The priests of Ordemetrex lend a kind, impartial ear for whosoever needs one, although donations are welcome in return for a priests' time - even religious men and women have to eat.
==============================================
OoC: The priests will cast spells for PCs, but only on site, and, unless the spell is a cure spell, only with 24 hours notice.
Injured characters can have their wounds tended to here, but will only receive magical healing once per 24 hour period from the temple. If no DM is available, assume average healing rates and costs as follows:
"What mean you it no need pig snout? Soup always need pig snout. You no fool Therokke. Therokke the geatest cook in all Garic City."
The priest shrugs. "I'm sure you are a fine cook Mister Therokke, but the patients here are trying to recover from injuries, I don't think making them vomit is going to help with their recovery."
Therookke raises the eyebrow higher, and flexes.
"Therokke said he was sorry about that. Got fresh pig snout now."
"Thats all well and good, but I think chicken soup will be just fine."
"Why you throw away feet and beak then, best part of chicken."
Therokke licks his lips. "Where the crunch with out them?"
"I think it was very kind of you to volunteer with helping to care for the injured here sir, but perhaps food preperation is not the right field for you."
"Therokke very grateful to Mother for healing frostbite, wants to repay her. What better way then to use Therokkes mastery of cooking?"
"Yes. Yes. I know you just want to help. And yoiu are a very good cook, when you follow the right receipe. But your reliance on certain ingridients is troublesome. Many of our children here don't have your iron stomache."
"Maybe they should work out more, like Therokke do. "
Therokke flexes his muscles for all present.
The priest in charge of the kitchen shakes his head.
"Yes, yes, there is no need for that everytime someone mentions how big you are."
"And good looking."
"I'm sure you are. But we are off topic again. Perhaps there is some way you can repay the Mothers kindness to you, other then cooking?"
"Therokke wants to repay Mother. Therokke loves Mother. Therokke wants to be her priest. Do good like Father Hogan."
The priest seems to consider things for a few seconds. And then smiles.
"I have an idea for what you could do to show your gratitude. Something more suited to a... man of your size."
"Therokke is a manly man."
He flexes to show how manly he is.
"What you need manliest man in Garic do?"
Therokke raises his eyebrow again, directing his glare at the other cooks preparing food. He gives them a good view of his flexed bicep.
"They jealous of Therokke? Who can blame them? Therokke sometimes gets jealous of Therokke. It not easy being Therokke."
"No I imagine its not. Now if you don't mind?"
The priest holds the door of the kitchen open for the big half orc.
Therokke gives the other cooks another intimidating display of his muscular build, and then follows the priest out of the kitchen into the dining hall.
A few of the novices enjoying their meal see the halforc and protectively cover their bowls.
Therokke raises his eyebrow towards them before focusing on the priest.
"What Therokke do for Mother?"
The priest breathes in deeply. And then exhales
"I was wondering if perhaps you would consider acting as a missionary for the Mother. Get out among her more savage children and spread her work. Your size would make you invaluable to help convince those who share your heritage that even they are loved by the Mother. I believe many of your kind.."
"There only one Therokke. Everyone else just an imitation"
"Yes, I would hope so."
The priest wipes some sweat off his face.
"Many of... many of the orcish persuasion seem to believe that just because they are Demmians children that the Mother does not love them also. This is most untrue."
"Of course. Mother loves Therokke. You want Therokke to force orcs to come worship?"
He poses again to fully display his phyisque.
"Therokke can do that."
"Force? No, no. That is not the mothers way."
"Maybe because Mother no have Therokke to do it for her. Until now."
He switches to another pose.
"Therokke will do this. Not for you. Therokke will do it for Mother."
"Mister Therokke, you misunderstand me. I just want you to tell any other half orcs you met here in town that they are welcome to come to the Mothers Temple. Not to force them to come."
"They will want to come after Therokke is done with them."
He cocks his head to the side and glares across the dining hall.
"Good healers here."
"Please, force is not nessasary. Just explain to them that they are not unwelcome here. You are one of the few halforcs who we has embrassed the Mother. There should be more."
""There will be. You have Therokkes word."
"Therokke will do this for Mother, just like Father Hogan do for Therokke. Soon temple will be full of halforcs needing Mothers help."
Therokke poses once more and the nstrides out of the hall and out of the temple.
The priest shakes his head and mutters.
"Forgive me Mother."
*rides up to the Temple and slide off her horse, holding onto the saddle for support for a moment*
*taking a deep breath, walks up to the door and steps inside*
*looks for a moment, then finds the cleric who stays by the door*
Excuse me. Could I get some help?
*showing the cleric to the horses, she explains the situation with Alissa and that she is under a preservation spell until tomorrow*
Could you send word to the Silver Sword, specifically to Aria Amberhawk and Hermy Woodhome? They should know what has happened.
*she helps as much as able to get Alissa down from the horse and into the Temple, but her shaking prevents her from doing much*
*she gives her name and address to the priests, in case Hermy or Aria want to ask her what happened*
*thanking the priests, she shows Thindae the Last Lich*
It's the building there. I have to get the horses back. Kywyn's gotten back and I have to get to him. Thank you for your company and help.
[to Elsewhere]
*Thosar stands on the steps of the temple for a long time, pondering the recent events. He sways wearily.*
Mother. Please. Please. Welcome those that have come to you these past days. Those that sought to find balance in this world. Welcome them, bear them home.
*Thosar falls to his hands and knees, as much from sorrow as exhaustion, and begins to sob uncontrollably. He manages to drag himself up the stairs and lean against a pillar. His voice croaks out as he speaks.*
"Mother! Bear your children to your breast!"
*As worn out as he is, his yells come out only as harsh whispers.*
"Help me to know thy path! Please... Mother! You have delivered me from thy embrace and I do not know... I do not know why!"
*Thosar looks a pitifully worhsipping sight as he shifts into a kneeling position, facing the temple.*
"Your answers... I would seek, Mother! Your name I would speak... in all holiness, Mother! An instrument of your strength I will be! Please, Mother, accept the praise of your misguided son!"
*Tears still rolling down his face, Thosar crawls to a semi-secluded spot between a pillar and a low wall and falls asleep.*
*Her head snaps back and forth, looking for anyone that she can find that would know of Alissa's wherabouts.*
"ALISSA!!!!":embarrass
Like, hey! No need to shout, we're here. Who are you looking for?
She wrestles the jug to a table, and walks over to Aria, hands up in a placating gesture.
*Her breath comes in ragged gasps.*
"My sister.. where is she!?!"
*She takes a step forward, leaving another bloody footprint to mar the floor.*
Of course, where you are can also influence what you're doing, they're pretty thorougly linked, like, you wouldn't normally be taking a bath if you're in the Market, but you wouldn't go to the Market to take a bath, either.
She stops talking and blushes.
Maybe if you told me who she is, as well as why you think she's here?
*Her voice cracks from the stress she is under.*
"She was brought here. Where is she..."
*She takes another step forward.. her hands clenching and unclenching as if she is aching to swing at the first enemy to present itself, but there are no obvious enemies present..*
Like, she was just married here...
Gosh, honey, I'm so sorry, the wedding was, like, three weeks ago. You missed it!
... but, you're not really dressed for a wedding anyway, I hate to tell you...
*With a snarl, she covers the short distance btween the two of them in a leap. Her hands shoot out to grab the woman by the collar of her robes as she pushes the cleric backwards with her manic strength.*
*Her voice is an animal growl.*
"If you value your life, you will bring me to my sister NOW..."
In the name of the Mother, calm thyself!
Aria feels the uncomfortable tingle of magic, but shakes it off.
"My sister is here.. she has been hurt.. you will take me to her now, or by the gods I will rip this church apart to find her!"
*Shoves the startled woman away from her.*
Now, there's no need for that. You didn't tell me she was hurt. Can you please calm down long enough for me to check the logbook?
Stepping over to the reception desk, with several glances back at Aria, she flips through the logbook.
...
Ah, you were told she was ...injured?
*Calls out once again.*
"Alissa!!":embarrass
Honey... shouting won't do you any good.
She walks over and touches Aria on the arm.
Come on, walk with me.
Leading Aria gently to a side corridor.
You know that we all come from the Mother, and are loved and welcomed by her when the time comes for departure? And that, as such, all departures are in reality a form of return?
"Where.. where is my sister... she is hurt.. where is my sister. WHERE IS MY SISTER!!!"
I'm taking you to her, child. Please, come with me.
She gestures Aria to accompany her.
It's a journey, life... Beginning and ending with the Mother, and from there... who can say?
She pushes open the door, and Aria sees a room filled with bed-like marble slabs. Some are occupied by sheeted figures, others are empty.
The third from the left...
"No...":embarrass
*The word comes out as a croak as her whole body goes cold.*
"There... no. There must be.. a mistake. No...":embarrass
*As if some invisible force is compelling her, she takes a hesitant step inside the room, followed by another.*
*Her haunted gaze is drawn to one of the occupied slabs, covered by a white sheet. The form of a small individual can be seen outlined underneath.*
*She stops a few feet from the slab, her whole body trembling.*
*She turns to look at Clarice with a pained expression, as if looking for the woman to tell her she was mistaken.*
Perhaps you should look at her; her name was provided by the person who brought her in.
She bends back the edge of the sheet.
"Ahhh... ahhhh.. ahhh......":embarrass
*She begins to hyperventalate.. her vision blurrs as her ears are filled with the loud roar of her labored hearbeat.*
*With one hand holding on to the marble slab, she slowly raises to a standing position as she gazes down upon the peaceful face of her younger sister. Through some trick of the lighting, Alissa appears to only be sleeping.. the illusion is so real that Aria grabs the sheet and flips it aside to prove to Clarice and the world that they were mistaken about her sister.*
*However, what her tear-stained eyes see where Alissa's abdomen should be causes a strangled noise to escape her throat.*
*Dropping to the ground, her body is wracked by violent dry heaves.*
"Uhhhh.. uhhhhhhh...":embarrass
*Suddenly, her head snaps back as she turns her gaze to the white, vaulted ceiling as if staring into the faces of the gods.*
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!"
It's okay, child, go ahead, let yourself grieve...
"Why..... oh, why.....":embarrass
*Her trembling hand reaches upward until it comes into contact with Alissa's cold, lifeless hand. The chill she feels matches that in her own heart.*
*She stays in this position for some time until her red-rimmed eyes have no more tears to shed.*
*Her voice is barely a whisper when she speaks.*
"How did this happen..."
According to the notes, she was killed by a turtle-shelled monster by a river between here and Ennorath.
Someone by the name of 'NaShae Ch'radryn' brought her here.
NaShae... she brought my sister here?
*Turns her bleary gaze to Clarice.*
"What.. what will you do to her.. my sister..."
Well, we could consign her to the earth, there's a fee for the plot and another for the headstone. We have to pay the caretakers for upkeep of the cemetary, you know.
Or, we could cremate her. That's not quite as expensive.
I don't think you'd be choosing the paupers option, and having her tossed into the middens?
*She looks to Clarice, and where as just a few moments ago there was nothing but a vacant look in her eyes, there is now a spark of emotion in them... but what that emotion is cannot be determined.*
*In a flat, emotionless voice, she answers Clarice.*
"There have been others who have been held in a timeless state.. preserved so that they can be brought back from the dead.. what about that option? Or are you saying that my sister is not important enough to bother?"
*Something in her tone is reminicent of a raror-sharp blade being slowly removed from it's scabbard.. a forewarning of potential danger.*
Bringing people back from the dead is not an option we suggest, but yes, it is an option.
She looks under the sheet quickly, then checks a sheet of parchment lying on a shelf.
There was a preservation put on her...
If you decide within a day or two, you could have her brought back, if her spirit is willing.
And, if you are willing to pay the fee. I'm sorry, but it is rather high... you would have to provide five thousand gold worth of diamonds.
Kywyn approaches the steps of the temple with NaShae. Somber as a shadow, he looks to her.
"Ready?"
*nods*
I think so.
*walks into the Temple, biting her lip, worrying if her friends are here and how they are*
*looks around for the cleric who is usualy at the desk*
Hello??
"She is to be kept here until I return.. if anything happens to her during that time, there will be more than one grave to dig..."
*Turns and leaves the room.. her mind now with something other than grief to focus on.*
NaShae.. she brought Alissa here.. she must know what happened..
"H-how m-may I b-b-be of s-service?"
We're looking to see if Aria Amberhawk or Hermy Woodhome have gotten here yet. Could you tell us??
*the acolyte nods*
"I'll go l-l-look. Wait -wait right here."
*he heads off to look*
*As she turns towards the front entrance, she stops so suddenly that Clarice bumps into her.*
*Standing near the front doors are NaShae and Kywyn.*
*Her gaze locks onto NaShae's as she begins to shuffle forward.. an unreadable expression on her face.*
*quietly, stepping forward*
I'm sorry, Aria. I did everything I could.
*looks down at the floor for a moment, then back up at her friend*
*gently squeezes Kywyn's hand for support*
*Her voice is a flat monotone.*
"What do you mean, 'you did everything you could'? You brought my sister here.. what do you know of how she died?"
She came with me to get back my son. He was stolen while she was watching him in the park and I suspect that's why she wanted to go with.
*takes a breath, trying to be calm and keep her voice soothing*
While we were on the road and almost at our destination, I handed over a watch to her. Two of our group were hurt earlier and needed the rest. I asked her to wake me if anything happened.
I woke to a sound and found Alissa gone. When we found her, there was a creature with a shell beside her. It..
*shakes her head*
With another's help, I killed the creature and brought Alissa back to camp. She was already dead when we found her.
.oO(Thankfully...)
I bound her as best as I could and brought her to town where I could have her preserved until we got back here. It's your and Hermy's option to decide. But I brought her back whole.
.oO(Or as whole as I found her...)
*feels guilty not keeping Kywyn from the images that pop into her mind as she tells Aria about Alissa's death, but knows the only way to stop it is to let go of his hand and needs the contact too much*
*The smoldering ember in her eyes begins to grow in intensity.*
"What you are saying.. what you are telling me is that you allowed her to accompany you? That you knowingly brought her into a dangerous situation?"
*Her hands begin to turn into claws at her side as a wave of fury slowly begins to build within her.*
No. That was her decision. She wanted to come. I did my best to make sure she stayed safe, but even I need rest.
*frowns*
I didn't think that she would be in danger. But I even brought another, a cleric, just in case.
"It was her decision? She wanted to come?? So what you are saying is that my sister was ripped apart because you couldn't say no to a fourteen year old girl?!?!"
*Takes a step forward as her chest heaves with the effort to control her rage. She snarls as her words come out like daggers.*
"WHAT USE COULD A FOURTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL BE IN FINDING YOUR SON?? WHAT SKILLS DID SHE POSSESS THAT WERE OF SUCH IMPORTANCE TO YOU?? COULD SHE SWING A BLADE LIKE A WARRIOR, OR CALL UPON MYSTICAL ENERGIES TO AID IN YOUR SEARCH?? MY SISTER IS DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!!"
She was an adult, Aria. She was old enough to decide to marry, twice. I could no more lock her in a room and forbid her to come than I could you.
I'm sorry about Alissa. But I did what I could to bring her back here to you so you and Hermy could decide what is to be done. There was nothing else I could do.
*sighs softly*
She could feel responsible. And she did. She was distraught when she discovered Dakarai gone. She wanted to find him.
*shakes her head*
She wanted to kill my father for taking him. What was I supposed to do??
"ANGER IS ALL THAT I HAVE LEFT!! MY SISTER IS DEAD!! WILL YOU BE THE ONE TO BREAK THE NEWS TO MY MOTHER? WILL YOU STAND IN FRONT OF HER WHILE SHE CURSES YOU FOR BRINGING HER TO THE CITY IN THE FIRST PLACE?? AND WILL YOU BE THE ONE TO TELL HERMY THAT HIS FIRST TRUE LOVE IS DEAD BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE THE COMMON SENSE TO SAY NO TO MY SISTER??"
*Whirls back on NaShae.. her hands aching to grasp a sword that is not there. Her voice comes out in a low hiss.*
"You... you can try to justify your lack of judgement all you wish.. my sister could not have been of any use to you, and yet you willingly brought her into danger that she was ill-equipt to deal with.."
*Takes another step forward until they are eye to eye.*
"Ask yourself now if your decision was worth it.. I hope the pain and suffering your indecision has caused haunts you till your dying day..."
*Brushes past her as she makes her way to the door of the temple.*
She was no use to me when I invited her to stay while you were gone. But I brought her to my house so she wouldn't be alone. She was an adult, Aria. She had the right to make the decision.
*shakes her head*
I'm willing to help with whatever you need done to bring her back, if that's what you wish. But I can't feel any worse than I do for what happened.
He keeps ahold of NaShae's hand, transmitting thoughts of reassurance, "She's angry right now... Her words are coming from a hurt place."
*Without turning around she spits her reply over her shoulder.*
"5000 gold coins worth of diamonds in two day's time. Perhaps the tips you receive at the inn might help seem like a king's ransom, but I am just a warrior who just risked her life for this city and asked for nothing in return.. what a fool I am to help others without making a profit."
*Staggers out into the streets, her destination unknown.*
To Elsewhere
*sighs, then whispers to Kywyn*
I know, beloved. But I'm not sure she doesn't mean them.
*draws in a shaky breath, the strain of trying to hold her composure showing on her face and in her thoughts*
*she leans on Kywyn, thinking*
.oO(So now we just have to wait for Hermy.... ??)
*wipes at the tears falling from her eyes*
"She probably meant the words, but that doesn't make them right."
"Should we follow her.. explain that we want to help figure out how to raise the funds?"
"It might be better to talk to her before she gets to her weapons..."
I don't know. I'm not sure I can take much more of this. But it is better that we catch her now.
*sighs*
I'm not sure she'll listen to us, though.
Putting an arm around her waist, Kywyn walks in the direction in which Aria left.
He looks up at the dark sky and the stars.
"The same stars Dak is looking at tonight..." he muses through their link.
The thought is encouraging as he pushes forward into the street.
.oO(Are we heading to the guild? Or trying to follow her??)
*looks around for Aria when they get out of the building, wiping her eyes to keep tears from blocking her vision*
[to Elsewhere]
*By the time they reach the temple doubt has began to creep into Hermy.*
*The story told by Aramadios begins to crush any hope he may have had. He stops and waits for NaShae to catch up before entering.*
"Maybe you shoulds go tell Area. Shese will want ta know."
*whispers*
I..I already talked to her. I think it's best I stay away form now.
*looks down at the floor*
.oO(Maybe for good)
*Hermy starts to head for the door and then tops again.*
"Why woulds you need ta stays away from her? She's gunna need someones ta be there ta helps her. Don't ya remember how crazy she got after Kirby hurt Alissa? I'm gunna hafta stay here."
"She'll need someone with her to keep her from doin somethin stupid."
"Shes was already doin a lot of that befores this happened. Theres no tellin what she'll do now."
She doesn't want me around, Hermy.
*quietly*
She's very angry with me right now. She thinks I should have stopped Alissa from leaving town.
"Sometimes I wonders ifen shes all there."
"You had tatakes Alissa."
"Yer son needed rescueing, an all the heroes was out of town."
"An theres no way you coulda have done it by yerself."
"Alissa knews that. She wouldn't have lets you go without her. No matter ho dangerous it is to her.Shes brave like that."
Please, tell that to her. She thinks that I shouldn't have let Alissa go.
*shakes her head*
It doesn't matter.
*looks down, going silent again and huddling into herself*
"An sose will Alissa."
"Come on Natala."
*He pulls Natala into the temple and approaches the desk.*
"We needs ta see my wife."
Like, are you sure? She's awfully torn up, and your sister-in-law went kinda nutso when she saw... um.
Anyway, maybe you'd just like to make arrangements for the funeral and not be looking under the sheet?
"Natalas gunna proves it. Right Natala?"
*He looks up at Natala and tries to smile before lokking back at Claice.*
"Natalas a very powerful clerk. An nobody knows more about being dead then her."
As you wish, then, Mr. Woodhome. Perhaps it would be best if you saw her yourself...
She gestures him to follow, and leads the way to the morgue.
Maybe.... maybe you should just show him.
*turns her head to look at anything but the people in the room*
I'll...
*unsure whether to follow, she walks behind them, but stays quite a bit away*
"She aint dead, she was out savin a kid an the Mother woulds never let someone die who was doin somethin likes that."
*He clutches the flowers and chocolate tightly. The chocolate starts to melt onto his hands.*
"Besides shes to pretty to be dead.The mother woulds never have let her be so pretty ifen she was just gunna let her die. An she was too smart to. The Mother would...."
*When he reaches the morgue and sees all the covered bodies he swallows hard.*
"Are you sure shes in here?"
"It does matter, Miss NaShae. You don't need to hide away with your beloved."
She walks with Hermy and Clarice, trying to seem a pillar of calm strength so the others will feel they have someone to lean on.
Once they reach the morgue, she stands behind Hermy and places her hands on both his shoulders.
"Everyone dies, Hermy. Everyone. Good, smart, strong, beautiful... What matters is how you live."
She catches Clarice's eye and nods at her slightly, as a signal.
.oO(He needs to see, now.)
*whispers*
Thank you, Natala. But Aria has made it clear otherwise.
*take Natala's arm*
Just.. just don't let him see too far down. The bard with us was sick. He shouldn't have to see that.
*steps back to Kywyn and stands away from Hermy, still afraid of his reaction toward her for this*
.oO("Your sister-in-law went kinda nutso..." That's something I can at least try to help.)
He makes an obesiance to the altar of Ordemetrex standing in the chapel he can see directly. ""
The paladin walks from the Temple, a small, cautious part of him girding himself for the rough time he expects with Aria.
Nods when NaShae suggests she not let Hermy see Alissa's abdomen.
"I'll try. It might be best, though, for him to see everything. Sometimes it's better to know than to wonder."
If you think it's best. She should still be wrapped, so it shouldn't be as bad.
Hermy? Aria? Strange. Where....Oh yes, the temple. I need to get myself cleaned up. How long was I asleep? Hopefully not too long. I shall return later to worship and begin learning thy path, Mother.
*With that Thosar gathers his things and leaves for the Last Lich.*
[To the Last Lich Inn]
She looks to Hermy, then steps back.
Sir? Are you by any chance, Sir Gamis Phaebinn? I'm Amarandios. I've seen you at the church once or twice. I'm honored to meet you -- although saddened by the dark circumstances under which we have to meet. I should probably tell you the whole story, if you are a friend of hers. I've related it several times already, so I'm quite used to the idea now.
.oO(Probably should write a song about it, actually. Might tame Aria and Hermy's feelings a bit knowing that their loved one will be remembered)
He offers his hand to shake. "Do you mind if we walk as you tell me? I need to find Aria, like you're probably guessed."
He walks with Gamis to find Aria and begins talking, almost in a confessional tone to the knight.
I met NaShae in the pub just after she found out that her son had been taken by her father, a rich noble, to Ennorath, her homeland. I had no engagements and she looked like she really needed the help, so I offered to join. The next morning, we left, along with Alissa, who also was determined to come along and traveled for several days until our horses were stolen.
At that point, we met up with a bard, Thindae -- who can likely be found at the Last Lich Inn, if you need him, who had a spare horse for us to use. We got to a river with an overfull ford and got in a nasty battle with a crocodile from which Thindae and I barely escaped alive. That nasty battle forced us to set up camp early, near that same river, unfortunately, and led NaShae to have herself and Alissa take night watch so that Thindae and I could rest and heal ourselves slightly.
Alissa, unbeknowst to myself and Thindae, at least, had never done a real night watch before, or at least didn't have enough experience to know never to leave camp alone to check out the slightest thing. She woke noone and followed a creature that snooped up to the camp. They fought and she fell. The noise woke us up and Thindae and NaShae killed it almost instantly. Unfortunately -- too late for Alissa.
We had her body preserved at Ennorath and were able to make it back here with her, where you see her now.
[to Elsewhere]
*He looks back towards Natala when he reachhes her, the pleading for help very noticable in his eyes.*
*He pits his fowers next to the corpse.*
"Alissa? Alissa? Tell them you aint dead. I brought you flowers."
*He pulls back the sheet more so he can clutch her hand.*
*And drops to his knees in an explosion of tears.*
"She can'ts be dead! She can'ts! I promised her I'd comes backs to her! I promised!"
*His eyes dart around the room looking for anyone that can help.*
"I didn'ts even get to say goodbyes!"
The spell holding her won't last much longer and I'm not sure another can be cast. Aria mentioned bringing Alissa back.
*Hermy looks at the two clerics.*
"Can we brings her back? Likes we did Natala?"
*Hermy stands and takes Alissas lifeless hand He flnches slightly as his eyes pas over her wounds.*
"Will she remembers what happened? I don'ts wants her to remembers. She'd spend the rest of her life afraid."
"And Alissa hated being afraid."
"I don't wants her ta comes back afraid."
"Can we asks her ifen shes gunna be afraid if she comes back? I know she aint afraid where she is now. But she'd be able to tell if she'd be afraid when we brins her back wouldn't shes?"
"She'd probably remember," Natala says gently. "I know I do.
"You could ask her, with the Mother's help, whether she'd want to come back... if she'd be too afraid... but I've never heard of anyone who can speak with her spirit while she's dead. Only with her body; and she could only answer what she knew when she died."
"An I'd likes ta know ifen she wants ta come back."
"I miss hers but ifen shes happy where she is, I don'ts wants ta makes her come backs ta bein scared."
"I really don'ts wants ta even asks hers."
"I know I'd lie an says its terrible there ifen it was her askin me ta comes back ifen she wanted me too. No matter how happy I was there."
"An more then I wants her back, I wants her happy."
She lets a moment of silence pass.
"Someone here may be able to help you with that today. Or I can come back with you tomorrow."
"I'd rather you do it Natala."
"These priest guys is nice an all, but they aint ever been dead."
"Besides I think ifen I was dead I'd rather get a friend botherin me about being alive again then some stranger."
The spell preserving her won't last much longer. It might be better if it's done sooner, even if by a stranger.
"Askin someones if they likes being dead aint as easy as it sounds."
"I needs time ta thinks of what ta say."
"It might be the the last chance I gets ta talks to her."
I understand. I'm sorry, Hermy. And thank you for not yelling and blaming me for this.
*as she talks her voice drops to a whisper, slowly slumping into herself*
"She chose ta try bein a hero. You didn'ts makes her. Ya can't force someone ta do somethin likes that. Yer either born with it or yas not."
"An Alissa was."
*Hermy wipes his nose on his sleeve and then rubs his eyes.*
"Ise thinks I needs ta go be alones for awhile."
"I'll comes get you at yer shop tomorrow. Ok, Natala?"
*Hermy slowly walks out of sight and then takes off running once he is far enough away.*
[to elsewhere]
Thank you both.
*heads out of the Temple toward the apartment*
[to Elsewhere]
After they are both gone, she says That was, like, intense...
She makes sure Alissa is properly covered, and that the daffodils are arranged (with fresh water) at the head of the bier.
Like, no, I haven't. But I know someday I will. We all go back to the Mother someday.
She walks slowly from the bier.
I don't get too close to people, mostly. I like people, but they start making demands, and then it gets complicated, sorting out how best to serve the Mother and how to meet the demands of people.
She looks at the young woman.
"That's why it's best not to hold people away. They make demands on you, but you can make demands on them, too, when you need to. And you'll need to, someday, because that's part of the Mother's plan."
She smiles, with a bit of sadness aimed inwards.
"It's complicated, but everything is, while you live."
I'm training in the Mystic path. You're a diviner, aren't you? I'm one of the Keepers of the Labyrinth. I don't think I've seen you there, yet.
It's wonderful for achieving detachment.
"I'm not part of any of the usual paths for followers of the Mother's Church, for... very personal reasons. The same reasons I'm not officially part of the Church itself."
She smiles, still a bit sadly.
"I thank you for the invitation implied, but the Labyrinth here is not for me."
I hope you don't think the Labyrinth is restricted. It's open to anyone. We don't inquire as to the affiliations of our guests.
"I've walked the Labyrinth here, years ago. I know I'd be welcome to return, but... It's not for me. Not where I should be."
The Mother watch over thee in thy path, Sister.
I honor thy devotion, thy service, and thy compassion, which so beautifully reflects that of our Mother.
"And over thee in thine, Sister."
She leaves, returning to her shop and her conversation with Tynk.
*they walk in and find a priest*
Excuse me. I'm not sure what has been decided with Alissa Woodhome, but we have some we'd like to contribute.
*hands over the bag with 550 gold*
Could you see this goes to whatever purpose her family decides on??
*once she's sure that he will, her and Kywyn head into the graveyard, walking toward the older sections, then disappearing into the shadows*
[to Avowed]
*A young acolyte rushes forward to ask her her buisness.*
"I am here to see my sister."
*Her tone is neutral, but the young man senses the cold iron in her voice. That, and seeing the swords hanging by her sides tells him that saying "no" is not a wise option. He decides instead that it might be best to tell some of the senior priests about this woman.*
*She makes her way unhindered to the small room with the marble slabs. A lump forms in her throat as her eyes immediately fall on the one slab with the white sheet draped over it.*
*With slow, tentative steps, she enters the room. Her head bowed, grateful that she is alone for the moment, she lets her tears flow freely.*
Soon, my sister.. everything will be made well again. Soon... :embarrass
*She stands there with her back to the entryway as she awaits Hermy's appearance... knowing it is only a matter of time for him to come here.*
*He stops at the desk long enough to explain what is happeneing to Clarise.*
"Natala's comin, but shes comin with Gamis an he's a little slow sometimes. He's a paladim, most of them is.... but she'll be here in a little bit. I'm gunna go wait with Alissa, will ya tell her thats where I is? Ok, thanks."
*Not even waiting for a responce, Hermy dashes off towards the room where his wifes corpse is waiting.*
*He slows down and stops at the door, steeling himself to enter.*
.o0(Don'ts worries. She will want ta comes back to you unlesss shes in a much better place. An if she is, then shes happy an thats the important thing. Right?... Right.)
*Hermy steps through the door.*
"I've been looking for you... Volos told me that you had found out what happened, so I thought I would wait for you here.."
*Unsure of what to say to him, not knowing what his own frame of mind is, she falls silent to hear what he has to say.*
"Ise went an got Natala. I figured she know more about being dead then any of the clerks here since she was dead."
"She'll be here pretty soon."
*He moves up next to Alissa's body and places his hand on top of the sheet where he hopes her hand is.*
"We was gunna go looks fer you, but Gamis said you'd probably be here."
"Has you been here long? I have a cracker left if youse hungry."
*Her stomach rumbles in answer as she realizes she hasn't eaten since yesterday.*
"Yes.. thank you."
*Accepts the morsle of food but does not eat it right away.*
"Natala? What has she offered to do?"
*He gazes down on it, and wipes a way a tear.*
"She looks very peaceful don't she? I always thought yer eyes bugged out an yer toungue hangis out yer mouth when you died."
*He turns back to look at Aria.*
"Natala's gunna casts a spell sose we cin talks to Alissa."
"She can talk to Alissa? Good.. it will prove to everyone that she wants to be brought back.. they will see... they will all see...":embarrass
*The emotion in her voice is palatable.*
"I spoke with Lord Malyfaer today.. I went to him begging for help in raising the funds needed to bring her back. He wanted me to speak with you first to see what you felt about bringing her back... we can go see him together as soon as Natala speaks to Alissa.. he'll help us Hermy...":embarrass
"But hopefully that's will be enoughs ta tell what she was thinkin when ... when... when she knew. ..what was happening to hers."
"I wants to know if she was scared. Alissa hated bein scared."
"An she was scared so much her whole life."
*Hermy squuezes Alissas hand through the sheet.*
"Natala says she'll remember what happened to her.... What the creature who ki... what made her die."
He steps out of the doorway and stands near the doorjam, inclining his head.
"She will want to come back Hermy.. she has her whole.. life still ahead of her. She wants to come back, I believe that with every once of my being!":embarrass
*She steadies herself against the wall as the surge of emotion leaves her light-headed.*
"Do not let anyone try to convince you otherwise.. they think she might not want to be brought back.. they know nothing!"
*She says that last statement with an anger that causes her whole body to shake. She does not expound on who "they" are.*
"Natala knows."
"What does Natala know? What has she said about this?"
Gamis's only reaction to Aria's outburst is to look at the far wall.
.oO(No "I told you so" if you're wrong, my friend. If you're right... Well, little guarantee that I won't receive one.)
"An what it's like ta not be dead no more."
"She aint said nuthin yet, it aint her place ta tell us what to do."
"But... ifen she says that Alissa is probably happier bein with the Mother, Ise gunna hafta believe her."
"I wants Alissa back more then I've wanted anything else ever. But.... only ifen shes gunna be happy."
"I'd much rather me be sad for the rest of my life then her be sad for the rest of hers."
"We aint gunna be able to finds out ifen Alissa wants to comes back or not. But we mights be able ta finds out enough ta make the right decesion."
"She died a horrible death.. that is what Natala will find out. If she cannot find out what Alissa's wishes are, then I do not see what more we can learn from that course of action. Natala is not the only person who has experienced death, only to be brought back.. I have almost passed over myself, and I can say with all certainty that I wanted to come back."
*Looks Hermy in the eye so he can see the strength of her convictions.*
"She is young.. she was just married.. she had everything to look forward to, Hermy. She deserves to be given the chance to experience life.. she is not a warrior like us.. we accept that death is a risk we face. What she had done was brave, but death was not something she expected, I am sure of it! Do not fear.. you will see when she is brought back how grateful she will be.."
"Remeber how she was after what happened with Kirby."
"I don't want her to go through the rest of her life curled up in bed, crying and afraid everytime she hears the wind blow or the rain fall or the sun set."
"That's not the kinda life she desreves."
"She desreves ta be happy."
"I aint never died before so I aint sure that bein dead is all that good, but it's got ta be better then being terrified of everything. I has been that."
"I needs ta finds out how scared she was before... before she died."
"An then I needs ta find out from Natala what bein dead is like."
"I had a dream last night about Alissa comin ta talk ta me... It was only a dream, but..."
"She was happy in it.... Ifen Natala says that being with the Mother is a good thing... then I don't want ta takes that away from Alissa."
"She desreves to be happy. She desreves to not be scared."
"An she deserves not ta have no one tryin ta convince her ta choose between her bein happy an us bein happy."
"Wese heroes Aria. Wese suppose to put other peoples before us."
"Alissa dieded lbein a hero. But she wasn't one. She shouldn'ts hafta make that kinda choice. She should just hafta be happy."
"Hermy.. I will not pretend that she did not die being terrified.. how else would she have felt knowing that what was going to happen to her? However, there is so much good in the world to see and experience.. as long as she has people like us who love her, she can overcome what has happened to her in the past. Only by facing our fears can we grow stronger as individuals.. Alissa had already proven she could overcome what Kirby did to her, and given time, she will be able to put this behind her also. She deserves that chance.. and if the other side was such a wonderful place to be, then why did Natala choose to come back?"
*Shakes her head.*
"Alissa is young.. her mental wounds will heal.. she can still have a long and happy life.."
*Slumps down against the wall and lowers her head in her hands.. she munches on the cracker to try and push back the hunger pains she is having.*
"Miss Amberhawk, I do ask you to lower your voice, out of respect for your sister."
.oO(Besides, the poor acolytes are shaking in their boots.)
"I am not here to tell you what to think. Frankly, unless you asked my opinion on something, I wouldn't waste my breath. But I am here to try to help, as a friend to you and to Sir Woodhome; and part of that does require me to tell you what to do, for a few minutes."
She waits, holding Aria's gaze, until she is sure the young woman is listening.
"She did prove she coulds . An she might be able to again, but..."
"But what if she can't?"
"I'd rather not risk that. If she's happy where she is..."
Sir Phaebinn, grief is a long and arduous process that we all must go through. Some take more time than others, and some express it differently. You may consider Aria [looks to make sure she isn't listening, then whispers] unbalanced. But remind yourself that she is entitled to grief for her sister in her own way. Don't let her words hurt you. That won't help her recover any faster, nor will it you.
[turns his gaze to Natala, looking to her to find out what happens next]
*Turns to Gamis, noticing him for the first time.*
*Frowns.*
*Before she can adress him, Natala speaks to her.*
*Listens to her words, then slowly nods her head.*
"You wound me to think that I do not want your help... I just do not see yet what it is you are offering. I am listening.."
.oO(I'll be glad to know I'm wrong, Blue Flower.)
He, too, turns his attention to Natala, to Aria at her reply, then to Natala again. The paladin bites back the .oO(For once?) that wants to pop into his head when Aria states that the other woman has her attention.
"I meant only that you seem to accept help only on your own terms, and do not appreciate it when others... insist on helping you on their terms, shall we say?
"Whether what I can do today will help or not remains to be seen. I assume Sir Woodhome has told you why he asked me to come here, though, and we need to prepare for that. I need both of you -- and the two of you, as well," she adds, indicating Gamis and Amarandios, "to think about what questions you need to ask, to try to find out what you want to know. We'll have only a few minutes, and two, perhaps three questions, so we need to consider what to ask, and how to ask it, carefully. You can't expect much detail unless you specifically ask for it."
She turns back to Aria, producing a small bundle wrapped in a handkerchief from somewhere.
"You might wish to sit down for a few minutes, while you think; but whether you sit or not, I'd suggest you eat some of this."
Inside the handkerchief Aria finds half a dozen flat, brown crackers.
"Alissa don't need to proves to anyone that she's strong enough to comes back."
"She needs to be happy."
"She does got a strong spirit. An ifen we asks her to come back she will. Even if that aint the best thing fer her."
"I know I woulds. An she's a much better person then I is."
"I just wants to do whats best fer her... an I don'ts want to gamble with her happiness."
*Hermy wipes away some tears and then grabs the flowers he left before.*
"I... I... I need to go get some fresh flowers."
*Hermy runs out of the room Instead of heading back towards the lobby, he heads towards Father Camrun's office.*
"I thought I'd be seeing you. I'm very, very sorry for your loss."
"I will not appologize for wanting to have Alissa back, and I take offense when others.."
*Glares at Amarandios*
".. believe that their views carry more weight than her own sister. I have been willing to make whatever personal sacrifices are necessary to do what is best for her, only to be accosted, verbally attacked and kept from trying to raise the gold the church has asked for."
"I will do as you ask in this matter of preparing to speak to Alissa, but head this.."
*Looks to each person in turn.*
"..unless Alissa herself tells me that she does not wish to return to us, then I will do everything in my power to see her brought back."
*Turns to Hermy.*
"Life is a gamble.. no-one can predict what one day to the next will bring, but I know she will recover, given time."
*Starts to eat the crackers.*
.oO(This is not the time to argue with her again... Think, what questions...?)
"I do not want her to have to relive the moment of her death.. if you saw the wound that killed her, you would know that her death was not painless..."
