Benedictus stays where he is and casts another spell, hoping to end the mummy before it's too late.
Benedictus stays where he is to avoid the paralyzing fear. Florence spends her last round in paralysis as she realizes, it’s just an undead. She can overcome! Nidhi however realizes the truth and freezes in place, panicked. Cahal however continues to press on as she slams the creature twice more, dropping it! Zilchus once again has nothing to attack with his brand new blade, though he can dig into the falling form if he wishes.
The light goes out of the creatures eyes as it slumps beaten to the ground. Cahal hears the sounds of frightened crying from within.
- - -
Zilchus looks at his still virgin sword and wonders if he was swindled at the auction. His fancy new sword had done nothing...NOTHING!...so far.
However, he can't stop to grump about it now. He listens for others that might need help and prepares to run to help them.
Perception
"We should head back! There might be others that need help!"
"We should head back! There might be others that need help!"
Nidhi stares at the fallen mummy for a few seconds before recovering herself. "Today. Is. The. Worst. Day. " Nidhi feels a bit ego-centric after what she's just experienced. She needs to take five minute to recover. Does Zilchus ever stop to relax? Nidhi nods at Florence's suggestion.
Nidhi dramatically presses the back of her hand to her forehead. Why Pharasma, Why? Nidhi pouts - unhappy with the vile taste of vomit in her mouth, unhappy that she was unable to help Cahal, unhappy the undead have overrun Wati. Nidhi sighs. "Cahal, could I trouble you for a glass of water?" Nidhi walks towards Cahal and helps herself to the door handle.
Nidhi is eager to look around the inside of Cahal's home and feels slightly better after gargling water. "Cahal, your daughter is so cute. Introduce me!" Nidhi sits on a couch or chair - whatever is closest or available. "Now that I know where you live, expect me to visit," Nidhi winks at Cahal. If I get her daughter to like me, I'm one step closer to Cahal's heart, Nidhi schemes.
Nidhi offers to heal Cahal's wounds so they can return to the city to help others in need:
Nidhi feels a wave of embarrassment and gives the wand a shake. Come on.
"Ahh - er - off-night. My skill using these rods is usually much better."
Nidhi puts the wand away and pulls out her bow. "I'm ready to go whenever you all are, but perhaps we could travel at a brisk walk rather than a run." If Cahal is concerned about leaving her daughter, Nidhi volunteer's Jharna's Tailoring Shop, "We'll be at least walking by there sometime tonight. It's on the way to the tavern."
"Zilch? Ben? Where should we go? Back to the auction house or would it be safer to try for Milki or the Tooth & Hookah?" she whispers tersely. "We need to get Cahal's daughter somewhere safe!"
Nidhi thinks with dismay that their chance to save the auction house might be long gone.
You hear a cry of surprise on the other side of the door and a woman, presumably Tehifa, opens the door. She has a kitchen knife in one hand and a small child hiding in her skirts.
The child rushes to Cahal and Tehifa lowers the not-so-threatening knife with relief.
"We were just headed to the temple of Pharasma when the pounding started anew. I though we were done for!" she looks frightened quite out of her wits.
Cahal grabs her daughter in her arms and holds her close, temporarily oblivious to all else as the two cling to each other.
Ben tries to make his mind work despite the total chaos surrounding him. "The most reasonable thing to do is to reach Milki, and barricade us inside". The scholar though shakes his head. "Although the rightest thing to do is something completely different...", he says, his eyes lingering on the scenes of pain and desperation. "For once, I will choose to do the right thing. I want to help the people. Let's head for Milki so that Cahal get her daughter somewhere safe. Nidhi, where is your family? On our way, let's try to do our best to help the people! Let's go, let's go!"
Zilchus shakes his head at Ben, gathering the woman to go out.
"No, we're going to the Church of Pharasma. It's almost as close and there is a better expectation of safety there," Zilchus says sternly, putting the hand of the woman in Ben's hand. "Ben, you lead the woman. Cahal has her hands full and I need my hands free. Let's go."
Zilchus begins to move the party to the Church as fast as they can. He has his sword out with cord attached and at the ready.
