DM Nate |
Glossing is fine- I just needed to know if there was going to be any editing/omitting. also, Brother 'Fusswick' does not fuss in the sense of being excitable- he is fussy in the sense of being very particular (and causing a fuss for students by forcing them to redo work repeatedly until it meets his standard).
Brother Faustwick's uncharacteristic frown continues throughout the story and only deepens by the end. It would be easy to assume that the look is one of disappointment, but it truly seems much more empathetic than that. "I fear we have no good options..." he finally answers, "there is precedent for her receiving a church trial, after that incident with Brother Krask at the Hagfish years ago. However, Lonjiku has already publicly complained of special treatment- if we interfere we may prove him right and add fuel to whatever flames he ignited today. And, if we don't interfere they'll cane her in the square for sure..."
The priest trails off as he drifts into quiet contemplation. Father Zantus, apparently unwilling or unable to interject anything yet, sits quietly waiting.
Kaede Mayumi |
"So, there's nothing we can do?"Kaede says quietly. "Had I expected that she was even capable of that, I would have stepped in the way. I was already prepared to interpose myself from anything that Lonjiku would have done anyway." She sighs in frustration, and balls her hands into fists, in an attempt to not fall into despair.
Salomae Amsel |
Oh I figured, but in my experience 'fussy/particular' people also tend to be hard@sses about other things too which is the reasoning behind that last Sal post.
Huh...he's taking this better than I thought.
"It burns me up just thinking about it, but maybe Kaelaah had a good idea," Sal finally says. "Even though I'm sure he'd probably be happy to see any or all of us caned in the square, he also seems like the type who'd love to see some bowing and scraping even more. Maybe with Sheriff Hemlock as a neutral third party we can come up with some sort reparations to fit the crime?"
Roakkad Shrikkir-tsha |
The idea of anyone being caned in the town square is horrifying to Roakkad. Certainly, he is familiar with the potential of governments to be cruel, but he did not realize that here, in a provincial village such as this, that a young woman would be brutalized in public.
This is Sandpoint, not Korvosa! Galjit, where have you sent me?
"Yes, there must be something we can do to prevent Tera being beaten in public! I understand that this nobleman is an important person, but should there not be a trial? A judge or magistrate? Let them see that she is a peaceful person who was provoked!"
Kaelaah |
"Indeed... what possible good could come from Sister Tera being so publicly punished? The Kajitsu man must surely see that reparations will put him in better stead than being known as the man who provoked one of the Marked to violence... What has to gain from such a thing? Better that Tera apologises... truly apologises... and we, her brothers and sisters, perform some task for him", Kaelaah pauses and then, with flame starting to burn behind his eyes, "Brother Faustwick, we must not allow Sister Tera to be humiliated so".
DM Nate |
"There will, of course, be a trial," Brother Faustwick answers, "but from what you have told me she is clearly guilty. And, the purpose of a caning is not to benefit the assaulted but to deter future assaults. By making a public display of the punishment other common people are reminded of the steep cost of striking a noble. Still, Lonjiku might be willing to accept an alternative form of punishment... and I'm sure the sheriff would accept it if he does; I can't imagine Belor's looking forward to any of this."
"Perhaps," Father Zantus interjects, "we should see what Tera wants? You are often brought in to consult with prisoners before their trial, do you think the sheriff would let you see her?"
"I'll go at once," the Abadarian answers standing up.
if anyone wants to say anything before he leaves, feel free. Otherwise, it'll be an hour or so before he gets back if there's anything anyone wants to do?
DM Nate |
"Let me talk with her, Belor," Brother Faustwick's calmly measured voice replies, "and I will do my best to find a resolution that satisfies everyone."
"I sure hope so," the sheriff says sounding fairly exasperated, "the mayor and the founding families'll have my ass if I let something like this slide, but after what Aldern did with your kids this afternoon people're likely to revolt if I cane her in the square! Nevermind Aldern himself who was in here up my ass about the whole thing minutes after she got here."
