Eternal
You’ve spent the past two days with Calvin’s crew, which has been fumbling about trying to dig up the rest of the Emperor’s chambers. So far they haven’t found much of consequence though, mostly just pieces of the Emperor’s belongings that were made of stone or metal, like a bed frame or one of his many work tables. The biggest things were broken pieces of the two large statues that stood outside the door and the half destroyed door itself. Any books that have been found have mostly been destroyed over the passage of time. Between insects, small subterranean rodents and centuries of gradual decay it would seem the earth has consumed most of the important stuff. While Calvin still appreciates what has been found, he was really hoping to find a treasure trove of magical items, but you told him he wouldn’t have had much luck anyway. The Emperor himself never really kept much of that around, probably because as a powerful wizard himself he didn’t need to rely on such things
You on the other hand haven’t found what you were looking for and that’s the remains of a svelk. You and Semra were in the immediate area yet no bones have been found. But then Jacob wasn’t too far from the same location and his bones haven’t been found either. (You still haven’t mentioned to Calvin or Jennifer about knowing the specifics about their ancestor’s death.) At this point you can’t do too much more lingering you need to get on with your more important assignment. You decide to make one more quick look though so you grab a shovel and start digging.
Of course you can’t be left alone while doing this, Jennifer decides to come up and bother you in her usual way. You swear the girl insists on trying to hang around you whenever possible. You certainly hope she doesn’t have a crush or something, because you don’t really have time for such things.
“Hey, you shouldn’t just be digging haphazardly like that near the support beam! One wrong dig and you could fall into a sinkhole or cause part of this excavation to collapse! You don’t want to be buried alive again do you?” Jennifer says.
“I dunno, I’m still wondering if I wouldn’t be better off.” You remark.
“Oh you don’t mean that. I thought you said you and Quintus had big plans that gave you a sense of purpose now.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can’t ponder if it’s worth it or not. (Sigh) Damn it, what am I doing? I’ve never going to find anything. I need to just get started on that business I spoke about with Quintus.”
“Wait, what ARE you looking for anyway? I’ve noticed you before looking through piles of dirt and overturning stones since you got here. If you told us, perhaps we could help you. I mean we do do this for a living and all.”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Look if it’s personal, you don’t need to tell me or anyone else the significance, but if we know what to look for surely it could help couldn’t it? Maybe we already found it and it’s in our pile of ever-growing objects.
Sensing that Jennifer isn’t going to let this go you give in and tell her.
“(Sigh) I’m looking for bones.”
“Bones? Well we found a bunch a few feet higher up…”
“No, the bones I’m looking for would be at least approximately in the same area that you found me. They would be elven in nature, specifically svelk, if that makes a difference.”
“Dark elven? What was a dark elf doing down here near the Emperor? You know, you still haven’t told us anything about how you came to be in your situation. I mean we’ve all been wondering if the Emperor was down here during the cataclysm, though we haven’t found any trace of his remains.”
Now you wish you hadn’t told her.
“Look! Let’s just focus on one thing at a time! Now I’m looking for svelk bones, unless you’ve found anything like that, then we have nothing more to discuss.” You snap and start to leave.
“Okay, okay! No need to snap like that, but can you at least tell me who this svelk was? Obviously they must’ve been important to you or else you would not be trying to find the remains. I’m really just trying to help!”
Well that’s true and you can’t necessarily fault her for it.
“Alright, I’ll tell you a little bit. The svelk’s name was Semra and believe or not she was a top advisor to the Emperor. And since we’re on the topic, yes all of us were down here when the cataclysm hit. As the palace was collapsing in on our heads, Semra was the one who put me in that little magical box you all found me in. Basically she saved my life when certain doom was imminent.”
This bit of information predictably gets a big reaction out of Jennifer.
“Wow! I can’t believe it. The Emperor had a svelk advisor? She must’ve been an outcast from her people. I thought they were only nomadic mercenaries back in those days.”
“They were, but Semra was a bit more ambitious than that. Make no mistake she was no outcast. She was every bit as ruthless and treacherous as any of her people. Probably more so. She always had an angle.”
“Hm, surprised the Emperor trusted such a creature, but still she saved your life. A self sacrificing svelk; never thought such a thing existed. The two of you must’ve been close surely? Were you friends or um…”
“No we weren’t friends, and don’t even suggest we had a romantic affiliation.” You say before she even completes that sentence. “Our relationship was…complex. Let’s just say she played a big role in who I am today and despite whatever differences I did have with her I do owe her my life.”
“So, it’s kind of like a paying last respects thing?”
“Something like that. I mean she was literally the last person I saw before I went into my big sleep. My last moment during the old days were with her. Guess I felt like seeing her bones would be a kind of closure, but I guess it doesn’t matter anyway right?”
“No, I understand. Well, we’ll keep an eye out I guess for svelk bones. So… you said the Emperor was down here too?”
