Seeker:
Thoven returns to the Temple of the Silver Flame, returning the amulet to his headmaster, and achieving the rank of pilgrim within the church.
A pilgrim is free to wander the world. He is expected to lead by example wherever he goes, to oppose evil in all it's forms. It was the lowest rank in the church hierarchy he knew, but he also knew it was a rank largely free from the concerns of hierarchy, which he cared little for.
Growing up in a noble family, he had experienced more than enough freshly starched shirts and seen all too well the struggle for power. He cared not for power within the church, such was not his place. Lord Thoven wished only to oppose evil, and that he planned to do until his soul meets The Silver Flame.
Thoven will take the rest of his time restocking on what supplies he believes he needs, and blessing a few flasks of water,4 for himself, and an additional six, one to each of the party, incase they encounter any more foul creatures vulnerable to it.
Whisper hurries home after leaving the Vanderboren manor, swiftly and quietly moving through the dangerous, scummy streets of Shadowshore and towards the tiny dwelling that is her home. Closing the front door firmly behind her she breaths a heay sigh of relief and collapses onto the thick straw pallet that constitutes her bed.
Several hours pass of staring up at the ceiling and working through recent thoughts in the back of her mind. Everything has been overwhelming for the young woman and it takes a while for her thoughts to settle. As her mind calms she makes a decision and after changing into warm, dry and clean clothing she hurries out of the door once more, heading stright for the Temple of the Silver Flame.
Finding the church with no real difficulties she shyly hovers around the entrance, walking back and forth she waits in hope for Lord Thoven to exit, hoping that she has come here, and if he has that she hasn't missed him, the thought of asking another priest about him utterly daunting and embaressing to her.
Thoven is in his study, finishing up the last few flasks of holy water.
He had finished the four for himself, and half of those for the party earlier in the day, returning them to his room at the tavern nearby, where he had been staying the last few weeks in preparation for his trial of pilgramage.
It was against his Parent's wishes of course, just as most of his lifestyle was. The Lorchesters had a strong tradition of Arena fighters, and his family earned a nice profit from it. In their eyes, Thoven would have been well suited for glorious battle or glorius income, in the arena. But Thoven had always been a Faithful man, and he could not delight in such rudimentary things as long as the world around him was shrowded in darkness.
He Places the three Flasks on his person, one in a belt pouch and the other two in an inside pocket of his vestments. He closes his books and makes his way to exit the Temple.
He pushes the doors open and delights in the fresh air outside of the stuffy temple. He is delightfully surprised by the sight of Whisper, a visitor he hardly expected.He smiles broadly, going up to meet her." Merry meet, m'lady. It is good to see you, and to what do I owe such honor?"
Whisper gives a weak, but certainly relieved, smile at seeing Lord Thoven's face. "Lord Thoven, I'm glad I caught you." She replies honestly and shyly, unable to maintain eye contact with the cleric for long, instead looking away and to the ground. "I realised it was probably for the best that one of us come find you after your speaking to your superiors.. to see if you will be able to join us.. They may not want to release someone as valuable as you afterall.." She utters quietly.
Thoven stands listening, smiling broadly at the girls nervous gestures.
"Ah, I see, well lucky me that they sent you Whisper." he states, following her eyes down to the ground." They did send you right?" he asks." And do you like my boots,whisper? You seem to have your eyes glued to them."
Whisper slowly shakes her head "Nobody sent me.. it just.. I just thought it would be sensible for one of us to come check.. to.." She babbles a little, unable to find the right words her cheeks redden, especially as he makes the remarks about his boots. With the faintest of concerned sounds she lifts her gaze, only managing to lift her eyes as far as his chest, too shy and respectful of the Lord to look him straight in the eye.
"I see..Well that was very thoughtful of you Whisper." Thoven states, raising a brow slightly at Whispers eyes stopping at his chest.
"Anyways... I will be free to help you all out. As a pilgrim of the church I am largely free from the church heirarchy. My duty is to oppose evil in all of it's forms and Spread the light of the Flame to wherever there is darkness."
He scratches his head." May I see your eyes Whisper?" He makes the strange request. " Eyes are the Window to the soul, so they say."