*Roughly wipes the tears from her face.*
"All I want to know is if she wishes to be brought back.. nothing else matters to me."
*Crosses her arms across her chest and hugs herself as if to keep herself from falling apart.*
"As for what you want to know... Yes, I believe that is what we all want to know. This spell, unfortunately, can't speak to her spirit. We can ask if she would wish to be resurrected, but the answer we get will be the answer she would have given in life.
"So we have to do our best to think of a way to use what she knew in life to find out what we want to know now."
Originally posted by Scheherazade
The door to Father Camrun's office stands open. The priest sits at his desk, slowly reading a tome. He glances up when Hermy comes to the door, smiles sadly and nods.
"I thought I'd be seeing you. I'm very, very sorry for your loss."
"Thanks, so is I."
*Hermy enters the office and looks around nervously before speaking.*
"Wese gunna talks to Alissa's body. To try an guess ifen it's gunna be the right thing ta try an brings her back to life."
"After wese asks her body a few questions, I was planin on askin Natala a few questions about what ut's like when youse dead."
"I'm tryin ta make the right choice so I wants ta finds out everything I can before I does."
"Natala's been dead so she'll be able ta give us some good advise."
*Hermy looks behind him to make sure no one is nearby listening. And once he is sure not to be overheard he looks at the ground, avoiding Father Camruns eyes.*
"So has my brother."
*Hermy nods.*
"That's one of the things I wants ta asks him. Ifen guys likes him is allowed where Alissa is, then I aint leavin Alissa there."
*Father Camrun rests a hand on Hermy's shoulder.*
"I can assure you that she is safe from his kind."
*Hermy nods again.*
"I didn't think so neither, but I still need ta ask.... I won't believe him if he says he did though."
"Then why do you need to speak to your brother? What can he tell you that will help in your desicion?"
"He cin tell me where he went. An how bad it was there."
"Cause if he didn't suffer there fer what he dids, then there aint no suffering anywhere once youse dead."
"An I'll knows that where Alissa is is a hundred hundred times better."
*This time it is the priests turn to nod.*
"I will have to blind fold you again."
"I knows... Nobody shoulds no where he is that don't hafta know. I'd likes to go now, befores I talks to Alissas body."
"That way I'll be able ta asks the right questions. Area an Natala an Gamis are gunna be arguing fer awhile an stuff, I don't think theys gunna miss me fer a few minutes."
"An I doubts I cin stand talkin ta Kirby fer too long."
*The priest retreives a blindfold and securily ties it on.*
*Hermy does not even attempt to peak as he is lead into the lower depths of the Temple.*
"I will be nearby, call out when you are finished."
*Hermy nods and steps towards the bricked up alcove where the undead form of his brother is locked away.*
*A sharp piercing scratching sound assults his ears as the creature behind the wall claws at the wall.*
"hahahaha, I can smell your blood. I can hear you breathing. And I can taste your fear...Brother."
*Hermy steps a foot back from the wall.*
"It aint fear, its disgust. I think its been to long sense you ate anything. Youse forgettin what things taste like."
*Kirby screams*
"What do you want! Come to gloat! How heroic of you! If you remove a few bricks you can point and laugh too! Would that make you happy, Brother!"
"No. Nothing abouts you makes me happy... I didn't comes here to gloat. I came to ask you about being dead."
"Let me out and I'll teach you everything you've ever wanted to know about it!"
*The ghoul begins to howl and laugh at his wit. Hermy does not even blink.*
"I don't want ta knows everything. Just two things."
*Kirby stops cackling and is silent.*
"Where did you go when you was dead, an did you suffer?"
"Why would I suffer? You weren't there. .. It was heaven. If you'd like I could send you there."
*Hermy hesitates before answering.*
"No thats all right."
"Are you sure? It would be my pleasure. You've done so much for me afterall."
"I... I... I'm sure."
*Kirby snorts.*
"You don't sound so sure. In fact you sound like you are going to start crying.... Does wittle Hermykins need a hanky. What's the matter Hermykins?"
"Nothings the matter. Please tell me the truth, I'll never bother you again if you do."
"Oh you don't bother me. I so look forward to visiting with you. Sometimes I long for a simple conversation that the rats just can't seem lower themselves too." Kirby scratches at the wall."How are you doing dear brother? How is my Ticklekitten? Did she come to her senses and dump you at the alter?"
"No."
"Answer my question."
"Answer mine!! "
"Alissa is happy. We got married.... When you died did you suffer? Was you in hell?"
"Wel l nowI know you are lying brother. How could she be happy if she's married to you?"
"I answered your question."
"Yes you did.. And a lot better then you think." He chuckles. "Your little tart died didn't she? And you want to know if she's suffering? Am I right?"
"Yes."
"Well of course she is. Everyone suffers when they die. I'll bet shes boiling in a stew pot now. mmm. I can almost taste her now... I wonder, is she still as sweet?."
*He grits his teeth and chokes out his reply.*
"Is that what happened to you? You were boiled and eaten?"
.o0(An then vomited back up I'm sure.)
"Is that what she cin expect?"
*Undead Kirby laughs again.*
"Oh no dear brother, I did the eating. And if I were there she could expect worse. Hell is like a second home to me. And a much nicer one then I ever had with you."
"It's to bad fer you that you aint never goin back there then, since you enjoyed it so much... An lucky fer Alissa she aint never goin back there in the first place. Thanks Kirby. You answered my question.... An a lot better then you thoughts you did."
"Haves fun rotting away. I wonts be back."
*Hermy turns to walk away leaving Kirby howling and pounding on the bricks.*
*He reaches Father Camrum and takes the blindfold from him and wraps it around his eyes.*
"Did you find out what you wanted to know?"
"I founds out that ifen youse evil then hell is a good place for you... An that means ifen youse good heavens a good place to be too."
"Ise ready to go talk to Alissa. Will you ties the blindfold?"
*The priest gives Hermys shoulder a squeeze before leading him back upstairs.*
"I think its time ta talks to Alissa."
"Have you decided what you want to ask, and in what words you wish to ask it?"
*Her body trembles as she threatens to be overcome by her emotion.*
"An I'd likes ta asks them in normal words."
"I don'ts think Alissa spoke nuthin else."
"First off I want ta know how scared she was. Was she scareder then after what Kirby did?"
"I do want to warn you, before we begin, that her voice... may not sound as you expect it to. As it did in life."
Natala glances around the room, nods once, simply, and turns to Alissa to begin her casting of the spell.
After she calls up on the strength and the aid of Ordemetrex, she addresses Alissa's body.
"Alissa Amberhawk Woodhome, speak to us now as you did in life.
"When you were killed, were you more afraid than you were after you were abducted and abused by Kirby?"
As the breath leaves the body, a sighing 'Nooo' can be discerned.
*He moves closer to her body and starts to take her hand. He stops and looks to Natala before continuing.*
"Is it all right if I touch her?"
*He hurridily adds.*
"That weren't my question!"
"My question fer her is... Does she know we, me an Area, loves her and only wants what's best fer her?"
Natala addresses Alissa again.
"Do you know that your husband and your sister love you, and want only what's best for you?"
*Looks to Natala. She has to swallow a few times before she can manage to croak out her words.*
"Ask her.. ask her if she wants to return to us.. to live again..":embarrass
"Do you wish to return to your husband and sister, and live again?"
.oO(I'm not sure what kind of answer we'll get to this one.)
*Her voice is raw with emotion, but a small, relieved smile begins to form on her lips.*
*Turns to Hermy*
"You see? She wants to come back to us.."
[aside, to Gamis]
Gamis? What do you think? Is Aria's interpretation what the Impression intended? I think it seems oddly pantomimic of the question, myself. Not saying that Aria's wrong, just that... Well, I guess it's up to the Mother. I don't know what I can do to help the two of them, and I'm not sure that what I'm considering doing, they would acknowledge as help. But, if you hear the town crier announce my death anytime soon, you know what's happened to me.
.o(I have to keep tabs on these two. I don't want to see this scorch them.)
Amarandios raises his eyes to Aria's and looks at her directly, hoping to attract her attention when she composes herself. When she does, he speaks to her.
Miss Amberhawk. This is all the money I possess. Take it. I'm sorry I misjudged you, and I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.
"If it's unchanged, then I'm for it."
He speaks up more, offering a question: "What will she do, if brought back from the dead?"
What indeed.
.oO(What will I need? I can't be caught. She'll kill me! Dark clothes. Quiet boots. And I just gave her all my money. That was a trick, Amarandios. She hasn't taken the money yet anyways. Perhaps she won't. If she does, then perhaps the goal of giving it has been achieved -- she won't notice the figure over her shoulder when she otherwise would.
I wonder if I can pull this off...)
*He stares at her for several minutes, no one else in the world exists. Finally he breaks his eyes away from her and looks to Aria and then to Natala.*
"She says she wants to live with me...You heard that right Natala? Right? She said she wants to lives with me. Bein with the Mothers not good enoughs to makes her change her mind. It can'ts be. Can it? Maybe she's happier bein with me. She coulds be right? She coulds be happier with me?"
*He looks up to Aria.*
"What dids Lord Malletfur wants us to do? He said he woulds help, didn't he? You said he said he woulds."
*He looks out at Gamis and Armandios.*
"She said she wants to comes back. She said she did. You heards her too. Rights? It's woulds be wrong not ta give her a chance."
"I think your wife was happier with you than ever in her life, Sir Woodhome."
.oO(And that answer doesn't take into account what her feelings might be after death... But they didn't hear me when I explained that before, and certainly won't now.)
Natala watches everyone in the room, her glance flickering to Amarandios and Gamis whispering in the corner.
.oO(The worst that can happen, after all, is if they make the attempt and she refuses to return. And if they don't try, they'll never stop wondering.)
*She looks at the blue man for a moment as he makes the peace offering. Humbled by his generosity, she bows her head.*
*Her voice lacks any of the bitterness that has been so prevelent these past few days.*
"Thank you.. thank you..":embarrass
It is as a great weight has been lifted from my soul.. she will return to us...
*Turns to Hermy and his hopeful questions about promised aid by the Lord.*
*Manages a genuine smile for him.*
"For the time being, he said he will arrange for the spell that has preserved her body to remain intact until the fee the Temple has requested is met. As for what other aid he can give.."
That is a debt that I have agreed tp pay, whatever form it may take. Hermy deserves to spend his time with Alissa when she is brought back, not to be held to an unknown obligation.. that falls on my shoulders, alone.
"...I will negotiate with him again as soon as I take my leave here. Do not concern yourself with this, Hermy.. I will take care of this task. It is enough that Lord Malyfaer knows what your's, and Alissa's wishes are.."
*Turns to Natala.*
"I am sorry if I had doubted you, my friend.. this has lifted my spirits considerably.."
.oO(She's completely forgotten what Natala warned us about, as soon as she heard the answer she wanted to hear...)
"Aria... Just don't try to do it all yourself. We both know you have that habit, and this isn't the time to fall back into it. Okay?"
"I have already spoken with Lord Malfyaer, and whatever deal we can make to raise the gold needed is and should be my obligation alone to repay. I am doing this of my own free will and am fully aware that I will be honor-bound to do whatever the Lord feels will pay off this debt."
*Manages a crooked smile.*
"I have been accused quite a few times of risking putting others in bad situations with my hasty decisions.. for once, let it be known that I am making sure that others do not have to suffer the consequences of my actions.."
Gamis shakes his head and replies, just as patiently, "Are you her only family?
"Miri can enchant weapons or make scrolls--Malifaeyr's a wizard; he'd find them useful, I'm sure--to help out. It gives her a headache and takes her some time, but there's no risk beyond that to her. Malifaeyr might accept the weapons directly, instead of us having to sell them and lose some coin in the trade.
"You owe Malifaeyr a very large debt of service. He'll have difficult tasks for you to do, and no one wants to see you getting hurt or killed because you bit off more than you can chew.
"Please. Just accept some help from your friends. I'm not saying you'll need us for everything Malifaeyr wants you to do, but this is not only your burden.
"Any risk, we take on knowingly by helping you out."
"You shouldn't have to, though, if I can gain the gold needed alone. This is my way of trying to be responsible by not having others shoulder this heavy burden..."
*Turns to gaze sadly at her sister's body, then sighs.*
"But.. if we do have some extra time given to us by the extension of the preserving spell, than I will wait a short while before returning to talk with Lord Malyfaer.."
"We're not asking to carry it for you. We're asking to share it, and ease the strain.
"You have responsibilities at the Guild, too. How can you fulfill them if you're busy paying Malifaeyr back for a year or so? With help, the debt can be paid faster, and we'll get you back sooner."
*She stays quiet on that point.*
"Then let us see what can be done between those of us gathered.. each day that passes without Alissa being returned to us only increases my anxiety.."
"We can start."
"I'll helps too. She's my wifes after all."
"You shouldn'ts try to do it all yourself Aria."
"Yes, yes.. so I've been told. It's just that I do not want to see you go into debt when you have my sister to support.."
:"Ifen youse in debt ause of bringing ber back to life then Alissa will see it as her debt. An ifen its her debt then its my debt, too."
"An ifen I'm gunna be in debt I'd just as well prefer to help get it."
"Fine.. "
*Rubs her face with her hands.*
"The first thing we need to know is how much time we have..*
*Turns to Natala.*
"Do you know how long this spell preserving my sister will last?"
"As long as we have time to raise the gold, that is all that matters."
*Turns to the rest.*
"I only have about 100 in gold saved up.. I fear the only way I can make a contribution is to sell some of my more valuable gear. I think I should go speak with Lord Malyfaer first, though.. perhaps I can get a better idea of what might be asked of me should our combined efforts fail..."
"I remembered we found this when you beated up Sandrose. I was going to gives it to Alissa becuase it's pretty."
"Maybe you coulds sell it?"
"I coulds sell my stuff too. I bet I coulds get a lot for my boots an my sword."
"I coulds rent out Minto too."
"I'm sure a lot of peoples woulds likes a minstrel for a few days."
"I'll ask him if he minds."
*they walk inside, looking around for any of the clerics*
He twists his bracer on his wrist slowly, his lips pursed.
"I can provide... 800 in gold and platinum. The shield I got at the tournament isn't as good as the one I already have, and being made of mithral, it's valuable."
"M-may I h-h-help y-you?"
Greetings. We were wondering if Mr. Woodhome and Miss Amberhawk have decided what to be done with Alissa Woodhome. And how much of the money has be gathered to that end, if you could please tell us.
The cleric gestures towards a corridor.
"W-would you l-like t-to j-join them th-there?"
I...It may be best to do that.
*smiles nervously*
Thank you.
*heads back in the direction of the Resting Room, stopping at the doorway to see the reaction before actually venturing closer*
*gently rests her chin on his shoulder, peering over, but ready to leave if she's asked*
Hermy hurridily wipes away any tears in case it's any one important.*
*He glances up and sees that it is just NaShae and Kywyn.*
*He gives them a small wave. He scoots over towadrs them and whispers.*
"Hey, we just talkded ta Alissa. She wants ta comes back to live with me.... Rightys now wese tryin ta figure out hows wese payin fer it."
"Areas gunna sell her stuff ta some guys fer money, an I will too ifen anyone wants my stuff. It's kinda small. Most people want know hows ta use it."
"Gamis is gunna sell sme stuff too."
"Sose Armadillo. He's gunna sell whistles or sumethin like that in the market."
Kywyn and I have donated some money already. The church has it now.
*frowns*
You can't sell your things. You need the armor and weapons, don't you?? To do your jobs?? Isn't there anyother way??
"She's the only her I'll get but I can always g.. go.. adventuring... for,,, more... stuff?"
*He stops and scratches his head before looking back at the other Silver Sword Adventurers.*
"Maybe we could go do some quick adventuring or somethin like that ta get more gold... Not heroing... but you know just adbenturing. It pays a little better."
That might be a better solution, if there was a bit more time. I don't know of any place close enough to get back tomorrow.
But you can't do your job if you don't have weapons.
*frowns*
Can she still be brought back if the spell is extended??
She seems afraid of me... good. I hope she experiences a tenth of the fear Alissa had felt befor dying.
*When she hears NaShae mention the gold they had contributed, it is all she can do to keep from snarling a curse.*
Just like the man who had Derry killed.. thinking that gold can release them from their guilty actions...
"A blade is a blade. I can always find another. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall go ask for an audience with Lord Malyfaer.."
*Brushes past NaShae and Kywyn as she heads towards the temple exit.*
To Palace
He starts to follow her, but holds himself back and sighs.
"Pay her no mind, NaShae," he advises.
*she bites her lip, and works hard to stay where she is, instead of hiding behind Kywyn more*
*once she's gone, she takes a moment to compose herself*
*looking up at Gamis, she frowns*
She blames me personally. We were friends. How can I not pay attention??
"Or sells her swords."
"She'll forgives ya just as soon as Alissa tells her that it aint yer fault."
*brow furrows as she tries to hold back tears*
*nods when he mentions that he doesn't agree that it's her fault, but still takes hard the mention of it from him*
He pats NaShae's hand, "Maybe anger is all she has left right now."
"It shouldn't be about blame now when there is a window of opportunity to help," Kywyn looks to Hermy, "You actually spoke to Alissa's spectre?"
"We did!"
"She said she wasn't as scared this time as she was when Kirby got her, and that she knows I loves her an..."
"She wants to lives with me instead of the Mother!"
"But I think she wouldn't leave you if she had the choice, no matter what a spell tells you," he says to Hermy.
"NaShae and I have gathered five-hundred and fifty in extra gold so far. We were planning on selling some potions if we can as well."
"Her spirit is makin pies with the Mother right now."
"But Aliissa had a good body. It woulds never lie to me."
"Sose ifen it says she wants ta be back, I'm gunna believes her."
Didn't they use a spell that could before they brought Natala back??
"Dids they?"
"They used a spell to inquire of the Mother if it were her will that I be brought back."
"I knows what her body wants. It wants me."
"But I woulds likes to be sure about her spirit."
Natala smiles ruefully. "You could ask one of the priests here..."
*stands close, trying to get calm again*
*looks between Natala and Hermy to see what they decide*
"Afterall he wouldn't have married us ifen he didn't want ta help us be together!"
*Runs out of the room yelling as he goes.*
"Come on! I know where he lives!"
*crosses her arms around herself and slowly heads off to follow after Hermy, holding back to see if Kywyn is going to come too*
*she looks at the building then begins to head up to the door and inside*
"Hey, sorry to bother you mores after everythings youse done and stuff, but I just learned youse cin talks ta the Mother."
"Do you think you coulds asks her about Alissa."
"We could only talk to her body with Natala's spell."
""It wants me back, but I wants to know ifen her spirit wants ta comes back to me."
"You mights want to tell her I won'ts be offended if she says no."
"I only wants whats best fer her, an if she would rather bake pies then be with me I understands."
"Bake... pies?"
He blinks.
"Ah, I believe I know which rite you are requesting, and I am sorry to tell you it is quite costly.
If you are considering restoring your wife to life, that spell requires diamonds totaling some 5000 gold worth. The spell you are asking for, to ask questions of the Mother, costs almost a thousand gold.
Perhaps you would rather pray for guidance, instead?"
Hermy, we don't have time. This spell lasts only until tomorrow. If you want to bring her back, we have to collect the money now.
*Hermy frowns. And wipes the corner of his eye.*
"I guess I'll pray an stuff."
"We can'ts even barely comes up with a way to pay ta brings her back."
"What happens ifen we brings her back but she don't want to be back?"
"Does that ever happen?"
.oO(I hope I find the answers I seek)
*she walks over to the open altar and lights a candle and begins to pray, speaking in soft elven*
"Is there a way we cin get more time?"
"Darkar said there was a few dragons around. I coulds go kill them to get the money, but I think it might take more then a day."
"Theres two of them."
*He wipes his nose on his sleeve.*
"No, if the soul is unwilling, it will not return. I have heard of unscrupulous clerics tricking a soul into returning, but we do not act in that way here.
If she refused to return, though, you would still have lost the diamonds."
Kywyn's stone lips finally move, "Hermy... If I were in your place, I know I'd do anything to find out, to try."
He holds NaShae's hand behind his back, pushing out the unfathomable prospect, but looks down to the halfling.
"What do you want to do? If we can't raise the money through normal means, do you have any ideas to take a chance at?... Besides dragon hunting?"
"Between what I can give, and what NaShae and Kywyn have already provided, we have enough for this rite to be performed, or to have a good start on the coin for the raising."
He looks to Hermy as well. "Aria might cry foul and look at it as just another delay, but I think it's a good idea to know for sure. I didn't say so back there... But I wasn't satisfied with the last answer.
"That's just my thoughts. You know I don't like acting hastily... It's not my decision."
He shrinks away to the opposite wall.
"If Hermy wants to attempt this, shouldn't the money go toward the actual rite? Malifaeyr has much on his mind lately... we better make sure that is a reliable support."
*frowns, then sighs*
You should talk to her, Hermy. We'll see about collecting the money for the rite. But we'll need the preservation spell lengthened, first. You say Aria is getting help from Lord Malifaeyr?
*frowns again*
I'm not sure I understand. Why would he help Alissa?? No offense, Hermy. But he has not connection to her. No personal reason to want her alive.
*shakes her head*
It doesn't make sense that he would help.
She pauses, and when she speaks again, her voice is troubled.
"I don't like placing this much faith in the answers we received from this spell. Hermy, you don't seem to understand just what it means... What she said was not that she wants to return to life, but that if she's alive, she wants to be with you."
She rubs tiredly at her eyes.
"I tried to warn against such a question, and this is why. A negative answer might have meant something, but a positive one is indeterminate, at best.
"I can help you in preserving her body longer, but... I'll want to pray for guidance, for myself and for all of us -- especially you and Aria. And if I learn anything as I pray... Well, will you promise me you'll listen to that, and try to remember it in what you choose to do next?"
That explanation makes sense to me.
*raises an eyebrow*
Do you think Aria would listen, even if Alissa refused to come back, much less if you didn't think it was right to try?? She's blaming me because I treated her sister as the married adult she is. I let Alissa make a choice, one she has every right to make, but Aria won't listen.
*sighs*
I may have been wrong, but it wasn't my choice.
"Should the rite be performed and Alissa refuse to return, Aria will have no further recourse -- even should she procure the diamonds once again, and find a priest willing to try, the result would be the same.
"As for her treatment of you..."
She sighs.
"Try not to take it too much to heart. As she works through her grief, she will work through her anger, as well."
I am trying not to let her upset me too much, but she is my friend. And she is stubborn. But I've done what I could to get Alissa here as...together as I could. And I'm willing to help more, but she won't listen to that either.
*shakes her head*
As I just said, Natala. She is stubborn. Will she have time to work through her grief between now and the casting of the spell?? If she treats her friends as such, how do you think she'll treat any of the clerics if they refuse to perform the spell again, in the event Alissa does refuse??
"I believe that's something we'll have to deal with if it happens."
"You have to be just as stubborn about keeping the olive branch in hand."
I never said that I wouldn't help. And no matter her opinion toward me and whether that hurts me or not, I'm going to help. However, her grief has made...her not herself. And I fear that if something goes any way she doesn't want, she will resort to violence.
*shakes her head*
It's been quite some time since I've seen her skill with swords. I don't doubt that it's gotten better and know I don't want to be on the other end of them.
Originally posted by Natala
"I can help you in preserving her body longer, but... I'll want to pray for guidance, for myself and for all of us -- especially you and Aria. And if I learn anything as I pray... Well, will you promise me you'll listen to that, and try to remember it in what you choose to do next?"
"Of course I'll listens to you. I wants what's bestest fer Alissa, an Ise been tryin to find out what that is."
"Ise talkded to someone else I knows whose dead an I listened to his advise kida, sose of course I'll listen ta yours. An Durins too ifen I knew where he was."
"But yer advise woulds be bestest. Ise glad Alissa wants ta live with me, but Ifen she'd be happier not livin with me then I'm just as glad."
"As long as shes happy sose I."
"So of course I'll listens."
*And listen he does.*
*Hermy remains quiet, while the others talk about Aria.*
He watches Hermy nearby for a time.
Almost whispering to himself at first, Kywyn directs a strangely remembered verse toward Hermy quietly, "'Like Day from Night, I'll live my life apart from you, just glimpsing you across the sky, because you cannot change, my dear, and nor can I'..."
His voice drifting below the conversation, Kywyn looks down. He is not sure he is being heard but at the same time he does not feel it is crucial as he continues softly.
"Perception is more pleasing than the 'truth' people seek. You want her back. If there's a chance, you'd try anything to close the gap, if you thought it was the right thing to do."
"I... I saw you two dance at your wedding... The light and the shape. How can that not be right? I don't believe it's my place to tell you anything, but I just think you have to listen to yourself for this, you know?"
Kywyn quiets down once more, not needing a response. His cloaked frame seems to wilt, like a sail that has released the wind it happened to catch.
"I saw as dance at the wedding too. And it was right."
"Except fer them times I accidently steppded on Alissas toes."
"But she didn't even complain at all. She didn't wants to makes me feel bads about my dancing."
"Just likes I don'ts wants to make her feel bads about her being dead."
"I knows what I wants. But I don't knows ifen it's rights. Thats what I wants to know."
"I thinks Ise needs to go somewheres and thinks."
*He glances towards Natala.*
"When youse doin yer pran an stuff woulds you minds askin the Mother fer the money ta brings Alissa backs ifen that's what wese gunna do."
"I'd asks her myself, but I think she's listen more to you. Ima gunna listen to you. An I aint near as smart as she is."
*Hermy begins walking out of the room and then stops and looks back.*
"An ifen it aint askin to much woulds you minds doin that thing that keeps Alissa from gettin more dead that you talksded about."
"I aint sure this is the kinda thinkin that ya cin do in just one night."
*Hermy starts leaving again and once again stops.*
"Oh yeah. Thanks everyones fer helpin. It's a lot easier to deceide ifen you shoulds brings yer wifes back from the dead when yer friends is supportins you."
*Finally he makes his way out of the room and then out of the temple.*
*He quickily sets off for a place to think.*
"I'll be heading home... South of the market, if you need to find me. 16 Wildrose."
He pushes away from the wall and inclines his head to all present and leaves the Temple, moving more slowly to raise less noise.
*she moves to him, stepping closer and squeezing his hand lightly*
.oO(That was beautiful, beloved.)
*seeing the others leave, she wraps both arms around him and whispers*
We should get back home.
*she leaves their address with Natala, then walks out with Kywyn*
[to Elsewhere]
To Elsewhere
She returns the next day to cast the spell to preserve Alissa's body longer.
Excuse me, where can I go to donate money for Alissa Woodholme?
"That would be Father Camrun. He has a particular interest in the Woodhome family..."
The acolyte directs Darkar in the appropriate direction.
Father Camrun?
It is a shame that we only meet under sad occasions. I can not imagine how tough it must be for you.
"Has something happened? If I can offer the Mother's consolation to those that seek me, I am well content."
Sits a moment looking on how to proceed
I have learned from a mutual friend Natala about this news. I know I am going to see them eventually, but I can imagine that they are tired of receiving smypathy. Do you have any advice on how to talk with them?
They are currently trying to decide whether or not to attempt to have her brought back."
Father Camrun watches Darkar's reaction, while frowning slightly in thought.
You do not have to worry about my reaction, Father Camrun. Although elves dislike people being brought back, I only have one opinion on the matter. I am here for as long as I can be, but when I am gone there will be no return for me.
Elves live a long time and have the opprotunity to experience many things, but for humans they are here for only a short while that is why I believe that they have such intense feelings. Humans know their time is short and they struggle with that.
Alissa's time was shorter than most, but if enough people love her enough to raise the 5000gp worth of diamonds to try and bring her back so she may have a few extra years who am I to turn a haughty stare at them and disagree solely on principal.
His hand goes to rest on his coin pouch
In fact I am here to help if you can believe that.
"Certainly I can believe it. The Woodhome family inspires strong feelings in both friends and enemies. You will not be the first to contribute, but with a need of 5000 gold worth of diamonds, it may prove to be... a difficult endeavour for young Hermy."
Dumps out the pouches contents and counts it out for Father Camrun. When he is done the totals come to:
- 8pp
- 102gp
- 10sp
- 200cp
I hope that this is enough for a modest start.
"My faith in the power of friendship is endlessly renewed by such gestures. I am sure Mrs. Woodhome's family will also be moved by this show of support."
[OoC: Running tally -- 550gp from NaShae and Kywyn, 185gp from Darkar, total 735gp, 4265 needed.]
If you see Hermy anytime soon would you please tell him that I am interested in helping him further if he has any ideas? Finding him can be quite difficult.
Father Camrun walks Darkar to the door, bidding him a good day.
*she walks into the temple and walks up to the clerk*
Well, hi there! Like, can I help you?
She smiles vapidly, twirling a lock of hair around her finger.
I think so..I need to talk to head cleric involved in the raising of Alissa Amberhawk?
Amberhawk... Amberhawk... I'm sorry, miss, there are no Amberhawks in the Room of Resting.
.oO(Hmmm..well she did marry Hermy..maybe she took his last name)
Umm..I'm quite sorry..Is there an Alissa Woodhome possibly?
Oh yes! Alissa Woodhome! Totally icky, all her guts yanked out and chewed on...
Clarice stops and blushes, clearing her throat.
Ah, what I meant to say is, you need to speak with Father Camrun. Second corridor on the left, third office.
.oO(Quite an odd character that one is....)
*she shakes her head and walks to Father Camrun's office, knocking lightly on the door*
"Enter, please."
Inside, the office is heavy with remnants of incense. Father Camrun turns from opening his window.
"Yes? How may I be of assistance?"
*she looks at Father Camrun and smiles*
Yes..I believe you can. I heard about the death of the young girl Alissa Woodhome and that they are trying to collect to raise money's for a ressurection.
May I have a seat?
*when he nods she sits*
I had only met Alissa a couple of times, and when I heard of her death it broke my heart. A cleric by the name of Natala told me of the circumstances and what was trying to be done to raise the child.
*she removes the velvet pouch from her cloak*
And I would like to make my contribution to help with the raising.
*she hands him the bag with the diamonds*
"You are sure?"
At her insistence, he accepts the diamonds and examines them.
"Very nice, yes. These will do... and your name is?"
He draws his ledger over to record the donation.
Anaya..Anaya Starnodel.
He blots the ink, then casually flips to a different page, glances again at Anaya, thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Miss Starnodel. I'll be sure to let the young lady's kin know of your donation."
Thankyou Father Camrun.
*she stands and bows her head before leaving the room*
.oO(How odd...I've never met the man before and yet he seems to know me...)
*she walks past the clerk, giving her a polite smile then turns her head towards the door shaking her head*
.oO(That is one odd child...)
To Elsewhere
*seeing Clarice at the desk again, she nods in greeting*
Excuse me, is anyone with Alissa Woodhome right now?? I'm specifically looking for Gamis, a paladin. He's about...
*holds her hand about a half a foot above Kywyn's head*
...this tall. With brown hair and ....umm, his eyes are...
*thinks for a moment, brow furrowing*
...oh! Blue. But with grey too, I think.
*waves her hand*
He tends to wear a lot of armor. Clanks when he walks. Have you seen him??
*being informed that there's nobody in with Alissa now, she turns to Kywyn*
Should we wait for him??
Facing NaShae, he says, "Hmm.. He didn't mention a specific time. We could wait here or nearby unless you think we can find out more from going to Nobody's or trying one of the temple library ourselves?"
Was the book here or at the Church of Thalos?
*shrugs*
We could look here, if we're allowed. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to try. We may be able to find something new.
*turns to Clarice*
Could we look at some of the books in the library??
That should help us. It was about a kingdom to the west. A dwarven kingdom, I believe.
The priestess reflects for a moment before answering, "Like, I'm not sure. Let me check..."
Kywyn observes Clarice walk off down one of the halls before changing direction and disappearing into one of the open doors.
He places his hand on NaShae's on the table.
"She might be a while," he voices quietly.
She returns, shaking her head.
"Like, I'm sorry, but Librarian says there aren't any books by Bakarr.
But hey, that tall brown haired dude? I think I saw him in there."
In the library??
*points in the direction that she went earlier*
May we go see??
Twirling her hair, Clarice leads them back to the library and escorts them to Gamis.
"Good morning... I wasn't expecting to see you two until closer to noon. I might've had something for you from this library by then.
"Have a seat somewhere..."
When they do, he pulls one piece of his notes out of the bag and glances it over.
"Like I mentioned in the note, the only lead regarding mummies I've gotten so far was to the Western Desert. A tomb was found there that had a mummy in it--just a dried corpse; not the undead sort--and far as the author was concerned, enough reliefs carved on the wall to develop a speculative look at the culture the "Butte Dwarf" came from." He looks up from the notes here for a moment. "So he thinks that pretty much the whole kingdom practiced mummification. The tomb seemed to have already been robbed when he got there, so maybe it once had a good deal of coin.
"The bad news is that it was the only one that was found, the kingdom's long gone, and the best estimate I have as to how far away the place is is a week's journey. But I'm trying to clarify that today by looking up the Western Desert here."
*looking over the books, she picks up the one he just set down and examines the cover*
*puts it back on the same stack*
These are the ones that you've looked through?? Do you have a stack that you haven't yet? We can help looking.
Oh gosh, like, if you want to read, you'll have to pay the fee, too.
Of course. It's 5 gold, correct??
*takes out the coins for her and Kywyn and hands them to her*
Okay! Like, enjoy!
She turns and goes to the Librarian, assuring him that NaShae & Kywyn have paid the fee.
"I seem to do better in libraries when I'm looking for theological history or prayers or proverbs... Thanks."
He gets the texts that have been unhelpful out of the way and sets to work, scanning page after page.
For his part, the best he can come up with is a crude traveler's narrative and some rough maps, which he sets to.
Thank you for your help, Gamis. I'm glad one of us has some luck in libraries. I don't have much luck in libraries.
*takes one of the books from the stack and starts searching*
"But we'll come up with something," he adds as he dismisses the entire chapter he's looking at and flips ahead.
Libraries are out of my element. I never felt totally comfortable in them.
*looks back down at the book in front of her*
"We did some searching and came to some of the same information you did," Kywyn speaks to Gamis without looking up fromt he text, "And we found reference to the name of a cleric of Thalos named Bakarr... He supposedly found a mummy in the western wasteland, but his records are with the church. Apparently not this temple, so possibly the church of Thalos?"
Keeping his leg in contact with NaShae's under the table, Kywyn keeps skimming through the materials.
"That's the book I was looking at yesterday." He tilts his head to indicate the bag containing his notes. "Bakarr jumped to far too many conclusions, in my opinion, but he's the best we have so far. Maybe there's something to support him in here, or at least compliment what we know about the Western Desert so far.
"I hadn't thought about looking for his raw notes. Then again, looking at those might be comparable to what Miri's working with now, and I doubt we have the time for that."
"That's good, then," Kywyn replies.
"Have you seen Hermy or Aria?"
"No, not yet... Should hope to hear from them soon and let them know what we're doing to help with Alissa."
The day comes to a close, and Gamis puts aside his last, most-helpful book so far, and reviews the additions to his notes. He looks up at the other two.
"Any objection to continuing here tomorrow morning?"
"Good idea."
He pulls his armored gloves back on and stacks the tomes he found helpful aside. The notes made through the afternoon are stacked and put away.
"We'll have to see what we can make of all this. Hopefully we'll also have a better idea of what's going to happen after the research as well," Kywyn concludes with a touch of trepidation.
He stands with NaShae as they gather their things.
He puts his own clutter into order. "See you tomorrow, then," he says, and takes his leave of the Temple.
We'll be here then.
*heads out of the Temple with Kywyn*
"Library's just this way. Did you two want to help with the reading? They ask a five-gold donation for use of the library."
*quiet and clutching at Kywyn, she has dark circles under her eyes and looks tired from her night of restlessness*
*paying the clerk for the use of the library, she sees Gamis, Hermy, and Minto*
*once they've paid, she walks over to them, letting her hair drop in front of her face to hide the evidence of her bad night*
"Morning... Hermy and Minto are interested in helping us." He nods to the pair of halflings. "They also have a lead closer to the city if we were just looking for coin to help with Alissa. Maybe we can pursue that one after we find a mummy."
"That's good to know," he responds to Gamis, "There's no guarantee a single location will hold enough coin for us."
"There's little indication of what types of dangers we might find, I'm guessing?"
I had hoped we could find both at the same time. I don't want to make Hermy wait to bring back Alissa.
*looks to Kywyn*
I'm still hoping that we can find the coin and the mummy in the same place.
"Yeah, what he said."
"Right, undead horror. What do have to counter that in case that's what's waiting?" he asks as if thinking to himself.
I've never fought any undead things, well, one. But I've heard of the shadows that were in town from Kywyn. Would mummies or other undead be like that? Do they all dislike fire??
"I don't know if we'll want to burn this one, NaShae, if we want to have part of it for your mother's cure."
He remembers the tinge of something he felt when he first met the paladin.
"I'm afraid the energies I draw upon are more effective against the living than the undead," Kywyn surmises.
As are mine. At least I think they are...
*shakes her head*
I'm not exactly sure if some of them will work on undead.
"It would be goods to have a clerk with us, but I'd say not Natala."
"She has a yucky tendancy to get spearded through or killded when she meets them."
"That's true, Hermy, she does... But she's one of the most capable clerics we know. And she doesn't have any compunction against dealing harshly with the undead.
"There's Amarandios, but I don't know how well he can handle positive energy yet."
"Protections against the touches of any shadow creatures would be wise as well, though I'm not sure how such things could be achieved," Kywyn barely glances down at his own hands.
"Distance would be a good thing if we have the choice."
"But Gamis, we can'ts affords to risks Natala. Ifen she dies then who will keeo Alissa from getting all ugly and deader an stuff?"
To Minto: "The only one we have a lead on was the one that had been robbed... I'll look in my notes about curses or anything, though."
"What race was the mummy you read about? If there are any other mummys i the area they will most likely be the same kind. And knowig that will give us a hint about what type of curses and traps to expect."
"It was a dwarf, Minto. Bakarr thought that the whole nation this dwarf came from mummified their dead."
"A dwarf...." *Minto points at the books.*
[color=blue]"You know books are not the best way to find things out."
"If you really want to know about ancient history, songs are the best way to do that. Books fade and turn to dust, buty a good song last forever."
"And I happen to know the best dwarven bard to ever grace this world."
"She might know a song or two about an ancient dwarven kingdom."[/color]
"He's talking about Brodda. I already asked her ta help us an she wants too."
Noticing the two elves entering the Temple, he raises a hand and waves.
.oO(Hmm...I don't see him..though he might be here..I'll go ask the clerk)
*she rolls her eyes as she thinks of the clerkk and walks towards the desk and sees Darkar and the elf from the SSAG*
.oO(Hmmm...)
