Karl nods his head
well met indeed, my lady. I am Karl Chillstrike, and these diverse companions and I are on a mission of some importance. And you?
Bowing slightly.
"Greetings. My name is Okrin Goodspeed. What brings you to this strange grove?"
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Cyanne looked guiltily down at Kakao's words. "Forgive me, Kakao. If my mother were here, she would ask me where my manners had fled to, and what I had done to offend them so much that they would leave."
She looked down at the feast in her hands, and calculated how the meal might be spread a little further. "I have some oats in my pack. Perhaps with these we could make some good savory oat griddle cakes?"
"The mushrooms are safe if you would like to try them. They've become a favorite of mine this past month."
Then she pauses, suddenly remembering what else Kakao had said. "Did you just say something about a snake? That you were following?"
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The elf seemed about to speak, but he waited as the others engaged the traveler, his attention focused on their surroundings, for potential threats.
The stunning young woman smiles lightly as the description of the grove as strange. "I am enjoying the beauty of this forest, the pure primal wilderness of it, while seeking something, and someone actually. Your mission must be grave to bring you into a forest you find so strange."
"Perhaps it is not strange per se, but it has been strange of late, in fact having caused death to those that dwell close by" - the elf adds - "I am Caramir"
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Cyanne looked guiltily down at Kakao's words. "Forgive me, Kakao. If my mother were here, she would ask me where my manners had fled to, and what I had done to offend them so much that they would leave."
She looked down at the feast in her hands, and calculated how the meal might be spread a little further. "I have some oats in my pack. Perhaps with these we could make some good savory oat griddle cakes?"
"The mushrooms are safe (detect poison, purify food and drink) if you would like to try them. They've become a favorite of mine this past month."
"Well, that certainly sounds better than the rations I have packed." the small gnome admits.
Then she pauses, suddenly remembering what else Kakao had said. "Did you just say something about a snake? That you were following?"
He shrugs, and admits "Yes, just a small one. It had caught my attention, so on a whim I decided to follow it."
Kakao then offers "If you are sharing your food, perhaps I could provide the drink?"
Pulling on the chain around his neck, he reveals an amulet depicting a stylized cup surrounded by ivy and explains "As a follower of Bacchus, it is our custom to pour a cup and allow anyone to drink from it who wish to." Chuckling, he adds "As you can well imagine, this works much better when there are actually other people around." Patting the haunch of his mule he says "Plyto tends to over-indulge in oats rather than ale."
Looking around, he then asks "So where would you like to have this feast?"
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"Seeking someone, eh? You might hurry at it, then -- folk here have been windin' up dead at an unfortunate rate the last while."
Morti glances sidelong at Mother Molvor, looking for any reaction or recognition of the newcomer on her part.
or
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Kakao then offers "If you are sharing your food, perhaps I could provide the drink?"
Pulling on the chain around his neck, he reveals an amulet depicting a stylized cup surrounded by ivy and explains "As a follower of Bacchus, it is our custom to pour a cup and allow anyone to drink from it who wish to." Chuckling, he adds "As you can well imagine, this works much better when there are actually other people around." Patting the haunch of his mule he says "Plyto tends to over-indulge in oats rather than ale."
Cyanne looks wary again.
There hadn't been a church of Bacchus in Fairhill, so she'd had no prior experience with the faith or its followers. Still, hadn't her mother warned her to stay away from the depraved followers of Bacchus?
The little gnome doesn't look like someone about to turn into an insane, drunken, ravening lunatic. And aren't there supposed to hordes of half-naked women with him, destroying EVERYTHING in sight?
She raises an eyebrow. "I don't mean any offense, good sir... but is wine the ONLY thing in your keg? One hears stories about Bacchanalias. But perhaps that is all they are -- stories?"
Looking around, he then asks "So where would you like to have this feast?"
"There's a clearing about three hundred feet down the path. I've..."
...been walking in circles, hopelessly lost because the stars keep changing their mind about where I'm to go...
"...found a few suitable camp and cooksites in the last couple days."
She glances up at the sky. Why do you keep changing your minds? What are you up to?
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She raises an eyebrow. "I don't mean any offense, good sir... but is wine the ONLY thing in your keg? One hears stories about Bacchanalias. But perhaps that is all they are -- stories?"
Chuckling, he states "Ale actually, a keg of wine is beyond my means at the moment. As for the stories, like in most cases they are a mixture of truth and wild imagination. I am not always certain which is which."
