Serill after your training you are hungry and tired. Looking outside you see it is evening.
Within the next few minutes she returns with a foamy tankard and a clear glass with four levels. Once she leaves Rosa explains, "It is four different kinds of alcohol. So tell me more about yourself!"
After deciding that the druidic arts were going to be beyond him, John once again goes in search of Joe, he has important things to discuss with him.
Serill is tired from practicing the orison, but already he feels a faint connection to 'something' whenever he calls on guidance. Perhaps it is the Mistress...
He heads back to the temple and the room that Jellena organised for him. He would try to remember to thank her later.
John you likely run into Joe as he emerges from his room.
Joe sees you as he exits his room and asks, "How is it going?"
Serill retires for the night.
Niversal talks with the druids and begins to learn the orisons. Before learning the second orison, the druid passes you off to another member. She explains that learning a second one will take three 8 hour sessions. You up for it?
Joe asked Miss Crystal about herself, her early life, her time at the temple, and why she chose to serve the Mistresses. The holy warrior also asked how she trained to become a messenger for the temple, and intently listened to Rosa's thoughts about religion, politics, and life in general.
Lightly buzzed, both messenger and paladin walked back to the Misstress's Temple, after Joe left a good tip of 10 gp. It became abundantly clear Rosa did not want the evening to end, almost get lewd at some points. Joe, being a gentleman, calmly but firmly reiterated his early morning meeting with The Mayor, but did leave Rosa with a movie-blockbuster kiss goodnight.
John you likely run into Joe as he emerges from his room.
Joe sees you as he exits his room and asks, "How is it going?"
Joe looks different. No longer wearing his nicer parade armor, the paladin is wearing a suit of lightweight chainmail .
"Hey! Nice digs. Nice place you got here, friendly people." His face becomes more somber. "I had a talk with The Mistress. I think I might be of more use to you if I don't join the Familia. Consider that people react to you differently if you are a member, and I'm sure that there has to be some people who can tell just by looking. If I'm unaffiliated, they might treat me differently, you know?"
Assuming you had two drinks each, that would have cost 5 gp at most.
"I had a talk with The Mistress. I think I might be of more use to you if I don't join the Familia. Consider that people react to you differently if you are a member, and I'm sure that there has to be some people who can tell just by looking. If I'm unaffiliated, they might treat me differently, you know?"
That stopped Joe in his tracks. "Wow. You flat-out told The Mistress you weren't joining the familia." The holy warrior was silent for a couple seconds in thought. "Well. It is your decision, John. I know I've read or watched enough t.v. to know sometimes getting attached to gods can be harmful. You will definitely have a different perspective from the rest of the group, which may come in handy."
"Either way, I have a early morning meeting with Mayor McCormick, so I'll be back at the temple mid to late morning. We'll see how everyone's feeling, then head back to the fort."
Niversal is away.
Joe sounds like he is retiring for the night. After meeting with John he would head to his room.
Delman and Markas were last seen down or heading to the armory.
Serill has retired for the night.
Jellena has not been seen, nor will she be seen for the night.
John your phone makes a notification sound and the timer for your daily quest is down to 4 hours left.
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If you go outside or look out a window you would see that the day is fresh with a nice breeze. A bit chilly this morning but with only a few lazy white clouds in the sky the sun blazes down upon you.
For those of you in the temple a courtesy ringing of a bell and a mental magical note states in your mind, 'Six O'clock and all is well. Breakfast will be served soon and end at eight o'clock.'
John follows Joe down to the meal area and waits to get a simple, but short breakfast.
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Jellena is enjoying the morning sun to its fullest! She woke up at 6 with the alarm. She changed into some jogging clothes that seem to be from Earth and activated her ring, "Anyone up for a morning run or jog? Meet me at the front doors in 15 minutes."
Once done stretching she would ask, "Shall we start off with a jog, maybe add a few sprints in?"
She would likely get back before 7, do some more stretches and then go for a bath in her quarters. She would get to the hall to eat breakfast at about 7:45.
She shows up with Jellena in her normal adventuring outfit.
Once done stretching she listens to Jellena's question and shrugs. "I am good with a jog or a good paced run. I leave the decision to the others."
She would get to the hall to eat breakfast with Jellena at about 7:45.
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He shows up with Markas in a simple outfit of cloth pants and shirt. You would notice the dull white glow that his eyes emit and attached to his belt is the large silver chalice.
Once it is installed he puts his fingerprint on it to confirm he is willing to accept the risks.
