At one points she wonders out loud, looking from Azmaria to Arabeth to the others searching nearby...
"So, where did you all come from? Why did you come here? Do you all fight evil?"
Azmaria was with Gina hoping to guide her as they gathered the remains, hoping to keep her calm and comforted as they worked. her casual question seemed to ignite a flurry of attention as others came to her aid.
Azmaria stepped back feeling a bit crowded. but she also wanted to answer her. she started looking for the right words to say. wanting to simplify what was going on but not to lie or hide the truth from her.
Azmaria accepted to take Gina under her wing earlier, but this a snew thing for Azmaria, she tries to recall when Sister Rose first accepted her and offered to train her.
Azmaria waits to to speak to Gina allowing others to welcome her, the time will come when she can sit with Gina and explain things.
Kiwyn finished preparing the last victim from one building and moved towards the next ruins.
At one points she wonders out loud, looking from Azmaria to Arabeth to the others searching nearby...
"So, where did you all come from? Why did you come here? Do you all fight evil?"
The kitsune paused and offer a brief smile to the little girl. ”My lands are far to the East. So far that we a language of are own. I was raised in the Temple of Asahi no mori. I can not fight like the others, I’m afraid. But I hope I can find a way to help others, like you imoto.”
She begins to carefully pick through some rubble as she continues sullenly. ”All I can do now though, is to help lay the restless to rest.”
Gina smiles slightly at Kiwyn, but proclaims,
"My name is Gina, not Imodo."
"Hmm?" Kiwyn phases again, looking at Gina and then smiles again. "No, no. Imoto means 'little sister' in my language."
"Oh. I never had a sister, though.
Wait, do you mean like how Sister Azmaria is a sister?
'Cuz I wrote my name in her book!"
Gina smiles proudly.
Azmaria simply smiles.. she will answer Gina in time but for now she lets the others have a chance to know her.
Azmaria still keeps her eye out for dangers, as well as looking after Gina.
when the term Sister comes up. Gina, Sister is what we are referred to in my order, all the girls look after each other like real sisters. the person in charge is called Mother Superior, she started as a sister just like me, but because of her wisdom and her good works, and a little cause of her age, she was made Mother Superior.
Azmaria tries to keep the explanation as simple s possible, not wanting to confuse her.
to keep it simple, you can just call me Azmaria if you want.
Gina heads over to near where Vincent is collecting tools and trinkets from the rubble, and begins to do the same.
Vincent does really notice Gina's reactions. He watches to make sure nothing happens to her, but he stays focused on the task of searching and collecting useful items.
Arabeth smiles, seeming glad that the group is finding some harmony amongst the desolate devastation.
"Oh. I never had a sister, though.
Wait, do you mean like how Sister Azmaria is a sister?
'Cuz I wrote my name in her book!"Gina smiles proudly.
Kiwyn giggles a little. "Well then, maybe I should begin calling her shimai."
"What's Shi-my?"
Arabeth wanders closer towards Chap as they search through the ruins.
CS Game Post 9
You made a cursory search for survivors on the day you first arrived at the smoking ruins of what was once the village of Endurant, and you succeeded in rescuing one young girl named Gina, who hazily remembered hiding under the bed as little monsters hurt her mommy and daddy.
You rested for the night at the empty logging camp near the village, then split into two groups for the day, one searching in the woods out around the village for any tracks or trail of survivors or enemies, and one searching the village ruins for clues, items, and human remains.
Now, after a full day of searching and work in or near the burned village of Endurant, sunset approaches.
---------
You're quite certain that you and your companions have made as thorough a search as possible, all around the forested outskirts of the burned village.
You're also quite certain that nothing larger than a rabbit left the village within the last week or maybe even two.
You did find a waste area/latrine spot a short distance from the village in the forest, but the tracks there all seemed to return to the village, just like the ones that went to the area of the stream and berry bushes near the empty logging camp.
Additionally, you're quite certain that no one arrived in town within the last week either, except for some tracks headed into town on the main road, which were probably made by your own group.
You're pretty certain it's not a case of anyone covering up their tracks either. You should have been able to tell, if that we're the case.
So, it seems there were no fire survivors other than Gina, unless they somehow flew away or were magically transported away.
Additionally, whatever enemies may have caused this tragedy seem to have either flown or magically transported away, unless they're still hiding invisibly in the village, or died in the fire, or could turn into bunnies.