Nidhi takes out her bow so they can escort Cahal's daughter to the Church of Pharasma. First thing's first, I guess...
The party heads back toward the center of town with Cahal’s family in tow. Though it’s around 1am, you hear the occasional scream lingering in the air as you travel the darkened streets, though it seems to have gotten quieter - you suspect out of fear. People are awake, you can see the lights in many houses, but folks are hiding, and you see more houses with faces pressed against the windows and no lights.
Your journey toward the church (slightly closer then Milki so I’ll push you there for now) is mostly without incident. There was a lone zombie, shuffling down the thoroughfare which you dispatched easily enough. And a pair of skeletons dueling each other in the street. You took sides, and then ended them both.
You saw, down an alley, a pair of ghouls feasting on what was at one time largish dog, but with Cahal’s family, you felt it would be too close a thing, and pressed on.
Eventually you reach the Grand Mausoleum. It is in something of a panic. A large group of people have in fact gathered here, and the church is doing their best to take everyone in, but they’re bursting at the seams already. If you wait in line a few hours, and argue your case, you might find them a spot here… and you might not. It’s chaos…
Milki might be a good option. Hard to know, but it's not far away, just a few blocks off the square.
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Zilchus does not seem too surprised that the Church of Pharasma, aka the Pharasmooks, has failed the Ruby Prince so badly by doing a terrible job protecting the people from this plague of undead. He spits in the Church's direction.
"THEY HAVE ONE JOB HERE! ONE JOB!" Also offers his middle finger to the Pharasmooks. "CONTROL THE DAMN DEAD IS THEIR ONLY JOB." He shakes his head and looks away from the embarrassment.
"We'll have to protect ourselves. Let's get to Milki's. Hopefully, the basement there will be secure enough. Let's go. Bring the family, it's not too far."
Most of the party heads back out into the darkened streets and toward Mueaddat Almalaki Wadar Aleamm, also known as ‘Milki’. You round the corner to find the shop lit up like a blazing arrow with torches in sconces lit up around the outside of the building. There are a half a dozen well armed and armored warriors in the street out front, and Abdur himself is there, pushing an older couple into the shop. He wears a mitral breastplate and buckler (also mitral) and has a scimitar and mace strapped to his belt.
As you approach, you see two more servants dragging some recently re-slaughtered undead around the corner.
Abdur’s voice booms through the streets as he sees you approach, ”My friends! Rough night to be out and about. I suggest you head inside where the ale is flowing and the conversations are brisk!” as he speaks, he waives his hands in the air as a peculiar looking bird buzzes him. He shouts at it, ”Damnit, I’m not going anywhere!” This strange black bird wears a leather long-nosed mask like a plague doctor.
As you close, you can see Abdur has seen some combat as well. He has a few scratches and injuries, but nothing major from the looks of it.
Nosois eagerly fill the roles of clerks, scribes, and messengers in Purgatory's bureaucracy. They record the circumstances of each mortal's death, any judgments for and against its soul, and its final destination among the Outer Planes. A noisoi looks like a songbird—usually a crow, sparrow, or whippoorwill—though it wears a funerary mask that accentuates its beak. Many nosois craft decorative artificial tails from grave goods and other decorations that trail behind them as they fly. A nosoi typically measures about 1 foot in length but is deceptively heavy, weighing between 10 and 15 pounds. It can use drawing and writing tools suitable for Small or Medium creatures without penalty.
Nosois serve within the libraries and scriptoriums of Purgatory, tirelessly scribbling away without rest. Being social creatures, they frequently chatter or sing with one another. A nosoi considers eating a rare treat, and sometimes shares the information it knows if given a suitable tasty bribe.
A nosoi's primary duties are to record happenings within Purgatory, conduct souls to and from their appointed destinations, and carry messages from Purgatory to agents in other planes. Most outsiders respect the couriers' neutrality and allow them safe passage. Many also serve as assistants to more powerful psychopomps or even to mortals with particularly morbid concerns or important fates. Nosois take pride in knowing that their trivial tasks aid in keeping one of the multiverse's most important systems functioning with general reliability.
- - -
- - -
Zilchus joins the ranks of the defenders and waits for his party to guide the family to safety.
