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[Valdor Canz]

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Valdor looked out from the walls of the Elysium Rune Library and the Drunken Dragon Tavern as the finishing touches were being put on the new Elysium Town Hall and Public Library that was being constructed. The construction had proven to be quite costly and had nearly emptied the once over-flowing coffers of the Knights of Sosaria, but in the end it would prove to be well worth it. Seeing the workmen rush to finish the building, Valdor reflected on the events that led to this day.

Valdor had been at Riverrun reviewing his notes on the Book of Destiny when a pigeon from Lord Wolf had arrived. His Lord had requested that he immediately journey to Elysium, where Wolf was waiting. Expecting the worst, Valdor quickly threw together a travel pack and summoned his faithful steed, Mular, and began the journey to the former home of the Knights of Sosaria.

When he arrived in Elysium, Valdor found Lord Wolf in his study scratching some notes in a worn journal. Not wishing to interrupt his Lord, Valdor quietly watched as he finished his task. A few moments later, Lord Wolf looked up from his work and smiled, inviting Valdor to sit down and join him for a bit of ale and a conversation.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lord Wolf jumped right to the heart of the discussion. “I’ve decided to leave these lands,” the aged former leader of the Knighthood began. “I miss Nova and will be journeying to stay with her in her new home. I’ll be leaving the Knighthood in your capable hands.”

“Milord,” Valdor stammered, “the honor is great, but your counsel has proven valuable over these past months. You still have so much to teach me.”

“You underestimate yourself, and your fellows,” Wolf answered. “You are much more capable than you know, I leave these realms knowing that the Knighthood will remain strong. It’s been a long time since I truly led the Knighthood, I’ll hear no more about this, my decision has been made.”

Seeing in Wolf’s eyes that there would be no changing of his mind, Valdor nodded his acceptance. “I can’t say that I am happy about this news Milord, but I shall do my best to uphold the traditions that you have established.”

“That I already knew,” Wolf replied. “There are a few things that I need to say though, my final orders to you and to the Knighthood you might say.”

“Your wish is my command, Milord” returned Valdor, wiping a tear from his eye.

“I’m glad to hear that you feel this way,” Wolf began, “for I have much to ask of you, and your fellows. Even though I understood, and supported the decision for the Knights to move to Riverrun, in my heart I hoped for a return to Elysium. I have drawn up the papers to leave my home, the Elsyium Social Club, to you in the hopes that you will see fit to bring the Knights back home where they belong. All of my worldly possessions I leave to you as well so that you might use these resources to bring the Knighthood back to it’s former glory, here in Elysium.”

“Milord, you read my heart,” Valdor replied. “I too have longed for a return to Elysium, to the true home of the Knights of Sosaria. Surely though, you will have expenses in your journey and have needs in your new home.”

“Nova has already arranged for that to be taken care of,” Lord Wolf answered. “Her journeys earned her great wealth, she too prefers that the spoils of my youth go towards the Knighthood. She too shares my dream of a vibrant, rebuilt Elysium.”

“I don’t know what to say Milord,” Valdor sighed. “All I can do is promise, on the Book of Destiny, that your hopes shall be realized, that the Knighthood shall indeed return home.”

“There is one other boon that I would ask of you,” Lord Wolf added. “I’d ask that you maintain my collection of books so that the Knighthood may make use of them.”

“Gladly Milord,” Valdor replied. “I’ve spent many an evening reading from your collection myself, in fact it may be time for the Knights to consider sponsoring a library here in Elysium.”

“That would be grand,” Lord Wolf answered, with a gleam in his eyes. “I’ve often envisioned such a thing and started my modest collection with that in mind. That should cover everything then, Nova shall arrive on the morrow to take me back to her home. I’d like to enjoy one last evening in the quiet of my study before then, but perhaps you could join me for dinner at the Drunken Dragon before departing.”

“It would be a pleasure and an honor Milord,” Valdor replied, reaching out his hand to help Wolf from his seat.

The pair had dined well that evening, sharing tales of the glory days of the Knighthood before Wolf retired to his study for quiet reflection. Valdor spent the night in Elysium as well and visited with both Lord Wolf and Lady Nova the next morning before their departure.

That afternoon, Valdor began the daunting task of transforming the Social Club into his new home. Looking around he noticed for the first time that there was plenty of room for expansion, and that a large Hall would fit on the grounds. Wanting to honor the Knighthood and his Lord, Valdor sent for an architect to draw up plans for a new Hall for the Knighthood, which would include a grand Library.

