Selena has a sudden thought and asks Kalchine, "Do you think they might sign, and honor, a peace treaty to get their general back?"
If Selena suggests this to the Dragon Legionaires, they state that Yrax has never shown any sign of caring for his soldiers, even his generals.
General Malesinder's sword is called Rimeblade: This +1 frost scimitar has been forged
from a single piece of razor-sharp, superhardened
ice. A rimeblade automatically
resizes itself to match the size of its
wielder, and if a rimeblade is damaged,
the wielder can cause the blade to melt
away and reform with full hit points as
a full-round action. This ability cannot be
used if the weapon is destroyed.
Once per day on command, the wielder can transform a
rimeblade into a beam of ice-cold flame called rimefire. The
weapon is still wielded as scimitar, and attacks with the bladelike
beam are melee touch attacks that deal 1d8+3 points of
cold damage (regardless of the wielder’s size). Because the
beam is immaterial, the wielder’s Strength modifier doesn’t
apply to damage. In addition, a creature that takes cold
damage from the rimefire beam is covered in clinging frost
and is entangled for 1 round. The rimefire beam lasts for 1
minute, after which the weapon returns to its normal form.
In addition, once per day as a swift action before an attack,
a rimeblade’s wielder can cause the blade to glow with a pale
blue radiance. On a successful attack, the rimeblade deals an
additional 4d6 points of cold damage and causes the target to
be staggered for 1 round. If the attack is a critical hit, the target
is staggered for 1 minute instead. This effect ends after a single
attack, regardless of whether the attack is successful or not.
In addition, the General wore bracers of armor +3, a gold necklace worth 500 gp, and a silver-chased scabbard worth 250 gp.
You're able to gather up a number of maps and papers from the General's tent. While you don't know the local geography well enough to be sure, they seem to indicate the presence of other Drakelander armies in the area. Commander Pharamol will no doubt wish to see them.
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Fin shakes his head. ”While it’s a noble sentiment, Selena, we were sent as soldiers, not diplomats. From what Efrixes told us, Yrax’s enemy is the Dragon Legion and is not trustworthy; I wouldn’t trust any peace treaty that’d give ’em back their General, one who just laid siege to Spurhorn and killed many Triaxians and dragonkin to boot. Without asking Kalchine, I can assure you Commander Pharamol wouldn’t authorize it as he gave us orders to kill Malesinder…
“Your first idea has merit, though; decapitate the general and burn her body to ash…”
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Fin helps gather up the maps and papers from the General’s tent. ”Jackpot, Q…this’ll likely help us with our journey to Ivoryglass, as well as help Commander Pharamol with the location of other Drakelander forces…not to mention the valuables on the General. She had defensive bracers that look more advanced than the ones I currently have; I’d like to swap ‘em out if none object. And her blade looks formidable, someone should put that to good use…”
"Rimeblade," Kalchine says, reverently as he sees Malesinder's fallen weapon and picks it up. He studies it for a few moments, giving it a few slow swings before sheathing it.
He offers it to Quasit before returning his attention to the conversation.
"Fin's right. Her leaders will have no interest in Malesinder now. Especially not enough to merit the expense of bringing her back from the dead. I would be hesitant to do so, in any case since it would just be handing another instrument of destruction back to them," Kalchine says.
"There's no need to take her head. If we have Rimeblade, it is all the proof we need of our victory," he says, pointing at her signature weapon.
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"Scars are just lasting signs of bravery," he comments.
"Or stupidity." returns Quasit. "See this?"
She points to an inch long scar just under her chin. "I got that when I slipped during a bar fight and wanged my chin on the bar. I'm a pretty classy dame."
His ears flick and he can't quite meet her eyes as he slides the bandage away to examine her stomach. The place on her stomach where the wound was.
"You are a spectacular leader," he says, looking up at her face then giving a little cough and turning to Malesinder's tent.
Quasit had been looking down at her belly too, always a little curious to watch the regenerative effects of healing magic on her own flesh. The soothing release from pain as the sinews knit was always a pleasant experience to be relished.
So Kalchine's comment catches her off guard and she looks up at him suddenly. "Well, thank you!" she answers with some mild bemusement. But as he turns and moves off toward the tent, her brow furrows a little and her mouth flattens. She re-laces her cold suit rather deliberately as she thinks, then follows the others to help with the looting process.
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"There's no need to take her head. If we have Rimeblade, it is all the proof we need of our victory," he says, pointing at her signature weapon.
"That's good enough for me. Let's gather everything up and get outta here. We had a mission and we accomplished it, any other considerations are above our pay grade."
"If the generals back at Spurhorn let us keep this loot, then I have no problem with you using the bracers Fin. Kalchine, maybe you'd like to use the scimitar? A nice little souvenir of our mission."