Like a wild hare, this one is so wary! I hope she doesn't run away before I can find out more about what is ahead.
"I have no ill intent towards you, nor am I seeking to trick you into anything. If on the other hand you decide that you want to over-indulge, it would then become my duty to aid you in that endeavor."
Looking around, he then asks "So where would you like to have this feast?"
"There's a clearing about three hundred feet down the path. I've...""...found a few suitable camp and cooksites in the last couple days."
She glances up at the sky.
Puzzled, he looks up but doesn't see anything of note. He then shrugs and gestures down the road. "Lead the way, miss, and I will follow. If at any time you find my presence a burden, please just say so and I'll be on my way."
Although I know not where I'm going at the moment...only time and hindsight are likely to show me that.
He grasps Phyto's reins and makes ready to follow you.
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we track a monster, my lady. One we will end, or perish in the attempt. But firstly...we have given you our names, it is just you give us yours. These are dangerous woods, and caution is needed.
Karl speaks calmly and firmly, keeping his eyes on the potential threat.
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"I have no ill intent towards you, nor am I seeking to trick you into anything. If on the other hand you decide that you want to over-indulge, it would then become my duty to aid you in that endeavor."
Despite herself, Cyanne laughed. "It would be your duty? Your faith must be very popular at harvest festival time!"
No wonder her mother thought Bacchans dangerous, if all of them thought the way this queer little gnome did! Though it was nice talking to someone other than the stars and her own ghosts.
They found the campsite easily, but when it came to searching in her pack for supplies, Cyanne found that everything she looked for moved away from her hands just as she was about to grab it.
She was momentarily tempted to upend the entire backpack -- then remembered in time that the last time she did that, everything she had dropped scattered ten feet away in random directions on the forest floor. It had taken over an hour to find it all again.
"Stop moving my things, you અસંસ્કૃત, અપરિપક્વ, pack of રાક્ષસો!" she yelled in the pack, saying some of the worst Elvish swearwords she knew.
Finally in frustration, she turned to the gnome and handed him her pack. "Kakao, can you search in here for the oats? I am sure you will find them right away."
She, meanwhile, started furiously chopping the rest of the food for breakfast. This was so humiliating.
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"It would be your duty? Your faith must be very popular at harvest festival time!"
"Yes, especially after the grape harvest. Busy too!"
...
"Stop moving my things, you અસંસ્કૃત, અપરિપક્વ, pack of રાક્ષસો!"
Kakao raises an eyebrow but does not comment.
She probably wouldn't have so many problems if she would quit shaking the pack.
"Kakao, can you search in here for the oats? I am sure you will find them right away."
"Certainly." he says as he reaches for the pack. Setting it down, he opens it and shifts things around looking for the sack of oats. Taking it out, he measures a handful and a half worth and puts them into a pot.
Looking towards Cyanne furiously chopping, he moves over near his mule and asks "Would you mind if I shared some of this bounty with Plyto?" gesturing towards the bag of oats still in his hand.
Nodding.
"It is as my friends say. Something has affected animals. Some have been acting strange."
That sounds most unfortunate,and you believe this monster is tied to the strange actions of animals in the area? That is very disturbing. Perhaps I can assist you." Mikka says, unsettled.
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perhaps...if you answer what I asked. Your name?
"Ah sorry, distracted. I am Mikka, Mikka Windsong. My companion is Zephyr" she says indicating the falcon perched above her, eyeing the party preditorily.
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"I am Morti. A pleasure to meet you, Madam Windsong, though--" the dwarf eyes Zephyr skeptically, "I'll ask that you kindly keep a close eye on th' bird. We haven't seen a single critter that hasn't tried to kill us here, an' I'm not sure I like the way he's lookin' at me."
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"He is looking at you that way because there are more of you than there are of me." Mikka responds with a smile. "He happens to be very protective"
"Would you mind if I shared some of this bounty with Plyto?" gesturing towards the bag of oats still in his hand.
Cyanne glanced at the mule. Plyto nudged the little gnome with his nose, hoping for a treat. It was nice to see a friendly farm animal again.
Her heart ached for home. It had been so long since she'd seen them all. Was her sister still stepping out with Brandon, the tailor's boy? What of her mother and father?
"I guess I won't -- if you're sparing with what you offer him. My father milled those, you see."