There's a click in the lock and light floods into the room as the door swings open. Brother Faustwick nods to the sheriff and evokes a magical light in the empty lantern on the wall as he walks in. When the door has swung closed behind him, he takes a seat at the desk and quietly says, "Well, you've had a busy day."
Tera Flinders |
Tera doesn't even flinch at the bright light now streaming in. She'd already buried her head in her hands at the conversation she'd just overheard. She takes a deep breath in, trying to steady herself and her wavering emotions. Anger, fear, and regret among them. finally, she looks up at Brother Faustwick, sitting on the cot she'd tried, vainly, to sleep on.
"I know it's not going to make much of a difference," she tells him, "but I truly am sorry for the grief I am causing you and Sheriff Hemlock. If I had taken a moment to think--" Tera stops suddenly, her gaze falling to the floor.
"But I didn't and now my impulsiveness has gotten us all into this big steaming mess," she says quietly. The mage just awaits Brother Faustwick's response, not expecting it to be pleasant.
DM Nate |
Brother Faustwick falls silent for a moment and when you finally glance up for a moment you see something unexpected: compassion. "How would you like to see this situation resolved, Tera?"
Tera Flinders |
"If it wasn't going to set off a firestorm for the Sheriff, I'd just accept the consequences," Tera says honestly. "I'd demand that Lord Kaijitsu apologize to Ameiko and to the others for his behavior, but I'd still go through with it to prove that I don't think we are above the law."
"I punched him. He knows it, I know it, and everyone in the Rusty Dragon saw it. I'll accept the consequences for that, and I'd do it again. The man acts like a tyrant, and seems to think that his title lets him smear my friends' reputations with mud."
"We didn't do what we did during the raid because we wanted to be heroes, or for glory. We wanted to help. We wanted to do what was right," Tera says after a moment, her eyes bright with tears. "What kind of world are we building where a titled bigot can go around insulting whomever he wishes and never be called to account for it. If following Abadar means I have to support men like that, then I might as well throw myself out of the cathedral."
DM Nate |
He takes a deep breath and adds, "as I said before, you are an adult now and it's time for you to make your own decisions... do you want to accept the standard penalty for striking a noble--public caning--or do you want me to see if Lord Kaijitsu will accept another punishment--which would almost certainly include you making a public apology?"
Tera Flinders |
"If I made an apology to Lord Kaijitsu, I'd be lying through my teeth," Tera says as she curls up on the cot, sniffling a little. "I'm angry, and frustrated, and... and I hate this damned brand on my back!"
Tera shudders as she tries to stifle the sobs. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to be set on a pedestal and treated as if I was some kind of divine avatar. I don't know why I was chosen. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I just... I can't..."
Tera just quietly sobs into her knees for a long moment, spending the strength of her emotions until she can control them again.
"What's the point? I tried and tried to find someway to find an answer, to find what path I am supposed to take, and all I'm left with is that same damned question. Why?" Tera's voice is muffled by her knees as she speaks. "Any apology I made would be insincere. I am not sorry I struck him. What he said was insulting and demeaned what the others had done to protect the townspeople and the feast that helped lift everyone's spirits. I am sorry for the trouble my actions have caused you, the others, and Sheriff Hemlock, but that's not the same as being sorry for striking him, and I doubt he'd accept that."
Tera peeks over her knees, her eyes red now, as she thinks about how to phrase her next words.
"See if there is a punishment that he'll accept that won't through the town into a riot. I'm not sure what that is, whether it is serving him as his attendant for a time or something else. I cannot honestly make an apology for my actions to him, and I will not lie about that. That is the one thing I will not do. If there is nothing, then I will accept being caned in the square."
After a moment, she adds, "please, Brother Faustwick. I want to avoid making things worse, but I can't sacrifice my integrity to do so. Please can you do this last favor for me?"
