## Mistress of Illusions After the party captured the devil commander and returned through the portal to [[Krynvia]]'s tavern, the group dispersed to rest. [[Grumthar]] requested a hot bath and asked for refreshments that would appeal to his companion for the evening. [[Liluva]] prepared the bath and explained that [[Ayshra]], the Empress of Pleasure, would be visiting him—a succubus highly skilled at elegant seduction and gentle conversation, sought after by diplomats, spies, and nobles. When [[Ayshra]] arrived, she found [[Grumthar]] sitting on the edge of his bed in just a towel, hands in a receiving position, eyes closed in meditation. He was praying for clarity—questioning whether he was truly chosen by [[Gonosh]], struggling with his inexperienced leadership of a group that didn't fully embrace his authority, worried about his grandfather's legacy, finding a wife, and the weight of trusting the bard Rukk with his grandfather's sword. [[Ayshra]] studied him carefully before approaching. She sensed his need and spoke softly: "[[Krynvia]] said you requested mental communication. Companionship. Help sorting out all these thoughts running through your head, frustrations." [[Grumthar]] physically recoiled at her first touch—unaccustomed to such intimacy—but then took a deep breath, allowing himself to accept her presence. She wrapped her tail around his chest, and warmth began to ease from where it touched him. She worked to release the tension in his shoulders while speaking to him. One particular barrier she helped him address was the branding on his chest—where the clasp of [[Sela]]'s had burned into his skin when he fell into lava. Each time [[Ayshra]] gently probed deeper, peeling away his defenses, that branding seemed to burn figuratively on his chest. Finally, in a deep breath, [[Grumthar]] was able to relinquish that bond—to come to peace with [[Sela]] no longer being available to him, at least not in the mortal way. Only then could he fully give himself over to [[Ayshra]]'s process. The succubus proved to be a skilled psychologist, reading the language of his body and guiding him through releasing his burdens without requiring him to use words. She helped ease his frustrations until he finally achieved a truly restful night's sleep—perhaps the best rest he'd experienced in a long time. ## [[Tarnik]]'s Vision [[Tarnik]] retired to the Sad Dog Tavern for the night. Despite whatever worries or stresses he carried, he fell into unexpectedly deep sleep—as if something warm and comforting like whiskey was easing his mind into rest. In his sleep, his bed began to float away through darkness. Stars appeared around him, then large flames and curtains took distorted shape. Eventually, ground materialized beneath him—he stood in the center of a circle containing an eye drawn in white, with a star pattern surrounding it. He stood directly in the pupil. Beyond the circle, purple draperies swayed, and shadows moved among trees touched by warm orange firelight. Above, space itself seemed to waver. [[Tarnik]] stood completely bare, without his armor. He felt power growing within him—a sense of learning and growth. Images flooded his mind: the conversation with [[Grom]], his early days in the arena, [[Syllin]], the adventures with her, [[Grom]] fighting beside him, [[Bordak]], [[Grumthar]], and all the various companions who had come and gone. As these memories flashed, he felt himself gaining strength, receiving some form of blessing. From the north, a figure walked toward him—a female orc with features different from northern orcs, possibly showing characteristics of southern orcs whose bloodlines had mixed over generations. [[Tarnik]] recognized her: this was the goddess who had warned him about the battle with Orcantigthma and [[Gonosh]]'s anger. He dropped to one knee and bowed his head respectfully. "[[Tarnik]], my warrior, still carrying that blade of hatred, I see," her voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere. Images flooded through his mind: [[Syllin]] standing over [[Grom]]'s corpse screaming in grief. [[Syllin]] bargaining her soul away. [[Grom]] gasping back to life. [[Syllin]] firing her crossbow at [[Lysara, Lady of Shadows|Lysara]]. [[Tarnik]]'s axe swinging into [[Syllin]]. [[Syllin]] dying. Her soul plummeting into the Nine Hells. The goddess showed him a frozen image of [[Syllin]] shooting at [[Lysara, Lady of Shadows|Lysara]], then zoomed in on [[Syllin]]'s face—twisted in rage, grief, and tears. Time rewound. [[Tarnik]] saw the scene from a different perspective: [[Grom]]'s withered body being kicked off the roof. He felt [[Syllin]]'s emotions—the minotaur she loved nearly dying, her raising the crossbow with shaking hands. The vision shifted to young [[Tarnik]]'s dead clan, then to a young elf girl the same age [[Tarnik]] had been. She cried over buried dead, promising vengeance, swearing to forever hate orcs because they took away her family. [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] revealed the ancient truth: [[the Great God]] had created the world for all races to exist together, but [[Gonosh]], [[Hagsurium, God of Hate and Death|Hagsurium]], and [[Sorgoganis, Evil God of War|Sorgoganis]]—angered by pride—ingrained war into orcs and other races. The enslavement of different