Legend
EXP: 45,220, Level: 9
Level completed: 13%,
EXP required for next Level: 8,780
The day of the Rite of Purification...
Xyllea had instructed him on everything the right would entail. For a brief period, he would be submerged in a pool of very special water. The liquid would serve as the conduit between their world and Lloth's realm. Nosdyn was not afraid.
He was dressed in the ceremonial attire he was required to wear for the rite. Xyllea would be present the entire time. The followers of Lloth explained to him what he should expect...but he was not worried. After the time he'd encountered N'Jal herself...he was certain Lloth would not be as bad. The Lloth practitioners had surrounded Nosdyn as he went into the pool. He would have to completely submit to the rite for it to work.
They laid down Nosdyn completely flat against the water's surface. He was not afraid. Slowly, the submerged him the water...
***
Sometime later, he awoke in a different plane of existence. As he was told, the plane was a higher dimension. Nosdyn looked around for a moment. He didn't feel fear or malice, as he had when he encountered N'Jal. He only felt an almost erotic curiosity of him. There was a voice in the wind. Nosdyn was not afraid, the voices were guiding him to Lloth's location.
He followed the voices instruction and found a small temple atop a hill. He looked at it, Lloth was there. He saw a beautiful Dark Elf woman. She motioned for him to approach. He did so. He didn't have any need to feel fear. He looked at her with a curiosity. He watched Lloth step to the side for a moment and there was another presence there..."Illsandra." Nosdyn said her name.
Lloth spoke into Nosdyn's mind at that point. "That is the one etched on your heart. N'Jal herself told you this, did she not?"
He nodded at that point the gods were able to see Mortals in a completely different way. "She took her life in front of me." Nosdyn told Lloth the truth.
"You never knew why. The real why of it." Lloth said quietly.
Nosdyn nodded. "I only knew the partial truth...she could never carry my children."
"Nosdyn, my child." She suddenly said in a very calm voice...there was never any malice in Lloth's way of speaking. "N'Jal herself made your wife barren."
For some reason, that notion never once dawned him. He sighed. But he continued to listen to Lloth. "That part of it I did not know."
Lloth motioned to Illsandra at that point. "Speak to him, my child."
Illsandra walked over to Nosdyn at that point. "We were lied to by N'Jal." Illsandra said. "She tricked you because she was afraid of you."
Nosdyn carefully considered what he was hearing. "For what it's worth...I'm sorry I didn't see things sooner. Maybe I could have saved you."
"You don't have to carry the guilt in your heart anymore, Nosdyn. Tell Xyllea thank you for how she has taken care of you since then." Illsandra said.
"I don't ever want to forget you." Nosdyn said. "But I want to heal. For the sake of Xyllea and our son."
"I will always be close to you, Nosdyn." She said. "Lloth will help you heal."
Nosdyn nodded. "What do I have to do?"
***
Nosdyn woke up a short time later, the rite having been completed. He felt a heavy heart at that point...but was at peace. Maybe...if I'd seen the signs sooner she would at least still be alive. Nosdyn was laying in a bed in a recovery chamber, Xyllea was present. "Illsandra told me to thank you." Nosdyn said calmly to her.
Xyllea raised an eyebrow at that point at her husband but did not question it. The rite had been a success and Lloth had accepted her husband.
