Maeve giggles at that. "Well, yes. Giant purple worm. I don't think he was that amused at the time, though. None of us were, really."
Suddenly there's a darker cast to her, as she continues to try to take it all in. "This whole thing was just...pointless. Stupid. That woman, Katiyana....she was..." A deep breath. "I don't know what she was, but she wasn't evil. Not like an oni, or the undead, or demons. And she wasn't...well, crazy the way Tunuak was. But even once she'd lost, once it was all over but the technicalities...she just wouldn't stop, even offering her a chance to surrender again and again." Suddenly she shivers.
"Tell me what happened," Ameiko shuffles you both closer to the fire pit.
Ameiko nods, "It sounds like this Katiyana was fanatically bound to her demon god's will, and just as likely overcome with lust for power. She manipulated people to her will, organized the sacrifice and slaughter of people like those in Iqaliat, turning them into her undead slaves, and plotted the return and conquest of her demon god. I think it's safe to say she was evil." She looks up at Maeve. "You did the world a service by killing her. Why the remorse?"
She shakes her head. "Because I don't feel right about it. I don't want to hurt anyone...not after..." Maeve shivers again, and this time not from the lack of warmth from the fire. She's probably referring to the accident from when she was still learning blade-work while working at the Dragon...a little slip and Koya's services were needed.
Come to think of it, that is when Maeve got really serious about using her feet to deal with troublemakers during her shifts.
"None of us are out to hurt anyone. We aren't sadists, but we're up against some people, and things, that are. They'll use, corrupt, torture, manipulate... you name it, all on a whim to exert their power over others. They're not like the ruffians or drunken thugs we'd see in Sandpoint from time to time. " She shakes her head, thinking back. "Taking a life should never be easy... which is part of the bridge I'm trying to get Parity across... and it's natural to have doubts, but when facing monsters like Katiyana, often there aren't any other options."
Maeve frowns, and looks down at her hands. "...there has to be." She swallows, huddling closer. "...I don't think I can accept a world where it isn't possible to save them...even if I have to accept that I wasn't able to."
"As in redemption? For wayward mortals, certainly, but... well, you've read the stories. Those who've sold their souls in diabolical pacts, or in service to a demon lord... they are just too far gone."
Maeve actually chuckles a bit at that. "...I think the best stories are the ones where people even come back from that. But I think I can accept that it's not possible to do it in the space of one fight. It won't stop me from trying."
Ameiko smiles warmly, "You should never stop trying. If we do, we've essentially conceded to those we're up against. That's what they want."
Maeve snuggles in closer to Ameiko again. "Is it colder now, or is that just me?"
"It's always cold. I don't think I can recall what warm felt like. But at least the damned wind is gone," Ameiko jokes.
Malnival makes his way around the camp, trying to find someone with shears to cut his hair.
Shalelu gives Malnival an amused smile.
Her smile widens.
|
Heng sips on the tea, firelight glints off the porcelain cup as it clinks against a tusk. He stares into the dark thinking. Finally after long moment he turns his attention back to Koya. "I am sorry, Tata. I have not been good company. My mind has been elsewhere. I was thinking of my father."
"So much about him is unknown to me. Why did he leave Tian Xia for the Tusk Mountains? He said little, only extolled me to practice, practice, practice. Perfect thought, Perfect form, Perfect action. Why? Did he have a goal in mind or was perfection the only goal he acknowledged?"
The half-orc sighs, "I have spent all my life practicing and my skills have grown. I wonder if it is enough though with onis and demons as our enemies. Would the gods aid me if I were to ask their assistance? Why do they answer prayers, Tata? Could I be worthy enough to serve as well?"
"I do not know much of my father's gods. Just what we've glimpsed in the Jade Quarter and the shrines of our enemies."
She takes out her hunting knife and begins sharpening it, still smiling.
Koya nods, listening patiently as Heng unloads his thoughts. "The gods do answer prayers, though no mortal can control such favors. I revere Desna, who's whim is known only to herself."
"Unfortunately, I have no perfect answers for you, as I didn't know your father. But I know a little of the philosophy. As far as I know, worship of Irori is common in the eastern lands. They idealize the pursuit of divinity through perfection of mind and body. All the exercises, routines and rituals that you were taught sound a lot like the ones Irori's faithful perform."
"They seek perfection to bring themselves closer to their god, to be a perfect implement of his will, when called upon, though I suppose a few believe they too can attain divinity by that path."
"Now, the Tien folk have their own pantheon of gods and spirits, but I am fairly ignorant of them. If you wish to know more, I believe Maeve has collected some books and stories, as a gift to Ameiko."
