”I’d give her piggyback rides sometimes. Not so great for actual fightin’, since I’d want to be up front and she wouldn’t, but great for makin’ sure her keen eyesight wasn’t defeated by waist-high grass.”
”Waist-high on you maybe.” One long ear twitches and Bronwyn turns towards the new arrival(s). ”Hello yourselves. I’m Bronwyn and this is Edér.” (She leaves Volgroruth to introduce himself.) ”Did you also meet a strange woman called the Weeping Widow who was probably a goddess no matter what she said that told you to head towards the city of Limbo?”
Although they are far off, close to a mile away from the looks of it, you can make out the figures of a man and a sphinx standing among the tombstones. While you can't be sure at the distance you are currently at without squinting, it seems the two may be standing around and having a conversation. Not that you could discern the finer details of such a thing even if you were closer since no sound beyond that produced by the Weeping Widow has managed to get through to you, not the gentle susurrus of the wind or the rustling of the grass that you know should be there but still cannot hear.
Amn could scarcely see anything a mile away, but there was someone -- two someones! -- about that far away. It didn't look like they were moving so much as standing about. They might have been new, but Amn doubted she had out-paced the Widow. Somehow, she imagined the Widow had faster methods of transit than a casual walk.
Amn hastened her step a little. A mile wasn't that far.
Vol easily picks up the diminutive Bron, and places her on his right shoulder. Or, at least he was about to, before another newcomer appeared. He nods his head respectfully. "Greetings. My name is Volgroruth, though you may call me Vol." He introduces himself to the strangers.
When she draws closer to the newcomer, the great sphinx shouts in a loud, carrying voice, almost like a roar, "Be you also newly come beneath the strange sun of this place, greeted by the Widow from your grave? We riddle as we travel towards the city ahead, and you are welcome to join if you wish."
Kiya and Daisy, sensing little hostility in them begin to approach, Kiya calling out as they saunter over. My name is Kiya Aliwya.
Waiting until they're a bit closer so as to not strain her little voice box, Daisy adds And I'm Daisy She eyes Edér suspiciously.
We did indeed meet a "Weeping Widow" who pointed us to Limbo, though I could not attest to her godhood. Kiya appears to contemplate something for a few seconds. Why would a GOD spend their time alone, wandering an empty graveyard and greeting the occasional strange wanderer? Pft, a silly notion.
Daisy speaks up but never takes her eyes off Edér. We did ask her if she's some sort of greeter for this realm. She said no. But if she did greet all of us then... that'd be a pretty strange coincidence.
”What is existence? What does it mean to exist? How would you define it?"
The sorcerer smiles broadly. ”I wouldn’t… for a few reasons. First, given how broad a subject ‘existence’ is, defining it quickly becomes an argument in semantics – which I personally dislike. Second, pondering existence moved to the back of the stove when I realized that the boundaries of ‘I’ as I knew it were simplistic.”
"As for the gods... some of them were once mortal, and some of them have found themselves more mortal than they would wish.”
”Pantheons rise, pantheons fall.” Straehan offers with equanimity, his eyes drawn to the stranger in the distance.
When she draws closer to the newcomer, the great sphinx shouts in a loud, carrying voice, almost like a roar, "Be you also newly come beneath the strange sun of this place, greeted by the Widow from your grave? We riddle as we travel towards the city ahead, and you are welcome to join if you wish."
The short human accompanying the sphinx offers a friendly wave and his practical (if biased) opinion. ”She’s philosophical, I’m delightful, and neither of us is looking for a fight.”
"I just hope she wasn't lyin' to us." Edér laces ethereal fingers behind his head and stares right back at Daisy. "Never thought I'd meet someone smaller than Bronwyn. You're a cute little thing. Are those butterfly wings?"
"Edér..."
"What, it's a compliment!"
"Remember what Hiravias thought of your compliments?" Bronwyn shakes her head. "Don't worry about him. He's..." She couldn't say 'harmless' and be telling the truth. "...Friendly."
"The Weeping Widow said I'm a ghost now but I won't go crazy as long as she doesn't." Edér points at Bronwyn. "If that's what you're worried about."
An odd look crosses Bronwyn's face, a combination of guilt and relief. "Apparently when we died I kind of dragged him here with me. She said because of that he doesn't have a proper body, but our souls are bound together so he's safe as long as I don't die."
