Sora takes a moment to get used to the feeling. "Well. I think I got my miracle." As it turns out, she's having to make a bit of an effort not to speak too quickly. Man, this feels good.
Sora sighs as Ysolde starts defending those bastards. "Come on, Ys. About a third of the people unfortunate to need taking there get their healing bungled and labelled 'divine will'. I asked about. Hell, the other churches actually TRY when it doesn't go right the first time. They investigate why it didn't work. They try again. The last time that happened locally was...oh wait, never. Honestly, the only reason people put up with it is because the people that need them wouldn't survive the trip to anywhere that WOULD help."
"Don't pretend that having these talents has anything to do with how well the healing works either. There are so, soooo many clerics that, you know, chose to join the Church after being helped in situations like yours. The stuff they do at that church would get people excommunicated from any of the others if it was found out."
"The diet was for your appearance, but NOT your health - you're frail, and you fell ill all the time...hell, you still did when I left. You stared hungrily whenever I brought in anything edible too. If you'd been fed properly, you wouldn't NEED those sandals. Hell, Alphine scorns the use of physical punishment as discipline. Kind, nurturing, and hits people that dare question them don't really fit together, do they?"
"Ys, I love you dearly, but you don't have a clue how bad those bastards are. They let you believe you didn't have a family till I finally managed to find a way in there. You remember when I snuck you out? Mum and Dad cried. They thought they'd never be able to see you again, let alone talk to you. They tried to see you, and got turned away each time. I'm pretty sure the main reason you don't question any of the crap that happened there is because they were able to pretty much dictate your life entirely before I actually managed to find a way to see the sister they stole from me. You didn't exactly know how things went in the world at large, and you probably found that out pretty quickly when you left."
"I'm just glad to have my sister back right now. One day though, I'm going to make sure that damn church gets cleaned up. It's a disgrace to all the others. It's a disgrace to the very IDEA of a church."
Sora looks away. "...I don't want to talk about this anymore. We're both going to end up miserable." She sits quietly for a moment. After a bit, she looks back to Ysolde. "Hey, Ys? you'd know about this, being a saint and all. Seems I've gotten some gifts too. You saw the lightning. Back when we were dealing with Drazhu, I was able to wield the wind itself as a weapon. Really are sisters, aren't we? Hah...anyway, that's not the important bit. I want to start rebuilding the Church of Auhra. Start welcoming other people into the faith. So...what's the best way to start?"
previously
As Ys finishes her spell, the smoke around the fire seems to coalesce in to a humanoid figure. A humanoid figure with a hat, it looks at Ys. I thought I was done on this plane. Whatta ya want?
What is the most powerful being in these woods? Ys asks, not passing up an opportunity to gather information
ys doesn't like hearing Sora talk about the sisters like that. they tried, they tried to heal me, they tried to raise me, they tried to teach me how to be a saint. They fed me, clothed me, educated me. I was my fault, my fault I ran away, my fault I couldn't be good enough, that I gave up. She thinks.
Before you can bring her to the masses, you must bring her into your heart and mind. Find some way to commune with the goddess, and discover her will for you. be exemplary in it's conduction, and humbly devote your deeds not to strength or steel, but to the power and glory of your lady. When others see your faith, and the deeds it compels you toward, they will see her glory within you, and be drawn to her worship Ysolde tells sora, reciting almost verbatim a passage from the 3rd holy book of Alphine, altering it slightly to match the circumstances.
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Reno steps forward. "If you're needing followers for this Reformed Church, count me in. I've seen what you can do and I've seen you in the terrible situation of being enslaved. Your interpretation of what a church should be is the one we should follow."
He pounds his fist on his chest, unfortunately the glittery armor ruins the drama of the effect somewhat. "I swear, we will see the Church of Auhra rebuilt."
Quest: I will see Sora's vision become a reality.
I'd like the following two boons:
Invulnerability to Fire
No need to eat, drink, or sleep
The GM will then tell you what vow or vows is required of you to maintain your blessing:
Honor (forbidden: cowardly tactics and tricks)
Temperance (forbidden: gluttony in food, drink, and pleasure of the flesh)
Piety (required: observance of daily holy services)
Valor (forbidden: suffering an evil creature to live)
Truth (forbidden: lies)
Hospitality (required: comfort to those in need, no matter who they are)
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I don't know what is on between you two, but I'm with Sora too. She talks of a church of good, and I would do anything for her regardless.