You return to the burned village center to report back to the others, finding most of your allies gathered near a burial mound at the center of Endurant.
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After a grueling and gruesome day, you've managed to gather all of the approximately one hundred bodies together at the center of town, and have created something of a burial mound.
Most bodies are too charred to tell, but those that aren't do indeed bear the distinctive imp stings in subtle places. (...not that you would have had any idea what those stings looked like before yesterday, with the possible exception of Sister Azmaria...)
Jewelry has been collected from the bodies and sorted by Eli. There are some nice pieces and some cheap pieces. Gina claimed a necklace she said her mommy wore. The only other piece which might be relatively-easily identified is a chunky gold signet ring with inlaid sapphires. The crest includes an image of a hawk clutching a vine. Gina commented that the fancy man who came to town every year for the summer festival wore that big shiny ring.
You are also able to collect a small assortment of basic metal tools and weapons that survived the fire (some crowbars, shovels, pots, pans, silverware, daggers, hammer-heads, axe-heads, arrow-heads, daggers, crossbow bolts, etc.) along with a masterwork rapier, a masterwork long sword, a masterwork great axe with an etched figure of a bear on the large axe-head, six masterwork short swords, and a masterwork dagger (which also has inlaid sapphires).
As far as actual coinage, you gather about 2,000 gp total in various types of coins.
(There could be more in the rubble, but you weren't taking the time to go after every copper.)
As sunset approaches, you gather near the burial mound at the center of Endurant. You notice Marius, Poterol, and Natanja returning from the woods, approaching you.
---------
Eli nods, solemnly, regarding those who just returned.
He steps up and speaks to the large mound.
"We mourn your passing, people of Endurant. We pray your spirits find rest, and we shall do all we can to bring your killers to justice and prevent this from ever occurring again. Sleep well, departed ones, and find no malice or sorrow to return. Be well in the land of the dead and at peace in the realm of the spirits. Chap, or any other, would you care to say something." Eli intones in his unwavering, flat way.
Gina steps forward, tears rolling down her cheeks...
"Goodbye, mommy and daddy and everyone. I miss you and I hope maybe you can come back some day, and I'm going to be good and fight evil!"
... the last part is barely a squeak, as she steps back and buries her face in Sister Azmaria's dress.
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Lesith, crying, only says:
"I am sorry we weren't on time to help you! But I'll promise we will try our best to prevent this from happening again."
After the ceremony she goes to the logging camp to cook, serve dinner to her cousins, and prepare for the other day's voyage back to Vigilant.
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Aeryth gets down on one knee. He sticks the point of his sword in the dirt in front of the Burial mound and rests his head on the pommel. His lips move silently.
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Azmaria gives Gina a hug then stoops down to be eye level with her.
she wipes any tears from Gina's eyes. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you, It is written, He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever, you must place your faith in God. God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Azmaria gives Gina another hug of comfort. whispering a prayer to God that only Gina can hear.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"
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"There's some decent silver here," Cernan observes. "It's not much, but while everyone sets up camp I might be able to throw together a dozen or so silver arrowheads for the group, just in case."
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Arabeth, tired and grimy, stands with her head bowed as the final ceremony is done. She will offer a reassuring squeeze of Gina's shoulder, then a gently comforting hug for Lesith.
Moving away from the cairn she glances towards the darkening sky before saying quietly, "Well... There should be just enough time to wash the worst of the day's dirt from myself..." And so saying she walks of quickly to where she'd found the nice bathing spot the day before. Washing quickly (Not bothering with cleaning her clothes) returning to her companions still drying her hair. Some sparkles of water still glistening upon her feathered cloak.
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Marius quietly walks up to the ceremony, his shoulders slumped after a long day digging through the brush. His disappointment is visible in his face, but he keeps that too downcast, avoiding the prying eyes of his companions. Rex, however, wastes no time in returning to Marius's side, sitting beside him and waiting patiently.
With a weak smile, Marius pulls a few dried bits of jerky from his pack and offers them to Rex. "Good job today, bud. Helped out a lot, I hope?" The wolf replies with a weak whine while gulping down the jerky.
Plopping himself into the dirt alongside Rex, Marius sits and waits for the ceremony to be over. He has nothing more to add, and certainly didn't want to further crush everyone's spirits with the news - or lack thereof - that the trackers had found.