"Ain't that what I said?" If Edér minds being a ghost he's hiding it well. "Anyways, since we're all goin' to the same place, want to travel together? Safety in numbers."
Amn squinted her eyes as the two approached and spoke. It wasn't easy to read lips from such a distance, but they weren't hostile and she thought she had the gist of what they meant. She waved to the sphinx and the man.
"Hello! Yes, I am new," she said in common native to Golarion, at the same time she made gestures in a common-based sign language. "I have met the Widow, and I am seeking Limbo, too."
He makes a series of very fluid gestures and body postures.
Sakvroth (Drow Sign) = :: Well met! Do you understand my words? ::
Amn offered an enthusiastic nod in recognition. She spoke elven, but gestured in Drow Sign to ensure she was understood.
"Okay, that works too. I'm Amn! And I'm going to Limbo."
Drow Sign: :: Ok, we can use this one. Sorry I can't hear. I'm Amn and going to Limbo. ::
"It would appear that the process of arriving here has robbed me of another piece of knowledge," she grumbles, making sure to keep her face towards Amn. "Neither magic nor memory remains of my understanding of sign languages. A pity. But it seems we can still understand one another, regardless. I am Rahlmaat. And you, it would seem, originate from the same home world as I. An interesting coincidence, yes?"
"Now then, I was just about to tell my companion that words without definitions are self-evidently useless, so either he is wasting my time or he actually *has* a definition of existence that he simply finds insufficient for use. There is no shame in that, but there *is* in refusing to improve upon it."
It would have been... Kiya thinks for a couple of seconds before continuing, six hours and forty-eight minutes ago. She sounds oddly confident in the specific number. No wonder my feet are so sore. She looks around for a bit before letting out an annoyed sigh as though she didn't find what she wanted.
With a few motions of her hand and an odd chant Kiya...
...draws out of seemingly nowhere, a dark blue and well-worn set of clothing before laying it down at her feet and sitting on top of it, her legs crossed.
Daisy takes a seat on Kiya's right shoulder, You bet your ass I'm cute. A look of indignation is pointed towards Edér, but I still ought to shoot ya. You notice the tiny crossbow slung around the back of her waist. She continues talking but in a quiet and more grumbly voice, If I could. Stupid ghosts.
We'd be happy to travel together. Just give us a few minutes to rest our weary feet. They could be useful allies, even temporarily. Do the realms you come from have names? We are from a planet known as Golarion. Kiya seems very interested in your responses.
-
"Okay, that works too. I'm Amn! And I'm going to Limbo."
Drow Sign: :: Ok, we can use this one. Sorry I can't hear. I'm Amn* and going to Limbo. ::
Straehan enjoys the challenge of speaking and signing at the same time, particularly since Sakvoth wasn’t specifically created for deaf Drow but rather as a truly silent language. He tries his best to translate his words into the silent tongue, adding only one extra sentence in Sign.
”Greeting, Amn! I am Straehan from a world called Miir. I would be honored if you choose to travel with us.”Sakvroth (Drow Sign) :: Never apologize for who you are. ::
"…I was just about to tell my companion that words without definitions are self-evidently useless, so either he is wasting my time or he actually *has* a definition of existence that he simply finds insufficient for use. There is no shame in that, but there *is* in refusing to improve upon it."
The data points largely tracked. He could be wrong but he didn’t think so. Straehan glances at his left hand, noting the pale mark on his third finger… where a ring rested for the better part of two decades. Irony, it seems, is ever-present in Kisarta. When it comes, his matter-of-fact response is accompanied by a small head shake. ”If you haven’t, critical thinking is worthy of study - but I think you know that. You’ve employed both the Straw Man and Ad Hominem fallacies in your assertions. If you want to play those games, look elsewhere.”
He continues walking towards Limbo and addresses Amn with a small smile, speaking and signing, ”Is there anything in Limbo you particularly seek? Among other things, I wish to find a seer that can clarify what happened after I died. I want to 'close the book' on my past life.”
Sakvroth (Drow Sign) :: Never apologize for who you are. ::
Amn smiled, but didn't respond in Drow Sign. She simply made a heart with both hands, a gesture that should have been universally understood.
