Mercy allows herself the briefest of smiles as she catches Zev's eye;
We have been through so much... Yet like the glint of the sun through a fog, these fine comrades all bring light to the City and to those around them
She nods in agreement of the agreements;
"I think we have earned our rewards friends... And Brother Paulus would take heart to know we are to celebrate life and ready ourselves for the next step on this journey!"
Shaking her head and half muttered, "Rubish. Yes, I have dealt with the drug, but that was ages ago." Staying silent while Cressida finished her explanation, Annabelle breathed out slowly. When Cressida told her of future possibilities, she nodded.
[b]"Commander...I thank you for what you have done, despite having to appease the naysayers." Annabelle stood up, and gave a half-toast with the empty shot-glass in her hand. "I hope our paths cross again, and for the better." Annabelle gives a salute, and walks out.
Returning to the group after the private chat with Cressida, Annabelle remains quiet, as if in solemn contemplation. She nods at Calcedon's proposal.
As everyone follows Cal, night fully sets in. Not long after leaving the Citadel, however, you run across a small knot of drunk dock-workers surrounding a young half-elven woman.
"Sho wut?! We knowsh you ish a queensh*hic*man," one of them, the leader apparently, says as he pushes the woman to the ground.
Give me an Intelligence Check please.
There are people in this world who are able to turn a blind eye to injustices, or to those in need. There are those who wait and assess a situation before taking action. There are those who simply put their heads down and walk on by, or who wait to see what other people are doing before intervening.
However, being none of these people, Nicoletta strides brazenly up to the group, cloak flapping open as she walks to reveal her rapier and daggers. "Oi! Just what do you think you're doing?!" she yells, blood boiling at the sight.
:
Jumping immediately to the half-elven woman's aid, Elise looks to the doc workers somewhat indignantly "Gentlemen, please! Surely a group of men as yourselves wouldn't stoop to this kind of violence against a woman? I should hope you're better than that."
Something tickles in the back of your mind. She looks vaguely familiar. Maybe you've seen her near the the temple?
You recognize the woman, strangely enough. She was also under the care of one Gaedren Lamm. She had gone missing shortly after you came under his care.
"Wuh? Woman," the leader says as the thugs stare at the the now flushing woman while she glares at him.
"Ye sure? Kinda flat to be a woman," he adds.
Calmly, Allysen. Calmly.
"Are you sure that's not because you've had a little too much of Cayden's courage, my friend," the woman, a half-elf, says in a pleasant voice, though it's a little hard to miss the small tic at the corner of her smiling mouth.
Standing up and facing the drunken leader square in the eye, Elise appears both controlled yet seething with indignation. Staring him down a moment, Elise finally breaks the silence "Oh, I'm quite certain friend," her right eye twitching ever so slightly as she repeatedly clenches her fist, Elise coolly continues by addressing his comrades without ever taking his eyes off the lout "gentlemen, please remove your friend here... before he says something he regrets."
"Uh? Yeah. Sure. No problem, ma'am," One of the others says as the other four clap hands over the other man's mouth and begin to drag him off. They get out of reach of the paladin of Iomedae before turning as one and bolting.
Nodding satisfactorily as the drunkards depart peacefully, Elise smiles as she turns her attention to the half-elf girl "There, they won't be bothering you anytime now." Holding her gaze on the girl a second, Elise tilts her head slightly "Say, I remember you; correct me if I'm wrong, but were you staying with Lamm the same time I was?"
"Huh? Wait a minute," the half-elf says as her eyes narrow for a moment, "Blue eyes. Sandy hair. Elise? Ha! So the old bastard didn't kill you after all! How have you been? Is that Mercy I see over there? Who are all your friends? What happened to Lamm the Bastard Shepeard? I keep hearing he's dead," The young elfin woman fires off in rapid succession as she draws Elise into a tight hug.
Despite the way some of the other kids turned out, Zev still has a habit of not trusting those trained by his former boss. He knew all to well what kind of things they were taught.
"Reckon that big one would've looked better with a few nice scars," Nic mutters, shaking her head. She glances back at the display, raising one eyebrow. "You two know each other, then?"
Mercy smiles grimly;
Another lost Lamm to join our flock... Paulus would be proud!
The holy warrior keeps an eye on the street, as the newcomer addresses Elise.
Anna gives a light smile, keeping quiet as the two acquaintances reunite.
Smiling as her memory suddenly was placed, Elise embraces the half-elven girl happily "Allysen, it's wonderful to see you survived. As you know, Lamm left me for dead... but the charity of the Iomedaeans in Korvosa saw me through to a better life."
