Chereads / The Tails of Urdn'Varn; The Moonscryer. / Chapter 9 - Scroll 9: The Weave of Moonlight and Shadow

Chapter 9 - Scroll 9: The Weave of Moonlight and Shadow

As weeks turned into months, Urdn'Varn found himself entwined in the rhythms of the Worgs' lives. Living among the pack, he learned many things about their ways;

How they hunted in silence, how they revered the darkness, and most of all..,

how they worshiped Lady Shar: the Nightsinger.

Every night, be it drenched in darkness, or bathed under the silver light of the moon, Urdn'Varn immersed himself in the ancient rituals of the Worgs, and each night his heart began growing further from the light of Selûne, and deeper into the subtle embrace of Shar.

Soon the nights turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, but with each night that passed acamea new lesson, and a new opportunity for Urdn'Varn to prove himself to Lady Shar. In a blink of an eye six months had passed, and in that time, Urdn'Varn has become a master of the Shadow-Weave.

The very essence of the night seemed to flow through his veins, allowing him to bend the powers darkness to his will, and with each spell he cast, he could feel Shar's divine presence more pronounce than ever as her whispers guid him through the mysteries of shadow magic.

One night, standing before the Worg Queen and her pack, Urdn'Varn made the decision to Form a Warlock's Soul-binding Pact With Shar herself. The Worgs delighted by this decision, began to prepare a celebration for after the ritual. As Urdn'Varn knelt beneath the moonlit sky, his heart pounded as he pledged himself fully to Shar. With the Worgs as his witnesses, he spoke Shar's Devine Words Of Sealing, and entered into a pact with the Goddess of Shadows.

—"Lady Shar the nightsinger, I Urdn'Varn stand before you In the shadows, for in your darkness I find my strength.

I embrace darkness as my teacher, and as my ally, for I accept the losses that have shaped me.

I swear to spread, in secret, the words of my goddess, to wield Divine her power, The Shadow-Weave, in pursuit of our ambitions.

I vow to shun away the false light, and the lies of Selûne that seeks to rival Shar's truths.

From this moment forth, I devote myself solemnly to you, for I am Urdn'Varn the Warlock, Acolyte of Shar!

I stand before you now, as your servant of the night, a seeker of the hidden paths, and your Soldier hidden in the shadows."—

After to the ritual was complete, Urdn'Varn and the worgs partied for three whole nights without rest.

A year later, Urdn'Varn received a horrible vision while hunting under the dim glow of the moon. Shar had revealed to him a message of terrible fate:

*A Justiciar of Shar, one of their own, attacked and cursed by a werewolf.

Hiding in a cave, away from the moonlight, fighting for consciousness, their transformation nearly complete.*

Urdn'Varn, who has seen the effects of Lycanthropy first hand, knew that the Justiciar had but a week before their mind is completely gone if not aided immediately. With no time to waist, Urdn'Varn and his worgs moved swiftly through the Forbidden Forest, the worgs' noses tracking for the possible scent of fresh blood.

As they dashed through the woods, Urdn'Varn could feel the danger ahead, but cared not, for his mind was haunted the memories his past, memories of his mother.. Syllel.

Not long after, one the Worgs catches a wiff of fresh blood,so they follow the sent past a clearing in the woods, and into a cave that had come into view.

Deep inside the cave, there lay the Justiciar, slumped against a wall, wounded and barely breathing. Before them, a hulking figure snarled;

a werewolf, poised and ready to strike with a killing blow.

The worgs immediately growled, ready to leap into battle.

"Wait," Urdn'Varn commanded, raising a hand. His voice was firm but calm. "We need not fight, not if we can save them first."

The werewolf side of them, sensing the tension, turned its attention to Urdn'Varn, growling as it fights for control. "Stay back.. grrr... I can't.. grrr. Control it much longer!"

Ignoring their warning, Urdn'Varn approached slowly, wings tucked tight behind him as his hands glow with the dark energy of shadow magic. He reached out, his voice a low murmur of Shar's blessings.

"I am not here to harm you," he whispered to the werewolf. "I am here to try and save what remains of you."

