Twindil floated through an infinite void of darkness, the only thing breaking the monotony of black being a distant light. She drew closer to it on instinct, until eventually she reached it, passing through before she felt herself solidifying within The Dream. Self-awareness returned to her in that instant, and she gasped, falling on her hands and knees. A massive sigil of Afina was carved into the ground here, representing a woman with closed eyes and a serene expression, wielding a sword in one hand and leaving the other open, palm outward. She stood, wobbly and disoriented though not physically, for there was no body here in The Dream, only the soul.
After a moment, she stood, letting out a sigh of relief as Afina's peace filled her. She looked around, spotting other Pillar-Born sitting or standing, most with their heads hanging down. A few sat at the steps before Afina's massive statue, which depicted the same thing as the sigil at Twindil's feet. Others were higher up, lounging on the stairs that led up the circular chamber. A light fog filled the entire chamber, adding to the ethereal majesty of her lady's realm.
She scanned the faces of the various Pillar-Born gathered, but none were that of her companions. That didn't mean she didn't know a few of them though, from the occasional conversations they had shared. She spotted Guga, the son of Saihara, laying flat across the floor with his hands over his face. A shock of brown hair lay atop his head, matching his coat and britches.
"Are you well, Guga?" Twindil asked, sitting down beside him.
"If it isn't Twinny." Guga said flatly, "Do I look well?" He asked, sitting up before removing his hands from his face.
His rounded boyish features looked uncharacteristically haggard, his bright brown eyes sagging. How it was possible to look tired even when sleeping, Twindil didn't know, but Guga had accomplished it.
Twindil frowned, "I wouldn't say so, how are things in Akan-Dar?"
"Horrible as always. The Block-Lords are doing their best to make life difficult, save for Lord Hector of course, but he isn't long for this world." Guga sighed, "Nobody is."
"You can't just give in, Guga. I'm sure you'll find the answers you seek, we're all counting on you." She told him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I've poured over hundreds of tomes Twinny." Guga muttered miserably, "I haven't found anything that could stop our madness. Speaking of which, how is your little expedition into the Fiendwood going? I'm surprised you haven't perished."
Twindil sighed, "It is a long story, but as you know, we have time."
She then went into detail about everything that had happened since they'd set out from the Fiendwall… Save for the information about Hoplite's blood potentially being a cure for their insanity. As much as she wanted her friends to be cured of the madness, she didn't have it in her to turn her blade on Hoplite, he had been a stalwart ally in all this, not to mention he was her cousin. It wasn't right for family to slay family, especially if it could be avoided.
"The Romai are really alive beneath the Fiendwood?" Guga asked, his weariness fading to be replaced with excitement, "If only they weren't hostile vampire freaks, otherwise I would love to study them."
"I fear they may come to the surface in time. If possible could you spread word in Akan-Dar about a potential dwarven invasion?" Twindil asked, already knowing the answer.
"No one would believe me, first of all." Guga shook his head, "I know you're doing your duty to maintain peace, but if I go around shouting that the Romai are going to return, I would be seen as mad. Acting like a loon right now won't end well for me, news about Tuji reached Akan-Dar a few days ago. The Block-Guard have been out in force with Sanctioning Bands, trying to root out any potential Pillar-Born, if they suspect me, I would be doomed." Guga frowned, "There've been mobs too, stringing people up left and right… things are grim here. The only thing keeping things together was the news about an Outworlder having appeared as well, not only that, but he had slain a Pillar-Born. Is Hoplite still with you?" Guga asked, "Because there are dozens of Block-Lords that wish to bring him here to be celebrated by the people, especially Lord Hector and Lady Nulia. If I present Hoplite to one of them, I could get access to libraries only the nobility can use."
"Hoplite was separated from us after we were captured by the dwarves, remember? I believe him to still be alive, but that remains to be seen. I do not think he would want to speak with any Block-Lords, not to Lord Hector and especially not Lady Nulia." She shuddered, "That hag would do anything to become queen, no doubt she only seeks to use him as a stepping stone to that goal. I don't know why Lord Hector would want to speak with him though, he is a humble man… perhaps he really does just want to sing Hoplites praises?"
Guga shrugged, "It doesn't matter to me. Just remember me if you reunite with him, if I bring Hoplite to one of them, I may be able to find us a cure, if they'll allow me into the Second Level, anyhow."
"I will ask, but again he doesn't seem the type to be interested in such things." Twindil nodded.
"Specify Lord Hector and Lady Nulia, if he's heard of them then he might consider it." Guga insisted, "Hells, even King Raygor is seeking him out, though I couldn't exactly collect a reward from him, I'd never be allowed in his presence."
Twindil shook her head, "He hasn't been in our world long, only two weeks at the most, he wouldn't find those names significant. I'll tell him that the Block-Lords are interested in meeting him, and I'll also tell him that meeting with them may provide us with a cure to our madness."
"Ah yes, you did mention that he found out about you." Guga said, "Nonetheless, please inform him. Ah… I feel myself awakening," He said quickly, looking down at his hands to see them fading, "I live in the Thirty-Second First Level Block, seek me out there, my home is right next to the market, the one with a crack in the lower left hand panel of my doors window."
"I'll remember that. Goodbye Guga, and good luck." Twindil smiled.
Guga smiled back, "You too Twinny, hope you manage to slay Kazon."
Then he was gone, fully faded away as if he'd never existed. She checked in on a few of the other Pillar-Born as she searched for her friends, some simply nodding a greeting while others told her to stay away. Sadly Guga was a rarity among her kindred, most wanted to keep the other Pillar-Born at arms length. She did not blame them for this, for they all knew how this Godling War would have to end.