Cyanne pointed the ink stamp of 'Fairhill Mill' printed on the bag. It was a stamp that her father had carved himself with his big patient hands, just as he had carved the Kel holy symbol she wore now.
"I've... I've been rationing them because they taste of home."
As she finished putting together the griddlecakes, she tried to distract herself from how fiercely she missed them at this very moment. The griddlecakes smelled wonderful -- rich and savory. Just like the ones her mother made.
"Plyto and Kakao are interesting sorts of names. I can't say that I've heard them before. Are they gnomish?"
Nodding at Morti's words.
"Wise words. I do hope the creatures care for you is more powerful than whatever power has been lurking about. Looking in the direction he thinks the group has been headed, then addressing Mikka. Perhaps you can share what you will of your journey as we track this creature?"
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"I've... I've been rationing them because they taste of home."
Kakao, thinks a moment, then puts the bag of oats back in Cyanne's pack. I hadn't realized something like oats could be a source of personal joy. I'll have to be more observant, evidently anything that reminds this girl of home brings her some measure of joy.
He goes back to the mule and whispers something to it as he pats it on the flank. "Don't worry, I'll share some of my food with you. I'll have to find a special treat for you later, maybe an apple?"
...
"Plyto and Kakao are interesting sorts of names. I can't say that I've heard them before. Are they gnomish?"
Still chewing, Kakao shakes his head no. Once he has swallowed his food, Kakao says "No, food."
He reaches up and feeds a little bit of the oat cake to his mule as he explains "Plyto is a type of grape, used in a white wine. I think it makes a fitting name for a mule that will often haul the finished product."
Pointing towards himself he states "Kakao Mit Schlag would be a more complete name for me, Schlag being the name of my clan in Endhome. Have you ever been there?"
"Kakao is a rare plant that can be used to create some of the most wonderful tasting confections. My clan has a trading company based in Endhome, and it is one of the items we occasionally handle."
Kakao pauses and scratches his head, then shrugs. "I'm not really sure why they don't grow it around here."
"In any case, my mother named me for it in hopes that I would be just as sweet. At least that is the tale as she tells it." and then he grins at you.
After they are both done eatting, Kakao thanks Cyanne for the meal and helps with the clean up.
Gesturing further down the path, Kakao asks "Shall we? I'm curious as to what we will find along this path!"
As Kakao puts the oats that he requested for Plyto back in the sack, Cyanne thinks, Why didn't he take them, after asking for them?
Oh.
He's being kind. He doesn't want to take from me something that reminds me of home.
It embarrasses her, a little, that she still feels so possessive of this sack of Fairhill Mill oats. But she takes the sack from Kakao when he offers it, and stows it back in her bag.
"No, food."
She listens to the little gnome's earnest explanation of the source of his name, and that of his mule with great amusement.
Are all gnomes so food-obsessed? I thought that was only true of halflings...
"Kakao Mit Schlag would be a more complete name for me, Schlag being the name of my clan in Endhome. Have you ever been there?"
Endhome. That makes sense. A big city would surely be a better setting for depraved Bacchanalia and overindulging than Tombell woods.
"No, I haven't. I'd like to go someday. Is it very grand?" She pauses. "I don't know much about gnomes. Do you have a very large clan and family, with lots of people in it?"
She likes that he helps to clean up the remains of breakfast, and offers to help her pack again. Watching him feed half his breakfast to the mule, she feels just a tad guilty.
Maybe I can help him find something the mule would like along the trail?
"Shall we? I'm curious as to what we will find along this path!"
"Sounds good to me," she says. "It's... nice to have company again."
Along the way, she gathers edible greens for Plyto, and more nuts for Kakao and herself. Since the gnome seems interested, she points out a variety of mushrooms along the way.
"I'd stay away from those," she says, pointing to some mushroom caps that have a faint purple color on their frills. "They're not... poisonous, not exactly. But I felt dizzy and excited after eating them, and kept seeing things that weren't there."
She turns to check one her snares, and frowns to find it, not just empty, but savagely torn.
"Kakao?" she asks. "Have you noticed that the animals in Tombell Wood are a little... odd?"
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"Kakao Mit Schlag would be a more complete name for me, Schlag being the name of my clan in Endhome. Have you ever been there?"
"No, I haven't. I'd like to go someday. Is it very grand?" She pauses. "I don't know much about gnomes. Do you have a very large clan and family, with lots of people in it?"
"Is Endhome grand? No, more like big and busy. It is cleaner than other large settlements though, having a system of sewers keeps the waste off the streets."