A small grin comes to Whisper's face at the news the cleric will definately be joining them as they investigate the Lotus Dragons. The smile quickly fades however as fear washes over her at his request. For all of her life she has been used to some of the scummiest souls of all Shadowshore looking down on her, the offer of employment from Lady Vanderboren had been a severe shock but for a noble man to speak to her as an equal was completely beyond her.
Deciding it would be a disrespect to deny his request she slowly looks up and into his eyes. "I assure you Lord Thoven there is nothing special about my eyes, or my soul" She exhales quietly, her cheeks now a deep crimson, before briskly looking away again unable to force herself to look into his eyes any longer, it really wasn't the right thing to do.
Thoven looks closely at her eyes, almost lost in them for a moment before she turns away." Hmm...If what they say is true, you have a a very beautiful soul." He states, tilting his head ever so slightly.
" And there is something special about you Whisper, though I am yet to place just what it is."
Whisper merely shakes her head, too polite to object to his words. "..well.. I only came here to check you'd be coming with us, and I have the answer to that.. so I should leave you be. I've taken up enough of your time" she decides aloud, taking a small step back and away from Lord Thoven.
I agree. Seems like one of those situational-only magic items. Can Daurros determine a value?
Thoven taps his foot, slightly bewildered by the girl. There was something very intriguing about her." Forgive me If i have caused you any discomfort, as that was not my intentions Whisper. It was very kind of you to come To the Temple and check on me."
He says, taking a step towards her as she steps away."I have something for you." He states, pulling a flask of holy water from a pocket within his vestments." It might very well come in handy, against workers of inequities."
He glances overtop of Whisper, at the Tavern a few buildings down."I am staying at that Tavern just O'er there, won't you join me for a drink, before we part ways?" He asks kindly
Whisper carefully takes the flask in her hands and gently holds it to her chest. "Thank you" She utters softly "..you haven't caused me any discomfort m'lord, I just.. I'm always like this." She shyly confides as she shifts awkwardly.
"And I don't really drink.. but if you have nobody else to spend time with then I suppose I could spare a little longer before going to investigate the Lotus.."
"You're welcome, Whisper, and if it isnt too much to ask, could you Call me Thoven? M'lord is a bit more suited for courtly presences unlike myself. I bear the title Lord only because of my family. I am stuck with it and i'd much rather be on a name Basis with those such as yourself." He clarifies, turning his attention to the tavern.
" I'm not much of a drinker either, but I'm sure you eat, now don't you?" Thoven jests, motioning to his side. " Will You walk with me?"
Blushing again Whisper gives a tiny nod "Alright, Thoven" She agrees nervously before falling into step beside him and heading towards the tavern. "Actually.. I don't eat much. I never eat out, I just eat bread and sometimes a scrap of meat or jerky or something. I never had money growing up so that's what I'm used to" She explains with a great deal of embaressment.
He walks slowly, so as to not fall over his own feet while his eyes are turned towards whisper. He listens closely to her words, a concerned look in his eyes" That's sad Whisper, I'm sorry to hear you had it so rough, but glad that it shaped you the way it did." he states, smiling softly.
" I hope you don't mind eating out a bit tonight. It'd be the respectful thing to do." He says, Winking at her about the last part.
He steps infront of her a few steps to open the door for her."Ladies first."
Whisper gives a tiny shrug "There are a great many who've had it worse than me" She replies "I was lucky that some people fed me when I was little, there were others who died.." She adds vaguely and sadly, the deaths on the street were few, far between, and not spoken about in depth but the absence of another soul on the streets always had an impact.
Smiling slightly she looked up at Thoven with a thankful expression as she entered the tavern before him. "Thanks"
" Ah yes I'm sure there are those who didnt make it, Bless their souls. I consider myself very lucky then, to be with you on this day, a survivor." He says, returning her smile" And you are very Welcome, Whisper."
Thoven ushers Whisper in to the quiet Tavern, a place so close to the Temple was a quiet reflective place. He smiles at the Innkeeper and walks up to greet him. He shakes his hand and requests a good meal, laying a couple coins down on the bar.
He hurries back to Whisper, guiding her to a table near the corner, Where he pulls her seat out for her."This table suitable?"
Whisper gives a tiny nod and slides into the offered seat with a smile. After settling in her chair she soon starts to squirm a little, unsure of what to say or do now she's in the tavern with Thoven. Folding her hands in her lap her gaze quickly settles on the tabltetop, unable to keep her eyes from their accustomed position of being downcast.