Holding Allysen back a moment, Elise answers her inquiries "Indeed that is Mercy, and Paulus also made it. Lamm, however, is no more." The last proclamation seems to give Elise some degree of satisfaction that is clear to all and sundry; justice in her mind, was done in Lamm's case. Pondering a moment, Elise looks over to Mercy then back to Allysen before adding "Fascinating that so many of us that survived our time with Lamm took up the faith, as it appears you have?"
The woman is being honest. She really is excited to see Elise and Mercy again.
"I guess you could say that," Allysen says as she holds up the foaming mug of Cayden Cailean, "Lamm left me on the river bank for the scavengers and a traveling priest found me instead. I cam eback because I heard there was a master brewer here and I wanted to learn from him. Seems I found a load of trouble instead. I owe you for your help, if you can use my help at all, I'll gladly give it."
Calcedon leads the group to his home for the night, not taking no for an answer. There you meet several of the artists and musicians staying in House Fordyce.
The next morning, a runner arrives with written orders, the party is to patrol the Heights around Castle Korvosa. The next week is a wearing one, not due to danger, but the length of time it takes to patrol the area, not to mention dealing with nobles who act more like spoiled five-year-olds than adults, but it is over soon enough as the Guard, along with the aid of the Sable Company and the Order of the Nail, manages to restore order in Old Korvosa. Things seem to be settling, though it is more like the calm before a storm.
For two weeks, all of you are left to your own devices, until you are summoned to the Field Marshal's office in the Citadel.
A chorus of cheers and well wishes meets your arrival at the Fordyce manor. An ensemble begins to play a lively tune as drinks of all types, some even non-alcoholic, flow freely. A rather rotund man with thinning hair and cherry-red nose hollers above the noise, "Calcedon! Where did you find all of these lovely young ladies? You didn't bring them for me, did you?"
"If he did, Cecil, surely he would have brought Hellknight maidens to teach you the error of your womanizing ways," a young woman with coppery hair replies from the balcony overlooking the courtyard, eliciting a round of laughter from everyone and the fencer's signal for a touch form Cecil.
Before you are able to go to your quarters and sleep, Kailani comes to you, a pensive expression upon her face.
"Calcedon," she asks quietly, "May I talk to you for a moment? Alone?"
As the sun rises towards its zenith, an older man stops to admire your form as you practice.
"Well, lass, Ye certainly know how to handle that Pig sticker."
As you had been for the past week, you fall asleep after spending as much time as your body allows you to study the cards of Zellara's deck.
Tonight is different, however, as you find yourself dreaming about a wagon and a campfire beside the road, You do not appear as an old man in his waning years, but as you were when you were barely twenty. A young woman busies herself with a pot by the fire as she hums a lively reel. Looking closely, the woman appears to be Zellara.
"Good evening, Rhasuel. I thought I sensed that you'd like to talk."
Allysen finds herself liking the atmosphere of the House Fordyce. It was like she was back among the traveling priests again. She is enjoying herself, but something nags at her, a question that needs to be answered.
"Alright, I've got to know. How did all of you find Lamm and give him what he deserved," she asks, "I'm afraid growing up among Caydenites has left me, well, a little more hot-blooded when it comes to those that abuse children and orphans, treating them as slaves, so I want to know all of the gory details! Besides, I'm sure it's a heck of a story," Allysen says as she looks expectantly at everyone around the table.
Allysen had asked them to join her for a drink. The city seemed to be returning to normal as the days had passed, but the young priestess of the Lucky Drunk had wanted to talk to her fellow "Lamms," but this was the first time she'd had the courage to ask them to join her for a drink or three and some conversation.
"So, you two were just getting into that mess when Lamm left me for dead. How did you two manage to get out," she asks. A moment passes then she shakes her head, "Sorry, that was too blunt of me. Do you mind telling me what has happened since then? I can see the two of you are doing pretty well, but I'd prefer to hear about it than just guess."
Already deep in her cups, Nic decides to let the womanizer's comments slide. The liquor puts her in a good mood, the best she's been in for several days, and the company was good. After 'accidentally' bumping Mercy as she passes, nudging the paladin a step closer to the other half-orc (even a blind man could see the awkward glances, and it was painful), she grabs Allysen around the shoulders and starts up a drinking song, her singing voice loud and not particularly melodious, but undeniably cheerful.
