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Ehren sighs as Daena is dragged off. The sentence certainly seemed to upset her, at least. There was indeed wisdom in Isilme's words, in denying the dhampir the release she so desired... but he also heard in them what he felt was naive idealism. All that he could hope for now was that she stayed imprisoned, and that Shax had forsaken her.
He recognizes neither the knight nor the historian, but he smiles at them pleasantly.
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Val smiles. "Honestly, I feel pretty good. I'm not really sure exactly how the whole power absorbing thing works though. I'm not great with magic stuff." She shrugs. "It was something of a shared experience but... it's private. Sorry, but there are some things that are too personal to share."
Val grins ear to ear. "No one told you the story? I'm disappointed that no one could recite my tale. Surely it was memorable enough. Let me see... I have my journal here..." She digs into her backpack to find her journal and pages through to find the correct entry. She clears her throat and begins to recite her tale again.
"It began with us arriving at the entrance to the Garrison, where we discovered a pack of disgusting worm demons called Vermleks, born from the souls of the blackest necromancers and using their powers to inhabit corpses. So Isilme began to weave her magic and conjured an illusion of a great elven host that marched on the Garrison, with Elan and Aravashnial at the head. And so fooled were the demons that they fell on the illusion thinking they were about to be engaged in a great battle. Caught in her illusionary web, we fell on them with blades and spells and slew the lot of them."
"With the blessings of Terendelev, gods rest her soul, we ascended the walls of the Garrison upon the clouds themselves and entered beneath the gaze of the demons. Inside we did rescue our newest comrades, Hinagiku and Annabelle from the cruelest fate. Yet we were confronted by the hosts of Deskari himself, as demonic locusts did rise to slay us. Yet our skill and power struck them down. Realizing their situation, the hosts of the Worldwound fell upon us in force, with hordes of Deskari's faithful using all their might to attempt to cast us down with reaping blades and foulest magics. Yet each fell before us one by one and we carved through their lines until we reached the heart of the Garrison where the wardstone was bound. There we did confront Jeslyn, one so wronged that Deskari's power did worm its way inside her heart and turn her fear to madness and hate. Beside her stood the child of Baphomet, one of his bullheaded minotaur brood, and the risen bodies of those slain in the cultists rituals. Yet by divine grace did the fallen stand, to fight for the fate of our world one final time. The battle was terrible, but righteousness could not be denied. Blades cut down the minotaur and cleansing fire purged the unholy dead. And finally Ehren, faithful guardian of the Menhir's power, did the deed and unleashed the magic granted to us upon the wardstone."
"Holy light did consume the world as the Menhir did unleash its stored power. We six, kind Ary, stalwart Markus, wise Isilme, youthful Ehren, calm Hinagiku, and myself, free-willed Valaria, were whisked away to times long past as the shattered stone did unveil its history upon us. Great battles between gods and demons raged before our eyes and peaceful moments where faith was reaffirmed played before us and we knew the truth of all that had been done. We saw Aroden's great victory over the lord of the locust horde and Iomedae's herald raising the mighty wardstone above Kenabres itself. We saw innocents condemned to supposedly sacred fires. And foulest traitors revealed to light. And finally secrets, which I will not share this day, were bestowed on us to tell us each why the fates did contrive to bring us to this moment."
"Then we awoke as one, glowing with the blessed powers bestowed upon us. Yet evil is not easily dissuaded. Areelu Vorlesh, the cursed Worldwound Witch herself, did send proxy to slay us for our foiling of her master plan. Yet protected by divine power as we were, her sorcery could not touch us and the sacred might of the wardstone did, with its final breath, banish her back to her lair. In rage, her final gesture did unleash a horde of blood demons upon us, with gnashing teeth and savage blades they attacked, but we raised our blades once more and with new blessings from on high we carved through them mightily. With whirling knives, striking blades, holy magics, and glorious songs did we defeat the horde and drive the demons into retreat. And thus was the day won in the name of all righteousness!"
Val settles down a bit and sits back. "Vorlesh mostly just cursed us for stopping her plans and tried to summon a bunch of demons to kill us. Frankly, she came across as a bit like one of the villains in one of those cliche old stories. She's kind of a petty b*tch more than anything else from what I could tell. Powerful, but petty."
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After addressing the group, Nurah turns her attentions to questioning each hero individually. She makes a point of greeting each hero and shaking their hand.
”Lieutenant Markus,” she begins, shaking his hand with gusto.
She flicks through her notes. ”Lets see… I know you’re a dhampir, from Ustalav. A white necromancer, sanctioned by the church of Pharasma in Kenabres. A new recruit.” She tilts her head, curiously.
”But that’s it! Very mysterious. Please, tell me about yourself. In particular, where did you learn your magic? Or are you a sorcerer?” She scribbles notes in her book as she talks.
”How old exactly are you?”
”What brings a necromancer from Ustalav to the Worldwound?”
”Oh, and, I’m hardly an expert on necromancy or any of that, but I have some colleagues that are dying to know – even the Pharasmins in Nerosyan are confused by Miss Kir. How did that happen? The people I’ve consulted say that a good vampire should be impossible, even for a white necromancer. What do you have to say about that?”
”Valaria Alazario,” she chirps, shaking her hand.
”That’s a Chelish surname, correct? A very wealthy house, if I’m not mistaken,” She grins, trying to gauge her reaction to speaking to a halfling. ”A long time ago I served a wealthy Chelish lord.”
”But I imagine since you’re here, like myself, you don’t want to talk too much about that place. So let’s focus on the now. First, why are you here?”
Her eyes dart over the butterfly tattoo on her cheek. ”Desna. Are you a priestess? Do you have any spellcasting ability?”
She pauses. ”Now, I’m not sure the most tasteful way to put this, but here it goes! Are you devil-born or demon-born? Or do you even know? Many tieflings don’t know.” She shrugs. ”But, if you have any inkling as to what introduced the Abyssal taint to your bloodline, I’d love to hear it.”
”Hinagiku… from Minkai.” She bows respectfully to the monk. ”I know the least about you of all. Please, tell me about yourself. I want to make sure that when I publish your story, I am accurate.”
”Are you a priestess of Irori?” she asks, appreciating her lack of armor. ”My notes show that you arrived in Kenabres with quite the entourage. Do you have any idea what happened to them?”
