Natilena

Natilena Athsien (I)
Squishymage Goddess of the Stars
Greater Goddess
Created	Before Records Were Kept
Race	Elf
Hometown	Safehaven
Classes	Mage Ranger Thief
Last Seen	Stealing flowers from grave sites
Followed	Cerebus JohnPaul Torchbearer Myronides
Spouse	Zakath
Partner	Craige Myronides
Children	Justine
Following	Stars
Admin Duties	Code Writer 4x

Mud Contributions:

General Squishyness

Character History:

(written as a mortal)

I began life in the treetops of Loth-Llorien before records of such special events as births were recorded. Brought up by wonderful Elven parents in a comfortable family group I grew safe and secure out of babyhood. When I was still very young I one day climbed the Great Tree to sit upon its high branches, play with the sparrows making their home there and taunt the Vultures. Climbing higher than I ever had before, what I found there I consider the beginning of my current outlook on life. A large swirling vortex just above the treetops is what held my attention. Dreams and questions filled my mind. What was it? Where did it go? What else was there outside of the safe home of my birth?

Thus began my first steps into the rest of my life. Dragging my young friend Zakath off with me we both headed for the Guild to be trained in school for the paths we had chosen. Knowing the power held by the Elven mages about Loth-Llorien I chose to be trained in those arts. Zakath chose the healing arts of Clerics to begin his training. We made a fine pair Zakath and I, fighting our way through school, through the training arena and even down into the depths of Lleheibwen, learning together the skills to survive and to grow. Many friends I made, relaxing in safety above the challenges of the arena.

Then one day, not long before I was to graduate from school, a strange thing happened that would define the rest of my life. I came face to face with a Demi-God. Zakath came to me that day so excited I could barely understand what he was saying. Zakath was always a little over-excitable. "I've found us a following!" he exclaimed grabbing my arm and pulling me off towards the temples belonging to the Immortals of the Realm. I had never given the Gods or religion any ounce of my thoughts before. I had been brought up in an agnostic home that taught to rely on self not others. I didn't agree, I didn't disagree, I just hadn't really thought about it. Before I knew it, Zakath had pulled me along until I stood blinking in the bright light of Justice on the marble floor of Temple of Cerebus. A friendly voice whispered in my mind, asking me if I was ready to join in the fight against evil, if I was ready to kill if necessary and then HE appeared before me. A silly grin broke across his face and asked me if I could dance. He looked so human yet not I can't explain it. I also tripped over my own feet while sweeping him into a waltz, he just smiled again and said, "You may worship me." I knelt and worshiped Cerebus, the God of the Court of Justice.

Many wonderful things happened though the years, many loves, many friends, many good times. I could tell you about them now but maybe it is best to leave these stories of adventure for another day. I achieved my childhood goal of surfing the winds of the vortex and exploring new places. Cerebus married Zakath and I in a crazy little ceremony surrounded by a few good friends, we adopted some wonderful children and eventually had beautiful twin girls of our own. I, with Syrinx as a mentor and guide, began studying the skills of a ranger and of a thief and continued to grow in knowledge and skill. I spent much time either adventuring with friends: Egesta, TerraHunden, Kira, and others, just relaxing in the Inn of Loth-Llorien with other Elven adventurers or doing silly things with Cerebus, Kim and other members of the Court in our temple. So much happiness, so much fun: wine flowed freely from the hands of my Lord, small puppies infested the temple and bunnies were nailed to the wall.

he beginning of the end was when a great cataclysm tore are world apart and the Greatest Gods, the Implementers, rebuilt it into a new form. The southern continent was discovered and exploration of it had begun. So many things had changed that all Guild members who wished to continue adventuring were required to repeat several levels of growth. There were many that could not survive the challenges of the new land and some just wandered off into other worlds to face other challenges. I lost much to the cataclysm and the unsettled time that followed. Both Zakath and my children all faded into memories. The warm circles of friends chatting in the Loth-Llorien Inn were gone. Fellow members of the Court and other friends all disappeared, one by one. The most painful of all was the dwindling presence of Cerebus and then, finally, the reformation from my following due to the retirement of my beloved God. Such sorrow filled me in response to the infrequency of his presence that when I finally accepted the reformation from my following, I felt nothing; I was numb already with the loss.

I suppose that good things did come out of that traumatic time. Grismal, a young member of Lorna's Tigers, and I became great friends and good confidants. He suffered the loss of many friends as well and that common bond grew our friendship. In my loneliness I joined the ranks of JohnPaul's following of Holy Virtue hoping it would help ease the suffering of the loss of Cerebus.