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"If the generals back at Spurhorn let us keep this loot, then I have no problem with you using the bracers Fin."
Fin smiles, as he nods to Quasit. ”Aye, Q, sounds good…if they let us, might keep me from getting quite so bashed…and I can add my lesser bracers to the loot, unless someone might want it…”
Fin then helps stash the other valuables along with the maps…
“Think we got everything valuable gathered,” he adds looking from Quasit over to the Dragon Legion folk. ”Can we head back to Spurhorn now?”
The party gathers with the rest of the strike force, taking their places on the backs of those dragonkin who gave them a ride down. Soon they're up in the air once again, flying back towards Spurhorn. It's hard to make out, but it looks like the diversionary assault on the supply camp is also retreating.
Commander Pharamol is waiting with his dragonkin partner when you return. After giving a short speech in Trixian thanking everyone for their efforts and praising the strike force for accomplishing your mission, he accepts the maps and papers the party retrieved.
"Now, it is time for all of us to rest," he states. "We will study what you've brought back in the morning, and then likely meet again to discuss our next steps."
After a begrudging visit to the infirmary to get cleaned and patched up, Maka made her way to the mess hall. Filling multiple plates with more food than seemed possible for someone of even her size to eat, the fire monk paid no heed to niceties. Despite the noise of the hall, the sounds of Maka chowing down on her mountain of food could be heard by all.
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Fin bows to the Commander, takes Sakitu by the hand, and walks with her to the mess hall. ”Get some food, Hlao-roo, I’m going to grab Izzy something to eat…along a mug of their swill for me…and then we can hit the baths, yes?”
After getting his mug, Fin grabs a haunch of some kind of meat and brings it over to their table, tossing it down on the floor for Izzy to chomp on. He sits down, takes a healthy swig of the fermented lichen, makes a sour face for just a moment, then let’s out a sigh. ”Ah…well, it’s no replacement for an Elven wine or that Centaur mead, but it does kick like a mule…and after the day we’ve had, that’ll do…”
He drinks a couple of mugs while his friends eat, reaching down to scratch Izzy between the eyes every few minutes, patiently awaiting for the hot bath that awaits…
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Quasit follows the others to the mess hall. She seems quite pleased, if her humming is any indication, though it's impossible to work out what tune she might be trying to emulate.
She takes a healthy portion of whatever the food is and a big flagon of whatever the drink is, and lays into it without caution.
"Maka, I almost wet myself when you put that ball of fire into my hands. I didn't know you could do that." she says, whipping some sort of nut at the monk.
"I bet you guys don't believe I used to juggle. It was something I did as a kid when I was with my mom and her goaty boyfriend on the road. People love an act with a kid, even if the kid isn't that great."
She stands up, grabs 4 of the nuts and begins to attempt to juggle them.
She does a decent job keeping everything in the air, but her banter stops cold and she's obviously pretty focused on what she's doing.
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Taking a deep swig from his second mug while trying to keep his eye on the nuts Quasit’s juggling, Fin applauds, ”Bravo, Q! Well done!”
He then eyes the remaining nuts on the table, pondering if he could juggle ‘em like Quasit was doing…and then deciding he could not, the fermented lichen convinces him it’s time for a short song instead…
♫The incomparable Quasit, our leader,
Is quite a talented and fierce competer,
When she’s juggling nuts,
There’s no ifs, ands, or buts,
There’s really no one that can beat her...♫
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An enormous figure paces slowly back and forth along the walls and parapets as the strike party flies back to the keep. Apparently on patrol and obviously watching the sky around the keep.
As they swoop over it, it becomes obvious that the giant sentinel is Chest Thumper. He stands as they get closer and is already leaping off the wall and pelting toward where they are going to land on all fours.
Still, the Dragonkin are faster and he makes it into the courtyard as they are dismounting. He approaches each member of the party, getting so close to sniff them that they can feel the warmth and moisture from his breath before he gives them a surprisingly gentle pat with a massive hand.
All except Kalchine that is. He save the Triaxian for last and, instead of approaching him to check for injuries, he sits down with his back turned to Kalchine, his arms crossed over his massive chest and his chin lifted slightly up.
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"I missed you, too, you big baby," Kalchine says, thumping his ape friend on the back before joining the rest of the group in reporting their results.
The frost ape makes himself a nuisance all but pushing people over and aside to stay with the group as they maneuver through the halls.
After translating and handing over the maps he holds out Rimeblade in its fancy sheath with it balanced on his upraised palms.
"We retrieved this from Malesinder, her signature weapon. Please do with it what you think is best. It is a powerful sign of our victory," he says to Pharamol.
