Death of Haven, a fate narrowly averted ((IC and OOC))

(( A tale by an anonymous bard ))

A howl of loss and rage echoed through Haven last night, Telron's voice amplified throughout the Kingdom through the arcane powers of the city's Mythal.

"Nooooooo! Damn you, Shar!"

It had started a few days before... After Gregory Fairfield had encountered strange additional creatures and had been sucked inside the Shadow Realm, another party fought their way into the keep... finding one of the same or similar creatures, stuck in the conjunction between the Shadow Realm and the Prime Material Plane.

They spoke to it... when he was angered he thrashed and some minor gloom creature came through.



Several of the characters argued with it, mostly Celor. Others asked what they could do. It spoke of killing or disrupting Telron. One hin, Quitika Jerrult((happyharvyhootshorridly)), servant to the crown with apparently some issues, snuck close and begin a whispering conversation and she ended up in the shadow plane. She was given a chunk of shadow and promised dominion of the Shadow Haven if she could use the chunk of shadow on her hands and then touch Telron.

"If you do this, his concentration will slip and your reign begins... mistress."

After being returned, Quitika struggled... realizing that most likely utter destruction would be the result rather than a realm of her own. She began to speak to people in Haven about what it means to them and whether it was worth saving. Receiving largely deplorable and at best unconvincing answers she had almost decided to become an agent of Gloom.

She spoke to Ms ((Norrista)) Smith and received an inspiring answer that made her pause, but later others convinced her to turn predator or else she would never amount to anything.

She came to Telron, finding him in his tower staring into the fire, deep in thought.

She asked, "What does Haven mean to you?" He responded, "A haven for those free and slave, to give them a second chance at joy and happiness."

She asked what does "Why do you defend these people? They are corrupt, petty and shallow" This gave him pause, "That may be true at times. Although some I am very proud of. I defend even the worst of them, as long as they don't attack me and mine, so that one day they may one day show me their best."

Quitika struggled with these answers, and they spoke at length of worth and worthlessness of the people of Haven.

Hope vs pain.

In the end Quit's pain won... casting hope aside as a false promise, but not before the struggle was noticed by Telron... who was able to cast a premonition spell as he is wont to do when he is unsure of the situation. Quit dived at him... her hand glowing with dark energies from the shard held within, uncaring if dominion or oblivion would result...

... but Telron ... warned, dodged out of the way, and sent a pulse of positive energy that destroyed the shard and disabled Quitika.

Quitika despaired... backpedaling... draws a knife and, in spite Telron's urging to stop and not be afraid, plunges it into her breast, piercing her heart. Telron attempts heals and even calls the divine for a resurrection... successfully opening the way... but Quitika's tortured soul pauses and refuses to return. But for a moment Telron can see her... she blows him a kiss in repentance and forgiveness ... before the claws of Shar's shadows reach out to drag their consolation prize off to their mistress.

Tears well up in his eyes and he reaches out to the heavens and screams.



Telron, recognizing Quitika's struggle and insisting on recognizing the noble even in the ignoble, orders her given a hero's funeral at the eternal flame of Kossuth on Sunbright Isle.

Many criticize and question his decision, but he persists -- after all if he can't care for the flawed ... is there truly anyone in Haven he can care for?


// --- OOC Commentary:

Quitika's struggles closely mirrored my own. I spent some time "shadowing" her and was at times shocked and dejected. Meanwhile Neiska was slipping into a depression around her involvement with Haven. I also had a number of really good experiences and loving moments with some of my favorite Havenites and new friends, and the return of several old ones, quite happily.

In dealing with Quitika's journey I came to value Haven even more but there where times where I had decided that the end result would be me turning off the server and declaring gloom had won, if Quitika's player succeeded.

Even at the last moments I was not sure, Quitika's arguments where damn convincing.

I want to continue Haven, it's a really important part of my life. It symbolizes a number of my ideals and is a labor of love.

So I ask you, please do pay attention to the improvements I am trying to make and cooperate. If you can't abide, that's okay and to each their own, but I will have to ask you to leave.

And to those who helped me keep the faith, thank you. Particularly to Quit's player, who although or perhaps because of nearly inadvertently nearly choosing a path that would end the server, the journey there may have saved it. Well done.

Have fun and be excellent to each other!

- Bar