As the rites at the burial cairn seem to come to a close, Marius stands and brushes the dirt from his pants. With a seemingly carefree shrug, he approaches the others and shares the tracker's findings. "Nothing out there. Just a few rabbit trails, but nothing came in or out of the village on foot for a good long while. No fiends, no animals, and," Marius hesitates, his voice wavering slightly, "no other people. Gina's the only one left."
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At the grave, Poterol bows his head, and murmurs prayers for the lost, hoping to guide their path to their last destination.
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When Eli names Chap to give some final rites she steps up and breaks for a long moment of silence.
God your power brings us to birth, your providence guides our lives, and by your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in your presence, their lives change but do not end. We pray in hope for family, relatives and friends, and for all the dead known to you alone. Unite us together again in one family,to sing your praise forever and ever.
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Natanja, with Oko on her shoulder, moved quietly into the clearing, with her two tracking companions. The return walk back into the town proper was a quiet one. The search had proved fruitless in many obvious ways. But perhaps there was something there they just couldn't grasp, yet.
She noted the ceremony was about to start and stood beside her kin, her eyes fixed on the burial cairn; the words of those who would speak for the dead filling the space as the sun fell and coloured the sky.
She gave her own silent prayer, Eth, may their spirits soar, like sparks on the wind.
When Marius and Poterol gave their respective accounts of what their search had and had not revealed, Natanja simply added, "The tracks were not covered over or removed, we could determine that much. The perpetrators either flew away or were magically transported, it would seem. Unless they are somehow hiding in the village, invisible to the eye, were burned in the fire or transformed themselves into some kind of woodland creature, we cannot find sign of their presence or movement."
Natanja looked up at the sky and silently observed the wind/breeze and noted any clouds or tell-tale signs, hoping to gauge the weather on their return trip to Vigilant.
A little time later, Natanja moved toward the young girl she had found close to death beneath the bed and rubble. She was standing beside the Sister Azmaria and clutching at her skirts.
Crouching down beside her, so she could be eye level with the child, Natanja gently smiled and smoothed away her hair. "How are you feeling, Gina? I am sorry I was gone for so long."
"I'm feeling sad."
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While the group were still congregated a little distance from the burial cairn, Natanja advised them that the weather would remain warm and dry over the next day -- a boon for any traveller.
*****************************************************************
Nodding at the vigilant Sister Azmaria standing by Gina's side, Natanja gently cupped the child's face for a brief moment and pressed on with her quiet inquiry,
"Aye, little one. I am sorry for your loss and sadness. It is a lot to bear for one so young. But, tell me, do you feel any better since last night? You were seriously wounded, Gina. Did the rest and sleep help? I examined you this morning, as you slept and before I left to track, and you seemed improved, child."
Gina wipes her nose and tears on Sister Azmaria's dress and remains holding onto her, but turns slightly to consider Natanja's questions. She focuses on Natanja's hair as she considers...
"Um....I dunno. Maybe. Why is your hair like fire?"
Natanja watched the child wipe her nose and tears on the Sister Azmaria's gown and gently shook her head at the action.
Gina's question about her hair caught Natanja slightly by surprise, but it was not the first time a human had asked her about her obvious/prominent igneous features.
"Well, little one, I inherited the colour and movement of my hair from a distant ancestor. I am an Emberkin and the fire-magic we wield manifests itself in our outward appearance. Like you inherited your colouring from your family, my divine bloodline has shaped me as I appear. Does that make sense, Gina?"
Natanja wondered why the child had not made mention of the faint smell of smoke that followed her everywhere she went or the golden eyes. Speaking of the Flame Spirit would wait for another day.
"No."
Gina seems to be responding simply and honestly.
She seems ready for you to either explain again, or to just leave it be with that.
Also, everything here still smells like smoke. She probably hasn't noticed that you're any different from the others in that regard.
"Would you like to touch my hair? It isn't actually fire, little one. It floats on the breeze like a curling flame, but it is not warm or hot to the touch."
Natanja made one more attempt to help the child understand. "There is something in my blood. Different to yours and some of those of my kin assembled, here. My hair is affected by that magic and essence inside my blood. Maybe in time, this will make more sense. You are still young, and you have much to learn and experience."
She forgot how difficult it could be to explain to a child in a way they could readily understand. Her brother died so long ago ... Natanja gave a low, melancholy sigh before collecting herself and gently smiling at Gina.
