Triel almost reflexively takes Vanya's offered hand. Her grip is tight, and trembling slightly.
"...I'll be fine." She says, her voice almost a whisper.
She straightens up and looks at Vanya. Her grip relaxes, but she doesn't let go. "It's just that--" She looks up into the sky again. "--I always feel like I'm about to fall into that 'sky' of yours."
"I'm more used to my old homeland. At least it had a ceiling of sorts."
Sheriff I came to see you, I have a question, but I would like to speak to you alone.
If the guard leave I will carry on, if not, I don't say anything.
I was wondering if anyone around her was wanted for some type of crime, besides me apparently. Specifically an elf, like the one in the hall but with dark skin, and white hair.
"Where did you live that you could not see the sky?" Cian asks, keeping an eye on Triel in case she might fall.
Not able to grasp the idea of living away from the sky, Vanya makes up an extraordinary story: "Clearly dear Triel is the daughter of a great king from the south and she was trapped, a violet in a gilded greenhouse! And now, she has escaped to enjoy the cool climate of Varisia." Her green eyes sparkle imagining the beautiful, if warm, climes of Garund.
Triel listens to Vanya's theory... and can't help but start laughing.
That's... actually kind of close.
"Actually, Vanya, that's kind of accurate. Just a couple of things wrong with it."
She looks over at Cian. "Imagine the sky. The absolute top of the world, where the winds race about freely and the sun shines upon all." Triel points up into the sky.
A pause.
"I lived in the exact opposite of that." She turns and points her finger down at the ground.
"I hail from the Darklands, a great network of tunnels, caverns & cities far below the surface. Not nearly as hospitable as the sky Vanya hails from, but it had its own beauty to it."
She continues. "So, we have a beautiful daughter who fell from the sky and is searching for a way to return to it, next to a woman who clawed her way up from the depths of the earth and won't go back." She remarks, marveling at the juxtaposition.
^^ "And now you get to see the pretty blue sky with its fluffy clouds and the star and moon filled sky at night. It's always nice, to sleep under the starts..." Ithylia trialed off with a smile on her face. While beds were nice, there was just something about sleeping under the star filled sky that she loved. "And what about you Cian? Where are you from?"
Artemis wanders into the stables, looking around for Jack and/or Foxglove.
"I've been wandering the country so long I can't rightly remember." He admits sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can tell you my magic is similar to Vanya's, a fiery power that needed to be controlled least I incinerate something or someone."
"Where's your favorite place you've been so far? Do you travel with the trade Caravans?" Ithylia asked excitedly.
"I can tell you my magic is similar to Vanya's, a fiery power that needed to be controlled least I incinerate something or someone."
"Yes, you use a similar form of magic, I noticed. Yet your incantations are not ones that I have ever heard before." She says, focusing on Cian now. The conversation appears to be calming her down.
I don't think I've ever heard of that sort of magic back in Zirnakaynin...
"Ah, noticed that, did you? I've been looking for it's origins, honestly, in old ruins and such. That's one of the reasons I came here, to see Old Light, Sandpoint's ruin. So far I've only found bits and pieces about a 'language of the beginning', a language from which all others devolved."
Looking confused, then sad, then confused again while the sheriff speaks.
Sheriff, you confuse the bejesous out of me. First you defend me in front on dicknuts, make'n your own men fell stupid, then you go off and yell at me when I ask a question. Oh, and Life ain't something you trade Hemlock, people ain't the same as a bag o' potatoes. And no thanks sheriff, I don't want a deal, besides the worst problems your towns got are goblins, and people like me. If your lucky one of us will kill the other.
If there's nothing else I have some things to do with my new found compatriots, and some Mr. Oxlove
Triel nods at Cian as he finishes.
She then turns to Ithylia. "And you, Ithylia? Is there anywhere you call home?"
"Varisia!" She spreads her arms and twirls with a smile on her face as she says it. "I have traveled it's roads since I was a baby."
Triel can't help but smile as Ithylia twirls around.
She turns to the assembled team. "Well, we have the whole day ahead of us. Anyone have a preference as to where to start?"
With an impish grin Vanya says, "At the beginning, of course!"
Triel arches an eyebrow behind her helmet. She doesn't know that if she keeps doing that, her face is likely to freeze that way.
"What, as opposed to the end and working backwards?"
Channeling her mother's wisdom, "Hard to see where you are going if you're focused on the past."
Triel shrugs (*clink*). "Fair enough." She starts walking down the town square towards the cathedral.
"Might as well start from there and work our way around." She says, pointing to the cathedral.
"Let's see if we can get a tour! Do you think they have more butterflies there? Oh! Oh! We should try to see everything!" The more she spoke, it seemed the more excited she got, and the more she bounced.
"Sounds like as good a plan as any."
"Don't worry! We'll go see your ruins too!" ^^
Considering that the only time she got to see Sandpoint's great cathedral was during the aftermath of a goblin attack, Triel focuses on getting there first.
There may still be people there in need of assistance... if I'm to win the trust of the people here, I'll need to take steps to aid them. Perhaps Father Zantus will permit me to assist in providing healing... or something else could have come up that he needs help with.