DM Nate |
Tera Flinders |
Tera, now tired from her emotional outburst, can only feel herself trying to look away from Brother Faustwick's false smile as he agrees to help her with this.
"Thank you," She says, not able to meet his eyes, "I..." she starts, but then closes her mouth and shakes her head. What could she say, after all, to the man she'd just put into this position by her actions?
I'm no better than Lonjiku, she thought, I did to the others and to Brother Faustwick what I accused him of doing.
That thought shamed her.
DM Nate |
He takes a step towards the door then freezes... he pauses for an awkwardly long time, his breath caught in his throat as though he were about to speak... Finally he sighs and walks out.
Minutes turn into anxious hours for those who choose to wait with Father Zantus. When Brother Faustwick does return he seems exhausted- not just tired from lack of sleep, but completely emotionally spent. The high priest rises when he enters and quickly asks, "What news, brother?"
The tired priest sits down on a wooden chair and says, "Tera will not apologize, regardless of the cost. And, Lonjiku will not accept any deal that does not include a public apology. I'm afraid the only option is to go through with the caning. We'll do it in the square in the morning..."
Roakkad Shrikkir-tsha |
"It is he who should be apologizing--he who shamed the marked, who provoked Tera. He is a cruel and spiteful man. Tahuna toku toto!" He paces the room feverishly, cursing under his breath.
Tera Flinders |
Tera nods in acknowledgement and lies down on the cot as he leaves. She does not sleep easy that night, her dreams filled with the doubts that have now come back ten-fold.
Sorry for making you guys wait. Ready to move on when you are.
Salomae Amsel |
"If neither one is willing to budge then there's not much else we can do," Sal responds unhappily. "Father Zantus is right, if we interfere then it just gives Lonjiku's accusations more weight and it'll seem like we don't think enough of Tera to respect her wishes either. All we can do is be there for her tomorrow..." she continues with a frustrated sigh.
No worries Tera! I'm good to move ahead too if everyone else is.
Kaede Mayumi |
Go ahead and advance the story. Kaede's frustrated beyond all belief, but won't do anything past that.
DM Nate |
"Good morning, Tera," he says as upbeatly as possible, "Please, pardon my intrusion but I've been following your case very closely and I believe I might have a solution for you... If you were a noble the punishment would be virtually non-existent... And, as you know, I am of marrying age; and, so are you... And I find you both pleasing to the sense and stimulating intellectually... So, I guess, what I'm really trying say is this: will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?
Tera Flinders |
Tera spends a full three minutes standing there, her mouth open as she tried and failed to process what she had just.
Finally, she is able to move and buries her head in her hands with a groan.
"You're not being fair you know," she says sounding on the edge of crying and screaming out in frustration. With another groan, she collapses to the cot.
After another moment, she looks up, letting Aldern get a clear look at the dark bags under her eyes and her bedraggled hair and clothing, the clothing that she had slept in.
"Lord Foxglove, I am honored and flattered that you'd want to marry me, but to cheapen that as a way to escape punishment, a punishment for a crime I admitted to," she looked away, unable to hold the noble's eyes, "I can't. I can't for the same reason I can't give Lord Kaijitsu a false apology. I am not sorry I struck him. I am sorry for the trouble I have caused, and for lowering myself to his level, but not for the actually act."
She falls silent, needing to collect herself. She looks up at Aldern again, her brown eyes soft.
"He accused us of thinking ourselves above the law. If say yes to you now, I'll only prove him right. I don't want to be beaten, I don't want to tear Sandpoint apart, but I can't just ignore my heart, my integrity, or my principles. Maybe that's selfish of me, but I can no more do that than I can fly without wings or magic," she finishes softly, her eyes on the toes of her bare feet.
DM Nate |
With a sigh he says, "I certainly didn't mean to cheapen anything... I only hoped my timing might spare you pain..."