"Greetings, Abdur! The Pharasmans have failed us! It is good that we are here to help where we can," Zilchus says, keeping an eye out for more trouble. "I cannot imagine where all these undead have come from! Do you have any idea?"
"I think we will be going out to find more survivors. Nidhi has family nearby and there might be others."
Zilchus eyes the strange bird but feels it is less important than the threats to the city right now.
"Greetings, Abdur! The Pharasmans have failed us! It is good that we are here to help where we can," Zilchus says, keeping an eye out for more trouble. "I cannot imagine where all these undead have come from! Do you have any idea?"
"Well, I don't think the Pharasmans could do much - the dead have risen. From every grave and crypt they have come. I had a mummy in my basement that gave me no end of trouble until I got my old combat gear back out." he smiles grimly.
"I think we will be going out to find more survivors. Nidhi has family nearby and there might be others."
"Please bring your families here, they will be safe in my care, I guarantee it!" he all but shouts against the night.
As they get in, she just asks Abdur: "What is that thing?! I mean, we are grateful for your hospitality..."
”I have no idea.” he admits, ”It just showed up about ten minutes before you did and keeps trying to get me to leave. Maybe you can help it? I’m not leaving.” he says firmly, giving the bird the eye.
The bird flies up to Zilchus, lands on his shoulder, and begs for help in a confused jumble of languages interspersed with babbling about everything she’s seen since first meeting her master years ago. Somewhere in all this hyper-loud babble, you hear one word you do recognize. Ptemenib.
Ptemenib?
Ptemenib?! Zilchus racks his mind to place the name and is just about to call out to Ben for help when he remembers.
"Oh, you mean Ptemenib!! RIGHT!?! What about him?" Zilchus recalls the old priest who was in charge of security at the auction. "What about him?"
Diplomacy + Intimidate, FTW.
When the little bird gets someone to listen, she speeds up her speech, and while some of it is common, none of it is understandable as the poor creature is beside itself.
It'll take some doing to calm the bird down again.
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Cahal realizes she's been talking at the same time as Florence, only to say more or less the same things: "I'll wait here and protect them. Come back fast. Stay safe."
Something changes inside Nidhi. To Nidhi, Cahal suddenly doesn’t seem so appealing.
They’d been through so much. They’d been in the Necropolis, in tombs, fighting all sorts of creatures and this is what stops Cahal? Sure, the situation was less than ideal, but the party had proven to be resilient in times of dire straits. Nidhi frowns and crosses her arms: ”Fine, Cahal.” Nidhi realizes she’s spent enough time chasing after a well-formed backside when she should have been looking towards the collective. Nidhi wanted to tell Cahal that if the auction house burned down it’s her fault, but it wouldn’t be. It would be the entire party’s fault.
Nidhi feels a pang of regret in her chest. We left a building in a precarious position to chase after Cahal’s daughter who may have been okay if we hadn’t arrived. Nidhi tries to weigh the probability of if they hadn’t showed up but her head starts to hurt. Still, what was the point of being an adventurer – a hero – if you didn’t look towards helping other people? Why should the church be given all the burden?
Nidhi frowns when Cahal changes her mind and decides to come with the party. Family has proven to complicate things significantly. Nidhi has to have faith that Jharna will be okay on her own - at least until things have calmed down long enough that Nidhi will be able to check on her.
"THEY HAVE ONE JOB HERE! ONE JOB!" Also offers his middle finger to the Pharasmooks. "CONTROL THE DAMN DEAD IS THEIR ONLY JOB." He shakes his head and looks away from the embarrassment.
Cahal’s indecision is the tipping point for Nidhi’s patience. the Church of Pharasma didn’t decide to open the Necropolis. If you want to blame anyone, you should blame the Ruby Prince,” Nidhi huffs. Nidhi turns her head so quickly that her braid smacks her cheek: ”And what makes you think this isn’t our fault? Maybe this is Wati’s penance. We – and a bunch of other parties - went into the Necropolis, so now the Necropolis comes here.” When Nidhi first met Zilchus, she felt intimidated. Now, after spending over a week with Zilchus, she only feels annoyance towards the big oaf. Nidhi throws her hands up into the air: ”Instead of practicing with that piece of steel so much, maybe you should take some time to get to know Pharasmans. It seems like whenever there’s a problem, you’re always the first to blame them. Gods! You probably send a curse to the Pharasmans when you stub your pinky toe!” Does he even realize that I’m one of the ‘Pharasmooks’ he consistently berates?