races began then. [[Tarnik]] had taken a survivor of slavery and tried to enslave her himself. She explained that [[Anam]]—whose true name is [[Anam|Arkular]]—was once a paladin of light. [[Gonosh]] and [[Hagsurium, God of Hate and Death|Hagsurium]] went after his family, and both his children and wife were taken. Through his pride, he vowed to destroy everything that meant anything to [[the Great God]], including orcs, humans, and elves. "You must understand it is greater than hatred that this group must surpass to go against [[Anam]]. If you cannot look past that hatred and pain of your past, learn from it to rise to the challenge, this group will fail—just like the group that failed to stop him in the First Age." [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] reminded him: "It was [[Gonosh]] that your clan worshiped. And yet it was [[Gonosh]] who wasn't there when the clan fell. It was through my hands that saved you against Orcantigthma. But it was [[Gonosh]] who sent him to you because of his pride." She continued: "I believe you can rise above it, [[Tarnik]]. You've done it with [[Cub]]. You've done it by giving authority of leadership to [[Grumthar]]. You've even accepted [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]] as a [[Serpari]]. But you're still clinging to this anger, this need to punish—be it [[Syllin]] for being an elf, for surviving, for fighting back, for loving someone more than she feared death." "The choice is yours. But you do have my gift. It is up to you if you will decide that the cycle of hate and domination will continue, or will you break them? Choose wisely. The gods are watching. And remember: [[Grom]] is fighting through hell for the one you can't forgive." As she began to wisp away, [[Tarnik]] called out gently: "This is the path I have already chosen. I have redirected my hate to this [[Anam]] and his cursed armies. I will work with the elves. I will work with the dwarves. I will work with the humans. And most importantly, I will work with my clan and bring them up to the level that needs to be reached." Warmth closed around him—a sense of happiness, a positive acknowledgment. He floated back to his bed and experienced some of the best sleep he'd ever had. ## [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]]'s Vision [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]], sleeping in his room, also felt himself pulled from his bed. The same divine realm manifested: flames, the eye circle, the star pattern, purple draperies, trees, and starry wisps floating about. His first instinct was to cast Detect Magic. The spell worked normally—the entire area was magical, divine in nature. This was not of the mortal world. He exhaled hard: "Oh joy. Looks like we're in for a rough night." A figure walked in from the north. "[[Serpari]]. Exile. Outcast." As she entered the light, [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]] saw a female orc. "I am the Mistress of Illusions. I see through every mask. What do you believe in, [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]]? What do you believe the future holds for you?" "This one does not hold much faith in what a god would call the future. This one is an outcast, heretic, forsaken by their own species. The future is rather bleak." [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] challenged him: why accept that fate? Why follow what a culture deems truth when other doors could be opened? [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]] admitted he still heard the urge—to maim, to kill, subjugate. "Ah, yes. That." [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] looked up at the sky. "The nature of things. Sometimes that call bites deep into our minds, pulling like a chain. But for you, you feel it. Yet you have gone so far. You have fought it still. Because you are greater than that call." She explained that the future is whatever he makes of it. This group he joined came together not by coincidence but by the invisible hand of the gods. If [[Anam]]—[[Anam|the Withered One]], the Destroyer of the First Age—succeeds, souls will be vanquished. An eternity of suffering in the Hells or Abyss. "You may think the future is bleak, but I'm here to say I do not wish to interfere in any choices you make. Am I asking you to help this group? Yes. Be it my selfish ways? Proudly. I don't know what will happen to this world. Do I do it out of my own fear that I would vanish or be banished from this world into nothingness? Yes. So I too have my fears." "[[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]], I know you have a different path and ideal. I know where you stand—confused in this world, confused from where you are. But you do not have to be alone. I believe this group can be a new clan, a family. You can belong again. You do not have to be an outcast." She offered him power—gifts to help defeat [[Anam]]. Her mission was to stop him and separate herself from her father's ideals. "That is my main focus, and that's all I am giving you. But also that chance—find and do not lose yourself, but find the path you need to survive. Perhaps this group can be one of those paths to remain with. You do not need to be alone." "I do not expect you to believe my words. Keep believing there are lies. I have no