The fourth installment of the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed story resumes with Lluwen leading Kirol through the woods, bound for his home, Lys Alana.
After walking for some time, the pair had relaxed enough to exchange friendly banter, but despite Kirol’s best attempts to get the Elf to tell them more about High Perfect Morcant, Lluwen refused, and chose to describe the beauty that was Lys Alana instead. It wasn’t long after that Kirol saw for themselves why Lluwen was so proud of his home.
“The forest was big, but they couldn’t imagine it was big enough to contain two cities. And there was no other word for what lay before them. Wooden boardwalks connected homes and tall, elegant towers one to the next. Doors were set into the trunks of trees that had been seamlessly integrated into the body of still more buildings. High overhead, wood and vine walkways connected the higher residences, creating a multi-tiered community that blended seamlessly into the forest around it.”
Upon arriving Lys Alana, Lluwen wasted no time taking the Vampire directly to the High Perfect. According to Kirol, it was immediately apparent to them why Morcant possessed the title of “High Perfect,” as she was “…tall and beautifully rounded…” with hooves that were “larger and sharper than Lluwen’s, polished and gilded in gold…”
After a few introductory questions, Kirol recounted the events that had transpired since their arrival on Lorwyn. Intrigued by the Vampire’s testimony, specifically the parts pertaining to Isilu, Morcant tells Kirol that their proximity to the beast had nothing to do with its awakening, and that the “…night elemental sleeps when weary and wakes when the time has come for the dark to fall and Shadowmoor to rise…” which should have been months away. Seeing her guest’s visible confusion, Morcant then generously provides a clearer explanation on the plane’s day and night cycle.
“Our world is defined by day and night,” said Morcant. “Perfect, beautiful, faultless day, and wicked, twisted, bitter night. Once, the Great Aurora kept the night contained and the day protected so that we were shielded from one another. But the aurora fell, and in its place, two beasts arose, one glorious and good, one embittered and evil. Eirdu and Isilu. Lorwyn and Shadowmoor. Where they walk, night becomes day and day becomes night, and the precious border shifts, ignoring treaties, unmaking oaths.”
Finishing their testimony, Kirol again asks if they were free to return to their friends, but it was clear the High Perfect had other plans in mind. In an instant, Elf’s glowing aura darkened, and she proceeded to monologue about how Isilu’s early awakening may have put it in a potentially vulnerable state and if they could kill it, they could bring about the second rising of the Gilt-Leaf Empire.
Switching perspectives, the three other students finally notice that Kirol had gone missing. Abigale is the first to go into search mode, and after a brief discussion, Sanar decides to backtrack with the owlin while Tam waits behind.
Not long into their search, a large, horned beast emerges from the brush, catching Abigale and Sanar of guard. Acting quickly, Sanar grabs a branch and moves to defend Abigale, but one thrash of the beast’s horn send him backward into the brush. Turning its attention back to Abigale, the beast lets out a horrible roar, loud enough to “…trigger the function of her hearing aid meant to alert her to alarms and explosions.” Dizzy and disoriented, Abigale retreats through the brush, but moments later, her foot finds the sloping edge of a tributary and she tumbles into the river below.
Thanks to her Strixhaven magic training, she’s able to create an air pocket around her mouth, but with the water weighing her feathers down, Abigale has little choice but to allow the current to take her down stream. After some time drifting, being careful to avoid the river’s rocky banks, she spots a group of humanoid fish-people ahead who, luckily, are friendly.
After the fish people help her recover, Abigale tells them that she’s seeking the Faerie Queen to warn her about the night beast. In response, the fish people tell her that there is “something she must see” and that “no harm will come to you, if you agree.”
“Abigale considered her answer for a moment then nodded and signed, Yes. The man swam forward to offer her his arm, and one of the women did the same, getting her situated solidly between them. With this accomplished, they began to swim toward the Wanderwine proper, towing Abigale along with them. It was so fast that it was almost like flying, and Abigale hooted laughter as she allowed herself to be taken into the distant depths.”
Back in the forest, Sanar has managed to recover and made his way back to Tam. He explains what happened to Abigale and together they decide it best to continue on to find Maralen. Fortunately, it’s not long before the pair locates the entrance to Glen Elendra, and request an audience with the Queen.
Switching perspectives, we find Maralen back in her chambers, struggling to keep her composure after hearing continuous laughter and finding “flower petals covering her dressing table and the floor.” According to Maralen, the petals were “of Oona’s flesh” and should be an impossibility unless the “twist of magic that had allowed one of her creations to become independent and alive without her consent was somehow coming unmade.”
Moments later, a knock sounds at the Queen’s door, and Sanar and Tam enter, flanked by Faerie attendees. Wasting no time, Tam tells Maralen what’s going on and requests her help, but the Queen is clearly in no shape to provide assistance. After dismissing the other Faeries in the room, Maralen tries to explain her situation to the students, but is cut short by her attendant, Rhys, barging in, a small blue faerie sitting atop his shoulder.
“Rhys had eyes only for Maralen, his expression cold as the dead of a winter night, a strange, terrible relief in his eyes. “You weren’t going to tell me. You were keeping it secret, weren’t you?
Despite being her oldest friend, Rhys’ true duty was to kill Maralen should there be any chance of her losing control and bringing about Oona’s return. Drawing his dagger, Rhys charges the queen, deaf to her objections. Either by pure luck, magic, or both, the Elf manages to slip on the flower petals, and is sent tumbling out the nearby window.
Not wanting to die before having a chance to fix things, Maralen commands the mischievous blue faerie to accompany her, and together with Tam and Sanar, make a break for it before Rhys returns.
Read Lorwyn Eclipsed Episode 4 in full from Wizards of the Coast.