Thoven takes a seat across the table from Whisper, watching her squirm ever so slightly, he chuckles a bit under his breath and shakes his head." Is my face so hideous to behold that this chipped table top is more deserving of your gaze,Whisper?" He inquires jokingly.
A smile slowly creeps across his face "Of course if the answer to that question is yes, you dont really have to answer it...Now what would you like to Drink?"
"No!" Whisper objects, fearfully looking up and into Thoven's eyes before blushing. "I mean.. you're really.. really.. not hideous. It's just, in the 'shore there are places where making eyecontact is an open invite for trouble of one kind or another. I mean no insult, I just, it's out of respect that I don't look at people."
Slowly she releases a sigh and gently clenches her her hands into loose fists in her lap. "..but yes.. a drink.. water is fine!"
Thoven laughs."Excuse me for a moment while i get our drinks." He makes his way up to the bar and soon comes back with two Cups. He sets one down infront of her and takes his seat, taking a sip of his water.
"Wow Whisper, So i'm really not hideous, that's possibly the best compliment i could ask for." He says, tapping the table a bit. "You're really not hideous either you know?"
He takes another drink, slightly hiding behing the cup.
Whisper blushes deeply and quickly picks up her cup and drinks deeply from it to settle her nerves and embaressent. Settling the drink back on the tabletop she shifts awkwardly again, suddenly starting to regret agreeing to spend time alone with Thoven as she realises she has no idea how to act around him. "I'm sure you're more than used to compliments Thoven" she whispers "I think Ardanto owes you an engagement ring for a start!"
Thoven smiles "Ardanto Is quite the character isnt he? I'm afraid I'm going to have to reject any further advances from him, as he isnt quite my type."
He pauses for a moment "I'm no stranger to compliments,it's true, but to sincerity I am. I often wonder how nice people would be if I didn't have Lord infront of Thoven. You kinda make me feel like a normal person Whisper, I like it. And we're far from the shore, so feel free to make eye contact with me."
** spoiler omitted **
One day during the downtime, Daurros will take a stroll over to visit Guard at his shop. As he walks up, he notices the warforged engaged in repairing his plating. "Good day, Guard. How are you? I hope I'm not disturbing you much; I was hoping to talk a bit."
Whisper regards Thoven with some uncertainty as he speaks. "I don't believe that for a moment, I'm sure a lot of the compliments you receive are genuine, and you deserve them" She replies truthfully. "Although I really don't understand how I make you feel like a normal person, you already are a normal person Thoven.. better than that, I mean look at how quickly all of the others took a shine to you"
" Your words are kind Whisper,as I've come to expect." He says as he reaches across the table, pattting her hand ever so slightly.
"Ah, here comes our food." He states as a the innkeeper personally delivers a small platter of fish, and rye bread, along with a plate for each of them. " Thank you Sir." he says to the innkeeper.
" Shall we eat?"
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
With a blush Whisper reclaims her hand after Thoven pats it. A small smile curls her lips and she gives the innkeeper a thankful nod as the food is delivered, more than appreciative of the distraction. "Thank you" She mumurs before giving a nod at the clerics words, although she politely waits for him to help himself to food first.
Thoven nods. "Thank you Whisper, for gracing me with your presence today. " He says, a soft smile tinged on the corners of his lips.
Thoven begin's to eat, his table manners always being his lacking point in social ettiqute, he eats rather ravenously. But at least he keeps his mouth closed while chewing. He glances up at Whisper reguraly, as if making sure she was still there.
Whisper carefully picks at the food in front of her, gently nibbling at the bread and fish, obviously not someone who is used to eating any more than a small meal or two during the day. "You have nothing to thank me for" She replies between tiny bites "I'm sure you could easily find much better company if you tried"
He stops eating for a moment at her mention of better company. A strange look comes over his face. "What a silly notion Whisper." he states, taking a drink from his nearly empty cup.
" If I searched all of Sasserine I could not find more enjoyable company." he states, crunching down on a piece of the rye bread. " Infact, i'm quite sure there's no else I'd rather share this meal with...so again, Thank you Whisper."
Whisper watches Thoven in utter disbelief, he mouth ever so slightly agape, completely at a loss for what to say for a long moment. "Then you clearly haven't met enough people" she eventually objects "I'm sure if you looked, and not very hard, you'd find someone else you'd much rather was sat in this seat."
