Abrams eyes widen after the teens tell their tales, and glances concernedly at Dante who had been standing quietly in the back.
Taking the wrapped sheet with the creature's remains from Garrett, he places it on the table and peels back the bloody cloth from the body and stares at the bisected carcass.
"This is quite troublesome. A smaller creature was in town earlier. Amara Sontan, and the goblin Havak fought such a creature.
I think that perhaps the new man, Jerem has invoked his god and banished any that are left, but you are right. If this creature was a dragon...and was looking for these stones, It is much more troublesome than I had thought. I will consult the council, young Snow, but I need to think on this."
Elarya nods and almost nods off. She shuffles to bed, gently laying down after her first attempt reminded her of the two deep puncture wounds in her side.
For the first time in a year, she slept soundly.
”The beast was able to speak to us in the common tongue and even managed to bewitch the smith’s apprentice, Elarya, and myself with false visions. She and I managed to subdue the creature though she received the blunt end of its wrath. It told us that a stone Dante had, one of an assortment of stones he received from Corvina, was meant for him and it fought with deadly force to take it.”
"You and Elarya were bewitched? How clever of the dragon. And now, it is dead."
There is no joy or flippancy in Sansa's tone or expression. She says her piece in quite a neutral voice.
Sansa rises then, not concerned with whether Garrett would answer or speak to her. Her attention is diverted by the crow, Rook, perched by the overhang near the door. She glides effortlessly toward him and when she is close enough, she looks up, her mismatch eyes staring into his shadowed ones. She says nothing but watches the crow for a full minute before turning back to the Elder and official sounding Garrett. Dante was being true to form and standing silently, probably sulking, in the corner of the room.
"I think that perhaps the new man, Jerem has invoked his god and banished any that are left, but you are right. If this creature was a dragon...and was looking for these stones, it is much more troublesome than I had thought. I will consult the council, young Snow, but I need to think on this."
Pivoting gracefully and facing the Elderman, Sansa speaks with a perplexed look upon her pale face, "Elder Abram, are you confident Jerem banished them for good? How can anyone be certain of this?" Again, her voice is calm, neutral, simply enquiring. Her mismatch eyes stare unblinkingly up at the older man, waiting for his answer, the gold and silver bright in the shadowed confines of the room.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sansa sees Garrett's look and pretends she has not. She is waiting to hear from Elder Abram and nothing would sway her. She would leave with Dante and Garrett once the Elderman had answered her.
Havak will place the armor and dagger back in the compartment and will look at the book some more trying to make sense of it, as well as committing the map to memory as much as he can.
quote=GM]
She woke with a start, damp air around her, and a slight chill. All was dark save for the dim twinkle of the stars in the sky, barely enough to see her hand in front her face. Splayed on her back, she stared up at the night sky, around her she could see thick dark reeds sprouting up, and speaking in a strange language a ways off.
Amara lays still for a moment trying to reconcile what her senses are telling her.
I don't remember having a dream like this before...
She slowly rises, trying to recognize her surroundings. She has had many dreams of being outdoors, but they were usually all in the forest and she had never heard speech she didn't understand before, nevertheless she smiles to herself.
You'd think after today my mind wouldn't have to make up new mysteries.
She strains to hear where the speaking is coming from and stealthily makes her way closer.
Obviously I'm still up for a little more adventure!
Pivoting gracefully and facing the Elderman, Sansa speaks with a perplexed look upon her pale face, "Elder Abram, are you confident Jerem banished them for good? How can anyone be certain of this?" Again, her voice is calm, neutral, simply enquiring. Her mismatch eyes stare unblinkingly up at the older man, waiting for his answer, the gold and silver bright in the shadowed confines of the room.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+7
Out of the corner of her eye, Sansa sees Garrett's look and pretends she has not. She is waiting to hear from Elder Abram and nothing would sway her. She would leave with Dante and Garrett once the Elderman had answered her.
A bit perplexed at the young girl's insistence, Abram nevertheless regards her question.