*she walks up to the clerk and asks her whereshe could find Gamis and she tells her that he is in the library and tells her where it is located*
*she says thanx and walks to the library*
Hello Gamis, Hermy, Minto, Kywyn and NaShae.
.oO(Lot of people looking for me all at once...)
*she takes a deep breath when she sees Shae and Kywyn*
.oO(I hope she has calmed down a bit...)
*she begins to head towards the group*
Nods to Hermy
I am sorry for your loss, but I am here to let you know that I am willing to help you raise the money.
"Hello Gamis, Hermy, Minto."
*He looks to the female elf and male human at the table and the approaching female elf.*
"I'm Thosar Lueque. The two of you look familiar but I don't think I've met you."
*He extends a hand.*
"Chariots? That should make it easier. TChariots tend to be exciting and exciting songs tend to be remembered for a long time. I know a few songs about chariot racing, though they aren't ancient ones. In fact ones fairly recent. And since it involves Hermy I'm sure it won't be much help this time."
"Let's all sit down, shall we?"
"Wese planning an adventure to gets money to raise Alissa, or at least to asks her if she wants to be raised."
"And to save NaShaes mom."
"And we've got two adventures that we coulds do."
"Maybe we coulds do both ifen we gots enough people."
Hello Thosar. I saw you earlier at the SSAG. I'm Anaya.
*she looks at Gamis*
Hello Gamis. I've been meaning to talk to you...
"I don't believe we've met, unless we've both forgotten."
"Excuse me, but, like, what's wrong with you? You don't seem right."
She squints at Thosar.
"You don't seem right either. Very mysterious. Like, I need to ask you both a few questions. Come this way. Like, it won't take more than half an hour or, like, hurt, you know?"
The priestess waits for the pair.
"I am also sorry for your lost Hermy. Here's hoping to a quick recovery of her to this world."
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
*Thosar stands and waits for Anaya, then follows the young woman.*
He blinks at Clarice's appearance, then looks between Anaya, Thosar, and the cleric, confused.
.oO(Please not hunting down dragons
)Ok...
*she looks at Thosar*
.oO(Something not right? I wonder what she means....)
*she turns to Gamis*
I'll be right back.
*she follows the girl and Thosar*
.o0(What's she doing her? This is the Mothers Temple!)
*Minto looks at the gathering crowd.*
"Wow, word of adventure spreads quick... "
"Well Alissa was the greatest girl ever."
*nods in greeting to the elf*
I'm NaShae and this is Kywyn. Pleasure to meet you.
*she studiously ignores Anaya, paying attention to the conversation but making sure she doesn't acknowledge the former elf*
*once they leave, seems to relax*
How many did you want to take, Gamis? If it'll slow us down to take a lot.
Kywyn.. yes, and she is NaShae. I remember. I remember the the great man of the North. Arnor. I remember you NaShae. I remember you.
*Thosar keeps his face calm as he nods back to NaShae and Kywyn.*
"You went with the guild when we dids that, sose maybe you coulds leads a group there."
"I'm afraid you won't be able to get enough halflings though. Unless you wanted to take some of my boys."
"And I'm not sure ifen you cin finds a dwarf. I already gotted Brodda, but theres always Airmail or that dwarf guard."
"I aint sure about yer wizard though. Since Kywyn will be going with NaShae we've got ours. Maybe you coulds take Mary Ale?"
Would Miri be able to go with us Gamis? Aric, Thosar, and Aria would be good choices to go with us as well.
The paladin purses his lips when Miri comes up. "She's extremely busy looking over the notes to find the next step of the cure, among other things... I can talk to her, but I don't know if she'll be able to. You might ask Tynk."
"Having yer only bro... sister die cin do that too you."
"Like, something about you two suggests that you're both, like, not entirely here. I don't know if you're... y'know... searching for something, but it just wasn't right to leave you like this."
She opens the door to a fog-filled room.
"This is the labyrinth. It's, like a place of mysteries, and a place for mysteries. And you two are both mysteries if I ever saw them, but it looks like you don't, like, really realize that yet.
"Go on, get in there. I think our Mother might have something to say to both of you about this."
.oO(Could he be like me? )
*she walks into the room and waits for him to enter as well*
A labyrinth? Why would... our Mother might have something to say? My faith be in thee, Ordemetrex.
*Thosar takes a tentative step into the room, glancing at Anaya as he does so.*
I know of a cleric, but she will probably be coming with me to the fortress. If you could get Natala to help that might work for both groups.
"Not a simple matter... organizing things," he communicates to her.
"Well, Natala mights be needed here more... It sounds likes wese gunna be takin most of the 'sperianced heroes with us."
"And Alissa dieded because there weren't no expieranced peoples to help NaShae last time all the heroes left town."
"I think she should stay here in case anyone else needs someones to saves there sons."
.o0(An there aint as likely to be undeads roamim around the city as there is where wese all going.)
.oO(No, it isn't. This is a lot of people. We don't even know where we are all going..)
*she watches the conversation*
Where are we going?? And who is going?? I'm getting confused with all the planning talk.
*nods to Gamis when he speaks*
"Wese going to find a mummy and lotssa gold."
"Darkars going to finds other undead guys an lots of gold."
Turns to NaShae
I have heard that going to the tomb was to help your mother? Is something wrong?
She was researching a spell and something went wrong. She has become weak because of it. And Miri says... she may turn... she may become something else if it progresses.
It is.
.oO(I hope we have enought time to find the answers tho...)
*squeezes Kywyn's hand*
"How near is the fortress? Marching distance?"
If we are to get through this..it would be best to stick together..
*she begins to walk down the passageway*
So tell me about yourself Thosar...Why do you think she had us come here?
He listens to the planning and nods.
"I aint sure theres gunna be a lot of inns out in the desert where we cin buy more sammiches."
"An water. I get thirsty wen there aint much water around."
*whispers*
You're right, thank you.
*raises his hand to her lips, brushing them across the back of his fingers*
*turns back to the conversation*
We do have enough horses?? That would be good. I'm not sure I could afford to rent them again. Or that I would even be able to.
But Anaya does not know where the other elf is at all. Why is this dwarf here with her, in this place?
"The Mother knows all."
*He glances around the fog-filled room.*
"I am only newly returned to the city from a long journey."
"Many changes in my life, even before I left, were a mystery to me. I am hoping this room, or the reason we are in it, will have answers to those mysteries."
*Thosar looks back to Anaya.*
What the?? She didn't look like that a while ago? Who is she?
"You like different. Aren't you an elf?"
.oO(Thosar? If this fog is like a seeing glass..showing ones true identity....then Thosar was a dwarf? )
Umm..Thosar..what do I look like to you? I mean in this fog...to me you are a dwarf..but before you were an elf...
Should we get back to looking in the books again??
"I couldstart making sammiches."
"I was a dwarf before. Before I was returned to this world by a follower of nature. I had been slain by a dragon."
"You, look different then before also. You seem firmer in some ways. Some features are distorted though."
You may also want to check at the Last Lich. There was an elf staying there who is a bard. Thindae. You may also want to ask him if he knows anything.
You were slain by a dragon? Oh how horrible.
*she feels faint and leans against the wall*
I...I had died also. I was attacked by a wild cougar while I was outside the city...
"That seemed to work out well last time."
"An elven bard might be a good idea. With as long as your people live the songs about this place might only be a generation or two old."
"I am sorry."
"You returned again as an elf? At least that was a blessing hidden under the loss."
I didn't return as an elf...I am just able to change my form into a replica of my former self. Some things are different but I still look mostly the same..
*she continues walking*
"But are these faces..."
"...or forms..."
"...or your true selves?"
"What was your new form, if you don't mind me asking?"
*Thosar stops and glances around.*
"Did you hear that?"
I was reincarnated into the form of a wolf. In order to have been able to change my form..I had to accept that I am what I am...a wolf.
*She smiles*
My father always told me that I had a wild spirit like the wolf..
*she raises the sleeve of her cloak and shows him the tattoo on her arm*
That is what this signifies. I guess you can say that I became what I truly am.
*she hears the voices and asks herself the same question*
What do you think? Are these just faces, or forms, or our true selves?
What you see and what I see is what we used to be, but out there is what we are now. I have accepted what I am. My spirit is the wolf, but I still seek the body of an elf...
What about you?
"I went looking fer all you guys earlier, but NaShae and Kywyn wasn't never home and Gamis... you don't live where you is suppose to."
"I don't thinks we wants to waste time running around th city looking fer each ther again."
Theres better ways to waste our time then that."
*Thosar looks around at the whispering fog.*
"I don't know. If I were to listen to my father, I would think that whatever I was it would not matter as long as it was not a dwarf."
*Thosar looks back to the direction they were going.*
"But I did not agree with my father on many things."
*He begins to walk again.*
"How about we meet at the Guild tomorrow, then, at around noon, and see what's developed?"
That sounds fine with me.
*frowns and seems to shrink into her chair*
Unless Aria is at the guild. She said I wasn't welcome. I'm not sure if she'll hold me to that.
You and your father aren't close?
I never really knew my real father...he left shortly after my mother died giving birth to me...the only father I ever knew was also my mentor. He is a druid to the west. He taught me everything I know and even though he isn't my biological father I still call him that.
*the question of the voices still echoe through her mind*
What do you think is the answer to the question the voices asked?
*Hermy rubs his arm.*
"Yeah that sounds like a good idea to me. Noon tomorrow at the guild."
"We'll make sure to brings Brodda with us."
"Someone else should be in charge of refreshments."
"I don't want no one to think that they aint contributing."
"I wonder if it is a question that is answered by oneself. I'm not sure there is a 'correct' answer. Perhaps even the question itself is only meant to make one think."
"Though I'm still curious as to where it came from."
*Thosar glances around as if to see a form emerge from the fog. Not seeing one, he continues walking.*
There may not be a right answer or even a wrong answer for that matter.
If you look at it...the bodies we inhabit are merely forms, for our true selves lay with the mother.
*she continues walking*
.oO(I need to speak with... Anaya... when she gets back...)
"-if they are not the same thing?"
There are still no figures in the fog. The pair do come across a table, on which sits an empty scale, however. The balances tilt back and forth for no reason one can see.
Stands up and paces a moment thinking
Supplies probably need rations for 3 or 4 days.
Suddenly realizes that he is pacing in a library talking to himself. Heh I should pay more attention sometimes:embarrass
"I agree that any form we take in this life is merely a face. A face on something that we don't yet understand. Perhaps we can't understand."
"That is one of the things that I want to study though."
"When I was younger my mother would always read stories to me about our ancestors. Stories of building cities underground and of working with the stone and earth..."
The earth and stone... it has been so long since I worked with them. I must find Burleg once I leave here. If I can leave here?
"You are a follower of nature then? You have hinted so far, but had not said so directly."
*Thosar stops walking at the table and watches the scales in fascination. He glances around at the disembodied voice. He indicates the scale. He speaks quietly.*
"That is the symbol of The Mother."
*He repeats the words.*
"Can two things be true?"
It's not so much of being a follower of nature as it is of being of nature itself. A druid is of nature. They protect it, learn from it, and live as one with it. The wild is my home.
*She looks at the scales and asks herself the same question*
Could it mean that we are the same..or that can two things exist in one body? Wolf and elf..elf and dwarf.
*she thinks*
Maybe you were an elf all along...just in the body of a dwarf..as I was a wolf in the body of an elf.
But can they exist in one?
"Balance is the key. Two things, or many, can be in one as long as there is balance."
Everything needs balance in order to exist..otherwise there would be chaos.
What gives you balance?
*Thosar continues examining the balance, though now as a way to think through what is on his mind.*
"Balance in not shunning the past for the errors I think it had, and balance in the future, for not holding something to it that it may not be. Or I may not be."
*He looks at Anaya.*
"And what about you?"
Nods and leaves hurrying to Silver Sword
*Hermy waves and heads out the door.*
*He does not leave the temple yet though.*
*He stops in the morgue to look in on Alissa first.*
"Waits outside, Ok Minto? I needs a couple of mintes alone."
*Minto nods ad exits the room.*
*Hermy stands next to Alissas body and holds her hand.*
"And where do two brothers lie in the balance?"
I have accepted who I am, but that still doesn't complete the balance I need. I always think about how I died and what I could have done to change that, but you can't change the past...
*she looks down*
When I came back I couldn't remember anything, only knew of what was told to me. Eventually I was able to gather the pieces and began to put them together, but I am still not whole.
My balance seems to be as much on a tilt as those scales are, but I may be able to find some of the answers I seek in here...
*she continues walking*
"Wait. Did you hear that part? About the brothers?"
*Thosar examines the balances again, once they've stopped.*
"Do you think that was a warning? Or just something else to get us to think about our balance?"
*He turns from the table and the scales.*
"Perhaps you are right though, maybe more can be found elsewhere in this room of awakening."
*He begins to walk away from the table with Anaya.*
Two brothers? Agathalos and Kakkodemmian..good an evil. One cannot exist without the other. That is the balance the world lives off of.
One such division is curious.
To the left, a heavily shadowed path through the mist, through a wooden arch that is labelled REVELATION.
To the right, a stone arch called CONCEALMENT, past which lies a brightly lit path that seems to trail off to infinity, visible even through this mist.
Revelation..and end to one thing and a beginning to another..
Concealment...
*she begins to head down Concealment*
.oO(For some reason this one draws me to it...)
Revelation darkened, and Concealment fully light? That seems to be a strange reversal. Perhaps it means something more. Something of appearances or illusions?
*Thosar looks to the paths as he speaks.*
"The path of revelation is dark and obscure, yet the path of concealment is plainly visible. They seem to be reversed. Or perhaps it is something about appearance and illusion?"
"Or maybe still, that revelation is so often sought, yet undiscovered and concealment is often avoided yet often found."
I don't know, but I am thinking that Revelation is something we will need to go down after this one...I don't know why, but I have a feeling that Revelation is the end...but we aren't finished yet.
*she turns back to the path and continues walking*
*Thosar hesitates for a moment.*
"Well, here's hoping that we can come back."
*He follows after the elf that seems so sure of herself.*
So tell me more about yourself. You were a dwarf before..were you still Thosar or did you go by a different name?
"No, I took on my new name when I knew my life would be very different from my old one."
"My name was Ivan. I also bore my clan's name of Granitehammer. My clan was some of the best mason's in the land where I was born."
"I was raised in the tradition and showed a good skill in it. I journeyed to Garic's after a feud with my father."
"Since I came back he has expelled me from the clan. So this city is my home now, and the friends I have here my family."
"What of you Anaya? Tell me of yourself."
And though all of these figures travel in darkness, the pair can see them quite well.
Here a former guard captain, skulking in an alley...
Here a shopkeeper, turning over blank cards, as her shadow samples the the wares on her shelves...
Here dwarves, hidden beneath the earth, resting in a darkness that seems alive with a thousand eyes...
Ahead, the palace gates, dripping with blood that puddles to form itself into a man... Thosar seems to recall among the Jackal leadership...
Along the walls, wolves, and wolves fighting wolves, wolves that become halfling, and golbin, and human, and elf beneath a moon that seems to burn the night...
So many the images, and so quickly do they change, that the pair can't retain all of them.
And then, at the end of the passage, there is a simple door.
.oO(Two buttes in this area of the desert... A settlement there, but it's far away from any of the hilly areas. Maybe the distance is good, though; there'd be fewer grave robbers going to an obscure area in the wilderness... Like that area I was in for a couple days while following--)
The paladin clicks his teeth at himself, unable to focus on the research for long now and sighs, rubbing his forehead.
.oO(I can't concentrate. What happened with Anaya? What does she know about Kai?) He leans from the book and looks at the door again.
*she says quietly to herself*
Natala?
*she looks at Thosar then at the door at the end of the hall and slowly walks up to it and opens it and steps back to stand next to Thosar*
That figure flipping cards, that looks like Natala. That man in the alley, was that Daron? The dwarves? I can't think of a memory besides my family.. but those eyes? More dwarves? The palace and that man of blood. Wasn't he in the Jackals? The wolves.. Anaya said she came back as a wolf. That goblin though, what does that mean?
*Thosar pauses at the door as Anaya opens it. He braces himself slightly as if expecting a fight.*
"Like... wasn't that something else? I don't get to visit as often as I'd like to, but it's always interesting what people come back with."
She looks at each of them, and nods.
"That's better. I think you'll remember this time."
She smiles brightly, as though she'd just explained everything.
Is that really the same acolyte or some form of illusion?
"I'm sorry, what was it we were supposed to remember? What we just saw in there, or something else?"
*Thosar looks to Anaya.*
Ummm...
*is at a loss for words*
*she looks back at Thosar who is back to his elf form then looks back at the cleric*
Thankyou...I'm assuming we are allowed to go back to the library?
"Like, you remember who you are now, right? Not just... who you became, or who you thought you were, but who you are. Well, maybe you don't think you remember, but I can see you do."
Then she answers Anaya.
"Well, sure! I bet you have, like, lots of questions after that! Like, from one maze to another, isn't it?"
This time she grins, very pleased with the connection she's made.
Thankyou miss.
*she begins to walk back to the library with Thosar*
Ah yes, who I am. Not then, or now, but who I am. I see. I will have to think more on this.
"Thank you, miss."
"I've seen you at the entrance to the temple, might I ask you name?"
*Once Thosar gets her name he heads back toward the library with Anaya. Once there, he begins to head back toward the table where the group is assembled noticing that Darkar has gone.*
"Hey, I aint sures you cin hear me without no spell being cast or nuthing. but it can't hurt to try."
"Ise tryin to get the moneys to brings you back an to talks to you to see ifen thats what you wants.; But its gunna takes awhile."
"Theres two places I cin go, but I hafta take the longer one."
"Ifen I don't NaShaes mom coulds die. And sense Ise a hero, I gotta go."
"An as much as I wants you backs, I wants you to comes backs to me."
"An Ise a hero. So ifen I didn't go heroing I wouldn'ts be me. An then it wouldn't be me thats youse comin back too."
"An I don't see you wantin to leave where youse at to not comes back to me, sose I gotta go on the long quest. Even though that means that it will be longers before I sees you again."
"Or don't see you again ifen you don't want to comes back."
"Or maybe I'll even see you sooners, ifen I dies."
"But I don't want to do that. I still got a lot of heroing I got to do before Ise worthy enough to joins you where youse at there."
"An I don't want to die unless I cin be with you."
"Sose do you see whys I gotta go?"
*Hermy squeezes her cold hand.*
*as they walk into the room she notices Darkar gone and frowns*
.oO(He doesn't seem to stay in one place very long)
*she stops when she sees Shae and Kywyn still at the table*
Thosar, could you get Gamis for me?
"Sure."
*He walks over to the table where the paladin and the rest are seated.*
"Gamis, could I have a word with you for a moment?"
*When Gamis gets up, he leads him back to where Anaya is.*
*her eyes narrow at Anaya and she sets the book down on the table, standing*
*walks over to her, anger gleaming in her eyes*
Anaya. I have something to say to you.
*she steps a bit away, waiting for Anaya to follow*
What does she want with Anaya? I'd imagine it can't be good.
.oO(I guess now is better then ever..)
*she nods and follows Shae*
"What's going on with them?"
*frowning slightly in confusion, she sneezes*
*frowning even more, she tries to keep up her angry expression*
The other have informed me that you have your own room. It's across from mine.
*she pauses to sneeze again, her eyes starting to tear*
You are no longer welcome in my room.
*still angry, but confused by the reappearance of the 'illness' she's been suffering, she walks back to the table, wiping at her eyes*
"NaShae wanting to talk with her I do not like though. She seemed to have something to so with Arnor being brought back, and I don't like it."
*Thosar shakes his head and looks back to Gamis.*
"Where did Darkar go?"
"Darkar? He went over to the Guild to post a notice."
"A notice? What about?"
*Thosar glances over and sees NaShae going back to the table.*
Is Anaya ok? That was short and I can't imagine pleasant by the look on NaShae's face.
*she sighs and shakes her head and walks over to Gamis and Thosar*
"Come on. Lets go get Brodda."
*The two halflings make their way out of the temple.*
"I remember a hallway, packed at both ends with creatures of undeath."
"And I remember that room. With all of the worshippers of Demmion in it."
"Are those the correct memories?"
*Thosar smiles as Anaya comes over to him and Gamis.*
"Anaya... You, too, have had a second chance?"
Well that was unexpected...
*she sighs*
.oO(I thought she was upset because of what happened when I left town...not about the room...I have my own room? Such details in which no one tells me...
)*she looks at Gamis*
Sorry for the interuption.
*she nods*
I have...That is one of the reasons I've been meaning to talk to you, the other reason is about Kai.
"I'm sorry but that name sounds familiar. I think I know that name."
*He looks to Gamis for a confirmation of a lost memory.*
"What do you have for me?" he asks Anaya.
"What. He's back? Is Marina with him? I thought he was dead."
*Thosar quiets down and turns to Anaya, looking for some explanation. He glances at a vacant table nearby.*
"Maybe we could sit down?"
You know Kai?
*she shakes her head*
No he is not dead.
*she sighs*
Since you know him as well..maybe I should start from the beginning.
I met him a while back, before I died. Me and Hermy had gotten into a fight and I went outside the city to cool off. Kai found me and we began to talk. I noticed that he wore a scarf around his face, concealing everything except his eyes.
I later found out the reason, but I didn't know exactly why. He told me about how he was watching someone from the SSAG and then I found out it was Gamis. I told him that he didn't have to hide, that there was no reason to. He was afraid to confront him and in the short time I knew him..we were really close. He was lost and confused...and I was the only one that understood.
I brought him to the SSAG to have him talk to Gamis, but I was not expecting what happened next. Kai showed himself to Gamis, but there was more to it than that. He was hurt and as lost as ever...only rage filled him when he saw Gamis that he took a swing at him. I stepped in between them and Kai seem to have calmed down a bit...that's when I knew..
He didn't say anything more and left. I was confused at why he had so much rage for Gamis..so I asked the source. He told me about Marina and what happened at Clerihew and it hit me...Marina had something to do with it. Kai had left and Gamis asked me to talk to him so I went after him.
*she lowers her head and looks at Gamis*
After Kai ran out of the SSAG that day..he went to the Temple of Demmion. I had never been there before, but I was able to get Darkar to take me there..even though he didn't want me in a place like that, but I had to talk to Kai..
After finding him at the Temple I was able to bring him back to Nobody's to talk to him. I was able to learn that him and Marina used to be something of an item and that she is the one that brought him to the city.
I had to leave the next day to help Shae and Kywyn find this wizard that had knowledge in what was causing Dak's rapid growth....
When I got back to town...I went straight to His room at Nobody's to tell him I was back...but he was gone. He left a note and after reading it there was something wrong.
He said that he had to leave and that I shouldn't go looking for him, and that he would find me. That even if I did find him I wouldn't recognize him.
I don't know what he meant by that, but I fear the worst. I wanted to get the note to you to tell you what happened, but you were out of town and Volos didn't know when you would be back.
Then there was the accident outside of the city. I was attacked by a wild cougar and died. Shae as well as others went searching for my body and she was the one who helped me coem back into this plane.
I haven't been able to talk to you until now...but there is more.
When I came back...I could remember anything of who I was..just little pieces...over time I was able to get my memory back and that's when the dreams started...
.oO("He had to leave the city...")
"What dreams? Has he found you yet?" he asks quietly.
No he hasn't found me yet..or at least I don't think...
The dreams are what I don't understand and right now I am talking with Natala about them, but there is definately a message in them.
I have this feeling that Kai is back...but I don't know where. The dreams are of Nobody's, the note and of shadows..menacing shadows that just the thought sends shivers up my spine.
Every dream isn't the same, but sends the same message and I'm afraid of what they may mean. I'm afraid that Kai may be in some sort of trouble and I think it has something to do with the shadows in my dreams.
If he went back to Marina...but that is just it..it doesn't make any sense...why would he go back? There was nothing there for him anymore...he showed himself to you..why would he have reason to hide again?
*she thinks*
I just don't get it.
*she shakes her head and looks as if she is about to cry*
"Kai is a fool. He's been one as long as I've known him, and who knows what Marina may have done to twist him. She's had him long enough...
"He left with that Demmionite hag because she got him out of a scrape that he never should have been in with Clerihew's constable. He scratched "don't worry" into the road when he took off, and look what became of him" He sniffs with disgust. "He's an impetuous, thoughtless child, and unless it's already too late, he needs to get some sense or he'll always be in trouble."
No..I know him better than that. Whatever happened to him, Marina caused.
When I was with him..I saw the real him. He wasn't afraid of anything..he felt at peace and that he could tell me anything.
He's just....lost...
*she looks at Gamis squarely in the eyes*
You wouldn't have asked me to look after him, if you didn't care...and I'm sorry that I wasn't able to...but he needs help..I know he does...I just need to find him again and talk to him. Find out what happened...
"Marina was no help. I'll gladly give you that. But he brought this on himself, and if he still thinks he has anything to blame me for like 'abandoning' him, he is sorely mistaken."
He sighs and softens his tone. "Look, Anaya... No slight to you, but he didn't need you to not feel afraid of anything. He's had the potential to be that happy along with his foolishness.
"And you're right that I do care, and I want to see him helped and brought back. But I will harbor no illusions about him. Nor should you.
"You got through to him before. I hope you can do it again. Get him to talk... Get him to trust you, make him understand his actions, then bring him home... Just do your best."
.oO(If your efforts are in vain...) He looks away for a moment before holding her eyes again.
"We'll have our reckoning with Marina when the time is right."
I know and I will find him and I will do my best to bring him back, I'm just hoping that I can get through to him, like I have before. I just hope that trust he had in me didn't leave.
I didn't know Kai that much. What I did know is that he left us with a woman that should have paid for what she did. I have little use for law, but I know when I feel betrayed.
*Thosar speaks up finally.*
"Anaya, I only know what I saw, so long ago, in Clerihew. That was a man making a foolish decision. I'm not sure what Marina promised him to get him to go but it doesn't matter. He went. We were trying to catch Marina and I'm sure he helped her get away. He was searching one area, and we were searching another. Next thing we knew they were both gone."
"That woman was in part responsible for a poisoned bread that poisoned a number of people in the city. Did he happen to tell you that?"
"People can be lead into error, especially if they have not the will to resist, but after a while you can only blame the people themselves for not seeing. And if those people have someone trying to help them see what is going on and they still do not see it, because of pride or whatever, then it is their fault. No one elses."
*Thosar keeps his voice neutral but his eyes show an empathy for Anaya.*
*she nods*
I have been the only one to have tried and succeeded at getting through to him and I think that is what makes the bond between me and him special and I'm sure it is why Gamis entrusted me into looking after him.
That bond may be our only hope at getting him back and I have faith that I will be able to accomplish it. I just need to find him, and that may be the hardest thing to acheive.
He sighs. "I should get back to the books now."
I will and don't worry about me going to the Temple again, that place gives me the creeps.
*she lets him go off to his studies and looks at Thosar*
I think I need to get something to drink..care to join me?
When finally the day comes to a close, he picks up his notes, bringing up the option of looking at the Church tomorrow with the two sorcerers. He heads home, wondering what progress Miri has made today.
I guess he is doing research on the castle before we go back there?
*Thosar looks to Anaya as she mentions getting a drink.*
"I need to find someone before the night is completely on us so I'll have to decline for now."
"Where can I reach you if I need to? Something tells me our walk through the labyrinth will see us together again before to long."
*He smiles.*
Right now I'm staying at Nobody's inn. You can usually find me there. It's not the best of places, but it's quiet.
I guess I'll see you later than?
*she stands*
"Yes, that sounds fine. I've visited the place. Only once and it was 'before' but I'm sure I can find it."
"Be careful and keep an eye out for trouble. I'm not sure what some of those scenes of wolves meant, but not all of them looked good."
*He walks with her out of the temple.*
"I am glad to have met you Anaya. Have a good night and I will see you again before too long."
*Thosar walks off towards Mrs. Weatherby's in the dying light of the day.*
[To Elsewhere]
Nice meeting you to Thosar and I'm sure we will meet again.
*she smiles again to herself and heads back towards Nobody's*
To Nobody's
At the end of the day, after Gamis has left, Kywyn turns to NaShae and suggests they get home themselves.
---
[To Elsewhere]
The great temple was a welcome site for the weary Tagg. He looked in awe at the large building, and then enters the temple doors. He is immediately seen by a few hooded figures, and they scurry over to him and eye him up and down. After a few moments, one of them speaks to him.
"Welcome to our temple. Why have you come to our holy sanctuary?"
"This..."
*he painfully lifts his leg slightly.*
"I see, I see."
*the priest examines the leg*
"Hmm.. well, it cant be too serious seeing as how you walked all the way here. There is some swelling, but... its pretty minor. I assume you are here for healing services?"
"Yes, I brought some money if I need to pay."
"Well, it depends whether you want mystical curing or regular care... the former is quite pricy, costing several gold pieces."
"I will take the regular treatment."
"Very well. That will come out to 2 silver, but you need not pay us now. Please follow me this way."
The one priest walked ahead of him, leading Tagg down a large corridor. The other hooded men followed slowly behind him. Eventually, the priest stopped in a large room, containing several cots, a couple of them already occupied. He bid Tagg to lay down at a cot in the corner, and he followed his instructions.
"Now, lets have a closer look at this..."
*the priest uncovers Taggs leg, and looks at it, and stated his next course of action*
"Minor bruising, some swelling... nothing broken, thats good... But a little dirty..."
*he bids another priest over to him, and whispers some directions in his ear.*
The priest walked out of the room, probably following the other man's directions. A few moments later, he reenters the room with a small basin of water, and some herbs, one of which Tagg recognizes as poultice, a common herb applied to wounds. The priest takes the basin of water, and applies some to his Tagg's leg, and repeated this several times until he was satisfied that it was clean. Then he rubbed one of the herbs on it, then wrapped part of his leg with poultice and dock leaves. Then he tells tagg to stay there, and so he does. The priest leaves the room.
About an hour later, he reappears with a clear flask of murky looking liquid. He hands it to tagg and tells him to drink it. Tagg looks warily at the substance, but feels the priest's stern and patient eyes staring at him, so he sips a little bit of it. A rush of horrible tastes is in his mouth, and he coughs a little of it out. He forces the rest of whats in his mouth down, and looks again at the flask in his hand. He takes a deep breath, and takes a large swig, and downs it with only a slight gag. Almost done. He does the same thing, and is relieved to notice the flask is empty. The priest takes the flask and gives him finaly directions.
"The treatment is done, you may rest now, we will allow you stay the night. Every few hours we will replace the poultices. Now sleep well, we will leave you in peace now for a while.
All the priests leave the room, and Tagg stil has the horrible taste in his mouth, but is very tired, and falls asleep, his leg feeling somewhat soothed from the herbs.
"Brother Kellin, isn't is?" He nods. "I am to leave these here for Lady Iola'ninieve. Into whose care may I give them?"
Natala's face remains stoic as she hears whispering behind a nearby door adorned with stained glass: perhaps the whisperings of new acolytes about her recent resurrection, the first they had observed; perhaps merely young priests-in-training preparing for their part in the services to be conducted within the hour.
"You, child, come with us. Now stay here."
Leaving the girl at the door, he opens a cabinet in which are stored two coffers on a shelf and a sack on the floor.
"Please place them on the shelf, if you would. I'll let Father Thessle know right away."
"You are to remain here until Father Thessle returns. Advise him that Sister Natala has made a delivery; he will understand."
He then turns to guide Natala back to the main hall.
"We're not sure when her Ladyship will be returning for the boots, Sister Natala -- only told that you would be hearing from her sometime afterward. However, she did leave this for you."
He hands her the sack, obviously weighted with coin.
"I can arrange for one of the other acolytes to see you safely home, sister," he offers, "Unless you have other business first, of course."
===
[OoC: The sack contains roughly 16 pounds of coin -- 750 gold and 50 platinum, to be exact.]
"Yes, it would seem wise not to carry this alone."
She nods.
"I'll expect to hear from her Ladyship again at some time, then."
Escorted by an acolyte, Natala leaves to return to her home.
Soon, the priest entered the room at walked over to Tagg's cot.
"I see you have woken up. You slept for quite a while, but rest is necessary for healing. How are you feeling now?"
"Much better, thank you."
"That is good. We can remove this bandage now, it has served its purpose."
*he removes the bandage and bids Tagg to stand up*
*He stands up, glad that his leg was healed.*
"Thank you for everything. Now, I believe, I must compensate you for your services."
*He grabs into a pocket and removes 2 silver coins, and hands it to the priest*
Tagg is led to the door by the priest, and he exits, bids farewell to the priests, and gets a small response from a couple of them. He exits, and sees that it is twilight, and realizes just how long he had slept. He decides to go get Brie now, who he had left at the stable for quite a while.
[to Nobodys Inn]
When the official service has ended, she lingers a few minutes, kneeling on the prayer bench before the altar, before rising.
Tentatively, one of the acolytes, (Cora, if Natala remembers the dark-haired child correctly), approaches her.
"Sister Natala? Excuse me for interrupting."
She kneels before the altar hastily, embarrassed to intrude.
"Father Thessle was wondering if you might have time to see him."
Cora's eyes widen as she realizes her mistake. Hastily, she adds, "A-a-after you've finished, of course!"
Natala nods her head respectfully toward the altar once more before turning to the young woman.
"I have time, and am ready," she says gently, taking pity on the acolyte's distress.
Cora nods, and leads her to the high priest's chambers.
She knocks upon the door.
"Father Thessle? I've brought Sister Natala to see you?"
Through the door, the priest bids them to enter. As they do so, Thessle is already making his way across the room to greet them, his hands extended to take Natala's.
"Thank you, Cora," he says, "That will be all for now."
She bows to them both, and departs, closing the door again.
"I hope I'm not keeping you from anything, sister," he says.
Natala extends her own hands to return the greeting.
"I have some time to spare, High Father, before I am expected elsewhere._ What may I do for you today?"
"Are you familiar with a young man named Juste?"
"Juste?"
The halfelf muses a moment, and her expression clears._
"Ah, Sir Quincarnon, winner of the spring's joust.
"Yes, Juste Angijak," she says, calling him by a complimentary orcish phrase meaning 'iron in the blood', "came to me to have his fortune read
during the joust."
Thessle pauses on the way to a cabinet as she uses the orcish word.
"Would his fortune have included dragons?" he asks, as he opens the cabinet to reveal three small bottles, the contents of two deep red, the last white, "And would you care for some wine?"
"Dragons?" she says, casting her memory back to that spring day.
"I don't recall anything that would have suggested dragons, no. It was more concerned with the joust itself, and its results..._ Success, as I recall, and allies gained.
"And no wine, thank you. I do not often partake."
Thessle closes the door without removing anything.
"A matter of finding the answers to different questions, then," he says with a shrug.
"Well, Sir Juste has recently recovered from an unusual adventure that began with Lord Malifaeyr's ill-fated expedition into the mountains. A few days later, he came to us, inquiring after a
priest named Himo. He claims that the two of them spent several days as the prisoners of a dragon.
"We knew of no such person -- not all of the Mother's faithful serve her temple, as you know -- but we assured him that we would make inquiries. Since 'Himo' is an elvish name, we turned to the embassy first, naturally."
"Naturally." Natala nods, listening to the rest of the tale.
"This morning, we received a reply -- from Lady Daeel, who paid a visit to you some time in the last few months. It seems that Himo was visiting from Fis’Rua-Tae, and had attached himself to the hospital that followed the Jackals to their fate. Naturally, when he did not return after the disaster that befell the army, it was assumed that he was dead.
"She has since confirmed, by means of her own, that this is incorrect. Our own entreaties to Mother Metrex have confirmed the same thing. He is still alive, and still a prisoner of this same dragon, though we were not able to ascertain why.
"We have reassured her ladyship that we would do our best to assure Brother Himo's safe return as quickly as possible."
Father Thessle smiles softly.
"I lack your talent for divination, sister, but sometimes our Mother writes the letters large for me. Sir Juste also inquired about you during his visit to the temple. Is it a coincidence or a sign, do you think?
"I know that Lady Daeel believe it to be the latter. In her letter, she wrote, 'The shopkeeper, Natala, has shown herself ready in the first and second trials. It is time to see if she is ready for the third.' I have tried to determine what she meant, but Mother has decided that that was not for me to know at the time. Perhaps you could tell me?"
"I do not know what she meant, though the crafting of the boots she had me deliver here did seem to be a test she had set for me."
Natala sits quietly for a moment, taking in all that Thessle has said.
"I think you and she may be right, though. As you say, sometimes the words are writ large."
She smiles quietly.
"Perhaps the disquiet in my mind that led me here this morning was also such a sign."
"Oh?"
Father Thessle looks appropriately concerned.
"Is there something else you might wish to discuss, sister?"
"No."
Natala looks as calm as she feels.
"I am at ease, now, and have been since shortly after this morning's services began. Before, though, following from my morning prayers, I found myself dwelling on... friends in danger."
She nods, satisfied.
"I will undertake this task. To rescue a man from a dragon... I will need allies, no doubt. That may be problematic, just now."
She frowns, but it is a frown of thought, not of anger.
"Is it known, where we should look, at least to start? In the mountains, or elsewhere?"
"Juste should know the way, or at least most of it," says Thessle.
"I suspect he would be willing to help, under the circumstances. We have also requested assistance from the Hightower, and hope to be hearing from them shortly in regard to this matter. Others I would leave up to your discretion, but I recommend you accept any aid offered from these sources.
"I realize that you'll need time to prepare, but do you think you'll be ready to leave by tomorrow morning? Do not worry about provisions -- the Temple will see to those, as well as a means to speed you on your way. Anything else you think you may require, please just ask."
Natala nods again.
"Yes, I can be ready."
"Then I shall send word to Sir Juste at once," he says, "and we shall see you in the morning. Please allow me to walk you out."
The pair walk quietly through the halls, Father Thessle nodding to others as they bow in respect to him. He exchanges blessings with Natala before she departs, then appears to turn his attention to the condition of the front stairs.
She hears not a word from him, nor does she see him leave his position, but before she has turned the corner she sees that there are now three acolytes outside, kneeling and polishing the stone.
(They did well. Plenty of time left, too. Good.)Oo. he thinks, and then enjoys the quiet, nodding at the occasional passerby, especially those who pay their own respects first.
=====
[OoC: And so we begin the adventure Scales. This post will be repeated there, and the members of the adventure may begin posting at that time.]
.oO(Archiving? What lesson was I supposed to learn from that?)
*The halfling in the red pants barges in, not stopping at the front desk.*
"Wese backs to get Alissa back."
"Someones go gets Natala sose she cin use her talking to the dead people spell! I'll go gets Father Cannedrum! I know where his office is!"
*Minto follows behind him looking very exhausted. Hermy heads for the priests office.*
.o0(It won'ts be long now Ticklekitten. I'se got so many things to tell you.)
