Lucid Lunacy of Literacy [LA2]

[L'Orr-hui]

The illithid considered the query for a moment

''Troubling indeed. Very acute guesses, both of you. Myself...I would consider this a form of ritual for the divine''

[Akh Uur Hoon]

"Which divine though." Akh looked between both of them. "They respect no gods, demigods, or primordials to my best understanding. But they do have a tradition of lords. It may be either that, or some external power finding a way to subjugate them..."

There was a thought. She turned toward Illia'mira. "Slaadi tend to be war-averse. Was the host you saw warlike or displaying some military features?"

[L'Orr-hui]

''It might something that wishes the trappings of divinity. Most troubling''

[Illiam'iira]

''Troubling indeed. Very acute guesses, both of you. Myself...I would consider this a form of ritual for the divine''

Yeah... she'd been afraid of that. Illiam's body tenses.

"Slaadi tend to be war-averse. Was the host you saw warlike or displaying some military features?"

"Host? Uhm -- the black slaadi -- the one who looked like it was protecting everything -- it had a sword and looked like it really wanted to kill us. But the humanoid?" She takes a breath in. "It was golden, and did nothing. At least not for the brief glimpse we got of it."

[Akh Uur Hoon]

"That it was a humanoid may mean little since many creatures can take up multiple forms according to needs and whims. However, if it was golden... If I had to venture a wild guess, it could have been a dragon. They do venture into Limbo and have both the power and the cunning to mobilise lesser beings to unusual behaviours."

[Illiam'iira]

"That it was a humanoid may mean little since many creatures can take up multiple forms according to needs and whims. However, if it was golden... If I had to venture a wild guess, it could have been a dragon. They do venture into Limbo and have both the power and the cunning to mobilise lesser beings to unusual behaviours."

"That sounds like strange behavior for a golden dragon, though, unless..." She blinks. It was before her time, but she does know of something like this. "Well, unless its mind has been warped in some way. I've heard of a golden dragon driven insane by evil before. It caused incredible chaos and suffering that's lasted generations, even after the dragon had been restored to its sanity."

[Akh Uur Hoon]

"Would you care to tell that story in greater detail?"

[Illiam'iira]

"Would you care to tell that story in greater detail?"

"Uhm, sure," She says, looking a bit more nervous now. "This story is from a few decades before I was born, but somehow -- I don't know how this part happened, apologies -- somehow an evil god's Chosen tricked an ancient golden dragon into reading a book that would not only drive her mad, but make her worship him. She took the book and used it to slowly convert the councilmen of a city -- Baldur's Gate -- and together they called upon the city for a speech... where she read the cursed book aloud to everyone in attendance. While the entire city wasn't converted overnight, most of it was, and those who had not attended were dragged away either to be converted or... worse..."

Illiam takes a breath in.

"A group of heroes, including the Chosen of Sune, Ilmater, Selune, and Bane, snuck into the city to do battle with the dragon, and as the dragon was knocked unconscious, the Chosen of Ilmater healed her of her madness. Together they began to heal everyone they could, but... well..." Her gaze falls as she hugs herself. "It was an entire city. It changed the Sword Coast, and they're still rooting out the madness to this day."

"I doubt these events are connected, but such things are possible, and the consequences of such horrors are far-reaching. Two hundred years and what happened still gets people tortured and murdered and..." Illiam'iira doesn't wish to speak it.

[L'Orr-hui]

Are you sure that this story is truthful?

[Illiam'iira]

Are you sure that this story is truthful?

"Yes. The Chosen of Sune is my godmother." And...