Submitted by Garius

A smooth, damp mist gathered around Naerlan the morning before the Days of Redemption. There was calmness in Tharel, for hardly a sound could be heard. Everybody was still asleep including me, Garius. The smell from the mist really made me breath better. That night, I had the best sleep I ever had in Tharel. I was a having a rather pleasant dream…

Gold was falling from the cloudy skies, collecting around my body as I lay in a field looking up at the heavens. To the west of this field were mountains in which red clouds rested upon. Blood laid upon the strands of straw that made up this field. It was not my blood, but the blood of hundreds of centaurs from the Great Plains in Equinilis. In this dream, I had a sense of victory within, yet not over the massacre of the centaurs. Perhaps it was from things to come… Perhaps the arrangement I had made with Lady Caron had to do with it…

A couple days ago, I made Lady Caron an offer she could not resist: an offer to help Sophism during The Days of Redemption. I posted a note in the graveyard near Sophism’s clanhall stating the conditions of the arrangement. Immediately after she received this notice, she summoned me to her in order to discuss the arrangements even further. I signed my name in blood after we both looked over the contract as it read:

I, Garius, will help Sophism collect idols during the Days of Redemption if I am provided with the following benefits:

- 10,000 gold in advance (This money will help me prepare for the Days of Redemption)
- 2,000 gold per every idol found
- 30% of the money Sophism makes from the Idols of Fjiorim that I find
- If no money is made with the Idols of Fjiorim, I will receive time and a half for the idol:
That is 3,000 gold.

- Garius

I originally wanted 35% of the money that Sophism made with the Idols of Fjiorim that I found. After discussing this matter with Lady Caron, we both settled at 30%. I was still young and gold was hard to come by. Nevertheless, I had a hunger for gold. She said she would raise the money and give it to me the day before the Days of Redemption began. We both shook upon the agreement and went our separate ways.

I woke up with an evil grin upon my face for I knew the Days of Redemption were right around the corner. Right after I had got dressed and put my battle gear on, Lady Caron summoned me again. She handed me 10,000 gold just as I had asked for and said, “Don’t let me regret this Garius. I expect to see results.” I nodded at Lady Caron as she disappeared into the Shadows.

Right after Lady Caron gated out of the room, I headed for the Fountain of the Apothecary to buy supplies. I bought fifteen elixirs of tranquility and ten potions of protection for I knew there was a high risk of my life exploring places in Tharel that I have not been. I bought seven potions of sight incase I became blinded in the process of exploring and five potions of sickness removal incase I caught the plague. Also, I bought seven potions of revealing so I could see the people who tried to steal idols from me.

Then, I traveled north towards Homanu’s temple altar and stopped in the Armoury and the Weapons Shop. Sadly, neither stores had nothing of interest to me. I had already killed a sylvan elf and stolen his sylvan longsword. Being knowledgeable of the land of Tharel, I felt that the equipment that I had satisfied my needs. I traveled to Homanu’s altar just to see who was there. Chryseus was kind enough to sharpen my longsword for me. Now that my sword was sharpened, I thought of how easy it would be to kill sylvan elven children that did not join the darkside. I snickered at the thought under my breath.

I traveled to the Mountainside Tombs by Elemental Canyon and bought 15 anti-cyclops elixirs. I thought to myself, “What else do I need? I have a great weapon, an excellent choice of armor, and various kinds of potions.” I sat there and thought for quite awhile and then BOOM! It came to me. I needed feathers, thus I traveled back to Naerlan and searched for Lillith. I bought about 20 feathers from him for I knew that feathers would play a key role in my search for idols. While others would walk around looking for idols, I would fly!!! They would be easy to spot out that way. Also, I would not get as fatigued as quick as the ones who would walk.

My plan seemed perfect at the time. By helping Sophism out during the Days of Redemption, the relationship between Ytrewtsu’s temple and Jirah’s temple would grow stronger. This would allow the two temples to work more freely to fight Vallien and Crifus, the scum of the Earth. I could not help but cackle with insane glee at the thought!!! Feeling like I was ready for a day’s worth of exploration, I headed to Andy’s Pub and drank a few beers. After about thirty minutes, I headed up to the Inn to sleep. I had the same dream that night as I had the one before. The sense of victory I felt in the dream was stronger now as the Days grew nearer…

Raije woke me up approximately thirty minutes before the Days of Redemption commenced. He has always been a father figure to me, thus I knew I could count on him to wake me up in the wee hours of the morning. I put all the potions I bought earlier that day in my web silk bag, after I wielded my sylvan longsword and equipped all of my battle gear. Before I set out looking for Idols, I heard a familiar, yet unknown voice tell me, “If you succeed in helping the shadows during the Days of Redemption, then the force of the darkside will grow stronger and overwhelm all that stands for good. If Sophism wins the Days of Redemption, an alliance between our two temples may be a possibility for the sole purpose of disposing all that stands for good. It all rests upon your shoulders Garius.” As quickly as I heard this voice, it went away, disappearing into the shadows.

I pondered whom this voice belonged to. Remembering a time when Jirah visited me in the Arena bestowing unheard of strength upon me, I concluded it must have been him. Hoping Jirah would be listening I said, “I will not let you down in this endeavor Jirah. Remember, I am helping you only for the dark side’s sake and for my own desire to dispose of all that stands for good.” Then, I set out looking for idols.

My brother Grendal told me of several places in which he found idols. One of the places he mentioned was Ruined Thalos, thus that was where my adventure began. After smashing down the Grand Gate of Thalos, I traveled west on Main Street until I got to a Garden Path. I searched this path north and south with no success. I searched the side streets and the back alleys. I searched the towers and also the Market Place where my brother found an idol. By quaffing an anti-cyclops elixir, I was easily able to avoid the strange lamias that roam Ruined Thalos.