Also in this time began a tempestuous relationship with a human that may have contributed to my unsettled state of mind. As change ravaged the lands and friends disappeared I was wrought with emotional turmoil that landed me into Craige's arms. With my elven upbringing and heritage I was never much interested in the human race but something between us connected. He was a fellow follower under Cerebus and as the following was dissolving we looked to each other for comfort. Earlier, in the good days, Craige had always been a protector and guide. He showed me some new spots to explore, taught me some skills needed to survive and even saved my life a few times. The relationship carried with it all of the underlying pain of the times and I suppose, was fated to fail. Just as I was deciding to carry on Cerebus' legacy by taking on another blue aura, he was allowing the loss to eat him up inside and following a different path, a dark path, and an evil one. One painful day he made his choice and stood before me holding the banner of the Black Conclave and surrounded by a sickly red aura. The Arch-Lich had claimed his soul. I cried alone many hours trying to resolve in my heart the paths we had chosen and how to keep love alive. We did try for some time but the pressures on a relationship in which one is good and other evil are sometimes too much to overcome. Eventually I was requested to stand before my God JohnPaul and explain my dalliances with evil. Placing a hand on my shaking shoulder he gave me some comfort, I was still allowed contact with Craige but no assistance in spells or gifts should ever be given to him. Afterwards, as I lay weeping and trembling in my room at the Inn, my heart discovered what my mind always knew. The relationship could not continue.

Now dealing with more loss I found myself ill equipped to rise above the new challenges in my life. JohnPaul had been showing himself less and less frequently and I found myself bereft of Immortal and of following. Again. I suppose it was inevitable that after so many years of learning and growing, so many years of loss and change and so many years of intense good and bad that a retreat within myself was a necessary step.

The world around me had become a nasty place full of evil thoughts and deeds. Murders of fellow adventurers were that occurring almost hourly further dampened the goodness of my beliefs. The bickering and fighting between everyone was too much more than my damaged insides could accept.

I had, a few years ago, moved from my hometown of Loth-Llorien to the seaside of the southern continent. The grand Implementer, Madman, paid the relocation fees himself as a boon for my team winning a quest run by him. No longer knowing which path was the right one for me I began a journey: across the Maelmordian Seas, through decrepit old Thalos, skirting the edge of the Great Eastern Desert, up through the Lightwood Forest and through Midgaard. Standing on the Great Western Road on the other side of Midgaard I could see the path crossing the footbridge into the Haon'Dor Forest. Looking higher above the treetops I could just glimpse the Great Tree of Loth-Llorien and the swirling grey vortex above it. This was the same vortex that inspired my dreams of adventure and excitement so long ago. I now knew where my feet were taking me. They were taking me home. My parents had long ago left the mortal world so in their home, I began a meditation. For years I remained in the lonely little hovel of my birth healing my heart, healing my mind and healing my soul. My mind wandered to many places during this time and I did wake once in a while, to eat and drink, sustaining my body during my mind's long sabbatical.

One day not long ago I awoke, and felt better. The pain had faded and a smile had returned to my face. I walked slowly to the Guild drinking in the bright colours and fresh scents long since forgotten. In the Guild I found that much had changed. Some that I used to adventure with had now gained acceptance into the ranks of the Immortals. The bright young faces I viewed around me, talking of adventures and preparing for new ones were a breath of fresh air to the plans of death and destruction I had experienced in my past. I felt renewed and began my own provisioning to return to my path of mastering the skills of Mage, Ranger and Thief.

Torchbearer came to me that day with the intense blue aura of an immortal surrounding him. Torchie was an old friend from eons ago. He told me how he had created a new following called the DawnBringers based on the teachings he learned under JohnPaul. He welcomed me to join so I worshipped Torchbearer and joined the third following of my lifetime. What I found is that Torchie hasn't changed much over the years, he is as much of a zealot now as he ever was! Gracefully I asked him to be released from the following but I will always have a hug for him when he asks. I find this time I am not as sad to lose another following. I miss the companionship but maybe I have grown out of my dependence on religion enough to accept my own strength for company when needed.

I moved then to Myronides for both comfort and a new following. He'd move as well into the ranks of the immortals during this time and had brought together a group of Elves to lend each other strength. It was during this time I reached the limit of mortal successes, my learning was complete. He as well faded one day from day to day life leaving me with a decision.. what should I do with my life anyway?

Do you know the answer?

Elf [ Lesser Goddess ] Natilena: bunnies or pants, your choice! February 26, 2004

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