Champion: Sword and Shield

[JaeEleutheria]

They’ve forgotten who you really are… They named you Teshalia and turned you into a whore goddess… they focus more on the sex and the luck and have no clue what love truly is. They think they do, but they don’t. Is that why I am still here?

This Mistress seems afraid of who you really are. Why else would she target one who follows the old and true ways? One who seeks the path of Delenia. I actually knew Delenia. She knew you. She was true. And she actually had a clue what love and what you were really about. Is that why I am still here?

Or maybe that’s not the reason. Did freeing Ereshkigal grant me some favor from Nergal…? I’m not sure, but Falson did seem to get a pretty peaceful end, all things considered. A favor to not die? Or a favor to die peacefully? Or is it a curse? The gods are mysterious and probably quite busy with their own battle against the Usurper. Though some believe Nergal is sided with him along with Anshar, I doubt it. It sounds completely idiotic for them to want any Upstarter in on their turf, especially one who insulted Druaga with the mace…

So why am I here?

Lee would know the right paths to take, how to slip into the right places to perhaps even begin looking for this… item. Though neither of us were at Dasar when it fell. And if the rumors of it vanishing is true, then it could be anywhere. But if the rumors of the sword being melted down… I’m not sure.

I feel drawn to the old caves in the Daris forest. The ones where deep down in an antimagic room dwelled the bitch dragon, Raven, but that is but a starting place. I don’t even know if the place still exists… or if that Carcerum place took it over. Pathing and scouting and even remembering geography was never my specialty.

For so long I’ve been angry that he’s gone. Wondering if it was a blessing or a curse that I still live. So long I traveled alone seeking revenge and death.

But Kore, she was so young. There is still hope that those who truly follow Ishtar are actually among us. Those who look deep down and realize that carnal desires are not what she is truly about. She is about strength, battle, and championing. And true love. The kind that doesn’t falter, doesn’t waver, doesn’t change, and is loyal.

My love is still with me, he still drives me. I will not see the circle repeated, despite those that seem content to let it. I will see Ishtar restored. And I will slam whatever artifact of Ishtar she deems me worthy of in the damn Mistress’s face and see how she likes it.

Ariadne touched the small gravestone carved with the symbol of Ishtar in front of her.

"This is for you and others like you, Kore."

She pulled out a golden helm, dented and worn with age and placed it on her head. She took the folded black and gold cloak and placed it into her pack and then adjusted the old green one back around her neck. She touched the long chained amulet no longer holding the sword on her hip under guard, but just let it rest there.

"I am alive. Might as well make someone regret it."