As long as she saw their lips clearly, she saw no need to continue signing along as well. "I don't know what to expect in Limbo... I don't want to look backwards though. The Widow answered the only question I needed to know, I don't think I'm supposed to look for the rest. It's a new life, I want to live this one!" She half-shrugged.
Amn didn't quite understand the question of definitions and existence. It felt like there was some context she was missing. "Well, words need definitions, I guess. Otherwise, what's the point? But like everything else, they might mean different things to different people. You know?" Her answer felt vague and noncommittal enough to not upset anyone, but it was fairly spot on, too, considering the full seven seconds she had spent pondering the concept.
She turns her full attention to Amn. "Too many debates have been rendered pointless by the participants failing to agree on definitions," she states. "Particularly given the variety of origins we have, we should be careful to make certain we agree on vocabulary."
"Now, let us travel onward. There is much I would learn and I do not think these graves shall answer."
"I don't know what to expect in Limbo... I don't want to look backwards though… It's a new life, I want to live this one!"
Straehan smiles, ”An admirable intention.”
"There's that hint of steel behind the 'delightful' facade. You were 'someone' before death, were you not?”
The sorcerer chews on the question briefly. ”I’d say I’m ‘someone’ now… but I’d say the same of anyone - from serf to Saint. If you mean that I was someone of power or of importance before… my answer would be a HEAVILY-qualified ‘yes’. With ‘power’ being subjective, I would say that while I am somewhat diminished here… it is not so great that I feel a mere shadow of my former self.” He shrugs, "Was I 'powerful' then? It is a matter of opinion."
"Well met Kiya and Daisy. I am from the fabled city Myth Drannor, once the legendary City of Songs, capital of the greatest elven empire in all the Realms. That is, until I lead the combined forces of the Scourged Legion, the Daemonfey, and House Dlardrageth, and annihilated the Fair Folk and their allies." He states this in a matter of fact tone, but with a strong note of pride in his voice.
"There ain't any good guys in war." Startled by this seeming response to her thoughts, she glances over at Edér. He's staring off into the distance with a dark look on his face. "Just a whole lotta desperate folks who don't want to die."
Uh-oh. Change the topic, change the topic... "Um, we're from a world called Eora. Specifically the Dyrwood region of it. Or more recently the Deadfire Archipelago, which isn't really home but is where we were when we...died..."
That's probably not much better.
Shut up, I'm trying!
"Anyway, how did you and Daisy meet?"
"Still, it has been my observation that a certain sort of power has a gravity, drawing those with it together, whether for conflict or cooperation. Perhaps this is why we have all arrived here together... but that is scarcely a hypothesis we can test."
She focuses on Amn again. "It would be dull for you if we speak as we travel but you cannot understand. Can you walk and read lips at once?"
Amn tried to keep up with conversation, looking from face to face as she walked with her new companions. It wasn't easy. Not so much the back and forth; she simply felt a step and half behind in the conversation. First definitions, now power and importance? And gravy...hypnosis..?
Amn perked up when Rahlmaat looked right at her -- her neck had been getting sore. She nodded emphatically and jogged ahead about fifteen feet, then faced them and started walking backwards. At a surprising pace, too.
"This can work. Just let me know if heading for a tree or an open grave or something! Heh. So, what were you talking about next?"
I-she was... Kiya can't seem to find the right words.
Daisy meanwhile, has no problem spitting it out. Her parents bought me as a "present".
Kiya sighs. They found her in a slave market during their time in Cheliax and thought she'd make for a suitable familiar. Never mind that I didn't need a familiar. I was inclined to sell her on, but as fortune would have it, we both had a love for exploring and learning.
Daisy interjects, and we all lived happily ever after. Well besides the betrayal, the dying and the ending up here part.
Quite so.
"My people, the tanarukk, along with the other races that made up the Scourged Legion, were hated and feared, simply because we possess fiendish blood. We had no land or country to call our own. So, we took back Myth Drannor, which had once been the home of countless demons, devils, and more. It was stolen from them by the elves and their allies. Many were defeated, destroyed, banished, or imprisoned. We call that time the Weeping War."
She tilts her head back to look at Volgroruth. "Eora's been through a lot of wars recently, over a lot of different things. You'd think people would stop fighting each other when the fate of the entire world is at stake, but no." Her ears droop. "It was very frustrating but that obviously has nothing at all to do with your war. They shouldn't have taken your land from you just because of how you look or who your ancestors were. I'll be honest, I don't like the idea of 'annihilating' anybody, but that's because I'm, well..."