He states with a good natured scrunch of his face, "I am good with a jog or a good paced run too!"
He would get to the hall to eat breakfast with Markas at about 7:50. They would go join the gals at the table for breakfast.
A fresh cool morning greeted Serill when he woke up feeling refreshed. He saw some of the others gathering and decided to go see what was up so early in the morning. "Hey guys, mind if I join?" He'll jog and breakfast with them too after getting the app installed and reading the daily quest.
Jellena is enjoying the morning sun to its fullest! She woke up at 6 with the alarm. She changed into some jogging clothes that seem to be from Earth and activated her ring, "Anyone up for a morning run or jog? Meet me at the front doors in 15 minutes."
"Forgive me all", Joe said after a quick breakfast of bread, butter and bacon. "I have a early morning meeting with Mayor McCormick in a half hour. I hope it will not take long and I'll be back by mid or late morning. I shall meet you back here soon. Enjoy your run."
"Ugh... it's so early!" John reluctantly gets up and joins in the jogging.
The next moment you found yourself in a strange landscape. Black sand, a scorching sun, and nearly nothing to be seen except for a few dead trees that stick out of the sand like grasping skeletal fingers. Your phone is beeping and looking at it quickly you see it says, "Failure to complete daily mission, punishment level. Survive for 1 hour." The timer then begins to count down. Then you see them undead... skeletons mostly... emerging from the sands in random intervals. You fight off the first few with ease but then the waves of them begin to build up. You run, doing your best to avoid them. The timer ends and you find yourself back in the place you went to sleep. Bloody, exhausted, and barely alive.
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Where did you spend the night? On the street? In the cemetery?
"Thank you very much for see me under such short notice, and I hope you are well." Joe straightens his clothes then begins anew. "First off, I apologize for the rude manner in which I left your amazing party. I understand a little of the scandal I left in my wake, for which I am deeply sorry."
"As I'm sure you know, the majority of the rumors of my departure are true: I was.. absconded by Lady Kol from the party and taken to the far off land of Avalon. There I was tested, and declared Avalon's new king. By Avalon itself apparently. I'm still working that out. I had absolutely no idea Avalon was on Arcanium, much less existed."
"And as a king from a foreign soil, who entered your city under unofficial means, please know you will not expect an Avalon invasion force coming from the waystones. New Faces works best as an independent city-state and all the benefits thereof. I can only offer my apology for my unplanned arrival, and endeavor in the future should I visit your fair city again to go through the proper channels." King Joseph stops to think, then adds, "..whatever proper channels there are. I am still very new this new status I find myself in."
"You see. When one of my number gain a level, every odd level must follow a ritual. Which up to this point has been within The Mistress's cathedral here in New Faces. I need to speak with my oracle to see if the ritual can be done closer to Avalon. That ritual was the reason the waypoint system was used for me and my adventuring troop to enter your city unanounced."
He shows up with Delman in a simple black outfit of cloth pants and shirt. You would notice that his demeanor is much better almost positive.
He would greet everyone with a wave of his hand and a smile on his face. He stretches watching what the two women do and would ask for help with the more difficult ones. While Delman is off to get his device Markas pulls his out of his pocket and offers it to Jellena to be downloaded. "Hey. Thank you." He seems rather timid and lacking confidence.
Once it is installed he puts his fingerprint on it to confirm he is willing to accept the risks after reading the clauses which are very wordy and soon he just accepts like the rest.
He states with a good natured scrunch of his face, "I am out of shape, a jog is all I am going to be able to do and for short times. Leave me behind, I will hope you are going to double back and find me."
He would get to the hall to eat breakfast with Delman at about 7:50. They would go join the gals at the table for breakfast. He tags along with Delman seeming unsure of himself but definitely better than before.
John and Markas likely lag behind the group as the others begin to sprint in intervals.
As the others sprint ahead leaving the two to jog and likely get their breath, Markas asks, "So... how are things? You are from Earth too... right?"
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Fatigued, winded and likely almost exhausted, he states, "I don't know how you guys do it? I am so out of shape. I was never much of a runner."
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Jellena smiles at Markas and the others, then shares, "It does help that our bodies have been reformed into the pristine physical form that we once had with the draught of bodily health. Speaking of that." She then pulls from a black hole in her cloak, four hand sized potion bottles. Handing two to Niversal, one to Serill, and one to Markas. "As Delman has told me, you will be joining our family soon enough. It is good to hear your memory has returned."