As the aliens head to the mess hall, he goes down to the stables with Chest Thumper. They join the group again half an hour later, the frost ape now out of his combat equipment. Fortunately, the tables are suited for a creature of his bulk as he's about the size of a dragonkin and he sits in a spot intended for one of them, scratching the spots on his chest, arms and legs where his armor chafes him.
Kalchine laughs at Fin's song but his ears flick quickly as he looks at Quasit. "Your mother had a boyfriend who was a goat?" he asks.
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"Your mother had a boyfriend who was a goat?" he asks.
Quasit laughs. "Not literally, no. My mother left my father and ran off with this smarmy Sczarni minstrel, and she dragged me along for the ride. Long story. I call him goaty because of how he looked and smelled, but he was quite human. Do you have goats here?"
"Oh. I'm glad. That would have been...strange, though I suppose I shouldn't judge your world's culture by my norms," Kalchine said.
"Not exactly. We have animals that my mentor said were like goats," he replied then says the name for them in Triaxian.
"Why did your mother leave your father? Did he smell and look worse than a goat?
"Oops...there I go again, making assumptions. Are goats considered attractive and fragrant creatures on your world? Was the goaty man considered more appealing?"
After translating and handing over the maps he holds out Rimeblade in its fancy sheath with it balanced on his upraised palms.
"We retrieved this from Malesinder, her signature weapon. Please do with it what you think is best. It is a powerful sign of our victory," he says to Pharamol.
Commander Pharamol holds up a hand. "You and our new allies should keep it. It is thanks to all of you that it was possible."
Still, the Dragonkin are faster and he makes it into the courtyard as they are dismounting. He approaches each member of the party, getting so close to sniff them that they can feel the warmth and moisture from his breath before he gives them a surprisingly gentle pat with a massive hand.
Maka returned the primates greeting. "Hey buddy! Don't worry, we kept Kal safe."
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"Maka, I almost wet myself when you put that ball of fire into my hands. I didn't know you could do that." she says, whipping some sort of nut at the monk.
"MmmOhYeah." Maka replied with a mouth full of food. "It's actually the basis of my attacks. You start with a little flame and build it bigger." Maka snapped her fingers, causing sparks to shoot out as if she had struct flint to steel. Catching one of the sparks, Maka softly blew on it a few times, building it up to a small ball of fire.
"I bet you guys don't believe I used to juggle. It was something I did as a kid when I was with my mom and her goaty boyfriend on the road. People love an act with a kid, even if the kid isn't that great."
She stands up, grabs 4 of the nuts and begins to attempt to juggle them.
Dexterity: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Perform (Juggle): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12She does a decent job keeping everything in the air, but her banter stops cold and she's obviously pretty focused on what she's doing.
Maka gently lobbed the new formed fireball at Quasit, adding it to her juggle while laughing in delight. "You're so talented Quasit!"
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Maka gently lobbed the new formed fireball at Quasit, adding it to her juggle while laughing in delight. "You're so talented Quasit!"
Quasit doesn't even try to catch the fireball. Instead she broadens the circle of her juggling and ducks to let the fireball sail through the middle of her array of nuts, and when it hits the floor behind her and hisses out, she collects her nuts up quickly and gives a little bow, ending the act.
She points a finger at Maka. "I see I'm going to have to keep my eye on you." she smirks.
"Why did your mother leave your father? Did he smell and look worse than a goat?
"Oops...there I go again, making assumptions. Are goats considered attractive and fragrant creatures on your world? Was the goaty man considered more appealing?"
Quasit seems delighted by these questions and chortles heartily.
"It's ok, it's a confusing situation all around. Including to me, after all these years." she says, returning to the table and sitting beside Kalchine.
"Goats are NOT considered handsome or pleasant-smelling. We had a goat while we were on the road. I had to milk the little b&~## every day. We cordially disliked each other."
"Mom and dad. Well, the short version is that my dad is a bit of a drunkard and was going through a bad patch, and my mom got sick of it. Even slimy gypsies look good compared to that I guess. The strange part was her bringing me along with her. I was 8. What kind of woman runs off with her lover and takes her kid along? In her mind I think she thought she was saving me from my dad. But she resented me for it -- we didn't get along, her and me. And as for loverboy-- I don't know, he never treated me too badly, but I just never liked him. He made my skin crawl actually. My mother thought he was attractive I guess, and we all smelled a bit like goats living out of the back of his wagon. It was a pretty awkward situation all around. Nothing like grinding poverty and homelessness to make people tense. When I was 16 I ran away. Haven't seen my mother or her lover since. I found my way back to my dad in Cassomir and began working for my brothers, who were sorta taking care of him."
She reaches across the table (and a few people's plates) and grabs her flagon, then takes a big swallow. She puts it down and rests a cheek in one palm and looks at Kalchine.