"It is true, Sansa, we cannot be sure. With such things as this, only time can tell us with any certainty. The gods are not to be trifled with, which is one reason noone calls them by name any longer. That Jerem was even able to do this feat is strange enough. It's true that more should be learned of his so called "One". I have much to think on."
Then, nodding to Garrett;
"Do have your father come by in the morning, and we'll try to get some more answers. You all were right to bring this to me, the council will have to speak to Corvina about this as well."
Havak will place the armor and dagger back in the compartment and will look at the book some more trying to make sense of it, as well as committing the map to memory as much as he can.
It takes little effort to commit the map to memory with as sharp a mind as Havak's. The deciphering of the code takes a bit more time. With Johnas passed out though, It leaves the goblin all night if he wishes to go over and translate.
After pouring over the pages for hours, Havak discovers that the book, such as it is, is in fact a journal. It appears that in Johnas's more spry years he was an adventurer himself. A bit of a jack of all trades, he mostly took jobs as a trapfinder and scout. The journal details a number of his adventures, and the map seems to be the place where he has hidden his "loot" from his jobs after he decided to retire. He mentions a number of traps hidden in the caverns, but nothing about how to disable them, only that "the dagger knows where they are".
This is all very interesting, I shall have to ask Johnas about this" Havak muses to himself.
Amara lays still for a moment trying to reconcile what her senses are telling her.I don't remember having a dream like this before...
She slowly rises, trying to recognize her surroundings. She has had many dreams of being outdoors, but they were usually all in the forest and she had never heard speech she didn't understand before, nevertheless she smiles to herself.
You'd think after today my mind wouldn't have to make up new mysteries.
She strains to hear where the speaking is coming from and stealthily makes her way closer.
Obviously I'm still up for a little more adventure!
Although she has no trouble keeping silent and staying hidden, Amara seems to make little progress in making out her location or any sense of what the other people (creatures?) are saying.
As she creeps closer to the figures, they seem to stand and move away fluidly, almost gliding across the ground, their forms nebulous save for white points of light where their eyes should be.Traveling further yet, she soon feels pebbles beneath her feet, and as she moves, the sound of the rocks increase until the constant grinding of rocks is almost like a waterfall.
Then she is moving uphill, and she feels as if she has been traveling for days, perhaps weeks, and although there is a chill all about her that is steadily growing, her mouth is dry. Very dry.
The figures ahead and now standing straight, and facing her and each of them with points of light in their shadowed faces. In the center of them stands another figure, slightly shorter, and a strange form undulates in a pattern about its shoulders. Her vision seems to focus on this figure, and as it looms over her, growing in size, it reaches out for her with hands that extend like claws and she can see a shimmering disk as bright as the full moon glowing in the figure's chest.
...
Amara wakes then in a cold sweat, staring at the ceiling in her home, the night sounds of crickets and frogs around her, the wind lightly blowing through the shuttered window.
Amara lays in bed for a moment sorting her thoughts and commiting her dream to memory before it slips away as dreams normally do. This dream however does not seem to behave as it should though and the details remain clear very readily.
Maybe it's just the strength of the dream or maybe it's something else but she gets out of bed for a drink of water before trying to settle back to sleep.
When she awakes the next morning the dream is still fresh in her mind and although she fell asleep again easily her sleep was not restful as she tossed and turned the rest of the night.
She readies herself as normal, a bit stiffly though as her injuries from the day before have made her muscles ache, and makes her way into the kitchen for breakfast. She has slept in a little longer than normal, her mother obviously deciding not to wake her after her adventures yesterday, and her father and brothers are already gone. Her mother asks her what she has planned for the day and chides her to be more careful than yesterday. She then seems to notice Amara is looking a little tired this morning and asks her if she slept well.
"Oh, I'm fine Mums just had some strange deams."
She hesitates as if to tell her more but then takes a bit of breakfast instead.
When she is finished she kisses her mom and heads out the door.
