Jean-Paul and Therese D'leon

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By: Senestia Avarscanti Priestess of Sune

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This work is dedicated with love to Salvador Komero: May our tale together be just as happy in our final moments.

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Introduction

In this work, I tell and reveal a true story. Though this story may perhaps be simple or insignificant to some when perceived in the grand scheme of things, it is still a story of great importance to the reader as individual beings. The story of Jean-Paul and Therese D’leon is a love story; it is a tragedy; it is a story with a happy ending. The story of Jean-Paul and Therese D’leon is an example of how all of our lives could possibly unravel. And because of this, it is thus important that we try to learn from it; to gain wisdom in the actions and words of others told in this work.

Dear Reader, I do hope you both enjoy and learn.

The Sad Tale Of The Painting Lovers

I first heard the tale of Jean-Paul and Therese D’leon from former councilor and historian Adelia Tyrell. Among her collection of gathered maps and records, she learned of the two artists.

Jean-Paul and Therese were two painters who shared more than just a mastery of the art. They also shared a great love for one another and from this they drew their inspiration and improved on one another’s talent. The two, however, were also slaves to the drow House Jhaeryn'urden. The head of House Jhaeryn'urden had an unusual penchant for non-drow, specifically human, art and so Jean-Paul and Therese were forced to put brush to canvas and paint under the House’s rule.

As happy as they were in each other’s company, Jean-Paul and Therese were still slaves and could not stand to remain so as they sought to be in love but also free. One day, the two managed to escape from House Jhaeryn'urden but this short tryst lasted but a mere three days before they were recaptured by the guards and returned. Furious, the head of House Jhaeryn'urden locked Jean-Paul and Therese in his private vault, giving them nothing but food and painting supplies so that they would paint until their very deaths.

It is at this point that Adelia Tyrell’s knowledge of the two painters comes to an end as the recorded history of House Jhaeryn'urden ceased to exist beyond this point. After more careful study and research, however, Adelia Tyrell uncovered the location of House Jhaeryn'urden and asked me, Senestia Avarscanti, to investigate the remains and ruins.

Accepting the task, I gathered my companions—Albrect von Asch, Ithiel Maelrivin, Merin, Sabrina, Shayleigh, and Sugrin—and set off to find and explore the remains of House Jhaeryn'urden. After much traveling, my group and I discovered the remnants of the fortress of House Jhaeryn'urden to be haunted by the ghosts of the drow that walked its walls. Deeper within the fortress, we discovered a band of duergar excavating the dilapidated fortress for any valuables.

Fortunately for my companions and I, the duergar had managed to open the vault that held Jean-Paul. After dispatching the duergar we entered the vault and found numerous paintings, the first of Jean-Paul’s journal, and an escape tunnel. From this journal, more of Jean-Paul and Therese’s tale is revealed.

Jean-Paul’s journal explained that having found themselves in no worse a position than before their attempt to escape, Jean-Paul and Therese made the best of what they could: they painted and they loved one another. This, too, however would not last as House Jhaeryn'urden found itself in conflict with another drow house.

An attack launched against House Jhaeryn'urden was too great to be repelled. After slaughtering House Jhaeryn'urden, the attacking drow opened the vault containing Jean-Paul and Therese. The attackers whisked Therese away but Jean-Paul was left inside the vault which had been resealed.

Trapped inside again but now alone, Jean-Paul suffered immensely, a piece of his soul dying with every continuing day separated from Therese. So distraught, Jean-Paul even turned his back on Sune, scorning and blaming her for the loss of Therese. Filled with this bitterness and anger, Jean-Paul set to digging a way out of his prison vault.

Jean-Paul’s journal ends at this point. Once he had escaped his prison, he left everything behind: his art, his journal. He tried to leave behind his life feeling lost and hopeless without Therese. A copy of key entries within Jean-Paul’s journal follows.

Jean-Paul’s Journal, Recorded During Imprisonment by House Jhaeryn'urden

Day 1 Since Recapture The plan laid out by myself and my beloved failed. We were re-captured by the house guards and forced back into the Master’s house. For our insolence, I fear he has done something very rash. He’s locked she and I away, within his private vault. Unbeknownst to him, however, an eternity squirreled away with no one but She and I is as lovely a life as I can imagine. We shall paint and love for all time.

Day 142 She’s gone. She has been taken from me, my dearest Therese. Foul drow raiders! They’ve slaughtered every one of the Master’s men! We heard the din of battle, but had hoped they would pass us over. They opened the vault, the first beings we’d seen since our imprisonment. With cold malice, they took her from me and resealed the vault. In a moment, my life became dark and empty! Curse Sune for her fickle ways. My only love has been taken from me. How can I be expected to paint now?

Day 318 I will leave this place. It irks me. The walls are covered in dust and I have no more love in my heart. My paintings are grotesque, pained things now. Sune’s naught but a whore, masquerading as a lover. I will have vengeance.

Day Unknown Years have passed, in this place. All alone. My tunnel is nearly complete. I spotted roots. I am close.

Last Day I’m leaving. Now. You will remain. My art. My Journal. You will tell others what has happened here. I have lost my innocence and my artistic soul. The Whore has taken it all from me. I will leave her, and find my vengeance.

I will go beyond the land where the fish speak, and through the land where the smithies temper their steel. I will pass through it, and into peaceful bliss.

Follow if you dare.

Revelation: The Tale Continues To Happiness

Had the tale of Jean-Paul and Therese ended here, the world would seem a dimmer, sadder place. For the longest time, I thought the tale had ended in such a way and I wept for both Jean-Paul and Therese. I kept Jean-Paul’s journal and his self-portrait with me as a reminder of the work I must do as a Priestess of Sune. That I must always seek to teach others to be hopeful, see the joy in life, so that they would not fall into an endless pit of despair.