Nidhi goes with the rest of the party to meet with Abdur; although she’s still in a foul mood. Nidhi has a scowl fixed on her face as they enter the tavern. Nidhi eyes Adbur’s attire of a mitral breastplate, mitral buckler, scimitar and mace. Good to see at least Adbur knows how to protect himself.
Nidhi watches at the bird lands on Zilchus' shoulder and continues to babble. Another thing to deal with? Nidhi feels tired and beaten down but her sense of obligation keeps her going. Nidhi takes a deep breath.
"Shh, shh, shh. It's okay. Look," Nidhi reaches into her cloak pocket to produce a stuffed fig from the auction. She'd planned on eating it later but vomiting made her lose her appetite. "Why don't you have a snack and then tell us what happened, Nosoi." Nidhi tries to be as soothing as possible.
Nidhi is worried about her grandmother, but pushes her worries to the back of her mind. Nidhi would have to believe that her grandmother would be alright without her.
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"The Church of Pharasma is going to be full of people trying to find safety behind its walls! This is crazy, Zilchus, wait!" Seeing that Zilchus has already taken his leave, Ben curses some unknown deity. "Oh, come on!".
When it turns out he was right, Benedictus erupts in anger. "I told you! If only you would listen! But no, we should not trust Ben, the clever one. Let's always trust Zilchus, the strong one! You know what? Intelligence always beats strenght!"
He turns to all of his companions with rage. "Get stuffed, all of you!"
With that said, Benedictus walks away, far from the queue. He places himself close to the church, and sits on a nearby rock. How long before they realize they will never get in and then propose Milki? Oh, maybe I'm just overestimating their intelligence! he thinks to himself while waiting and watching his friends from a distance. Being contradicted without any chance to reply was the worst thing that could happen to him, especially because the world showed how right he was.
***
When the group decides to go to Milki, Benedictus does not comment. He falls into an unbreakable silence, with a bitter expression and clearly angered, in the rear of the group. Never again I'll do the right thing. Ethics is for those not intelligent enough to see what's the most rational option...
***
"Or perhaps you should blame yourself for your stupid choice that could have caused the death of us all! Everything because you thought you knew better than me!", he adds to Nidhi's argument once at Milki, venting his rage at Zilchus.
“A Nosoi! A psychopomp!” Ben stares in wonder at the outsider, ignoring everything Abdur says, his rage quickly turning into curiosity mixed with awe. “Come here, my friend! Do you have a message for us?” Ben tries to win the attentions of the psychopomp. He does not explain anything about the outsider’s true nature to his friends, determined to show them how intelligence should always rule.
“Ptemenib, eh? It’s very likely that he was her…” Don’t tell them!
“Her…familiar”. Ben is eventually unable to hide the truth his intellect has revealed to him from his friends. “Is not unusual that Nosois enter the service of mortal spellcasters. I guess Ptememnib was her master, and I’m sure that whatever she’s trying to say, concerns Ptemenib.”
When he sees Nidhi trying to calm down the bird, Ben tries to help her.
“You’ve got nothing to fear from us. Calm down, so that we can understand you.”
When it turns out he was right, Benedictus erupts in anger. "I told you! If only you would listen! But no, we should not trust Ben, the clever one. Let's always trust Zilchus, the strong one! You know what? Intelligence always beats strength!"
Nidhi nods her head up and down so vigorously that she looks like a bobble head. Yeah! Yeah, you tell him, Ben! Both Zilchus with his profiling comments and with her sporadic running and decisions. Nidhi wasn't understanding that part about not trusting Ben or Intelligence beating Strength, but she could sympathize and support Ben's anger. Still, Nidhi wasn't about to ditch the party to go off and sulk (but she could understand Ben's frustration.)