He stands uncomfortably for a moment then adds, "I'm sorry I can't help... Still, if your only objection is the timing perhaps we'll have this conversation again another day..." With a deep bow he turns and leaves.
Tera Flinders |
By the time Tera looks up to thank Aldern for his kindness, he is gone. She'd hurt yet another person, and she could feel the bottom dropping out of her stomach. How could one, stupid act lead to such a mess? No answers came as she pulled on her boots and waited to be lead to her punishment, hoping that nothing else would happen that would cause her to feel worse about this than she already did.
She didn't pray, though. She doubted Abadar would listen to her.
DM Nate |
The morning is still young when Tera is marched out of the Garrison and into the square near the church. Although most serious cases have to be transferred to Magnimar, when the sheriff or mayor can hand down a sentence they are typically carried out right away rather than leaving people sit in the jail. This seems unusually quick though and there are some murmurings in the crowd that it was scheduled early in the hopes that the crowd wouldn't be too big. Even with that effort there are still a fair number of people present. Aldern stands near the front with six armed men. Lonjiku is near the back with a few members of his extended family. There are also members of each of the other noble families, a smattering of random townsfolk, and most of the residents of the Cathedral.
Once Sheriff Hemlock, and a dozen armed watchmen, have transported Tera to the short wooden frame set up in the square Brother Faustwick stands and addresses the crowd. "The Master of the First Vault calls us all to abide by the rules which govern our society. All of us. And when one of us, any one of us, transgresses these laws there must be consequences in order to preserve our society. Sister Tera recognizes the truth of this."
As he speaks the sheriff quietly removes the manacles from her wrists. The priest continues, "She has confessed her crime and willing accepted its price." Then he nods to Sister Tera and gestures to the wooden frame. After she has turned to face it and leaned forward to rest her chest upon it, he carefully opens the back of her shirt trying hard to preserve as much modesty as possible. While he works, a 'cane' is brought to the sheriff- a stick of green wood, three quarters of an inch thick and nearly four feet long. When Tera is properly positioned he hands it to Brother Faustwick.
The priest does his best to maintain his stoic appearance as he raises the stick aloft and snaps it down on her lower back, below where her mark ends. Aldern's hand moves to the hilt of his sword and several women turn away at the sound. The priest looks away from the fresh welt as he raises the cane and strikes again. A pin drop could be heard in the square as the echo of the thwack fades.
One final time the branch rises and cracks back down. The priest hands the cane back to the sheriff and moves to help close Tera's top back up. Turning back to the crowd afterwards he announces, "The prescribed penalty has been paid and this matter is settled. Anyone found to be committing a crime related to this incident will be shipped directly to Magnimar to be tried for inciting civil unrest."
Sheriff Hemlock nods to the priest, looking more than a little relieved, and turns with his men to march back to the Garrison. Meanwhile, Mother Hera comes up out of the crowd and escorts Tera back into the Cathedral.
Tera Flinders |
Tera felt the heat rising in her cheeks as the back of her robes and tunic are cut open. She was modest by nature and she was just grateful that they hadn't done anything to her underclothes.
Then came the first strike. The explosion of pain was enough to buckle her knees, but she bite back the gasp that would have come out. She would accept the punishment, but she was not going to give Lonjiku the satisfaction of hearing her cry out in pain. It was harder to hold back the scream on the second blow, and the third one left her grimacing as she tried not to swoon.
Then it was over. The welts stung and tears of pain welled up in her eyes as Brother Faustwick pulled her tunic and robes close once more. She knew the man had done his best to show mercy, and somehow that hurt worse than the pain blazing in her back. She wanted to let him know how much she appreciated that gesture of kindness, but how could she in a square that is crowded in onlookers? No, she'd have to find him after this was over and tell him, she decided as she was lead away by Sister Hera.
===
Tera finally cries out when she goes to lie down on her bed. The pain exploded as she happened to twist in just the wrong way, leaving her gasping and sobbing into her pillow.
