Wow. I do not post here often. But this is worth it. I was feeling really creative after an awesome roleplay on Forgotten Kingdoms. So excited was I that I recounted the entire event from my character's point of view. I passed it to my major opponent in this, Danten the Huntmaster. And... he loved it. Abolutely loved it. He says I should have it published in game, which, to me, is a huge honor. I've sent it to them to be made into a book, though I won't be selling it. Too much in character information, which my character doesn't want getting around. Still, I really hope they like it. I'd love to have this thing turned into a book, even if I only ever end up showing it to one person. Then again, perhaps he could be persuaded? Enjoy! The Wrath of the Beastlord I knew I was being hunted. As soon as I saw him, I just knew. Danten, the Huntmaster of Malar, was tracking me. He had a couple of companions with him, but it hardly mattered. The Beastlord's most favored was coming for me, and I was scared. I tried to evade him, then I ducked down into the undergrowth of the Misty forest, hoping he would pass me by. I sent out a magical message to a member of the rangers guild, warning of Danten's passage. I was hoping, for my sake, that the Huntmaster sought one of them, not me. Only a few minutes had passed before I knew I was wrong. Danten strode towards me, his gaze fixed on my position despite my best efforts to remain hidden. I knew I had been caught, and I knew that if I had decided to run, I would just be giving him the hunt he so desired. So, instead, I stayed. I stood tall, trying to mask my fear with confidence. However, in my heart, I was preparing to face my mortality. He told me then why he had sought me out. He had a witness who claimed to have seen a man, dressed much like one of the rangers, while in Waterdeep. This man had entered a shop and sold a strange claw, then left. This claw was an object of great importance to his faith, and so he was enraged. Unfortunately for me, I seemed to fit the witness' description. He demanded to receive either a confession or a name. I told him I was ignorant of the situation, but he refused to believe me. This was when the ranger showed up, and a small crowd of powerful rangers, wizards, and at least one priest gathered, each called to the scene by another. I had thought to perhaps slip away while the Huntmaster was occupied with the rangers, but each time I thought to creep away, he would turn to me with a hateful stare. And so, I stayed. Those that had gathered claimed to know nothing of the sacred object's sale. Danten was not pleased by this. He threatened a hunt to find the perpetrator. A great hunt, one that would sweep the realm. Starting with us, of course. I knew that his threat was folly. How could he ever hope to slay every living creature in the City of Splendors alone, much less the rest of the realm? Did he think himself unopposed? Or had he gone mad? It mattered little. He was going to kill us, and that's all that I really cared about. Just when things couldn't get any worse, they did just that. Horrifying sounds echoed through the forest, and even the entire realm. Roars, growls, snarls... Danten's lord had arrived. Malar descended upon the Misty forest, along with his terrible beasts. It seemed he wished to see this offense paid for in blood. We were all going to die. That was becoming increasingly clear. But then, the Huntmaster did something I had not expected. He offered us an escape. He said that those who would leave right then would be spared for the time being. A few took him up on his offer, including Ketlic, who sought a solution without undue violence. There were those that stayed, however, including the ranger Telnier. I do not know if Telnier stayed out of stubbornness, foolishness, or pride. What I do know is that when he decided to remain and face the beasts of Malar, his friends chose not to leave him to his fate. I would have happily left with my life, but there was another present. Another who had chosen to stay. I could not leave her to face the coming onslaught alone, and so I stayed. The battle was swift. I could not even count a single one of my thumping heartbeats before the horrible creatures had descended upon us. All I can remember is seeing a pair of gleaming jaws heading eagerly towards my throat. We were slain to a one. Immediately, the souls of those fallen were taken to the realm of the dead, to the Fugue Plain, where we were to languish for our crimes against the Beastlord. Immediately, the other lost souls sought a way to free themselves of their fate. One of them, Rynn of Kelemvor, asked his patron to return him to life so that he may help the rest of us come back as well. However, he was denied his supplication. It seemed that all of the gods wished to see us punished for the actions of one. The voices in my head told me of their anger. They had all been insulted by the foolish actions of the guilty. By selling the holy artifact of a deity as some sort of commodity, he had brought forth the wrath of the immortal gods. I remember being there for what seemed like such a long time. I had to keep my gaze from drifting, lest I look upon the Wall of the Faithless, a place I feared