"I've been thinking about her a lot lately actually. My mother." she says, furrowing her brow a little.
"I've been thinking about her a lot lately actually. My mother." she says, furrowing her brow a little.
"Do you want to send her a message?" Maka asked before stuffing her mouth full of food again.
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Hearing Quasit talk about her parents, compounded by the mugs of swill, a wave of nostalgia, followed by sadness, washes over Fin as thoughts of his past come to the fore. He rises, bends over to brush his lips across Sakitu’s, whispering, ”Think I’ll hit the hot baths early, Hlao-roo…I know how you like girl talk…you can join me whenever you’re ready…”
He looks under the table, makes a clicking sound, followed by, ”C’mon, Izzy, let’s take a hot soak, my friend…we could both use it…heel…”
Fin walks slow enough that the little croc can follow. When he gets to the baths, he disrobes, folding his clothes methodically, and laying them aside. He notes the marks on his chest and side where the enemy glaives carved him up earlier, winces…from the memory only as the healing took care of the pain.
He gently enters the baths, slowly sinking into the hot water, completely submerging for a moment or two, before easing his head back up only to find find Izzy, with only his eyes visible above the surface, staring at him. He smiles, reaches out and scratches right between the croc’s eyes, letting out a long sigh.
”Ah, Izz…only place I can really…relax…”
Fin closes his eyes and lets the steamy waters work their magic…
"Do you want to send her a message?" Maka asked before stuffing her mouth full of food again."Gods no." Quasit answers immediately.
"Then what have you been thinking about?"
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Sakitu picks through the food and drinks only a little. Battles tend to affect her and it takes time for her feelings to straighten out. The anxiety and adrenaline just feels like too much at times. But it is fun watching Quasit and her juggling.
When Fin stands and starts singing, Sakitu covers her eyes and giggles, but as the song progresses, it turns out to be better than she thought it would be. She sneaks a glance at Fin. His head is tilted back while he loudly sings the last line of the song. There's a huge grin on his face; he's obviously having a great time. No doubt the Triaxian liquor is helping. She giggles some more then reaches for his arm, pulling gently.
"Here Finny, come sit by me a bit. That was a lovely song."
They continue to eat and drink and talk for several more minutes then Fin rises.
He rises, bends over to brush his lips across Sakitu’s, whispering, ”Think I’ll hit the hot baths early, Hlao-roo…I know how you like girl talk…you can join me whenever you’re ready…”
Feeling surge up inside her. More anxiety but a good kind this time. She nods, barely, "Yes. That sounds good. You go ahead. I'll be there soon." She pats his arm. The touch of his lips on her leaves them tingling but she let's him go. Her eyes make contact with his and her heart surges again. "Soon. I'll be there real soon." she replies.
After Fin leaves Sakitu slides over to sit next to Quasit. She scooches right up next to her, shoulder to shoulder, smiling. After a moment she nudges her gently with her elbow then leans in a whispers, "Looks like it's your turn for a crush. I mean, Kalchine, right?"
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"Then what have you been thinking about?"
Quasit is about to make a flippant answer, but stops herself, remembering Maka is an orphan. She speaks carefully.
"I've spent a lot of years thinking of my mother as a phony and a hypocrite. Resenting her for taking me away from my father. I suppose I still do. But...I don't know, it's hard to put into words..." She shifts uncomfortably, shoots Maka a quick shy smile, then looks off into the distance. "Lately, I'm realizing she's just a person. And people sometimes do stupid things without really thinking them through. Or mess things up without meaning to. It's like... like she's had this power over me for all these years no matter where I was, whether I was with her or not. Because she's my mother, you know? Her spite and resentment seemed like a curse binding me to her. Like a witch. Damn it, like a witch. And here I am on a quest to save witch Baba Yaga from her witch daughter, and I'm realizing that it's entirely possible that my mother did the best she could for me, but just screwed up most of the time. And that I'm not so different from her. That's she's not a witch -- just a woman trying to get by. And that I just need to let go of a lot of stuff."
Quasit takes a drink, emptying her flagon, then shrugs. "And then other times I still think she was a phony old hag who enjoyed tormenting me. I dunno. Does that make any sense? This pine tar is making my head spin."
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After Fin leaves Sakitu slides over to sit next to Quasit. She scooches right up next to her, shoulder to shoulder, smiling. After a moment she nudges her gently with her elbow then leans in a whispers, "Looks like it's your turn for a crush. I mean, Kalchine, right?"
Quasit looks around instinctively to make sure Kalchine is nowhere nearby. "Quiet. I think those ears of his are a lot sharper than ours."