.oO(Ah toold him Ah was coomin'. Do none of 'em listen? *sigh*)
"Excuse Meh," she says as she approaches what appears to be a front desk. "Ah'm lookin' ferr two halflings that shooulda coome sprrintin' in herre not too long ago. Coould yeh tell me wherre they arre please?"
"Like, you're that halfling whose trying to bring back the human girl, right? I recognize your pants."
*Hermy stops.*
"Um, yeah. That's me."
"Like, I'm suppose to send you to the Labyrinth. Father Cammrun thinks that it might be, like, for the best, if you did some meditation before like the cerimony and stuff."
"Huh? Go to the lab with what? I just wants ta checks on my wife."
"Oh, like I've seen her. She's very pretty."
*Hermy smiles.*
"Yup, the prettiest girl ever."
*Clarice smiles and takes Hermy's hand.*
"She'll be like just as pretty after you meditate for a bit. Like, maybe more so. You might like, get a new perceptive on life and stuff."
"What's wrong with my perception now? I see's fine. Better then most people actually."
"With your eyes maybe. But how good are you at seeing with your heart and mind?"
"Well, um, I don't know. Probably not very good.... They don't have eyes."
"Are you sure? You'll find out if you go to the Labyrinth."
"I'm pretty sure they don't have eyes. But... Um, what is the labrite?"
" The Labyrinth? Oh, it's like the greatest thing. It's so peaceful and like calming. It really helps you think straight."
"I already thinks straight."
"You just think you do. You'll find that out once you go in."
"But I don't..."
*Clarice stops in front of the entrance.*
"Here you are. I'll come and take you to your wife once you are done."
"Ise done now."
"You just like think you are. You'll think differently once you've changed your mind."
"But I don..."
*Hermy shrugs.*
"How longs does I hafta go in there for?"
"Only until you are done. However long that takes... And no, you can't be done before you start. Though you can like start before you're done."
"Huh?"
"Go on. Alissa's waiting for you."
*Hermy looks at Clarice with a scrunched up face and then shakes the suspicion away.*
"Ok, here I go. But I'll be done faster then you think I will be."
*Hermy steps in.*
As he passes through the foyer, he spots Brodda.
A smile crawls across his face.
"Hermy seems to be in good hands now, I think I can take a break for a bit."
"I was planning on going back to the guild for a hot bath."
"Are you doing anything?"
He winks.
"Well, Ah thoough Ah might pick thrrough the individual bits o' sand that foound a home in meh clothes teh find the smallest one..."
She laughs at her joke and takes Minto's arm.
"But yeh'rre idea soounds like much moorre fun."
As the head for the door she asks hopefully, "Therre's spirrits o' soome kind at the guild, rright?" :D
"Probably not. Volos didn't like having it around. It seems Daron had a drinking problem, and Volos wanted to limit the temptation."
"We could stop and get some on the way."
"Or just stop somewhere on the way. Other plaes have baths."
"And most of them don't have an army of young halflings hanging around looking for trouble."
"Arrmy of halflings? Who...?"
The vague half-memory of a gang of young kids ripping through the guild at break-neck speed comes back to her.
"Oh! They..."
She chuckles.
"Yeh'll have teh tell meh moorre aboout that laterr."
"Perrhaps anotherr location forr a bath might be betterr and, erm, moorre prrivate?"
She grins.
"How do yeh feel aboout Nobody's?" :D
"Well I'm very glad Marroc has the sense not to cater only to halflings. The tub would be to small."
Minto chuckles.
"Same for the beds."
Minto winks and takes Brodda's hand.
"The drinks aren't bad either. Provided you know to ask for the good stuff."
"Nobody's sounds perfect to me."
"A most excellent opinion, darrlin'! Ah mehself am quite fond of the good drrink therre, and the company is always pleasant."
She takes Minto's hand and hums merrily as they head out.
[to Nobody's]
He takes a few deep whiffs to try and deduct the somewhat familiar smell.*
.o0(Well, this ain't so bad I guess. I think it smells like rhubarb, but it could be apricots... Ifen I gots to wait, theres worse smells to wait in.)
*Hermy moves further into the mist.*
.o0(Maybe I cin find out whats making the smell. Maybe theres someone cooking or something... This sure is a strange way to get to the kitchen though.)
*He moves furher in.*
.o0(I know Ise seen people coming out from somewhere else in the temple with soup... Hmmm, maybe thats the soup kitchen, and this is the magic pie place. I could use another slice of that pie I got at the broken castle place.)
*Hermy stops.*
.o0(I wonder how much gold Darkar an Area gots from there? We gots enough from the tomb an the bandits to pay fer Alissa ta come back to life, so what ever they gots is pure profit.)
*He starts moving again.*
.o0(I hopes they use it to throw a big welcome home party fore Alissa. We coulds get the pie from here.)
*As Hermy moves further in, he begins to hear strange whispers from the mists.*
*Most of them he can't make out, and only a few that he can make sense to him.*
.o0(Is this where he dissapeared to. Durin never was that good at finding his way around. He's probably been lost here for awhile.)
Hermy wanders around looking for his friend.
"Mister Hilldeer? Durin? It's me Hermy! I cin show you the way out, just finds me!"
Not long after the familiar voice of Hermy's brother cuts through the mist. It is a strange mix of his living voice and traces of the scratchiness his voice had picked up since his death."My idiot brother went and ruined all my fun. He can't do anything right. I bet if I told him..."
Hermy turns away and heads in the oppisite direction until he can no longer hear the mocking statements that follow.
"Hermykins. Where's my Hermykins?"
Alissas voice floats down a long hallway. Hermy runs towards it. "Alissa! Here I is! DSid they raise you backs from the dead without me being there!"
"Alissa! Hold still, I'll finds you!"
The hallway deadends at a brickwall.
Using the skills he learned from Gerug, Hermy searches for any hidden ways through the wall, but finds no secret doors.
He turns back to find another route to his beloved.
"Alissa! I've gots ta finds another way to finds you! But Ise a little lost right now! I will finds you though! I promise!"
"An a hero always keeps his promise!"
Hermy wanders the misty maze, listening carefully for Alissa's voice. But he can no longer hear it.
The random whispers and murmers of strangers overwhelms all.
After what seems like an eternity, the songs of a lute being tuned drift down several hallways at a massive multi-pass intersection.
Hermy stops to listen.
A different song comes floating after the music in each passage. All sang by Minto, some Hermy recognizes, but many are new to him.
Tales about adventures he's had, and has yet to have. Hermy listens for sometime trying to deciede which path to follow. Finally he settles on the least specific one.
"Oh, let me tell you a tale
A tale that is true
A tale about Hermy
And what he can do....
Hermy heads down the hallway. .o0(This one seems to be the most mysterious. I wonder what I is going to do in this song?)
The song does not seem to end, nor does it tell him what exactly the heroic deed he is going to do is. Hermy follows the winding road for possibily miles before he stops to rest his feet.
"'Ermy me boyo. Wot are ya up ta now?"
Marroc voice rings out of the shadows. Though these shadows seem more smokey then the pleasant smelling mist that Hermy first encountered.
.o0(Ise begining to think this may all just be my imagination. Durin could be lost in here. And Kirbys voice could be coming from his cell in the basement.)
Hermy frowns.
.o0(And they coulds have brought Alissa back while I was out getting the money, and Minto could be in here too. He was following me after all.)
Hermy grits his teeth.
.o0(But theres no way Mister Brimblebird is here. He NEVER leaves his inn.)
Hermy starts to head down the pass again. The next voice stops him in his tracks.
"My little Hermy, my how you've grown."
"Mom?"
*Hermy doesn't bother trying to look for her.*
.o0(Why does I recognize her voice? I don't even member what she sounds like. She's been dead fer longer then I cin member.)
"Is you my mother's voice?"
"Yes."
"Yer real voice? Or just my imagination of what yer real voice sounds like?"
"Does it really matter?"
"Ifen yer just my imagination, then I suppose I'd be better off just asking myself the questions I wants ta ask you."
"I knows I cin trust myself, but I'm not so sure about you."
*Hermy makes a hurried apology.*
"Not that I don't trust you mom, but it seems kinda silly to talk to an imaginary mom, when I've got myself I coulds talk too."
"You understand don't you?"
"Of course do, I am a mother."
"So you is my moms voice then?"
"I am your mothers voice."
"But youse dead. An you can't talk to dead people without the spell Natala was gunna invent. Just their bodies."
"An yers got buried a long, long, long time ago."
"I remembers cause I wanted to go to see where you was at, but Kirby wouldn't let me."
"He wanted to go shopping with the money you left him."
"Hey, why did youy leave him money and not me? He said it was because you liked him more, but I've learned that Kirby was a liar."
"Why did you?"
"I should?"
"Well, he did lie about who you like best."
"Maybe he lied about what you left him too. Was some of it suppose to be mine?"
"No."
"Oh... so you did likes him better then."
"No."
"Then why did you leaves everything to him an nothing to me?"
"You got the book."
"The storybook? Yeah, I dids get that."
"But he got all that money."
"No."
"Yes he did. I seen it. Lotsa gold and even a few gems."
"But not from me."
"From dad then?"
"No. He stole it."
"Oh... Oh, that makes more sense!"
"You didn'ts leaves it to him, he tooks it when he kill..."
"He killded you, did you know that? He told me."
"Yes.
"Did he kill dad too? I don't remember dad. But I was kinda small then."
"No, your brother did not kill your father."
"How did he die then?"
"Oh, and who was he?"
"I don'ts remember his name even. Or ifen he was a good guy likes me, or a bad guy likes Kirby."
"He was a good guy."
"So he was a hero?"
"No. He is a good man."
"Like you."
"Well sometimes thats even better then being a hero."
"But who was he? An how dids he die?"
"Ise heards from lots of people in this labwith that's important to me. But not him."
"Are you sure?"
"The only halflings I've heard was Minto an Mister Brimblebird. Oh, an Kirby."
"An Minto aint old enough to be my dad, an Mister Brimblebird has an accent."
"An Kirby was my brother, an was evil you said my dad was good."
"Those aren't the only voices you've heard."
"Well I heard Mister Hilldeer too, but he isn't a halfling."
"You've heard another."
"No, just you an mines voice."
"Exactly."
"Ummm, mom? Youse pretty an all, or you was before you died at least, but I'm married."
"Fairy Tales and Other True Heroic Tales."
"Is that all of it?"
"Fairy Tales and Other True Heroic Tales by Hermy Woodhome?"
"Did you write it?"
"No I thought my name was on it cause it was my book.."
"So?"
*Hermy stops to think.*
"Someone else named Hermy Woodhome wrote it?"
"Yes."
"Was it my dad?"
"What do you think?"
"Well Hermy Woodhome aint the most common name ever. So it would make sense that ifen there was two of us that we'd be related."
"It does."
"So I was named after my dad?"
"Yes."
"What was he like?"
"He is like you."
"Except he wasn't a hero."
"He isn't."
"But he wrotes about them. Was he a bard?"
"No, just a man with a fondness for good stories."
"Likes me?"
"Like you."
"So hows did my dad die? Kirby didn't kill him too did he?"
"No."
"So what happened to him? I thoughts you had died of the plague until Kirby.. told me the... truth."
"Was I just getting the two of you confused or something like that?"
"No."
"Oh, did he die saving some city from evil forces?"
"Wait that would make him a hero an you said he weren't one."
"Hmmm, so what happened to him? How did my dad die?"
"He didn't."
"Your father did not die."
"Of course he did. Everyone dies. You did. Alissa did. Natala an Durin too."
"Kirby's died more then once."
"Everyone dies."
"Have you?"
"No. But I will eventually, everyone does. They either get killded or get olded."
"Your father has not died yet,"
"Then where is he? How coulds he haves left Kirby to raise me?"
"He had no choice."
"Why not? I knows when me an Alissa have kids I won't leaves them to get raised by Kirby."
"No."
"You won't."
"Dern straight I won't."
"An you said he was just likes me, how coulds that be ifen he would an I won't?"
"He had no choice."
"An why not?"
"He was taken away when you were young."
"Taken away? By who? To where?"
"To the mines."
"An ifen dad was a good guy likes me then there woulds be no reason."
"Right?"
"There was a reason."
"What was it?"
"He took something from someone."
"He stole something? Stealing aint something good guys do unless they got to."
"He felt he had too."
"What did he take?"
"Kirby."
.o0(That was sure stupid of him. If yer gunna steal somethin it should at least be somethin valuable.)
"Your father loved you both. You were both valuble to him.""
.o0(How did she know what I was thinking?)
"How did you know what I was thinking?"
"I am a mother."
"Oh, Ok."
,o0(When Alissa an I has kids will she be able ta read my mind too? )
"Why did he steal Kirby? An how?"
"He took the punishment for Kirby's crimes."
"Kirby's crimes? What could Kirby have done ta get someone sent to the mines for as long as dads been there? Kirby couln't have been more then 10 when you died so he had to have been younger when dad disappeared."
"The law does not always take age into account. Especially not for murder."
"So you wasn't the first one Kirby killded? Sheesh, at least I waited until I was all growded up ta choose what Ise gunna be fer the rest of my life."
"Come on, who deceides they want to be a murderer when they grow up."
"An Kirby thoughts I was the idiot."
"Kirby did not kill the man he was accused of killing."
"Yeah right."
"I guess that mother knowin what her sons are thinking thing don't always work do it?"
"Kirby did not kill the man he was accused of killing."
"Sure he didn't."
"He did not."
"Ok, he didn't. I'll pretend that youse right so I cin find out more about dad."
"Your father refused to give him up, and sent us away from the city."
"They sent him to the mines."
"For this long? He can't still be there. It's been a very long time. He probavbly dieded there. Otherwise they'd have let him out by now an he woulda come ta find me."
"He is not dead. I would know."
I've no use for bow or armor, but I'll leave it to you to decide what is done. The wand would probably suit me best.
For now, though, I need to take the scales and return to my work.
With her share of the coin, Mirielle hurries home.
To Elsewhere
*Hermy thinks for a second.*
"Oh, yeah cause yer dead an ifen he was dead he'd be there with you."
"That is correct."
"Is Alissa there with you?"
"Yes."
"Can I talk to her?"
*Hermy tuns around and starts calling out.*
"Hey Alissa! Alissa! It's me Hermy! Wese gots the moneys to raise you! We'll be together again soon!"
"How are you doing? I'm fine! I met a catbirdlady!"
*Hermy pauses to wait for a response. The only one he gets is from his mother.*
"She can't speak to you yet."
"Oh."
*Hermy looks at his feet and shuffles them.*
"Will you tell her I loves her?"
"She knows."
*Hermy smiles and looks up.*
"I loves you too, mom."
"I know."
"An dad too where ever he is."
*Hermy receives no answer.*
"Do you know where he is?"
"Yes."
"Will you tell me? I'd like to go finds him as soon as I get time."
"He would like that."
"So would I. I'd likes him ta get ta meet Alissa."
"I guess you already has. It only seems fair that he gets too to."
"An I'm sure my kids would likes ta meet their grandpa."
*Hermy is met by silence.*
"Mom? Is you still here?"
"Mom?"
*Hermy waits for a response for several long minutes.*
"Well, I'd better get going. I've got a wife ta bring back ta life an stuff like that."
"It was nice talking to you."
"Maybe we can do it again sometime."
*Hermy starts walking through the fog again.*
*He continues to hear voices passing by but only one stands out, and he ignores it.*
.o0(I don'ts wants ta talks ta him ever again.)
"You are all alone now brother. Except for me."
"If no-one objects, I'd like to keep this bow. I'll leave whatever share of the recovered money I'd be entitled to here to be used to stave off the curse of undeath, save 50 golds. Part of that can cover the others' winnings instead of the bow. If any part of my share is left after all that, I'll have the Silver Sword send for it.
I wish to express my respect and friendship to all of you, mistress Natala, Dame Dyer, Sir Quinquarnon. May we meet again and do equally well should the need arise.
Mistress Natala, I'll see you at noon tomorrow to resume our lessons, if that will suit you."
After another bow towards the others present, the monk shoulders his new bow and takes his leave.
I have a lot things to see to. A visit to the Lich first, I think, and the guildhouse next.
*Still the only familiar one he hears is Kirbys.*
*Finally he has enough.*
"Will you knock it off!"
"I aint Hermy, Kirby's brother no more."
"I'm Sir Hermy Woodhome. And I'm a hero."
"All you is is dead."
"Sorta."
*Hermy starts walking again.*
"I aint gunna let you effect my life no more. Youse already dones enough of that, an I'm done with that."
"You tooks my parents away from me, an tried ta takes my wife, but guess what?"
"It aint gunna work."
"I'm raising Alissa an then going to find dad."
"An I gots ta talks to mom."
"Ifen yer goal in life was to ruin mine, then you failed."
*Hermy smirks.*
"But I thinks I might have helped ruin yers."
"How's that undeads thing working out for you?"
*Hermy takes a right turn at the next intersection, leaving the histarical shrieking of Kirby behind.*
*The path goes straight for sometime, and the voice all seem to dim.*
*Ahead of Hermy, a light beacons.*
*And Majors voice calls from it.*
"It's about time. You've got to much to do to be mucking about in here any longer."
*Hermy nods to the voice and walks into the light.*
"Like you were in there a long time."
"I was almost going to go in and like try to find you to see if everything was allright."
*Hermy looks at Clarice and then moves up and taps her with his finger.*
"Yup, youse real."
"Of course I am."
"I talked ta alotta people in there. But I'm not sure they was all real."
"A few of them was still alive. So it wouldn't make no sense fer them to have been in there."
"Well, the labinryth is a..."
*Hermy cuts her off.*
"I'm pretty sure the mother part was real though."
"You spoke to the Mother? That must have been very interseting indeed."
"Nah, I spokes ta my mom."
"I'm pretty sureI would have gotten better answers if I had talked to The Mother though."
"I got more questions then I got answers."
"But I did find out about that my dads alive."
"After I get Alissa broughts back to life, we're gunna go looking for him."
"How is that going anyway? Is we ready?"
*Clarice shakes her head.*
"I'm not like sure. I haven't seen Sister Natala, or any of your friends come in."
"Your little friend left with a dwarf right after you like, went in."
"And your dog left a few hours after that."
"Oh, he was probably hungry. Don't worry about him. He's the worlds smartest dog."
"You're probably like hungry too aren't you?"
"Maybe you should go home and eat and get like cleaned up and stuff."
"You'll want to look good for your wife once the Mother like sends her back."
"You're right."
"Don't let them start raising her without me. I wants to be there for the whole thing."
*Clarice nods.*
"Like I won't."
"Thanks!"
*Hermy dashes out the door.*
Lighting a stick of incense and prostating herself before an altar, she prays.
"O Mother of All Things in this world, sanctify the labour we have returned from. I pray that our actions were right in your sight, and pray for enlightenment and greater understanding of Your wisdom that I may make amends if they were not.
"To You belongs my understanding, my heart, my will, my self, both in life and after death. Help me to maintain that understanding that allows me to love those who are also Your children, whether they know it or not, as befits one who strives to live by Your will. Purify my soul, that it may better serve You. Instruct, direct, and defend me in all things. Give me strength against all immoderate fears and against despondency. Bestow upon me a true faith, a firm hope, and a sincere and a perfect love. Grant that I always do Your most gracious will.
"Thank you for clothing us with Your protection, for keeping from us the flame, for allowing us not to fall as we served in Your name but to return safely whence we came."
After some time spent thusly, she carries the guild's share of what they have recovered to the guild hall.
*And then he enters.*
"Ise here for Alissa's bringing back to life cerimony."
"Where is it at? I aint late is I? I got here soon as I heard it was time."
Let me check... uh-huh... Yeah, like, that's scheduled for midnight. Tonight.
Midnight tonight.
We were wondering if there was anyone you wanted to have with you? Like, y'know, to comfort you if she... doesn't come back?
Clarice gets a worried look on her face.
Or to help you celebrate if she does return.
*Hermy looks around and then sighs.*
"Area is gunna hafta be here too. Alissa is her sister. An she'd be even more upset then she is now ifen she missed it."
"An Natala or Durin should be here too. Both if they cin."
"They know more about coming back from being dead then anyone I know.."
.o0(Except Kirby)
"... so they coulds answer Alissa questions ifen she has any."
"Hmmm. Minto is on his way here right now. I aint sure why he aint here already. He was right behind me not to longs ago."
"An NaShae mights wants to be here too."
"She was there when Alissa died, an I thinks she feels kinda bad about that."
"It's put her into a real grumpy mood. Well that and her mom turning into an undead and stuff likes that."
"Oh, an maybe Brodda coulds come. Or Darkar, or Ark, or... well anyone thats helped gets the money to brings her backs to life."
"I'm sure she'll wantws to thanks them for getting us backs together."
"I knows I wants too."
"Hmmm, maybe wqe should gets a baker or two to show up too."
"Shes probably gunna be starved. She hasn't eaten in weeks."
Mm-hm, okay... Well, I'll send acolytes to invite these people, the ones I can find, but if you want food you'd better take care of that.
She will be weakened...
Oh, and Miss Aria and Darkar came by with a contribution -- they're so cute together! -- and so we have a return to make to you and your group--
Clarice hurries away, then returns with a sack -- apparently a heavy one.
That's 2500 gold pieces. Will you be able to manage?
"Maybe with Mintos help."
"It woulds probably be easier ta just gives it to them ifen they show ups fer the bringing back to life cerimony."
"An ifen they don't I cin send my boys an Minto to returns the rest."
"They'll need something to keep busy fer the next long while."
"Me an Alissa aint gunna be going out to do nuthing fer a very long time."
*Hermy smiles.*
"well, maybe fer food."
Clarice gets a brief, annoyed expression on her face.
"I ain't leavin here until I gets my Ticklekitten back."
"But I cin have Minto deliver the messages. So you clerks cin get ready."
"I don't want nothing to go wrong."
Clarice perches on the edge of the desk, regarding Hermy curiously.
"He's kinda like what Volos was fer Durin, except better dressed."
"And can't cook."
"At all."
*Hermy glances at the door to see if Minto is coming in, but does not see him.*
"I don't thinks I'd be near the hero I is without him."
"Sure I slayded a dragon an a giant before he showeded up. But nobody believed me until Minto started singing all them songs."
"And I woulda never survived fighting Cone without Minto's healing. Or the bloody troll thing at the pass."
"An without him, Alissa probably would have died after Ki..."
*Hermy frowns.*
"Yeah, Minto does a lot for me."
"Shouldn't we be praying or something? I don't want nothing to go wrong."
But whatever happens, you need to remember it's Her will.
Clarice looks through the open Temple door.
Like, there's your bard.
"There you are. I told you you wqouldn't be late."
"In fact we are early aren't we. Now we are going to have to wait."
"We should habe stopped in the market on the way."
Minto looks at Clarice. "There's still time to go find some flowers isn't there?"
"Coming back from the dead is definetly one of those occasions that calls for flowers."
"There is enough time ta get flowers."
"They aint bringin her back until midnight."
"An we needs ta finds Aria an Natala ta lets them know."
"An everyone else who helped raise the moneies ta do this."
*Hermy points at the big bag.*
"Darkar an them guys broughts in a whole bunch of money too. So this is the extra that we gave."
"Theres 2500 there."
"Thats 500 for NaShae, an 500 for Kywyn, an 500 fer Gamis, an 500 fer Brodda, an 500 fer you."
"Shouldn't you get some too?"
"I get my Alissa back. That's more then enoughs fer me."
"Do you mins taking it to them?"
"I'm not sure I can carry that much."
"Oh."
"Well maybe I could help ifen we do it quicks enough."
*Hermy looks to Clarice.*"You won't let them start without me, right?"
Clarice smiles encouragingly.
"Of course you won't."
*He moves to pick up the bag. Minto helps him.*
"Well gives it ta NaShae an Kywyn first. Thats most of t moneys right there."
"It'll makes it a lot easier ta carry afters that."
"Maybe we should divide the money up first. It will even be easier to carry that way. And faster then counting out 500 at each stop."
"Yeah, good idea. I don't want ta count that high as little as possible."
"Umm, Miss Clarinet? Do youse gots a couple of extra bags we could have."
"We coulds pay you fer them of course."
Clarice goes out of the room, returning soon with three canvas bags.
*They then take the bag with 1000 in it and head out the door.*
"We'll be back fer the rest as soon as we can."
"And definetly before midnight."
*The two halflings leave the temple.*
"We'll take yers to the Guild an let Volos know, an then I'll take Gamis his, an you take Brodda hers."
*Hermy gives Minto a stern stare.*
"But remembers. The cerimony is at midnight. Don't be late."
*Minto nods and the two set off for the guild.*
*looks at the sky*
I think we have a bit of time.
"We don't get to come here to just sit much anymore," he says quietly.
No, we don't. But then, we've not had much time to ourselves lately.
Father Camrun enters the room, glances around and nods, then proceeds to the altar, confirming that the heavy tome on the bookstand is open to the correct page. A cleric finishes instructing an acolyte and walks over to Father Camrun.
"Everything is prepared, Father. Shall I open the doors?" she asks.
"Yes, it's nearly midnight."
The senior priest positions himself by the altar, and closes his eyes in silent meditation. His assistant proceeds to the double doors, and pulls them open.
Hermy rushes through the doors, nearly breathless from the excitment pouring out of every inch of him.
"I'm not late is I? I didn't miss it did I?"
Hermy looks at the alter and gulps.
"I guess not."
"Where's Area? We can't start without her."
Hermy looks frantically around the room
.oO(It must be time about now.)
Originally posted by Hermy the Hero
Hermy rushes through the doors, nearly breathless from the excitment pouring out of every inch of him.
"I'm not late is I? I didn't miss it did I?"
Hermy looks at the alter and gulps.
"I guess not."
"Where's Area? We can't start without her."
Hermy looks frantically around the room
The cleric winces at the exuberance. "No, you haven't missed the ceremony. You're the first guest here."
*takes his hand and walks into the Temple to join the others*
"Goods. I wouldn't wants Alissa ta thinks anyones else was more happy to see her back to life."
"Well I guess Area woulds be allright, but I think it would hurt Alissa's feelings ifen, say, Gamis got here first."
"Or Darkar."
*Hermy looks at the alter again.*
"Dids you dress Alissa up pretty for this?"
"I doubts she'd want ta comes back ta life in the clothes she dieded in."
"Especially in front of all her friends."
The cleric patiently escorts Hermy to a spot from which he can view the ceremony.
A bier with a sheet-covered figure rests in front of the altar.
"Her body has been dressed in a grey shift, as is appropriate to such rites."
Hermy notices that in general, the denizens of the Mother's temple tend to dress in grey.
"Oh."
"I guess ifen it's appropriate it will be all right."
"Though I think she's be a happier in something with a bit more yellow."
"She looks even mores extremely pretty in yellow."
"Or green."
"Or blue."
"Or... well in anything really."
"Even grey."
*Hermy smiles.*
"I apologize for being late Sir Woodhome. I would like to be present at this most joyous occasion, if you will have me."
*The elf punctuates his request with a bow.*
*He approaches behind Thosar as the elf returns from his bow, patting his fellow guild-member on the shoulder and addressing Hermy.*
"Glad to see you are well Sir Woodhome."
"I do not know my place in this, but I too would like to join the ceremony if that is appropriate?"
*He himself bows slightly standing next to the elf in a polite manner.*
"Of course you is welcome. You was on the adventure to the pie castle weren't you?"
"I think, and I'm sure Alissa will agree, that ifen youse willin' ta risk yer life so she can have hers back, that at the very least we cin stands ta let ya be around to watch."
*Hermy smiles, and then adds.*"When you was at the pie castle, you didn't happen ta mets a ghost named Moonshines did ya?"
"I think some of his magical pie would be the perfect first meaL fer comin back ta life."
*Hermy looks away and starts waving at someone and then rushes off before getting a response.*
*they stand off to the side away from the others*
"No, we did not. And, unfortunately, no pie was offered to us either. I'm hoping we could get some as part of the celebration for Alissa's return. What do you think?"
*Thosar pats the young mage on the shoulder when he approaches.*
.oO(I thought she would be here already?)
He gives Hermy a nod as the halfling moves about very excited talking almost non-stop.
Thank you for inviting us, Sir Woodhome. Alissa was such a charming girl...
.oO(I didn't really know her to well, but I would like to in the future........)
"Looking forward to having her back," he says to the halfling with a smile. "Not nearly as much as you, though, I'm sure."
"I have never seen him so happy."
*Seeing Nashae and Kywyn, Tynk nods to both with a smile as the boy begins to realize, in more ways than one, this is much like the exact opposite of a funeral.*
*He then nods to Gamis and Mirielle with his most mature look he can muster, but ends up smiling boyishly in his efforts.*
*As it fades, he exchanges a look with Darkar that suggests something much more honest and mature. With anothernod he continues his conversation with Thosar in a soft voice.*
"I have never witnessed a true mericle performed before. I can sense the joy and love here."
"Although, I do feel a little awkward being a follower of Agathalos...as if I were a boy being shown my friend's father's most valuable possesion without his permission."
*Smiles good-naturedly and is obviously not too bothered by the idea. He awaits the ceremony to begin.*
"Ah."
She smiles pleasantly and nods to the familiar faces, finding a good spot to call hers. She looks around, waiting patiently, curiously wondering what a raising ceremony entails.
Brodda and Minto can see that the tone came from a shining gong near the wall beyond the altar.
Thudding feet herald the arrival of Aria, wild-eyed, disheveled, but bathed.
When the room is quite silent, Father Camrun begins to read from the book.
*He focuses on the priests words, and does not take his eyes off of the alter, and his wife's body.*
.oO(Hmm..... I wonder if ol' Oskar can do this type of stuff yet. I mean he is the family's cleric and all, and he is older then me......)
*Turns to Thosar with a knowing look.*
"I have never seen him so happy."
*Seeing Nashae and Kywyn, Tynk nods to both with a smile as the boy begins to realize, in more ways than one, this is much like the exact opposite of a funeral.*
*He then nods to Gamis and Mirielle with his most mature look he can muster, but ends up smiling boyishly in his efforts.*
*As it fades, he exchanges a look with Darkar that suggests something much more honest and mature. With a nod to him, he continues his conversation with Thosar in a soft voice.*
*He also nods to Minto and the Dwaven lady as they enter while he does so.*
.oO(I have never seen her before...)
"I have never witnessed a true mericle performed before. I can sense the joy and love here."
"Although, I do feel a little awkward being a follower of Agathalos...as if I were a boy being shown my friend's father's most valuable possesion without his permission."
*Smiles good-naturedly and is obviously not too bothered by the idea. He awaits the ceremony to begin, and quites reverently as it does.*
His voice raises in an imploring tone, and after placing the last diamond he raises his hands beseechingly, still chanting.
The diamonds begin to glow, and a misty shape forms in the air.
A girl's voice, familiar, sounds from the mist: Hermykins?
"Ticklekitten?"
Hermykins... I heard you calling.
"I is calling."
"Ise calling you backs to life."
"Backs to me."
"Oh, an Area."
The misty shape sways slightly.
Hermykins... my love... life and death are more complicated than I could have known when I lived. If I could return to you, I would, but the Mother has other tasks for me...
At this, Aria lets loose a strangled cry, and lunges forward.
"No!!"
*Hermys jaw drops and it takes him a few seconds to form any words.*
"But... but... but..."
*Hermy's eyes dart across the faces of those in the room, seeking help from any of them.*
"But, she can't!"
"I needs you!"
.oO(...calling the deceased back teh life...)
Her eyes widen and fists tighten into a ball as the girl's voice is heard, understanding from Hermy's reaction that it is the voice of his beloved wife.
.oO(...it isn't rrright. But Ah'm parrtly rresponsible ferr us bein' herre. Ah agrreed teh help rraise the funds needed ferr this...)
When the spirit refuses to return, Brodda relaxes slightly. She looks curiously at the woman who cried out.
.oO(Must be a rrelative?)
But the look on Hermy's face touches her deeply. It almost feels as if her heart would be ripped from her chest.
.oO(Oh Motherrr... rreach oout to this child of Yeh'rrs.)
Brodda bites her lip as her throat constricts. She opens her hand and seeks Minto's.
.o0(There's nothing I can do for him. I doubt there is a song or story in all the lands that could comfort him right now.)
He glances at Brodda again and then watches as Hermy slumps to his kneees.
*sadly, she watches Aria, in case the woman turns on her again*
With grief plain in even her ghostlike voice, Alissa speaks again:
I cannot refuse the Mother. I hope you would not ask me to. Sometimes, heroism is more than wielding a sword, or facing down fears. Sometimes, to be a hero is to take up the task that needs doing.
I am not free to return, Hermykins. But I will always love you, even if I don't remember it.
Aria struggles, and screams out, "I refuse! You will live again! Your time isn't up! It isn't!" :headexplo
Aria, my sister... I have already moved on. The Mother grants that I speak for this brief time, but to live again as Alissa means killing the me that is.
Aria tries to process this.
"I ... I wills always loves you."
*He starts to say something more but chokes on the words.*
*He clears his throat and tries again.*
"Always."
Ixchal chitters softly, worried by the strange mist, and clings more tightly to her perch on Miri's shoulder.
If you were even half a man, Hermy Woodhome, you would help me!"
She backs away from the altar.
"The priests here just aren't powerful enough. That's all. The ones in the capital must be stronger, I'm sure of it..."
Stumbling away, she glares at NaShae.
"This is ALL. YOUR. FAULT." :headexplo
She runs from the room.
Quickly as a rushing river, thoughts flash through her mind, some quite unnerving.
Her glance returns to Hermy's stricken form as the tears continue to flow.
At the strange woman's outbursts and hasty exit however, Brodda looks curiously at NaShae.
.oO(Ah wonderr what that was all aboout... that poorr distrraught woman.)
*stays back until she leaves, then looks to Kywyn with tears in her eyes*
*moves to him and buries her head in his shoulder*
*He moves to stop Aria, and then stops and looks back at the priests at the alter.*
.o0(Maybe Area is right. An Father Cannedrum aint powerful enough. But Natala shoulds be. Where is she?)
*Hermy looks at his gathered friends, stopping longer on Mirrielle with her face buried in Gamis chest. And Minto and Brodda clutching hands, and NaShae hudling against Kywyn.*
.o0(It aint fair! Mother why has you done this too me! Hows comes I never gets ta be happy fer very long!)
*Hermy runs after Aria again, but stumbles and falls to the foor.*
*He curls up into a ball and starts to sob.*
"Yeh shoould take him home... put him teh bed."
The image fades, and the glowing diamonds fade as well, disappearing completely.
"No! Don't go yet! Please! Come backs!"
"Alissa!"
*Hermy collapses at the foot of the alter.*
He places his hand on Hermy's shoulder, and tugs gently. "Come on Hermy. Let's go home. There is nothing left we can do here."
"Alissa is safe with the Mother now. And happy. Isn't that the important thing?"
Hermy looks up at Minto and wraps his arms around him and sobs again. "But what about me Minto! I'm nots happy!"
"You will be again someday."
Minto pats him on the back and starts to lead him away from the alter.
"I'm terribly sorry, Sir Woodhome. She must be needed very much where the Mother has sent her."
"She must be, cause I didn't think it was possible ta need someones more then I needs her."
*Hermy slips out of Mintos hands and wipes the tears from his eyes. He turns to face his friends, and sniffles a bit more and then clears his throat.*
"I knows I promised that Alissa an I woulds thanks you all fer helping."
"Thanks."
*Hermy wipes his eyes free of tears again.*
"Ise very sorry that you wasted yer time, an yer money."
"I'll do whatever I cin ta makes it up to you."
"Thanks and sorry."
*Hermy blows his nose again.*
"I knows Alissa feels the sames way, but there wasn't enough times fer her to say it herself."
.o0(Theres wasn't enough times at all.)
*Hermy turns and walks back to the alter and stares at Alissa's lifeless body.*
*He looks to the priest.*
"I needs to bury her now, don't I?"
He rests a hand on Hermy's shoulder.
"Wherever she is, I'm sure she is doing the Mother's work well... and heroically."
"Somewheres nice and pretty."
"Where I cin plant some daffydils."
"She likes daffydils."
"Certainly. I'll send someone over to the Silver Sword tomorrow to discuss the details with you."
Mirielle walks up to Hermy. She looks as though she is unable to speak, and finally hugs him and gasps out her condolences. She then backs up and hurries away.
"Damn..."
He comforts NaShae with his arm around her back while looking up at the space above.
"Does nothing last?..."
(This has to be worse than losing her the first time...)Oo. he thinks as he goes with Miri, silent and grave.
"I'll gets her wedding dress ready fer her ta be buried in. It's her prettiest one."
*He wipes the corners of his eyes again. And leans against Minto.*
"Let's get home."
*Minto supports Hermy as they exit, helping him to stay on his feet when he falters and nearly falls.*
"May Ah... help?"
"Help would be greatly appreciated."
Miinto moves so that Brodda can hold Hermy up from the otherside. Hermy limply allows himself to be lead.
[to Elsewhere]
He is glad they do not have to speak to talk.
"Let's go home? Rest would be a good thing."
*she wipes the tears from her eyes and face, once they are out of the Temple*
[to Elsewhere]
Aria storms out of the room, and though he is tempted to stop her and talk with her, but his common sense tells him that it would be like sticking out an arm to feed a starving animal. You could lose more that you expect.
As everyone leaves the room he can only stare at the altar still in a state of shock of what transpired. He can only wonder what the mother has in store for Alissa.
"I wish I had known her better....."
are all the words that he can manage.
Looking up he realizes that he is the last to leave. Slowly he leaves the temple headed back to the compound.
*Aric enters the temple, and stands at the back of the crowd, easily looking over all of them at Alissa's cold, unmoving body*
*He sees the look of joy on Hermy's face, and this makes Aric happy, because he knows how unbelievably painful it is to lose someone that close to you*
*He watches the ceremony in silence, as do all the others, but is astonished when Alissa begins to speak*
*The words that come from her move Aric like a tital wave, each word pulling a string of emotion*
*His throat seizes up, and tears begin to form in his eyes*
*He clenches his fists, enraged by the fact that Alissa cannot come back to life, cannot come back to make Hermy happy*
*He sees the look on Hermy's face. The look of sheer defeat. The look of complete hopelessness, and knowing that there is nothing you can do except embrace the pain, and let your whole world be destroyed*
*For Hermy the pain Aric feels is unbearable, knowing that in his tiny body, the little man has a heart bigger than he, and he knows that with all the love Hermy can give, he can be hurt just as much*
*When Hermy is carried out by Minto and Brodda, Aric waits for everyone to leave, and he leaves just before Darkar*
*He heads to the SSAG, his head hung low*
.oO(She cannot deal with pain with anything besides anger. I hope she does not try to go to the capitol to seek help. Though if she did, I don't think anyone could stop her now.)