Shadow fencing was less than ideal - it always had been. At home, she'd often talked Aurelio into sparring with her, dancing lightly around him, jabbing at vital points and dodging his blows. He'd given her a few thumps when she'd walked right into him, but for the most part, it had worked well.
Pretending to fight an invisible foe just felt silly.
Well, several foes. It was a different exercise - the memory of fighting the Korvosan Crusaders refuses to fade, and she takes it on board, imaging the small army of thugs as she weaves and sidesteps, stabs at invisible arteries and pressure points.
The voice is a welcome distraction. Wiping her brow on her sleeve, she turns to face the stranger, sliding her rapier back through her belt. "I'd hope so; I've certainly used it enough," she grins. "Don't think I caught your name?"
"If it's a story you want, you'll want Strings to tell it," Nic points out, nodding towards Calcedon. "The short of it is, a dead woman led us to him." She takes a deep drink from her mug, wiping her mouth on a sleeve before adding with a grin, "And lass, nothing wrong with being hot-blooded. You and me will get along just fine!"
Inside, there's a separate stable from the main house, which is a modest three stories also in the corner sits a small mausoleum which had been emptied out at some time in the past and turned into a shrine replete with rainbow colors and a holy symbol of Shelyn, and a small well in the center of the courtyard. Compared to their recent visit to the castle, the place looked like a pauper's home, which in noble terms, it was.
Cal visibly relaxed upon seeing the place, the weight of the day shedding off him faster than a smile on a hellknight. He joyfully jabbed back at Cecil as well, "I did meet a rather fetching Hellknight vixen this morning, Cecil. Perhaps it will work out better than the first three you tried."
As the laughter died down, he explained himself more accurately, "These are my friends, please treat them well. They have helped rescue the downtrodden and have taken action against those who have who oppress. Some of them are like you, with tales of woe. But they have risen up from those places as well. So let us rejoice as we move from places of darkness to beauty, and may light and color and laughter be given liberally to both stranger and friend."
His heart seized in his chest as she approached him, but he answered normally. "Yes, yes you may." Thinking on his feet, he started to realize the moment and what it entailed. "It's likely with the new visitors that the only places that are private would be either of our rooms unless it's something quick."[b] Lowering his voice, and hoping to see the baby, he secretively asked, [b]"Is she sleeping?"
"...And so that brings us here. These last few days have been trying, but I believe we were able to do quite a bit of good. Should the city need us, we will rise again to the occasion."
Allysen's ears perk up when Nic's comment about a dead woman, and by the time Cal's done, the half-elf has stopped eating, so enthralled she was with the story.
"All of that in less than a week? It's like you guys walked right into a bard's tale or something," she says in awe.
|
Rhasuel is in about the same boat as Zev. He can practically feel the temptation swirling around him. Thankfully, he is an old man, so most everyone treats him with a kind of polite indifference. He wanders the house and peruses whatever books he can find.
The setting was nice. The fire was warm. Instead of resisting the experience, he just goes with it. Zellara. Hello. His voice sounds different. Less tired. Ummm... Ya. I'm fascinated with your deck. I keep shuffling it and trying to learn all the cards and their names. It's going well. I just have no idea what they mean...
He pauses before asking, Would you, can you, teach me?
"It's been something, that's for damn sure," Nic grins, taking another deep drink from her mug. "And with the city the way it is, there's likely to be a whole lot more of it."
Rhasuel will find two libraries. One is a two story tall library with balcony and ladders just full of sheet music and plays with a small stage right at the end in front of the outside window surrounded by heavy curtains and a chandelier in the middle. The other he is able to tell is a library due to a dungeon-like window in the door. It also has a bar on the outside that doesn't look like it's been moved in a while due to some haphazard nails in it to keep it in place. Inside is a darker, less vibrant place filled with a musty smell. It's impossible to tell the titles from this vantage point, but it's obvious to anyone that there is no music in this place.
As Zev makes ready to leave, he goes over and shakes his hand. "I appreciate you coming and I understand your need to stick to your training. We'll see you soon, okay?"
Glancing over towards Mercy with a nod, Elise continues ”After that, I ran into Mercy, Paulus and the others you met earlier… turns out we all had a bone to pick with our former tormentor, and took issues into our own hands.”
As the night wears on though, Elise let’s her hair down (literally and figuratively) and enjoys the entertainment… though the alcohol and food certainly was playing into her joyous mood ”Ah! I haven’t had fun like this since… well, ever actually.”
"I remember. I also remember you getting beat as much as I did," Allysen says, sad look in her eyes, "but," she continues, smiling again, "Lamm's dead and we're both here. I'm just sorry I didn't get to stick him a time or two myself."