Kakao pauses and looks to be counting something off on his fingers. The Zimber clan would be about twice our size, Deitrich is about a dozen members, and then Goebel is about our size with three dozen give or take a few...
"No, our clan would be middling size. I think the largest clan would be Zimber with all their ships."
...
Kakao is impressed by Cyanne's apparent knowledge of mushrooms and the forest. He takes note of the funky mushrooms, in case he runs across some later when others aren't around. There must be something he could do with them that would be fun.
...
"Kakao?" Cyanne asks. "Have you noticed that the animals in Tombell Wood are a little... odd?"
Puzzled, he looks up at her and asks "Odd in what way? I've only been in the woods a short time, so no I haven't noticed anything." He pauses his mule and looks across at your snare, idly wondering how it is supposed to work.
He then turns his head from side to side, scanning their surroundings for any signs of animals -- strange or otherwise.
"No, our clan would be middling size. I think the largest clan would be Zimber with all their ships."
Cyanne blinks. Ships? Weren't those... large?
"I'm a miller's daughter. I like numbers. They're nice, solid things that I can use to understand. Kakao, what do you mean by 'middling?'" She pauses. "Just how many people are we talking about?"
...
"Odd in what way? I've only been in the woods a short time, so no I haven't noticed anything."
Cyanne sighs, holding up the destroyed snare. "Well, you came in here following a snake, so I thought that maybe you paid attention to those sorts of things?"
"Papa taught me to hunt a little... I'm not the greatest expert, but I used to get meat for the table sometimes. Still... I haven't caught anything in my snares here, and so many of the animals seem outright spooked or hostile." She offers more greens to the mule, and then pats its nose. "Your Plyto is the most normal creature I've seen in a while."
"Have you ever seen a rabid dog?" She pauses. "I did, when I was ten. I'll never forget it, because it felt so wrong. The animals here aren't as bad but they're still... wrong."
She looks distracted and says, "Why would the stars bring me here?"
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Mother Molvor just sits there quietly while you talk, and then wanders over behind a tree when you finish. When you follow her around the side, you find a little odd wooden hut with a fading coat of white paint on it. Its chimney is unlit, it has a few roundish glass windows set in wooden frames and a little door the size of an average human. There seems to be a half-fallen-down fence around it. The old half-rotten fence is covered in ivy and ferns. Seems to be made of wooden sticks and old wire.
Through the canopy, the high afternoon sun leaves dappled light across the small clearing. A few insects buzz around beside the house, and you notice a number of colorful plants inside the fence. The yellow light casts everything aglow where it lands. A clutch of what look to be sapling pine trees sits beside the house in the yard.
A sort of invigorating fresh scent lingers over the place, and other than your movement amongst the leaves of the small underbrush and grass, the place is demure and quiet, like the rest of the forest.
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Looking puzzled at first and then amazed.
"Nailed? Do you mean the entire place is made of wood.
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Mikka looks at the hut with a raised eyebrow that gives way to an amused expression. "By summer-games would you happen to mean staying just out of reach until you are where you are supposed to be?"
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"I'm a miller's daughter. I like numbers. They're nice, solid things that I can use to understand. Kakao, what do you mean by 'middling?'" She pauses. "Just how many people are we talking about?"
This girl sure is inquisitive! Ah well, curiosity can be a good thing.
"Three dozen? I might have lost track of a birth or two so I'm not certain. Why, how many are in your clan?"
...
Cyanne sighs, holding up the destroyed snare. "Well, you came in here following a snake, so I thought that maybe you paid attention to those sorts of things?""Papa taught me to hunt a little... I'm not the greatest expert, but I used to get meat for the table sometimes. Still... I haven't caught anything in my snares here, and so many of the animals seem outright spooked or hostile." She offers more greens to the mule, and then pats its nose. "Your Plyto is the most normal creature I've seen in a while."
"Have you ever seen a rabid dog?" She pauses. "I did, when I was ten. I'll never forget it, because it felt so wrong. The animals here aren't as bad but they're still... wrong."
She looks distracted and says, "Why would the stars bring me here?"
Kakao gives you a startled look. Whoa! How long has this girl been wandering the forest, and what part of this is visions from those mushrooms?
He clears his throat, and waits for you to once again focus on him. "I think we may be walking the same path," gesturing with both hands held parallel, "but our conversation is going off in separate directions." as he sweeps his hands wide apart.