Previously. The spirit of Nathan considers for a moment. Other than you guys? That would be either the Tunnel Jerk-off who is still in the woods, or the beast in the caves about 2 miles away
With that the spirit puffs back out of existence
I hope it doesn't summon Nathan every time Ys thinks as she dismisses the spirit. She sits quietly, while Reno and Sora discuss the affairs of the new church, but eventually, the question burning in her mind, the question she and Shy had spent days pondering, bursts out
Where do we go now?
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Shyness carefully puts the sheet of paper back in the book and closes it. As she puts the book back in her bag, she answers Ysolde. "We could try Nibelheim. It's a medium-sized city and I have a... contact there. Well, on the outskirts. It's large enough that we shouldn't attract much attention. And it's a port city, so there's all types there."
Sora smiles, touched to her heart. That they would join her in her cause so easily...they really had faith in her, didn't they? Even Ys was offering advice, one saint to another...no. Sister to sister. She can't help but tear up a little. "Thanks...all of you. I...I won't let you down. I promise. We'll do this. Together." She wipes her face, and stands up. "Reno. Ammy. Thank you, so much. I already said it, but...it's worth saying again." She looks over everyone else here. "Would anyone else like to join us? It's going to be a journey, but we'll do this. You're all welcome...well, Ys is already dedicated to Alphine, but that means we can start building relationships between my church and hers. I doubt there's a problem there."
"What about you?" Sora extends a hand to Cuddles. "We may have gotten off on a rough start, but that doesn't mean you aren't welcome with us. Will you join us?" She wears a friendly smile, and her body language is welcoming. Armour that tried to dismember her or not, she was as good a person as anyone here. Not being a conventional
flesh and blood being didn't stop Ammy from being one of the best people she knew. It wasn't about to stop them.
She'd probably have to ask if they even considered themselves to have a gender, though. Also, get them a better means to communicate. Being mute had to be frustrating sometimes.
When she gets her response from Cuddles, she chimes in after Shy. "Reno mentioned Balderdale earlier too - it's somewhere nearby here, to the south." She looks like she's thinking for a moment, then her attention returns. "Where is Nibelheim, exactly? I mean, it's one thing knowing it's a place, but just how far from here is it? This going to be a long trip?"
Cuddles cocks his/her head to the side as if considering. Then almost viper quick she scoops everyone up in a great big hug, and spins everyone about. She/he nods vigorously at the idea of joining everyone.
Even to Sora's lightning enhanced self, Cuddles' speed still manages to earn a reaction of "HolycraphowdoyoudoTHAAAAAAAAT!" as she's spun about, forgetting for a moment to control the rate at which she speaks. Her words come out fast enough to potentially cause confusion about what she said.
She takes a moment to gather her wits. It doesn't seem that way to everyone, but everyone isn't filled with lightning at the moment. Might have to change that. "Well. I'll take that as a yes then. Welcome, Cuddles. Us four will get this done together."
Smiling happily, Sora's attention goes back to Shy. "Let's do that, then. If it's in the same direction, there's no harm, right?"
Maybe I should go back... maybe they'll take me back Ysolde thinks, standing off into the woods a little as the others discuss where to go next. Antares flashes angrily, and point toward the group, his intention clear "You aren't leaving them, not Sora, or Shy."
ys walks over, bare feet cold on the chilled autumn earth [b]A few days south... sounds as good a plan as any
"That's as good a suggestion as any. While I was working as Drazhu's diplomat, I made quite a few enemies in all of the cities I visited on his behalf. I know now that it's because Drazhu himself is repugnant and evil, but back then I just thought I was a crappy diplomat." he rubs the back of his head thoughtfully. "I guess that could still be true. Regardless, I'll be hanging back when we introduce ourselves to anyone who is in charge of these cities we visit. Balderdale it is, then! While we traveled to these cities in the past, I always took care of the trailblazing...I could do so again."
Reno's diplomacy trips always took a very long time to get anywhere. As Reno trailblazes for the group, the reason why becomes immediately apparent. :( XP marked.