qualms showing you who I am through my actions, [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]]." She began walking away. As darkness enveloped the realm, [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]] felt himself back in the room, still sleeping. But he also felt the power—energy coursing through him, learning and strengthening himself even in sleep. ## Narzag's Vision Narzag, sleeping in his room at the Sad Dog Tavern, also felt himself pulled from his bed. The same divine realm manifested: flames, the eye circle, the star pattern, purple draperies, trees, and starry wisps floating about. The female orc was already standing before him when he arrived. His first instinct was to cast Guidance on himself, then attempt a religion check. He rolled poorly—he had no idea where he was or who this orc female might be. "Where's my bird?" he asked immediately. "Sleeping safely," she replied. "Hello, Narzag. You might not know who I am, but I know your goddess, Milithara. I am the Goddess of Illusions in the orc pantheon. Her and I have spoken many times. I am here to give you a blessing. I think this group has potential. I can give you power to face [[Anam|the Withered One]]." Narzag studied her carefully. "I do not need powers. Milithara gives what I need." She smiled. "Indeed she does. Think of it as powers granted by her through me. But you must accept it. I will not force it upon you, Narzag." "My strength comes from the beasts. I do not need another god. One wise one says you cannot serve two masters." "That is indeed wise. I am not asking you to serve me. I am simply giving you a gift. Milithara is your goddess, not I." "I lived a very long time in the woods. I learned you don't trust gifts given out. What's the cost?" "You despise the free meal. I applaud your awareness. I'm not beholding you to any pact. This gift will increase your learning, increase your power levels—make you more proficient quickly. These devils are planning to swarm Solare, attack cities. They have already attacked orc cities in the south." "What do you get out of handing these gifts out?" "Saving the world. Bringing down [[Anam]]. Giving you the tools to destroy him and thus saving my worshippers." "Ah, there it is. And you are the goddess of...?" "Illusions. But I work in the domain of using illusions and disrupting them to reveal truths hidden behind them." "Illusions sounds like lies." "They are lies. Many lie to themselves. That's why I'm there to guide them from the shadows. Should these undead and devils come through all these portals, and [[Anam|the Withered One]] combine both devils and demons once more like he did in the First Age, that's the end of this world. All gods lose worshippers, including yours. Milithara's followers will dwindle. Your goddess would be banished. So this is why I'm giving you gifts. In return, I can survive." Narzag considered this carefully. "Yes. I know survival. Yes, I will accept your gift then. Thank you for explaining it." She walked over and placed her hands on either side of his head. "Then accept my gift." She granted him divine power, the blessing flowing into him. "Enjoy your sleep, Narzag. I look forward to our future confrontations together against this evil that will try to destroy the wild once more." "I speak with her every day," Narzag replied, referring to Milithara. "Indeed." He felt himself growing dizzy, then the sensation settled. Even though he was sleeping, he felt himself back in the room where he'd started. ## [[Cub]]'s Vision [[Cub]], sleeping comfortably in [[The Naked Maiden's Tavern & The Naked Maidens Network|the Naked Maidens Tavern]] after partying with college students, felt himself floating. The same divine realm materialized: fires, flames, warmth, the eye circle, the star pattern. He saw the female orc walking from the north. Because of [[Cub]]'s knowledge and sensitivity to divine matters, he immediately sensed he was in a divine realm. He prepared a Starry Wisp but didn't throw it—just held it ready. "You're not my goddess." "No, I am not," she confirmed. "But I know [[Eshuall|Zotia]]." "I am the Mistress of Illusions. I know your goddess [[Eshuall|Zotia]]. We speak much. She has hopes for you. But those hopes will not come to fruition with what's happening with this Withered One. Tell me, [[Cub]]: do you wish to help this group defeat [[Anam]]? Or are you one that simply likes to attack people with your quick wit and mouth? What is it that you are wanting, [[Cub]]?" "I want to remember everything that happened." [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] considered this carefully. "Are you sure? I have the ability to destroy illusions. I can give you those memories. [[Eshuall|Zotia]] may not be happy about it, though." [[Cub]] explained the guilt and visions that plagued him, why he used quick wit as a safety net. "I understand," [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] said. "But if I open those memories too quickly, I fear you may think that is what you are from your past—that the flood of memories overtakes what your true heart tells you. If I were to give you these memories back and this changes you, are you willing to accept that?" After deliberating, [[Cub]] asked about the other companions. When he learned she'd visited them all