”In any case, why did you come to the Worldwound? I know that you are not a crusader… yet you are following a Crusader group at the present. Why?”
Nurah grins. ” Cyfarchion , Ehren o llywyth Ferron.”
”Your clan is a storied one, I believe one of your ancestors worked on the wardstone construction project to begin with, yes? And before then, the name goes way back, all the way to old Sarkoris.”
”So, as probably the only person in the room who knows more about menhir than me, I’m interested as to what you think happened that day.”
She tilts her head. ”I believe your family’s sacred purpose was to monitor the menhir along the border? Now that the menhir have gone inert, what will you do?”
”Captain Bishop! I’ve shaken the hand of a Commander Bishop myself. The shield…looked different,” She peers at Faith with interest. ”So it’s true it changes shape…” She grins and scribbles something in her book.
”Right now I’m more interested in that sword… tell me about how you awoke a sword that had been inert for decades.! I’m dying to know.”
She gives Ary a long look after she finishes her answer. ”So, I’ve studied your family tree back a few centuries. But there’s a missing piece. Your father. Tell me about him. Why did he leave Mendev?”
And finally, Nurah comes to Isilme. She circles around her, glancing her up and down.
”And you. I’ve heard a lot about you! Forgive me for asking, but what are you? An aasimar? An azata? An elf? Do you even know?”
She flips her book to a dog-eared page and skims it quickly. ”From what I understand you’ve been here the longest of all of you. And you were killed by the demoness Minagho, correct?” She tilts her head. ”And then you were… imprisoned in a blade? Due to a wish gone wrong? Fascinating…”
”I did a little research before coming here, so I do understand that raelis azatas are storytellers. So, I’m going to let you tell me your own story. I’m a historian, and my job is to record your tale for ages… in a way more permanent and reliable than any bard’s song or oral tradition. What do you want your tale to be about? What should future generations of scholars know about Isilme, or would you prefer Lleuad-a'r-Sêr?”
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Val is a bit caught off-guard by the handshake, but returns it happily. "Yes. And yes, I'm from that Alazario family. They still lives in Westcrown last I heard. I bolted when I was twelve and haven't looked back." She winces at the mention of Nurah serving a lord. "I'm sorry. I've never approved of how your people are treated in Cheliax, but a twelve year old can't exactly do much about it." She shakes herself. "Enough of that. Better not to talk about that place."
She taps her tattoo thoughtfully. "This tattoo is why I'm here. I'm not a priestess or anything like that and I'm certainly not a spell caster. Never been good at magic type things. I got dreams, kind of visions, telling me to come here. Then I got wrapped up in all... this."
She sighs. It certainly isn't a tasteful way to ask, but she can certainly appreciate the bluntness. "Demon-blooded. My grandfather was in a cult and there was a bit of an incident with a summoned succubus."
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Markus shakes the scholar back, somberly waiting for the halfling to ask the questions. When he finishes, Markus takes a hand and begins to tick off answers.
"I'm a sorcerer, though I've studied magical theory with the Palatine Eye in Caliphas. My bloodline is, unsurprisingly, undead in nature. The Whispering Tyrant had a vampire son once, and that vampire son's still out there. Assaulted my mother before I was born, if you know what I'm saying." The first and second fingers tick up.
"My thirty-eighth birthday is this coming Rova. I know it's hard to tell - but I'm not that old for a dhampir." Markus' ring finger raises.
"Well... Ustalav sucked and the Worldwound is deadly. I figured a short life serving people is better than a long one getting spit on." Markus ticks up his thumb and laughs. "Though people here haven't stopped spitting on me."
"As for Annabelle Kir... I'm unsure. I used the magic of the wardstone, but my magic interfered. I was just trying to raise her but I've got a little too much undead in me for that, I guess."
---
"And speaking of the wardstone... I believe it did permanently change us. Aravashnial was right about the network, or at least some power, suffusing us during the destruction of the wardstone network." Markus thinks for a moment before he presses on. "When we pressed into the wardstone chamber during our battle for the Grey Garrison, and Ehren touched the rod of cancellation to the stone itself, each of us were drawn through a series of visions." Markus indicates Valaria. "As she says, some of these are too personal to recount, as they involve our personal histories but we were also shown the history of the war here. Some of the important clashes - like between Aroden and Deskari, and between Terendelev and Khorramzadeh."
"As we came out of the visions, we found that Annabelle and our enemy, Jeslyn, were dead. Commander Irabeth still stood, opposed to an illusion of Vorlesh that had appeared in the wardstone chamber. Vorlesh disabled Irabeth and sent a cohort of babaus into the chamber. I assume she couldn't come herself. When that happened, the wardstone pulsed with energy, closing the gate to Vorlesh, dispelling her illusion and somehow injuring her. It restored us to full consciousness, and our bodies blazed with holy energy, which enabled us to destroy most of the pack of babaus, and protected us from harm.."
"After the battle, we searched the fortress to find the Garrison was empty. Later we met up with the Crusader force that had helped us to infiltrate the Garrison to find they had found Kenabres empty of demons."
"That's... the story as I remember it. Do you have any more specific questions about the events or myself?"
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"Mae'n bleser i gwrdd â chi, Nurah Dendiwhar," Ehren replies with a smile. The halfling's inflection was as good as Isilme's, from what he could tell. "I will answer your questions to the best of my ability."
He perks up slightly at Nurah's mention of his clan history, wondering how much she knew, how far back his name could be traced. Before he can let his own curiosity get the better of him, he stops so that he can satiate the scholar's. He considers her first question, trying to think of how best to describe what had happened.
"When I destroyed the wardstone fragment in Kenabres with the rod of cancellation, the power of every other wardstone surged through the ley lines and erupted from that spot. It was like breaching the wall of a great dam, and letting its waters pour out. The water... the ley washed over us and changed us, somehow. Made us stronger. That same power - the excess, I presume - is what banished all of those demons. I still don't entirely understand how it happened. Whether it was the will of the Green, of the Inheritor, or of both, the power of the wardstones lies within us now, for better or for worse." The druid grimaces slightly. "So in a manner of speaking, I suppose I am directly responsible for the wardstone field's destruction."
"As for what I will do now... I will continue what I have been doing since Armasse. Fighting the forces of the Abyss, and those that would serve them." He opens his mouth again, thinking of the dream Iomedae had appeared to him in. His heart's truest desire had been so apparent to her, and she had given him her blessing. After a moment of hesitation Ehren closes his mouth and shakes his head. It was a grand dream, but it was not one he was sure he could share. Not yet, anyway.