Thoven sighs " And I am sure, Whisper, that if you looked up every now and the, you might see that the grass isnt as green on the other side as you might think."
He shakes his head. "You are a wonderful person and I rather enjoy spending time with you." He taps the table. "I plan to continue telling you that until you accept it." He states firmly, an ever so soft smile on his face.
Whisper shakes her head a little but doesn't argue her point any more instead she settles for picking at her food even more, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You know, I think this is the most I've ever spoken to someone so openly in a very long time" She confides after a while.
He sets back in his seat, watching her pick at her food, listening closely to her words, a soft smile seeming to be on his face perpetually now. "Really? That is quite interesting Whisper.
He sets up, his elbows on the table, his parents would dissaprove. "Would you believe me when I told you this is the most I've talked to anyone in some time without talking about translating some text that has been translated over and over again, or hearing the claims of posession from the local crazyman who is spooked by his own shadow?" He laughs a bit.
"We have some things in common, Whisper, they are just hard to see." He states, doing his best to make eye contact.
Shyly and with a tiny embaressed sound Whisper looks up and into Thoven's eyes. "I find that very hard to believe. Maybe now that you're a pilgrim you'll meet more people and have long and interesting conversations with them.." She declares quietly before looking away and to her drink.
Thoven Doesn't remove his gaze, following her eyes wherever they roam.
"Perhaps." He states, tapping the table. "And perhaps we could make a habit of having conversations such as these." he suggests, slouching a bit, perhaps in an attempt to get eye level.
"Yes," he seems to convince himself. "that would do me just fine."
"But.." She starts but the young woman quickly silences herself, really not wanting to cause any friction. "I'd like that to, but I really won't hold it against you if.. and when.. you find someone more interesting to spend your time with"
Thoven merely chuckles "Whisper you certainly are something else, and someday i'm going to make you realize that."
Ardanto leaves the van der Boren manor in search of a hearty meal, a few stiff drinks and a bath to ease his aching limbs, he is hopeful that his companion Daurros may know a place that can provide all three.
"Daurros, that adventure below has got me thinking, and you of all people know I am not a real thinker, after all actions speak louder than words," he nods in agreement with him self, giving Daurros no time to object or inject a witty retort he continues, "I felt decidedly mortal down there, as if for once our immense talent would not be enough to save us," he looks straight into his companions eyes, "I am not ashamed to admit it scared me a little." He clears his throat before breaking the gaze, unable to believe he has admitted weakness to anyone, "it leaves me confused, this whole time I had been getting close to her lady-ship because I was sure she was part of the plot and had plans to use us as fall guys, yet now I find she is innocent and still I want to spend time around her." He pauses in silence for a few steps before continuing, "what the hell is wrong with me, I used to have a girl in every port, is Lavinia that special that I want to risk opening up to her?" He shakes his head in bemusement, "then there is Whisper, was I really flirting with her that badly?" He continues to shake his head, Daurros thinks he may shake it off his neck if he continues, "I thought she was like a little sister, but when she was gone under water for such a long time I was beside myself with worry."
Again he pauses before gripping his companions arm, "my friend, tonight the beers are on me and it is your job to knock some sense into me, the Salacious Scallywag needs his friend to get him drunk and distracted for the next few days." He grins broadly, "If I can remember any of the next few days or do not get slapped by some one I do not recognise in the next few weeks, then you sir are a failure as a friend and drinking companion." His step quickens and his mood brightens as he alights in a new purpose.
Seeker
Lord Thovan and Whisper
After those words Whisper falls utterly silent, focusing on her food and drink and seeming to be in deep thought. Aftera while she looks up again and gives a weak smile. "Thank you for the food Lor.. Thoven.. but I really should leave. I have a lot planned for the next couple of days that I should really get to work on.."
Thoven nods, smiling all the while " I suppose you're right." he agrees, standing up and waiting for Whisper to stand as well, he then walks her just outside the Tavern, opening the door for her as what seems to be standard for him.
"Again Whisper, Thank you for such good company."
Whisper gives a faint smile and a nod at Thoven "Thank you, for the food, and the company" She replies shyly "I'll see you in a couple of days then" She adds before turning on heel and quickly heading away, disappearing as swiftly as possible into the crowds.