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* * *Before Milki* * *
the Church of Pharasma didn’t decide to open the necropolis?"
Zilchus spins to look at Nidhi.
"What do you know that you're not telling us, Nidhi? How do you know this has *anything* to do with the opening of the Necropolis? That happened at least two weeks ago...what makes you think this is related?" Zilchus wonders why Nidhi didn't bring up this warning/worry before.
"And yes, it *IS* the Pharasmans job to manage the dead. That's LITERALLY the point of the whole damn church. And they can't even do that right. I mean, look at this s~&#..." Zilchus waves his falchion around at the chaos in the streets. He shakes his head and moves on.
* * *At Milki* * *
Zilchus waits to hear what the heck the 'pomp wants, but is much more interested in saving Nidhi's family.
"Nidhi...do you maybe want to go find your family?" Zilchus looks ready to move.
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Though most of the conversations occur earlier, the anger and uncertainty of the party bleeds over a bit and Abdur comments quietly, "Friends, now is no the time to argue within the unit. For the unit to remain strong, it must be ah, somewhat, harmonious."
He looks to say more, when another straggler struggles toward the light, obviously injured from some prior encounter with the dead walking the streets of Wati. He rushes over, calling a pair of servants to help the man into his building.
He returns in time for the bird to settle, a little, under the guidance of the party. It nibbles rapidly at Nidhi's proffered fig largely ignoring the rich stuffing. Between tiny mouthfuls, and occasional descents into a myriad of languages, and non-language chirps, a story emerges…
Ptemenib has been seeking leads to the Silver Chain gang for some time. He found what he believed to be one of their agents at the auction, and when the agent left early, Ptemenib followed him. His trail was somewhat circuitous, and the little bird does her best to describe every turn and pathway, but between the eating and the languages, you have no earthly idea what she’s talking about, until she mentions an old partly burned sign she saw, the Bright River Brickworks.
Ptemenib was about to depart, having learned what he came to learn, when he was surprised, and overcome, by figures in golden funeral masks. They captured him, and dragged him into the brickworks building, largely dilapidated. That’s when Qasin, for that’s what she calls herself, flew away to try and find someone to help.
”You must come and help!” she says excitedly.
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"What do you know that you're not telling us, Nidhi? How do you know this has *anything* to do with the opening of the Necropolis? That happened at least two weeks ago...what makes you think this is related?" Zilchus wonders why Nidhi didn't bring up this warning/worry before.
"And yes, it *IS* the Pharasmans job to manage the dead. That's LITERALLY the point of the whole damn church. And they can't even do that right. I mean, look at this s%!*..." Zilchus waves his falchion around at the chaos in the streets. He shakes his head and moves on.
Nidhi’s more superstitious side starts to kick in. “How could something like this not happen? We go into their home, stomp around, make lots of noise and steal their stuff. I don't see any other explanation for it - the dead are angry with us.” She leans towards Zilchus conspiratorially to whisper: ”The dead are always listening or watching. Always.”
”You must come and help!” she says excitedly.
"I want to check on Grandmother. I've been patient and accommodating all night. I just want to check up on her for piece of mind. After that, I don't care who we help first."
Zilchus seems content to follow Nidhi, putting the party's safety and needs above those of the Pharasmans and the giant debacle they have allowed to happen to the city.
"Abdur, you must forgive us. We have to go, but hopefully, it will be quick. Nidhi's family might be in danger. When we get back, we'll tend to this...this...uh...bird." Zilchus draws his falchion and bids Nidhi to lead on.
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The party eventually makes it to their destination where Jharna’s shop and many other stores frame the street. The tailoring shop is dark and all the shutters are closed – including the ones on the second level. The white painted shutters gleam ominously in the night lights. Nidhi checks the front door but it’s locked. Jharna and Nidhi never entered through the front anyways, but it was comforting to know the door was locked. The potted cactus still stands upright under the display window.
Nidhi motions for the others to come around to the back of the building. The alleyway and the back of the shop are pitch black so Nidhi puts away her bow so she can carry her torch. As they are walking, Nidhi steps on something that makes a cracking noise beneath her foot. She lifts her foot to see the feathered wing of a chicken. With closer inspection, Nidhi realizes the chicken’s throat is caved in as if it had been strangled.