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Isilme nods at Hinagiku. ”Common is fine, of course! And I would be interested in learning all of the meditative practice” she says before listening to her instructions. She falls into a lotus position in front of her and stretches her arms upwards and to the sides before attempting to duplicate Hinagiku’s posture. ”Very well, like this?” she asks, adjusting her posture until Hinagiku is satisfied.
She runs her fingers through her hair several times before she pulls it together and begins attempting to braid it like she is shown. Despite being fairly dextrous, she has trouble keeping up with Hinagiku’s practiced hands. Nevertheless, she tries to focus directly on the act of braiding the hair, pushing stray thoughts out of her mind as best she can. She begins to work on her breathing as well and feels herself relaxing further. Her mind wanders as she continues slowly braiding and unbraiding, and she begins to ponder the questions that have come to her recently, ”Why, of all my lady’s servants was I chosen for this? What am I missing? How am I to be healed? Will doing so restore my form? Will it free Li’an’s body?” She ponders the questions, but no answer comes to her naturally. Stlll, she does her best to focus on them for the remainder of the time until Hinagiku speaks again.
Isilme nods again and thinks for a moment before asking her questions of Hinagiku. ”Have you always been able to see into someone by touching them? Have you ever seen anything inside someone that you could not understand, or that frightened you?” She listens to Hinagiku’s answers and then, in return, she answers Hinagiku’s questions to the best of her ability.”The investigation was meant to cover all the places where the inquisitor had been, and where the crimes had taken place. Its goal was to find evidence that would prove Annabelle innocent. The button was likely Daena’s, it meant she had been there to move Helha’s body. We visited the sites hoping to find things the inquisitor had missed or ignored because they did not fit her preconceived notion of Annabelle as the killer. Examining the bodies would have served the same purpose.”
Finally she extends her hands to Hinagiku, nodding her assent. When she makes contact she feels the sense of openness and exposure she’d felt before, though she finds it somehow comforting this time. Not the sensation of being exposed before strangers, but that of the intimacy with a close friend.
”Sadly I have not had a chance to read your writings, I was not exactly capable of reading books when you began publishing, and things have been… hectic… since I awakened. But I was kept abreast of your contributions by Aravashnial."
Isilme listens to Nurah asking about what had happened at the wardstone, and then Valaria’s response. ”I may have to hang up my mantle, Val, your storytelling is most masterful, I am not sure I could improve upon that if I tried!” she says with a smile. ”I would add to Markus and Ehren's view on what happened though. We were suffused with power from the wardstones, but this was a temporary effect." She hesitates for a moment, but continues "I know this because for that brief period I possessed all the knowledge I had had as a Raelis, something I had been without since I was bound to the blade, and I felt it all slip away again as the energy dissipated. Without a doubt, however, we were all changed permanently by the experience.” Without explaining, she begins to trace a rune in the air before her, “सुर” which hovers before her, glowing brightly and filling the room with ethereal music for a few moments before fading.
"I know for a fact that I could not do that even as a Raelis."
When Nurah begins to question her directly, Isilme listens, surprised that she had been so well appraised on her situation.
"You certainly have done your research! I am most impressed. Was it Aravashnial that informed you of the details of my life before I awoke, or were you able to find other sources? I am quite curious to know. Also you may call me either. I go by Isilme for simplicity and for sentimental reasons, but Lleuad-a'r-Sêr is still my name.”
Isilme cannot help but laugh a bit at Nurah’s brief description of the Raelis and her belief that they were fixated on passing things down orally. However it doesn’t surprise her given that her kind, even though they were more common than other celestials on this plane, tended to keep their identities and activities a secret.
”I hope you will not mind if I begin by telling you more about the Raelis in general. We are not primarily storytellers, though it is a love we all share as Raelis. A more apt description would be ‘celestial patrons of the art of storytelling’,” she says with a grin. ”We seek out those who might have potential and kindle it, and we collect stories as well. Of course it should come as no surprise that we have a love of reciting the tales we’ve learned. I am somewhat unique, to my knowledge, as I spent time being formally trained in the Kitharodian Academy as a bard several hundred years ago.”
”Also you should know that written language is an integral part of who the Raelis are. Were I my former self, I would already have read through all your notes there out of curiosity, for I was able to feel the presence of writing nearby, and with merely a thought could get it to reveal itself to me.” Whispering, she adds, ”Just between you and me, that may be the thing I miss most.” She gives Nurah a quick wink and continues. ”Runes and symbols were something I had great knowledge of as well, though nothing like what I did moments ago.”
”As for your other questions, I do not know for sure at this point what I am. I know that I inhabit the body of an elf--It belonged to Li’an, the daughter of my companion and a crusader--but I am likely closer to an aasimar than an elf in nature at this point. I also know from my lady Starsong that I am capable of being more than a raelis or elf or aasimar, though I cannot explain how. It remains a mystery to me.”
Isilme thinks for a while how to answer Nurah’s question regarding her binding into the blade. She looks at the others for a moment, thinking about how they’d witnessed that moment with her, and of Val comforting her during her moment of weakness. She takes a deep breath and then sets about filling in the details for Nurah, her voice not nearly so steady or confident as it normally is. ”To be precise, I was wished into nonexistence by a woman who was about to witness her child sacrificed by Minagho. I know not if it is due to the corrupting nature of Minagho’s wishes, but for whatever reason the process was not instantaneous, nor was it painless.” Isilme frowns as details she’s not thought of in ages come back to her, ”The most terrifying part, however, was the grin that came to the woman as she watched me torn asunder by her wish. It could only be described look of delight,” she says disgustedly. ”Had it been instantaneous, that likely would have been the end of my story, however Elan, my companion, was able to use his own wish to counteract the woman's wish. The results were less than optimal, and when I regained consciousness, I found myself bound within his blade. He never told me how he worded the wish, nor has Aravashnial ever spoken of it to me, though he likely heard the words spoken.”
”I spent the remainder of my time as a blade. To see your love each day and not be able to feel his touch, to be unable to move, no matter how strong the desire, to ‘feel’ the deaths of each person you are used to kill. I assumed it was punishment for a long time.” Her mood is considerably darker as she finishes. ’There is more to tell, but I think I have had my fill for the moment. I hope you will understand,” she offers apologetically.