I know I felt peace for a while after that, then Ameiko woke me. I did remember some of it then, but the memory has faded like a dream you try hard to remember after waking. I think it is to save us the grief of losing whatever lies beyond."
Malnival shrugs his shoulders and pulls a mirror from his pack, looking at his singed hair and gore covered face.
|
|
Heng nods and seems relieved at Koya's words. "I have heard of Irori, but thought him only a southern god. From what you say however, his beliefs seem similar to those held by my father. He had a small shrine and I remember dragons, but perhaps there were other symbols that I did not recognize at the time. I will speak with Ameiko in the morning and ask to borrow her scrolls."
"Thank you again, Tata. Now it is time to rest. It has been a most trying day."Heng holds Koya's hands as he bows goodnight and makes his way to his sleeping pallet.
Harlan moves with the group, his thoughts on distant lands of warm beaches and sunny days. Seeing the caravan attacked snaps him out of it, but hearing that none are seriously injured he nods gratefully then sees Sandru to his bunk.
"I need my rest brother, then tomorrow I'll heal everybody as best I can."
Shalelu laughs, nodding sagely.
"Now, do you want this all the way to the scalp, or just short?"
After a few hours of much needed rest, you break camp and move the caravan to the edge of the black lake. Although still below freezing temperatures, the air has grown noticably warmer in the time since the Storm Sphere's destruction.
You cross the causeway and find the strange tower even more strangely lifeless, like a subliminal hum is missing, but you only now notice because it is gone. Inside, the rooms are cold and dark as before, but Maeve's attempts to activate the panels garner no response. The panels remain inert.
Maeve sighs. "It's probably still functional, in a sense, but there's no power and nothing I've got will work as one. If we want to get back there, we fly."
"I think it's worth it. I don't want to fight those creatures but we really need those diamonds if I'm going to help everybody feel better."
Using means of flight, you are able to easily ascend to the second level. There, you find the crystal room is still open, but like the rest of the tower, no longer blinks and sparkles with energy. The crystalline scorpion creatures are gone, allowing you to harvest the crystals unhindered.
Shalelu begins to carefully cut away Malnival's scorched hair.
Maeve sighs in relief. "I'm just grateful we don't have another fight on our hands. Maybe if we meet a Pathfinder we could just give them the information on what we've found - if rumor is to be believed they're usually pretty good about figuring out what to do with dangerous sites."
Harlan looks at the dust carefully.
"If I understand the prayer correctly this should be enough. I can help with most of the damage as long as it hasn't been too long. Once that happens this won't be nearly enough."
Parity had none.
Parity yawns as he wakes, aches from the previous day's battle and the toll of spell casting on his spirit still there but his mental acuity is back. He stumbles up collecting his things he left strewn about to include Suishen.
Sorry about that ... fairly inconsiderate of me. Needed to rest, wasn't thinking
Heading to breakfast, he hears Sandru and shouts in his direction, "Hey, you old scoundrel, you certainly handled yourself well at the tower. Who'd ever know you were a caravan merchant! I take back all the cynical thoughts I ever had about you pulling your weight in a fight. I'd buy you a drink if there was a bar around. Cheers, anyhow!" Parity raises his waterskin.
He begins to approach Ameiko several times in the morning, but thinks differently of it and changes course to accomplish some other menial task.
Sandru raises and eyebrow, but smiles (though Parity can see none of this). "Why thank you! It's been a few years since I was an 'adventurer', but you don't grow up around a Varisian caravan and not learn how to scrap."
"No taverns in sight, but..." he leans in, mock conspiratorial, and speaking loud enough that all can hear. "I do have a small cask of brandy that I've stashed away in the food stores. I think Harlan knows about it, though... he might have used it for cooking." To the group, "Anyone up for a shot?"
"It's never too early ... I'll take one." Parity grins.
"Did someone say drink?" Maeve is already up, of course...although she looks like she might not have slept a wink all night, instead of the two hours she's been managing just fine lately. "Sure, I'll take one...or more.."
"I knew about the brandy Sandru but I save it for when we had something to celebrate. I thought it might be crossing the mountains but after surviving that witch in the tower I think this is a better time."
What makes people turn to evil like that? And why would Mal cut his hair like that?
Malnival runs his hands through what is left of his hair and shakes his head at the half orc. "To damn cold for that!"
|
|
Malnival runs his hands through what is left of his hair and shakes his head at the half orc. "To damn cold for that!"
"If you ask nicely, Koya might knit you a cap to keep your head warm," the half-orc/half-Tien replies. It is hard to tell if he is joking.
Heng looks quizzically at Maeve's statement about pathfinders, but just chalks it up as another of her non sequiturs and helps harvest the jewels.
*