Quasit slouches into Sakitu, leaning her weight into her friend. "Aw Saki, I don't know what to do with him. He seems sweet, I don't want to hurt his feelings. And we need him, especially now that Tezuzu left us. AND he's agreed to teach me Triaxian.
"I get the feeling he's just kinda lonely, you know? I mean, that big monkey seems to be his only friend. We all must seem pretty exotic to him. And I think he kind of idealizes Golarian, because of this woman who taught him. Hopefully once the shine wears off of us, we can all just settle down and relax with each other."
She yawns into the back of one of her hands, then twists around and rests her hands and chin on one of Sakitu's shoulders, looking squarely into her fuzzy face.
"I'm glad you and Fin are happy, but the last thing I'm looking for right now is a relationship. Of any kind. Things are already complicated enough."
"What did you do when you worked for your brothers?" Kalchine asked.
He is quiet while she speaks but his ears flick in a way that suggests he is thinking.
"My mentor was my mother, I suppose. Or Chest Thumper's mother was my mother. I guess I had two. Or three since neither of them gave birth to me and someone must have. Or none. And when it comes to fathers. Just as complex. It does sound like your mother thought she was doing what was best for you. If she didn't think he was good enough for her or that she was better off leaving him, surely she didn't think it was alright to leave you behind. Although...I wonder why she didn't take your brothers, too. Maybe she thought she could only save one of you and picked you?" Kalchine eventually says.
"It's always hard but I think sometimes it's better just to assume that a person didn't have any malicious intent toward you or, if they did that they don't have any way of being malicious toward you any longer. Forgiving and forgetting aren't necessary so long as you don't ruminate."
He shrugs and grins. "Then again, I was raised by apes, so what do I know? I probably smelled worse than a goat for the first few years of my life."
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"What did you do when you worked for your brothers?" Kalchine asked.
"We had a small import/export business. Cassomir is a port city, you understand. And the Taldan Navy has its headquarters there, so there's lots of opportunity for trade, if you're willing to hustle a bit."
"If she didn't think he was good enough for her or that she was better off leaving him, surely she didn't think it was alright to leave you behind. Although...I wonder why she didn't take your brothers, too. Maybe she thought she could only save one of you and picked you?" Kalchine eventually says.
"You know, I musta asked her that a hundred times over the years. I never really could get a straight answer out of her. If I asked her while we were fighting about something, she'd just yell back something nasty like she wished she hadn't. If I asked her when we weren't fighting she'd tell me not to bother her with the past or that it didn't matter. And if I asked her if she missed her sons, that'd just make her mad."
"I told you it was a bad time. My dad was drinking and wasn't earning us any money, and there were a lot of ugly scenes. My mom was just trying to hold everything together, earning coppers as a seamstress and doing some washing. At that point, Colin was 15 and Nardo was like, 10 or 11, and they were already pretty much living on the street, acting as parakeets for one of the gangs. I think my mom had kinda given up on them. But you have to understand that my father was a good man -- he had just fallen into this pit he couldn't get out of, you know? I can understand why she left him, but I don't have to forgive it. He needed her, and she just quit. She may even have taken me with her just to spite him and leave him alone."
Quasit actually chokes up a little now and stops talking, turning away to quickly wipe her eyes.
"Oh my gosh, how did we end up even talking about this?"
"It's always hard but I think sometimes it's better just to assume that a person didn't have any malicious intent toward you or, if they did that they don't have any way of being malicious toward you any longer. Forgiving and forgetting aren't necessary so long as you don't ruminate."
Quasit has pulled herself together by now. "Forgetting can be really hard. I try not to think about her. But like I said, this whole Baba Yaga business has stirred up a lot of feelings and memories."
"Then again, I was raised by apes, so what do I know? I probably smelled worse than a goat for the first few years of my life."
"So Chest Thumper is kinda like your brother?" she says. "That's so interesting. You said your mentor left here to find some other planet? How old were you? Why didn't she take you with her?"
"You know, I musta asked her that a hundred times over the years. I never really could get a straight answer out of her. If I asked her while we were fighting about something, she'd just yell back something nasty like she wished she hadn't. If I asked her when we weren't fighting she'd tell me not to bother her with the past or that it didn't matter. And if I asked her if she missed her sons, that'd just make her mad.""I told you it was a bad time. My dad was drinking and wasn't earning us any money, and there were a lot of ugly scenes. My mom was just trying to hold everything together, earning coppers as a seamstress and doing some washing. At that point, Colin was 15 and Nardo was like, 10 or 11, and they were already pretty much living on the street, acting as parakeets for one of the gangs. I think my mom had kinda given up on them. But you have to understand that my father was a good man -- he had just fallen into this pit he couldn't get out of, you know? I can understand why she left him, but I don't have to forgive it. He needed her, and she just quit. She may even have taken me with her just to spite him and leave him alone."