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"First thing's first." Ary says. "You asked about what it felt like... and that part's easy. It just doesn't last very long. Hold on for just a second." she concentrates for a moment, and then pulses out a wave of mythic power, like she'd done so many times before, encompassing a Rally effect. The Halfling's hair would stand on end, and she'd become aware of so much more. So many more possibilities.. She'd also likely remember to cross that t.
"It does. While we were inside the 'dream' for lack of a better term, I saw several of my forebears. It's... considerably smaller than its ever been. Which I appreciate. I never take it off." she says with a smile.
"Honestly... 'm not sure." she says with a small shrug. "But... from the top. After the Demons attacked and Terendelev saved us, we traveled through the caverns below Kenabres. We wound up staying with some 'Mongrelmen'." she says, using air quotes, "Though, we're sticking to the term 'Underfolk'. It's... quite preferable. Anyway, we were resting and recovering from having pushed forward... and I had a dream. Turns out it was more of a vision... as we later found the Grey Garrison in exactly the state I'd dreamed it would be. In either case, it showed me that Radiance had been taken. It was the first I'd heard. Go back a bit, I guess... even though I'm going forward. Isn't prophecy fun..." she says with a sigh.
"A cult of Baphomet had been involved pretty deeply in the fall of Kenabres. One of the groups had managed to convince some of the Underfolk that the surface dwellers were never going to accept them, and the only way to ever return to their home was to go to war. Well... we snuck in, thanks to a pilfered holy symbol, and Val's agile tongue." she grins, slightly, "And were lead straight to Hosilla. We got Wenduag, their leader, to back down... and she had the rest of the Underfolk turn on the Cultists while we captured Hosilla and killed her men." she pauses for a moment. "That was the first time I cut off someone's hand in a fight. Weird." she says, shaking her head. "Anyway, Li'an went into their back room for a few minutes... and then called me in. And there was Radiance. When I picked her up, she glowed." she shrugs slightly. "Maybe the sword recognized me as the girl who returned, just as Yaniel did? That's the best explanation I have. Since I flunked out of being a paladin, I'd have thought the sword wouldn't have wasted its time on me... but it still has." she gives a small shrug.
Ary frowns at the change of conversation... and rocks on the legs of her chair for a moment as she thinks about it. "It's... honestly really, really complicated. The answer to that question." she chews on her lip, the tempo of the conversation having completely changed.
"Well, as for who he is... I don't really know." she said with a bit of hesitation. "See, I see him in two different ways... and they don't really match up. He was a good father. He taught me a lot of what I know, the sorts of stuff that I use against Demons. He took care of us. He was big, and strong." she offers a small shrug, "But I also know he deserted his post. That everything became too much for him, and he left Kenabres. He set up in the wilds of the stolen lands, at great risk to himself... and his family." she says letting the chair thunk back forward.
"And I know that he was both men at the same time. I know he was an ex-Paladin. When he violated his oath... he fell. Or at least I feel like that's true. I know he died protecting my mother and sister from Bandits even as the house burned." she looks a little distant. "So, he's somewhere between 'Hero, Deserter, and Father'. I take it you know what happened to his father, yeah? Well... he never got to meet him because of that. All those men got father's, because he didn't." she runs her teeth along her tongue as she continues to look into the middle distance. "I think he wound up with a bad taste for heroism from that. As a Bishop... we get all sorts of attention. It's usually good attention. Most folks see us as a sort of folk hero. Tell us how our fathers saved their fathers, or our granddads saved their granddads... so on and so forth." she sighs. "But people forget. My grandfatherd died so their grandfather would live. Heroism can be a burden. There's a selfishness in strength." she said, leaning back in her chair once more, as she meets the Halfling's eyes. "See... because my grandfather saved all those men, my father lost his father. Never met him. They didn't exactly struggle. Dying a hero in Kenabres makes it really hard for your kids to go on wanting. But... it didn't replace the hole in his life. That his father had chosen someone else over him. At least, that's the way I think of it in my head, when I try to figure out why he did what he did."
She thunks forward again, "But that's also not the whole story. My dad still enlisted. He still bought into all of the hero stuff, just like I do. He wanted to help people, to save them. During his first patrol into the Worldwound... he also spent a few nights with my mother." she chews her lip, for a moment. "It's very clear that you can't really be in two places at once, but since he didn't run around town and just stayed in with mum, no one really noticed. And she didn't question it overmuch, I guess. When he came back a week later, she had all sorts of stories to tell him. When mom wound up pregnant... that's when they fled from Kenabres."
She stops for a moment, examining the grain of the table. "A few months later, my sister was born. Elizabeth Bishop. Ellie. She's still out there somewhere. But... she's very much a Tiefling. She got those when she was eight." she says, looking up to the woman across from her. "I figure those two are the biggest reasons he left. I figure the only reason the entire thing happened was because of our last name. Not that there's anything wrong with Ellie... just everything that happened to my mother because of the man she fell in love with. I like to think that he'd made himself a promise to never let his family hurt like he'd hurt... but that's just the stuff I think in my head. The truth is, he never really shared anything with us about Kenabres, or Iomedae, or any of that." Her eyes are wet by the time she finishes, but she hasn't actually let tears fall.
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Nurah continues her interviews, scribbling notes into her book as fast as she can write them. She uses a custom shorthand, using a combination of Common and Halfling in order to scribe information down in as few letters as possible.
Ser Jorsal for his part mostly watches silently, though you can tell from his intense stare that he is appraising the heroes in his own way, carefully listening to their interactions with the cheerful halfling scholar.
Nurah glances up from her note-taking as Markus talks, always smiling. Nothing he says seems to faze her, if anything, it just makes her hungry for more.
”So, were you inclined towards necromancy before your studies or was that something that came after staying in Caliphas?”
At his age – she grins broadly. ”Oooh, never would have guessed that. Dhampir live very, very long!” She pauses. ”Well, maybe not in the Worldwound, you have a point.”
Her eyes dart to Annabelle. ”I see. That’s actually weirdly …romantic? Or tragic. Perhaps someone will write a play! Based off of my work, of course.” Nurah grins.
”A musical,” Annabelle pipes up with a small smile.
”Ah, I was hoping you talked!” Nurah jokes, wheeling on Annabelle. She grabs her hand. ”So you… you were there with Commander Irabeth. But neither of you received visions, nor did you gain powers?”