*After he watches Hermy leave, Thosar goes to a different part of the temple, a prayer room, and prays with his pain for Hermy.*
.oO(Oh Mother of All, help us that must walk the path of balance. Help us that do no have Your sight, to see Thy path and know that Thy balance will bring joy.
Help Thy servants, those who try to understand Thy balance, and all of Thy children to know their Mother. To know that You are with them. Especially those who are called to follow Your balance when it is most trying.")
*The elf wipes the water from his eyes and leaves the prayer room and the temple.*
.oO(I had valued her strength so highly, but now I see a weekness rearing a beast she can no longer control. She needs help.)
Stunned, he stands for long moments barely remembering to blink. Pain shows on the boys face, perhaps experienced vicariously?
He stays as everyone filters out in their relative ways, and even tears silently as Hermy slumps hopelessly to the pain of loosing his lover. Still, his thoughts are on Aria...
.oO(Is there nothing I can do?)
A hand rests on his shoulder, snapping him to present.
Camrun: "Son?"
The boy shakes his head and turns to walk out, speaking quietly.
"I am not the one hurt, but thank-you."
Ignoring any response and lost in thought, he dons his furr on his way out and takes a deep breath, heading for the hightower.
.oO(Steady Tynk, for it seems emotions are much more powerful than spells.)
"Excuse me, I would like access to the temple's library to do some research. How might I get a permit to do so?"
"I'm sorry, I hadn't heard. Could you suggest an alternate library where I could do some research on religion, specifically regarding Ordemetrex?"
.oO(For the forseeable future? I wonder what has happened.)
*Thosar keeps his face neutral as he speaks but tries to pickup any emotion from the clerk.*
.oO(Hmmm, I hope nothing has happened in the library to bar visitors. Perhaps I could come back and seek advice from a priest later.)
*Hermy and Minto are escorted into the temple, and into Father Camruns office. The door is closed behind them.*
Originally posted by Hermy the Hero
The Morning After the Failed Raising
*Hermy and Minto are escorted into the temple, and into Father Camruns office. The door is closed behind them.*
"Ah, Sir Woodhome, welcome. I was concerned for your welfare; it's good to see you."
Father Camrun pours a cup of tea for Hermy and another for Minto.
"Sir Woodhome, you do realize that there are fees for burial in the Temple's graveyard? The fees are there to cover the costs of maintaining the graveyard -- weed pulling, grass trimming, repair to the headstones, blessings to prevent the dead from walking..."
*Hermy takes the cup of tea and stares into it for a minute.*
"Does it includes making sure theres always daffydils growing on her grave? I think she'd want that."
"The Aggietheloose gardens always got them growing there. I don't want to seem rude or nothing after everything youse already done fer me, but..."Hermy sets the tea down, "Your graveyards kinda, well, it's kinda a sad place."
"I don't think thats where Alissa would wants her body to be. She'd want somewheres happy. Somewheres when you goes to gives says yer finall goodbyes you always leaves remeberin happy things."
"Yer graveyards more of rememberin sad things kinda place."
"I really don't thinks she could stands me going there an crying everyday."
"No, we do not have daffodils year-round. Not to cast any aspersion on the Temple of Agathalos, but we prefer that our grounds reflect the cycles of nature.
There is beauty to be found in every season, and both joy and sorrow as well. The sunniest day can seem dark to one who has darkness in his soul."
Frowning slightly, he goes on, "Sir Woodhome... Hermy... You do understand that Alissa will not be watching you visit her grave? She is not 'with' her body. She... her soul, the essence of her, is alive.
Somewhere else, in another body, doing the Mother's work."
"But I'm sure she'll haves some free times to looks after mes."
"The Mother is all about balance aint she? Ya can't do important things all the time, or ya gets overwhelmed."
"I knows when we was in that pass trying to saves the city that when I got a breaks from killing orcs an fightin trolls I thoughts of Alissa an wished I coulds sees her."
"Well, I figures when Alissa has a few minutes where she aint busy saving whatever The Mother wants her to save that she'll be thinkins about me.. An the big advantage of being dead is ya don'ts got a body that needs ta eat so she'll be able ta skip dinner and fly down from whereever she is ta sits by me when I sits by her body."
"At least I hope she wills."
"Not everytime of course. Heroes don't always get dinnerbreaks."
"I don't believe you do understand. Although I can't be entirely certain as to her disposition, she is most likely somewhere in this world, alive, but with no memories of you. For some reason, the Mother made a profound exception in allowing her to visit you in spirit form.
I believe that Alissa has been reincarnated. She could be an elf, human, halfling, goblin, any thinking race, really. She might be a tiny baby, or an elderly hermit, there's no knowing.
But she is not the Alissa you remember."
"Somewhere's out there? As someones else?"
*Hermy shakes his head to try and clear his thoughts.*
"She's not a goblin. I cin tell you that. She's much too pretty to be a goblin."
"I bet she could be an elf though."
"An elven princess like NaShae."
"But not as grumpy."
*A glimmer of hope appears in Hermy's eyes.*
"If I was ta finds her, would she member me?"
And, since time is not the same for the Mother as it is for us, she could, as I said, already be an old woman. Or man."
"That's the part of her I lovded best. And that wouldn't change just causes shes an old woman, or man."
"I'd still loves her even ifen she was a troll ifen it was still her spirit."
"An I'd be able to tell."
"She was a special girl. But surely you can see there would be no point in seeking her out?"
"She's got a special task she needs to do fer the Mother."
"Ifen I coulds help with it I woulds, but..."
"But I can't or I already woulds be."
*Hermy smiles weakly.*
"Maybe once her task is done..."
*Hermy's voice trails off and he looks down at the ground.*
"Does she has to be buried in the graveyard? Her body I mean."
"Will not being buried there effects her task fer the Mother?"
"When one of our guys dies we usually..."
"Well usually we gets them raised likes Durin or Natala."
"Or we sends them homes to their families likes we did with Ivan."
"I don't think Alissa's mom has heard yet. But I don't think thats where I'd want her buried either. Alissa didn't really likes it there much."
"Is there a law against burying someones next to a road smewheres?"
"Befores I met Alissa she wanted to be a Travellar."
*Hermy wipes his eyes.*
"I was wondering if it would be allrights if I buried her near where we first met."
"So she coulds be near two of her happiest memories. Me an dancing with the Travellars."
And... wasn't your meeting place quite some distance away?"
"It was aways away. A couple of days at least. I was pretty sick fer most of the way back too. I might not even be able to finds it again."
"Major coulds. Or Area."
"But it would be a kinda long journey to put flowers on everyday."
"I don't think she'd mind people camping on her much. Especially ifen it were Travellars."
"Though she might not likes goblins camping on her that much."
*He stops to think again.*
"Trying to figure out where to bury your love isn't as easy as you'd think, is it?"
"What do the Travellars do when they die? Or most halflings?"
"The only halfling I can rembers dying very well aint the best example. He won't stay dead."
"I guess I coulds bury her in yer graveyard..."
"It just doesn't seem right though."
Then, some don't even bury the ashes, they just scatter them on the ground, or maybe set the urn on the fireplace mantle."
"Likes into the wind?"
"I think that might works. She's still be able to travels."
"I coulds has Major takes me to where I first sawded her and let her go where ever she wants to go from there. Or wherever the Mother wants her to go."
"An I coulds do something special here to remembes her by. Planting a daffodil somewhere new everyday to brighten up the city, just like she used too."
*Hermy smiles and wipes away a tear.*
"I think she'd really like that ifen she ever founds out."
Shall I schedule the cremation, then?"
"And wants too."
*Minto nods.*" I'd be honored."
He consults a sheet of paper.
"We'll start it in the morning."
"Ummm, coulds I stay the night here too? Praying and stuff likes that?"
"What about Aria? She'll want to be here as well."
*Hermy nods.*
"See if Volos knows where to finds her or sends the boys out looking."
*He turns to Father Camrun.*
"Gets it ready. Ifen she can't be found fer the cremation, I'll wait fer her to do the scattering."
"I'm very concerned for that young lady. She could easily do something very foolish. If you can, would you convince her to come and speak with me?"
*Hermy frowns more.*"Ise concerned fer her as well. She's acting kinda likes I did the second time I learned Kirby was dead."
"And I was very wrong."
"Not that Alissa will evers be evil likes Kirby is, but... "
"I'll try to finds her too. Hopefully I'll finds her before the morning. Major cin help me there. Shes on her horse, n horses aint to hard to smell. I cin do it everytime I go in the stables."
*Hermy stands and Minto follows him as they head for the door.*
"Thanks you again. "
"Go in the Mother's love, Hermy, Minto."
"... Volos mentioned she rode off in a huff. Possibily for the capital. Actually huff wasn't the word he used. But it works. And is much more appropriate for use in the Temple."
"We'll has to track her down then. She has a big head start. I hope she didn't head off right away, or she'll have a bigger one. I will not miss the cremation even ifen it gives her two days head start."
*Hermy and Minto return to the Temple.*
*Minto goes to tell Father Camrun what they found about Aria's current location, while Hermy heads to the morgue.*
*Hermy kneels down next to the slab holding his deceased wifes corpse and tries to recall the words to any of the prayers he has heard.*
*After several failed attempts, Hermy sighs and just makes up his own.*
"Hey there Odormetric, it's me. Hermy Woodhome. Alissa's husband."
"Thasnks for letting Alissa says goodbyes before you sents her off to do that big tasks of yours. I knows you coulda just not sent her back and left me wondering forever ifen she lovded me or not and thats why she weren't comin back."
"But nows I know that it aint cause she don'ts loves me, its cause shes got a duty ta do an stuff likes that."
"Just likes I does, cepting mines probably not as important."
"I bets youse already heards about the funeral an stuff. Letting her ashes blow away in the wind and all that. I was wondering if you coulds do one more tinsy favor for me. I know youse already done a lots, but if it wouldn'ts be a problem, coulds you make sure her ashes blow only to pretty places."
"I knows she won't know cause she aint in her body, at least not in her old body, but I wills."
"An sose will Area an her mom. An I thinks that woulds makes them feel alot better ifen I coulds tell them that."
"They aint quite as religiousa as I is. Kywyn even thinks I sounds likes a priest."
"I aint so sure about that. I don't think listening to me talks makes very many people sleepy."
"Not that all your clerks do that. Clarinet an Natala don't. Or that guy who yells all the time. But sometimes Father Cannedrum does."
"It's a good kinda sleepy though. not the 'I stayed up all night crying' tired. But the 'hey thats a comfy bed' type of tired."
"But you probably knows that as well what with being a god an all."
"Anyways, ifen it wouldn'ts be too much trouble, coulds you makes the wind blow somewhere nice when we scatters Alissa."
"It woulds be much appreciated."
"Thanks."
*Hermy slumps down with his back against the slab and closes his eyes. As he starts to fall asleep he rembers one more thing.*
"Oh yeah! Thanks fer letting me haves even that little times I hads with Alissa. I knows you probably shoulda had her helping you a lot earlier. The world woulda been a betterplace a lot sooner."
"For everyone but me."
*Hermy curls himself into a ball and falls asleep.*
"We need to take her body to the crematory, now, Sir Woodhome."
Before he can quite react, the acolytes are shifting the corpse to the stretcher, and walking back out of the morgue.
"Oh, I was hoping I was just dreaming."
*Hermy sighs as he walks.*
"Is it gunna smell when she burns? Alissa didn't likes ta smell bads."
"She bathed at least once a week."
*Hermy smiles proudly.*
Clarice glances sadly at Hermy.
"There's no use my denying that. Death is not pretty or pleasant. It's the natural end to life, that's all."
The group goes through two sets of heavy doors, one at either end of a stone corridor, and Hermy can smell the crematory.
He can also feel the heat of the oven.
"Well at least she aint around to smell it. Thats a bit of a comfort."
"There shoulds be a way of making death more pleasant though. Maybe peoples wouldn't be so afraid of it then."
*Minto joins up with them, pinching his nose. He hands a daffodil to Hermy.*
"I bwought theeese fer yew to tthwow onto the fia."
"I don't think they will help with the smell though."
*Hermy takes the floors.*'
"I don'ts wants to have anything getting in the way of smelling Alissa one last time. Even if it aint her normal smell."
*Minto nods, and follows Hermy to the ovens.*
"Is there going to be a speech or anything? Ifen there aint coulds I gives one?"
But there isn't really an audience to make a speech to."
Clarice gestures Hermy into the final room, where the stretcher is now on a brick table that seems to feed into an oven. The oven is closed by a heavy iron door, and waves of heat radiate out.
"Shes enough of an audience fer me."
*Hermy stares at the oven doors and starts to wipe his face. Minto hands him a handkerchef.*
*Hermy nods his thanks.*
"Thats the oven theys gunna burn her in right? It's a shame an oven that big can't be used for something more cheerful likes making really big pies."
"If ever peoples stop dying maybe you could converts it or something likes that."
*Hermy swallows a lump in his throat.*
.o0(This is it. After this shes gone fer the rest of your life.)
"Um, woulds it be... Nevermind. I don'ts care ifen it's right."
*Hermy rushes to the corpse and kisses Alissa.*
"I'll always loves you Ticklekitten. Always."
*He places the flower on her chest and then slowly backs away.*
"All rights. Ise ready."
O Ordemetrex,
the Cause and Effect of the Whole universe
the Source from whence we have come
and the Goal toward which all are bound:
receive this soul, who is coming to Thee,
into Thy loving arms.
May Thy forgiving Glance heal her heart.
Lift her from the denseness of the earth.
Surround her with the Light of Thine own Spirit.
Raise her up to your plane
which is her true dwelling place.
We pray Thee, grant her the blessing
of Thy most exalted Presence.
May her life upon earth become as a dream
to her waking soul,
And let her thirsting eyes behold
the glorious vision of Thy Sunshine
As the prayer ends, acolytes step forward in practiced synchronicity, and open the oven door, sliding her body in, and slamming it shut on the roaring flame within.
"Mother."
"I knows that youse gots a new lifes an an important task for Alissa to do now, but please don't gives her so much ta do that she aint got time to be happy."
"Shes got a fresh start an she deserves to be happy. I'll nevers forget her an how much in loves we was, but she don't need to remembers nothing about me."
"She needs ta be free to finds someones else to loves if she has the chance, cause going through life alones it terrible."
"Its too lates for me, I'm always going to stuck remebering, but shes free from that."
"So please lets her be happy where ever she is."
*Hermy stops talking and wipes away the tears that collected on his face and quietly watches the oven door.*
*Minto slowly comes to a halt and stands next to Hermy.*
*In his mind Minto thinks about what Hermy had just said.*.o0(There is a song in there somewhere. Hmmm, Maybe I should start it off by singing about starting over.)
*Minto starts back up with the strumming and softly starts singing.*
"If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me, Cause I'm as free as a bird now..."
* Minto sings a verse and plays for another fifteen minutes before thinking up words to another verse, Hermy looks at him sadly and finally interupts.*
"What was you singing?"
*Minto stops singing to answer Hermy.*"It's a song about Alissa, I was thinking of calling it 'Freebird." Do you like it so far?"
"No, not really. Its a little long don't you think? And theres only like teen words. I think Alissa needs more words to describe her then that."
"I'll keeo that in mind."
*Minto stands next to Hermy and watches in silence. Eventually, the priests lead Hermy out of the room and sit him down to a small meal. Once it is over, Father Camrun brings him a small urn. He tells Hermy that there is no need to pay right now, it can wait until after he returns from scattering the ashes.*
*Wordlessly, Hermy takes it and holds it close to his chest.*
*Minto thanks the preist and leads Hermy out of the temple.*
*Enters the building and shuffles inside reverently. Unconciously, he touches the symbol hidden beneath his garmet and wispers a prayer.*
*Waits for assistance patiently, his head slightly bowed in respect.*
"I'm, like, here to help. Over here. At the reception desk. Although, yeah, it's kind of like, more of a table. Than a desk.
A desk, has, like, drawers.
Y'know."
*He shuffles to the desk...er...table and smiles a bit shyly at the receptionist.*
"I...well, I need to speak to someone...although I am not sure who. You see, my friend...or his father rather, no, wait. I need to speak to someone about something."
*Cringes at his inability to handle the simple.*
Finally, she says in a soft and sympathetic voice, "It's not easy, is it, to have too many choices?
When we were little, our parents told us what to do, and what our limits were. Now, we have to figure that out ourselves, and even though the Mother tells us a lot, she doesn't tell us everything, and sometimes she can be kind of hard to hear."
*Wondering if he had been insulted, Tynk rubs the stubble of un-shaven hair on his chin.*
"I think having too many is better than too little."
"I am not sure I understand. Choices are easy, but sometimes living with the decision is hard. At least to me..."
*For the second he forgets why he was here, staring at this prattly girl thinking about what she said.*
She walks around the table and takes him by the elbow. "You'd better come with me, Tynk."
Moving quickly, Clarice guides Tynk through some corridors, then through a door.
Tynk finds himself standing on a sort of platform, surrounded on all sides, even above and below, by swirling grey mist.
"How do you know my na..."
*The swirling mist makes him forget again what he was about to say, and he is left in a mix of awe and bewilderment.*
Tynk, when will the tanglefoot bags be ready?
That's a load-bearing wall, you need to put a heavier beam there.
Can we get to the fort from here? Who had the map?
Don't be silly Tynk, you're only a boy, and not even an elf.
They're overrunning us! Tynk! Help!
How could you run out on your family like that? How selfish of you, to leave us to explain away your behaviour!
Choices... so many choices, so many demands...
*Knowing he has to make a choice, he follws his instincts and bolts down a path with all he has in him, twards the voices crying for help.*
Tynk, help, I'm bleeding, help me... coughs Stop the bleeding...
Hurry, Tynk, we need to set fire to the house before the orcs can get the doors open!
Can we block the pass? Keep them from getting through? Tell us, Tynk...
Come with me Tynk, let's just go have fun. You know you want me...
"Just hang on, I'm coming!"
*Something in the back of his mind tells him something is not quite right, but Tynk presses on.*
He's done for. Leave him behind. Do you want these scrolls or not?
There's only one healing potion left, Tynk. Who do we give it to?
There are new texts in the library, Tynk. Why are you out here? You should be studying!
*Continues running to the wounded one.*
"Give me that healing potion."
"Dear Mother... What is it about people coming out of the Labyrinth?!"
"I'm so sorry sir, I mean brother...I mean..."
*Gets up hastely and offers a hand to he whom he had knocked over.*
"Please, allow me."
"Um, miss?"
"Oh, like, hi! All done?"
She smiles brightly and waits for his response.
"I am not too sure...that was extremely strange. I thought one of my friends was dieing."
"What is that room anyways, The Labyrinth?"
Clarice stands and allows an acolyte to take over the reception table.
"So, like, did you have anything else you wanted to do here today?"
*Tynk looks at her for a moment and is silent.*
"Oh! I almost forgot. I need to speak with someone about a friend of mine. You see his father is in a bad spot, and until recently we didn't even know he was alive. He has been absent for some 20 years or so."
"We were told that said person has done some community service as a scribe here back then, and I need to speak with anyone here who may have know him."
"Oh, and I need to speak to someone about his inheritance."
"His name is Hemry Woodhome Sr."
"Like, okay. Well, you probably want to talk to Father Camrun, then. He was, like, a really good friend of Mr. Woodhome's. Like, before he was sent away."
She gestures to Tynk to follow her.
"But, y'know, it's like, too late on the inheritance thing. Kirby took that."
"That's too bad..."
*Thinks for a bit and is silent.*
*Finally, he speaks up as they near the room of father Camrum.*
"You know, I have had a prettey good day today so-far."
*Stops just outside.*
"If you told me your name it would be the best thing to happen to me all day though."
*Smiles lightly at her.*
"My name is Clarice. I'm one of the Mother's mystics."
"Do I wait here or just walk in? Father Camrun sounds like an important fellow."
She points past Tynk.
"It's behind you..."
"That would require me looking away from you...something though I choose to, it is done regretfuly."
*Turns to knock on the door, finaly tearing his eyes away.*
"I am indeed happy to have met you, Clarice, and your Labyrnth."
Knock, knock.
From behind the door, a bass voice calls out "Come in."
"Father Camrun, pleased to meet you."
*Bows slightly.*
"Yes, I am Father Camrun. How may I help you?"
"I actually have a lot of questions, but I will try to respect your time."
"Do you know Sir Hermy Woodhome Jr.?"
*Looks hopeful.*
*Face softens.*
"I need your help."
Father Camrun's face remains expressionless, yet somehow compassionate.
*Trails off momentarily and snaps back.*
"And we caught word that Hermy Sr. had been doing some volunteering here at the temple, and thought maybe someone here may still remember enough to help pinpoint a time when he was sent off. The Palace records are cronologicaly organized."
"Twenty years ago, the 24th day of Prairial."
He heaves himself to his feet, and goes across to his window.
"I walked alongside the cart as far as the gate. I never saw a man look so sad... He begged me to look after Lavinia, but just a few weeks later she insisted on taking the children and going north, to her kin.
And she never returned."
"I feel really bad. I mean, he didn't even murder anyone, lived a good life from what I hear."
"Why was he so foolish for a son such as him?"
"Is the Mother foolish? She loves both of her sons, too.
Hermy Sr. was gifted with a tender and compassionate heart. There was no-one so steeped in evil that he could not see a seed of hope.
And he believed completely in the power of love."
"I am afraid I just don't understand...but Hermy Jr. himself is very compasionate and loved his brother, from what I hear."
"I don't doubt he loved both of his sons, but to go so far...truly a compasionate father. He deserved better than what Kirby did."
"But he has another son, and we are not going to rest until he is release from his bondage and reunited rightfuly with him.
*Is silent a moment in reflection.*
"Do you think the city will understand and let him free if we plead his case?"
"Should we bring people who knew him to testify?"
"Would they even consider it?"
*Has clearly gotten ahead of himself, and realizes this.*
"I'm sorry..." he say sincerely.
Father Camrun stands, hands clasped behind his rigid back, staring out the window again.
After a long moment he turns to Tynk.
"Kirby did. Finally. He confessed to the killing.
If you can find Hermy Sr. ... he stopped answering my letters, you see. But if you can find him, and bring him back, I think we can arrange a hearing."
"Very well, then I am certainly glad to have come see you."
*Takes his paper of notes and jots down the information.*
"20 years ago, 24th day of Prairial...Agathalos and the Mother's blessing and we'll have him back sooner than later, and a free man."
*Thinks a moment.*
"Clarice tells me Kirby managed to obtain his inheritance, is this so? It sure would be nice for something for him to come back to."
"Although he does have Hemry...which is more than a father could hope for."
However, I can find Hermy a room here, and work scribing, so if nothing else he'll certainly be taken care of."
*Thinks for a moment.*
"I would flatter you with comments of your wisdom, but would rather hope that I can honor you by learning from the wisdom you share."
"Is there anything else?"
"Please do find him. It would be a great gift to see my old friend once more."
"I understand, for now it seems we are freeing a man who's absence has effected more than just a son."
"I shall do my best."
*He takes his leave, giving Clarice a nod and smile to show his successful encounter with the priest on his way out.*
To Nobody's Inn
He nods at Clairise. "Don't you ever take a day off?"
He approaches the desk. "Is Father Camrun busy? My friend Brodda and I need to talk to him?"
Clairise twirls some hair and smiles. "Like, is it about your little friend? Tynk was in yesterday to talk about that."
"Yes it is about Hermy. And more specifically about what Father Camrun and Tynl talked about."
"I think Father Camrun will be able to, like see you"
"In fact, he like was planning on seeing Hermy about it."
Minto nods. "I'm sure Hermy will appreciate it, but unfortunetly he had to leave town on buisness for the Jackals."
"Hermy is like, a jackal? I thought he was more kinda like a general free agent?"
"Well the Silver Swords as a general rule are, but they help out where ever they can. And the Jackals needed his expertise."
"Ah'm..."
*pant pant*
"Ah'm..."
*pant*
"...herre."
She stands, forcing air into her lungs.
"Ah'm herre. Sorry."
"Morrnin' Minto."
She looks at the woman in the foyer with them.
"Good morrnin' t'yeh."
She frowns.
"It is still morrnin' isn't it?"
"Well I haven't had breakfast yet. So it had better still be morning."
Minto waves Brodda over. "Tynk got called away on a job for the guild last night. So it will just be the two of us until Hermy gets back."
"Clarise here tells me Father Camrun is expecting us."
"Have you two met each other before?"
"Clarise, this is Brodda the lovliest dwarven bard you will ever see or hear."
"And Brodda, this is Clarise. The... most mysterious mystic to ever grace the Mother's Temple.
"Clarrice. A pleasurre teh meetcha!"
She steps forward and grabs the mystic's hand, shaking it vigorously. Then she releases it and takes a step back, looking at Minto.
"A sudden job ferr the guild? It must be imporrtant."
She looks again at Clarice.
"But Ah look forrwarrd teh meetin' Acolyte...erm, Ah mean, Fatherr Camrrun."
:D
"Father Camrun is a pleasant man. And a very good host."
"Hermy speaks highly of his pastries. And considering the circumstances Hermy is usually in when he meets with the Father Camrun, thats saying a lot."
Minto looks at Clarice. "Is he ready for us? Or do we need to wait?"
"I don't want to rush him, but the sooner we can set things in motion, the sooner the wheels of justice will start rolling."
"And I think Father Camrun will appreciate that."
"As will the Mother."
She almost gasps, so sudden and vivid was the memory, but regains her senses quickly enough.
.oO(Of courrse. Ah've met Fatherr Camrrun beforre. When Ah starrted lookin' into the brrewerrs murrderr.)
She frowns.
.oO(When Ah mentioned Zanderrat, the man locked meh in his office ferr a cooupl'a hoours.)
Her frown softens.
.oO(Of coourse, it was teh give him time teh prrotect his office frrom scrrryin' spells so we coould talk in relative safety.)
.oO(He neverr offerred meh any pastrries though.)
She smiles to Clarice.
"Ah'm with Minto. We've got a family teh rreunite and a parrty teh arrange, but we can't do that until we brring back Misterr Woodhome." :D
Clarise looks at the two bards and switches to twirling a differant strand of hair."I hope you, like, succed. Hermy has gone through a lot recently."
"Killing his brother, and loosing his wife."
"It will be awesome to see something good finally happen to him."
Minto nods. "Thats is what we are hoping."
"Well that and to right the wrong that was done to Hermy Sr."
"He used to work here you know."
"As a scribe."
Clarice nods. "Like cool."
"I suppose you could say that."
"I wouldn't choose the words cool to desribe... scribing?"
"Honest work maybe."
"But not cool."
"It's actually very boring work."
"Mind-numbing actually.
.oO(This... seemingly brrainless girrls is a grreat mystic ferr the Motherr? Hmm. How Ah'd like teh get into herr head and see what's in therre.)
She ponders briefly about writing a song with her particular type of speech but soon gives up.
"Now Minto, Ah think that depends on the perrson. Surrely Misterr Woodhome enjoyed his worrk orr he woould'na kept dooin' it ferr so long."
"Oh! And Ah need teh rrememberr teh talk teh Marroc aboout the parrty, afterr we find Misterr Woodhome."
"I don't though. My mother wanted me to be a scribe. Wasted a lot of years trying to apprentice me so I could get what she called a stable job."
"At least I learned a few laungages during the ordeal. So it wasn't a total loss."
Minto shrugs and then changes subjects. "It is going to take a lot of work to properly plan a party for an occasion as important as this."
"What do you have in mind?"
"A grrand parrty at Nobody's. Noothin' excitin'. Just a lot of halflings, including Herrmy's family, and Herrmy's frriends, of courrse."
She grins.
"And lots of ale."
"Ah didn'a rreally think Marrroc woould mind hostin' it at his place, but Ah rreally shoould get his opinion on that firrst."
"Halflings tend to have big families."
"As well thought of as the Hermys are, I doubt Nobodys will be able to hold everyone who wants to come."
He winks. "An there will be more room for the ale. We can have a few bars. Shorter lines that way too."
"Ah can see Ah'll need yeh'rre help in the orrganization. With Misterr Oakwood's help too, as has been prromised."
Clarice gestures to Brodda and Minto to follow her.
She stops at Father Camrun's office. Like, I hope you succeed with this.
She smiles dreamily and wanders back to the front desk, twirling her hair.
"Hello there Father. Awfully nice of you to see us."
"I know Tynk was just in to talk to you yesterday. But since its a matter of such importance, and the fact that Tynk can be... somewhat hard to converse with, I figured it would be best if Brodda and I came to check to see if Tynk got everything right."
"Can't be too careful can we when it comes to words in a situation like this. It was words that caused the problem in the first place."
"Words and Kirby."
"Tynk told us that you'd be willing to testify on Hermy Sr. account when we take this to court to get the sentance over turned. Did he get that right?"
"He tends to over analize things a bit."
"Yes, certainly, I'll testify."
"From what I've heard you've been a true friend to the Woodhome family for a long time."
Minto lets the smile drop slightly.
"Now heres the part I'm not sure if Tynk got correct or not."
"He mentioned Kirby confessed to the crime? That certainly doesn't sound like the Kirby I've grown to... despise."
"Did Tynk get that part correct? And if he did, when did Kirby confess?"
"It might be relavent in the court case."
He raises an eyebrow. "And why do you think that would be relevant?"
Minto stops trying to joke. [color=royalblue]"Can you get Kirby to confeess again? Before a judge?"
"I know there are a few spells that will be able to tell the judge that he is telling the truth and they sent the wrong man away."
"I don't think we'll be able to do much about the charges of lieing about it before, but I think any reasonable judge will agree that twenty years is long enough for trying to protect your child."
"Even if that child is an undead assassin."[/color]
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Aye, ah woould think yeh'rre testimony teh Kirrby's afterr-death confession woould be good. But yeh'rre historry with the family coould pose prroblems as well, depending on how defensive the judges may be on not rreverrsing theirr earrlierr decision. We still need morre evidence."
She looks thoughtful, taking an extra step into the room.
"Can yeh rrelate specifically the events surrooundin' the acolyte's death that Misterr Woodhome supposedly killed? Wherre exactly did it happen? Who, if anyone, was nearrby?"
"And when yeh spoke up in behalf of yeh'rre frriend, who did yeh speak with, and what exactly was the rreaction?"
She takes a breath.
"If we kin collect moore evidence that pooints teh Kirrby, the easierr time we will have of clearrin' Misterr Woodhome."
"There were some witnesses but I don't know their names. The guards interviewed them.
I spoke to Capt. Kerris, but she really wasn't very interested. She already had the case wrapped up, as far as she was concerned."
"Rumour has it that it might not just have been laziness either."
"I got the impression she knew it was Kirby but didn't want to press the issue due to something pressing her."
"Of course thats just wild speculation on the parts of one or two upset halflings."
"Do you know anything about that?"
"I'm sorry. My duties with the Temple have not allowed me the leisure to pursue that matter. I'm delighted, though, that you are investigating it now.
Please, do keep me informed of your progress..."
Minto smiles and takes Brodda's hand.
"Thank you for all your assistance Father."
"With both Hermys."
Minto gives a quick bow and then leads Brodda out of Camruns office. He waves to Clarice as they pass and starts plotting with his fellow bard.
"How did things go with your lawyer friend? Is he going to be able to help us out with this?"
"I'm a little rusty on my knowledge on judicial matters. I'm sure I can learn it quick enough, but I'd rather have a proffesional."
"Going to court without a good lawyer is like going to a festival with just a mime for entertainment."
"It's not pretty."
"Thank yeh ferr yeh'rre help... again."
She shakes his hand in farewell and goes off with Minto.
"He wasn't available when Ah went teh see him last night. I'd left a message, so he knoows Ah'm lookin' ferr his help. Ah thought Ah'd go back teh see him today."
She squeezes his hand, excitement building at the prospect of success.
"Did yeh find anythin' oout at the Palace yesterrday?"
"But I slowed them down a bit by requesting information about Captain Kerris."
"It will be worth the extra time I hope."
"I do have one other lead we can follow up though, if I can find the right man."
She looks at him.
"What lead? Who?"
"Um, who is this Darron Haldarr? And what's he got teh do with this?"
"And an ex-captain of the guard."
"He was out adventuring with Marroc when Hermy Sr. was sent away, but he might have heard a few of the old timers in the guard talking about Kerris."
"And he might be able to point us to them."
"We just have to find him."
"I haven't heard word of him since Hermy's wedding."
"Do yeh think he kin help so much? It soounds like findin' him is a whole notherr case."
"He needs an invitation to the party after all."
Minto and Brodda head out the doors.
"I think checking a few of the bars might be a good idea. Not Nobody's or the Last Lich, perhaps the Blue Pumpkin."
"He... well I think heavy drinking might be one of the qualifications for getting a job as the guard captain"
"Our friend Gerug might have a little bit of an advantage if he ever gets promoted don't you think?"
"If he can hold his drink half as well as you, the city might finally get a decent guard captain."
to Blue Pumpkin
Good morning.
Hello, my friend. Is there something that you need?
Indeed, there is. I met a fellow named Therokke outside...
With some concern in his voice, the priest asks.
Do you need healing? I can't see any kind of injure in you...
No, no. He came to me for some pig snout and he talked to me about a Mother and since I didn't and still don't know what that is, he sent me here so that someone would explain it to me. The priest sighs with relief.
Thank the mother that he didn't hurt you. You see, Therokke is rather brute but he is still... and may the Mother forgive me for saying this, he is still quite friendly if you compare him with other of his kind. The Mother is a god and she was the one who created the world you see before you.
How did she do that?
Er... well... let's just say that she... er... well she had this magic ring, see... and then she cast a materialising spell to actually create matter. And then the world was born. It was inospite at first...
Who created the mother?
Well, we assume that she was always there, that she was the beggining of all and so it is foolish to ask what created her. Anyway, she then became bored...
"To everything there's a begining and an end." That's what my father taught me.
Well, then you're father was wrong. Not everything has a begining. The mother never had a begining she was the begining of all things, quite simply.
That doesn't make any sense... She had to start somewhere... I had a begining so she also had to have one. You had a begining. Everything had a begining.
No, no... She... look, at this point of history one must have faith that she already existed. Her designs are unknown to men or elf.
... very well... I still don't believe this... What did she do then?
She became bored of ruling a lifeless world and so she sent out to create life with her son, Agathalos. And so life was made.
She had a son? Who was his father?
He didn't have a father. He was created from a muddy pudle that was created by the Mother's tears and then she smiled at it and Agathalos was born.
That still doesn't make sense... One need another of the opposite gender to breed, not a mudy puddle made of tears.
Bear in mind that she is the most powerful being in the world and beyond. She was able to create life with the help of her child, Agathalos. Thalos then set out to teach the orcs, which were the second to be created after the elves. But the orcs trapped him and blinded him. Ordemetrex, the Mother of all, rushed to save him and, with tears from her grief, created her second son, Demmion.
That's just impossible. No one can create life through tears. Where can she be found?
She can't be found. Not by any mortal. She is a goddess and thus she cannot be seen by mortals.
So you never seen her...
Well, no but...
Then how do you even know she exists?
There are the records of the ancient to inform us of that! And we have faith in her.
I can only believe in something that is real. Something that I can see with my own eyes or that I can experience and feel that is there. I can feel the air when I breath it in and I can feel the rush of the hunt when I hunt but I can't believe in a Mother I've never seen before.
Well, if you don't have faith in the Mother I have nothing else to teach you. Be well, my friend.
The priest bows down to Tyros who bows back and leaves the temple, frustrated by the barrage of seemingly senseless information he had been given and goes to try and get his head cleared in the forest to hunt.
[to Beyond the walls]
.oO(It has been too long since I have been in the house of the Mother. This errand can wait.)
*After a moment heads up the stairs and inside.*
*An acolyte greets him in the doorway.*
"Greetings, I have just come to pay homage to the Mother and to pray."
*The acolyte directs him into the main hall where others are praying and listening to a sermon. The elf places three gold pieces in the donation box and then takes a seat. He listens to the sermon intently.*
“A death outside the city,” he explains when he gets the attention of a clerk or priest, “He was my brother.”
Wearing a practiced blank look, Kywyn’s eyes belie the appearance of apathy. At this point, he is too tired to care but too haunted to be indifferent.
“If arrangements could be made, it would be appreciated. Unfortunately, we have another trip to make,” he says quietly.
Learning the amount of the fee, Kywyn pays using almost all the coin he has on him at the moment.
“We’ll be back with the rest.”
While readying the horses to go, NaShae suggests leaving the horses back at the apartment. Kywyn agrees with a nod and they walk the animals back toward the home they haven’t had much chance to visit lately.
---
[To Elsewhere]
When asked cremation or burial, Kywyn looks to NaShae in a pause.
Through their link, he reflects, ”Burial is traditional where we came from… but we wouldn’t be here if we were bound by tradition. Cremation… we can come back with Dak and explain to him… the ashes could be spread in the cemetery, with a tree planted in the soil.”
Kywyn thinks back to the time he saw NaShae perform the ritual of planting a seed to mark a death. Their first real kiss…
A spark of warmth and hope of continuity flows from him to her and back to him.
“Dak will see… the connection. That we’re all made up of the same elements. The tree that grows will remind him… remind me.”
“Ashes,” Kywyn answers, “We’ll return for them.”
He departs with NaShae back to their home to hopefully find some rest before setting out again.
---
[To Elsewhere]
Climbing the steps and walking inside Silmarwen stops at the table near the front where a young woman is sitting.
Excuse me I was looking to follow up on a lead that I found researching at the church of Thalos. It seems that the diary of one of the mother's servants kept here might contain the information that I seek. Could you kindly direct me to the library so that I might continue my research?
Sooo, like, you're not a cleric of the Mother... There's a fee. And, like, what are you researching?
Clarice gestures Silmarwen to follow, and leads her down a hall.
Well, I bet you're sorry you missed his first lecture, then.
You shouldn't have taken so long with your hair... I'm sorry, you didn't say your name?
I'm Clarice, one of the Mother's Mystics, and one of the Keepers of the Labyrinth.
She gestures towards a different hallway as she says the last.
Silmarwen peers down the corridor Clarice motions down
Labyrinth? What do you use that for?
Clarice grins at Silmarwen.
I doubt you'll see it that way.
She ponders a moment think back to Darkar and his new training that disrupted her this morning.
Sir Shadowood, is currently engaged with a new training to focus his mind and sharpen his resolve. Would the Labyrinth be a good way to help with that?
She grins and points out the door to the library.
There you are. I have to get back to the desk, now. It was nice talking to you.
After carefull study of the system for an hour Silmarwen thinks that she has figured it out. They are grouped by the author who wrote the work sorted by date with the oldest material being up high.
It takes a couple of hours more to find the work of the priestess that was referenced in Father Aberdine's notes. It seems that Priestess Margery Tirrell wrote a great deal of material in her years of service to the Mother. There are at least four bookcases of her writings to go through.
