Rysteilla

Rysteilla's Journey

         As I sneaked away from the group that I had become friends within such a short time I could not help to think that I was running away, abandoning them to the whims of the winds.  My mentor Servik had revealed to me that he had taken the life of an innocent.  In that instant he had suddenly become human, toppling down from that pillar that I had placed him on in my own thoughts.  I could not deal with this; my own belief structure had tumbled down along with Servik’s.

        Yes Servik you believe that I have shunned you.  Yes in a sense I did but not in the way that you think.  My own beliefs, ideas, hopes, plans and dreams were suddenly replaced by uncertainty and the idea of where do I fit in the society of life.  I was fighting with my own demons, and the only course of action I could conceivably think to do was to run away.  And so I ran.

To this day I do not remember much of my journey, bits and pieces of eating crusts of bread, sleeping under trees, and the smell of the ocean.  I think my dwarven instincts took over at that point and directed my feet to where they needed to go for I was lost in the demon world of my mind.  One of my last clear memories was banging on a door in a cavern, snatches of,"Ryst what the heck?” bustling of feet, warmth, and then blessed darkness...

        A month went by and I still wandered in the demons of my own mind.  My beloved paladin gear lay neatly stacked and clean in the corner, cleaned up by my da, but I never took a glance at it.  It was as if that part of me had never existed, no trusty companions, no adventures, nothing, I had completely blocked that aspect of my life away.  I found myself working in my da's forge pounding, shaping, heating ore...Those days were black indeed for when I was not pounding on the forge, I was in tears my da just let me cry he held me, comforted me, listening to all of my mutters when I did speak.

        My friends stopped by as I was working in the forge and tried to get me to open up but I honestly could not remember anything.  They were astounded for I was not the same person who had left the Dwarvan Stronghold to seek out the world as a Paladin.

       One day after a really horrific day, I had completely lost it thrashed the forge, and again ended up tears my da had let me cry again and then simply stated, "Ryst, you need to go face your problems.”  I looked at him with tears streaming down my face, "NO Da I am not part of that world anymore this is my place now.”  My Da stood there with his arms crossed over the red beard streaked with grey and glared at me, "No it isn't.  You need to figure this out for yourself.  My forge has had enough, as it is I will be repairing the walls from you throwing the hammers repeatedly!”  I stared at him shocked that he was throwing me out.

       I packed my bags still ignoring the stack in the corner when my little brother who was watching asked if I was going to pack the paladin armor and sword.  I think I muttered no and his eyes grew big and round, "You have to Ryst!  All of my friends and I look up to you my big sister is a Paladin!”  As I stood there in shock; I think I started to heal that day and it was my little brother who doted on me, who made me realize that I was being selfish to myself and to those around me.  I kissed my brother with tears in my eyes, "Thank you!” squeezing him tightly.  He squirmed, and pinched me.  "Put me down!!!!"
      I left that day, giving my da and mum a big hug, and “Thank you for putting up with me I will be a different Ryst when you see me again”.  My Da gave me a big wink and a big hug.

I headed north.....