Annabelle shakes her head. ”Nope. I just died,” she says, flatly. ”But Markus saved me. Except I’m still dead, I guess.” She shrugs, clearly tired of talking about it.
Nurah’s brow furrows. ”Intriguing…” She writes something down, while listening to Markus’ account of what happened to them. She frowns when he doesn’t disclose the visions – she presses a little harder. ”Right, so, these visions. What do you think caused those? Was it Iomedae? Was it the stone? Was it a hallucination? I understand if you want your privacy – but any information you have that can help us understand what happened to you is crucial right now.”
”These visions – they were only the past? Or did you also see the future?”
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"The first experience I remember with magic was when I was...what, eleven? Twelve? One of the villagers from my mother's farming village tried to cut me open to prove I didn't have a beating heart. I waved at him and made him run away." Markus sighs. "Not many people bothered me after that, for good or for ill."
"It took years of experimentation to be able to do it on purpose, but negative energy's always come easy to me, even more than necromancy persay. I learned how to heal myself just a year after that first fear incident"
"I got into a fight about a month before I left my home village and ended up cutting off the guy's finger. It animated spontaneously. That's when I decided I needed to learn about myself."
"As for the visions... I don't think it was precisely the stone, and I'm sure it wasn't Iomedae - she visited us in our dreams later. I think it's most accurate to say that it was... the planet. It was everything. It was life."
"The visions stopped at the present. And they proceeded chronologically."
"So... you're just going to gloss over cutting off the guy's finger? What happened there, exactly?" Ary says offering a grin.
"Also, there's the fact that they all seemed... themed. They stuck with people who were important in some way. Like how Irabeth stopped Vhane the same way Terendelev stopped Khoramzadeh. It showed the rift opening, the formation of the wardstones, Vorlesh corrupting the stone in Sarkoris, and bits and pieces of our pasts."
Nurah grins as she listens to Valaria’s tale.
”Very good! Did you train at a bard’s college? “ She continues to write as she talks. ”Yes, I’ve heard variations of that tale all around Kenabres. It is fascinating to hear the original source.”
Her eyes dart to Valaria’s book.
”Would permit me to transcribe your original work? For accuracy?” she asks.
She frowns. ”Vorlesh is a powerful woman. I don’t know if there is a more powerful witch in the world. Perhaps Baba Yaga…ah I’m getting off topic.”
She doesn’t press to learn more about Valaria’s family in Cheliax. She just smiles and nods understandingly. ”Oh, it’s fine, you don’t need to apologize, that’s absurd! I used to be really angry about it, but I’ve long since moved past it. Focused my efforts into greater goals.“ She presses her book to her chest and gushes.
”Dreams, hmmm..” She smiles. ”Seems like Desna. It is reassuring to know that the gods are on our side, no?”
She raises an eyebrow. ”Oh? A succubus?” She looks at her closely. ”Interesting. Are you saying you’re quarter-fiend? Or did she merely taint your bloodline?” She looks thoughtful.
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"Mostly the constabulary left me alone because cause fear doesn't hurt anybody and mostly it was self-defense, but mutilation would have been a bit much."
Nurah listens to Ehren quietly, her pen scratching frantically across her page.
”So, the ley…I’ve asked this question to a number of druids and they’re all insufferably vague about it. Might as well try you! What is the ley?” She stares at him intently, eager for his answer.
”In any case I wouldn’t blame yourself for it. I assume you didn’t know what would happen, correct?” She smiles at him.
She tilts her head, a thought occurring to her. ”So, why were you in Kenabres on Armasse? Were you looking to enlist?”
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Nurah’s eyes widen at Ary’s display of power. ”Really! Fascinating…” She tilts her head and thinks. ”Not… magic exactly… but certainly supernatural…”
She listens to Ary’s tale, scribbling it down as fast as she can. She laughs. ”Ah, your group’s tales are fascinating. I could spend all day asking you about them and I still don’t think I’d get tired.”
”It’s curious that you’re not a paladin, though. I believe you’re the only non-paladin in your whole family’s line to wield Faith. “ She raises an eyebrow. ”Curious…”
”Who is Li’an?” she asks, curious.
She smiles at Ary’s story about her father. ”Ah, your father. He just sounds human. I’ve found that sometimes stories make people seem larger than life. Yaniel, for example, she was fairly plain looking, compared to the paintings you see of her today. Really, watching the years go by and how people’s perceptions of the past change with it is why I am a historian today!”
”The girl who returned? Hmmm. The Bishop Who Returned. Seems like a good chapter title.” The halfling grins.
”In any case, that’s a beautiful recollection, Miss Bishop. I’ll be happy to share that version of events – perhaps it will help counter the slander that haunts the “missing” man in your family line?”
”I wasn’t aware you had a sister. Is she alive?” she asks, as delicately as she can.
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He hesitates briefly when the subject of enlistment comes up, but ends up nodding slowly.
"I was planning on doing so after the festival. When I was first set on this path, I thought enlisting would be what I had to do in order to fight. I... was corrected rather quickly." He leans back in his chair and sighs. "I respect the Crusades and what they fight for. Our goals are ultimately aligned. But after what happened at the Gray Garrison, maybe even before that, I had decided that I could not put their oath before the one I already made.
"That, and I'm not exactly soldier material."
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"Li'an... was a Crusader. She joined up a bit before I did. She was... a friend." she says with a soft sigh. She looks to Isilme to see if she wants to add the important bit about herself at some point, "She went down with us, and when we came back up, while making our way towards Defender's Heart... she died saving a little girl from a ritual. Turned out that we arrived -after- the ritual, rather than before. She wound up dying so a demon could kill a few more men, in the end." Ary says with a frown. "We tried to bring her back... but it didn't quite take."
After waiting ot see if Isilme would add her part, she continued, "I'd like to think that, too. Only Human is something I think a lot about." she says with a small smile, before continuing. "I wouldn't mind you adding that bit about my father... but it's mostly conjecture. Most people don't know about what happened to them, directly, though. Not even my friends." one side of her mouth tugs up into a small smile. "Most don't think to ask, though."
Then after the next question, "There was a fortune teller that called herself the Owl, when we were in Kenabres. She gave Markus and myself a Harrowing, and at the end, she answered two questions. The one you get to know, and the answer to," she said, offering a grin, "Is that, yes... my sister is alive. But that she's a little tied up with her own life."
