What is Redemption?

Now in possession of Ahri Benseph, Jack allows her to walk the courtyard as long as she has two Adepts or himself to watch her; or watch over her. Harm is not to befall her unless:

1.) She gets within 20 feet of the gate
2.) She Climbs the wall
3.) She enters either Spire of the Arcane Tower (Her items are located in one of the spires, moved from his office as she gains mobility)
4.) She enters the main Keep
5.) She breaks any of the laws in Krag

If any of these happen, she is to be killed on the spot, and dragged to the Arcane tower cell, where Jack will raise her from the Dead; or treat her wounds if she falls unconscious. She will sleep in the same cell, and will only be let out when the two Adepts are available ((Whenever she's online.))

During church hours, she is to be forced to attend the sermons. The Adepts are not to talk to her, just watch her. One Adept is an arcanist, the other is a swordsman.

She is also not to talk to visitors for more than a few minutes.

During the sermon's Ahri obviously is just going through the motions, while tuning out what the preacher is actually saying, much to the frustration of all of the other Banites. She doesn't salute or bow, or use any of the tradition greetings or farewell's such as "Hail Bane" or "Walk in Fear".

Such actions probably earn her more than a few beatings if not worse.

When she isn't attending sermons, she attempts to convince the adepts to let her have a wooden sword.

"If either of you think I can escape with a wooden blade, you two are fools. Who do you think I am, Celovar, Karovir, maybe Vincent?" She would chuckle and shake her head. "I'd like to have something more to do than people watch and window shop."

IF they do get her a wooden sword, to stop her incessant complaining, which she does on purpose. She would go to the training dummies and practice her basic strikes that Celovar taught her. She also notes that the shackles around her ankles do good in keeping her feet shoulder width apart which usually equals a balanced stance.

"Hmm, perhaps these were a blessing in disguise..."

At night when she is in her cell, she says a prayer to Mystra before she sleeps, asking for forgiveness and for guidance as the Banites attempt to tempt her away from Lady of Spells.

Ahri continues spending her days in the Keep, every day she looks more haggard and gaunt. The routine that involved shuffling around Zhentil Keep in shackles, eating, complaining to the Adepts to the
brink of madness, going to sermons that she tried to block out, praying to Mystra and sleeping was wearing on her.

She wonders at times while she is wandering, where everyone was on the outside, did they even care? They did, she told herself, they were just busy. The Dales could be an utterly maddening place at times with all the inane things that happened. The needs of the people outweighed her own, but still secretly she worried.

still, she clung to the shadow of hope that remained.

When Zaburra occasionally walks into Krag, to see what's going on with the place. He would watch Ahri for a while. Before approaching her and nodding. He would accompany Ahri and the Adepts around Krag when he's there. He would say to her.

"Life continues normally outside of here you know.. .. The last person to ever approach me about a Krag prisoner, inquired about Amatria.. Or Aelyria, one of those two. But no ones approached me about you, or even mentioned anything. Tell me.. .. How exactly are you treated within Shadowdale? Do they still hold hatred for you, that you put up with?"

*Adept of Pain Shepard, a Lovite priestess that has been staying at Krag, watches Ahri, Zabbura, and the guards walk around the courtyard from the fire*

Ahri doesn't look at Zaburra when she speaks to him, instead looking up at the sky. "They treated me well enough. At first they hated me, but that went away as time pressed on." She shrugs and shuffles along. "Few of those that would ask about me would ask you...rather they would probably attack first and ask questions later."

You'd be surprised Ahri. How many who did raise swords to me when I was encountered decide to sheathe them when they want information. Especially to do with prisioners. *He gives the faintest of nudges, speaking his final words before leaving* Cheer up... No scenario lasts forever hm?

Jack; though seen less often currently ((Christmas stuff)) is still seen around, watching Ahri.

As the days go on, Ahri continues to look more and more worn. Sometimes she looks at the gate longingly, at other times she tries to busy herself with...anything.

Sometimes the guards and adepts would talk to themselves about her, saying she would break soon. That no rescue was coming.

She wouldn't break, and she would be rescued, they'd see.

When in her cell she still prays to Mystra for guidance quietly as to not cause a ruckus with the guards, as they'd be all too happy to give her trouble for her words.

Somewhere Bryanna prattles on about her business... completely oblivious anyone is missing.

Ahri can be seen training with a wooden sword given to her, a cold look upon her face. Swordhands might walk by, they might laugh.

She would challenge them, they would win, often strongly, leaving her battered. She learned though, slowly.

A loss was never a loss, unless one learned nothing from it.

In her cell, her prayers were silent...more and more it her time was spent in contemplation than in prayer.

Karovir who has been wandering around in the Dales a bit more often lately has not heard of anyone missing because as usual those who know anything don't bother telling him about it. There are plenty of people he hasn't seen for some time...

Mark would bump into Karovir eventually, gladly answering any question he has despite the lack of manners that is usual on him.

One day in his office, Vincent sighs as he looks upon the clutter of letters and various paperwork he has scattered on his desk. He closes his door and spends a healthy portion of his day sorting through each piece of paper, seeing what is truly needed or what can be tossed away and forgotten. At one point, he eventually grasps upon a letter from Jack Maybe. Just upon reading the name he wants to throw it away instantly, though he catches something he missed the first time he read it. For a moment, he reads it again, blinking slowly at what he missed. He then sighs, grumbling to himself as he places the paper on his desk and goes to fetch Bryanna.