The back of the shop is littered with four more chicken corpses. All dead from the same fate. Nidhi kneels down to touch a chicken’s body. It felt warm but not as warm as a living chicken. After examining the small chicken coop, the group spots a rotting hand pinned to the coop’s exterior by a dagger. Nidhi recognizes the handle as the same one on her grandmother's cane.
Nidhi tries the backdoor and with some relief, realizes it's locked too. Nidhi pulls out her key and unlocks the back door so they party can enter the shop. After everyone is inside, Nidhi promptly locks the door again. ”Grandmother?” Nidhi calls out into the dim light.
Nidhi waves an arm behind her, ”Wha?! What about the chickens?!” Jharna frowns, her wrinkles showing wrinkles: ”I came outside and saw undead choking the chicken. Do the dead have any common decency anymore?” Jharna pauses for a moment, as if waiting for a snicker from the peanut gallery. Jharna pats the head of the lone survivor in her arms, ”I was only able to save Stuffing here.” The chicken eyes the party with its beady little eyes, as if trying to say don’t you even think about it. You have no idea the night I’ve had.
”So are you heroes going back out or do you need a place to stay for the night?” Jharna offers. The necklace of garlic cloves smells up the area surrounding Jharna. ”There’re still a lot of people who need our help. I think we’re going back out,” Nidhi looks back at her companions for confirmation. Jeez, isn’t she more worried about me? Jharna narrows her eyes and nods, ”Well here,” Jharna pulls a clove from her necklace. ”Keep this with you and eat it when dead are near.” Nidhi nods, both women convinced in their own superstition as to the mystical properties of garlic. ”Thank you, grandmother.” Both women embrace again and Jharna moves to give each of Nidhi’s companions and awkward hug while holding Stuffing, the chicken. Stuffing makes a few protesting bawks and flaps, an unwilling participant in these hugs.
Jharna wants to say something witty and sarcastic but she figures now's not the time. Jharna doesn't make any promises about good times to come, but she has faith in Nidhi and her granddaughter's companions, that they will help save the city.
When Cahal presents her family to Abdur he gets all serious and, if possible, stands straighter. ”I’ll see to it nothing befalls your family of a hostile nature. You can stand by me.”
Abdur looks thoughtful as the conversation continues. ”The Silver Chain gang is no trifling group of street urchins. One of Wati’s oldest criminal organizations, the Silver Chain claims to take its name from the first major score its members made, a valuable lifted from the great cleric Nefru Shepses when he first arrived to bring order to Wati. The secret to the gang’s longevity is also the secret to its fortune: the Silver Chain targets only the dead for robbery. Even in a culture as death-obsessed as Osirion’s, grave robbers are still preferred to actual robbers.”
”While not the cleverest criminals in Wati, the Silver Chain’s members are talented tomb robbers - accustomed to scaling walls, uncovering lost secrets, and dodging ingenious traps in the inky darkness of tombs. Less violent than most underworld gangs, the Silver Chain even hires its members out as guides for adventurers and scholars. Of course, their clients are just as likely to be relieved of their valuable finds as they are to profit from them.”
”I encourage you to be ready if you should chose to face them. Maybe wait for morning too, night is their time.”
Abdur also knows where the Bright River Brickworks is and he tells you. It’s area ‘F’ on the new city map.
Qasin is less helpful, fluttering around the party speaking to each of you in turn and all of you at once, trying to urge you forward to save Ptemenib now. She remains to pester Abdur as you slip away into the night.
The party moves back out of the light into the darkened streets and the short trip to Nidhi’s home. You arrive without serious incident, though there was a swarm of rats fleeing… something, whatever it was didn’t come into your circle of light and you moved on.
Both Jharna's Shop’s spoiler above occur. Though you could spend the night here if you wished, you could also find space with Abdur.
After his angry outburst, Benedictus knows that his next words are going to have a much heavier weight on his friends. This time, I'm sure they would listen. But this time I'm not so sure about what to do...
For a brief moment, the scholar considers Florence's angry words, echoing through his mind and wounding his heart as ice daggers. Maybe I went too far...