Ary just rolls her eyes when Ehren says he isn't soldier material.
Nurah’s eyes widen at Isilme’s performance. ”Oh, wow! Bravo!” She grins, and claps her hands. She closes her eyes and contemplates the song. ”You infused a lot of magic into a single rune… Astounding.”
She nods at Aravashnial’s name. ”He spoke a lot of you, actually! You are old friends, yes?”
She blushes when Isilme corrects her. ”Ah, my apologies! I’m not a scholar of the planes after all. All I know about raelis azatas came out of a book about celestials. It was a small piece. I’m glad to know now, though!”
”The Kitharodian Academy! Most prestigious. I learned to perform at the White Grotto in Absalom, myself. You should consider returning there and lecturing someday!”
She then listens to Isilme’s story of her own death – the only story of the discussion that makes her frown. ”Minagho…. How terrifying. I can’t imagine.” She shudders. ”So you were undone by a wish and then remade? That sounds traumatic….”
She lets Isilme drop the story, smiling apologetically. ”Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to open old wounds.”
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Hinagiku bows back to Nurah.
”Miss Dendiwhar, it is a pleasure to meet you. I hope our future endeavours will be cordial. It will be my pleasure to answer questions you might have. Making any historical account more accurate is always good.”
”You are right, I originate from Minkai. There, I have been initiated to the teachings of the Master of masters, also known as the god of englightment and self-perfection, Irori. I am still only an initiate, however, the knowledge and faith gained by my devotion was judged necessary by my master Jijii. Without it, I doubt I could have advanced much in my training with him.”
”You are right, I did come with a group of monks. We crossed the crown of the world to reach Mendev. Our respective masters sent us here so that we might prove which of our fighting style was the strongest. I do not know what happened to them. We were separated shortly after arriving in Kenabres. They were all excited to show their skills. They were all really strong, so I am not too afraid for them.”
”My reason for coming here is not the same as it was for the other monks. I am not here to prove the strength of the martial art I was taught, but to help fight the worlwound. Even from all the way across the ocean, we can see the repercussions that the wound has. Knowing that and knowing how its horrors keep people in fear, makes other utterly evil, I found that it was my duty to come and help however I could, for without this wound, the world with surely find it easier to approach perfection. As for following Ary, it is because together we are stronger than alone.”
”Finally, about what happened at the gray garrison. Ever since the stone was destroyed, I have had a stronger connection to… the force that resides within me… I guess you would call it soul. I understand it better now, and I can see strength within it where I could not find any before. Please forgive me if it sounds a bit complex, but I cannot find the right words to explain it. ”
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Isilme looks at Ary sympathetically as she discusses Li'an's death. "As I mentioned, Li'an was my companion's daughter. I saved her life once before, and she carried the blade I'd been bound to with her afterwards, though I was not conscious of it." Isilme finally takes a moment to free Lleuad's hilt from its bindings on her pack. She holds the hilt out to Nurah to examine, but makes it clear she is not interested in relinquishing control of it. "Somehow the reincarnation spell that was cast upon Li'an's body ended up extracting me from the blade, placing me within her body. My lady Starsong described it as emerging from a chrysalis."
"Traumatic would be an appropriate description, yes. It is alright, though, you could not have known. I have come to believe they are wounds that need to be opened to heal properly anyway, even if it is painful to do so. Prior to the visions we had in the Garrison, I would not have shared so much, even with the others in our group. I will answer your other questions though."
"I can do the same with magic such as heroism, but it is much more taxing to do so. I am still under the effects of such a spell, however." She shows the back of her hand to Nurah where an almost imperceptible ghost of the rune remains from the spell. "It is much clearer if you are able to detect magic, much like an arcane mark," she adds.
She nods as Nurah explains her source was quite bare on the subject of Raelises. "It is understandable that little was written on us, we try to blend in as much as possible. It is quite rare for a Raelis to reveal themselves. Elan and Aravashnial were the only two who ever knew my true nature as far as I can remember."
"Aravashnial and I are old friends, yes. We have known each other for most of this century. He was a welcome sight when I awoke, not only as a friend, but also as the only person alive who remembers me as I was before I was bound."
She thinks back to her time at the Academy. Though her memories of it are quite hazy now, the snippets she did remember she remembered fondly. "It was enjoyable when I went, though I am not sure I could return to that life now. Anyway, like Markus I have enlisted, so I will remain here until my services are no longer required." As she explains her enlistment, she digs out her star-shaped Iomedaean cross to show it to the halfling. "And if you have time at some point, you should perform for us." she says, a bit of a smile returning to her face.
Nurah listens and writes, clearly fascinated by the foreign woman. ”I forget how big the world is sometimes, I know very much about northern Avistan, but so little about the other continents.”
”Well, if I catch word of the other monks, I’ll try and send you a message.” She smiles. ”I’d imagine they stand out in Mendev!”
She nods, taking down Hinagiku’s story. ”Your story isn’t uncommon, though I love to hear it everytime. The evil here at the Worldwound summons people from the farthest reaches of the world to fight. I hope that works like mine help to inspire more of that kind of bravery and selflessness.”
She smiles, contemplating Hinagiku’s rather cryptic description of her own capabilities, but she does not press father.
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Nurah Dendiwhar continues to take notes on the heroes’ accounts – the entire process takes a few hours, and though she is clearly eager to continue, she realizes that she won’t be able to get everything she wants in a single sitting. And the crusaders had work to do.
Ser Jorsal redirects the conversation. ”Great. Well, it seems that we have a full account to bring back to Crusader Queen Galfrey. From what we’ve heard so far, it’d be a waste of your group’s talents to keep you here at Fort Portolmaeus. Nurah, you should debrief them – as this mission is for you, after all.”
The halfling smiles, digging into her backpack and pulling out a similar journal – but when she opens it it is clear that this one has been completely filled with her field notes.
