[Maelshyve's Fortress, Urrem'tier's Altar]
The cold of the marble slab beneath you leeches into your flesh and closes a clammy hand over your bones.  The skull totems ringing the altar cast malevolent flickering shadows over your prone body, like wicked apparitions awaiting the moment your spirit might unbind from this plane.  A bitter chill fills the air, leaving a void in your soul and an emptiness in your heart.
Obvious exits: none.

P> drink gob

You raise a delicate crystalline goblet in salute to the Master of the Void, or perhaps in farewell to the living world.  As you drink deeply of the bitter liquid, its numbing properties quickly begin to take effect.  With all the dignity your rapidly weakening body can muster, you murmur a quiet prayer and wait for Death.

The goblet suddenly shatters into a fine shimmering dust.

P>
Your vision blurs, and you begin to feel faint as a numbing cold spreads throughout your body.
P>
Your spirit feels less drained.
P>
Your body is mostly dry now.
P>
You can feel your strength failing, your body going cold, and your very life force slipping away.  If you have any last words, speak now.
P>
The last of your life force departs and your spirit slips away from your body.  The nothingness you find yourself in is peaceful and welcoming, yet utterly lonely and horribly final.

[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
 * Krononzeck has just entered the Void!

I> sear

You hear a town crier shouting in the distance, "Hear ye!  Hear ye!  Riverhaven's town meeting will come to order shortly!  Hasten to the Town Hall for lively discussion with food and drink provided by your host, the Order of the Dragon Shield!"  [OOC:  Meeting starts at 9:00 PM Eastern.  Go town hall, go stairs, go double doors to join us.]

I>
Though you see nothing, hear nothing, taste nothing, smell nothing, and feel nothing, you sense a presence with you in the void.  It seems infinitely distant, yet it probes the depths of your soul.
I>
You are compelled to wait, held fast by an unknown force.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I>
Your spirit feels less drained.
I>
The tingling sensation and sense of import disperse.
I>
The sense of being measured and tested leaves you, as does the alien presence.  Strangely, you feel abandoned.  You are utterly alone in the infinite Void.
I> sear
You are compelled to wait, held fast by an unknown force.
I>
Perhaps your mind is creating illusions rather than accepting the infinite nothingness which surrounds you.  You can just make out the indistinct form of an enormous scorpion.  It makes no movement, not even the slightest twitch of its tail.  It simply watches and waits.
I>
Your spirit feels less drained.
I>
Fragments of memory surface in your mind.  The face of a close friend, the songs of your people, snippets of a tale told by the fire.  While you feel the urge to continue your quest and search for the Bridge of Life, the memories beckon you back to the mortal world, to the excitement of battle, the tenderness of love, the pride of accomplishment.  A barely audible whisper urges you, "Go home and experience these things while you can.  Your appointed time for the Void will come soon enough, but now is your time to live."  You struggle with temptation, weighing the conflicting urges of carrying out the task before you against the promise of life.
I>
A column of smoke trails off your altar candle.
I> sear
By the light of the blessed candle, you make out the span of a great bridge.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Warm memories of home beckon, should you have the will to return.
I>
Your spirit feels less drained.
I> go bri

You gather your will and manage to move your noncorporeal form in the direction of the bridge.  However, just as you get close to it, a malevolent gust of ether slams into you like a violent wind.  The candle in your hands is ripped loose and goes tumbling, fetching up against the railing of the bridge by chance.  Dark, malevolent laughter -- more chilling than the ether swirling about you -- rises from the depths of the Void itself.

The violently swirling ethers render it impossible for you to approach the bridge.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I>
Perverse laughter continues to permeate your soul.  You feel it as much as hear it...

I>
The laughter abruptly dies down as you become aware of a presence at the edge of the nothingness.  Slowly, the entity grows more tangible and distinct.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I>
A pleasant voice begins to permeate your thoughts, easing the lingering sensation of taint left by that hideously depraved laugh.

 ~ "Take heart mortal.  Your struggle is not yet done this day." ~

I>
You feel fully rested.
I>
 ~ "Where once a candle lit the flames - faith now empowers." ~

I>
 ~ "Their strong beliefs have led the Great Followers of old
                 and continue to strengthen them in the darkest of times." ~

I> sear

I>
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I>
Your spirit feels less drained.
I>
                   ~ "BEHOLD!" ~

I>
Vague images from a past nigh forgotten coalesce before you, taking on clarity and substance as a vision takes hold of your senses.  You see a young Elven lass darting about a lumberyard filled with narrow pathways wending amidst stacks of curing wood.  Her simple robe is partially covered by her long snowy hair which flows down her back like the wings of an angel.  As she runs, she kicks up small wood splinters and curled shavings from the ground, sending slavering rats scurrying into the shadows.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I>
Her visage is momentarily enhanced by the sunlight reflecting off the long blade she carries, and a sense of recognition fills you as you glimpse her soft blue eyes as she alertly surveys her surroundings.  As you watch, a brave rat approaches her stealthily -- and as she slices powerfully at the small rodent, an indistinct silvery image catches your eye.  A fanciful blur perhaps, but you perceive the spiritual outline of Rutilor forever by this Elf's side.
I>
In a blink, the lumberyard scene fades and you are drawn forward to a moment that is -- a picture of things current.  Before you sits an unremarkable-looking Human woman hunched quietly over the ancient tomes on her desk.  Bright light glimmers from hanging lamps illuminating the scene as the grey haired woman quietly turns a page.  The sense of serenity of this quiet scene is dampened as you catch sight of the jagged scar puckering the skin of her neck.
I>
Your spirit feels less drained.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I> sear