This is going to take more time than I thought to search. It seems I should get down to searching through the oldest works and go from there.
And lo, the sky darkened and lights were seen. The weirds were inscrutable, and no living soul emerged from the wreckage.
She continues reading with renewed interest, with goal now in sight.
Destroyed, but by whom, and why?
"Could be rain or snow tonight," Kywyn says as they enter.
Approaching a clerk, he asks for the ashes of Silis.
Thanking the clerk when the small urn is retrieved, Kywyn turns to leave with Dak and NaShae. They exit the temple and head into the adjacent graveyard.
---
[To Graveyard]
"Excuse me," he says as he clanks over to the elf. "I'm trying to find a book I've looked at before here, but I can't seem to find it. Maybe it's one that you have here?"
.oO(Who?)
Looks up and sees a familar face although they have not talked much before.
Sir Pfaebinn is it? This book is one of the many written by Priestess Tirrell.
He reaches over and picks one of the books she's set aside. "This is the one I was looking at before, actually... Looking for more information on Hardaja in it."
That sounds like and interesting trip, but what do you purpose to find there? The sight was destroyed many years ago, and it only seems to be visited by those wishing to test themselves from what I have found.
.oO(Despite my disagreements with NaShae.)
"But it--she?--is dead, though?"
"That stone-demon in the alley last year didn't vanish when it was killed, either... In fact it's being slowly pulled apart in the Hightower. Difficult to dissect.
"Sorry; you asked me what I wanted with Hardaja... I've been there once, with my fiancé Miri, Aric, Miri's cousin Karysa, and her beloved Saturos. We were trying to reclaim an ally kidnapped by one of Demmion's servants and followed the trail blindly to that black pit." He frowns as he twists his bracer again.
"I want to go back because I think we may be able to learn more about the Eternal Flame. Maybe find out what those three members your group captured at the undead keep were doing there before you found them. The... caretaker, keeper, watcher, whatever that fellow is... may know something."
"I guess that's as good a name as any for him. I can't imagine how he can live there. Not even the Demmionites stayed long." He struggles with his memory. "He was stingy with information and would only say more than he did if compensated... Said at the very least, someone should mark our passing. But he got to mark us leaving the place."
He shrugs. "An idea, yes, but we might have to be prepared to buy his information.
"What have you learned about Hardaja on your own, by the way?"
Priestess Tirrell witnessed the destruction, and from her notes it seems that this was performed by someone called the Pale Prophet, an appointed expression of Demmion's displeasure. Also she mentions that both of them nearly perished in Hardaja's destruction as well.
"Who was this Priestess Tirrell? A cleric of the Lady who just witnessed it, or did she reside in Hardaja?"
Reads from the page
"This is another of the many destructive acts that I have witnessed the Pale Prophet perform. However he insists that my presence as a symbol of the Mother is the will of his master and not his own."
"Maybe the Dark Brother wanted her to pass on what happened at Hardaja to posterity... Warning to his faithful against disobedience and a threat to the likes of us," the human speculates. "It certainly doesn't sound like he was asking Ordemetrex's permission to smite his own priests."
"How long ago did this happen? Have you found anything on that?"
"Ah, forgive me--I haven't actually asked you if you'll join us on the journey there."
"Mome spoke of restless spirits. I have four flasks of holy water still in stock that I'll be bringing.
"The only creature we fought when we were there was a human warrior who Mome said gave up a lot for vengeance--he was the kidnapper. But I sensed some powerful evil there I'm glad we didn't face at the time. I'd prepare for the worst.
"Light sources would be an excellent idea; anything to hold back the darkness."
He glances at the books. "I came here to brush up on the place, but I suppose I achieved that talking to you... And I'm usually home by now, so I think I'll be going.
"It was good to finally introduce myself to you, Sister. Thank you for agreeing to go to Hardaja with us."
The paladin inclines his head to the cleric, then bids her goodbye and leaves the Temple, heading for home.
oO. (This is stupid... will I ever be able to go out in public without doing this first?) Lucian takes a seat on a stone bench, feeling relief at the unyeilding surface. (What am I going to say? I don't really know what's going on here....)
Mustering his courage, Lucian approaches the front desk. His walking-stick carried under one arm solemnly.
"Excuse me... I'm slightly embarassed to ask this but I've been wondering for a while now. Who could I speak to to learn about the mother from?"
"We have many who could speak with you today, it's fairly quiet. Would you care to speak with Sister Knola?"
"If she has a moment I would appreciate it."
"Follow me then."
The receptionist leads Lucian through a few corridors, taking his time so as to be away from his post as long as possible. Lucian hears about where the stones came from, projects run by the church and how the statue was a gift from the church of Thalos.
"That will be more than enough Reggie, please return to your post without wasting too much more time."A voice echos out from a nearby room, stern but not harsh. "You've probably talked his ear off. Do come in sir...."
Lucian bows slightly before entering. "I hope i haven't disturbed you.... I was told I could speak to you about the mother."
A middle aged woman sits beside a fountain, staring into the water "What would you like to know?"
"Actually, as much as you could tell me. I am embarassed to say I know almost nothing of her." Lucian begins to blush.
The woman smile serenely and offers a spot by the fountain. Lucian accepts, laying his walking stick on his lap.[/i]
*A tired Tensek carefully limps into the temple and approaches the nearest clerk.*
Excuse me.
*The clerk turns and upon looking at Tensek replies with a casual smile.*
Oh my. You look like you've seen better days.
*Tensek nods slowly.*
Yeah... Umm can I..
*The cleric cuts Tensek off before he can finish the sentence.*
You wish for some healing. Here let me attend to you.
*The cleric still smiling casts upon Tensek a spell of healing and the ranger can feel his wounds healing over. As they close Tensek is left with only a few minor aches.*
Thank you.
*With a nod Tensek pulls a pouch of gold from his belt and hands it to the cleric.*
A donation is customary is it not?
The mother thanks you for your generosity.
*Tensek nods and thanks the cleric once again before heading out into the city.*
(Gained 11 hp brining Tensek's total to 17 and no non-lethal)
[to Nobody's]
But... it's, like, a dog! And it's kind of, y'know, rotten...
"He's a hero. Don't tell me just because he's a dog, he can't be raised. You raise gnomes don't you? They aren't any more worthy than this dog here."
Brodda smiles on seeing Minto. "Hi therre... eh..."
Her nose wrinkles at the odor and she notices the bundle. She looks at Clarice. "Dog? Minto?"
She looks at Minto, "What's gooin' on?" She slowly approaches the pair, sure she doesn't want to look.
In an amazing transformation, a glower settles on Clarice's face.Gnomes are people. They are not animals.
Minto turns to see Brodda, "Major was killed while helping to save--" He turns back to Clarice, "A village of the Mothers children."
Brodda gasps, "Nooo! Majorrr?" She looks now at the bundle and her stomach churns.
"What happened? Wherre's Herrrmy?"
Minto glowers back. "Major was as much of a person as any gnome I've ever met. Definitely smarter."
He wouldn't be the first animal to die defending someone, but unless you're going to make a donation of diamonds just as was done for Mrs. Woodhome, this discussion is pointless. And, even if you did, you would likely end up with a rather feeble dog. And I'll thank you to keep your derogatory comments about gnomes to yourself.
He looks back at Brodda. "Hermy was captured by giants. Natala and Darkar have gone to rescue him."
"And I'll thank you to keep your comments about Major to yourself. We'll get the diamonds. Right now, I just want the body preserved until we do."
Brodda gasps in horror. "Giants?" Before she gets out another question, Brodda realizes what Minto is trying to do, and that it's not going well. She takes a step back and bites her lip as the 'conversation' ensues.
"Hermy doesn't need to come back from another mission to find out that yet another of his loved ones couldn't be brought back to life."
Silently, Brodda struggles with her beliefs on bringing the dead back to life and her sorrow and empathy for Hermy. oO(He's gone thrroough so much alrready. It's just not fairr.)
Minto glances at Brodda. "You wouldn't want to keep fighting the good fight if all it brought you was your loved ones deaths. Right Brodda? "
"And the city needs Hermy to keep doing that... The Mother needs him to keep doing that."
Brodda looks from the floor up to meet Minto's gaze, an expression of sadness on her face. "It woould be difficult teh keep gooin'. Aye, it woould be difficult."
Clarice wordlessly walks to a nearby door, and returns shortly with an older priest. She points to the bundle on the floor, and he hunkers down next to it. "Hm, yes... very well then."
Minto harumps, and then adds "Thank you."
He unwraps the blanket, and everyone else winces away from the sight. The priest merely chants, sprinkles the blood-clotted fur with salt, and places copper coins over the eyes.
Brodda watches everything closely, feeling sadness so heavily that she begins to hum softly to soothe her heart.
Rising to his feet, the priest nods to Minto. "Ye'll need to do something about 'im within a week."
Minto nods. "Hermy should be back within a week, and we'll figure out how to get the diamonds."
Seeing that Minto's done all he can do for now, Brodda again steps forward and takes his arm, holding it closely, lending to him strength, and hopefully a soothing calm.
"I think finding Hermy Sr. is going to have to wait a bit longer Brodda." He looks down at the body. "This seems to be a more pressing matter.
There is a donation of six gold for the preservation of the body. Unless you also want us to store it.
Minto reaches for his purse. "Storing it would be best as well. I don't want the boys to see this."
Brodda speaks softly to Minto once he hands over the coins. "So it seems. C'mon, let's get a drrink. Yeh cin fill meh in."
Clarice nods and waves over a pair of acolytes. They approach reluctantly, and she glares at them. Take this dog to the resting chamber. They school their faces into a semblance of obedience and mutter 'Yes'm.' then carry the body away.
Minto finally lets a tear escape from his eye. "Thank you." He takes Brodda's hand. "A drink would be good, but I'm not sure I have much time. I'm suppose to be keeping things running at the Mystic Store.
Clarice nods,We all rest in the Mother's care. Peace be with you.
"And with you... um, sorry about being so rude earlier."
Of course, Mr. Newberry. No offense was taken, nor was any intended on my part.
Brodda looks at Minto with confusion. "The Mystic Storre? Natala's? Ohhhh, rrright, she's off gettin' Herrmy back. She leads him out of the temple. "Why doon't yeh go back t'the storre and Ah'll brring soomethin' teh you."
Minto sighs. "That sounds like the best plan."
Brodda smiles encouragingly. "Of courrse it is." *grin*
"Actually before th... I was going to ask you if you'd be willing to help out there." "I've only so many songs I can do a day, and I've already had to turn a few people away."
"Meh? Helpin' oout at the storre? Ah..."
"Nothing serious, but a few peoples suffering could have been lessened."
Brodda regroups and nods with a smile. "Of courrse Ah'll help oout. Ah'll go get the ale and we'll discuss it."
"All right then, I'll meet you there."
She kisses his cheek before she releases his arm and heads off to Nobody's.
Minto swallows a lump in his throat and then waves at the two Jackals standing at the doorway. "Go back to the compound and get yourselves cleaned up."
"I'll let you know when we have news from Sir Hermy."
"Yessir!" The two men hustle away, discussing between themselves just how much trouble they might be in...
Minto looks down the hallway where Major was taken, and then starts for the door.
He stops and then drops 3 gold coins into the collection plate before heading out.
He then fully enters the temple, and anounces to the world (or at least the temple).
"Hello? Is there anybody here?"
The blonde cleric slowly twirls a lock of her hair, curiously gazing at the half-orc, and chewing a piece of gum.
He stumbles about for the right words
"Inquire, about getting some sort of work, a contract, work;
Yes, who would I talk to about getting some sort of work at the church?
I want to work for the church!"
He is heavly distracted, by the size of the building, the shear grandure of the building, and his first encounter with a human female not runing in terror from him. But he manges to say most of what he means in his second tounge.
Oh! Like, you want to dedicate your life to the Mother? You're going to take vows? That's, like, totally cool! We're always happy to accept new acolytes...
Is there any need for a Tracker, or a Ranger at this temple?
I reconised the name of the temple, the Human hunters always prayed to Ordemetrex, is there some reason?"
He asks, the tone of his voice hints that this is only the slow start to an onslaught of questions to come.
He dumps them both on the ground, and then stares down on them.
"When Therokke says you go to see mother, you go see mother."
"You no want to get Therokke mad do you? You not like Therokke when Therokke gets mad."
"It not pretty. Not for you. Therokke always pretty."
He flexes, and poses in front of the two unconcious converts.
Seeing no reaction, he looks across the room to where Clarice is often found, and sees a new face. A half orc face.
The big half orc strolls over and taps him on the shoulder.
"Therokke not have to rough you up do he?."
He cracks his knuckles.
"Um, no"
Is all he can say.
Like, don't worry about that, Mr. Therokke. This nice young man wants to be a priest.
Only, he, like, doesn't seem to know much about the Mother... Oh, like, maybe he doesn't know what an acolyte is, either...
Oh, like, wow...
But I would like to learn more of this mother?
I have heard that name used by the rangers too.
They would scream for the mother when they died."
"Then Therokke will teach him."
The big half orc poses.
"Therokke knows all about Mother."
Can you tell me why the rangers cried out for her when they were killed?"
Ah, like, that's totally cool, Mr. Therokke...
So, um, Mr... sorry, I didn't catch your name... but if you have any questions, just c'mon back and ask for me.
I'm Clarice.
Gilgiga is still a little in awe of seeing another half orc here, and a female human who dosen't think he's out to **** and kill her. He has a feeling he will retun.
"I have a good feeling I will return, but I will stay for now, I have lots of questions."
[orc]"They call out for the mother, because that is the way you should die Mother gives life to all, Mother takes life away. Best to be thankful either way.."[/orc]
[orc]"To call out anything else would be wrong. The Mother will embrace their souls, and there will be much feasting. And drinking. But mainly feasting."[/orc]
He poses again.
[i][orc]"Therokke not live in Temple. Therokke live in market. Has stall where RTherokke sells soup."[/orc]
[orc]"Soup like Mother makes."[/orc]
He thiks upon that for a moment, then asks another question, this one in common, so that way both of them can answer.
"Hmm, I rember this one ranger of the humans, Iron Eye or something like that. He was old, older than my clan. He was impossible to catch, no way to kill him. Whenever we tried the plants would fight us, wolves would hunt us. When we got close he dissapeared, gone!
Does the mother have something do to with this?
Was she protecting him?"
"Mostly she protect Therokke, but Mother protect everyone. Good, bad, ugly, pretty. Smart, dumb."
"Mother grant spell to her cleric. Father Hogan could do much magic."
""Puny blonde human here can do magic."
"Therokke can do magic. Not done it yet. But not need to yet."
He flexes and poses.
"Why Therokke need magic when Therokke have all this."
Gilgiga thought about why we was alive and here today, becuase he was smart, stealth, and sneaking. He could accomplish more than a brute of this size, his wits were why he was alive. His wits had brought him here. His wits told him that size did matter in a one one fight, and upseting this would lead to that kind of fight.
"I'm shure your strength has helped you, but I guess others don't have that now do they?"
"But Mother bless them all the same."
"Mother love everyone."
"Everyone."
"Before Therokke found Father Hogan, Therokke kill many people."
"Therokke kill a few since."
"Mother still love Therokke."
"Mother always love Therokke. Even before Therokke know who Mother is."
But were are good becase she loves us?"
"Therokke good, because Mother make Therokke that way."
"Other people good because Therokke make them good."
"Some good because they are week."
""Some good because they are strong."
"Most good because they just are?"
"Are you good?"
Therokke adjusts his loin cloth again.
Does the mother love them?"
"Mother love everyone."
Does she love some more than others?"
"She love Therokke more then others."
"Maybe she love others almost as much."
"She do what she think right."
"Or like the young ones that died would later start a war."
Clarise twirls her hair.
"There are like plans behind plans behind plans."
"We can like never hope to understand everything the Mother does."
"We can like only hope to deal with it."
What do they entail? what must I do?"
He asks getting back to busniess
"Har Har!"
"Therokke glad you not have to be beaten to come to Mother. Therokke does not feel like cracking skull right now."
"Feel like cooking soup."
"Therokke work here is done."
Therokke laughs and then heads out of the Temple.
"It takes more then taking vows."
"You've got to like truely believe, and be willing to like dedicate your life."
"Are you willing to do that?"
"I've never dedicated myself to anything but the Hunt, and that has gotten me nothing.
Perhaps I have been hunting the wrong thing. I'm not shure if I buy this eternal feasting after death, but you mother is far wiser, and greater than anything I've ever seen before.
I know hunt to make the world a better place, the mother is the tracks I must folow to this new prey.
Her love is the arrow that will kill the beast that is our runination, our...
hatred...
our fears.
I don't think I am ready, but I will try."
He says that last line with a touch more confidnce.
"Like that's a good start."
She glances back deeper into the temple, still lost in thjought.
"A lot of people, like won't even do that."
"They just expect the Mother to give to them, without like giving anything back."
Gilgiga stumbles for the proper word.
"Simplyfied, there that's the way. But I doubt the full...
reasons?
would not be easy to understand, and would take long time to grasp. I would like to learn, to...
better myself...
through the mother.
Is that the proper goal, or is there something I miss?"
Lucian takes his seat on the fountain, akwardly like a young boy.
"I'd actually like to learn as much as I can... Everything about her. My mother used to worship her but she's unable to teach me."
Sister Knola pats him on the back.
"She's in a better place... I can assure you that."
The teacher straightens her hair.
"This lecture is usually given to young children sent here to become more reasonable, your older though and should be able to understand things without the sugar coating."
"The Mother is the creator of all things in this world. Light and Dark. Good and Evil. Land and sky. Everything."
"She is the embodiment of this world."
The sister traces her hand through the water. Lucian leans closer, his hand clenching the pendant he picked up in the market.
"She created the bright son Agathalos first. To bring sun and joy to the world. After She created orcs, however, she was required to bring forth another son of darkness and hate to banish them from their sun-drenched homelands. A place to hold their dark souls."
Lucian swollows.
"She sounds wonderful in her beauty, yet frightening in her power at the same time."
"That she is... however compassionate to all. offering aid to any who needing it and not letting things get out of hand."
"Like what?"
"Coytes maybe a menace, but they do keep the rabbit population down and if the coyotes are removed the rabbit population grows. If left unchecked, the rabbits will eat all the grass in the area."
"what does that have to do with anything?"
"I was going to get to that."
Lucian turns a bright red.
"Sorry."
"Not a problem. Who do you think made sure that the coyotes were there to keep the population down? The mother made it so. It is her will to keep it that way."
"A leveler of sorts."
"Exactly."
Lucian think for a moment.
"If I tell you something then do you promise to keep it a secret?"
"If anyone is in danger I will help but otherwise I promise to keep it secret."
The sister closes the door to the room.
"Yes."
"Would the same be applied to wealth?"
"In what manner."
He grins warmly, and reflects.
"hmm"
"Theres more then one way to, you know, like serve the Mother."
"For some of us, dedicating our lives as acoyltes and priests here in the temple, brings us closer to her."
"And for some others going out in the world and spreading like her word is like their path. That 's like the path, that Mr. Therokke takes, though I don't think his way is like, um, the right way of doing that."
"Sister Natala's approach is like a bit more, you know, respectful."
"She like took a vow to like help everyone, Worshippers of the Mother, or either of her sons. She like doesn't show favoritism. Its about keeping the balance."
""And there are several others paths you could choose as well,the important thing is that you are, you know, ready to dedicate your life to it."
Walking ahead a step, Clarice leads Gilgiga down a hallway, chatting as she goes about the schooling necessary to prepare one for taking the vows of priesthood.
You do know how to, like, read? and write?
He says folowing her down the corridor
"I had to teach myself. My clan leaders burnt all the books we had as fire wood. I always asked for fire duty, so I could read the books before we burned them.
I started by reading road signs and maps."
The Mother guides us, she waits for us in the afterlife, she balances the world... Just as she is many things to us, there are many ways to serve the Mother, and you shouldn't choose until you really understand what you're choosing from.
So, I'm going to take your vow as a supplicant, and then you're going to come to this room every day, and read, and ask questions.
When you're ready to choose your path in the Mother's service, you'll know.
From a cabinet, Clarice takes a long strip of patterned cloth -- black, white and grey -- and holds it up.
Child of our Mother, brother to me as I am sister to you, brother as well to all who walk on and below the earth, do you come to our Mother of your own will, with no vows or obligations to serve another before She Who created us all?
"Yes I do, I have no others than the mother, no where to go but the mother. The mother is all I have, I come to serve her and no other."
Lucian scuffs his foot on the floor.
"It is a business concept... spending money amongst a community allows others to spend that money, increasing the general prosperity of the community."
The teacher looks unsure so Lucian continues.
"It's really working together to find a more successful whole..."
"It does seem like something that the mother would approve of."
"There are some people, however, who horde wealth. They cause imbalance amongst a community, and can send many into poverty."
"An imbalance so to speak?"
"Yes. It is an imbalance that, in my opinion, is unreasonable... I do have a means of solving the problem."
The sister looks unsure before answering.
"I'm not sure that I'm totally comfortable with the way you are thinking about handling that. There is a balance as there is."
"But it..."
The teacher lifts her hand,
"That's probably enough."
There is an akward pause. Water laps in the fountain and the two look across at each other.
"I should probably be going."
"You probably should unless you'd like to serve the mother in a slightly more conventional way."
"Thank you for your time."
Lucian gives the woman five gold for her lesson before vacating the complex, moving slightly faster then when her arrived. He still is respectful though and doesn't use his walking stick until after he leaves.
Tap-Tap-Tap
Originally posted by Gilgiga of the Hunt
Not entierly shure of what he is to do, Gilgiga drops to his knees and speaks solenmly
"Yes I do, I have no others than the mother, no where to go but the mother. The mother is all I have, I come to serve her and no other."
Then, Gilgiga, I accept you in the Mother's name, to her sacred service.
Clarice drapes the narrow cloth around his shoulders. It is approximately 1" wide and 36" long.
You are now an acolyte of the Mother's Temple. Welcome!
Kissing Gilgiga lightly on each cheek, she smiles at him.
For now, report to the chief gardener for duties, and remember you're to come to this library every day to study. You'll still have half of each day to yourself, and you can sleep in the dormitory with the other acolytes.
Gilgiga speaks as he rises slowly, and replies.
"So, I am to live here, study here, and work in the garden?
I feel I may acctualy like it here.
So I am to report to the gardener right away? Where can I find the gardener?"
"Hello, is the gardener here, I was told to come here. I'm a new acolyte."
Comes a high grumbly voice from behind Gilgiga. Gilgiga turns around to see nothing. A touch confused, he stares down at his feet. Gilgiga notices something between the nothing and his feet.
The something was around three and a half feet tall, thin and wierly, and covered in dirtty matted hair. Giving the all around impression of a bipedal weasel.
This however was NOT a bipedal weasel, it in fact was a gnome, and he also happened to be the gardener Gilgiga was looking for.
But you (and Gilgiga for that matter) already figured that out, didn't you.
"Are you the gardener?"
Gilgiga asked the six million gold piece question.
Not to much to his (or our) suprise the gardener in fact said:
"Yes-o, I am, my name is Gormadoc. And your name happens to be...?
"It's Gilgiga sir."
"Ok Gilgiga, call me Doc, alright?"
The gnome extends his arm upwards twards the much larger half orc.
"Ok si... Doc"
Gilgiga shakes his little hand and finds it amazeingly stiff.
"Alright Gilgiga, follow me please we've got plenty of work to do.
Therokke didn't beat you too bad did he?"
"Oh, no he didn't beat me at all, what made you think he did? And can I have a moment to put my gear somewhere?"
"Oh, nothing. And your weapons 'ill be fine here. Nobody is dumb enough to try and steal things at a church."
"Oh, alright"
Gilgiga replies as he follows the gnome. The gnome moves faster than one would thing a bieng so small or so old could move, and Gilgiga finds himself having to bustle to keep up. After a breef tour of the gardens, and a drasticaly abrideged verson of its history, the pair arrive at a small weed covered plot of soil.
Alright you'll be pulling weeds from this dirt today, then putting it over in the compost pile over there, got it.
"Yes Doc."
Gilgiga drops to his knees and starts pulling out the long and spikey weeds from the earth. Their roots are deep, and thorns long, it dosen't go easly. Gilgiga after a few minetes stops to take a breather.
"Just one queston Doc?"
"Shoot."
"What am I to learn from pulling these weeds?"
That before you can't grow potatos when you already got weeds in the dirt. Now get back to work!"
While NaShae is given time to deliberate on her assigned mission, the more ordinary, but no less important, task of looking into activities for Dakarai falls upon Kywyn this afternoon.
Entering the Temple of Ordemet, Kywyn glances around for someone who looks like they might be able to answer some questions about the schools and lessons run by the church. He stays out of the way of the light streaming through the stained glass windows and walks with his hands folded behind him.
He notices Kwywn, and moves over to him.
"Hmm, you look more out of place here than I. Anything I can do for you, perhaps find someone who can help you more than I?"
Inquires the half orc.
“I was told that the church runs schooling or lessons for children, and was wanting to look into it.”
“You are new here?” Kywyn notices the collection of gear the stranger carries.
Wish I had someone to teach me that stuff when I was young...
That would probably be Clarise or Sister Knola.
Et, yes I am new here"
Gilgiga says pulling a thistle out of his hair.
Not seeing any others around at the moment, he asks the man, "And you are new in town as well?"
Kywyn leans against the nearby foyer column.
In a place like this, there always will be new people.
So, you have a kid or somethin'?
Or are you to stiff to admit you can't read?"
Gilgiga attempts at a light hearted joke, as he places the bundle down. It was getting heavy.
"The city is always changing," he agrees, "Just a big meeting point of people's paths."
"Here, it's pretty free and tolerant, I've found," Kywyn hints at the half-orc's heritage.
This church is a good place, everyone cares here. I sure wish I had a place like this when I was a runt, it would be a good place for a child.
(Expecaly if you want him to become a gardener).
I happen to behind in my studies, I aught to be in my way. Clairice's office is on the left. She's more or less in charge, at least for when it comes to stuff like this."
Gilgiga picks up his gear and vanishes into the dorm that Doc sent him to. He slides his equipment under an unused bed, and places his spear on top. He heads to the library in much lighter clotheing. On his way he passes Kywyn again, and stops.
"Oh, I didn't get your name, mine's Gilgiga, and yours?"
He extends a friendly hand.
"Kywyn," he says evenly.
"Good luck with your studies, maybe I'll see you around."
With that he heads down the hall into the small library, and winders what to do.
After a moment of hesitation he selects a topic at random (weather patterns, why the must folow the ways they do) cracks oppen the book and slowly starts to read.
"Hi... would one of you be Clarice or Knola? I had a few questions about the lessons offered by the church for children."
Oh, like, I'm Clarice. Aren't you, like, a little old for children's classes?
"But I am looking for information about the schools. Some place where a kid can be safe and play with other children. I checked at the Hightower, and they mentioned that lessons are usually run through the churches. "
She caps the jars of colored sand, and walks towards Kywyn, gesturing him back to the hall.
C'mon, I'll show you to the classrooms. Of course, the kids get time outside, learning about plants, and playing, some, too.
How old are your kids?
"How old?"
He fights the first answer of "one," since circumstances have made that true and not true.
"Five, this past midwinter. But he is very bright for his age."
"Religion is a central subject in the teachings?"
"Oh, sorry"
He applogizes and quickly moves out of the way.
"Was just comeing down to say I finished my studies for the day, and will be heading out.
Good to see you again Mr. Kywyn. I see you found Clarice all right."
Originally posted by Kywyn
Kywyn follows.
"How old?"
He fights the first answer of "one," since circumstances have made that true and not true.
"Five, this past midwinter. But he is very bright for his age."
"Religion is a central subject in the teachings?"
Oh, five is a good age to start on letters and numbers.
Yes, we teach them everything they need to know about the Mother, for people who aren't going to be in her clergy. Would you rather he get extra training, for a religious life?
She nods absently at Gilgiga, with a slight frown at his loitering in doorways.
He corrects himself, "Not that I have anything against the teachings of the Mother, it's just that I've found you're often closest to the divine when you're not actively searching for it, you know?"
He rubs the back of his neck, trying to make his words sound more balanced.
"You know better that I do... How many people come to this place to pay lip service by offering their attendance or their coins without knowing why?... Organized faith and automatic prayers."
Kywyn nods to Gilgiga, "Hello. Your directions helped."
The gnome ambles over, gives Kywyn a brief nod of greeting and then waves Gilgigga back towards the garden.
"Our Cousins have informed me that they will be sending out a few of their acoylites to gather some herbs today."
"Usually I go with them, to gather up some of the ones I can't seem to get to grow here."
"But I think this might be a good opertunity for you to learn more about the Mother by learning more about one of Her Sons."
"Gather up what ever you think you might need for a day out in the countryside, and then head over to the Church of Agathlos."
"And while you are there, take look out their gardens. Truely amazing, though a bit on the guady side."
""Our garden here is more then sufficient I think."
Oh, absolutely! I'm a lot more comfortable on the mystic path, myself. We don't have much if anything to do with the public rituals.
I suppose you could say the mystic pursues the unattainable, but then, a lot of people spend their lives that way, don't they?
Our unattainable goal is perfect communion with the Mother.
She grins wryly, then adds, We study various forms of divination and meditation, and different scholastic areas as well.
And, I'm one of the Keepers of the Labyrinth.
"And what is the Labyrinth?"
"And the colored sand you were working with before, what was that for?" Kywyn questions, "The colors were very nice."
Sensing his familiar's readying to jump, Kywyn looks down and tries to put a gloved hand over the small frog. Too late, however, as Hex decides to take a closer look. Kywyn can only watch as the frog vaults over to the hem of Clarice's robe. Kywyn reacts quickly to try and retrieve the errant creature but stops short of what might be construed as an improper manner of address for one of Ordemet's priests.
Brodda approaches the Temple with her usual reverence for her favorite deity. She steps quietly within. Luck, or blessings, must be with her, as she runs into an acolyte immediately.
"Oh, good! Do yeh have a minute? Yes? Excellent. Ah'm lookin' forr a Clerric Arrbin. Can yeh dirrect meh to him?"
"Cleric Arbin? I believe he's in the Sacristy. It's down there and to the left."
He looks uncertain, torn.
"I apologize. Normally I would be happy to accompany you, but... I'm on an urgent errand..."
Brodda smiles.
"That's alrright, lad. Ah've been herre a time orr two. Ah'll find meh way."
The acolyte looks relieved, wishes her a good day, and quickly moves off to finish his errand.
.oO(Well noow, teh find the sacrristy... whateverr that is. He said teh go doown herre...)
She heads off in the direction shown and makes a left turn only to find no doorways, but more turns.
.oO(Well noow... hmm.)
She backtracks to see if she's missed anything, but it doesn't appear as if she had. She tries going right instead of left, and finds a broom closet.
.oO(Ah'm surre that isn't it.)
She goes back, turns left again to face a multiple choice turn.
.oO(Ah suppoose Ah shoould just go back to the entrrance and trry again forr soome help...)
A devilish gleam appears in her eyes.
.oO(... but wherre's the fun in that? Let's see what this old churrch has. Motherr, guide meh!)
Making a snap decision, she makes a right turn and soon finds herself heading down a flight of stairs...
Originally posted by Kywyn
A pair of tiny golden eyes watch Clarice from the shadow of Kywyn's satchel. The smooth, black glob edges forward while Kywyn is talking, curious about this new female who smells different.
"And the colored sand you were working with before, what was that for?" Kywyn questions, "The colors were very nice."
Sensing his familiar's readying to jump, Kywyn looks down and tries to put a gloved hand over the small frog. Too late, however, as Hex decides to take a closer look. Kywyn can only watch as the frog vaults over to the hem of Clarice's robe. Kywyn reacts quickly to try and retrieve the errant creature but stops short of what might be construed as an improper manner of address for one of Ordemet's priests.
Clarice looks down curiously at the little black frog, then holds the fabric of her skirt still with one hand as she gently scoops Hex into her other hand. Holding him up to eye level, she examines him.
Not an ordinary frog...
She looks at Kywyn thoughtfully.
The colored sands? That's how I plan out meditation paths for the Labyrinth. It's a place for people to go and contemplate. For most people, it's a quiet place where the patterns I set out for them to walk help them to calm down and get centered.
For people with deeper needs, it's... something else.
Originally posted by Brodda
.oO(... but wherre's the fun in that? Let's see what this old churrch has. Motherr, guide meh!)
Making a snap decision, she makes a right turn and soon finds herself heading down a flight of stairs...
A couple of slit-windows let in light, but then the dwarfess finds she has gone below ground-level.
Soon after, a pungent odor assails her nostrils, accompanied by muted clinking and rustling noises.
Kywyn holds out his hand for Hex to return to him.
"Is it open to everyone? I... I think I might like to see that after the classrooms if it is."
.oO(Dearrr Motherrr! Ah need teh have a worrd aboout cleanin' oout this basement when Ah find Arrbin. Yewww!)
She freezes in her steps when she hears the noises.
.oO(Chains? On churrch grround? Who woould they be hooldin' herre that woouldn't be taken by the guarrd?)
She takes a few steps forward, moving quietly, looking around.
[Move Silently +5]
Originally posted by Kywyn
"Strange, such a place exists here?"
Kywyn holds out his hand for Hex to return to him.
"Is it open to everyone? I... I think I might like to see that after the classrooms if it is."
Oh, sure, it's open to everyone. Just like the Mother is there for all her children.
Her hand held flat like a platform, she watches as Hex leaps back to Kywyn.
The end of the corridor, a right turn, and soon they hear the sound of children reciting, chant-like, a list of the types of living creatures.
"They learn mostly in the common tongue, for reading and writing? It looks like a good setup. Does a kid have to be enrolled full-time or are there options for part-time study? And is there a fee?"
Kywyn continues to observe the young ones. So small they seem.
"Now, be sure that sulphur is an even grain when you --"
"Yes, yes, I know, I know."
"Well, really, I only want to keep you from another lecture..."
"By giving me one yourself?"
"That's hardly fair!"
"Let's not argue, fellows..."
She tilts her head, looking at the children thoughtfully from the corridor.
Some of those kids, they don't have much at home, to go home to, y'know? When class lets out they tend to hang around, finding things to do in the garden, or the stables.
That little boy with the red hair likes to follow choirmistress Kayli around. He's starting to sing pretty well.
She turns back to Kywyn, with a smile.
See, we try to provide things like the school at no charge, to the people who can't afford to pay. It's a service to the Mother's children, y'know? But if we do that, we have to rely on the generosity of the people who can contribute.
We give all the kids breakfast when they arrive. I've helped serve the food, and some of those kids, it's the only meal they're going to get all day, I think.
There's a lot of need in the world, more than some people ever see, even when it's right in front of them.
She frowns, brow wrinkling.
Did I answer your question? The cost is what you feel is right, for you. I know you're not one of the Lords of the city, but, well, you're not without means, either.
He catches sight of a tiny girl with long black hair in the classroom.
"No kid should have to suffer..." Kywyn sighs absently.
"The way of the world, it seems."
"Do they have art lessons here? I draw when I can, sometimes for the small ones I see in the market. Maybe I could do that from time to time here if there is an interest?"
"I have a boy, and I would ask him if this is something he would want to try. And discuss it with my lady, of course."
With kids this little, there's not much with art. The older kids, sure, they do some arts and crafts.
You'd be surprised how many parents think drawing is a waste of time, though. I wonder how they think the drawings get into books, if drawing is so foolish, y'know?
"But that's a shame," Kywyn says mildly, "They have no limits when they are younger... real art without pretense or vanity."
"Drawing for them would be something I'd do anyway, with or without class. I'll just have to see what opportunity comes up, I guess," Kywyn shrugs slightly.
Kywyn leans back against the wall.
"Those that have natural gifts, are they treated the same as everyone else?" he probes.
He follows with, "What about those that have a hindrance."
And finally, "And what about those that have both."
When the teachers see kids being picked on, they use the opportunity to remind them of that, and that the Mother loves all of Her children.
Slowly twirling a lock of hair, she adds, It's hard to see it, sometimes, but in the end, it all balances out. That's pretty tough for kids to understand. It's tough for most adults to understand, too.
"But something worthwhile."
"We may rise and fall, but in the end, we meet our fate together, right?"
Turning away from the classroom door, Kywyn asks, "The Labyrinth, is it in a room above or below? I've looked at this temple a lot but never bothered to learn more about it.
It's down one floor from ground level.
Leading Kywyn back to the main hall, she guides him to another corridor and a stair down.
Reaching a door marked with an intricate circular maze, she pauses and looks at Kywyn with eyes that suddenly seem otherworldly. She places her hand on the door, and it swings open silently to a darkened room.
Go ahead... Find yourself within.
Kywyn meets Clarice's gaze before stepping through the doors. His darkvision eyes strain to make out what lies in the blackness.
He strides forward and into the Labyrinth.
"Huh... I thought it would be bigger..." he thinks as his eyes adjust.
A deeply organic smell assails his nostrils, and mist hangs on all sides, with cypresses visible through the gaps. Moss hangs in long strands from the trees, and the cypress's knees jut out from the water that is all around him.
He appears to be outdoors, in a warm swamp such as he has never before seen.
A distant whisper asks, What are you?
Suddenly aware he is not where he thought he was, Kywyn turns back to check for the door.
Visions have come in the past, but this one seems too foreign.
He stalks forward, looking for the source of the sound. Hex cranes his head up to take in the apparent moisture.
"Do you see what I see? Or is it an illusion?" Kywyn asks his familiar.
"I see what you see. Same eyes as you."
"Doesn't make things clearer."
He slogs through the moss and crouches down to look at his reflection in the water.
Similar somehow to a dream. Maybe not so foreign after all, just strange to see it with waking eyes.
Find yourself within... bring your self without.
His hidden Avowed tattoo appears over his right eye, the black tapered tear joined with a curved horn. Kywyn sees it first when the water starts to calm.
"Within is too deep, without is too dark."
Kywyn finds the water wrapping around his hand, like a firm grasp without real substance, and he is suddenly drawn in, falling down, and up, all at once.
His eyes go gold and bright.
Then he is floating, and there is no direction.
He realizes he's been afraid for so long. At first it was for himself, what was to become of him. Then it was for NaShae, and now Dakarai. There is always fear behind everything.
How could he let go of that?
Kywyn's body twirls in space, his light clothing flapping gently as if he were underwater, and yet he does not feel wet. He tumbles and arches his back in the void.
The ghostly black Hex Tongue trails his path like a ribbon pulled through the air.
"Haven't stopped falling since?"
"Falling a step behind..."
A second tendril spirals forth from his left wrist.
Kywyn feels blackness. He never knew you could really feel a color.
The magic tattoo around his eyes grows and spreads like a vial of spilt ink until his flesh is all starless night. The muted brightness of his shirt and pants absorbs the pigment until Kywyn is nothing but blackness and tentacles and two golden orbs.