more than anything else, for surely that would be my fate should I not escape death. As we stood there, questioning our fate, some began to ask the question. Who had committed the act that had cost us our lives? No one ever spoke their accusations, but I could feel more and more eyes gathering upon me. With the Wall before me and distrusting allies behind, it was not a good day to be dead. I called out to another, one who had not been present when the slaughter had occurred. I told her of what had happened. I did this to warn her not to tread near the Misty forest as well as to give some hope to the others. After all, my fate may have been sealed, but theirs did not have to be. That's when we were revived. At first I thought we had been found by Ketlic upon his return. This theory seemed confirmed when I felt a powerful hand on my chest. When I opened my eyes, I found that I could not be more wrong. There was the Huntmaster, crouching over me. He had me at his mercy, and he ordered me not to move. I saw many others, some friend, some foe, but none moved to stop Danten. He could have killed me on the spot, but he had other ideas. He told me that, in exchange for my life, I was to tell the story, this story, to the next five people I should come across. Not so difficult a feat, I suppose, but my acceptance was as reluctant as could be. I did not wish to serve the vile Danten or his Master, no matter their request. Still, I could see that my resistance was proving an annoyance for the rangers, who seemed to be trying quite hard to keep the situation under control, and so I did accept. I was the second to the last to be returned to life. The final corpse was that of Telnier. When he was brought back, we finally got the answer to the great question of the night. Danten told those gathered that it was in fact Telnier that had incurred the wrath of the Huntmaster and the gods themselves. The witness, present at last, testified against him, and all grew quiet, wondering what would happen next. What did happen shocked me, leaving me speechless for some time. Telnier denied his involvement before everyone. Danten threatened to end his life, then be rid of his body. With the gods refusal to aid those slain that night, his death would be quite final. He would not be coming back. Still, he refused to confess, instead choosing death. And death is what he was given. Danten throttled Telnier while the rest of us just stood and watched. What could we do? Oppose the Huntmaster and his god? It was too late to argue by then. Telnier died, and it was then that Danten scarred him with the claw of Malar. The Huntmaster departed then, leaving the body of Telnier behind for his friend to grieve. Attempts were made to return him, but they did not succeed. It would seem the gods still held much ire for the foolish ranger. Telnier's friends took him away, intending to keep his physical form safe until they could find a way to bring him back. I was soon left alone in the forest with the scent of foes still heavy in the air. I was wise enough to move away from the clearing where the massacre had occurred, and I was fortunate enough to not be picked off by a predator. I could not move so well on my own power, so drained was I from my passage through death, and it was some time before the help I had summoned arrived to aid me. Still, I did make it to the safety of nearby Goldenwood, where I told my tale to my two brave companions. Then I rested, eager to put it all out of my mind with the aid of sleep, time, and plenty of ale. I dreamed terrible dreams that night, and I have not rested well since. That night haunts me so, and it brings with it so many difficult questions. Did Telnier do as Danten had accused? If so, why did he not speak up? Why would he doom others to fall beside him? Does he just not care that he caused the deaths of innocents? What will the rangers guild do about this? If they still sanction Telnier, what will I do? I find it difficult to associate with them now, but if they still show approval for him, I may not be able to return to Ardeep again. I truly hope it does not come to that, for I love my home deeply, but I fear I will not be able to stay near the rangers if we are to disagree on the fate of Telnier. On top of that, we may disagree on the subject of the Huntmaster. I have no doubt in my mind that they would like to see him slain, if for no other reason than because he follows a god that is opposed to their own. Certainly he is evil, that is plain enough to see. Still, he showed mercy that night. Three times, to be exact, and I think it is Telnier who should be made aware of that. If I see Danten again, even if it is before I become his next meal, I will have words with him, regardless of what the rangers might say. I've died far too many times for them, and now for Telnier's dishonesty, his cowardice. If I was ever in debt to him before, then that debt is more than paid. I should not jump to conclusions. I know this, yet it is hard not to when I have no one else to talk to on the matter. I suppose I shall just have to wait for tomorrow to bring me my answers in one form or another. If not, then ale and battle will ease my mind, for as long as necessary. -Keltorn Onyx | 