Eventually, after Twindil had explored every corner of The Dream from top to bottom, she returned to where she had arrived, watching the sigil of Afina with crossed arms. Occasionally other Pillar-Born would appear, but none were her companions. Alistair and Elum wouldn't be in the Dream with her tonight, as they had first watch, but Kid'ka should have shown up by now, was he having a hard time sleeping? Either that or he simply couldn't find the Dream tonight, such things weren't uncommon.
Twindil's eyes widened, her body rushing forward before she could think as Nolvi suddenly manifested above Afina's sigil. She wrapped the girl in a tight hug, warm tears trailing down her cheeks. Nolvi, still disoriented, returned the embrace as best as she was able.
"I'm so glad you're safe." Twindil sniffled, "Tell me about everything that happened this instant."
"Give me a moment, please." Nolvi sighed, still wobbling on her feet, "I missed you too, I'm sorry I vanished the way I did."
Twindil didn't let her go for a long while, keeping a hold on her even as they both walked to the stairs, sitting down. Her cousin was safe, this news alone would have been enough to keep her in high spirits for the rest of this journey… but there was more good news on top of that. She was with Hoplite- or Jason, as he was now apparently going by, along with Lance, and even Halm, all of them on the surface and heading for Castle Blackgaze. Sadly it seemed that Michael and Cat have decided to go their own way, no longer willing to follow Jason. Not only that, it seemed Michael had fully turned into a vampire, a scion of evil. What a nightmare it must be for the Outworlder, forced to live in darkness while also being terrified of it.
Apparently Jason had fully accepted that he was the son of a Dragon, not only that, he was the son of the Banished Child himself, at least that was what Lithia had theorized. To think that they had been travelling with the son of such a mythical figure… hells, to think that Nolvi had been training with the Spiral Queen herself, a myth in her own right! It was baffling to comprehend, but this was reality, and it explained why Nolvi had vanished.
It was her turn then, to tell Nolvi the news about Theopalu. However, when she brought up his parentage, Nolvi had merely nodded, saying that Lithia had already told them all about what he was. Not only that, but that Theopalu and Lithia had once been lovers. She felt like such a gossip discussing things this way, but she couldn't help it. Once they were done catching up, they moved on into discussing how they would find one another. It didn't take long before they both realized they were in the same expanse of flat wasteland.
"Depending on how close we are to one another," Twindil began, "We may be able to see the smoke of our fires by morning. If not, we'll all continue to Castle Blackgaze until we find one another."
"I have an idea." Nolvi said excitedly, "I could ask Jason to shoot off one of those guns of his."
Twindil hesitated, "I'm not sure that's a good idea. It could work, but it may work too well. We don't want a horde of Fiends coming down upon us."
Nolvi shook her head, "Twindil, there are hardly any out in these wastes, and the ones that are have intense frostbite."
"I still don't think it is wise. Jason only has so many bullets, he wouldn't use one just to let us know where he is. Not only that, but we may be too far away to hear it anyway, he could waste one for no reason and waste even more time waiting for us."
Nolvi's shoulders slumped, "I suppose you have a point. Is the Rotting Ilum still in sight for you?" She asked, "We can still see it where we are."
Twindil nodded, "It is, but given how massive it is we might still be tens if not hundreds of miles from one another, we could be on opposite ends of the wasteland."
"Then we will just continue to Castle Blackgaze as planned." Nolvi gave up, "It'll save us more time that way, we will await you outside the castle."
Twindil nodded, "That sounds excellent, hopefully we can find one another before that but let's not spend the time diverting our paths from the castle."
They continued to chat for a long while until finally, another figure appeared-
Twindil stood up, eyes wide with shock, this couldn't be possible. Laying there, curled up on himself, sat Tuji. Scarred pale green skin, blood red hair, those orcish tusks, that was him. It shouldn't have been possible, Jason had killed him back in the Faewood! She exchanged shocked glances with Nolvi before rushing over to Tuji. She wasn't in any danger here in The Dream, Godlings could not bring harm to one another here.
"I thought you were dead!" Twindil exclaimed.
Other Pillar-Born lifted their heads from their melancholy, shocked gasps echoing across the chamber. Clearly they had heard much the same thing.
Tuji didn't bother looking up at her, shielding his face, "Leave me alone." He muttered miserably.
Twindil was taken aback from the tone of the half-orc. Tuji had always been the most arrogant loud-mouth to ever exist, seeing him in this pitiful state was bizarre to say the least.
"What happened to you?" She asked, concerned. "Do you need help?"
Tuji snarled, "Do not pity me, I cannot bear any more shame than this."
"Where are you?" Twindil asked, kneeling down beside him, "Are you crippled?"
"Back where Hoplite left me." He said bitterly, "And I am worse than crippled. If you see Hoplite, tell him to return to the Faewood and finish the job, it would be a mercy."
"Worse than crippled?" She asked.
"I'm a slave." Tuji muttered again, "Now leave me alone, Twindil. I don't want to hear you blabber about your peace."
"Tuji-" Twindil began.
"I said I don't want to hear it!" He snapped, remaining curled up on himself.
Seeing Tuji in this pitiful state was so alien to her. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. He didn't want to speak with her though, he'd made that clear. She stared at him a moment longer before returning to Nolvi, shaking her head.
"I can't believe he's alive." Nolvi said, still staring at him, "But what did he mean when he said he was a slave?"
"I'm not sure, but apparently he's still back in the Faewood, he wants Hoplite to come back and kill him." Twindil said.
"I heard that as well." Nolvi said, "I'll let Jason know about this."
Twindil nodded, still staring at Tuji. Who had reduced the once mighty Son of Zodd to such a state? Jason had defeated him, but he hadn't enslaved him… so who had?