“Yeah, but before you even ask. There’s no point in trying to look for his remains. He disintegrated before my eyes.”
Jennifer is in shock.
“He…he disintegrated?! How?!”
“Well, it was the cataclysm. Hit pretty suddenly and hard. One moment he was there, then he wasn’t.”
Your vague explanation isn’t exactly untrue. You’re just glad it seems to be sufficient for now.
“Sheesh, no wonder you didn’t want to talk about it. Must’ve been stressful even for you. I have to tell my father about this. He’ll be very interested in learning more about this mystery.” Jennifer says.
“I’m sure you will. You know I’m very surprised he doesn’t speak to me more often given that he’s the one in charge of this expedition and his extreme interest in the history aspect.”
“I would imagine he would if your personality was different. You’re a bit intimidating and he still fears you a bit, so as it stands I think he believes it would be better if I spoke to you.”
“Why? Does he think I am easily swayed by a pretty face?”
“Er…no…what I was going to say is that I am a little more willing to take risks like interacting with you for example. You’re more likely to respect someone that’s brave and thus open up to them. I love my father, but he’s not exactly the bravest of men, though he has his moments.”
“Hm, sounds like someone I used to know.” You say thinking about Jacob, which makes you add a bit more to your story.
“Before I leave there are a few other bones you might want to look for while you’re down here.” You say.
“Oh? I thought it was just you and Semra.”
“It was in the end, but there was another top advisor to the Emperor here that died shortly before that.”
“Wait, you don’t mean…”
“Yes, your ancestor Jacob. Though his remains might be a bit…crushed. A large falling stone block fell on him.”
Your news once again renders Jennifer silent for a moment.
“We always did wonder what happened to him exactly. I mean it was always assumed he got killed during the cataclysm, but never knew the specifics. Well at he didn’t suffer long.” She remarks.
“No it was pretty quick and sudden. Just like everything else when the cataclysm hit. Still, if it’s any consolation, Jacob had his own moment of bravery before his life ended. He actually saved Semra and I from getting immediately killed during that dark time.”
“He did?”
“Yes. Anyway, as I said, I’ve got other things to do, so I’ll leave you to it.”
Before you leave, Jennifer thanks you for the information and hopes in time that you’ll open up more information about the past. You don’t make any promises, but you know you probably will eventually.
You leave the dig site and think about what you originally went there for in first place. Closure. Since you didn’t really get that, you do it yourself.
“Well Semra, I don’t really know why you saved me. Then again I didn’t understand your twisted obsession for me either. Whether it was genuine love, svelk psychological torture, your own personal fucked up mind or a combination of the three I’ll never know. And I guess now, I never will. But for what it’s worth. Thank you.”
After your monologue to yourself, you ride off in search of orcs to antagonize.
You on the other hand haven’t found what you were looking for and that’s the remains of a svelk. You and Semra were in the immediate area yet no bones have been found. But then Jacob wasn’t too far from the same location and his bones haven’t been found either. (You still haven’t mentioned to Calvin or Jennifer about knowing the specifics about their ancestor’s death.) At this point you can’t do too much more lingering you need to get on with your more important assignment. You decide to make one more quick look though so you grab a shovel and start digging.
Of course you can’t be left alone while doing this, Jennifer decides to come up and bother you in her usual way. You swear the girl insists on trying to hang around you whenever possible. You certainly hope she doesn’t have a crush or something, because you don’t really have time for such things.
“Hey, you shouldn’t just be digging haphazardly like that near the support beam! One wrong dig and you could fall into a sinkhole or cause part of this excavation to collapse! You don’t want to be buried alive again do you?” Jennifer says.
“I dunno, I’m still wondering if I wouldn’t be better off.” You remark.
“Oh you don’t mean that. I thought you said you and Quintus had big plans that gave you a sense of purpose now.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can’t ponder if it’s worth it or not. (Sigh) Damn it, what am I doing? I’ve never going to find anything. I need to just get started on that business I spoke about with Quintus.”
“Wait, what ARE you looking for anyway? I’ve noticed you before looking through piles of dirt and overturning stones since you got here. If you told us, perhaps we could help you. I mean we do do this for a living and all.”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Look if it’s personal, you don’t need to tell me or anyone else the significance, but if we know what to look for surely it could help couldn’t it? Maybe we already found it and it’s in our pile of ever-growing objects.
Sensing that Jennifer isn’t going to let this go you give in and tell her.
“(Sigh) I’m looking for bones.”
“Bones? Well we found a bunch a few feet higher up…”
“No, the bones I’m looking for would be at least approximately in the same area that you found me. They would be elven in nature, specifically svelk, if that makes a difference.”