"If you're handling that, then I'm going to be the one on watch. I get a pretty good view up there." When the group gets moving, Sora is overhead, scouting for trouble.
I'll handle supplies. I can memorize holy books, how hard can a little arithmetic be?
"While Sora watches from above, I can try to keep an eye on what's happening below."
Our intrepid heroes take off, on what they expect to be a two day journey. Along the way, Sora and Himnon manage to keep the group away from a pack of wolves, and a quite large group of highwaymen. Unfortunately Reno, at the end of the second day announces that just over the next hill is their location...you crest the hill and find nothing. Apparently Reno really should have taken that proverbial left at Albuquerque. It cost you another day of travel, but you now find yourself, 3 days later overlooking the city. You have noticed that scattered around the city are manor houses of various size, most of them seem to be within half a mile of the city, but there are definitely some that are further out, possibly up to several miles. Those further out seem to be a bit more dilapidated.
What do you do?
Are they dilapidated and abandoned or dilapidated and inhabited by poor people?
Himnon looks around the city and tries to gain some idea of its state of affairs.
But after the long journey, he isn't at his most alert, and he starts to nod off after looking at the monotonous scenery.
What time of day is it sir GM?
"Hey, guys? Can we check out one of those beat-up houses? I mean, as far as I've seen, usually when someone sets their place apart from all the others, the make more of an effort to...well, set it apart. And anyway! If I'm going to be building the Church, then I should make an effort to make sure everything's alright and do what I can...it just, well, feels like the right thing to be doing. No point building a church of good if the people in it just lounge about."
"The wind doesn't stop. We shouldn't either. Right, guys?"
You think the house in question is on the other side of the city
"Shy? Care to fill us in here? Because as I was aware, we aren't looking for a particular manor house. In fact, it seems that only you are. Is there something you haven't told us?"
Well, I wasn't able to salvage my own gear from Drazhu's lair, so I'm working with very little right now. Still, hopefully I can find some armor in Balderdale that can replace the glittery goblin garb I'm wearing right now. If I can't afford it with what gold I found in the slave pits, then I'll trade away one of my treasures for a proper weapon and armor.
Seeking:
1 weapon
1 small backup weapon
1 shield
1 suit of armor (according to what I can afford)
Field rations
adventurer's gear
I have the following to trade with:
Unknown amount of gold looted from Drazhu's mines
A small gem that when activated will pulse with a soft red light whenever a new body, at least as large as a large dog approaches within 50 feet of the gem. Anyone within 50 feet when it is set will not effect it.
A beer stein that will fill twice per day with either delicious beer or pure water.
A pouch of some kind of red liquid in a vial, it fizzes slightly and smells like strawberry
If someone already mentioned how much gold I found, I apologize because I overlooked it.
Also, if there's a Church I'd like to see if they would let me wear a holy symbol to channel my magic through. At least until Sora's church becomes established.
Whoops. I had a feeling I was wrong there, thanks for confirming. I'll make some adjustments to my sheet.
"Pretty sure bringing up that you know someone in a place isn't the same as saying that we're all going to see them...not that you should be deciding that on your own, anyway." Sora sighs. "Come on Shy, it's not fair to go about assuming we're all here to go along with what you want to do. At least ask us, you know?"
...it couldn't hurt to take a look for her. Shy's vulnerable as it is - it'd be bad if she found her way into a messy situation because she didn't know where she was going. Sora begins to take to the air. "Give me a moment. I'll take a look." With another wingflap, she's off, cruising over Nibelheim. This was as good a chance to see what was going on here as any. From above, she scans the city.
"Founding a church isn't a trivial thing, and a contact could surely help, for what little effort it takes to communicate with him or her. The alternative is just to start taking stones and building..."
Ysolde has spent most of the trip in conversation with Antares. it has been a hard few weeks, and a lot of her still feels guilty for leaving. When they reach the city, she and Antares are both maudlin.
the abandoned neighborhood is so familiar to Ys, The place fits the description a few of her friends from the chapel (which also served as a home for wayward girls) gave of their homes. Maybe she could meet someone nice here.
If no one stops her, she knocks on the door of one of the inhabited manors.