Bringing the hand holding the reins back in front of the mule, Kakao continues to gesture with his other hand as he talks.
"I try to pay attention to omens. A serpent coming out of an ivy patch certainly sounds like one to me, so I followed it." Like any sensible person would. The gods get rather impatient if they think you are ignoring their messages!
"I've never seen a rabid animal, but I have heard people compare the Bacchae to them. I've never hunted, but I have seen a goat so drunk it could no longer stand. Please be patient for some things you consider obvious may be a complete mystery to me." ...and vice versa.
"As for the stars, how can they guide you when I can't see them through this canopy?"
Karl looks at the revealed house.
oh, a shack. Looks a bit...run down.
Karl is not the most diplomatic person
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The old lady just kind of shakes her head, and leaves her small walking stick up against the fence. Then she takes you over to a corner of the yard, and indicates a section of fallen fence. "That good for nothing came right through the garden here at the corner. Wrecked my fence completely. Look here!"
"Three dozen? I might have lost track of a birth or two so I'm not certain. Why, how many are in your clan?"
"Three dozen?" Cyanne looks awed. "There are barely two hundred people in all of Fairhill. I don't have a clan as such... my family had the four of us, Gram, Aunt Janny and three cousins. Nine total."
Then she brightens. "I suppose, since Fairhill was so small, you could consider the entire town my clan since we all watched out for each other."
********************
"I try to pay attention to omens. A serpent coming out of an ivy patch certainly sounds like one to me, so I followed it." Like any sensible person would. The gods get rather impatient if they think you are ignoring their messages!"
Cyanne pauses, struck by this. "Are there people who can ignore a god's message? How? I didn't think there was even an option."
"Don't get me wrong. I would follow my lady anywhere, and have. But there is another voice that I sometimes hear that I would dearly love to block."
Cyanne shudders, remembering the coldness of Hel's curses echoing in her head.
You, dark one, I choose to fight. I gave you neither fealty nor encouragement. Leave my head, and take your curses with you.
She kneels down to Kakao's level, eyes intense. "Is there a way? There are so many voices in my head sometimes. I would love to hear only the ones that mean me well."
********************
"As for the stars, how can they guide you when I can't see them through this canopy?"
She laughs. "I don't see through the canopy. I climb!" She leapt up and grabbed a branch, swinging her light body up so that she was sitting in the branch, looking down on the gnome. "I climbed everything as a child. Papa called me his little squirrel, because I was always on the roof, chittering down at him."
Then she paused. "It's still daylight. But later... would you like to join me? Would you like to look at the stars too, Kakao?"
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"He is looking at you that way because there are more of you than there are of me." Mikka responds with a smile. "He happens to be very protective"
The dwarf reddens slightly, "I...hmm. I...s'ppose you have a point there. My apologies: I've grown used t' every living thing going stark mad that it din't occur how we look ourselves. You oughta seen this sparrow yesterday, kept tryin' to dash itself against us like a tiny feathery cave troll, I, yes, hmm." ...and trails off sheepishly.
...
At Mother Molvor's house, --House? The place probably never deserved that name, and it looks like it hasn't been kept up in my own mother's life-- Morti's memory of earlier awkwardness keeps his thoughts inside long enough for Karl to render judgment first.
Nodding politely, he follows the old woman to the fence, scanning the ground for tracks--or for out-of-place patches of plant growth, remembering the odd patterns from his companions' prior nights' spellcasting. /
"Are there people who can ignore a god's message? How? I didn't think there was even an option."
"Don't get me wrong. I would follow my lady anywhere, and have. But there is another voice that I sometimes hear that I would dearly love to block."
Cyanne shudders.
She kneels down to Kakao's level, eyes intense. "Is there a way? There are so many voices in my head sometimes. I would love to hear only the ones that mean me well."
Startled, Kakao asks "Voices in your head?" I really hope this is just the mushrooms...
"Be careful what you wish for. If you listen, even an enemy can give you warnings. I'm not saying you should believe all you are told -- just that you should listen even when you know you are being lied to."
********************
Then she paused. "It's still daylight. But later... would you like to join me? Would you like to look at the stars too, Kakao?"
Kakao laughs, shaking his head. "I prefer to stay on the ground, thank you!"
He then tugs on the reins of his mule and resumes his journey along the road. Looking back he says "Let us talk as we travel, no sense in wasting the daylight!"