and would visit [[Grom]] next, he made his decision: "Let's do it. Screw everything. I don't care if [[Eshuall|Zotia]] gets mad or not. I want to know who I am. But I'm not going to let it change because I'm going to stay faithful to her no matter what. She has been there every step of the way. As much as these idiotic orcs like [[Tarnik]] and [[Grumthar]] and [[Volza Redhand|Volza]]—as annoying and stupid as they can be—[[Eshuall|Zotia]] has told me to stay with them, and nothing's going to change that. I will stay with them, and I will still be their healer. I'm tired of having these fears, these feelings of guilt." "If [[Eshuall|Zotia]] will be mad at me, then let her be mad, but I will stay faithful to her." "[[Eshuall|Zotia]] won't be mad at you," [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] said gently. "She does her best to protect her followers. She will, however, be mad with me. But that is something I am willing to face. I believe in your heart you remain true." She walked over. "Are you certain?" She reached a hand and placed her palm above his head. "One more moment. I know you're going to mess with my psyche. So I'm going to give myself a boost towards the psyche and wisdom." [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] smiled. "All right. When you're ready, I will break the illusion of memories and loss and flood you with your past. If you stay true to yourself, then you will take my power along with your friends." "Good thinking, [[Cub]]. As I said, it's in your nature." She placed her hand upon his head and closed her eyes. [[Cub]] called out: "[[Eshuall|Zotia]], forgive me, but I ask for your..." [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]]'s power surged. Energy pierced his mind. Images began to flood—he felt himself going back in time. But the vision stopped there, held for another time. ## [[Grumthar]]'s Second Vision After [[Grumthar]]'s restful night with [[Ayshra]], he drifted into even deeper sleep. The divine realm manifested once more: large flames, curtains, ground materializing with the eye circle and star pattern. Purple draperies swayed beyond, shadows moving among trees touched by warm orange firelight. Above, space wavered. He stood completely bare—without armor, without weapons. For some time, he simply lingered. But he sensed power growing within him. He felt himself learning. His imagination filled with battles, conversations—the last talk with [[Grom]]. He saw himself in the past: the arena when he first started, [[Syllin]], adventures with her, [[Grom]] fighting beside him. Then [[Bordak]], then the various people who came and went. All these flashed through his mind. Simultaneously, he felt himself grow in power. Somehow, he'd gained some sort of blessing. From the north, a female orc walked toward him. [[Grumthar]] recognized her immediately: she was the one who had warned [[Tarnik]] about Orcantigthma and [[Gonosh]]'s anger. She walked closer, studying him. [[Grumthar]] dropped to one knee before her, bowing his head respectfully. "[[Grumthar]], I have visited all your comrades this night. And I come to you now with a choice." [[Grumthar]] spoke, his voice heavy with the weight of his burdens: "Tell me what is real, what is not real. I have so many pressures. My companion [[Ayshra]] has put me greatly at ease, but which of these responsibilities—life, family, fate—which of these pressures are real? Which should take priority? Which are meaningless? I have honor to my family, to my father, to my clan, to my grandfather. The pressure of being a great warrior, of providing for my clan, maintaining relationship with my family. The pressure of leading this group, somehow defeating this withered one, [[Anam]]. To pursue them all is overwhelming. I don't know which is real, which is an illusion. Can you tell me what is real? What is an illusion?" She began walking through the realm, and as she did, veils started appearing around him—each one showing a different path: his family's farm, his grandfather's weapons glowing, the party standing together, a massive lich with red eyes in dark sockets, and finally an image of Selas. [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] spread her arms, encompassing all the veils. "Which is real, [[Grumthar]]? They are all real, and that in itself is what creates the problem, what creates the stress and pressure you feel. For if they were not real, why would there be any worry or stress? They're all real, [[Grumthar]]. Every single one. And you are trying to walk them all at once." Her voice intensified: "Do you know what my father would tell you? [[Gonosh]] would say, 'Choose the path of strength. Crush your enemies. Become the greatest warrior. Everything else is weakness.' But I'm not my father. You cannot walk every path. Some of them may contradict each other. Some will demand you abandon the others. Trying to pursue them all simultaneously will tear you apart." She walked closer and placed a hand on his chest. His heart relaxed. Everything started to feel calm—another layer of distress peeled away. "You're asking the wrong question. The right question is not 'which path should I walk?' The right question is: 'Which of these paths am I walking for myself? And which am I walking because I think I'm supposed to?'" Emotional