"A goody two-shoes bleedin' heart?" Bronwyn glares at Edér who holds up his hands. "What, it's true! Fate of the world at stake and all, and you wouldn't take help from any side just because you couldn't stand the thought of betrayin' all the others." Bronwyn visibly flinches and Edér curses under his breath. "Ah hells Bron, I didn't mean-"
"We all just died and have our sore spots." Bronwyn stares at the sun rather than look at anyone. "Kiya, have you had enough of a break?"
"Still, it has been my observation that a certain sort of power has a gravity, drawing those with it together, whether for conflict or cooperation. Perhaps this is why we have all arrived here together... but that is scarcely a hypothesis we can test."
The short sorcerer finds the idea intriguing. ”Not empirically - but we may be able to subjectively ‘test’ it none-the-less. If we find reason to stay together and we observe the challenges that befall us then compare them to the challenges others typically face here… perhaps it may point to the possible truth of your assertion. That could be fun.”
"This can work. Just let me know if heading for a tree or an open grave or something! Heh. So, what were you talking about next?"
Straehan ruminates, “The rules of ‘polite’ society suggest we discuss something we may all find interesting. Did the Widow tell either of you something fascinating?”
Rahlmaat nods at Straehan, though she keeps her face toward Amn. "Shared safety should be reason enough to ally for a time, for I doubt not that there are predators of many sorts in this place. Gathering information is of paramount priority, for said predators likely look on the ignorant as prey. Whether or not there are typical challenges here? We shall learn in time."
"As for polite society, what society is polite and what is polite in society changes over the centuries... though there are commonalities. I asked the Widow little, but did learn that we have no longer bodies of ordinary flesh and blood no matter their needs, and that death here is loss of other than life. But what is the aether of which our vessels are now woven? Perhaps this is the first riddle to solve."
I suppose the sooner we leave the sooner we'll find warm food and warmer beds. As she stands she picks up the clothing she had used as a makeshift blanket. She tries in vain to dust the dirt off before giving up with an exhausted sigh.
Reaching beneath her clothing she takes out a medallion made of iron. You can't quite make out the shape of it, not with her hand tightly wrapped around it but it looks like some sort of winged insect. Perhaps a bee or a fly? Whatever it is, you suspect it could be some sort of focus for her magic, as this time when she performs her magic she does so effortlessly, sending the makeshift blanket back to wherever she had pulled it from.
Putting the medallion back she manages to hide it well. If you had not seen it moments ago you would be unlikely to suspect it was there. We're not in Geb anymore. But thankfully these three can't possibly know anything.
As Kiya begins walking towards the pale sun Daisy follows, making sure to put Kiya between herself and Edér. Hey, big guy you mentioned demons and devils. So which one are you?
He-he Kiya manages to mostly contain her laughter, I guess not even death can sharpen your bluntness. Daisy just shrugs.
The massive orc effortlessly scoops up Bronwyn, and perches her on his shoulder. "I am of Kyton descent, a race of fiends who hail from the plane of shadow. They are often allied with the powers of Hell, from whence they originated."
You and your newfound companions continue on your journey towards Limbo and chat intermittently as you do so. The morbid landscape of before, with countless untended and upturned graves, begins to change as you journey. Where once were fields of tombstones are now clusters of grand mausoleums of stone and stained glass. This slows your trek down somewhat as it is no longer possible to walk in a completely straight line for large portions of the journey.
At last you come to a grand mausoleum the size of a village; this is not Limbo certainly, but it is most definitely an opulent necropolis if there ever was one. A curving path of paved bricks and black iron fencing funnels you closer to the marvelous structure. As you approach, you can see that the black marble mausoleum sprawls over hundreds of feet by itself. Golden striations in the marble glitter in the pale light of Kisarta and fantastical imagery of armored knights and dragons are depicted in the stained glass windows of the edifice. The soft scent of rose blossoms tickles your nose before your eyes can even alight on small plots of earth where they grow.
Before you can ponder the mystery of who may have been interred here, you hear the sound of footsteps and voices approaching from the other side of the mausoleum's grounds. It seems others were funneled along a similar path and are nearing the end of theirs, as you and your comrades are.