"I'm off to find Samel. I didn't have a chance to tell him what happened after we brought the creature to Abram and I'm sure he will be interested to know."
The dream in temporarily driven from her mind as she heads over to Samel's house to begin her search.
Elarya wakes up and is a little confused about why the sun is so high in the sky. That is until she feels a twinge of pain in her side from the dragon's fangs.
Dragon? Oh crap! I completely forgot the one in the sack I left by the smithy.
She dresses as quickly as she dares before washing her face and scrubbing the sleep from her eyes. She felt, what was this feeling? Happiness? No, it was something deeper than that. Peace, she felt peaceful, although a righteous anger still burned in her heart. She no longer felt the weight guilt and despair. She almost walked into the wall in the kitchen.
"Funny, I thought me eyes were better'n that."
She smiles and chuckles at herself as she heads for the door and tries to find the sack with the dead wyrmling.
He looks to Sansa, "Would you like for me to walk you home, Sansa?"
At Elder Abram's assurance that more would be done to look into Jerem's "One" god, Sansa inclines her head to the Elder. "It was my idea to bring the Elders the dead dragon. So, thank you, and good night Elder Abram."
Looking at Rook as she passes his perch and gesturing to Dante to follow, Sansa leaves Abram's house with her brother in tow. She collects her lantern on the way out, casting and relighting it.
Upon hearing Garrett's offer to walk her home, she turns gracefully and glides over to the older boy.
"You were angry with me in there -- your eyes told me. It is unfortunate that I cannot heal your leg with my magic this night for I exhausted my healing spells saving Elarya. I have Dante to accompany me home, so find your bed and rest, Garrett. We will manage getting back to Mother Celeste's house." And with those final words, she swiftly turns, the movement both easy and strange, and lifting the lantern before her calls to her brother and they begin walking through the darkness, the lantern's small light swaying in the night.
The night was cold, and the happenings of the day previous were surely on the minds of the teenagers. The strange creatures, perhaps dragons, had been a threat and a curiosity. Had they been dealt with? Where did they come from? What connection did they have to Corvina's stones, or had Jerem actually been able to banish them?
Finally though, the exertions that the day had brought overtook the brave young folk, and sleep had come. Blessed sleep. Most slept deeply, their bodies truly tired from the excitement of the day, but a few had other things on their mind. Puzzles to get to, or a new day to face.
When the new day came, it was much like the one before. The sun rose, and a bit of fog was in the air, and activity could be heard, but surely something was different now. People rose slower, perhaps more wary, still a bit on edge from the attacks previous.
Today the council would meet. Today those questions would be probed.
I figure Johnas wont be up until after noon, so might as well go ass about that council
When Havak wakes, he sees about where the council is meeting and tries to get a seat if it is public. After breakfast of course!
Elarya quickly finds the sack and heads off to the meeting hall.
Hope they haven't started yet.
Around the stove, Sansa helped Mother Celeste prepare breakfast for the three of them. Through the window, Sansa could see fog floating across the yard and felt the chill of it in her bones. She stared out into it for a long time, preoccupied with silent thoughts.
"Mother Celeste, do you think we should be concerned with other dragons coming into Solace? We killed one adult and the wyrmlings were removed by Elarya, Amara and the others, and, Jerem's "One" God apparently buried the rest beneath the earth. Without much trouble it would seem." There was a hint of accusation in Sansa's voice if Celeste and Dante paid close enough attention. She did not trust Jerem, like some of the others seemed to, and questioned this mysterious "One" god.
"I am looking forward to hearing what the Elders have to say when they convene, today. Mother Celeste, you should see my poor Watchtower -- that man-sized dragon tore it apart in its desire and desperation to obtain Corvina's stone. Silly Corvina. I shall walk there later and tidy up the place if the Elder's proclaim Solace safe more once." Even if they do not, she muses secretly.
Sansa looks into her adopted mother's deep blue eyes and waits patiently. Mother Celeste was a wise woman and the only one Sansa really listened to and heeded.