For the next two weeks, Alfonso, as you learn his name to be, helps you refine your form and skills. Between practice sessions he shares tales of his exploits both martial and social. The man, you learn, is a bit of a daredevil, though he is quite skilled.
By the end of that time, you've found that your style has become much like his, though you still have your own twists of course.
Every night for two weeks you find yourself learning the secrets of a sorcerer. Zellara teaches you not only how to unlock your innate power, but also how to read and harness the Harrow.
"It is such a shame," she say on the last night of your tutelage, "that you found your calling so late in your life. Perhaps I can give you one last gift."
WIth that, you wake to find yourself feeling less tired than usual. As you walk to the mirror, you find the reflection is of yourself soon after you came of age.
During the two weeks of downtime. Allysen spends a lot of time helping with both the Iomedaean and Sarenrite churches. She's a friendly sort and genuinely wants to help, though her views on authority are definitely more in line with Cayden's church.
"Yes she is," Kailani says quietly before leading you to her and Una's room.
"I-- I haven't been fair to you Cal," she says, "that night when I saw you again, I was so happy to see my friend again, then when you... you did what you did, it was like my heart had been ripped out, and you had broken it into a thousand pieces," she looks away, tears in her eyes, "I wanted to hate you after that, I wanted to get rid of any reminders of what you had done and I wanted to leave and forget that you'd ever survived."
She walks around and looks into the crib that holds a sleeping babe with silky black hair.
"But then my friend was back," she says softly as she reaches into the crib and caresses Una's cheek, "he apologized, and apologized, and apologized, begging forgiveness for what he had done. He took his rightful place in his house and made everything right there again. He even took care of me and the child he had fathered."
She looks up at Cal, her eyes meeting his.
"I wanted to hate you for that. For trying to be good to me and trying to make things right and heal the hurt you had done. I kept wanting to hate you, until the riots started. I was afraid I had lost my friend again. I was afraid I would lose you again, Cal. I can't pretend that you didn't hurt me, but I can't pretend that you have done nothing but try and set things right. Please Cal, try to understand that I can't just push all of this resentment and anger aside just yet. I promise, though, that one day I will be able to forgive you fully."
She gently lifts Una out of the crib she was in and brings her to Calcedon.
"That said, would you like to meet our daughter," she asks softly.
In the three weeks since the King's death, Korvosa has changed greatly. Combined patrols of Hellknights and Korvosan Guardsmen try to keep the streets safe while the Acadamae has closed its doors and has forbidden anyone from entering or leaving. The city has calmed, but people talk in hushed tones and the lively bustle of the markets has become subdued facade of normalcy. Anger and resentment still bubble beneath the surface, and rumors that a new unit is being assembled by the queen have been heard here and there.
Fall has fully embraced the city when a runner comes to House Fordyce with a summons for all of you. Field Marshal Croft requests your presence as soon as possible at the Citadel. She also requests that you be discrete in this matter. The sky is overcast, but thankfully, there is no threat of rain. It's mid morning when you are all gathered into Cressida's office by Oana, who looks as if she has had very little sleep in the past few weeks. On a couch in the corner, a familiar, black-haired girl is asleep underneath a cloak.
"Ah, there you are," Cressida says with a tired smile, before adding, "I see you have someone new in your band," when she sees Allysen, "please, take a seat, would any of you like tea or coffee?"
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As people come down that morning they are met with someone they expect, and yet also someone they did not. At the table sits a man with the bearing and aged presence of Rhasuel, but with the body of someone a fraction of the age. His head and beard are shaven in the style in Osirion and his robes flow about him. It's an odd mix of confidence and youth that doesn't quite sit right with the mind, but is undeniably attractive. When his eyes lock with yours, there is no doubt. Rhasuel has been restored to his prime. He smiles at each of you as you come in and you have no doubt that he could send damsels into the vapors on the spot if he tried.
Good morning! His voice rings with the practiced oratory of his now hidden 170+ years.
Tea, please. Rhasuel takes a seat on the edge of the room.
"I stand corrected, Two new someones. Might I have you're names, please," Cressida asks.
Zev had busied himself with working on a couple brewing recipes, and trying to put together some tinctures and elixirs for the others, asking if they wanted any of the few recipes he knew. Even if they declined, he was going to make some for himself.
When they are called to the meeting, he is decked out in the new armor he asked for. No longer is he wearing the old hides and worn out iron axe. He now is decked out in a fairly nice breastplate, that sits well, and an exquisite greataxe bearing a superb polish. He seems proud more of his upgraded equipment than anything, though he can still look to be a bit fidgety out of unfamiliarity with the heavier armor.