But the Justiciar was almost too far gone, and its mind was temporarily lost to the curse of lycanthropy. With a vicious roar, they lunged at Urdn'Varn, ready to attack. ..But the worgs, loyal to Urdn'Varn, sprang into action, meeting the werewolf mid-charge. Snarls and yelps filled the air as the creatures collided, and despite his reluctance, Urdn'Varn had no choice but to let the fight unfold.

After the battle had come to a standstill, Urdn'Varn moved quickly to heal has Worg comrades, and then the fallen Justiciar.

He could feel his hands trembling as he knelt beside them for he could now see their transformation had begun to take hold;

Their claws were forming, and their eyes glinting with the essence of enthrallment.

He spoke softly to the Justiciar, his words waying heavy as he began to heal the injured Justiciar.

"Stay with me, I won't let the madness take you, As long as you avoid the the moon, there is still hope."

Knowing he only has a few minutes before the Justiciar loses control again, Urdn'Varn turned to the nearest worg and casts a spell called *Guise of Two Minds* on them in order to show them his thoughts before saying, "I need you to take your brothers and go to my old cabin.. for you it should be Three hours run from here... Fetch the silver chains and mask from within. Hurry, I'll keep them distracted until you get back! "

Understanding his sense of urgency, the worgs took off into the forest without hesitation, there powerful legs carrying it far faster than Urdn'Varn ever could.

After about six hours passed, and the forest had long since grown still, Urdn'Varn sat silently outside of the cave, watching guard over the injured Justiciar. Perching in a tree, he sat patently with his wings wrapped around himself like a cloak to fend off the chill. His sharp kobold eyes watching for any sign of a threat.

Finally, the sound of rustling leaves and snapping branches alerts him..

The worgs had returned, panting and tired, but their mission complete. In their jaws were the silver chains and the sacred mask Urdn'Varn had sent them for. With a soft nod of gratitude, Urdn'Varn stood and beckoned the worgs inside the cave they had sheltered the Justiciar in. The Justiciar, feverish and trembling, was still conscious but barely. The werewolf curse had begun turning their skin into fur, and their nails into claws.

"Hold still Justiciar, I have something that might help.. but I must warn you, it won't be pleasant." Urdn'Varn whispered as he began his work.

With careful, practiced hands, Urdn'Varn binds them using magic, then wraps the silver chains around the Justiciar's limbs, binding them tightly but not harshly.

The mask was the final piece, ..crafted from ancient knowledge, it was designed to suppress Rage and Madness.

As Urdn'Varn placed it over the Justiciar's face, its magic began sinking into the very core of the afflicted Justiciar.

The Justiciar shuddered, screaming in pain as the silver touched its skin and the mask's magic took effect, burning the fur away from their skin as their body began to shrink. Theil Justiciar's breath grew sharp, as their eyes widened with pain, ..but soon, the Bloodthirsty growls of transformation slowly softened into the pained groans of an injured Halfling.

As the hours passed, Urdn'Varn stayed beside them, and offered praise to Shar as the Halfling's fever began to break.

Bit by bit, the monstrous rage that had overtaken them gave way to exhaustion, and finally, rest.

Urdn'Varn exhaled, his small frame relaxing as he watched the curse fade.

The Justiciar, though still weak, had survived. As he rests, he looks over at the worgs, who lay close by, their wounds tended to, and heir loyalty unshaken.

"You did well today, I'm sure are queen; Lady Nazareth will reward you all well for actions today. ..If you wish, You're welcome to return home if you wish, but I'm going to stay here and watch over this Halfling." Urdn'Varn says to the worgs.

Hearing this two of the worgs decide to head back home to report back to the queen, as the smallest of the worgs stays behind, just in case Urdn'Varn might need their strength.

With the full moon still a few days away, Urdn'Varn knew that he had watch over them until it passes, or they might lose themselves completely, but for now, the Justiciar was safe.. And so, he waited with them in silence, keeping watch untill then, his faith in Shar unwavering.

After the night of the full moon, upon realizing what Urdn'Varn had accomplished,

The Justiciar, -a halfling named Tillybell-, begged Shar to reward Urdn'Varn for his loyalty and bravery, unparalleled by any other Kobold she hade ever met.