Grendal also told me of an idol of Crifis he found in the Great Plains. I thought, “It is a shame that I never got to throw pigeons at that idol.” Anyway, I flew as fast as I could to Equinilis. I seen an idol of Crifus being drug by someone, thus I quaffed a potion of revealing only to discover it was Tekk. I helped him drag the idol to Sophism’s clanhall. He told me he had searched all of Equinilis and seen only that idol of Crifus, thus I headed for the Sewers under Naerlan.

These sewers were different than the ones in Gerighelm for they were really dirty and they had a horrible stench that smelled like Crifus himself! After being attacked by several small fierce-looking bats when I entered, I decided to quaff an anti-cyclops elixir to become invisible. A strong feeling drove me to continue searching the sewers. Eventually, I found an idol of Ytrewtsu sitting in a dark passageway. I felt victorious finding the idol of the God I worship. I thought, “This must be a sign! Ytrewtsu must have great things in store for me!!!

All of the sudden I heard a slight squeaking noise coming from the lower end of the tunnel. I quaffed a potion of revealing, but I still did not see anyone. Thinking that there might be trouble, I sent my loyal eagle to fetch Lady Caron and Tekk. An unfamiliar voice offered to buy the idol from me. While Lady Caron and Tekk were on their way, I bought time by talking to this voice. After awhile this unknown person grew impatient and tried to steal the idol from me, but Lady Caron gated to me just in time to save the day. This unknown person must have sent for reinforcements because Arcanum members showed up. Even with these reinforcements, Lady Caron and I managed to get this idol to Sophism’s clanhall safely.

After Lady Caron thanked me for finding the idol, I went back to the Sewers to search for more. It seemed like I searched every tunnel up and down five times. Just as I was about to leave, I found a dark pit that I must have looked over. I traveled down this pit until I came to a cave. A secret room on the eastern side of this cave took me to a mudhole. It was very cold in the tunnel nearby for all the heat was trapped inside a hot room. I looked around and scanned the entire area. Just west of this hot room was a stalagmite cave in which a huge silver idol of Fjiorim was hiding. I cackled with insane glee for I knew this statue was worth 100 diamonds. About thirty minutes after sending my eagle for Tekk and Rocky, they both showed up. Rocky brought 30 diamonds with him in which he gave to me. They dragged the idol back to Sophism’s clanhall. I quickly recalled to Ytrewtsu’s temple and got a bite to eat and drink. I decided to head towards Elemental Canyon.

I traveled right through Bose'nisten looking for idols as I went along. Sadly, I did not find anything there nor on the Mountainside Pass. I quaffed an anti-cyclops elixir once I got to the Mountainside Tombs to get passed the viscous cyclops that guards Elemental Canyon. I searched the Fiery Pathway, the Electric Pathway, Elemental Bay, and even the caves to the east of the entrance without coming up with one single idol. After I searched the Windy Tunnel, I decided to take a look in Aarakocran City. Thus, I quickly devoured a feather and flew up up and away.

As soon as I entered the city I flew east until I got to a Shanty Town. I searched the taxidermy’s stand and gallery, the armory stall, the jeweler’s stall, and the weaponsmith’s stall. I flew around Aarakocran City for quite awhile without coming up with anything. Flying even higher, I searched the warrior’s guild, a food vendor’s stall, a runed stall, and even the dump. Sadly, I still did not come up with anything. I flew up to a small ledge on the south cliff face and saw an idol of Crifus. I saw Rocky and Tekk near by, thus I waved them down and they helped drag the idol back to Sophism’s clanhall.

After I recalled back to my lord’s temple, I decided to go to Terrason. I took a winding road until I got to the edge of the forest. I headed east on a trail past the colossal tree and followed a narrow trail through the forest looking for idols as I went along. After following Caravan Road completely north I traveled a forested path until I reached Terrason. Immediately upon arrival, I talked to the titan guarding the city from danger. I asked him, “Have you seen an idol-like figures around these parts? Anything out of place?” The huge titan pointed east without saying a single word. I sprinted east as fast as I could. I searched the Irvine Courtyards until I saw another huge idol of Crifus. I decided to drag this idol to Sophism’s clanhall myself because I did not want to bother Tekk, Rocky, and Caron anymore. They already did so much for me that day. Surprisingly, I did not have any trouble getting the idol where it was suppose to go.

The Days of Redemption were coming to a close. A messenger went around Naerlan telling everybody there was only one hour remaining. Traveling past Market Square, I was surprised to see a huge quartz idol of Fjiorim. I dragged this statue to Sophism’s clanhall just in time for them to claim it. A huge gong sounded announcing the end of the Days of Redemption. Lady Caron, Rocky, Tekk, and I waited patiently to see which clan won the Days of Redemption. We celebrated with utter joy once we learned Sophism had once again done it!!! I did it! I brought the temple of Ytrewtsu and the temple of Jirah closer together! Now we can both fight together for a common cause: the destruction of all that stands for good! Lady Caron paid me 9,000 gold just as I departed for my lord’s temple.

I thought about how I could use this money. After deciding how to spend this well-earned money, I tithed it all to Ytrewtsu’s temple. I was promoted conspirator from zealot. I was thrilled!!! The Days of Redemption were a success! The biggest gain I had throughout the Days of Redemption was I made new friends: Tekk, Lady Caron, and Rocky. I met Faelle later on. He was also a great guy. He helped me dispose of Rudric. I even got his head, in which I sacrificed, as a memorabilia! To think, the next Days of Redemption is only a year away…