At the mention of being well prepared, Elarya holds up a black sack that looks like something thick and smelly soaked it through.
"Ran into one of the li'l ones. I 'ad forgotten about the axe, thank you."
She takes the axe, and stares at him curiously as he hurries off.
Huh? Normally he tries to talk longer than that.
The young warrior heads inside and finds a seat with a shrug.
The day was a somber one, much like the day before, but the morning mist seemed to hang a bit longer and the birds begin chirping much later, their songs even reflecting the tense mood.
The townsfolk filed in late in the morning, some nervously chattering about how they were missing out on the good catches, the news of the strange creature from yesterday still on their minds. Somehow word had spread of the larger creature in the watchtower, and how the three (four including Dante, although he was rarely mentioned) brave young folk fought it off. Mutterings could be heard also about how this must be Corvina's fault, and even some spoke highly of the prayer Jerem spoke in the near forest.
When all the townfolk were finally packed into the town hall the whispering and such almost became like an orchestra of concerns, but the music was disharmonious, the notes shrill. The group went without a conductor for some time, perhaps an hour.
Then Jerem entered and stood in the back, silently smiling and rubbing his thumb over his amulet. A large bag of what seems like clothes in his free hand.
All eyes seemed to focus on him, for the council had not yet returned from their deliberations.
"Have no fear good folk of solace. Your council is wise, and they will soon be with you with comforting news. I have communed with The One, and have been told that you will have no more trouble from those creatures. Solace has come under the eye of The One, and you will soon see, if you too offer praise, you will know grace as well."
Havak tries to find a place in the room where he can see what is going on despite his small stature and listens to what people have to say, particularly Abram.
How they carry on about Jerem... The man is most suspicious and yet has earned the trust of the townsfolk when none know much about him - peculiar indeed. Sansa stares at the religious man with the "One" god and takes his measure in her mismatch eyes. We cannot give away the Old gods for this new one Jerem entertains. Will not Mother Celeste or one of the others speak up and defend our gods ...? Sansa's long nailed hands curled inwardly a little as if staying the wave of anger toward Jerem. Fortunately she was wearing her customary gloves.
Turning to Mother Celeste and Dante, who sat to their mother's left, Sansa mutters,"Where are the Elders? Surely Elder Abram has had enough time to examine and converse on the dragons." The packed town hall was beginning to grate on her patience. Sansa preferred her own company or that of a small group. The entire population of Solace seemed to be taking space inside the meeting hall and it had her nervous. I need to get to my Watchtower, she mused privately.
Sansa turned her head once more toward the door to see if the Elders had arrived. In the room she had glanced Garrett, Elarya and Havak.
I wonder what the Elders asked Corvina... I wonder if she explained. Sansa's mismatch eyes dance with eagerness.
What is this one going on about? Where there was one there might be more.
She didn't know all the details, but she was smart enough to put two and two together, and from what she gathered, there was a nest of these things.
"Does that mean you found its mate?"
Elarya eyes Jerem with suspicion. She had heard of him, but never really payed attention to what was going on, so desperate was she to forget the events that lead to her coming to Solace.
Amara entered the crowded hall somewhat reluctantly. Small groups she did not mind but so many people crowded into once spot made her want to run until she could no longer feel and smell the sweaty heat of the multitude of bodies, and hear the incessant din. She listened however, and soon heard the buzz about the full grown creature Garrett and Elarya had dispatched. When she heard Sansa's name mentioned she raised her brows in surprise and visually sought out the girl in the crowd noticing her beside Celeste and Dante.
She frowned at Jerem's words, still mulling over the footprints she had found by the nest, when Elarya spoke up. She again showed her surprise at the normally stoic and silent girl speaking out with virtually the whole town present.
She must be quite agitated!
She was curious as to what Abram would tell the townsfolk and anxious as to what Samel in particular was thinking.
She waited silently for the Elders to appear, her dream completely forgotten...