It's quite simple--win their hearts, win their minds. Besides, I might be able to convince Zantus to have a shrine to Gorum constructed here...
That last thought gives Triel a bit of a spring in her step.
That was informative and slightly worrying, now I might get put in jail at some point, and what the heck are darklands? Sounds like I will need a smart person for this. I'm thinking librarian, map maker, or traveling rich guy
Jack will smile slightly, prowd of himself for thinking this far ahead for once, and hurry to the stables, eager to kill something after that fun encounter
Ithylia smiled as she skipped along with the others towards the cathedral.
"Mr. Foxglove, good morning to you too. Jack had an errand to run, but he said he would be here on time. But, he doesn't strike me as a guy who worries about time, that much. Oh. Look, there he is."
Artemis points as Jack rounds the corner heading for the stables.
It seemed like Ithylia's good mood was infectious, since it doesn't take long for Cian to start smiling as they follow.
Rounding the corner to and seeing Artemis and Mr. Coxlove Jack will hurry towards them.
Hope i'm not late, at least they didn't leave without me.
Sorry if I have kept you waiting long, business with the Sheriff is always... an adventure. Now, hunting, how far are we going? just know know, curious.
Artemis stutters for a moment. "Thank you sir, I am sure that the gift is more than enough for me."
The gift of hunting is good enough for me, but I'm not going to turn down a free ride.
Triel pauses as she enters, taking a look at the families gathered here.
Hmm... Father Zantus must be out and about. No sense bothering the families yet.
She walks to an empty pew and sits down, her helmet glinting in the sunlight coming in through the windows. She squints, then bows her head, holding her holy symbol of Gorum.
Ithylia couldn't help but whisper to the others, "Do you think it's normally like this? Or is this just an after effect of yesterday?"
"Six of one, half a dozen of the other, I think." Triel whispers in reply.
Artemis checks his horse over when the stable boy brings it out. He removes the saddle and resets the blanket, making sure there are no wrinkles. Setting the saddle back on the horse, he presses a knee into it's side causing the horse to blow out some air, while he tightens the cinch.
After that is done he checks the bridle and adjust the bridle to his liking. Catching up the reins he climbs into the saddle. Dismounting, he adjusts the stirrups some and the remounts. Satisfied he glances at his companions. Blushing some, he says, "Sorry, need to be comfortable. Jack, you need help over there?" He looks past Aldern towards Jack when he says the last part.
Vanya is effusive, smiling and greeting passersby until the group enters the cathedral. Seeing so many families that look just, well, hurt she sobers immediately. The waif whispers to no one in particular, "It seems the goblins did more damage than we thought..." She looks at Triel and at Ithylia. She grins, an idea spawning in her mind. "Maybe you two can do something to help?" Her eyes are fairly pleading, it's obvious that she wishes she could do more than offer kind words.
Triel looks up at Vanya. "I suppose something can be done... perhaps we should speak with them, offer words of comfort?"
The idea has merit. However, it may be for the best if Ithylia does most of the talking; odds are, the townsfolk will overreact to a drow in their presence. Hopefully my helmet is covering my face enough...
I'm goodAs Artemis looks over he sees Jack climbing not so gracefully up onto his horse. He gets stuck for a moment with one leg not quite far enough over to be one but the other is still off the ground. He manages to pull himself up the rest of the way however.
So Al, you seem to travel a lot. Have you ever heard of the darklands? I have no idea what they are or where. Sheriff mentioned them during our little meeting.
Cian waits near the doors, watching the others. He preferred Irori to Desna for his own reasons, but he had to admit the cathedral was nice. The Butterfly was a good goddess to worship, that was sure.
"Like music? Happy things? More butterflies? Or talking. Talking could be good." She paused for a moment, thinking looking not at anyone but more at the surroundings. Her face strangely somber for just a brief moment. "But sometimes, it takes more than words." And then that moment was gone, as quick as it came. Her face once again filled with a smile. "Watcha have in mind?" She directed towards Vanya.
"I don't ken I had anything specific in mind." Vanya's voice trails off, and she blushes. It's my first time making my own decisions... "I just thought something could be done." She brightens, and decides to go with her gut. She steps forward and asks to the crowd, "Is there anyone here hurt? While we wait for Father Zantus we can help. Comfort for your hurts and comfort for your soul. And well...just let us know if we can help, ok?" Her speech ends up a bit muddled and murmured but if delivering it wholeheartedly counts, it should be good enough.
Seeing Vanya stand and offer the townspeople aid causes Triel to stand as well.
"If, perchance, you're waiting for Father Zantus with regards to healing, I am capable of assisting you as well." She says, nodding her head. She holds her holy symbol of Gorum out for emphasis.
Triel smirks behind her helmet as Father Zantus approaches.
"Actually, Father, I was going to ask how I could be of service to you." Triel says with a small bow. "I imagine you must be doing everything you can to keep the townspeople safe and well... to that end, I am prepared to offer any assistance I may in doing so."
And of course, your gratitude would go a long way in keeping these surfacers from having me killed.
"That's why there is music and dancing!" ^^ Ithylia gave a little twirl, letting her scarves flow around her. "There are songs for when you are lonely, songs for when you are sad, others for when you are happy! There are all types of music and Dances!"