”I’m sure at least some of you have heard of Storasta… it was an enormous Sarkorian city that was the last city to fall in the Second Crusade. Many songs have been sung about that last, failed stand, Sarkorian and Crusader standing side by side to defend the city to their last breath, only to be overwhelmed by treachery and corruption from within…”
”In any case a group of Ser Jorsal’s Pathfinders managed to recover this book…” She pulls out a small, leather-bound tome with fragile, yellowed pages. ”This book was written by a Sarkorian woman approximately 200 years ago in Storasta. She apparently was possessed by some sort of power and wrote several books of prophecy. Well, then Aroden died, and all prophecies became bunk – and hers was kind of… forgotten about, especially since it had utterly failed to predict anything of value. Most of it is just gibberish. But I was reading through it recently and a few passages caught my eye…” She flips to a page and reads aloud, translating the Hallit to Taldane.
… the Eye opens, drowned lands deserted,
a chittering host, Sarkoris perverted,
the gaze to the future shall come to an end
the world will know wounds that no magic can mend
”Intriguing, right?”
”It’s the only bit that really makes any sense. And then, at the very end…” She flicks to the last page.
the mighty dragon that soars to the sky,
shall fall to the Storm and legions will die
but the beast and the locust will meet their demise
when the stone crumbles and Six arise
”Frustrating! But, there’s another book. And I know where it is.” Nurah grins. ”The catch is… its still in Storasta. But wait! It’s in the outskirts of the city. Which is good, because Storasta is good and infested with demons.”
Ser Jorsal nods, frowning. ”Indeed. I already sent a Pathfinder actually, an Eagle Knight named Illayna. But she has not sent word in some time, so we fear the worst. Clearly, we need a more capable team. And while the Pathfinders are useful to the Crusades, I’d rather keep this a crusader matter if I can help it.”
He unfurls a map of the Worldwound on the table, and points at Storasta. ”So, we’re going to arrange for you to take a Crusader vessel down the West Sellen River, and you'll let off within sight of Storasta."
Nurah then unfurls a sketched map of the Storasta environs. She points to a place in a residential area west of the main city. ”This was a small mercantile region back in Storasta’s heyday. The ruins should still be recognized now – there is a large traders’ hall, next to which is a small building… it was originally a collection of oddities held by an eclectic nobleman named Stomond up until he abandoned the city around 4606. My investigation places the woman’s prophecies as having been in his possession.”
She shrugs. ”It’s possible that the demons have already razed the building or destroyed all that he owns. But if this could be a real prophecy, one of the few viable prophecies of the modern age, I think it’s worth a shot, right?”
Ser Jorsal nods. "Right. And it's a good time to be navigating along the Worldwound border in any case, the feedback from the destruction of the wardstone border seems to have utterly decimated their ranks they had assembled alongside it. After you are done investigating Nurah's lead, I'd like for your group to continue on to Gundrun, where we will rendezvous. While your group completes your mission, Nurah and I need to connect with the Queen and give our report."
”Well, then! Do you have any questions?” Nurah says, cheerfully.
"I... didn't really expect to ever see a map of the Wound." Ary says as she focuses all of her attention on it. "Not one that was accurate. I thought I could know where cities were, but actual Physical features?" she shakes her head.
A lot of it might as well have been lost on her from the moment the map opened. But even still, eventually she looks away. "Storasta, Trade District, small building, Stomond's place." she says, nodding "How do we expect to get out once we get in? Especially with going in on the west side?" she looks to the pair. "We've got to go the long way around to get there in the first place, after all. Cover of darkness works for some of us... but not me. That's an issue as well."
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She smiles a bit at Nurah's compliment. "Considering I wrote half of it while drunk, I'm rather surprised that it came out as well as it did. I can transcribe you a copy if you'd like. My journal is... personal." She tucks the book away again, sliding it into the inner pocket of her backpack.
"I don't doubt her power, only her personality," Val replies dryly. "Spending her time gloating and swearing vengeance could have been much better spent summoning more demons before the wardstone decided to throw her back to whatever pit she likes to hideout in."
Val rubs the back of her head awkwardly. "I suppose so. It's good that you've managed to move past it at least." There's not really much she can say about that. And pressing the matter would just make it worse more likely than not.
"Very much like Desna. I... I have felt her presence for quite a long time. It's always been of great comfort to me. I know that if she has a purpose for me here, then she will watch over me and my friends as best she can." Her fingers reflexively tap her cheek, tracing the butterfly.
"I'm certain I'm... is quarter-fiend an actual term, or is that just something you came up with? But yes, I'm one-quarter fiend. I had a... complicated encounter with a succubus once and she apparently knows my grandmother. It's... a long story that I'd rather not tell."
Val listens to the story as she looks over the map. "Are you sure that this prophecy is worth it? You did say that Aroden's death ruined most prophecies. I mean, it sounds possible, but every oracle in the world was sure Aroden was coming back to bring Cheliax to glory. We got a dead god, a century of civil war, and rule by Hell itself out of it."
Nurah grins at Ary. ”Nice isn’t it? I drew it myself, and I can guarantee you it’s the most accurate map you’ll find of the Worldwound in all of Golarion. But it’s not like I scouted it myself, of course. Most of the features are inferred from what we know about Sarkoris before it fell. And of course compilations of many, many scouting missions. Several of which were headed by Ser Jorsal himself when he was younger!” She smiles at the crusader warmly.
Ser Jorsal considers Ary’s concern. ”Perhaps you could attempt to secure magical means to give yourself the ability to see in the dark? Use your commendations – we will sail past Nerosyan after all.”
Nurah glances at Valaria. ”Yeah, I’ve had this book for awhile, and just three weeks ago I would have agreed with you. Then a stone crumbled and six new faces appeared. Now I really want to see whatever else this possible oracle had to say.”
Ser Jorsal nods. ”And we need any advantage we can get right now. Without the wardstone field, things are going to get very ugly very quickly.”
"That is quite impressive," she says, sharing Ary's amazement at the map.
"Should we attempt to discover the fate of Illayna while we are there?" she asks Ser Jorsal.
Ser Jorsal frowns. "If you can find any clue as to her whereabouts, yes. But I cannot state enough that the ruins of Storasta will be a very dangerous place. Do not linger longer than you have to."
He claps his hands together. "Well! I'd like to depart as soon as you are ready."
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Ehren looks upon the map with wonder, nodding as Nurah briefs them on their mission. His eyes then gravitate to the region known as the Stonewilds, or more specifically, the Circle of Hierophants. So far away... He pushes that little thought away for the time being; one way or the other, he would have to go there someday. There was no use lamenting over it.