Upon hearing approaching footsteps Kiya and Daisy stop dead in their tracks. Kiya motions with her head and Daisy flies up towards the top corner of the mausoleum taking a quick peek around the corner...
The upsides of riding on Volgrorth's shoulder: it's comfortable, far less tiring, and gives her a much better view than she's used to having as a small creature who usually hangs out around the back of a group. The downsides: Bronwyn's kind of stuck up here unless she wants to either jump from a very tall perch or cast a spell to fly. (Both of which seem excessive at the moment.)
Does she need to get down? If there's going to be a fight yes, but they're hearing voices. Voices implies people, not monsters. People can be talked to. Plus there's five of them now and she doubts anyone not suicidal would try to pick a fight with Volgroruth. She certainly wouldn't want to try it.
So unless Volgroruth asks her to get off, (or picks her up and sets her down), she remains comfortably in position and waits. As soon as she sees people she'll wave cheerfully and greet them. "Hello there! Are you newcomers or locals?"
Amn kept walking backwards, facing Rahlmaat and Straehan, when she sensed the building behind her. By 'sensed,' of course, she really just stepped into the building's shadow and turned around. She briefly looked over the beautiful structure, but her eyes fell to the fresh roses and she rushed over -- fast -- and knelt in the dirt to treasure their scent.
She wasn't expecting or watching for others, and didn't seem to hear Bronwyn.
Straehan steps into Amn's sight-line, signs, and points:
:: Footsteps and voices - that way. A voice asked "if we are locals or newcomers?" ::
Straehan returns to walking the path toward the voice ahead of the others, replying only for himself (in case the voice was unaware of their numbers) in a pleasant voice,"A more pointed question might be... am I friendly or hostile? The answer is I'm friendly - unless you prove hostile."
Rahlmaat notes Straehan moving to keep Amn informed. She gives him a small nod while moving towards the other group, her wings spread just slightly as she considers the approaching beings.
"If you travel Limbo-ward, it is possible we could share a path for a time," she adds on to what Straehan had said. Her powerful contralto voice carries clearly. "So long, as said, as you should prove friendly."
...Daisy sees three strangers and ducks her head back behind the marble building. She lifts three fingers back towards Kiya.
Upon hearing Bronwyn call out, Daisy turns around, seemingly startled. She raises a brow in question, to which Kiya just shrugs and scrunches her face looking unimpressed by Bronwyn's lack of caution. We're lucky that nothing seems to inhabit this region besides newcomers.
If we are going to do this, then an exchange of names would seem appropriate, no? Kiya calls out before rounding the corner to come face-to-face with the strangers. My name is Kiya Aliwya. She gives a slight bow but never takes her eyes off the newcomers.
And I'm Daisy. Daisy also gives a mid-air bow, though the exaggerated movements and slight chuckle let you know that she means little by it.
Amn returned Straehan's warning first by curling her fingers into a heart again. She glanced at the few others she could see, and signed back in Drow.
:: Newcomers, yes. But we are also native too, in a sense, at least until we die too many times. ::
Amn stood and dusted the dirt from her knees. She watched the lips of the newcomers, and understood Kiya so far. She offered a simple but friendly wave. "I am Amn," she said to the other group. From her body language, Amn didn't seem as on edge as the newcomers were. Perhaps it was having a Sphinx on her side? Or her amnesia had left her too trusting of new people; she hadn't met a bad one yet.
"I'm Bronwyn, originally from Eora." The introduction comes from a small furry woman sitting on the shoulder of a giant. The dark brown hair on her head is braided down the sides of her face, framing large, blue-green eyes with slit pupils like a cat's. "I don't generally bother asking if people are hostile. It's not like anyone's going to say yes."
"Eh, you never know. Volgroruth here might've. He seems the type to be honest about that kinda thing." This comes from a tall blond human wearing scale mail and with a sword strapped to one hip. He's partially transparent and has a blue aura surrounding him. "I'm Edér, by the way. Uh, also from Eora. Really weird to have to specify that..."
Volgroruth chatted with his traveling companions as they trekked across the seemingly endless graveyard. He would answer any questions put to him, with the same sort of casual, blunt honesty as before. It wasn't that he was incapable of lying, or that he lacked the cunning or cleverness to lie, he just often saw no need to.
