Everything Happens for a Reason Belinda Lewis If Eilerris Moonshadow had ever imagined what a god would look like…. This giant human woman was definitely not it. Eilerris had found no purpose from her family and her fellow elves, nor had she found it in her training as she learned the magic and the ways of the cleric. For years after her training was complete, she had secluded herself from society, alone in her cavern retreat, hidden far in the mountains and sheltered by a roaring waterfall, spending her days in quiet and devoted meditation and only venturing out of her cave to forage for food. She had prayed zealously to Istus of Greyhawk, goddess of fate and destiny, looking for something — anything — to guide her toward her life’s purpose. Eilerris thought she had found her purpose when she came across a motley crew of adventurers who invited her to join them in their quest to defeat the dragon queen Tiamat. They seemed like such an unlikely group of travelers that she swore they were sent by Istus Herself to lead her to her purpose. A silent half-elf druid with deep red hair and green eyes that shimmered with a thousand untold stories. A powerful tiefling wizard whose spiraling horns, dark red skin, solid gold eyes, and towering figure struck fear in the hearts of friends and foe alike. And rounding out their group, a jovial dwarf bard whose tendency to shout either random insults or illtimed puns while playing sea shanties was both endearing and incredibly off-putting, a comically surreal contrast to the serious manner of the rest of the group. But even though Eilerris spent many years in the company of this unusual band of adventurers — who went from strangers to companions to friends… she still couldn’t find any discernible meaning or even reason to her journeys. The fact that events seemed to unfold as if part of a carefully orchestrated plan kept her going, kept her certain that if she just kept going, kept fighting these monsters, kept journeying across the continent, that she’d somehow find the meaning of it all, her purpose. And now, here she was, holding the Crystal Orb of Divine Knowledge and staring up at this colossal and strangely-dressed human, one of many forming a circle around her as if mountains surrounding a deep valley. “Are… are you Istus?” Eilerris asked, her words almost faltering at her throat.
54