“Dark elven? What was a dark elf doing down here near the Emperor? You know, you still haven’t told us anything about how you came to be in your situation. I mean we’ve all been wondering if the Emperor was down here during the cataclysm, though we haven’t found any trace of his remains.”
Now you wish you hadn’t told her.
“Look! Let’s just focus on one thing at a time! Now I’m looking for svelk bones, unless you’ve found anything like that, then we have nothing more to discuss.” You snap and start to leave.
“Okay, okay! No need to snap like that, but can you at least tell me who this svelk was? Obviously they must’ve been important to you or else you would not be trying to find the remains. I’m really just trying to help!”
Well that’s true and you can’t necessarily fault her for it.
“Alright, I’ll tell you a little bit. The svelk’s name was Semra and believe or not she was a top advisor to the Emperor. And since we’re on the topic, yes all of us were down here when the cataclysm hit. As the palace was collapsing in on our heads, Semra was the one who put me in that little magical box you all found me in. Basically she saved my life when certain doom was imminent.”
This bit of information predictably gets a big reaction out of Jennifer.
“Wow! I can’t believe it. The Emperor had a svelk advisor? She must’ve been an outcast from her people. I thought they were only nomadic mercenaries back in those days.”
“They were, but Semra was a bit more ambitious than that. Make no mistake she was no outcast. She was every bit as ruthless and treacherous as any of her people. Probably more so. She always had an angle.”
“Hm, surprised the Emperor trusted such a creature, but still she saved your life. A self sacrificing svelk; never thought such a thing existed. The two of you must’ve been close surely? Were you friends or um…”
“No we weren’t friends, and don’t even suggest we had a romantic affiliation.” You say before she even completes that sentence. “Our relationship was…complex. Let’s just say she played a big role in who I am today and despite whatever differences I did have with her I do owe her my life.”
“So, it’s kind of like a paying last respects thing?”
“Something like that. I mean she was literally the last person I saw before I went into my big sleep. My last moment during the old days were with her. Guess I felt like seeing her bones would be a kind of closure, but I guess it doesn’t matter anyway right?”
“No, I understand. Well, we’ll keep an eye out I guess for svelk bones. So… you said the Emperor was down here too?”
“Yeah, but before you even ask. There’s no point in trying to look for his remains. He disintegrated before my eyes.”
Jennifer is in shock.
“He…he disintegrated?! How?!”
“Well, it was the cataclysm. Hit pretty suddenly and hard. One moment he was there, then he wasn’t.”
Your vague explanation isn’t exactly untrue. You’re just glad it seems to be sufficient for now.
“Sheesh, no wonder you didn’t want to talk about it. Must’ve been stressful even for you. I have to tell my father about this. He’ll be very interested in learning more about this mystery.” Jennifer says.
“I’m sure you will. You know I’m very surprised he doesn’t speak to me more often given that he’s the one in charge of this expedition and his extreme interest in the history aspect.”
“I would imagine he would if your personality was different. You’re a bit intimidating and he still fears you a bit, so as it stands I think he believes it would be better if I spoke to you.”
“Why? Does he think I am easily swayed by a pretty face?”
“Er…no…what I was going to say is that I am a little more willing to take risks like interacting with you for example. You’re more likely to respect someone that’s brave and thus open up to them. I love my father, but he’s not exactly the bravest of men, though he has his moments.”
“Hm, sounds like someone I used to know.” You say thinking about Jacob, which makes you add a bit more to your story.
“Before I leave there are a few other bones you might want to look for while you’re down here.” You say.
“Oh? I thought it was just you and Semra.”
“It was in the end, but there was another top advisor to the Emperor here that died shortly before that.”
“Wait, you don’t mean…”
“Yes, your ancestor Jacob. Though his remains might be a bit…crushed. A large falling stone block fell on him.”
Your news once again renders Jennifer silent for a moment.
“We always did wonder what happened to him exactly. I mean it was always assumed he got killed during the cataclysm, but never knew the specifics. Well at he didn’t suffer long.” She remarks.
“No it was pretty quick and sudden. Just like everything else when the cataclysm hit. Still, if it’s any consolation, Jacob had his own moment of bravery before his life ended. He actually saved Semra and I from getting immediately killed during that dark time.”
“He did?”
“Yes. Anyway, as I said, I’ve got other things to do, so I’ll leave you to it.”
Before you leave, Jennifer thanks you for the information and hopes in time that you’ll open up more information about the past. You don’t make any promises, but you know you probably will eventually.
You leave the dig site and think about what you originally went there for in first place. Closure. Since you didn’t really get that, you do it yourself.
“Well Semra, I don’t really know why you saved me. Then again I didn’t understand your twisted obsession for me either. Whether it was genuine love, svelk psychological torture, your own personal fucked up mind or a combination of the three I’ll never know. And I guess now, I never will. But for what it’s worth. Thank you.”
After your monologue to yourself, you ride off in search of orcs to antagonize.