The young monarch stands up from the table and offers his hand. "Thank you again for your hospitality, Ned. I have one big problem waiting for me when I get back to Avalon. Likely more I don't know about yet."
"Look for an invite to the coronation, Ned."
Serill enjoys the run though doesn't go as fast as some others, hanging back with Markas and John. "I was from Earth too. There are some thing there I will miss. Have you managed to remember any more?"
At breakfast he eats quickly and takes the draught from Jellena with thanks. "I'm going to look at the racial vendors today. Not sure if I will change anything yet. Is there a library here in the city or the temple?"
"Oh there is going to be a lot we are going to miss. The safety, toilet paper, a common life, just to say a few. I have remembered much, Delman was especially helpful and I was able to remember most of my past and where I had stashed a few things." He states mostly to Serill with a bit of concern on his mind.
Joe walks his way back to The Mistress's cathedral and into New Face proper. The paladin can feel the itchiness in his snapping fingers to finally summon his Divine Steed, but the holy warrior wants to share that experience with the entire crew. Joe's thoughts are filled with things he wishes to accomplish as king.
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"Then again maybe we go to the great library!" She says with a bit of excitement in her voice. "Before anyone leaves lets see what Joe has in mind he is getting closer. Yes if you have one of my rings I know your general location and status. We do have an obligation to head back soon to the fort pass and Merlynn. I hope Artemis has kept safe." Talking about Artemis she seems a bit concerned for the moment then shakes it off.
The paladin of Life and Death returned to The Mistress's Cathedral. After genuflecting past the altar, Joe gambled the Night Hawks might still be in the dinning area, and low and behold, they were.
"Good morning again, everyone." Joe smiles falters slightly at the addition of Markas.
"Markas! There you are. Where have you been?" Joe's eyes quickly dart to John, then Delman. "And where's Niversal?"
John, who had spent the last night resting in the relative quiet of the cemetery looks substantially the worse for wear, completely bloodied. His fingernails look shattered, almost as if he was clawing something away from him, and deep furrows are on his arms, as if a clawed beast had been at them. "Not really a great night, not going to lie to you."
"Fu<king hell, John! What happened?" Joe moved to the disheveled and possibly injured rogue.
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Looking at John as he walks into the dining hall but a few moments before Joe, he gets up to give the man some aid. A lay of his hands and John should feel better, and you are no longer fatigued.
As Joe looks at Delman he does a knowing nod and a sly grin crosses his face for but a moment. Then he does a quiet laugh to himself watching Joe.
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She gasps at the sight of John, "What happened to you?! Now I really need to get you a ring... Mistress grant my wish to produce a Jellena special ring!" With a blast of black and white light from her hands the ring forms. She steps forward and offers the ring and after Delman's lay of hands she casts cure light wounds and a healing hex, praying to her goddess.
"That's great Markas, do you have any idea what caused you to forget?" He asks during breakfast.
"A great library does sound good if we have the time." He looks concerned as he sees John enter.
"Trauma. I lost my fellow chosen. We bit off more than we can chew and technically I was the only one to survive. Luckily my wish was practically immortality. The venom and poisons used to kill my group just made me stronger. Though the loss of my allies made me loose it in a bad way. That Dark Soul is gone now... Lust. That was a few months ago so she may have been replaced." He relays without holding anything back just telling it as it was at least from his sight.
Seeing John enter looking worse for wear he lets the others handle it and queitly says to Serill, "Did I look that bad or worse when you found me?"
"Punishment for not finishing the daily workout regime. Transported to me some hellscape for an hour, filled with skeletons. Endless hordes rising from the sand. Went on for miles, as far as I could see. Kind of a objective: survive type mission. Would not recommend it." His tone is matter of fact, but his eyes indicate that he's a million miles away from here.
Already knowing the answer, Joe growls in frustration. "It was that fu<king app, wasn't it?!"
The holy warrior gets his phone out of his fanny pack. "Speaking for myself, Arcanium is exciting enough without the threat of an EXP app taking away what little peace I have!" Joe uninstalls the untouched app from his phone.
The others open up their phones to look into the app more.
Joe takes John's other side and helps Jellena find a room for John.
Should John not resist, Jellena guides the group to the healing wing. Where attendants and acolytes will tend to any remaining wounds and get him settled into a bed quickly. Giving him a soothing draught and some medicine to help him sleep. Jellena would pray over him before leaving.
As Joe Uninstalls the app a warning pops up. "As this is not the original copy you will be charged a nominal fee, do you accept?"