Still too proud to admit the exaggeration of his reaction, Benedictus drives away those thoughts from his mind as hunters shoo wolves from their huts. They know they will keep lingering somewhere close, but they don't want them to be that close to them.
***
Ben listens to Abdur's account of the Silver Chain attentively. "If that's so, I'm afraid I won't be able to come to Ptemenib's rescue before tomorrow morning. I used most of my spells fighting the dead, and it wouldn't be wise to face such an organized group with limited resources. And yes, night is their time, not ours".
With that said, Ben walks away a little, contemplating the night sky for a minute or two before getting back to his friends. "So it seems we get to live one last adventure together, isn't it?" he says with a faint smile. In truth, he's happy for having this chance. And if he gets the chance to approach Florence in private, perhaps when the others walk into the tavern or start making their way to the Tooth and Hookah, Ben will sigh and say, "I'm sorry for what I said...I...I shouldn't have been so arrogant".
Being so late at night, Nidhi is ready to sleep. She'd been through a lot since the auction - they all had. "I'm fine with resting and starting back up in the morning."
Nidhi sighs, "I suggest we all sleep in the same place. For safety."
As she lays down on her bedroll, Nidhi thanks her party: "I appreciate you all coming with me to check on my grandmother tonight." A minute later, Nidhi's asleep.
Zilchus seems quite happy to have returned with Nidhi's family so easily and with relative safety. He *would* go to the Brickworks right now...but realizes that not everyone is as brave, trustworthy, and strong. Let alone as modest.
"Check on your families, Cahal, Nidhi. Make sure they are comfortable. I'll help take the first watch tonight," Zilchus says bravely. "On the morrow, we go rescue Ptemenib and get this dang bird to be quiet."
The party decides to spend the night with Nidhi. Watches are posted, but the night, what’s left of it, is uneasily spent. Even the normal creaks and groans of the old building seem enhanced and every so often those on watch are sure they heard the shuffle of zombied feet, or the clatter of bone on stone going past the house and shop.
But you are unmolested and morning comes at last, a thin hazy sun struggles over the horizon, but it’s warmth heats the day and brings new vigor to the party.
It is Oathday, 12 Sarenith, 4714.
"Arrogant? Who's arrogant?" Zilchus asks as he prepares the for day to come, certain that it couldn't be him. He was too perfect.
Zilchus listens for more sounds of chaos during his shift and again in the morning.
Zilchus will re-armor himself and attach his weapon cord for the walk to the Brickworks.
"I think we can go straight there unless we want to visit Abdur for any last minute preparations? Do you think we want to find that bird thing?" Zilchus asks, ready to go surveil the location.
Zilchus intends to scope the location from a distance first, and get closer if there is normal foot traffic around the location.
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Ben sits close to Florence. In moments like these I'd love to have a pipe...You know, to put on airs and things like that.... Ben smiles at his silly idea, and sighs at the stars. "You're right, Florence. You're right. It was my fault". The scholar shakes his head, his eyes lost in the void. "You see, I never had some true friends. And you, all of you, are the closest thing to a group of friends I've ever had. In my whole life".
Ben pauses for a moment, letting the silence attenuate his words. A part of him wanted not to reveal such details to Florence. These things don't help gain the attention of a woman. Things like confessing to have had social problems. But the predominant part of Ben is not willing to let something unclear only because it could worsen the idea that Florence has of him.
"You know, when I was a child, I used to spend all of my days alone in my father's study. At the age of 7, I spoke three languages, and at the age of 10, I had already written my first work, a collection of essays on the differences between Osirian and Chelaxians games. The funny part is that I never had the chance to play any of those games, because I had no one to play them with. I...I scared people away, somehow. And no, I wasn't used to lose my nerves just like I did before, when I was a child". Ben laughs, to break the tension.