When the construction began, Valdor also hired a scribe and gave him the task of chronicling the history of the Knights of Sosaria. He began to search out rare tomes and such to add to the Library, hoping that someday Lord Wolf might return to see his dream realized.

Now, much later, the construction was almost complete. The furnishings and decorations would be arriving shortly and the dream would become a reality. The Knights of Sosaria were returning to Elysium in grand fashion and their history would be preserved for all of time.

In his heart, Valdor knew that Lord Wolf would be pleased. Once all of the construction and decorating was done the Knights would hold a grand celebration, honoring all of those who were no longer with them.
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Lord - Knights of Sosaria

[Sadira Reflov]

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At last! She was able to taste the freedom of roaming again. Even if there was the fact she still needed to return home, the fact she was able to take Robert out and explore the lands once again. Velma, after doning on her outfit, took hold of Roberts reins and proceeded to exit her home. She smiled as she inhaled deeply..then coughed. The stench of the nearby swamp caught a ride on the breeze that just happened to blow by when she inhaled. She just laughed.

"Well its not quite as fresh as I recall it, but its outside."

Her thoughts drifted to her family. Sure, she had been outside plenty of times with her twins. But Breti had finally retired, and they were a true family. But Velma, having had been venturing for most of her life, started to become restless. Breti had sensed it, and spoke to her.

"Dearest, I can sense your roaming spirit has surfaced again."

He said, while holding her close one evening. She just sighed.

"Aye, but I want to be a good mother and try to be as a mother should be. Here for the twins..and for you."

Breti just shook his head and kissed her forehead.

"How can you be there and true to us, if you are not to yourself?"

He just looked at her with a sly smile upon his lips.

"I have decided to retire. So you can go roaming once again. Only, you have to return to me."

She looked at him with a hopeful gaze in her eyes.

"Yes, you can start drinking your ale again, just don't do anything that could well.."

Before he could finish, she grabbed him and planted a deep kiss upon his lips. She was so happy and she didn't want to hear any buts. The buts were usually too restricting, and she hoped he would forget whatever but he had in mind. Returning back to the present, Velma climbed on Robert and started off for some conversation and drink. Many things had changed, but still remained the same. Her travels brought her to what once was Poets place. There she got an apple and ale for Robert, and an ale for herself. Well ok several ales for herself. While she was sitting at the bar, her gaze happen to fall upon a familiar looking man. Could it....it was Valdor! She waves and called out to him. Once he approached she just smiled.

"Well I'll be an ogre lover! It's really you."

She patted him on the back and gave him a drink. They then talked of what they been up to the last several months and proceeded to laugh and joke. They parted ways, and she headed for home. She just smiled as she thought...

"Yes the knights are slowly returning. May the taverns and enemies beware."

She then slipped into the house and found herself soon cuddling next to her husband in a nice warm bed. Its then she realized..having a home to truly come to..wasn't so bad.
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"Nature gave man two ears but only one tongue. A gentle reminder that he should listen more than he speaks."

[Arcana]

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Arcana stood on the porch of Riverrun a moment, breathing in the soft evening air, just starting to hint at fall's coolness, amidst the artfully contrived tanlge of a garden that covered the worn sandstone. Then she stepped down from the stonework and hefted the last parcel onto the blue pack-beetle's carapiece, securing it carefully for the long journey to Trinsic.

Turning away from the beetle, she gazed back at the house, its ancient sandstone lit in a warm glow by the setting sun. Her physical eyes played over its familliar shape while her mind's eye evoked the long, mostly happy, memories of her life there.

"Milday?"

Arcana turned back to Carson, one of Sir Black's men come to carry her bequest of books, relics of the Knighthood, and other valuable scholarly items to Lord Valdor and Duke Robert back to Trinsic. The men had a grand vision of rebuilding the lost city of Elysium and restoring the Knighthood that had all but faded away after her retirement. She smiled at the memory of Valdor outlining his extensive plans as the fifth Lord of the Knights of Sosaria, an honor well-earned by his long service in the Knights from the Founder, Lord Wolf, on down through Lord Breti, Duke Robert, and herself as Duchess. She'd heard construction was already well underway. She wished him well. And Robert too, for all their past misunderstandings.

"Yes, Carson, that's the last of it. Watch over it well." She patted the beetle and tightened one more binding, then waved a last farewell and headed back into the manor house.

The lifeblood of the Knights of Sosaria still ran strong, though individual Knights come and go. And, as so many old friends before her, it was time for her too, to go.