What is this one going on about? Where there was one there might be more.
She didn't know all the details, but she was smart enough to put two and two together, and from what she gathered, there was a nest of these things.
"Does that mean you found its mate?"
Elarya eyes Jerem with suspicion. She had heard of him, but never really payed attention to what was going on, so desperate was she to forget the events that lead to her coming to Solace.
The man smiles as he regards Elarya and nods. He then turns to face the crowd again.
"Indeed my dear. The mate of the creature has been dealt with, as well as the other creatures."
He then turns his gaze about the crowd, finally settling his vivid eyes on Amara
"and it's young"
With some flourish, the flings the bag he was holding down the middle aisle of the building between the seated townfolk. It flies several feet, rolling over itself several times, and comes to a dragged halt, and out of it spills the bodies of several small winged snakes, and the head of a larger creature flops just outside of the bag, its tongue lolling.
"As I said. My request to The One was answered."
The gathered masses are silent for a moment, seeming shocked by the revelation, no doubt some of them were doubtful of the existance of the creatures at all.Soon the whispers begin again, some in admiration of the end of this new threat, some wondering about what role Elarya, Amara and the others played in this whole ordeal.
moments later, Abram and the other council members enter the room from their deliberations in the back.
Everett Snows stands with the others, Wallace and Samel, and they all regard Abram as he clears his throat and addresses the town.
"Now, now...settle down, people. Please. We would have words with you."
He gestures at Jerem.
"We owe you a great debt, Jerem Cor. Although your ways are new to us, it is now doubt that there has been a threat come to Solace. There is power in your prayers, and we will consider your words, and thank you."
He then finds each of the young people in the crowd. And look at you all with a deep and genuine smile.
"And you, brave souls. We have not forgotten you. You stood against this threat as well, and triumphed. It is clear that you are valuable members of our community.
We thank you, Havak for your ingenuity and quick thinking in our defense.
We thank you, Amara for your swift bow.
We thank you, Garrett and Elarya for your arms and blades.
and we thank you, Sansa and Dante for your care and defense as well."
His face turns more solemn then,
"But there is more, good folk. We have discussed it with great lenght, and it seems that this is all caused by Corvina."
He gives a quick point in the direction of her hut.
"Her ways have always been...curious. But this has gone too far. She has brought a dark magic here, and in turn, those creatures came looking for it. This can go on no more. She has done us wrong, but we are civil folk, and no lives were lost. She is banished. The council will speak with her after this meeting, and she will be allowed one day to gather her things."
Amara is stunned by the words Abram has spoken. She always knew Corvina was odd, but Solace was a close community and the thought of any of its number either bringing danger or banishing one of their own distressed her greatly. The buzz that immediately sprung up in the room let her know she was not the only one un-nerved by Abram's announcement.
Her eyes sought out Samel's as if looking for confirmation.
Her eyes widen at a thought, Rook!!
She scans the rafters.
I know he has some kind of special relationship with Corvina. I wonder what he thinks of this.
Havak, pleased that he received some sort of recognition for the little help he provided, felt somewhat odd.
Havak knows she is odd, somewhat like Havak, somewhat very unlike Havak. Havak cannot stick his neck out for her and lose his place here. Havak wonders what his contemporaries will do about this news. Havak muses to himself.
Abrams news made Amara momentarily forget the gruesome sight on the floor but their presence, and stench, remind her.
Well that was a bit dramatic! He seems pretty pleased with himself. Did his ONE drop the bodies on his doorstep?
She counts the bodies of the young trying to gauge if the tally matches the one she guessed from the egg shards.
Elayra's voice rings out above the din of excited conversation. Her eyes locked with Abram's. She hadn't done more than cock an eyebrow at Jerem's theatrics, and blushed slightly at Abram's praise, but she refused to stay silent when someone was going to be run out of their home on nothing more than suspicions and rumors.
"What proof have ye that Corvina did this? Have ye even given her a chance to explain her part in this?" she asks again once the noise had quieted.