"Anyway, it's a little bit of a shame for me to confess it, but...friends are a completely new experience to me. I don't know how to handle it, not at all. Until now, everything went perfectly smooth, and all was perfect, but...You was there, you've seen it. I've been ignored. Completely ignored, as though my word was useless. Zilchus spoke after me, and you all followed him, ignoring my advice. I'm not angry because I was right, because..." Because I'm always right, "...because it does not matter now. What matters is that I felt completely ignored. You know who else used to ignore me? All those false friends at the university. They were always around when they needed something, but when I talked to them...It was like I had lost my voice. No one would ever listen to me. All they did was to shrug and move on. I was invisible, mute. And today, I felt that way again. After a very long time".
Ben wipes out a tear from his eye. "This is why I reacted so violently. I know I've made a mistake, and I feel terrible about it. Especially for Zilchus. He's very important to me. The most important person in my life, actually, although he doesn't know. Take a look", says the scholar while handing out his spellbook to Florence.
"This is my spellbook. The most important thing for me at the moment, because without it, I would be useless. Now, look at the first page, see that line? Propriety of Prof. Benedictus West Dickens. Return to Zilchus Lyghtlode in case its owner goes missing." Ben smiles. "Not so long ago, instead of Zilchus' name, there was a line without nothing written above it. I had no friends. Now, I trust him more than anyone else in the world."
Ben stands up now and looks at the night sky. "I hope you will forgive me. I...I just lost my mind. The thought of losing you all makes me nervous. Makes me feel like I'm going to get back to have no friends, no..."
No, you can't tell her now. And you never will. See how easy is to undermine a friendship?
"...no one that cares for me. I hope you can understand me, but I will understand you if you cannot. I've been an idiot. But you've been kind to listen to me, and that makes me feel twice an idiot because of all the people here, you were always the kindest to me,
you always managed to make me feel like there was someone around me that loved me. Thank you."
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In the early morning hours, Stuffing sneaks down near Ben and lays an egg on the top of his satchel. She continues to roost there, eyes closed lazily, until shooed off by Jharna.
Nidhi appears perky as she helps her grandmother prepare the table for breakfast. Nidhi is clearly a morning person. The two women lay out a simple meal of dried meat, fresh fruit, and bread for the party. Jharna laughs as Nidhi recalls the auction and how both Ben and Zilchus bid out items from Basif Iosep and a Khammayid Okhenti respectively.
Then, Nidhi describes Cahal’s daughter and how Florence’s cat, Bynx kept the little girl company. Nidhi praises Florence and her companion heavily while at breakfast, announcing that ”there’s never been a better cat in all of Wati.” Stuffing ruffles and clucks in annoyance at the mention of a cat, causing Jharna to pat the bird’s head.
”Grandmother, you should probably put her back outside or else she’s going to get used to being in the house.” Jharna, having lost almost her whole coop, waves a hand in dismissal, ”Bah, she’s fine for now. Plus, who’s going to keep me company while you’re all off saving the city?” A teasing sparkle lights up Jharna's eyes, "Of course, if you all fail, I'll probably end up having to give your bed away to Stuffing. Her becoming accustomed to the good life and all." Nidhi leans forwards on the table with her arm, "You wouldn't dare, Granny!" Both women laugh.
Nidhi can't quite put her finger on it, but it seems to her, Florence and Ben appear closer than yesterday. She considers approaching them on the subject, but figures it's something that will play out on it's own.
Nidhi pulls her braid to hang over her shoulder, "Oathday. What a great day of the week to perform a rescue! ...Don't you all agree? Why, it's like fate!" Nidhi stands at the backdoor, ready to leave and go off in search of Ptememnib. Romantic notions race through her mind as she envisions the heroic rescue.
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"Friends!" Ben offers his hand to Florence with a smile. A kind, if a little hesitant smile. Ben releases Florence's handshake perhaps a little too soon, without being able to avoid blushing a bit. Having any kind of physical contact with people had always upset him, but with women, it was different. It was not unpleasant, but embarassing. And with Florence it was twice as such.
I need to do something about this...There are many powerful women in the world, and I can't always make myself look so bad every time I shake their hands...Perhaps Zilchus would share a tip or three...OK, maybe not now...
Apart from his most remote feelings, Ben feels a friendship bond with Florence. The two things were not at odds at all, at least in his mind, and their link was strenghtened by his high esteem for Florence.
"I'll go get some sleep now. It was nice to talk with you, Florence".