He can see his alien reflection all around him in the liquid crystal mirrors that seem to float around just out of reach.
"No..?"
The black silhouette that is Kywyn shivers and then explodes, the man bursting out of the black. The inky shadow spreads everywhere and the water goes dark as Kywyn's limbs are stretched to their limits.
Blind. In the cold ether. Alone.
Then the tainted fluid swirls and... and the shadows rip free, separating like oil in water. The darkness spirals into a twister that shoots straight down Kywyn's open mouth and throat. Kywyn feels his jaw almost unhinge as he cannot help but swallow and swallow until the water is clear again.
Kywyn opens his eyes in the dark to find himself on his knees on a smooth, flat plane that stretches off in every direction. On the floor is painted a circular maze, and smeared footprints indicate the path taken by Kywyn.
He closes his eyes again and opens them, wondering if the door will be there.
His appearance does not seem to have drawn anyone's attention.
He scrutinizes the wanderers in this painted maze, wondering what images their minds must be vivifying. Kywyn gathers that each person must be partaking in his or her own private visions in the gloaming.
The red clouds part from Kywyn's mind, letting him regain his bearings. He begins walking closer to the drawn labyringht and long its outer most delineated wall. Were all these people looking for some spiritual afflatus? Walk the line and see your destiny?
His spectral tendrils wrap tighly around his forearms under his sleeves so as not to risk added attention.
Originally posted by Scheherazade
Brodda slips quietly along the corridor, and sees light from an open doorway, apparently the source of both noise and odor. Peering in, she sees several clerics in spattered robes. They are busily grinding powders, reducing liquids, and carefully filling vials.
"Now, be sure that sulphur is an even grain when you --"
"Yes, yes, I know, I know."
"Well, really, I only want to keep you from another lecture..."
"By giving me one yourself?"
"That's hardly fair!"
"Let's not argue, fellows..."
Remaining silent, Brodda continues watching, trying to figure out what she's seeing.
.oO(Sulphurrr? That explains the odoorr. Perrhaps they'rre prreparrin' magical components forr theirr spells. What's sulphurr used forr? Hmm...)
She watches for a few moments more, then decides to continue her wandering.
.oO(Let's see, Ah came frrom that way, soo if Ah go this otherr way...)
She turns down a few more corridors in the chill underground level.
"What an odd place," he decides.
But the visions are lacking. He sees now how people come here to think, to get lost in their thoughts. It's nice to get lost sometimes. Yet it dawns on him maybe no answer will be good enough for any of his questions. Maybe that is okay?
"Take responsibility for the questions, don't obsess over the answers..."
He is a seeker, it's what he does. The unanswerable questions are the ones worth thinking about.
"Only fear can hold you back..." he whispers.
"Nothing is safe in a sea change. Nothing is holy, nothing is profane," Hex reflects in a moment of lucidity.
The Hex Tongues retract back into Kywyn's hands, and he starts to look for the door back to the hall.
Reaching for the door, Kywyn slips out back into the lower level of the temple.
Originally posted by Brodda
Remaining silent, Brodda continues watching, trying to figure out what she's seeing.
.oO(Sulphurrr? That explains the odoorr. Perrhaps they'rre prreparrin' magical components forr theirr spells. What's sulphurr used forr? Hmm...)
She watches for a few moments more, then decides to continue her wandering.
.oO(Let's see, Ah came frrom that way, soo if Ah go this otherr way...)
She turns down a few more corridors in the chill underground level.
As Brodda explores, a cleric steps into the corridor ahead of her.
"Good afternoon, miss. You seem to be lost."
"GAAAAAH! Wherre did yeh coome frrom? Ah didn'a hearr yeh coomin'!"
She takes a moment to lean against a wall and catch her breath. Then she looks up at the cleric.
Ah'm lookin' forr soomeone and musta gotten meh dirrections wrrong, ended up doown herre. Woould yeh mind tellin meh wherre Ah might find Clerric Arrbin?"
He gestures to Brodda to turn back.
"I'll take you there. It really would be best if you had an acolyte guide you through the temple in the future. Not every area is open to the public, you see."
His tone conveys the implication that this is one such area.
He looks to see if Clarice is still around or if she went on with her daily routine.
Originally posted by Scheherazade
"Cleric Arbin? Oh, he's one of the healers, they're all on the upper floors, where the patients can get sunlight."
He gestures to Brodda to turn back.
"I'll take you there. It really would be best if you had an acolyte guide you through the temple in the future. Not every area is open to the public, you see."
His tone conveys the implication that this is one such area.
Curious as she always is, Brodda nevertheless allows herself to be diverted by the nice cleric.
"Ah underrstand. No harrd feelin's."
She winks at him.
"Does Arrbin go oout on a lot of calls? Is he good with the healin'?"
He seems rather aloof but maintains an air of amiability.
"Thanks for your tour."
"Do you have any healer you normally see?" he asks the older halfling.
Mrs. Toadfoot bustles along next to Kywyn, and spotting an acolyte calls out her request for the aforementioned cleric.
The priest taps on the doorframe, and the priest within looks up from a notebook.
Yes? May I help you?
"This young lady wished to speak with you..."
Brodda's escort gestures her within, and then takes himself off to his own duties.
"Ah, Clerric Arrrbin! How arre yeh this fine day?"
She glances about the room as she speaks, looking at his office decor for a hint of the man behind it.
"Ah'm investigatin' a case forr Doctorr Chandl of the Lawyerr's Guild rregarrdin' a rrecent case of brrain feverr yeh handled? Oh! Herre, this shoould help soome."
She pulls out the nearly forgotten note from Dr. Chandl and hands it to the cleric with a smile and her focus now on him. She waits for him to read the note.
"Oh, yes! Right this way!"
The acolyte hurries to lead Kywyn and Mrs. Toadfoot to Cleric Arbin's office.
In Cleric Arbin's office:
Good day... Chandl?
The middle-aged cleric stands, accepting the note from Brodda, and gesturing her to the empty chair near her.
He glances over the note and grunts thoughtfully.
Ah yes, the case of mindfire... Not a common thing, and odd that there were two cases so close... Yes?
A second tap at the door heralds the arrival of a human man, holding a limp halfling youth, with an elderly halfling woman by his side.
Brodda immediately recognizes Iris Toadfoot.
She rushes over to older woman, remembering to allow the cleric to take care of the boy. She recognizes Kywyn but deems now not the appropriate time for reunions. She does however catch his eye and nods in greeting.
"Missus Toadfoot, arre yeh alrright? What happened with the boy?"
She fusses for a few moments, making sure she isn't injured.
"Right, the cheerful dwarf," he reminds himself.
He nods slightly to Brodda.
When the cleric looks his way, Kywyn states, "The boy is sick. Will you take a look at him?"
Cleric Arbin helps Kywyn to lay the boy on a couch that stands by one wall, and looks the boy over.
No, it couldn't be...
About to cry out that it can't be the mindfever, she stops herself, not wanting to alarm Mrs. Toadfoot.
"Arrrbin? What is it?"
I believe it is the same illness as the other two, that you were asking about. Mindfire.
We need to find where this is coming from, before it spreads any further.
"What is Mindfire?" Kywyn queries.
"And how can it be stopped?"
"And we will, Clerrric! We will find the soourrce and stop this frrom happening!"
She paces for a few moments, then stops.
"Missus Toadfoot, Ah'g gooin' teh need teh find oout everrything he did today, everrything he ate, who he's been in contact with. Arrrbin, Ah need teh knoow who the otherr patient was."
Mrs. Toadfoot looks deeply bewildered.
But... I wouldn't know! He just showed up ill. Said he didn't know what was wrong, and collapsed!
"If we find the source, we can clean the area, but can you help the kid?" he asks the healer.
Cleric Arbin nods, Certainly, I'll do my very best.
.oO(This is my investigation.)
.oO(C'mon lass, what's up with that. Noow is no time teh get territorrial. He's just helpin'. Get overr it.)
"With all the inforrmation, we can stop this?"
Cleric Arbin stands, the youth in his arms.
I'll take him to the infirmary. What is his name?
Jerrod. Jerrod Bellthistle. Oh, do take good care of him! He's a foolish, reckless boy, and the apple of his dear mother's eye!
Of course I will, Mrs. Toadfoot.
The cleric hurries off with the boy, and Mrs. Toadfoot puts her hand on Brodda's arm, leaning on her for support.
"We'll get to the bottom of this, Missus Toadfoot. Ah prromise yeh that. And Clerric Arrbin has alrready healed two cases of this... Mindfirrre. He knoows what teh do. Shall we get yeh home? We'll speak with yeh'rre daughterr, let herr knoow what's happened, find oout wherre he's been."
She glances up at Kywyn for confirmation of his help, having assumed by his interest that he would.
Hearing the dwarfess speak of the diseases history in the temple, Kywyn nods.
"You've been looking into this Mindfire thing?" Kywyn wonders, "I don't think I want something like this active while my kid wants to play outside."
"Ah'm pleased teh hearr we werre able teh help."
Glad for the change of topic, she dives in.
"One of the otherr victims has hirred legal assistance. The lawyerr has asked meh teh look into it, find oout what's gooin' on. Ah came herre teh speak with Clerric Arrbin, find oout what he knoows aboout it, and teh see if Ah coould interrview the firrst victim."
She pats Mrs. Toadfoot's hand on her arm.
"All that can wait, thoough. We need teh get yeh home, Missus Toadfoot. The investigation can starrt with Jerrod's wherreaboouts."
---
[To Elsewhere]
Esmet hesitates in the street. The sun, hanging low in the sky, lends a faint tinge of molten gold to the rustling canopy of the trees. So too does the temple glow.
"It's very beautiful," she murmurs into the wind.
A thought occurs to the paladin, but she dismisses it with a shake of her head.
Smiling over her shoulder at Lucian, she beckons, "Let's go see your Mother."
oO. (I haven't done this before...)
He sits on a bench and closes his eyes and waits for something to feel right. In the space behind his eyes, he sees two spheres of darkness. They feel wrong and all together disturbing to him so he pushes past them. Behind them he feels bliss. Rapture. The half-elf begins praying, more focused than ever before.
'Greatest Mother, balancer of the scales
creator of light and dark,
hear this plea and set me free.
With light and dark in all souls,
Please remove all from mine,
Grant my soul the power to firnly hold,
In earnest all your infinite wisdom
Let me serve you day by day,
in any way that you may wish.
Despite what the future may have in store,
I shall revere you in your grace, forever more.
Amen."
As he finishes, she turns her heated face away.
.oO(All paladins should be at least that devout. What's wrong with me?!)
.oO(Everything. This is just a small part of it.)
.oO(Mother, if you hear me, please... Let me follow more eagerly after your son, Agathalos.)
(Thalos, Lightbringer, forgive me my weakness in spirit. Forgive me, too, for my cowardice and my selfishness. Please, strengthen me! Open my eyes, so that I may see you are with me everywhere.)Oo. she prays silently, blinking back tears.
"Are you alright?"
Lucian walks quietly out of the temple, walking stick touching down as soon as they leave.
Elsewhere or Church, your choice.
"Is Father Cannedrum stills awake? I needs ta talks to him about somethin?"
He takes a deep breath, and continues. "Rright nnow."
.o0(Wheres Clariinet? I hopes my bad lucks didn't rubs off on her too. This guy must knows it too. He seems very scarded.)
*Careful to stay a safe distance from the man, Hermy nods his head.*
"I thinks I knows the way there. No needs fer ya ta hafta helps."
*Hermy starts to walk further into the Temple.*
"Father Cannedrum? Are ya in here?"
Ah, Mr. Woodhome, good evening. You have need of me, tonight?
"Yup."
*The halfling moves to meet the priest halfway.*
"Minto tolds me that you said Kirby confessed ta killing the guy that my dad was sent ta the mines fer killing?"
"Wills you tells the judge that so I cin go an git my dad released? Minto says we needs ta et a judge ta lets him go."
Father Camrun guides Hermy to his office.
"What guard captain?"
"An why? Aint Kirby confessing goods enough?"
If they could get the guard captain that rushed the original investigation to admit she was... less than thorough, well... It would lend a certain credence.
The priest hands Hermy a cinnamon cookie, and takes one for himself as well.
"What's if they can'ts find the guard captain? Theys has a tendancy ta dissapear once they stop being guard captains. Or get hungs."
"At least Durin disappeared eventually. An the guy that followed him got hung."
"What happened ta the one they's looking for?"
Camrun takes a kettle from the small stove, and prepares a pot of tea.
"Why did she rush it through? That don't seem like the best way ta do it."
"If it had taken more time then she woulds have been ables to figures out it was Kirby who did it."
"He likes ta brags about that kinda thing."
"Has you asked him about her?"
Your brother is not the best conversationalist. And, while he holds a certain professional interest for me, he is still not my preferred choice for company.
He raves more than anything, and, frankly I'd be surprised if he remembered a detail like that.
The acolyte looks bit dubious for a moment but then nods and shows Codrian to the room. Acknowledging stammered wish for good meditation, steps inside the room and looks at the pattern on the floor. Allows his mind to empty of thoughts and concentrates on the patterns.
Walks along the lines, steadily approaching the middle of the large circular maze. Though he gradually gets quite close to the center, he never seems to find a line that would lead there. While he lets his foot and unconscious to do the work to guide him onwards, considers all that has happened in his life thus far. And what may yet to happen, but acknowledges readily that he can't decide what will happen, only to rely on luck and Thalos' guidance to see him past through times. Reflects on various events of past year and half, picking up a thought here, another there.
After about an hour of walking, notices that is standing put in the center. Smiles and gingerly sits down.
Closes his eyes, slowly, letting surrounding world to fade away until he is alone.
In the center of everything.
In tranquillity... to think... to reflect... to see.
Memorizies do fade.
Friends fallen, companions swept away by harsh happenstances. All those soldiers during the war. Khaled and his brother while first encounter with Benelvir and Patkifen. Honor now on the latest venture.
Need to remember.
Opens his eyes and looks around the circular chamber.
.oO(I wonder what time is it. I sure am hungry.)
Stands up bit unsteadily and stumbles while taking first steps. Stretches and bends to get rid of muscle cramps and get blood flowing to extremities again. Strides then to the door and opens it.
.oO(I can just catch dinner at Last Lich.)
Makes his way to one of smaller doors of the temple, past a couple of acolytes that look at him oddly for some reason. Pushes the door open and blinks in the sudden blare of sunlight. Tentatively steps outside and stands there, looking at the city waking up to a new day.
.oO(Morning? I was there whole night? I could've sworn I was there two or three hours only.)
Shrugs and sets off purposefully towards the market.
.oO(Good breakfast is in order now.)
Originally posted by Hermy the Hero
"Well it's not something I'd forgets. Even ifen I was dead, umm, undead, I'd member framins my dad fer killin the clerk I killed."
*The priest shakes his head. * "You won't get anything out of him. He does nothing but ramble now days."
"That's all right. I speaks rambling."
*The priest hides a quick smile and then gets up.*"I suspect it can't hurt. And I would like to see your father again."
"We were friends."
"Youse still is then."
*The priest leads the hero down into the bowels of the Temple to a familiar brick wall.*
"Havvve you coome to gloat or to pesterrr me? I have no time forrr eitherr. Make it quick brrrotherr. My head is heavy, I need to rrreadjust it."
*Hermy looks up at Camrun, and then at the wall.*
"Ise here ta pester."
"Shame. I prrreferr gloating. Have I everrr told you about what it is like to dig up yourrr own body? It's interrresting to see how big yourrr feet rrreally arrrre."
"Bones, bones, bones, I never had the desirrre to gnaw them beforrrre. Do you think eating yourself would hurrrt?"
"Ise never tyhoughts of that. An now aint the time for that. I needs ta talks to you about dad."
"Yesss, I suppose eating fatherrrrs bones would be more delicious. Sweeter.rrr."
"He aint dead you know."
"Perrrrhaps a bit too salty by now. Perrrhaps with a nice tangy sauce I could bake a pie."
"You can't bake no pie. Yer locked up behind that wall forever. You aint getting no pie."
"A sammich then. I'd kill forrr a sammich."
"Ah doon't think Ah've been herre late at night beforre. The garrden's seem beautiful, even noow."
Minto nods his agreement. Brodda smiles then realizes the acolyte nearby.
"Oh! Helloo! Is therre a chance Clerrric Arrbin might still be awake? Ah need teh see one of his patients."
She squeezes Minto's hand as she hopes the answer is positive.
[OoC: I'm still at work but wanted to set the stage for later. Hugs!]
Yes, son?
The old priest gives Tyros's wounded leg a frown and looks back up to the elf.
What is the Mother?
The priest opens his mouth and rapidly closes it again, preferring to think before he answers the question. After a few moments he speaks softly.
The Mother is the creator of all that was, all that is and all that will be. She is life itself. She is Nature personified. She is the goddess who created the other 2 gods, her children. She is the balance of nature.
Balance... how so?
Well, for example: there can be no rainbow if before there was no rain. There can be no night if before there was no day. A wolf might hunt and kill its preys but eventually, it will die as well and in turn feed the earth with its flesh, which will grow and provide food for many other animals. Life itself is balanced with death. The Mother keeps this balance as a way to ensure life. Her followers are also impartial when it comes to judging things that happen.
I see. And this Mother can heal people?
Most certainly. When the Mother sees that the balance has been disturbed, she will take action in order to restablish the balance. If a person is wounded in a way that is not balanced, the Mother or her followers can heal them so that the balance is restored. It's quite simple.
Tyros ponders in those words for a bit before asking his next question.
And where can I find this Mother? Where can I see her?
The priest rolls his eyes. So many times had he answered this question. Where is today's people faith?
Tell me, have you ever seen love?
Love? No. But that's a feeling.
Yes, it is, but it exists and yet you don't see it. The same thing happens to hatred and tiredness and many other feelings. Air cannot be seen yet you need to live. There are many things that can't be seen yet exist. The same happens with The Mother. She exists and her followers have felt her gentle hand in their prayers, but they have never seen her. We see miracles or divine magic everyday and it is Her that gives us the strenght to cast those.
And what is magic?
Magic is a strange force and one that, I'm afraid, can't explain well to you, young elf. Let's just say that it is possible to do certain things that one would thought impossible through magic. But you'd be better off talking to one of the mages in the Hightower to discover more about magic.
I will. One last question, if I may. Can the Mother help me in my daily hunts and whenever I'm in need? I've needed a hand sometimes before and no God helped me, except this last time.
Of course you were helped, many times, I would wager. You know why? Because you are still alive. You know, in your heart, that there is a Mother. There always was. And the Mother needs only your faith to help you. Ask the Mother for guidance and it will appear to you. Do it sincerily, thank her often for everything she gives you everyday and act to restore the balance to anything that needs it. Pray to her and she'll listen, even if she doesn't answer everytime.
Thank you for your time. I will try to find the Mother within me.
You're welcome and don't forget that if you have any doubts you should come to me.
Tyros nods and exits the temple at a quick pace.
.oO(Mother, if you're listening, thank you.)
[To the Hightower]
Originally posted by Brodda
Brodda enters the temple with Minto, hand in hand.
"Ah doon't think Ah've been herre late at night beforre. The garrden's seem beautiful, even noow."
Minto nods his agreement. Brodda smiles then realizes the acolyte nearby.
"Oh! Helloo! Is therre a chance Clerrric Arrbin might still be awake? Ah need teh see one of his patients."
She squeezes Minto's hand as she hopes the answer is positive.
Minto squeezes back. "It's important we do it soon too."
"It could be a matter of life and death."[/i]
Originally posted by Hermy the Hero
[
"A sammich then. I'd kill forrr a sammich."
*Hermy shakes his head.*
"Thats a better reason then the one that gots you in here in the first place, but you aint gunna get a sammich."
"If you hadn't taken my armorrrr frrrom me, I could use it forrr brrread. It was magic you know. It would taste magically delicious.
"Dead guys don't need armor. Especially you. There aint nuthin in there that can hurt you."
*Hermy hears some muffled sounds from behind the wall.*
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
"What else could I be doing? Hermy dear brother, you asked me a question, answer mine first. How harrrd is it too fight with a missing fingerrrr?"
"Well once you learns ta adjust yer grip to... Why are ya asking that?"
*The sounds of something being spit out is followed by the raspy voice of the ghoul.*
"No rrreason."
"Just currrious."
*Hermy shrugs.*
"I answered your question, now answer mine."
"Which one? What am I doing? Or why I asked?"
*Kirby starts to laugh. Hermy looks at Camrun, who looks back at him and shakes his head.*
"He's been like this for weeks. I don't think you'll get anything out of him."
"Indeed, Cleric Arbin is still about. Would you follow me please? I'll take you to him."
Brodda smiles, her grip on Minto's hand relaxes a bit.
"Ahhhh, thank yeh, lad."
She and Minto follow the acolyte to the infirmary where Cleric Arbin is making his last rounds for the evening. He spends a few moments with each patient, checking their progress, chatting with them if they are awake.
"Please wait here," the acolyte says. He crosses the room and speaks softly to the cleric, who turns and smiles at seeing Brodda. He turns back to the patient he was speaking to, clasps hands with him, then crosses the room to greet the dwarfess and halfling bards.
"Brodda! And Minto, I believe. How pleasant to see you. How is the investigation going?"
"Grrreetins, thank yeh. Aye, this is Minto, Herrmy's best frriend. Ah have a lead on the sourrce of the feverr, but Ah need soome confirrmation. The firrst victim, is he still herre? Can we talk t'him?"
Cleric Arbin nods. "I was just speaking with him, as a matter of fact. Come with me and I'll introduce you."
The pair follow the taller man through the infirmary until he stops beside a young man looking quite surprised to be receiving visitors at this hour.
"Son, this is Brodda and Minto. They'd like to ask some questions about how you came down with the MindFire."
He nods weakly. She steps forward a bit so he can more easily see her.
"Helloo. How arre yeh feelin'? Tirred Ah imagine. Ah doon't want teh keep yeh loong. Ah need teh ask what yeh werre dooin' the day yeh became ill. Did yeh visit anyone?"
The boy, though weak, still managed to blush a little.
"I dunno what I can do t'help. I wasn't doin' anything weird. I was just walkin' around town an' runnin' some errands fer meh mom. When..."
He paused and bit his lip.
"...I hears about this doctor sellin' potions and stuff, so I decided to check it out. She was very convincing."
He blushes as Brodda nods.
"Then what?"
"There was this powder... it was supposed teh make it so's I could see stuff that was magic. It didn't work."
He takes a deep breath before he continues.
"Then I went t'the market and picked up some things, I stopped t'hang out with meh friends before headin' home. Next thing I know, the room starts spinnin' and I'm on the ground."
Brodda smiles.
"Thank yeh, lad. Yeh've told me exactly what Ah needed teh knoow. Rrest noow and get betterr."
He nods, not quite sure what he said to be of help, but closes his eyes. Brodda and Minto step away before continuing to speak with the cleric.
"Ah knoow wherre teh go noow. Ah'll let yeh knoow when this has been taken carrre of."
She turns, and the pair find their way to the main entrance and exits.
"And what's our plan?"
Originally posted by Hermy the Hero
*Kirby starts to laugh. Hermy looks at Camrun, who looks back at him and shakes his head.*
"He's been like this for weeks. I don't think you'll get anything out of him."
*Hermy stares at the wall.*
"I'll get somethins outs of him."
*Hermy taps on the wall.*
"Hey Kirby, member what you used ta tells me, when you went off doing yer thing while I hads ta stays an hides in the alley?"
"No."
*Hermy sighs.*
"You used ta says that ifen I was good an waited patiently, you'd bring me a treat. Pie or candy or somethin likes that ta eat."
*Kirby howls with laughter.*
"And you beliueved me!"
*He continues laughing as Hermy patiently waits.*
Originally posted by Minto Newberry , Bard Extroidinaire
"Do you know what he was talking about? What was the thing about the strange powder?"
"And what's our plan?"
Brodda sighs.
"Therre's a con-woman oout therre sellin' herr ineffectual warres t'the cities inhabitants. She and herr parrtnerr arre leavin' toown t'morrow. We need teh find Kywyn. He watched the shoow and will knoow exactly what we'rre lookin' forr."
[to Elsewhere]
"Of course I beliveded you. I thoughts you was a hero. An heroes always keeps there word."
"You may notsa been the hero I thought you was, but I am."
"When I promise somethin, I means it."
*Kirby starts to howl with laughter again.*
"Like how you promised that girrrl of yourrrs you'd always love herrr. That prrromise didn't last verrry long did it?"
*Hermy bites his lip and takes in a deep breath.*
"I aint broke that promise yet. An I aint ever gunna. Dying doesn't end anything."
*Kirby laughs even louder.*
"Rrreally? Who'da thunk it."
"I'ds thinks you would. Yer dead. An yer still evil."
*Kirby growls.*
"And you'rrre alive and still stupid. What does this have to do with anything?"
"Stop wasting my time and get to the point. I've got a lot to do. The minutes arrren't going to count themselves."
*Hermy sighs.*
"It's gots ta do with freein dad."
"I wants to know if you'll helps."
*Kirby snorts.*
"Why would I?"
"Because it's the good thing ta do."
"And what does that have to do with me? You said it yourrrself. I'm evil."
"Yup, you are."
"Evil and dead... Or undead actually."
"An yer gunna be locked away behinds that wall forevers."
"That's a good incentive to help."
"You'll be doing a good thing. As long as youse evil you aint never getting out of here."
"But eventually maybes if yer goods enough..."
*Camrun shakes his head.*
"I'm afraid that won't happen. He made his choice in life, he's not likely to change it in unlife."
"Everyone cin change if they want too. Darkar used to be evil..."
"How is Shadowood? Did he give in to his base desirrres yet and join the orcs? He rrreally seemed to like them. And they rrreally liked him. It's a perrrfect..."
*Hermy ignores Kirby's rantings.*
"Darkar used to be evil but he chose nots too be anymores. An Natala thought the giants could choose ta be goods to if they wanteds. Aint the Mother about things like that?"
"Yes. I did not say it can't happen, just that it most likely won't."
"If Kirby didn't have the desire before, he certainly won't now."
"Not even if he coulds gets out eventually. Nots back out, but allowededs ta die?"
Why don't you ask him?"
*Hermy addresses the wall.*
"Kirby, da ya wants ta be good?"
"No."
"Not even if it means you won't be stuck back there forever?"
"Arrrre you going to brrrring me back to life and let me go along my merrrry way?"
"No buts eventually you'll be ables ta dies an rejoins the Mother."
"Will you be there?"
"Yup."
*Kirby snorts.*
"I think I'll stay herrre."
*Hermy sighs and then looks at Camrun who shrugs.*
"No. I'd just as soon eat my other hand."
"What ifen I got the clerks ta gives ya some food?"
"What kind of food?"
"Pie?"
"I hate pie. Meat dearrrr brrrotherrr. I want meat."
*Hermy looks up at the priest who shakes his head no.*
"I can'ts get you meat."
"Then I can't get you help."
"Please Kirby?"
"Are you begging?"
"Yes."
"Are you on yourrr kneees?"
*Hermy kneels down.*
"Yes."
"Are you crrrrying?"
"Not yet."
"Come back when you arrre. If ya need morrre motivation, just think of yourrr dearrr litle wife."
"Orrr ourrr poorrr old fatherrr all alone in the mines."
"Kirby please."
"I am pleased. I'm always pleased when I can hurrt someone. Especially you dearrrr brrrotherr. Especially you."
"And not helping you seems to hurrt."
"You know I rrreally like getting visits frrrom you. Come back again next time you need yourrr hopes dashed."
*Hermy fights back some tears.*
"At least I has hopes. Yer stuck in there forever with no hopes of ever getting out."
"Has fun rotting away in there."
"I'lls be findings dad. I don'ts needs yer help."
*Hermy spins around and starts to stalk out followed by Camrun.*
*Kirby howls of laughter trail after them.*
"Of course you don't hero! Just ask your wife!"
"I wills find him. I wills."
*Hermy exits the temple.*
"Well that defently cleared out the weeds..."
Doc said looking at the patch of chared earth.
"I like the little ditches around the plot,"
He said taking a draw on his pipe, then let out a puff of ring shaped smoke.
"Think anything 'ill grow there now."
"Don't know, I could clear out the ashes if you want me to, throw down some sod or feterlizer..."
The Gnomes assistant sugested, gestureing twards the shed.
"No, I think that will do for today, take the rest of the day off."
"Thank you sir, I'll go get washed up before I head out."
The Half-Orc somberly thanked his master then headed back to the church barrics.
As he left old Doc scratched his head, well Gilgiga defently took that lecture on the importance of forest fires to heart.
He slowly meandered his way to the acolite's barrics and deposeted his gear. He then sat on his bunk, and slowly beguan to lie down. The only sound to be herd came from a loudly snoreing dwarf in the corner. Gilgiga was once like that dwarf, useing the church as a nice place to stay, but now?
Fighting, the way of the warror was proveing useless. Twice now in this city of humans it failed him.
As he lied in bed, body acheing and soul searching for meaning. He came to Garric's to be more human, but he'd just proven how Orc like he was.
He reflected, and the dwarf snored.
Gilgiga paused a moment to throw his boot at the dwarf, witch then halted, snorted, and beguan to snore louder.
He realized he could not sleap here so he rose from his bed then wandered down to the library. Selecting a book more or less at random Gilgiga takes it off of the shelf and beguins to read.
A few hours latter he puts the book away and selcets another, then another.
That morning the librian finds Gilgiga asleap in a Ritchard's Almaniack, and gingerly replaces the book with a pillow and lets him be.
Not so much of a step as Darkar jumps back at the last instant due to his mental debate.
.oO(Did she even see me?!?
)"Excuse me miss?"
Oh! Like, hello. Um, were you looking for me?
"I was looking for someone familar here, and I remember seeing your face several times when I was inquiring about my friend Hermy. However, I am unable to place a name with your face. :embarrass She offers her hand in a friendly manner.
"Pleased to met you Clarice, I am Darkar."
You said you were looking for Hermy? Unless it's a different Hermy, he's, like, not a cleric here. Or an acolyte.
"No, I do not think he is an acolyte, but I think he has a friend in Father Camrun. Hermy has recently had a lot of tragedy in his life. His wife Alissa died, and the attempt to raise her was unsuccessful. Also recently one of his best friends, a dog named Major died. He mentioned trying to do something for the dog, and I was wondering if there was I could do. Unfortunately I meant to drop by earlier, but work has kept me rather busy."
It's awfully easy to let work make us forget to live. I'm pretty sure Sir Woodhome hasn't made up his mind what to do about his dog, but... I think he'll probably come to accept what happened.
She guides Darkar to a patio.
Look. The oleander is blooming. Beautiful, sweet-smelling, and deadly. It's so easy to see how things have two faces... Like work.
She grins at Darkar.
Look. The oleander is blooming. Beautiful, sweet-smelling, and deadly. It's so easy to see how things have two faces... Like work.
She grins at Darkar.
"The appeal of doing a good job, and the danger of ignoring other things important things like your friends. I think I see what you mean, but if I mess up at work people could die."
"My experiences with woman have been less kind. Why the last one I was interested in turned out to be a seven foot creature with red eyes, feathery wings, and somehow had twisted my mind to help her."
Stepping forward, Clarice tucks her hand around Darkar's elbow, guiding him back indoors and down a hall.
You've been lost for quite a while, haven't you?
"Lost? I am not quiet sure what you mean?"
She stops at a door with an intricate pattern on it.
You've realized it, though, it seems.
It's time to go within. Stepping back from the elf, she gestures to the door.
Taking a deep breath Darkar takes a step forward running his hand across the intricate pattern admiring the design. Opening the door Darkar peers carefully into what lays beyond before proceeding through.
When Darkar opens the door, he is greeted by a grey path surrounded by lighter grey mist. He can see only about five feet down the path, and not at all past the sides of it. The door shuts behind with a soft sigh, and all light fades for the briefest of moments.
An eyeblink later, he is standing in an ancient forest. The sky is dimly lit by pre-dawn, and mist hovers among the treetrunks. He has little chance to absorb his surroundings, as the profound silence is broken by a raspy voice.
Huh, fancy meeting you here. Again. Ready to order?
A very familiar gnome woman stands, hands on hips, looking sourly up at him.
"Billa? I am not really hungry and I do not see anywhere for you to go to get an order even if I was. Strange I could have sworn I was just walking into a room at Ordemet's temple."
The gnome taps her foot impatiently, though the action makes no sound on the thick leaf-mould underfoot.
"I did come here for something, but now the questions seem inadequet. I think because of where I have been going I have limited my view. Where does one go to gain a better persective so that they might gain more insight for themselves?"
Oh, nevermind. Pay in advance, she says, rolling her eyes.
He hands over some coin to the gnome woman.
"Is this what you wanted?"
Tell me what you dream about when you sleep at night.
She stares at him with hard eyes that seem to see more than the surface.
Gives Billa a curious stare. She seems different than I recall, but I am standing in the middle of a forest when I was just inside the middle of Garic's City.
"I do not dream as much as I review and organize thoughts and actions. Introspective if you wish to call it. Desire I try to hold in check while I do this or my thought would wander and I would imagine almost anything. When I do allow myself wander I find myself in a forest very similar to this one. Not as much mist, but you can hear the birds singing, and watch animals playing. There my heart is light and carefree because there is no one to care what I am."
There is nothing but recollection for us, his mother continues, form and voice both shifted from the gnome. Disappointments, failures, the gifts of a proud heritage wasted on irresponsible youth who simply squan--
And the voice changes again, to one Darkar recognizes as his own.
--had you going there, didn't I? I may never get tired of that trick, even if that speech is getting old. Honestly, doesn't she talk about anything else? I mean, I'm sure she had her own dreams once--
oh, right. Dreams. I nearly forgot.
Something's coming, and it walks in dreams. You must find a way to meet with it, or find another elf who can meet with it for you.
"Walks in dreams? his voice seems weaker than other speaking. "You speak of something I know little about. How will I know this dreamwalker when I met it?"
.oO(Wait I seem to recall NaShae talking about dreams before. Perhaps she would be the other elf that I am talking about being a mediator for me.)
Skin darkens, then chars, the figure before Darkar burning suddenly like paper in a bonfire, until there is nothing left but cinders, to be carried away on a sudden breeze.
He stands alone in the now-silent forest, until with a rush his surroundings darken and fade to grey, and before him is the door.
Turning he opens the door thinking about the possibilities.
.oO(I wonder what this dreamwalker is all about.)
He heads off to the Silver Sword hoping to track down Thosar first.
Gilgiga knocked on the small door.
"What is it?"
Came the small raspy voice from behind the shack.
"It's me Gilgiga, sir."
The Half-orc replied
"There's nothing for you to do, you know that."
The Gnome moaned.
"I know sir, I just wanted to... er talk"
Why didn't you say so then, come in."
Gilgiga oppened the small door and ducked as he entered. The shack was far to small for his large frame. After a complicated amount of manuvering Gilgiga took a seat near the head of the small bed where Doc lied.
"Is there anything I can get you sir?"
"No, I'm just a little sick, I've outlasted worse," the Gnome grummbled, "Now Gilgiga, you're not a very talkitive one. Why would you have to talk about?"
Gilgiga hezitated before proceeding.
"Well I've been thinking sir. I left the clan to escape the violence. Yet it seems when push comes to shove I just attack things. I don't think I really escaped the violence, I think I carried it with me, inside of me."
"Hmm, thinking can be a very dangerious thing. Just remeember that the violence is part of your nature, just as it is in the weasel or the lion. They exisist to fight, to kill, as do you.
Yet they can not kill everything, they must rest.
Violence has it's time. Remember that, don't be ashamed to kick a little but from time to time. Someone hasto stand up and provide justice for those who can not themselves."
"Oh, yes sir. I was just hopeing that there would be... something else?"
"Ah, that kind of advice"
"Yes sir"
"There's always soup"
"Soup?"
Doc looked into the eyes of Gilgiga, and in a very harsh, stern, and careing voice said; "Soup"
Gilgiga says standing at the door to the monk's office.
"What do you want."
The old scribe grumbles from behind his desk.
"It's something that I really think should be brought up with Clarice, but I can't seem to find her."
"Well what is it?"
The monk shoots back sharply.
"I was just asking about obtaining a... foucs?"
Gilgiga mutters meekly
"A holy symbol? Well I guess I can handle that.
He says pulling an old holy symbol off of a shelf. He then hands the wooden image of a balanced scale to Gilgiga.
It's rather old, possibly older then himself, there is no color, just the wooden shape of the empty scales. The edges are worn and rounded from continual usage over the years.
"That will be a donation of ten silver pieces"
Gilgiga places the coins on the desk, then stands there waiting.
"Why you standing there? Shouldn't you be off digging or something?"
"Sir I was just expecting a little... er... more ceramony?"
"Humph, well fine."
The Monk grumbles then places a hand over the symbol.
Oh great mother, please bless this here symbol of your power. May it help your servent become closer to you, and to learn to leave an old monk at work alone, and when to leave when he is not wanted."
After the rather informal prayer Gilgiga promptly leaves the little office and heads to the library to catch up on his reading.
Gilgiga catches the movement out of the corner of his eye, then turns to recognize Jace. Gilgiga promptly moves closer, his boots hardly making a sound on the stone floor.
"Jace, are you feeling better? What brings you here?"
-----
"Well I came around for healing...I don't quite know where to go here. I was also wondering if you would like to go an a adventure with me. It involves getting rid of a Hob Goblin, that has taken over a town and is bullying around the inhabatents."
*Jace looks far up into the face of Gilgiga for he only comes up to his chest.*
-------
"Well healing may be a problem seeing as none of the senior clerics are in. I could take you to the ward and see if there is anyone there. But then they may be slow to act, probably would like to know where you received them.
I'm guessing these are leftovers from our skirmish a few days back?"
-------
"yes... I got hit pretty hard."
-------
"I remember well, As did I. As for the hobgoblin, I assume some laws are being broken, and he is being unjust. It is my duty to oppose him, to show him down the path of justice."
------
"Well great! We leave right away. I just need the healing....And I belive that if I was stopping a marauding party of orcs that were stealing and killing as they went along they would agree to heal me."
-----
"I guess so as well."
--------
"Well shall we."
*Jace gives a friendly smile.*
--------
"I'm still a bit sore myself, it wouldn't hurt to get a little bit of magical aid before I enter a hostile area. We try not to heal magically to often, and try to let things just run their course."
"Just follow me, Sisters Kelsoe and Bethal should just be down this way."
*he says leading Jace down the hall*
----------
*Jace follows the Halforc, down into the ward to see the clerics. Upon entering the ward a Cleric looks up from her desk and bids Gilgiga welcome*
----------
"Good day, Gilgiga. whom do you bring forth and for what reason?"