Quasit actually chokes up a little now and stops talking, turning away to quickly wipe her eyes.
"Well, it's sad but true but not everyone is a good parent. Or person. It doesn't mean their kids aren't or that their kids get the parent they deserve," Kalchine says.
"So Chest Thumper is kinda like your brother?" she says. "That's so interesting. You said your mentor left here to find some other planet? How old were you? Why didn't she take you with her?"
He grins, happy to focus on something a little less sad. "My younger brother, if you can believe it. When we left our family, I could carry him."
"Looking back, I'm pretty sure she took me from them to save me. People like to think that they're superior to animals but, without tools or teaching, a Triaxian child isn't very useful, especially compared to frost apes the same age. I suspect they would have abandoned me or killed me if I would have stayed with them much longer.
"I think, after the mishap that brought her here she thought it was too dangerous to take us with her. I was just an adolescent at the time. Chest Thumper was an adult, but not a very old one and neither of us wanted to be separated. She felt like she had to go but didn't want to endanger me by taking me to a potentially dangerous place.
"So, she left me here. Well, I wanted to stay, too. I didn't really know anything about being a Triaxian when we arrived. Actually, like you Triaxian is my second language. The apes didn't have a real language and my mentor taught me your tongue, first because it was what she was most used to. So, it seemed like a chance to learn about people like me."
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"I'm glad you and Fin are happy, but the last thing I'm looking for right now is a relationship. Of any kind. Things are already complicated enough."
Sakitu nods and gives her friend a hug. "I understand, no relationships right now. I mean, like I'm not an expert on this, you know. But now I'm going to meet Fin at the baths. I'm a little nervous but I'm ready for this. I think."
I'm realizing that it's entirely possible that my mother did the best she could for me, but just screwed up most of the time. And that I'm not so different from her. That's she's not a witch -- just a woman trying to get by. And that I just need to let go of a lot of stuff."
Quasit takes a drink, emptying her flagon, then shrugs. "And then other times I still think she was a phony old hag who enjoyed tormenting me. I dunno. Does that make any sense? This pine tar is making my head spin."
"It makes a lot of sense. It takes wisdom to see the world for what it is, not just what we imagine it to be."
Quasit actually chokes up a little now and stops talking, turning away to quickly wipe her eyes.
"Oh my gosh, how did we end up even talking about this?"
"Oh hey, it's okay." Maka said as she gave Quasit a supportive hug.
Sakitu nods and gives her friend a hug. "I understand, no relationships right now. I mean, like I'm not an expert on this, you know. But now I'm going to meet Fin at the baths. I'm a little nervous but I'm ready for this. I think."
"Yeah you are! Have fun." Maka said with a toothy grin.
Kalchine looks thoughtfully into his own mug of lichen ale. His ears move slowly then flick a couple times.
"Her name was Meliamne," he says slowly. "She was incredibly wise and patient. Maybe too patient. I think she was surprised sometimes by how quickly I grew up. It felt as though she was sometimes reminded that not everyone lived on the same time scale she did."
He swirls his mug around. "I don't know if 'kind' was a word that fit her. Despite her patience she had little tolerance for complaints. She liked to say 'what can be changed for the better must be. What cannot be changed for the better must be endured.'"
He smiles ruefully and his ears raise. "Not always a great combination. When you're a kid you don't want to spend 7 hours straight carefully shaping fallen leaves and needles to create a snow break to open up a space for new growth. Especially the 3rd day you've done it in a row."
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As she listens, Quasit lays her cheek on her arms while still looking up at Kalchine.
"It must not have been too bad, you kept up with the druid stuff after she left." she observes. "It's hard imagining you as a little wild boy who doesn't speak. You seem so... I don't know, cerebral I guess." She closes her eyes for a moment. "But I suppose I don't really know you very well yet."
"Mel-i-am-ne" she says, letting the name roll out elaborately. Her eyes open. "Does she ever contact you? Or did she leave you something to remember her by?"
"I worked very hard when I got here to be like the other Triaxians. I wanted to fit in, you see. And they were welcoming. I can't say that they ostracized me. They saw my abilities and bond with Chest Thumper as useful and that was all that mattered in a war," he answers.
"But, I guess I'm learning that trying to be like other people isn't very useful. If I was like the others here, we wouldn't be able to talk, would we?"
He shakes his head and his ears droop. "No. No contact. Nothing to remember her by. Meliamne was not one for sentiment. She often told me that there was no sentiment in nature and no need for it. Things are always changing so trying to cling to any one thing is counterproductive. And things never change so there is no reason to try to hold on to a single moment or thing. A single tree will inevitably die and decay and disappear but what makes up the tree will create new life that will continue to exist forever.