Banishing Corvina?
Sansa turns in her seat and first looks at Elarya and then Elder Abram. So the girl has a voice afterall? Good.
Jerem had achieved what he set out to do with his bag of body parts; Sansa felt bad for the poor dragons' fate. The smell of the dead creatures was quickly spreading through the crowded town hall and Sansa wrinkled her nose; her distaste was not only for the obvious show Jerem had put on before the townsfolk but his continued declarations regarding this "One" god. Why such attention to this "One" god? What have you in-store for Solace, Jerem Cor? Her silent thoughts were filled with accusations and suspicions.
Sansa had listened to Jerem's words and delved deep attempting to sense/assess their truthfulness.
Not looking at Dante, yet addressing him quietly all the same, Sansa asks, "Have you spoken with Corvina, brother? Is she responsible for bringing these creatures here or only possessing the bad stone? Think hard on your answer and speak truth."
Sansa had listened to Jerem's words and delved deep attempting to sense/assess their truthfulness.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+7
Not looking at Dante, yet addressing him quietly all the same, Sansa asks, "Have you spoken with Corvina, brother? Is she responsible for bringing these creatures here or only possessing the bad stone? Think hard on your answer and speak truth."
Dante looks at Sansa nervously, obviously worried about his friend.
"I don't think she brought the creatures. She gave me the stones...I'm certain they were meant for protection. As for the bad one...I don't really know how her magic works, but I don't think she would bring us ill on purpose."
Elayra's voice rings out above the din of excited conversation. Her eyes locked with Abram's. She hadn't done more than cock an eyebrow at Jerem's theatrics, and blushed slightly at Abram's praise, but she refused to stay silent when someone was going to be run out of their home on nothing more than suspicions and rumors.
"What proof have ye that Corvina did this? Have ye even given her a chance to explain her part in this?" she asks again once the noise had quieted.
Abram nods at Garrett, and dryly responds to Elarya and the waiting townsfolk,
"We are not unreasonable, Elarya. The proof you ask for is in your own experience. Garrett and Sansa told us of the encounter, and how the "dragon" was after the stone. We know from Dante that this very stone was created by Corvina. We simply cannot risk the danger of that happening again. What if a child was hurt? Or...killed? Her ways are mysterious, and her magic is dangerous. For the safety of all the folk of Solace, she must go."The rest of the council stands silently behind Abram, their faces calm and seemingly deliberate. They only nod when Abram finishes speaking.
to determine an effect?
Sansa gives Jerem one last long look and turns to Mother Celeste and Dante, and speaks quietly in the noisy room, "Jerem is hiding something. I will find out what it is." Perhaps I will share my observations with Erec and Garrett after the Council meeting.
Upon hearing Dante speak of Corvina in support of her innocence, Sansa nods her head once. Sansa turns and in the crowd tries to gain Elarya's attention. She would not raise her hand for the Council would ask her intent and it would draw too much attention at this point.
She finds Elarya's light-coloured head and familiar braid and stares at the girl. Elarya is accustomed to noticing my intent looks. They are all troubled by my gaze -- well except for Erec and my family. Gods may she turn her eyes on me now. We cannot allow Corvina to be ousted from Solace with so little proof of wrongdoing. Who will be next? I, with my mismatch eyes and taloned hands? I will not accept such a decision. And neither will Corvina after she hears of this.
"It didn't kill anyone, though it got me pretty good. An' fer all we know it coulda thought the stone pretty. An' by yer reasoning, Sansa an' Dante should be run outta town. Are ye gonna do that too?"
Elarya glares at the elder. Her temper threatens to get the best of her, but the petite girl manages to keep it in check. Though she gets a peculiar feeling, she just shrugs it off.
At Elarya's heated words, Sansa's gloved hands curl inward and she stares at the girl, a new emotion whirling in her mismatch eyes and she waits to hear what the Elders and the town have to say to Elarya's dangerous challenge.