He marveled at the massive mausoleum, and seemed to really appreciate the incredible talent and effort it took to create such a masterpiece. He seems to particularly enjoy the statues of dragons.
Upon first hearing the sounds of other voices, he loosens his axe, and readies himself for any trouble. Afterall, there shouldn't really be many living things in a cemetery.
However, when Bron calls out to determine if their unseen 'guests' were a threat or not, a reply comes back that they were apparently not. He eases up a bit, though still keeps his hand on his weapon.
As they come face to face with the other party, he is visibly surprised to see a sphinx among their number. He had heard of them, of course, but they were rather reclusive beings, and he had seen one in person. He bows respectfully and speaks to her in Draconic:
"Greetings and well met wise one." He says simply.
To the others, in Common, he introduces himself. "I am Volgroruth Bloodscream, and yes, we are Limbo-bound." He says in reply to Rahlmaat's question.
A short human in blue and purple robes, armed with little more than a smile, perks up at the Nephilim's Draconic words which are clearly NOT meant for him. He responds with more than a trace of humor, "बुद्धिमान? खैर, मुझे लगता है कि मेरे पास अपने कुछ पल हैं।" and follows it with a wink.
Even though speech seems to get translated for every language, Straehan assumes that Amn probably can't lip-read Draconic. He signs to her the exchange with Volgroruth.
"I'm Straehan... of Miir."
Amn thanked Straehan with another hand heart and returned a flurry of gestures of her own, punctuated with a nod towards Bronwyn.
Strae nods at the heart gesture and signs - as best he can remember - what 'cute-fuzzy' said, referring to her as 'cute-fuzzy' with a chuckle.
Amn returned her usual heart gesture, gratefully.
"Oh look! The puny human can speak! Will wonders never cease!" The massive orc says derisively.
Straehan translates Volgroruth's words into Sign (with some additions) with a grin, either oblivious to or unconcerned with his sarcasm. "I do! And I suspect that will be the least of the wonders we see here."
"I am Rahlmaat, originally of Golarion," the sphinx states, "And play nice, children. If we're to be allies of convenience, it would be best not to test that convenience. We have little idea what sort of predators and dangers stalk this place, and as tired as the old saying is, it is true there is strength in numbers. So long as we choose to work together, I suspect the greater danger will be in those who can recognize the ignorant once we reach Limbo."
"Can you not talk?" Bronwyn looks curiously at Amn. "I'm sorry, I don't know any signs. If we end up spending enough time together I'll try to learn some."
Meanwhile Edér is staring at Rahlmaat, eyes wide. "Whoa. Ain't never seen someone like you before. You look fuzzy."
Bronwyn slaps her hand over her face. "Edér, don't."
"You let me pet you!"
"Yes. Once. Because you're pitiful when you beg and I know you well enough to know you don't mean any harm. Not all fuzzy things like to be petted."
"Then why are they fuzzy?" Edér turns back to Rahlmaat, eyes pleading. "Can I pet you?"
"I swear to the gods..." Bronwyn heaves a very deep sigh. "I'm sorry about him. He's a good old country boy who was raised by wolves."
"Don't talk about my mama like that!"
"Anyway, Limbo. Heading there. Hopefully not meeting any monsters along the way. Have any of you learned anything about what kind of dangers this world may have? I got kind of distracted and forgot to ask the Weeping Widow about that."
Kiya looks up and down at Rahlmaat. A sphinx? I never thought I'd get the chance to meet one of your kind. I would have read more about them if I did. I wonder how old she is. An old sphinx would surely be a wise and valuable ally... but a dangerous foe.
Your wings are HUGE. Daisy stared at them, wide-eyed. I wish I was that big, then I could just fly us to this city and we'd already be in bed with full stomachs. She lets out a tired sigh.
Kiya perks up at the mention of the weeping widow. Yes, can we assume you lot also met this weeping widow?
"What does a ghost feel when it touches the living?" Rahlmaat questions, looking at Edér. "Though you be not a ghost in the traditional sense, I doubt you should feel anything. Also, no."
She looks over to Kiya and Daisy. "Not nearly so large as I was before death. Then I could have carried so large a company, were I so inclined. But what is the cause for haste? There may yet be much to learn ere we reach Limbo."