort ruin. Once again, she had lost Scorpio. The portal opened and she entered the Rift. The ground was covered in mist, as usual. You could see for leagues, yet the horizon was completely bland and featureless. There were no light sources, yet it wasn't completely dark. A single…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Malice
"The deeper in we go, the more I sense malice... or something like it," Scarlet shuddered uncomfortably as they were descending into the Garden of Ignominy on the Bitterblack Isle. "And to think that this is just the beginning," Lena nodded. "It is a cursed place for sure. And who named this garden, anyway?" The…
4th Era, Year Unknown – A day on the beach
"Shall we go?" Scorpio touched Lena's shoulder, waking her up. "To the Bitterblack Isle? The night is nearly over." They had been sitting on the beach waiting for the night to fall, for it was only at night that they could be transported to the Bitterblack Isle. But the warm sand and gentle breeze lulled…
4th Era, Year Unknown – The witch
Back in Gran Soren, Lena finally decided it was time to go see the Duke. She could not delay it indefinitely, really. As she entered the castle hall, a jester jumped up and put a jester's hat on her head, then pushed her in. The gentry parted, letting her walk up to the Duke to…
4th Era, Year Unknown – To catch a thief
"Arisen, Ser, His Grace the Duke saw it fit to grant you an audience," Ser Maximilian told Lena when she came to report on yet another errand. "This is a great honour, see that you do not take it lightly. You will be required to drop any tasks you have lined up as well. Are…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Assassin
"We'll stay here a bit longer," Cicero signalled Scarlet to sit back down when Lena got up from the dinner table, with Scorpio following her. "We'll see you in the morning. You take the room upstairs, why don't you." The inn in Gran Soren had some private rooms as well as a common dormitory downstairs.…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Bandits, harpies, wolves
"Could I have a word, Ser Arisen?" Someone touched Lena's arm in a busy area of the capital of Gransys, Gran Soren. His voice was calm and words refreshingly devoid of disdain. "Your duties have you travel up and down the country, and I have a favour to ask. I am searching for a magic…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Shadow Fort
The Shadow Fort was taken over by goblins. A group of knights was standing in front of a locked gate. "Our tactics are simple," their Captain told Lena. "We mount an all-out frontal assault. There is just a small snag: the gate is blocked. Barred from the inside. Which is where you come in: go…
4th Era, Year Unknown – Revelations by the Lake
"Walk with me," Lena touched Scorpio's arm, beckoning him to follow. She walked towards the lake by the camp, then continued on along the shore until they were not only out of earshot of the others, but also out of sight, with rocks and vegetation hiding them from view. There she picked a spot by…
21 Sun’s Dawn, 4E203 – Memories of another world
"Moonglow is only found by night," Lena repeated Scorpio's phrase as they set off to walk the roads of the Shivering Isles. "Yes, I remember. A huge party... a huge wild party... well, Sanguine was staying here, so you can imagine," she smirked. "Too much felldew and all kinds of brandy. Then someone pushed me…
Masser and Secunda 