"I don't know if I think she had any sentimental reason for taking me with her in the first place. I think she may have just done it so I wouldn't disrupt the frost apes. Not because she cared about me living. I think it bothered her that I insisted on bringing Chest Thumper with me."
He lowers his head to be on a level with hers. "We should go to bed."
He smiles for a moment longer then abruptly sits up, his ears rising straight up. "I mean...it has been a long day. You look sleepy. We should go to our own beds."
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"No. No contact. Nothing to remember her by. Meliamne was not one for sentiment. She often told me that there was no sentiment in nature and no need for it. Things are always changing so trying to cling to any one thing is counterproductive. And things never change so there is no reason to try to hold on to a single moment or thing. A single tree will inevitably die and decay and disappear but what makes up the tree will create new life that will continue to exist forever.
"That's silly. People aren't trees. There's nothing wrong with a little sentiment. Sentiment holds civilization together." answers Quasit. "She should have left you something."
"I don't know if I think she had any sentimental reason for taking me with her in the first place. I think she may have just done it so I wouldn't disrupt the frost apes. Not because she cared about me living. I think it bothered her that I insisted on bringing Chest Thumper with me."
"It sounds like she had issues with intimacy. Not surprising I guess in someone who goes looking for whole different planets to live on. And if Chest Thumper and you are happy together, that's all that's important. At least in my opinion." Quasit closes her eyes again and heaves out a deep breath. "I think she just needed to get laid."
"We should go to bed."
Quasit opens one drowsy eye and raises an accompanying eyebrow.
He smiles for a moment longer then abruptly sits up, his ears rising straight up. "I mean...it has been a long day. You look sleepy. We should go to our own beds."
"Yeah, you're right." she says, sitting up now and stretching her arms and arching her back. "That pine tar is really hitting me all of a sudden. Either that or I'm exhausted by a day of chasing Maka. Good night."
She stands up and starts to leave, then swivels back again.
"Hey, how do I say 'good night' to Chest Thumper?" she asks. "I wanted to give him a little friendly pat, but I don't want him to rip my arms out."
The next morning--at what's probably late in the morning, hard as it is to tell with how dim the daylight is--you're called again up to the meeting room. The same council as before is there, Commander Pharamol taking the lead as usual.
"You've done us a great service, and I will see this service rewarded. In addition to keeping what you claimed from battle, I want you to have some of the spoils we've claimed from the camps now that the Drakelanders are retreating."
He waves you to a chest at the side of the room, within which a number of items rest. They are:
A suit of +2 copper dragonhide plate mail
A javelin of lightning
A page of spell knowledge (draconic reservoir)
A set of restless lockpicks
A lesser strand of prayer beads
Four truefrost elixirs
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Fin awakes with a start…he had been dreaming, not the usual nightmares but no less disturbing…he found it strange…very strange indeed…
It is only then he realizes he is still in the baths…in fact, he feels something, or someone, leaning against him…he turns his head and sees Sakitu fast asleep, her head resting on his shoulder. He smiles as Izzy still floats nearby, still with only his eyes above the surface…
Fin notes they are the only ones in the bathing chambers; the water is still warm. The Elf judges very late at night or, better put, very early in the morning, we’ll before dawn. He does not wish to awake Sakitu but knows she’d sleep better in the bunk room. He gently picks her up, whispering, ”Shhh, Hlao-roo, I’ve got you…c’mon Izzy, heel…”
Unable to get dressed, Fin manages to grab his clothes and carries ‘em over his shoulder, thinking it’s a good thing that no one’s up and around at this hour. He walks quietly, alternating between looking down at Sakitu as she sleeps and pondering the weirdness of his dream. Entering the bunk room, relieved that all are asleep, he walks over to the large bunk and gently lies her next to Quasit as that was their usual sleeping arrangement, kissing her lightly on the forehead after he tucks her in…
Having already had his requisite two-hours sleep, Fin gets dressed quickly and quietly, then grabs his gear. Knowing Maka had a rough day yesterday, he lets her rest and he leaves, heading up to the parapets above and goes through the monk forms, meditating on the upcoming journey to the Drakelands…as well as his dreams…
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At the brief next morning, Fin nods as the Commander praises and rewards his friends and him. Arching an eyebrow as nothing was mentioned about the key they were promised, he starts to speak up…but looking to Quasit, he thinks better of it and stays quiet, knowing she’ll address it better than he…
"Oh, a pat or a scratch will do. He knows you're a friend so will recognize any affection. I suppose you could hug him if you could get your arms round him. Just don't do...this!" Kalchine has gotten up and walked casually by Chest Thumper and abruptly throws all his weight into a punch into the frost ape's bicep.