When summoned to the Filed Marshal's office, he waves off the offer of coffee or tea, caffeine being an addictive substance as well, he takes no chances. Instead he stays standing, waiting to hear what it is she needs from them.
Zev, I wouldn't mind a potion of CLW. Nic's liable to get stabbed again.
Nic enjoys sparring and practicing with Alfonso, finding it a welcome change of pace. He's quick for his age, and his tongue is even sharper than hers - she makes it her personal goal to outdo him. And his reckless fighting style is admirable - far better than her own. By the end of two weeks, she's satisfied with her efforts.
Nic's only half-dressed when she makes her way downstairs for breakfast, looking positively debauched in her trousers and a loosely-tied blouse. Her hair flows casually over her shoulders, not yet brushed. She doesn't seem to mind the disapproving looks (or the approving ones), until her gaze falls on the newly-youthful Rhasuel.
“… Rhas?” she asks carefully rubbing her eyes with the back of one hand and wondering just how much she’d had to drink last night. “You, uh… You look good,” she says finally, nodding once and taking a seat.
Nic stands, leaning on the back of a chair. She accepts a coffee, sipping it as she asks, “So, why’d you call us here?”
Mercy too joins her friends for breakfast, but like Zev she has chosen to garb herself in the new armour recently delivered.
The tall holy warrior props a new shield, bearing the bright emblem of the Dawnflower upon its face against her chair as she takes a seat.
"Morning's Blessings to one and all..."
Mercy looks to Rhasuel with a smile, then furtively admires her fellow half orc who is also bedecked handsomely in new arms and armour;
"...indeed you do Rhasuel..."
And he is not alone... Zev looks... impressive!
Mercy graciously accepts a tea and allows the more chatty of the group to run with the conversation.
He walked over to the crib looking down at the angelic creature. She had the Fordyce nose, that was pretty clear, but the rest of her was definitely her mother. She would grow up to be a beauty as well. He reached down to touch her other cheek as well, but as he his hand neared the little face, she made a funny face in her sleep and he hesitated.
"Is it a dream? he asked, as a tear rolled unbidden down his cheek. Was she dreaming, or was he?
The next morning after he brought his friends to the manor, he breathed deeply and greeted the dawn with a smile. There was definitely a new air about the place, but it needed some work. After the morning salad, he would set to work. The house business needed some attention and new sources of income to build up the reputation that had been woefully ruined since his parents' death.
Together they brought a cadre of strings, horns, an oboe and even a pair of marimbas along with various percussion instruments that allowed people of all skill levels to participate although many would sing background vocals as well. Altogether there were nearly twenty musicians and a half dozen other artisans gathered around with their other mediums to paint, sculpt, or create using the talents they had. It was in one sense a royal mess, everything being furious and chaotic, but in another sense, there wasn't anything like it that anyone had ever seen.
The music went on for nearly an hour, with many strange and eclectic pieces being played, although some of them degenerated into laughter instead of having a proper ending as someone would try something completely unexpected, and was either catastrophic or humorous to interrupt the song. After the laughter settled into smiles, they just would begin again, sometimes a new song, and sometimes they'd give the first one another go.
There were about four of them there that were leading the mess, Calcedon himself had considerable weight and they would all listen when he would interject. Cecil would generally take charge when Cal was not pushing a particular song or style. A young Varisian man named Garrel who had a very unique high tenor voice did a good majority of singing, and Moraiah, a Mwangi with skin unusually dark but with a bright and cheerful warbling voice far from classical but terribly endearing.
After the salad and for the next couple, Calcedon went about the city using his family name and personal charm to start building something new in East Bank. He didn't spend much time being a guard, but he likely was working harder than anyone to bring about something new that would inspire the city toward goodwill instead of simply enforcing law.
----------------------
On the morning of the conclave, Calcedon showed up looking tired. He had been spending more time doing plenty of things, and spending time with his daughter who had developed a bit of daddy attachment issues. Anyone who had spent any time near the Fordyce estate knew of the new building being constructed across the way. Rumor was that he was building a theater.
Although he looked a little less buoyant than two weeks previous, there was an air about him, confidence, accomplishment, and pride. He was moving forward in his life now, no longer mourning the past but looking to the future.
His double take when Rhasuel re-introduced himself was downright comical though. "Egads, man. I thought you'd just left town or something! I hadn't seen you in a while, where have you been?"