"Lord Kaijitsu isn't here, is he," she asks after she manages to compose herself a little.
Salomae Amsel |
A quiet sense of dread filled Sal as they all rose early the next morning and made their way to the town square. Although she was grateful that they'd chosen an early hour to have done with it she wasn't especially surprised to see a modest-sized crowd just the same. Some were probably there to gawk, others to gloat, and still more present out of a sense of solidarity as they were. She catches sight of Aldern and his men near the front.
I wonder what he's made of all this?
As Tera is brought out and the sentence pronounced, Sal fights the urge to look away. She'd promised herself that she would respect Tera's wishes and bear witness, rather than look away out of shame or embarrassment. At the first stroke of the cane she flinches, but somehow maintains her composure.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Brother Faustwick is right, we have to have rules and order; Old Deadeye teaches it too. Then why is this so hard...?
Mercifully, the rest is over in a matter of seconds. Sal feels a spark of thankfulness as she sees Sister Hera tending to her friend as they slowly make their way back towards the cathedral. Tera would be in good hands with her. She turns to the rest of the Marked. "I never want to see anything like that again..."
Roakkad Shrikkir-tsha |
Roakkad watches in silence as the punishment is carried out, reflecting on the situation in which they have found themselves.
The kiradtch, reduced to being switched. Sky Father, I am shamed. Do they truly think that by humiliating Tera in this way they will break her spirit?
"...her spirit?" His thoughts manifest in softly spoken words as he thinks them aloud, his eyes locked on Tera's beaten flesh.
"I never want to see anything like that again..."
"I disagree," Roakkad responds. "There is still one in Sandpoint who deserves much worse."
___
Perception, Tsharat, Bright Light?: 1d20 + 1 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 + 3 = 11
Kaede Mayumi |
Kaede.... Kaede doesn't go to the public shaming. She's up for her prayers at dawn like normal, but her normal place of performing them is unwelcome (in her eyes) today.
If questioned about it, she looks that person in the eyes with a haunted, but determined, expression and quietly say, "If I go, I'll do something we all will regret. I don't think any of us want that." Likewise, trying to focus is incredibly hard for her this day. It's hard to love when such hate is flung at you and yours.
As such, during the ceremony, Kaede is, for lack of a better word, hiding in the back corner of the boneyard, silently trying to gasp at the focus she normally has. People, chores: all of it is far from her mind now.
Kaelaah |
Kaelaah watches in silence, he forces himself to feel each blow that lands - this is his sister that is being hurt so - and it does not sit well. When Salomae expresses her distaste at the proceedings he nods in tacit agreement... whilst, held behind his back, his hands burn with a wisping flame...
Back at the cathedral, the brooding Shoanti seeks out Sister Amet'Ra - and, when he finds her, asks for her counsel...
Tera Flinders |
Still here, just waiting to see if anything comes of Sister Hera's visit and Tera's comment.
DM Nate |
The priestess sits in a wooden chair at the head of Tera's bed keeping an eye on her. Now that Tera has roused, she reaches into a pocket in her robe and draws out something which she quickly stuffs into the young girl's hands. "Eat it, quickly, it will help to restore your spirits."
The item of which she speaks is a simple pouch of fried pastry which happens to be stuffed with the most delightful chocolate custard.
Tera Flinders |
Tera takes the pastry, and feeling hungry, takes a bite, chewing it slowly.
"I... I screwed up," she tells the priestess, "I let my anger get the better of me. I hit a nobleman because he insulted my friends. Then... then..."
The young mage stops burying her head into a pillow until she can control her voice.
"I yelled at him. I yelled at Brother Faustwick and told him I hated this mark on my back. Then Lord Foxglove came in, proposing and..." She takes deep, shuddering breath, fighting hard to keep her composure, "I'm just an embarrassment. I'm just an embarrassment to my family and now I'm an embarrassment to Brother Faustwick."