----------
*Gilgiga then explains to the half elf Jace's situation, and recounts how he feel bravely fighting against vandals and slavers. That even now he was preparing to battle injustice and tyranny, and that he was still week from his last battle and needs the aid of the healing powers of Ordmetrix's grace*
*then adds*
"I'm still a little sore myself, if you wouldn't mind accelerating the healing process just a little for myself"
------
*The two had over the gold, and Giliga leaves to fetch the belongings he will take. upon returning they leave for the SSAG
5 HP a piece
"Did you find your father?"
Hermy nods. "Yup. I did."
"He's stayings back at he guild with me for now. He's probably still sleepin. We just got in yesterday, an it was a long trip."
"An he aint use ta travelin. Or ridin."
"I think he mights needs ta um... see a clerk about his ummm... Is Father Cannedrum gunna be free later taday ta sees him? They was friends back in the olden days ya know."
Clarice stifles a giggle. "I'm like sure he could find some time."
Hermy smiles back. "Ok, I'lls brings him by later taday."
"I'll let Father Camrun know to like expect him."
"Thanks." Hermy stands there looking past the desk quietly.
"Like is there anything else you need? You don't need likesome one to look at your bottom too do you?"
Hermy blushes. "Ah, no. I walked most the way there an backs."
The blush turns to a frown "My dog died."
Clarice nods. "I know. Your friend broght his body in to be preserved until you gathered enough diamonds to have him. like raised."
"Yeah, I know."
"Do you have the diamonds already?"
Hermy shakes his head. "No. I don'ts even have the money ta pays you fer keeping him from stinkin right now."
"I'm like sure that won't be a problem. Just pay it when you get the diamonds."
"Ise not getting the diamonds."
"Like why not?"
"I started thinkin about it, an Major woulds be a lots happier where he is now."
"An the only reason I wanteds ta bring him back was ta makes him happy."
"I see."
"sose there won't be no diamonds, or no raising. An ya don'ts needs ta preserve him no more either."
"I think you've still got like a day or two before the spell like wears off."
"I shoulds has the money by then. Run was goin to has some stuff appraised an I gets a share of that. I thinks it will bese enough."
"Hows much does I owes you guys?"
Clarice opens up one of the ledgers in front of her and flips back a few pages. And then a few pages more.
"It's been a while since he was brought in ya know."
"It looks like six weeks."
"That sounds about right."
Clarice jots down a few notes on a notepad, and crubches some numbers. "Let's see, like we need to refresh the prayers every three days. Thats fourteen times, and six gold a prayer, that um loike 84 gold you know."
"Are you going to be able to get that much?"
Hermy nods. "I shoulds be able too."
"Well I'll like put that down then. Are you going to have him, like cremated too?"
"No, Ise thinks I'll bury him out in the country. He really liked being out in the country."
"He always said it smelled better."
Clarice nods. "Like I'm sure it does."
She gives Hermy a sympathetic smile. "I think you are making the right choice ya know."
"Putting his happiness before yours."
"I knows I is."
"But thanks anyhows."
He smiles back at her.
"I'll be backs ta gets him within three days."
"With the gold I owes you."
Hermy heads out of the Temple.
.o0(I reaqlly hopes them statues was worth something.)
"It's not," an older voice, offering a reassuring tone, "but it's something I have to do. Thank you for coming with me."
"Hermy would be very angry if you came here alone," says the other.
Light flickers into existence, illuminating the bottom of a stairwell. Somewhere, just outside of the light, there is the sound of something scraping and shuffling on stone.
"It would be best if he didn't know about this," says the senior Woodhome as he reaches the landing. "It would only upset him."
"Then why come here?" asks Phil, following carefully with a raised torch.
"Because I have two sons," Hermy tells him, "and I need to see to them both."
"But Kirby's not--" Phil begins, before a hiss cuts him off.
"Nnnnot presentable, perhaps?" sneers a voice from the darkness. "It's true that I haven't bathed in awhile, but under the circumstances, I can't be held to blame for that."
"Kirby?" the father calls. "Is that you, son?"
[i]Phil advances until his torch finally reveals the withered, ghoulish form of the halfling, his manacled wrists chaining him to a wall. Hateful eyes take in his visitors, and a predatory smile twists across cracked lips.
"Son?" spits Kirby. "Don't play games with me. My father is dead, old man!"
"Not dead," says Hermy, trying to keep his voice from shaking, much as the torch does in his escort's hand, "though it's true that the mines would have eventually killed me, had someone not bought my contract for more suitable work. No, Kirby, it's me. Your father."
Several emotions fight to express themselves in the accursed child's eyes. Mistrust. Contempt. Confusion. In the end, he settles on the one that seems most familiar to him -- an expression of calculation.
"What have you come for, then... father? Did you bring me this--"
Hungry eyes settle on Phil, who swallows uneasily.
"--as dinner?"
"Of course not." snaps the father. "I--"
"Oh," says Kirby, sounding insincerely disappointed. "Then I'll have to fix it myself. It's been awhile since my last meal. Just a second..."
With a sudden motion, he swings a hand to his mouth and bites off half ihs smallest finger with a hideous crunch, swallowing quickly.
"I'd offer you some," he says, "but it's got to last me a long time."
"Kirby!" says his father disapprovingly.
"Strict rationing down here..."
"Stop this at once!"
Kirby chuckles unpleasantly.
"Funny thing... Dad. I can't. Hermy saw to that when he... when he did this to me. When he made me into this."
"This is what you were beforehand anyway," counters Phil.
The heat of his words is extinguished quickly as Kirby turns his eyes toward him.
"I've never met you..." Kirby says, giving the second halfling an appraising look. "Distant cousin... dad? Child from a second marriage, maybe?"
"Nothing like that," Hermy chides him. "A friend of your brothers that--"
"Oh," Kirby snorts derisively, "one of them. Couldn't find anyone better to help you, father?"
"Now just a--"
"Let it go, Phil" Hermy says, putting up a restraining hand.
"Yes... Phil," sneer Kirby. "You wouldn't want to spoil this reunion, would you?"
The younger halfling glowers, but holds his tongue. After several seconds of quiet, Kirby turns back to the eldest Woodhome.
"So what brings you here... Dad?"
"I've come to say... I've come to say I'm sorry... Kirby."
The first reaction is a bewildered expression, followed eventually by strangled laughter.
"Sorry? SORRY? You don't know what sorry is!"
Phil steps forward, as though to shield Hermy from his son's scorn. He points the torch toward the chained halfling, the threat apparent in his stance.
"You'll show some respect for your fa-!"
Kirby spits suddenly into his face, causing Phil to gag. A look of panic appears on his features and he clutches his throat, dropping the torch as he tries desperately to cough. Hermy quickly rushes up, slapping his back in an effort to help him.
"It's so hard to keep a meal down nowadays," Kirby sighs. "Doesn't look like you're having an easier time of it than I am either."
"Kirby, what do you think you're doing?" cries his father.
"You're right, dad. I should have washed it first, shouldn't I? Well, what's done is done. We-- Dad? I'm up here, Dad; can you look at me when I'm talking to you?"
"Not now, Kirby! I need to get Phil help before--"
"Phil's not the one that needs help, Dad."
"What are you--?"
Hearing a sudden snap, Hermy looks up to see Kirby surging forward, his broken chains dangling ineffectually from his wrists. Before the father can stand, he is lifted by throat and tossed into a corner.
"It's too late for Phil anyway, Dad," Kirby tells him, mocking sadness in his tone as he stocks forward in the fading light of a dying torch.
"I'd be much more worried about yourself."
And the room goes dark.
With Minto in tow, the Hero runs into the Temple's foyer, sword in hand.
"Get's Father Cannedrum! Kirby's escaped!"
Without waiting for the desk clerk to react, Hermy makes a dash for the entery to the Temples dungeons. Navigating the maze of passages with practised ease he arrives at the stone wall that hides his brother behind it.
"Let him go Kirby! Ifen yoiuse eats him I'll... I'll... I'll... I'll has you raised an kills you again!"
A cackle answers him. "I never knew you cared so much for my feet dear brother."
"It's only a small toe. It won't be missed."
"Dad aint no toe!"
Hermy throws himself into the wall. Behind it Kirby laughs.
"Hermy. Hermy. What ever are you talking about? Is the strain of trying to keep up the facade of not being an idiot finally broken you?"
Minto grabs hold of Hermy's arm. "You are serious aren't you? That's Kirby's voice."
The ghoul laughs again. "Is that your little friend I hear? The one with the delicious looking nose?"
Minto's hands go up to his face protectively. "Hermy? What's going on?"
Minto blinks, and grabs hold of Hermy's shoulders to keep him from running into the wall again.
"How do you know that Hermy?"
"I saws it! Now let me go!"
"How did you see it?"
Kirby cackles. "He's going insane. I'll be having company soon. Together again Hermy. Just like the old times."
Hermy breaks from Minto's grip and launches himself at the prision again. "I ain'ts going insane! Kirby's going to kill my dad!"
His brother laughs again. "That's right! Break down this wall and I'll prove to everyone you haven't gone insane."
"Don't worry, I won't kill him until you finish breaking in!"
Minto shakes his head to try and keep the cackling from creeping in. "Think about it Hermy. How could you see it? You were home in bed."
"It was a dream. It had to be a dream Hermy."
"An Ise also talked ta dead people."
"This seemed more like talkin ta my mom then it did a dream."
Another cackle pierces the air. "Maybe you should go ask her how dad is."
"Or ask him."
Hermy starts to charge the wall again. Minto tackles him.
"Hermy! He's right! He's right! We should go check on your dad. We rushed out of the guild before we did that."
"Don't listen to him brother! I'm really hungry! I don't know if I can hold off that long! Maybe just a little nibble for now. MMMmm..."
Hermy breaks free of Mintos arms. "You stop eating our dad!"
"Make me!"
Minto tries to grab Hermy again. "He's baiting you Hermy! Don't listen to him."
"Fingers do look a lot like worms don't they, with the way they wiggle."
Minto takes a step away and nods. Kirby howls. "It's a sign! The end is near! Hermy is trying to think!"
As Hermy glares at the wall, Father Camrun arrives with two of the temple guards. "What's going on here? What's this about Kirby escaping?"
Kirby answers from behind the wall. "He's gone insane! Time ta call in another stone mason! I'm getting company!"
The priest ignores him and focuses on the Woodhome in the red pants. "Hermy? What is going on?"
Hermy looks at him. "I think Kirby ate my dad."
"What? Impossible? Kirby's locked up very soundly behind that wall. There is no way in or out. And your father was with me most of the night. I assure you. He's quite safe."
Hermy raises his brows. "Are you sure?"
"I saw him killing Phil an then..."
"Saw him? How?"
Minto interjects. "It was just a dream I think. Hermy woke up in a panic and we rushed straight here."
Hermy nods, and follows that with a shake of his head. "It weren't like a normal dream though."
"How so?"
"Well fer one thing, there weren't no pie anywhere in it."
"And it was just to clear to be a dream. I didn't just see it, I heard it, and smelled it, an felt the cold air down here too."
"Interesting. And you've never had a dream like that before?"
"No. I never knew what my dad looked like before so how could I dreams about Kirby eating him?"
"No. Not the subject of the dream. The clarity of it."
"No never in a dream."
"It was like when I went in that Labwrath of yours and met my mom. It was that kinda clear."
"Fascinating." He smiles at Hermy and puts a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think there is reason for concern, but I'll ask one of the mystics about it in the morning."
"In the meantime, I think it is safe to assume that your father is not in any danger from Kirby."
Hermy nods. Kirby shrieks. "That's right! I'm not the insane one anymore!"
Camrun puts a hand on both halflings shoulders and starts escorting them out of the catacombs. ... and in the future Hermy, please, wait for an escort before coming down here. Kirby isn't the only dangerous thing that can be found down here."
Upon awakening he cleans himself up a bit and prepares for his days work. Today was a mere garden trimming, Doc's soul just wasn't into tormenting his assistant.
Oo Perhaps he's still a little sick
Gilgiga thinks to himself as he heads to the library. There he catches up on a few days lost reading well into the long hours of the night.
After a rather late meal he heads back to bed for a few hours rest.
He takes the next several days fairly light as he recopertates from his little adventure. But once recouperated he comes to Doc's little cottage in the garden for a little heart to heart.
"I am just not feeling something."
"Well what were you expecting"
"I do not really know. I guess the feelings inside me are easier to controll, but now I just feel a void."
"An abys well that's no good. But really what were you expecting. A flash of wisdom, a bang of enlightnement? Well guess what, the Mother dosen't work like that. If you want that try Thalos, he's into all that showy stuff.
No the mother is not like that."
"But dosen't she protect her children?"
"In her own ways, yes. That feeling you get when you see a child die, or an animal in pain. That's her way of helping the world."
"By making other's suffer for what they did?"
"No silly, to make you want to get rid of that pain. The pain in both them and you. Compassion is where she lies"
"I think I see know"
"Don't think, just know, just act. Other mother creatd us, what we do to each other is of our concern. Do what you feel is best.
"Thank you sir."
Gilgiga says as he leaves with a foged mind. He thinks constantly about that talk. Of Compassion, and why we must spread it.
It becomes almost cynical, the mother is never here to help us, we need to count on each other, becuase some great god is gonna do nothing for us.
At that though he burst into a hysterical laughter in the sanctuary during prayers. The other acolyites all gave him a harsh stare for the outburst.
But Clarice, who was leading that evenings prayers just smiled.
Gilgiga finaly truly got it. He understood how the mother works in the world.
"Grey Ghost?" a small voice comes from behind Kywyn.
Curious, Kywyn turns to see a little girl with black hair and a green coat. In fact, Kywyn recognizes her as a girl he gave a drawing to more than a year ago. He also remembers how they both got in trouble with the girl's older sister who assumed the worse of Kywyn's dark appearance... and the fact that the child had spotted him in the graveyard when she was not supposed to go there herself.
"Isabel, right?"
"Isabella," the child corrects.
"Sorry."
"S'ok. It is you. My friend said she saw you drawing in the market the other day, but that you looked different."
"Haven't been wearing the cloak lately," Kywyn says as he pulls away his hood, "Are we going to get in trouble with your sister again?"
Isabella shakes her head, "Nope, she's out of town actually. Where have you been?"
"Here and there," Kywyn says, "You've grown. A lot taller now."
The girl nods.
"Do you want to sit?"
"Sure," she sits next to him on the bench, "So what are you drawing?"
"Don't know yet. I'm wondering if I can draw for people who walk by, and then give the coins to the school here."
"Neat. So... how come you're not in the market anymore?"
"Trying to get back into that... Have other things to do, though," Kywyn turns to the little girl, "And I seemed to get kids in trouble."
"New clothes too," Isabella pokes at Kywyn's off-white outfit.
"Yeah. Don't feel like black right now," he answers, "So, you want a little picture? Could be a warm up."
"Okay! A rabbit? We saw one the other day. White and hoppy."
"Okay."
After delevering his little bonty, he spends a few hours in the library.
He takes a seat on a bench and cracks oppen a book, The All Comprehensive Guide to Weather Patterns and What They Fortell. Usefull but not a page turner.
Gilgiga closes the book, only to interupted by something far more exciteing.
Just a few feet away from him, something small and brown lands with a little 'thud'.
"Hmm, what is this."
Gilgiga wonders aloud as he takes a closser look. Ass he reaches out to touch the thing, it squeeks at him.
"Just relax, little friend."
Gilgiga says picking up the bat. Upon closer inspection he discovers that it has broken it's sholder.
Gingerly he scoops it up and takes it to the infurmary, for little effect. The first nurse he shows it too screams and demands that he get rid of the filthy little beast. Gilgiga tries to expain that it is a common fruit bat, and probably dosen't carry any deases, to little avail.
Next he tries Doc's shed, but Gilgiga finds a sign on the door reading, "gone out fer the day, vistors can see my aid"
Gilgiga ponders the paradox of going to go see himself for a minete before oppening the door and going on in. He dosen't care to light the oil lamp, both him and the bat find the dark more comforting. He moves the small chair away from Doc's table and diggs up the first aid kit.
Without any real medical training, Gilgiga finds working with the gnome sized tools extremley dificult. But he manages to figure out how to make a sort of restraining sling for the sholder. Impromptu, but it will work for now.
When he leaves the hut, the sky has already darkened, and Gilgiga carries the little bat to his dorm. He, has arrived before any of the other guests and settles in for the night.
He steals a pillow from a bed who's occupant is currently away for the week (Gilgiga hopes) and makes a small place for the bat beside himself.
He then does his prayers for the evening.
Holy symbol pressed against his forehead Gilgiga prays for mercy from the mother for the little bat.
Afterwards he goes to sleep.
When he awakens he inspects the bat, and is suprised to see that the sholder has fully healed over night.
Gilgiga a bit amazed unwraps the bat and seets it free out the window. As he heads out to morning prayers he is stoped by a dwarf.
"Now, that was a very nice thing you did for that bat, but next time, please make sure that you don't take anything that nobody needs, understand."
The dwarf then winks up at him, and gestures to his head.
"Yes, Sir, sory sir, it won't happen again"
When finished, Kywyn brings out a few ink paintings he has done at Caitlynn’s Crafts to show the patron. They are long strips of paper with simplified designs: animals and men and trees represented by basic strokes. There is an austere quality that draws the eyes and makes one's mind fill in the blanks.
“Those are quite interesting,” the man says, and he purchases one depicting a bull because he was born under that astrological sign.
Kywyn doesn’t tell him it is actually a dragon. Well, in Kywyn’s mind anyway. People see what they want most easily, and that’s alright.
”Why don’t you tell them it’s for the school today?” Isabella asks after the other man leaves.
“I don’t know. I guess I could… might get more interest,” Kywyn considers mildly, “But this way there’s no pressure to do the ‘right thing’.”
"I don’t get it."
Kywyn shrugs, “Maybe nothing to get. You know, I know a little boy who you would get along with. He’s younger than you are though.”
Lesson the first: facing your worst.
Lesson the second: shadows have beckoned.
Lesson the third: unspeakable word.
"What was that?"
[i]"Guo-guo. Something I remembered just now."[/i]
"I've heard that before it feels like."
"What are those noises you're making?" Isabella asks Kywyn curiously.
The dark-haried man looks down to the girl, "Huh? Oh, just talking with my friend here."
Hex climbs up from Kywyn's cloak to greet the girl.
"Oo, froggy," Isabella smiles.
She tries to touch the familiar, but Hex leaps to her sleeve first.
"You can really talk to him?"
"Most of the time," says Kywyn as he spots a lady walking down the path who might be a customer.
"What does he say?"
"I'm not sure sometimes. Usually just the same things we might say. Sometimes talks about older things."
"Things I think I should remember for some reason," he finishes in a whisper.
Something tingles in his drawing hand.
The right words come to him like an old reflex.
"These stars are fading out."
He can hear it in his ears, and Kywyn feels the pulse in his wrist and the shadow tendril bulging to get through. The shaking, causes Kywyn's hand to veer off course, causing a stray scribble on the page.
"Damn," curses himself inside.
He stops and grasps his right wrist until the pulsing disappears.
"What's that then?" the man asks.
"Nothing. Just a cramp," Kywyn explains as he rubs out the extra marks.
Kywyn is lucky enough to have a kneadable rubbing wad with him. He has sometimes seen more desperate artists use breadcrumbs to wipe away their lead marks or small knives to scrape them off.
Getting control over the unexpected jolt of power, Kywyn finishes the drawing and hands it over in exchange for some coins. The dark touch, the Hex Tongues, feels restless today. It comes and goes. Kywyn's frog leaps over to his satchel.
"I think I'll take what I've got now," Kywyn says to Isabella.
Adjusting his poncho-cloak, he stands and walks toward the temple. Isabella decides to follow the man for now. Stepping inside, Kywyn looks for a cleric, hopefully Clarice or Knola since they seemed involved with the school.
"For the school and the children," he merely says quietly before leaving.
At the door, Kywyn looks down to pat Isabella on the head, "Take care."
"See you 'gain, I hope," the girl stays in the temple.
The light clothed man pulls up his grey hood and walks away from the sacred ground.
---
[From Elsewhere]
Kywyn nudges a black frog into his black satchel so that the familiar won't scare off any customers. Two golden pinpoints of light mark Hex's eyes in the shadows.
He notices the artist as he passes by and reconise him.
"Excuse me sir," Gilgiga adresses him as he aproaches "but do you remember me, I see you found the children's school all right. I hope your son, it was a son right, is enlisted."
"Hello, yes, Gilgiga, right?"
"My son isn't enlisted yet, but soon perhaps."
Kywyn sets aside his drawing tablet.
"How have you been?"
The look of concern form earlier returns to his face.
"But I fear my master may not be fareing so well. He has been sick a fair amount recently. It may come time for his passing soon."
Gilgiga looks at his feet
"And I have been rather selfish myself. Worrying about how I will contue my education. Not concrened about wether or not Old Doc has any surviving relitives or anything."
He then perks up.
"But he would not want me acting like that, guess he would try and tell me that life will go on without him. But the gardens would not pick their own weeds.
Yes, that is exactly what he would say. Only more muttering would be involved.
And have you been doing well? I see you were drawing something, I hope I didn't interupt."
Kywyn looks back to Gilgiga when he asks about the drawings.
"No, just getting some things worked on. I draw for people who want such things. I thought today, I could gather some donations for the school."
"Can I interest you in a portrait?"
I saw one the other day when I was meditateing.
Yes, I would like a picture of a hawk."
Gilgiga says, looking at his sack.
"How much of a donation would you accept?"
"Could you sit and describe what you saw?"
"As much as you wish to give, it's not my call," he says.
He says sliping him just a couple of gold pieces and takeing a seat.
"I heard her first a bit off. But she got closer. She was comeing in rather low looking in the trees for something, probably a hare.
Her feathers were brown, except for her tail and wing tips, those were red. If you are useing colors that is.
Now her wing span was just a little smaller then my arm reach."
He says extending his arms to a little bit less than their full length.
"She kept them out most of the time, until the dive. That was a fine dive. Her wings came in a little as she arched up, then tumbled over her back as she tucked in her wings all of the way and then went almost straight down.
They come in fast like that so they can snap the necks of their prey. It's a quick and painless death. Involves little struggle.
That was the last I saw of her, after she went into the trees. I may have seen her leave, I am not fully sure."
His hand traces over the page lightly at first, defining majestic wings and faded clouds.
"Your vision has power."
Kywyn allows the half-orc to view the image. A thought crosses the human's mind. He would give this man some light to his day.
"If you look closesly, I'll show you what you wish to see."
A pulse starts in Kywyn's chest and spreads down his arm to his fingers. He utters a few odd syllables in no particular language and a shadow form emerges from his wrist to race down his pencil into the image.
The lines waver and then blink. A sort of glare, like distant sunlight through glass, flickers and the symbol is given life.
"Symbol is power," Kywyn mentions softly, "You see something here and bring it inside your mind where it takes shape and reality."
A large, silverish hawk perches between the two men, looking around fiercely as if seeking something to attack. Kywyn sees through the shadow substance but wonders if Gilgiga sees the same.
The rendering remains on the page for the artist's patron.
---
[shadow conjuration (summon monster II), celestial eagle, Will (DC 17) save to recognize as shadow]
Gilgiga blurts out forgeting his tounge.
"You must get paid well if all of your art is this real. I see it, I see that it is real. But it can not be? Can it?
I have seen magic, but never have I seen it create a full flesh and blood animal. But then again, I have not trully seen that much magic. Just the simple things that the healers do.
That and tales of wizards. You would not be one of them would you? Personaly I think the world would be better off of they used their power for the better, then just keep it up in thier tower of theirs."
He says gestureing twards the hightower.
"No, I try not to hold ties to the Hightower," says Kywyn, "I'm not so sure meddling in everyone's affairs would better the world."
The artist hands Gilgiga his sketch. The image captures the motion of the hawk within its simple lines and curves.
"Art is real, that is the shadow," he points up to the bird.
"Do you have an interest in the shadow stuff?" his voice is a wave breaking on the crags, strong at first but disappating rapidly.
Gilgiga says takeing the picture and smileing.
"I am more concerned with what is real. If you could call this reall, I guess you could say it was more than that hawk.
But neither are the real hawk, both are just ways or remembering the real one. The magic you can work is art. It can bring joy, and emotion, I guess. But that's only half of the battle fought. Probably the important part, the battle fought in the mind.
Sometimes, you just need to put a spear in somethings side. There is something to be said about action."
Gilgiga pauses for a moment and thinks the rest of the statement out.
"It gets the job done"
Kywyn looks up and mutters something as the silver hawk fades into particles and vanishes.
“What is real is up to you; though most of the time, we don’t have much of a choice,” Kywyn speaks in riddles, “Memory has its tricks, and the whole world is forgetting. And we are being forgotten.”
An older woman approaches with her child, a messy-haired boy, and asks if she could have a portrait made.
Kywyn nods and gestures for her to come nearer. The mother and child sit on the grass, under a tree, as Kywyn sketches away. With the generous contribution from the half-orc, the man already has a decent contribution for the children.
He talks to Gilgiga while drawing, “Are you planning on studying here for a long period?”
"I'm going to go give these coins to one of the acolytes. You could come for the walk if you have the time," he remarks to the sturdy-looking half-orc.
Picking up his belongings, Kywyn starts to head for the temple entrance. The breeze carries errant leaves across the path, like tiny sentries observing the sincerity of Kywyn's intentions.
Gilgiga says walking at the smaller mans side. With the picture under his arm.
"And I do have the feeling that I will be here for a good long time. The place is becomeing a home for me I guess.
But at times, I do feel that I need to get out. If only for a little while. They do need me here after all. I can't really leave this temple. It is rather short on groundskeepers and gardeners."
Kywyn enters the temple next to Gilgiga and continues down the hallway to where he found Clarice last time.
"But it's good of you to stay around and help out. Where would you want to go? Some place where there is more of the 'real'?" Kywyn queries quietly to avoid echoing within the temple's halls.
He tucks the coins he has into a folded scrap of paper.
Gilgiga pauses as he thinks about the "real" comment.
"The only unreal thing I have seen is your bird. And that, just barely. Real is what you make of it. One can not just wander about passing off everything one sees as false, and unreal.
You'll miss out on quite a lot."
He trails a gloved finger along the stone wall.
"Everything here is real," he allows softly.
Finding Clarice, Kywyn slips her the envelope, trusting she will know what it is for. The makeshift envelope is marked "School" just in case. He nods to her reply.
Kywyn turns back to Gilgiga.
"Chance might take you away, or it might be by choice, the difference between the two are usually a matter of perspective. I'll see you around."
Kywyn starts for the door.
"I hope you find your way. Keep looking for the hawk..."
---
[To Elsewhere]
He says folwoing Kywyn out. Once out the door he starts chanting in druidic.
"clypian a fugol, from eac eall read"
Then he emits a loud cry from his mouth, an almost perfect hawk call and outstreches his arm.
From above a reply comes as a hawk swoops down and lands on Gilgiga's arm. It sits and rests as it looks at Kywyn cries then flies off.
"She never want's to stay long however. Comes here soon, then flees. She dosen't seem to like comeing here."
He says, then bids his new friend a fairwell and heds to the droms.
He was hopeing that the white flowers were represented by the little "w's" would stand for plots of white flowers, and the bigger "R's" would be plots of red flowers. But why would there be mixed plots.
But alas they were all mixed. In fact there were quite a few more then four plots. And worse, more then just two colors, in truth there were very few red or white flowers, in fact the majority seemed to be pink.
Made sense to Gilgiga, mix red and white and get pink.
That was realy all that made sense.
For on the next page was a similar chart, yet a whole nother beast. Instead of letters this one had numbers.
Quotas though Gilgiga.
On the next page, marked "2 Gen" was more numbers, but differnet.
Perhaps not quotas, harvest size maybe.
The next pages were simmilar, each one with differing numbers. But why were they layed out as so.
Doc said that he would like this book. But all it was doing was giving him head aches.
Perhaps there would be a pattern to the numbers.
Gilgiga hated numbers. He could see the logic and reason behind them, but could he get them to work in his head.
This was a test and he knew it. If only he could figure it out. What did these numbers mean.
So he headed into the library. To sit down and think. And borrow an arcubus, we was gonna need an arcubus.
"Hello Gilgiga. I am in need of a tracker. Me and another came across a Group of raiders and some got away. After I return I was wondering if you would like to acompany me and help finish what we started?"
*After talking with Gilgiga for a time, Jace goes off to the boarding house.*
Gilgiga hunched over the perplexing little patch of land. With it's silly red white and pink flowers.
For the past several weeks Doc's Flower Garden has tormented his thoughts.
Calculateing each of the plots and percentages.
He consulted the little book.
37% Red
56% Pink
7% White
and before him, counted throughly was 45 Red flowers, 69 Pink Flowers, and 10 white ones. With a few clicks of beads on one another he found the estimated percentages perfect.
"So Doc has managed to predict the color of the flowers, it seems simple enough. But the changes from season to season. . ."
"Gilgiga, Gilgiga, one of the more inexprenced aids callaed out to him.
"Yes. . ." Gilgiga grumbled comming out of his concentration
"It's Doc, he's, well, you just better come quick"
"Oh, I'm Hermy Woodhome. Senior.
Clarice smiles back. "I like know who you are. You don't have to introduce yourself like everytimeyou come in."
The halfling blushes. "I'm sorry about that. Ummm, is he here?"
"He's like in his office. And he is expecting you. You do have an appointment afterall."
"Well I, um, I wasn't sure. You never know when paperwork will get lost or filed in the wrong place or something like that."
"It's still in the appointment book, right where you saw me write it when you were here yesterday."
"You know, you don't like really need to make an appointment everytime you come over for tea. Father Camrun can always find time for that, you don't need to schedule it. You don't need to schedule everything you like do, do you?"
Hermy Sr. blushes more. "Well actually I" He shakes his head. "No, I suppose I don't."
Clarice smile grows. "He's waiting for you. I saw him taking in a kettle of water not more then five minutes ago."
"Thank you." Hermy Sr. stands there looking down the hallway.
"You can go down there without like my permission you know."
Again he blushes. "I'm sorry. Old habits are hard to break."
He glances at her again, and she gives him a slight nod. Hermy Sr. smiles and then starts for his friends office, knocking on the door when he arrives at it.
"Don't"
The gnome interupts.
"It won't do any good"
Gilgiga is a touch confused but Doc seems to know what's going on.
"You think you could hide a little secret like that boy? You must be kidding, half the church as been talking about how you seem to hide what you can do."
Gilgiga seems a little embarsed at the comments.
"Seriously, I don't know why you hide it. Half the senoior clerics can do it too, and you know that. You know why you can do that too, don't hide your gift, spread it, that's what it's for."
Gilgiga is silent for a moment, he thinks about Doc's wisdom, then slow beguins to speak.
"But why then, won't you let me help you?"
"Becuase you won't, it's my time boy, you know that. No magical gifts can change that, you of all people should know that.
"Yes sir, but if it's your time to go, may I ask a question?"
"You just did, ask another"
"Yes sir, can you tell me about those books."
"Heh, if it's been bugging you that much. It's the key to telling you what makes up you. But it dosen't meany anything, it's pointless.
Gilgiga's eyes light up at the concept of knowing what is in a person, what makes them tick.
"But, if it tells about what makes you, why is it pointless?"
"It, dosen't
matter
at all"
With that he closed his eyes, they wouldn't oppen again
"dosen't matter?"
Gilgiga mutters as Doc passes on. He feels Doc once more, then pulls the covers up over him better.
After that he figures he better alert someone. He heads into the church and finds himself in front of Father Camrun's office.
"You don't need to speak to Father Camrun do you? I could come back later. I'm just here for a spot of tea afterall. Nothing important."
Gilgiga say's slowly. He's seen this halfling around before, but never goten to met him in person, there's usualy a crowd.
"I'm here on business yes, but the person I came for is rather patient. . ."
Gilgiga feels a pang of remorse for his little joke.
"And he wouldn't have liked it if I were to interupt a tea break."
"I was a bit late as is. My appointment should have started five minutes ago."
Hermy Sr. knocks on the door. "Father! Theres a gentleman of half orcish decent here to see you... and no, it's not that one. Should I get more water while the two of you conduct buisness?"
The door opens and Father Camrun looks out. "That won't be necassary old friend. The waters still hot as is."
The priest looks ar Gilgiga. "How may I help you Brother Gilgiga?"
Gilgiga says skiping to the point. Useing the title, or even his full name feels strange.
"He left a request for a funeral pyre in his notes. We don't seem to have the proper oils, it may be a week before they can arive.
I am awating, instruction. I don't mean to interupt your appointment."
He casts his eyes towards the ground. Father Camrun turns his upwards. Amen."
The priest waves his hands for both men to enter his office. "It seems I have buisness to attend to. No sense letting good tea go to waste."
"Enjoy it my friends, and raise a cup to a fallen friend."
The priesr strides out of his office leaving the halfling, the half orc, and a pot of hot water behind him.
Hermy Sr. shuffles his feet for a few seconds and then with a shrug pours out two cups of tea. "So... you are, ummm, a half orc, are you?...ummm, how is that?"
He holds out a cup for the druid to take.
He's a bit perplexed at the quesiton.
All his life he's though of himself more of as a Hunter, or a Tracker, a Gurella.
But never as a Half Orc, a runt perhaps, back with the orcs, huge here.
What does it mean to be a half orc. . .
"I guess it is an ok thing to be. There are worse things out there.
It is nice not needing to use torches, and it is hard to hide amongst a crowd of halflings.
I guess I can not really tell, I never tried to be anything else.
How does it feel to be a halfing? So small, so fast?"
"If I had to pick the most redeeming quality of being what I am, it would be the food. And the family. Mustn't overlook that."
His face saddens a bit.
"I have.. had... two sons. You may have heard of one of them. Sir Hermy Woodhome?"
The saddens is replaced by a look of pride as he speaks. "Do you have family, Mi... Brother Giligan?"
Gilgiga wonders about that word
"No I can not say that I have, I have had two clans. But in bolth I was just a runt, not strong enough, not tough enough.
They were good teachers however, they made me act on my feet. To think before I act. I am still to hasty by my own standards, but my patience would put theirs to shame."
He wonders more about that word.
"I guess there is, um was Doc, he looked out for me, he was harsh too, but not cruel. He would want to teach me things, so he was hard.
The opposite of the orcs.
But again he was my mentor, not my father."
The old halfling seems to slip into a memory, but shakes it off.
"Bluntness and harshness aren't the worst things in the world. Mister Mooney was both but he was a fine master... and his kids turned out very well."
"I... you don't need a father to turn out well. And just because you have one doesn't mean you will."
I wonder what a family would be like.
And I would say that Doc was one of the best teachers anyone could have had. It was not the blunt things that were taught best however, it was the subbtle things that really matter.
Those are the things that should last with someone. Not how to properly pull weeds."
Sip
He sighs and speaks. "I know very well what it's like to not have family. I thought mine was dead for many years, but to not even have the memories... that I can't imagine."
"My son... he made a family of his own while I was gone. Not bloodrelatives, but a family none the less."
"Friends can be as much of a family as family is And I suspect old Doc would agree with me there. How long have you been his apprenise?"
"Back when I knew him, he went through one every month it seems."
They took me in and assigned me to Doc. The situation really altered my life."
Gilgiga pauses and reflects on that.
Sip
"And we are all hers."
The halfling takes a sip of his tea.
"What will you do know? Are you ready to take on Doc's responsabilities?"
I do not really like that place, so cold. I know what it is for, but it only seems to keep in the cold memories not the good ones.
I think that Doc felt the same way, I guess that is why he wants a pyre.
I will hafto be ready, so I will be ready"
sip
"I guess that is what is has to be isn't it? Still, it's very kind of you to do that. A lot of people wouldn't want that kind of responsability."
"Very honorable of you."
"Still, that won't be the focus of your life will it? There is life outside of the Temple. I know a lot of the priests here don't leave much, it's one of the things that I considered when I was thinking of joining here."
"He's too old now, I am too, but when he was younger Father Camrun did a bit of adventuring. Not much, he was no famous hero like my son, but he did go out and do his share of helping the people."
"You look... sturdy... and from the sounds of things you have expeirance."
"Don't tell my son, I said this, but he really could use someone bigger around if he's going to continue running around saving the city. That Kywyn fellow and the elf Ran were nice enough, but if push comes to shove, they'ds be the ones getting pushed."
"And please, don't get me started on that minstrel of his... um... yes, where was I... oh! yes... There's more to life then just working in the Temple. You can do the Mothers will outside as well."
"I'm not trying to discourage you from doing your duty herew, mind you. Mother forbid I would do that."
"But if you ever need a break, I'm not the best gardner in the world, but I do love flowers and know a bit about them. And I'm sure my son could use some help on occasion."
Often I roam the woods about this city. But this is a peacefull place, little trouble.
Your son seems to have an eye for finding problems, and an equal one for fixing them."
Sip
"Hmm, I guess I should get out again. One the funeral is done with perhaps.
You may need to find yourself getting re-aquanted with a trowel."
Gilgiga smirks.
Sip
He finishes his tea and then pours another cup. He offers the kettle to Gilgigga.
"Would you like more. It's still a bit warm. I could go get another pot."
He looks towards the door and then back to the half orc to see if that is what he wants.
"Recenty, my son has been wandering the forests as well. Not looking for trouble, but for a new location for the guild he belongs too."
"But judging by the rips and stins on the clothing of his followers, your comment on finding trouble seems very astute. Even when he's not looking for it."
Can you tell me more about your son's search. Perhaps if you knew of anyway I could help him.
Or. . ."
Gilgiga's voice trails off as he realizes he has nothing really to say.
"He's taking a few of his students out beyond the walls looking for a suitable spot to build a new guild house. Somewhere close enough that people from inside the city can easily get to it, but far enough away to have a bit of autonomy."
"Probably somewhere defensable as well. I'm certain it won't be necassary, but I believe my son seems to think if worse comes to worse it should be a place where a final stand against the forces of evil can be made."
"I'm afraid that might be my fault. I didn't leave him much before I was sent away, but it appears I did leave him with silly notions of chivalry and heroics."
I am not too good with defnce, but perhaps there is time to learn.
Would you mind puting a word in for me with him?"
"If nothing else it would be good for him to have more exposure to one of the Mother's servants. I know he associates with a paladin or two, but... I've always considered the Mothers teachings to be a bit more valuable."
So, please to tell your son.
For now however I think I must get bact to my duties."
"After I say my goodbyes to Father Camrun I'll be sure to mention you to my son."
I will tell father Camrun you said goodby"
With that Gilgiga bows slightly before leaving to see if there is anything he can do in preperation for the funeral.
"Do you know when the funeral for Doc will be? I'd like to attend it. And could you schedule an appointment for me to speak with Father Camrun afterwards if it won't be too much trouble?"
After making his arrangments, the halfling heads for home.