Thankfully however, I discovered that the tale does not end with such utter, defeating sadness. Through a stroke of good fortune gifted upon me from Tymora and with the guidance and blessings of Sune, I discovered the true, happy ending of Jean-Paul’s and Therese’ story.

Lord Alexander Archibald had, through Ambassador Queen’s Rook, asked me for my aid in dealing with a group of slavers. Along with Albrect von Asch, Illario Dentra, Queen’s Rook, and Salvador Komero I traveled through the Kuo-Toa isle of Loblobliiiblop to the duergar port city of Mutulakt with the intention of traveling even further beyond it.

After making our way through a series of mines infested by crazed elementals of fire and earth summoned by a mad wizard, we finally breeched free of the confining mine walls to find ourselves, once again, in the greater, wider Underdark. After some further searching, we encountered the slavers and defeated them.

Of the slaves we freed, one of them was Renaud D’leon, son of Jean-Paul and Therese. The man had so keenly inherited his father’s features that I, at first, mistook him for Jean-Paul himself. Renaud revealed to me with the help of another journal written by Jean-Paul how the tale truly ended.

After tunneling from the prison vault, Jean-Paul did as he said he would and traveled to Loblobliiiblop and then to Mutulakt. Instead of passing through Mutulakt as he originally intended, however, he stayed after catching sight of a beautiful woman that reminded him of his lost Therese. After another encounter with this familiar woman, Jean-Paul realized that she, in fact, was Therese.

Therese was still enslaved; however Jean-Paul was not. Mistaken as a citizen of Sanctuary, Jean-Paul was able to find himself legitimately employed under the duergar of Mutulakt. Jean-Paul worked and toiled in the smithies inspired once again by love and beauty. He worked tirelessly and with dedication spurned what he had lost in the past but now had the chance to have once again. With the savings from his hard work he was finally able to purchase Therese’s freedom.

After having Therese in his arms once again, Jean-Paul did not stop working. With his own hands he built a house along a cliff edge of the Dark Lake. Having turned once again to Sune, the house Jean-Paul built became not only a home for Jean-Paul and Therese, but also their son. A place of love, care, and beauty, the home’s purpose and legacy continues even after Jean-Paul’s and Therese’s natural deaths as Renaud found a wife: Emilia. Even though the slavers that captured Renaud and Emilia burned this house down, Renaud promised to rebuild it for the home that held so many happy, loving memories still exists.

It is here that the tale truly ends. Happily. Copies of key entries from Jean-Paul’s second journal that helped in revealing the end to this story follows.

Jean-Paul’s Journal, Recorded After Escaping

Day 5 Since Escape I managed to tunnel out and have now set upon my journey. From the Kuo-Toa isle, I set off for Mutulakt where the smithies forge, as I said I would.

Day 15 I saw a woman the other day. She looked so much like Therese that I wept. The duergar of Mutulakt were not amused and some suggested enslaving the free wandering human who appeared so weak.

I must remain strong, lest they retake me into slavery. Curse Sune for showing me such beauty.

Day 35 An amazing thing has happened. The woman, from tendays ago, it was her! I’ve found her, Journal! I had found the love of my life, the woman that was taken from me so long ago! She is here! I will buy her from her captors. She will be mine once again.

Day 145 I cannot find her. I have toiled away for months, working these smiths in order to make the coin to buy her when I see her. They’ve not enslaved me. They seem to think I am from some city called Sanctuary. Whatever city this is, I thank it for giving me legitimacy.

Day Unknown, Years have passed I write to you Journal, from my home upon the cliff. Therese and I have been together for what feels like a blissful eternity now. We have a son. His name is Renaud. He has her eyes and I love him for it.

I need not write anymore for Therese hears all I have to say with her own ears. We are together at last. Praise Sune. I am vindicated. I am redeemed.

Thoughts

From Jean-Paul’s and Therese’s tale one can take many lessons and words of wisdom. The importance of hope, dedication, and persistence is evident throughout the entire tale. One should also keep in mind that happiness and love is always possible just as there are chances for redemption and reclaiming what is lost exist.

One must always be watchful for these chances they can be but moments, such as witnessing another person from a great distance. They can be but fleeting thoughts such as the mistaken origins of a man which can be used to one’s advantage. Having faith in the gods that they would divinely intervene to provide us with such opportunities is naturally important.

Most specifically and importantly in this tale, however, one should see and realize how Sune is not only forgiving but caring and still willing to help those who have turned away from her. Despite having been disavowed and disrespected by Jean-Paul, Sune still provided Jean-Paul and Therese with opportunities to become reunited. After seeing Jean-Paul work so hard with such dedication she then blessed and ensured that the two lived happily together at the end of their lives.

If you hold faith in Sune and pray to her, she will provide you with love and beauty. If you do not, then know that she still gifts all with the opportunity to experience beauty and enjoy love in the world.

Thanks and Acknowledgments

This work and the revelation of the story it details would not have been possible without the help and contribution of many others. Deep hearted thanks are given to Adelia Tyrell for lighting the candle that first shed light upon the lives of Jean-Paul and Therese; to Lord Alexander Archibald for providing me with a reason and the means to follow the same path Jean-Paul walked; the Sanctuary Watch for producing such fine, brave, helpful men such as Sergeant Albrect von Asch and Corporal Salvador Komero; my fellow adventurers and friends who were at my side as this tale unraveled: Illario Dentra, Ithiel Maelrivin, Merin, Queen’s Rook, Sabrina, Shayleigh, and Sugrin (may he rest in peace); and finally, the people and city of Sanctuary itself who saved a man from further slavery with its mere reputation.