Gina nods. You're not sure what exactly the nod is in response to, but then she does tentatively reach out to tap a single finger on Natanja's hair, then stroke it softly.
"It's pretty."
Natanja reached out and let a strand of Gina's pale hair slide through her fingers.
"Thank you, sweet one. You have lovely hair, too. I hope my hair does not frighten you any longer. You may touch it any time you feel worried and need some reassurance."
Oko watched silently from Natanja's shoulder. The spirit hawk tilted her head now and then and made slow movements attempting to gauge the interaction and conversation.
"Oko has pretty feathers, as well. But they are comfortingly warm to the touch and will not burn."
Once the child was done with touching her hair and/or Oko's feathers, Natanja stood to her full height and smiled at the Sister Azmaria. "You have provided good care for her this day, Azmaria. I thank you, cousin."
And then, in a more discreet fashion, asked, mindful of the nearby child whose parents had died with the other townsfolk, "Was anything of note discovered during the retrieval of the bodies? Was discussion had as to what steps we will take next?"
In a pleasant and matching quiet tone Arabeth relates to Natanja all the details of what the group sorting through the town uncovered.
Affirming that the town's folk all seem to have succumbed first to the Imp's assault, which then left them completely prone to the raging fire which swept through the steading.
Arabeth indicates the small pile of goods and equipment recovered. Noting Cernan's possible use of the silver found to fashion additional aid against any further nastiness similar to the imps encountered.
As for the planning of the future? Arabeth hazards/guesses that a night of rest at the logging camp should see every one fit and rested enough to make as quick a march as the group and animals can back to Vigilant
Azmaria finds comfort in helping Gina cope, hoping that she is doing the right thing. eventually Gina finds a distraction with
Natanja.
I still find it strange that the logging camp was abandoned, even before all the troubles happened, I wonder what events preceded the attack and the fire, perhaps this town has been under siege long before all of this. Also I can find no signs of cultists activity,m no summoning rituals, whoever is responsible for bringing these demons forth hid his activity pretty well.
turning to Gina, Gina I need you to tell me everything you can remember about what happened before the fire. who you would play with, things people may have been talking about. its OK if you don't understand what they meant, as long as you can remember what they said, as best as you can.
"We were sent here by a dream. We've found noting but destruction. I suppose it would be too wishful to hope that we could learn more by going back to sleep."
Gina turns to Sister Azmaria with wide eyes.
"Um... well, it was the Summer Festival, so everyone was playing and having fun...even the mommys and daddys. People said a lot of stuff. What else do you want to know?"
------------------
And then, in a more discreet fashion, asked, mindful of the nearby child whose parents had died with the other townsfolk, "Was anything of note discovered during the retrieval of the bodies? Was discussion had as to what steps we will take next?"
Eli steps close to his cousin. "There was nothing significant, no." he explains in his un-emotive voice. "Many trinkets, a necklace that Gina said her mother once wore - she claimed it - and some money. Several tools and weapons. I regret that it seems to have been an uninformative day, even if the pyre-cairn is a good thing to prevent the rise of the dead." he explains, flatly.
His masked face turns to view the road. "The plan is to head back tomorrow. We will go as fast as we can without killing the mounts. I would recommend a forced march for at least one day in order to make up for lost time. We will ride the normal length of time - Vincent, Sister Azmaria, and Kiwyn can share their mounts with Gina for that part of the day - they are smaller and lighter, and that should keep the mounts from collapsing during that time. For the rest of the walk, we'll need to alternate with people carrying her, if possible, or perhaps she'll ride in the wagon. I would recommend one hour each. I have not discussed this last with anyone, yet, but we'll need to be fully rested tonight to do this." His voice is calm and unemotional, as always.
He looks back to Natanja, his mask still soot-stained from the long day. Without rush or urgency, he continues, "I recommend we push as long as we possibly can - if we can get in 12 hours of travel each day, that would be good. It would be even better to get in 16 hours the first day, and eight the second. In that way, we can arrive at Vigilant in two days time instead of three days. Regardless of the exact number, I recommend we push harder to Vigilant the first day to be less exhausted the second." he explains.
Azmaria thinks for a bit, Gina the summer festival sounds like it was a fun time, why not tell me all about it, do you have a favorite activity?, do you go with friends. I want to hear al about it. maybe there were some funny looking visitors.