Since Ahri decided leave the farms to Shadowdale she sent note to the Keeper once, throught an Akh'Velahr. Nadin was content she decided to make her own road and she had word that could return at any time later, since than rarely any news regarding her reached the claimed lands of Myth Drannor, as usually happens with those who are far.

*Heidi shepard goes out every few days to talk to Ahri and bring her orange juice*

Ahri is glad to converse with Heidi and drink orange juice to relieve the tedium.

Still she keeps up her swordplay with the wooden sword, the cold look seems to have abated. Now she seems distant, indifferent. Behind those eyes there is much conflict.

In her cell during the deep, cold nights. She wondered to herself, had she truly been forgotten? The other day, the thought had been painful and it had aroused thoughts, dark thoughts and feelings that she had buried and tried to forget.

On the floor of her cell, she drew a symbol of Mystra and next to it a symbol of Bane, and stared at them both, contemplating.

On one hand, she believed in the proper use of magic, responsible use. Using Magic when necessary to make better what should be made better. She believed in expanding the bounds of the Weave and protecting it from harm.

On the other hand, she also believe in rigid structure. Law. Without Law there was nothing but chaos. She realized though that everyone needed freedom though as well, for Law without Freedom was not law at all, but Tyranny. Fear was a good way to keep people in line, yes, but it only worked so much. If anyone needed to feel fear, it was the monsters who used organizations to gain power and then use that power to take from others.

Wasn't that what the Zhentarim was? And organization that took from other using Fear and Tyranny. Of course, there were others that used Fear. Some of the most powerful casters in the world used the fear they inspired to keep others in line, such as the Simbul. The Red Wizards dare not go against her, lest she strike them down. It was said that even her own subjects feared her.

There was also the fact that her old master was here, and he had never given up on her. He was evil, there was no mistaking that, but still...there was some good in him. Words he had spoken on powerful magic, that he used it only sparingly, as to not damage the Weave. He did some service to Mystra with that, unknowingly.

Perhaps many did service to Gods they were against, without even knowing it.

She shook her head, and pounded a fist against the stone wall.

It was all so confusing...

Hope.

She had not been forgotten. She felt like a fool for doubting.

During the day she continued her training with the blade. Ever so slowly, she was getting better and better. More and more the Swordhands who were challenged found themselves pressed. Less were laughing.

During the night, she would sit in her cell and pray to Mystra and contemplate. Her words with her old master had brought one thing to light. She had no place in the Zhentarim. She believed in law and order, but there many things that Bane was that she did not believe in. She could respect the aspect of law...but nothing more. Tyranny was not needed to uphold Law, and Fear was to keep enemies in check, not those you governed.

If only she could show that to Jack, if only she could break that darkness caked around his heart. There was good in him. She felt it, that awkward kindness he showed to her. The fact that he wanted her to return. He wanted what was best for her in his own twisted way.

She wanted the best for him...she would try to break the hold evil had on him.

A new face is seen about Castle Krag in recent days, often perched atop the wall or by the fire with her nose buried in a tome.

Wearing robes of blackest velvet and a Zhentarim recruit's cloak she is quite conspicuous given her extreme height, the wisps of silver hair whipped free of her hood, and the faint, sickly glow that follows her everywhere.

Whenever Ahri would pass through the square she would watch the woman, her lilac, pupil-less eyes regarding her with a cold, clinical gaze.

With the news of Weavemaster Maybe's capture, Ahri was probably surrounded by Swordhands and manhandled back into her cell, and probably shackled and gagged until they know what to do with her. Perhaps even beaten or worse. She spends most of the night trying to sleep if treated lightly, or unconscious if not.

*Heidi would watch this and sigh to herself*

*Zaburra hangs a notice outside the cell, as plain as day to see. It reads*

"Im aware Im not your Weavemaster anymore. But Im going to 'ask' that you refrain from doing anything to this woman whether it be beating her or otherwise. Least of all you want to screw up my chances of getting Jack Maybe returned to Krag. It may be in your best bets to even heal her a bit"


~Signed, Zaburra

*He would be seen outside of the cells every night now, checking on Ahri constantly.An imp named Skeether flies in on occasions if it has anything he needs to see. He would be noted around Krag if Ahri's being escorted during the day.. Just watching her and the adepts*

After the note is posted, Ahri isn't bothered much, save for a Swordhand every now and then coming in to glare at her through the bars.

Ahri quietly prays in her cell, and afterwards tries to sleep.

Beaten once again, it would be whispered that Ahri has been visited by both the Darklord's Hand and the Master Skymage. There is a lot of hubub about Ahri doing something foolish, such as challenging the latter to a spell duel.

After one such encounter with the two officers she can be heard praying weakly, her body aching from the pounding she received, "Lady of Spells, I beseech you for your strength and wisdom, aid me in humbling a man that bends your Weave to his will, to shape the world to his favor, to abuse others instead of aid them with the gift you bestowed. I know that I still have much penance to do, and in my time here I have been tempted...torn, but I have learned. I see much now. Still though, I pray for your forgiveness, your strength, your wisdom..."

*Knight Major Bainyrr issues an order to his subordinates: that unless the prisoner does something to deserve it, that she is to be treated fairly. Those responsible for undeserved and unnecessary beatings will be personally 'instructed' on the ways of true pain by the Knight Major himself. However, if the prisoner is stupid and brings such upon herself, that is another matter. Each case will be examined by the Knight Major though*