Takes place two years after events of defeating the Netherbrain.
After ascending to the Heavens, Zymira and Gale live in harmony as God's. Zymira, a tiefling, goes on to become the Goddess of Peace. After battling her demons with Bhaal, it only seem...
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I'd thought the war had ended when we defeated the Netherbrain two years ago, but I was very wrong. Though the brain was gone, the crown it carried created fury between the God's. Gale's ascension shook the Outer Realms and produced plenty of chaos through the realm. Raphael was mainly to blame. He made sure to spread word through out that Gale Dekarios was not worthy of the crown and that he had stolen it from the rightful God Mephistopheles.
"You need to go love, now."
My head shook in disbelief. "No! I'm staying with you."
Gale took my hands in his, gripping them tightly. He didn't want to let go. "You think I want to send you away? This is not the outcome I saw when I asked you to join me here."
When I ascended as the Goddess of Peace, I truly thought I would never have to experience another day of sadness. But today changed things, and today - I would lose him. Time worked different here, and I wasn't sure how long I would go without Gale. But he insisted that he was going to send me to a safe haven. He said I could trust where has was sending me, and that I would remain there until he could figure out a way to stop the conflict.
"This isn't what I had in mind either, Gale. But.. I'll trust that you believe this is right. I'll go."
He pulled me into a secure hug, holding me close with all his might. The Weave drifted around us in that moment, wrapping us in its embrace. Just like the moment when I first arrived here with him.
He whispered into my ear as his grip on my body loosened. "I'll see you soon. I promise."
A faint whisper caressed my ear as I closed my eyes, readying myself. "I love you, Zymira."
And then I felt nothing. No embrace, zero peace - and Gale was gone.
It took no time at all. My eyes opened, revealing a place I didn't think I'd see again. The smell was all the same. Fall leaves brushed by as I took my first step towards the gate. The Emerald Grove. The gate was quite different than before, this time it was structured with iron instead of wood. Though vines still climbed it, it seemed that quite a few of updates were done. I suppose it was to keep the grove safe from anything that might try to disrupt it. One hundred and eighty two years later, and nature still preserved the place - as it was supposed to. Like I said, time was different in the Outer Realm. For every few days there, six months would pass. This many years later, and I wondered if Halsin remained here this long. He was practically immortal, but nature may of swayed him elsewhere at some point in time.
"You there, stop!"
A Tiefling glanced down at me from over the wall at the top, similar to how Zevlor did when I first met him. This woman was orange toned, with ram shaped horns.
I yelled out as loud as I could. "Can you tell me if a Druid named Halsin still lives here?"
The woman gave the dirtiest look I've ever seen someone give another person. "Who are you to be asking this type of information?"
Bhaal's old habits tried to emerge as I crossed my arms in front of me. This woman truly did not know who she was speaking to, but as a peace bringer - I had to keep calm the best I could. I'd forgotten how rude mortals were.
"It's a yes or no question, and it's sort of an emergency."
A voice rung out from above. A voice I knew all too well.
"What is it, Plath?"
The Tiefling waved her hand towards the ground where I stood. Though I'd lived as a Goddess for quite some time, my mortal mannerisms hadn't changed.
He leaned against the barrier up top of the gate, glancing down to where I watched him.
"So, this is how you greet an old friend?"
Halsin's eyes lit up, with happiness but also complete surprise. It wasn't much time for me since I had left Baldur's Gate, but for him - it had been almost double his lifespan. A light smile pulled at my lips. A memory or two of our time together when we shared a camp passed through my mind. How I had missed this great warrior. I'd wondered if he had missed me, but I knew the answer. In a flash, he shifted into his bear form and jumped from the ledge. His animal shape landed right on top of my body, pressing my back onto the dirt below. He could control his weight and didn't slam into me with all his might. He had only made me topple onto the ground, and as I laid here - he shifted back into his regular physical form. The biggest smile radiated on his face, and as he looked at me - I noticed that not one thing changed about him. The scars, the tattoos and every vein on his body remained the same as if it were yesterday when I last saw him. His muscles tensed as he caged my body between his. He hovered for seconds before I spoke again.
"Careful. Just because I'm a Goddess now, doesn't mean I'm unbreakable."
His brows furrowed together. "Zymira."
I placed a hand on his chest. "In the flesh, Halsin."
His eyes widened again as he heard his name fall from my lips. "Almost two hundred years have gone by, and you look as beautiful as the day you left."
A chuckle slipped from my lips. "Halsin.. prying eyes."
My finger pointed towards the top of the gate where not only the Tiefling woman stood, but a group had joined her. Their watchful eyes showed many emotions. Many confused as to who I was, what I wanted and how Halsin and I knew each other. He followed my finger to the area in directed toward and noticed the watchers. He then slowly turned back toward my resting body.
"Why have you returned?"
I'd almost forgotten why I was here to begin with. To see a friend again had created a happiness that took over my thoughts temporarily. But I had to come back to reality. I took a breath and looked up at him as he still caged me in.