Smiling slightly at Morti's faltering, Mikka moves over to where Mother Molvor indicates the broken fence. "I am sorry that your home has been damaged, but happy to meet you. It appears that this is where Freya would have me be for the time being."
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Caramir remains silent as words are exchanged about Zephyr, his eyes unconsciously looking for Shade. Although it was strange and unexpected the way the cat had entered his life, he nonetheless found himself worrying frequently about what may have happened to the animal he had so easily developed a bond with.
Once mother Molvor points out the wrecked part of the garden, he moves to inspect it - "How, and why would you assist us?" - he does ask of Mikka, as he searches the area.
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Morti and Caramir notice no footprints once again, and the flowers seem undisturbed. However, it appears the golem busted through the fence in the corner. Then it trampled the fenceposts as it walked through. Debris from the fence indicates northwards travel.
Just 40ft or so north of the garden, you notice a furry black shape -about level with Morti's head- clinging to the side of a tree.
"Voices in your head?"
Cyanne took a deep breath, eyeing the gnome.
A voice whispers, You have to tell him sometime. It's who you ARE.
She looks up, realizing that the canopy has opened up, and that she's standing in a shaft of sunlight.
"Now? My Lady, months of silence, and you talk to me now?" She closes her eyes, sighs and then turns to Kakao, her hair backlit like a halo of blue fire.
"Yes!" she says, defiantly. "Voices in my head. I hear them not every day, but often enough."
"I'm... She pauses uncertain of what word to use. Emissary? Herald?
No. I'm a miller's daughter. I don't need a fancy title.
"...I'm a messenger. Of Kel."
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"...I'm a messenger. Of Kel."
Kel!?! But she is dead...how the heck...think! What do I know about Kel?
Kakao is first puzzled, and then startled by the name. He rubs his chin a moment, then asks "You do know that is the name of a dead god, right? I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I'm pretty sure no one has received any blessings from that god since long before either of us were born, child."
Pausing, he adds "It is also an extremely dangerous things to say. Just the name can be enough to make enemies of some very bad people."
I do so hope she listens to me...
...Cyanne wanting to quiet some voices...
"Be careful what you wish for. If you listen, even an enemy can give you warnings. I'm not saying you should believe all you are told -- just that you should listen even when you know you are being lied to."
Looking around.
"So. Any ideas the direction the thing went? Looking over the damage, then addressing Mother. I'm not much good with fixing, but at the least I'd like to help clean some of this up, if I may"
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destroy evil beastie first, home improvement later. Let's find this thing Karl says, impatient to get to grips with their foe.
"You do know that is the name of a dead god, right? I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I'm pretty sure no one has received any blessings from that god since long before either of us were born, child."
Cyanne stiffens. "You don't have to believe me, Kakao." She starts striding angrily ahead.
"It is also an extremely dangerous things to say. Just the name can be enough to make enemies of some very bad people."
"Oh, why didn't I think of that?"
She kicks a rock out of the way, and shouts,
"Why didn't I think that I might draw the attention of a malevolent goddess who would see fit to curse me with my own personal pack of ghosts?! Why didn't I think that I would have to leave home? Or that I would have to tell my story over and over to disbelieving strangers?!"
"Be careful what you wish for. If you listen, even an enemy can give you warnings. I'm not saying you should believe all you are told -- just that you should listen even when you know you are being lied to."
"Do you think I wished for this?", she finally says quietly.
"Maybe I did. I pledged myself and all that I am into my lady's service without a second's thought. I am going to bring her back, Kakao. It matters not whether you believe me. It only matters that I do."
Kakao watches Cyanne storm ahead.
I suppose I could run, try to keep up... No, better to allow her to let off some steam. I will just try to keep her in sight.
"Do you think I wished for this?", she finally says quietly.
"Maybe I did. I pledged myself and all that I am into my lady's service without a second's thought. I am going to bring her back, Kakao. It matters not whether you believe me. It only matters that I do."
Catching most of what she said, Kakao replies "I was only talking about your wish to no longer hear some voices. I don't pretend to know every wish that may reside in your heart."
Think I better wait before talking to her about some of the other things she said. It will give me time to consider, and hopefully her time to cool down. Seems she is a woman of extremes, started out too wary and now perhaps she is too trusting. I wonder if that would be considered a form of over-indulgence...no I think not.
Kakao lengthens his stride a little as necessary, trying not to fall too far behind.