Role

Chapter 4

Lyrien stumbled outside the backdoor of the Inn of the Eternal Star, having
listened to the hundredth tale from yet another adventurer about the good
they would do in the world. Yet in the corners of the Inn always sat those
plotting and waiting to do the exact opposite of good. A constant struggle,
never ending, all pawns in a bigger game.

She found a favorite spot in a clearing behind the inn to sleep, whose fresh
air would serve as an immediate salve to her coming hangover, at the debt of
a shameful morning rise outdoors as she stumbled back into the inn among the
early risers at breakfast. Probably judging paladins knowing her luck.

Lyrien stopped suddenly. The moonlight outlined an ancient book from the
lyceum that should not be outside its walls, sitting on top of a stump.

Long an avid reader, she sat down in drunken wonder, and started in. It
was a curious thing, discussing the ancient cataclysms and falls of various
civilizations: Dwarves who had dug to deep. Duergars who became greedy.
Conjurer encampments who opened ancient rifts. Mages locked away above chasms
of chaos. She drifted off to sleep, a child once more, and she dreamed in wonder.

When Lyrien woke that morning, the book was gone.

A seed had been planted. Lyrien soon found herself hungry for more texts on
rifts, monoliths, and other magic that had caused the ruin of civilization and
the turning of the Ages.

Each story led back to magic, intended and unintended. Evil deeds, careless
deeds, and even entire civilizations destroyed from magic built upon the
magic accomplishments of those who were good and well-intended.

Suddenly, Lyrien realized she had been trying to save one child and commoner
at a time, when the whole world had been and still was in need of saving.