The ape does not shift at all from the impact. Instead, he looks slowly down to where Kalchine's fist is still pressing against his skin. He lets out a little snort then shoves the Triaxian with his other hand, sending Kalchine sprawling and chuckling on the floor.
"Come on, you brute. You need to go to sleep too," Kalchine says, standing up and leading him down to his nest in the stables.
The next morning, Kalchine still looks a bit sleepy but has clearly taken care to look his best for his meeting.
He waits for the others to look in the chest, first. His role in the defense and raid was small, after all.
The Commander gives you time to go over the chest's contents, then continues, "Now for the bad news. The documents you retrieved show large movements of troops across a broad front. This was only the tip of the spear. Yrax is making a concerted effort to break through the Dragon Legion."
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Fin gives off a wry grin. ”Perhaps we can be of help to you there as well, m’Lord, albeit indirectly. Once we get the key you promised us, we’ll be heading to the Drakelands to try and infiltrate Ivoryglass; the second key we need lies there. I suspect we’ll have to confront, and most likely kill, the one you call Yrax, to get it. Baba Yaga rarely leaves her keys where they’re easy to acquire…
“That being said, have you any suggestions on the best way to approach Ivoryglass? And is there anything you can tell us what we can expect of Yrax?”
Yrax is making a concerted effort to break through the Dragon Legion."
"Why?" Maka asked rather non-nonchalantly given the nature of the news.
“That being said, have you any suggestions on the best way to approach Ivoryglass? And is there anything you can tell us what we can expect of Yrax?”
"I guess it won't be as easy as flying there."
A barely perceptible edge of tension eases from the Commander's shoulders. "I could never have asked you to do this for our sakes alone, but if you must travel there anyway, we will aid you as we can," he replies to Fin and Maka.
"Flying the whole way there would be suicidal, unless you are capable of facing an army, but we can fly you as far as is safe according to the maps you brought back. From there you'll want to go by foot to avoid notice--a group flying is visible from a great distance, but the terrain is rough and wild enough you shouldn't be noticed until you draw near Ivoryglass. Once you get there... I have little advice to share, for our scouts have rarely gone that far. I know the fortress is carved into the side of a glacial valley, but what route you might reach it without drawing attention I do not know."
"Yrax himself is an old and powerful white dragon, cunning enough to have held onto power through the summer when his kind are at a disadvantage so that he would be ready to expand his territory in the winter. As for the why, this war is older than any of us. Only in legend have there been times that the dragons of the Drakelands did not covet the lands of the Allied Territories that we guard. I doubt even the oldest dragons remember a time the Dragon Legion did not guard against their depredations."
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"Flying the whole way there would be suicidal, unless you are capable of facing an army, but we can fly you as far as is safe according to the maps you brought back. From there you'll want to go by foot to avoid notice--a group flying is visible from a great distance, but the terrain is rough and wild enough you shouldn't be noticed until you draw near Ivoryglass. Once you get there... I have little advice to share, for our scouts have rarely gone that far. I know the fortress is carved into the side of a glacial valley, but what route you might reach it without drawing attention I do not know."
The Elf nods, looking to Quasit and then back to the Commander. ”Thank you, m’Lord…for the intel and the ride. We are most grateful. When do you think we had best leave?”
"Yrax himself is an old and powerful white dragon…"
Fin lets out a low whistle. ”Whew…I was thinking he was a dragonkin, like General Malesinder, only older…but an old white dragon? We have faced, and defeated, dragons before…but never tangled with an old white. We have our work cut for us…nothing to do but do it though. Think I might better fill up my wineskin with some of that fermented lichen swill for the road…”
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"I'm hearing multiple days of marching and camping out in the cold. Commander, is the terrain mountainous? Are we likely to need climbing gear?"
"We're at least going to need some sort of shelters, food, fuel for fires --Maka can burn anything, but she'll need something to burn. Fin is a solid tracker, but this isn't his world, so if you have any sort of map or chart, or even some tips on how to navigate by the stars.. hmm.... snowshoes or skis would help too."
"And assuming we get the job done, is there a way to signal you for a pickup out of the enemy territory?"
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Sakitu woke in bed next to Quasit. How did she get here? The last she remembered she was in the bath with Fin. He was so nice. She must have fallen asleep then he must have brought her here. Such a gentleman!
Another hike across snow and ice. The cold wouldn't bother Sakitu much but she was very worried about facing a dragon. But she felt lucky to be here with her friends. Neither Fin nor Quasit seemed to be all that bothered by the idea so maybe it wasn't as bad as it sounded.
She scooted closer to Fin and held his arm. When he turned to look at her, she looked up at him, into his deep eyes, and smiled. "I'm a little scared about facing that dragon but I'm sure it will be fine. But maybe you might not want too much of that awful drink they keep giving you."