Kaelaah |
...after his discussions with Sister Amet'Ra, Kaelaah seeks out his friends.
DM Nate |
The old priestess starts to softly stroke your hair in an attempt to soothe you. "I'm certain he'd have liked things to go a different way, but he's really rather fond of you... I think he'll be relieved to hear you've learned something about controlling your anger and glad for things to get back to normal."
Tera Flinders |
Tera lays there for a while. Letting Sister Hera's fingers calm her as they ran through her hair.
"Should I have apologized to Lord Kaijitsu," she asks, breaking the silence that had begun to settle in the room.
Salomae Amsel |
"I disagree," Roakkad responds. "There is still one in Sandpoint who deserves much worse."
"Maybe so...but being an unpleasant arse isn't a crime and right now that's all we can claim," Sal replies, though she keeps her voice low. "But if he got where he is in life by treating other people like he treated Tera, Ameiko, and the rest of us, well...he might be in for a surprise the day he reaches the Boneyard."
"Looks like most of the crowd is gone now," she continues, now speaking at a normal volume. "We should head back to the Cathedral; I think Kaelaah already headed that way."
Roakkad Shrikkir-tsha |
Roakkad nods sullenly in agreement, walking beside Salomae as they trudge back toward the Cathedral. Their home. This is my home now. Roakkad reminds himself for the millionth time. He suddenly has an aching feeling of homesickness, a burning desire to see Kaer Maga again, a need to flee Sandpoint and never look back.
But then he would lose the friends he has made. Tera, Salomae, Kaelaah, Kaede and Zache. And Sabyl. He remembers Sal's bravery fighting the goblins. "Do you ever get homesick?" he asks her.
Kaelaah |
Kaelaah is already waiting by the time that the rest of the Marked return to the cathedral, his expression is troubled as he sits out in the sun... there is plenty of shade around but the Shoanti, as he so often does, appears to have found the sunniest part of the courtyard.
Seeing Roakkad and Salomae, he calls out, "Sister Salomae, Brother Roakkad... it has been a poor day... but it pleases me to see you - tell me, what do you think Sister Tera's punishment actually acheived? I have spoken with Sister Amet'Ra on this and I still find myself unsettled..."
DM Nate |
Tera Flinders |
"Not the one I'm afraid I'm going to have," Tera answers glumly, "and that's not really answering my question. Do you think I should hav ejust apologized to him? Did I let my pride get in the way?" Tera closed her eyes, her head settling deeper into the pillow.
"Are the Marked truly blessed? All of it seems to keep coming back to that and why we were, why I was, chosen," she tells the priestess. "I thought maybe if I could learn to channel divine power I could learn the answers, find out what I'm supposed to do. All I ever seem to accomplish is making a fool of myself. I thought I was supposed to be a priestess, one of the Bankers of Abadar, but..."
Tera's dark eyes open just a sliver so she can see Sister Hera's face.
"Maybe I have it all wrong. Maybe I'm just to be an example of what happens when pride and selfishness overcome duty to the law and putting the order of the community ahead of your desires. Was it pride and not my integrity that kept me from apologizing? Did I just use the fact that it would have been insincere as a justification for it? Should I have put that aside, my self-proclaimed integrity, swallowed my pride, and apologized for what I did," she asked, her voice cracking a little as she tries to keep her tone calm and level.
"Maybe it would have been better if that goblin had killed me," she mumbles into the pillow.
Salomae Amsel |
"In a way...but I think it's more for the people than for the place," Sal admits as they make their way back to the cathedral. "Have I ever mentioned my sister Taliah? We're twins - well, except she doesn't have a mark like I do. Even though I've been at the cathedral for nine years now, my first eleven were spent in Nybor with her and the rest of my family."