colors pulsated around him as she touched each veil: duty and obligation (brown and gray) for the family farm; pride and pressure (red and gold) for the grandfather's legacy; green and blue for leading Bazgoth; purple and black for the divine mandate of defeating [[Anam]]; pure pale silver pulsing with grief and guilt for Selas's memory. She walked through each veil: "Your father wanted you to stay on the farm. That is his dream, not yours. The lightning struck you and burned that path closed. Storm Gorge and Whisper Fang—are you honoring him, or trying to become him? Selas—you searched for a year. She's not coming back. Living your life as a monument to her death doesn't honor her memory. It buries yours." "Set a path as [[Grumthar]]—not in the shadow of your father, or your clan, or your grandfather. Once you find that path, once you are balanced and not trying to do all at once, then you will come to be who you truly are. Your character will shine through. Then everything else will fall into its pieces, into the fate you are searching for." [[Grumthar]] stood tall. "Then I shall pave my own path. I will let these pressures come into alignment with the path I carve. And if they don't come into alignment, then they weren't meant to be." She gave him a soft nod: "Yes. You just have to be you—the farmer struck by lightning who became something more. Do not walk every path. Just choose your own." She explained she'd visited all his comrades and would visit [[Grom]]. She offered him power to help defeat [[Anam]]: "I have blessed you and your group with power to give you an edge for what you are about to face. I do not ask for anything in return except that hopefully you would stay on the path that in the arena was given for the rest of the group. [[Tarnik]], [[Grom]], [[Cub]]—all the original group that believe in [[Gonosh]], that [[Gonosh]] set them on this fate." [[Grumthar]]'s frustration showed: "Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one that has any faith in [[Gonosh]] at all. We have a paladin that lost his faith. We have a duergar that does not accept the fate placed upon him. We've lost the others. How I wish to believe they are [[Gonosh]]'s chosen. I wish to believe I were one of his chosen. I wish I saw it in them. I wish they behaved accordingly." [[Veilra, Mistress of Illusions|Veilra]] looked at him carefully: "I admire your ability to keep strong faith with [[Gonosh]]. I am not here to turn you away from the ideals he has. But I am also here to say: [[Gonosh]], in the domain of the gods, was never really there at the arena. [[Tarnik]] has things in his past, and [[Gonosh]] was never there when he was struggling. [[Gonosh]] saw that his clan was weak and turned his back on them. 'The Chosen of [[Gonosh]]'—he never really cared, though he was happy his name was being spread." She warned him about the nature of the orc pantheon: "Though they will watch and protect their followers as much as they can, they can easily turn away from those they deem unworthy. I could not abide by it. I do not have the power to stand against [[Gonosh]]. I'm not saying this to paint him in a dark light. I'm just saying: worship if you wish, but be careful." "I'm here, [[Grumthar]], to offer you a blessing from me, the Mistress of Illusions, to help you grow, to have strength to face [[Anam]]." [[Grumthar]] took a knee. "I give my whole being with all of my heart. If you are able to see who I truly stand for—of every decision made, every action taken—you can see it's in servitude to [[Gonosh]]. If you are sent here in his name, I willingly, eagerly accept whatever gift you would bestow." "I am under his pantheon. So you can consider, in a way, without his knowledge, that I am also trying to save him. Though I do not agree with my father's ways, he did birth me. I do not wish him to be banished from this world." She put two hands at the sides of his head. "Then accept my gift." She gave him a kiss on the top of his forehead. Divine power flowed into him as she started to wisp away. [[Grumthar]] knelt there, eyes closed, relishing the gift bestowed. He felt awareness of more strength, more abilities, his mind becoming clearer. He felt himself back in the bed, sleeping, and felt the warm cradle of [[Ayshra]] wrapped around him. In his twilight state, he coaxed his mind to share with her: "Did you experience that with me?" [[Ayshra]] opened one eyelid. "I think you might have been dreaming, but I did sense some strange sense emanating from the room. But fear not—there are wards all over the tavern. Nothing can penetrate them." She smiled and cuddled stronger. "Let me share with you the dream and everything I can recall. You can bring me comfort in this as well." "Of course. Tell me." And [[Grumthar]] began to recount everything he had experienced. --- _Narzag accepted a gift after understanding it was about survival—for himself, his goddess, and the world._ _[[Cub]] made the fateful choice to have his memories restored, despite the risks._ _And [[Grumthar]] learned that he cannot walk every path—that he must choose his own, not the paths laid out by others' expectations._ _The next morning, the party will wake changed, blessed, and facing whatever divine challenge [[Gonosh]] himself proclaimed would be drawn upon them all._