"Let's what else this oracle has to say," he remarks with another nod, sounding strangely excited by the prospect. Even he was a little skeptical about prophecies, but after everything that had happened to them... there was no doubt in his mind that this was something truly special.
"I need to stock up on extra knives if we're going into heavy combat, but otherwise, my gear is pretty much always packed and ready to go."
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"I bought this from Aitha awhile ago -" says Markus, pulling a scroll out of his case. "But this'll allow nightsight for three hours. A couple more and we can have most of an expedition covered. Though we'll need Hinagiku and Ary both to use them."
"Scrolls of invisibility sphere would also help a lot, I'm sure." he continues musing. "Though we're probably best off just being... fast."
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With the discussion turning from the past to the future, Isilme does her best to take stock of the situation. "I can keep us moving quickly, of course, but having invisibility sphere available when necessary would be quite helpful. Although we should not rely too heavily on invisibility as there will be demons capable of seeing through it."
"Also, it would be expensive, but if we can get ahold of a wand of gust of wind in Nerosyan at a discount, we should consider doing so. The wasps we encountered during our rescue mission in the Worldwound were dangerous enough that we should be prepared in case we encounter more of them. I would also recommend we purchase at least two or three scrolls of fly, as dealing with the Brimoraks made it clear that we need to be more prepared for other demons with flight. I will need a shortbow and some cold iron arrows so I can contribute in those situations as well."
"Beyond that, I believe I am ready to go. I imagine we will have plenty of time to think about what else we might need on the way to Nerosyan."
"How long should we expect for the entire trip to take?" Ary asks, while thinking about logistics.
When the map is laid in front of them, Hinagiku approaches it, looking at it closely and trying to memorize it as much as she can within the time they have. Noting Ehren's interest, she bobs her head a bit, interested in knowing what might interest interest the young druid so much. Still, now was not the time, the Tien woman thought while their next mission was being exposed.
"Impressive prophecy. Still, it might not so wise for us to read them. Letting scriptures written hundred of years ago influence or guide our actions might only seal our faith. However, taking them away from the reach of our enemies should protect us if they are to be believed." Hinagiku says with an even tone.
Once they are about to leave the room, Hinagiku aproaches Ehren.
"Mr. Ehren, I noticed your interest for the map of Sarkoris. Is there anything you can tell me about its lands?"
"How long should we expect for the entire trip to take?" Ary asks, while thinking about logistics.
"Three days by boat from here to Nerosyan. Then half a day's travel from the capital to the outskirts of Storasta. Gundrun is then two days by boat or foot from Storasta," Ser Jorsal replies.
"Alright, we should see about getting some goodberries for the trip. We can take those in addition to normal food, and they'll keep us fed if the other stuff spoils. We might want to invest in the ability to purify the food as well. Can you do any of those wiggly-finger things, Rocky?" she says, looking to Ehren.
"Looks like we want to buy... four days of rations per person when we leave Nerosyan." says Markus. "Just in case, you know. And the Wound will spoil our food, so we might want some sort of contingency just in case we lose it. And we won't want a wagon or any of those sorts of things again when we leave Nerosyan..."
Markus frowns. "...which makes bringing Annabelle something of a problem. What's the deal with daylight in the Wound?"
"Beyond daylight, won't the river be a problem as well? Can she travel on it?" Isilme asks Markus.
"As far as emergency supplies go, dream feast is a spell Ehren has access too I believe. It eliminates the need for food entirely, preventing the possibility of spoilage."
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"I remembered a place that I saw in a dream," Ehren says to Hinagiku, smiling glumly, "The Stonewilds, it is called now. It is there that mankind first heard the voice of the world. The birthplace of the Old Faith. I was just thinking that I would have to go there someday, to see what has become of it. But that time is not now."
Turning to Ary, he nods at her ideas. "The berries have to be freshly picked, but once I cast the spell, they should last for a week. I could prepare it as many times as needed for the trip. I could purify food with a simple spell, but would it work in the Worldwound?"
"I wouldn't -rely- on it working in the Worldwound. I've been told it won't... but I honestly don't know for sure. I've never been there." she looks to Ser Jorsal... and then to the halfling as an afterthought.
"I think that after our last little trip into the area, we should assume that nothing is going to work quite the way we expect it to. The Abyss is far to chaotic for things to actually make sense."
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"Annabelle certainly can't fall in - vampires are destroyed by naturally running water." says Markus, actually smiling at Isilme. "But the bit about undead not being able to cross running water is, and has always been, a myth. Perpetuated by some prominent undead if my theories are correct."
"That is good to know! I will do my best to remember it, thank you for clarifying that Markus," she says returning his smile.
"So shall we get moving?" she asks the group.
"If we have everything we need here, we should leave as soon as possible," Ehren replies with a nod.
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"I'm ready to go," Val says with a nod. "Let's go fetch these ancient potentially useless prophecies from a demon infested city in enemy territory."
Hinagiku laughs ever so gently at Valaria's joke. So gently, she mostly seems to be smiling and barely making any sound.
"Ary, let me recover my belongings and I will be ready to go."
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"Alternately... let's go scout out the city that we'll one day completely clear of demonic vermin!" Ary says, offering Val a grin, as she stands, twists her ring, "I will shine in her legion.", and then waits to be lead wherever they're going.
Markus frowns. "...which makes bringing Annabelle something of a problem. What's the deal with daylight in the Wound?"
Nurah tilts her head. "Ah... I didn't consider that. It... varies. But normally the sun functions normally in the Worldwound....in a sense. In the Wounded Lands particularly, occasionally the sky will merge with the sky of the Abyss, causing all kinds of odd things to happen."
She grins. "Speaking of, I'll be sure to make a copy of my map for you guys on the boat ride to Nerosyan. You should consider getting a copy of my works. I'll autograph them for ya."
"I wouldn't -rely- on it working in the Worldwound. I've been told it won't... but I honestly don't know for sure. I've never been there." she looks to Ser Jorsal... and then to the halfling as an afterthought.
Nurah shrugs. "It.... varies." she chuckles. "Frustrating, isn't it? Usually purification spells work, though... on food you bring into the Worldwound. Usually. Any plant or animal matter you find within... is beyond all hope, unfortunately. Same goes for the water. Conjured water and food might become tainted upon manifestation, also."
"Well... that doesn't sound too terrifying." Ary says, shaking her head, and sighing.
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"It could be worse," Val jokes. "We could be going into the actual Abyss."