She gazes up at the sky as they walk, thinking back to the letter she'd received from her sister only days ago. "She and my parents try to come and visit when they can, but it's hard for them to find the time - there's always something that needs to be taken care of at the farm and now that Tali is married and has children of her own, well...those things take priority over holidays to Sandpoint," she sighs, unable to keep a twinge of bitterness from creeping into her voice. "The older I get the more I miss them. I've only been able to see my nephews a few times since they were born. If it weren't for this mark..." her voice trails off. "Well. If wishes were horses then beggars would ride, as they say."
After a bit of an awkward pause, she asks, "What about you? I've heard you talk about Kaer Maga but I'm not sure that I've ever heard you say much about any friends or family there."
**************************************
As they enter into the courtyard of the cathedral, Sal waves in response to Kaelaah's summons and moves to join him. However his question gives her pause. "Under other circumstances I'd say that Tera or whoever the offender was probably learned a lesson about the laws of polite society; hitting people that make you angry may feel great but it comes at a cost. But honestly? I'm not sure," she responds gloomily. "I'd like to think that it showed others that even with our marks we're still no different than anyone else - and that we're willing to own up to our mistakes. Maybe it'll put paid to other people getting any ideas and accusing us of being above the law or getting special treatment like Lonjiku did."
Roakkad Shrikkir-tsha |
"I have a large family in Kaer Maga. The entire Shriikirri tribe is my family. I do not have a sister, or parents, or nieces and nephews, as you might call them. Those died before I was born. The midwives say it was a miracle I was birthed at all, though they speak kindly about the woman who was my mother." Roakkad trails off, smiling gently but losing the desire to speak further. "But that is a story for another day. We have enough problems on this one."
______________
Salomae Amsel |
I never know when I should spoiler my posts and when I shouldn't. Is there any sort of consensus on that?
"I see," Sal responds sympathetically. "Well, you'll have to tell me more about your Shriikirri at a later time then. It sounds like you're a tight-knit community, which is a good thing."
******************************
Sal appears surprised and a little flustered by Roakkad's response. "I mean that even though we're marked, we're still people, still flesh and blood. We're not gods and we're not perfect," she stammers. "I'm not saying that the marks aren't important or that they don't mean anything! Just that they don't exempt us from following the rules...or at least they shouldn't."
"Urgh...this whole mess has everyone out sorts!" she groans with frustration. "Kaelaah, have you talked to Tera yet? Or seen Kaede?"
Kaelaah |
"But... but if Sister Tera shows no remorse then how can she be redeemed or forgiven for her crime? How could anyone in her position? One cannot be simply whipped into redemption... I fear that the display had little to do with Sister Tera or indeed, even the Kajitsu patriarch... and far more to do with cowing the populace into obedience by fear". Thankful that Salome is changing the subject, "I'm afraid not... I sought out Sister Amet'Ra and then came out here".
"Ohhh, apparently Shalelu tried to visit last night..."
DM Nate |
I typically use spoilers if the post is something only a small number of people experience, or if it's continuing something that's lagging behind gameplay. Those are more guidelines than rules though.
Tera Flinders |
Tera closes her eyes again and mumbles, "m'kay," as Sister Hera's fingers continue to stroke her hair. The fatigue from the night before begins to catch up with the mage, and it takes her several moments before she manages to crawl back from semi-consciousness.
"Sister Hera, c-can you help me get changed, please. I don't think I can move very well, and I'm... so... tired," she mumbles as she tries to get up.
Please, feel free to move on if you need to. I don't want this to hold things up.
Salomae Amsel |
Okay, cool. Sometimes it's just confusing to see switches back and forth so I wanted to make sure to do it right.
"She did? I'd hoped she'd follow behind us but I guess she didn't want to interrupt our talk with Father Zantus," Sal replies, also looking a bit grateful to have something else to talk about. "How did you find out? Did she say when or if she'd be back?"
Roakkad Shrikkir-tsha |
Sensing Sal's reaction, Roakkad holds up a hand. "I am sorry, I should not take my anger out on you, Salomae. I do wonder what Shalelu makes of all this."