I>
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I>
Recoiling, your gaze flickers away from the unsightly scar and takes in more of the woman's surroundings -- sturdy wooden bookshelves stand vigil behind the large desk and dark blue carpet covers a stone floor.  Incongruous in the brightly lit room, a soft shadow hovers near the woman.  The sight of the delicate apparition fills you with comfort, for you recognize the spiritual outline of Eluned hovering silently by the woman's side.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I>
As ever, time speeds on, and now there is what may be.  The quiet library scene vanishes into mist, giving way to a new manifestation.  Emerging from the mist is a vision of a windswept mountaintop where a magnificent stone structure graced with towering serpentine columns spirals high into the sky.  As this wavering image solidifies, you see a lone ebon-skinned Rakash woman emerge from a gate, a knotted ash staff clenched tightly in one hand.
I>
Your spirit feels less drained.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I>
You feel the cursed pall wane away, renewing the vigor to your body.
I>
Howling winds laden with snow and sleet swirl about her, whipping her shrouding black veils about her like writhing serpents of shadow.  She grounds her staff and stands silently before you, curiously still in the vortex of powerful winds as she gazes down the mountain.  Behind her, a whisper of another phantasm bleeds into your sight.  The vaporous manifestation slowly coalesces and you perceive the spiritual outline of Asketi protecting the silver-haired woman.
I>
The mental images fade and your vision stabilizes.  Out of the corner of your eye, you catch a fleeting glimpse of an indistinct apparition that melts away as you focus on it.  A whispering sensation of comfort and approval envelopes you as you come to the realization that your god stands with you.

I>
Your spirit feels less drained.
I>
 ~ "Now, Krononzeck, it is time." ~

I> sear

I>
 ~ "Use your faith to light the darkness in this world." ~

I>
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> sear
I>
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I>
Your spirit feels less drained.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I> go bri
I could not find what you were referring to.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> pray
I>
You begin to pray.  As you do you sense a holiness wells up deep from within you.
I> pray
As you continue to pray, this divine sense intensifies and you are enveloped in a soft golden aura.  The void around you brightens noticeably.
I> pray
Your prayers become more earnest and the emptiness around you pulses with a glorious light.  Amazed, you note this illumination welling forth from your spiritual form.
I> pray
Your prayers now manifest themselves as a sphere of luminous energy, seeping from your very essence and coalescing into a ball of crackling, sparking flames before you!
I> pray
With a final plea to your gods, the sphere leaps forward and rushes rapidly towards your candle.  It settles over the candle, igniting the wick with a brilliant burst of golden flame.  Violently churning winds continue to buffet the bridge, yet the candle sits shielded by the still solace that is physical manifestation of your faith.
I> pray
You mutter a soft prayer into the void.
I> pray
You mutter a soft prayer into the void.
I> look
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I> go bri
I could not find what you were referring to.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I> go bri
I could not find what you were referring to.
I>
Illuminated in the candle's bright light you see the Bridge of Lanival, arching like a wild ocean wave from the cold seas of Death to the shores of Life.  As your candle flickers in the intricate crystalline structures of this great bridge, its strong glow streams across the lettering of a bold inscription beneath your flowing spirit.

With fiery fingers, the candle's light gently caresses the inscripted words: "We, Berengaria and Alamhif, built this Bridge so that the most heroic Lanival might return from Death to fulfill the Destiny laid upon him leave thy Candle and cross It with Our blessing."
I>
You feel the divinity seep from your bones as the previous blessing of Drogor wanes.
I> look

A feeling of warmth and approval rushes through you and the pleasant voice returns.

 ~ "It is the light of your faith that will guide the fallen over the bridge and back among the living.  The stronger that light is, the easier it will be for them to see the way." ~

 ~ "Go now, and remember that you are never alone." ~
I>
[The Void]
All conceptions of time, distance and space are meaningless here.  Your consciousness floats in an endless, numbing void.
Obvious exits: none.
I> go bri
I could not find what you were referring to.
I> sear
You scan the endless darkness, but are unable to see anything.
I>
A great joy overcomes you as you continue to drift within the emptiness, and you begin to reflect upon the prospect of home -- the wonders of Life.  As the feelings become more tangible, you sense a great feeling of accomplishment and responsibility.  Your spirit - at ease - returns home.

[Maelshyve's Fortress, Fallen Altar]
The stacked skull totems form a ring around the edge of the great dais, their feeble collective glow struggling to fight the shadows encroaching upon this corrupt shrine.  A large altar of black marble stands prominently near the northern edge of the dais, its broad flat surface reflecting the sickly glow with a lustrous sheen.  Behind the altar a black marble statue stands, framing the altar with its massive wingspan.
You also see an obsidian scorpion.
Obvious exits: south.