Matching her voice to Eli's lowered one, Natanja responded to the information he had shared with her, "We also have the spare mule purchased by Arabeth. It carries her larger items but Gina is small and light and the mule should be able to carry her also."
"If we push so hard on the first day, we will need healing to keep at the pace prescribed to reach Vigilant in two days time. It is fortunate that we have a number of healers among the kin."
"...I suppose it would be too wishful to hope that we could learn more by going back to sleep."
"I hope you may be right, cousin Cernan, and the lady will visit our dreams and guide us anew."
In terms of the discovered items via information from both Arabeth and Eli, Natanja pondered the signet ring with the hawk motif.
Looking down at the child again, Natanja stroked her cheek and asked gently, "Gina, the fancy man who wore the big shiny ring and came for the summer festival, do you remember what his name was? Or what other people may have called him as he moved about the village?"
She paused to allow the child to answer, if she could.
A short time later, she asked her cousins about the crest, "Anyone seen this hawk crest before or know of it?"
In response to Sister Azmaria's questions about the festival, Gina perks up...
"Well, the Summer Festival is a really big deal here. Everybody makes stuff for months and we decorate everything and bake all sorts of stuff and then we get all pretty and nobody works for like a week and there are games and races and contests and we finally get to eat all the stuff we made and play with the new toys. Everybody goes. It's mostly right on the village green. The mayor makes some boring speeches about stuff, but people are really happy anyway, and it's neat to see the visitors. We don't get many visitors here, but we usually have a few for the summer festival, like the fancy man who wore that shiny bird ring..."
Gina trails off, hesitating, the mention of the ring seeming to have brought her back to the realization that everyone is gone.
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In response to Natanja's questions about the fancy man, Gina pulls out of her thoughts, and refocuses to answer...
"Sure. He came every year to visit his sister, I think. He's somebody important from somewhere really far away. Mommy and Daddy told me to make sure I always call him Sir. Some people even called him Lord, but he only laughed and told them not to bother about that. He had really nice clothes. I liked to rub his vest cuz it was so soft. When I said I liked his ring, he told me how the bird picture was for his family name. He was Sir Hawk-Thorn, I think. His knife had the same blue shiny stones as his ring. They were really pretty."
Marius wasn't exactly sure he was ready to give up and go back to Vigilant, but there was little left to do here. It was also their best chance at finding anyone related to this nobleman, or Gina's uncle. And hopefully, one of those two leads could shed some more light on the happenings at Endurant.
He ponders over the mention of the nobleman. Approaching the child, Marius joins the others with cautious questioning. "I don't suppose you know where Sir Hawkthorn came from every year? Where his home was?"
"Um... far away?"
Arabeth gives a slight smile.
"You are doing well, Gina." She encourages the youngster. "Perhaps... More ideas and details will come to you in time?" She says, to wanting to pressure or rush the troubled young waif.
Arabeth motions to Chap and moves a small ways away from the group.
"I must admit, I've never really been able to 'stretch' my wings, as it were. I've honestly more been kept in a gilt cage all my life..." Arabeth chews a lip nervously.
"When....um... Um, when do you think revealing my... abilities... would be best?" She asks the other woman's council. [/b]
Vincent, listens to Gina's story. He sheds a tear, for he isn't without compassion.
When he hears her describe the man, he thinks back to who he may be.
He then looks at the sapphire studded dagger retrieved from the rubble.
Azmaria offers Gina a ride as well, letting her decide her own mode of travel. Gina, when you are ready we can talk more about the summer festival, and maybe more about other people in your town. but for now, it is ok to cry.
As they ride Azmaria offers a prayer though it is intended to be a private prayer, those that ride beside her can hear her words.
Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love.
Amen.
Your secret, your business, but judging how everyone regards Kayahidye's flight so casually, I doubt your secret is something to guard if it is fear of judgement that keeps you guarded. Though even if you flew ahead, how far would you make it before nightfall? You'd risk being alone; something we were warned to avoid by ally and dream alike.
If warnings are not enough to stay your concern, I would perhaps convince everyone to let you and Kayahidye fly ahead and warn Vigilant.
However, I will not second your idea in support. No offense, but we chose to delay once in Endurant for fear of making the wrong decision, and I earned myself the badge of intrusion. I would only bring the other's against us if I supported you openly.