...And so, humored by the situation, The goddess Shar granted Urdn'Varn an immense power, crafted form the weave of magic that was held within the Selûnite Mask Urdn'Varn and his mother forged together,

..one of the likes no-one had never seen before;

—Glyphnir's Judgment— A powerful spell capable of freeing living beings from the mental enthrallment of Lycanthropy by returning their sanity at the cost of remorse, turning them into a unique type of werewolf called the *Wulvenvir*: —Werewolve's capable of taking on the form of a Worg or Lycan at will—.

{... HOWEVER, if they are incapable of feeling remorse for their actions, the spell binds them in Mystic Silver Chains, Unbreakable by Lycanthropic beings.

The Mystic Silver Chains continue to tighten around them the more they struggle, eventually crushing them.}

From that moment on, Urdn'Varn became a beacon of strength amongst other monster tribes that lived deep within the Upperdark Forest. Words of his prowess spread quickly, and soon, even the most fearsome of creatures respected him. For the first time in a long time, Urdn'Varn was no longer lost, .. for now, he was a Warrior of Shar, Protector of the Worgs, and most of all.. The Sanctifier of Enthrallment; Father of the Wulvenvir.

Finally after what felt like forever.. Urdn'Varn felt at peace..

The worgs had embraced him as one of their kin, welcomed him into their home and taught him of their ways, and now after finally proving his worth to the Shar, his new goddess, she had given a Devine Gift, .. a power that could have saved his mother years ago,if not hidden away by the Selûnite's.

As time went by Urdn'Varn devoted himself to protecting the Upperdark Forest, hunting with the worgs, while seeking stories of werewolve's, so that he may free from Enthrallment.. but had little to no luck finding them on his own.

One year later, a group of Selûnite hunters returned to the Upperdark Forest, looking for the worgs they sought to eradicate over a year ago. ..But unfortunately for them they found themselves thwarted at every turn by Urdn'Varn. Using his prior knowledge of the hunters and their tactics, he began setting up a series of false trails, magical wards, illusions, and traps to mislead the Selûnite's every step.

Each time the hunters thought they were closing in on the Worgs' lair, they found only find themselves in empty clearings, tangled thorn filled paths, or at the bottom of a pit.. their frustration mounting higher with every failed attempt.

One evening, as the moon hung full in the sky, and the Selûnite's where nowhere to be seen.. Urdn'Varn stood at the edge of the forest, watching the stars dance like silver dust across the night sky as his worg companions prowled silently beside him with heir golden eyes gleaming in the darkness. Upon this night, Urdn'Varn made an unimaginable promise to his goddess,

..Yet one he intends to keep.

"Lady Shar the nightsinger, I know in my heart, that there is strength in the shadows, ..and that shadows Cannot exist without light..." he called, speaking to his Goddess, feeling the cool night air brush against his scales.

" ...And I know now that Selûne's Light is nothing more than a lie, A false promise in the night sky.. "

Absorbed by his emotions, he began to shout. "..So apon this night I swear to you Nightsinger, I WILL steal the light of the Moon from Selûne, and give it to you.. Lady Shar.. and Together, we can return this world to your realm of Subtle Glows And Endless Shadows!!!"

As his voice echoed throughout the woulds, the queen of the worgs ushered him a warning through telepathy, "Quiet Lord Varn, the Selûnite's might hear you if you keep yelling so recklessly."

Realizing how foolish he was acting, Urdn'Varn returned to the Worgs Queens' side to apologize for his actions.

"I apologize for my sudden outburst Queen Nazareth, but it angers me so much that Selûne defiles the night sky.. The night is to belong to Us, and be graced, by Lady Shar's Light alone! ..The moonlight shouldn't belong to..., *Her.*"

The Worg Queen padds up beside him, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Silly child, I understand your feelings, but one day the hunters will return," she growled softly. "They always do."

Urdn'Varn nodded, his eyes narrowing as he stops his feet. "Then Let them come. I am ready.. We will be ready."

It was a bold statment, a comment at which the Queen couldn't help but laughing at, ..at the time.. and so they stayed at the mouths of the cave together, as they watched the moonrise, knowing that their next battle was only a matter of time away, but with the Shadow-Weave as his disposal, and a desire to steel the Moon;..

Urdn'Varn no longer feared the Light of Selûne's judgment, for he was no longer the helpless Urd he once was, instead he had become something much more, he had become an Apostle of Shar, ..a force not to be reckoned with.