Sienna folds her arms. "So he asks for all of us, but then only wants to speak to Arista and Fae? I hope I don't get that weird when I'm old."
Gwen looks at her mother. "Perhaps he doesn't trust others as much as those two? Some people can be particular."
"I guess," Sienna says.
She nods, "Yes please."
Arista follows Ard along with Fae.
Alethiro hands Celine one of the tea biscuits on a napkin.
She sits down and happily munches away on the treat.
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"Maybe it's a priestess only club?" Cyna says.
"I dunno," Sienna sighs, taking a cup of tea from the table.
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Once in the other room, Ard pulls out a weathered notebook. "I'll get right to the point. I know that Cthulhu's time draws near. There exists a stone tablet on Zahvroma with the power to banish Cthulhu. It is called the Elder Sign. There are only a handful in existence, but one happens to be in the Grey Plains...where the gates to R'lyeh lie in wait. While you could combat Cthulhu, you would most likely lose your lives. The Elder Sign is perhaps your best chance at success. However, you would also need to know the mantras to activate it. For that, you would need to search out the lost paladins of Iomedae. Rumor has it they inhabit a haunted town..."
Ard looks around the room and scribbles a name on a piece of paper, handing it to Arista. "I daren't say the name...there are those who would seek to ensure Cthulhu's arrival and triumph. The death cults grow bolder each day and the last king of Lakarra supports them. While Lysse remains under protection...things happen not far from our walls."
She stares at him for a moment with a look of disbelief before solemnly nodding her head, "I thought some pretty strange stuff was going on in Aquines, but I just couldn't quite understand what it was. Although I'm not really sure exactly what this creature is that you're speaking of, it sounds like a dire threat and we will do our best to take care of it. I can't go with the others this time though, I have a small one at home and another one on the way. Is there anything you can tell us about this haunted town? Do you know where it is, and what is this Grey Plains you speak of? I'm sorry...these are just things I've never heard of before so I'm having trouble understanding." She says with a perplexed look on her face.
Looking at Cyna she shrugs, "Well, I guess I can talk to him about what we saw at the tower after he's done talking to them?"
Still looking a little confused she takes the paper from him and looks at it.
The paper reads "Ilneas".
Ard shakes his head. "I can't offer more than rumors. In the last age, an expedition headed by the Church of Iomedae came to Zahvroma and managed to get pretty far inland. What happened to them is a mystery, though people have claimed to see their spirits wandering the countryside. The town is about twenty miles from Chalandra's domain to the northwest. Though the necromancer, Tichran, lays claim to the area, the dark elves stick to the underground. The surface..."
Ard shrugs. "Who knows what you'll find there? As for the Grey Plains, that is where the body of Malfeliax fell after he devoured the shard of the sky. It is a barren area where the bones of devil, demon, daemon and humanoids alike make up the ground. No one dares to go there, perhaps that is why I believe the Elder Sign is still there."
"Thank you for the information. We'll do whatever it takes to keep such evils from taking hold here." Fae says trying to reassure the man.
Her eyes get a little large at all the information. Of all the times to be.....no, I can't think about it like that. I just have to trust the others to take care of this too.
Taking a breath she says, "Yes, thank you. Like Fae said, I have every confidence that they will handle the situation appropriately. I think Tesia had something to ask you about, and I need to go speak with the Baron about something. Here ya go Fae, could you just let the others know what's going on?" She asks while handing the piece of paper with the name of the town on it to her. "I'm sorry...I don't mean to seem so abrupt or anything, but if I think about it too much I'll want to go deal with it right now and I can't....or shouldn't. There are a lot of things going on and I just...I don't know. Are you okay talking to the others while I take care of things with the Baron Fae?" It wasn't that she didn't care about what was going on, she just didn't like that shed couldn't go with them. It left her feeling even more uneasy. Sadhana would kill me, and I can't break the promises that I made to myh family. All of them are important to me, but this baby is just as important. Get it together Milocathe.
As they finish eating Sadhana sighs contentedly. "So, ready to go check in on them?"
Ylrhea wipes her mouth with a napkin. "As ready as ever."
Ard escorts Fae and Arista back to the others.
"Of course, I'll let them know what's going on. Please take your time." Fae answers.
"I'm ready when you are." Celia says finishing her meal, and looking forward to helping those in need.
"Yep, he seemed pretty concerned about whatever it was." Rhadaya comments
Arista comes back out with Fae looking slightly distraught, but tries to cover it for Celine's sake. Going to her husband and daughter she looks up at Alethiro while putting on a smile for Celine, "Hey honey....why don't we go see a friend of mommy's and then we can go shopping. Maybe even find some more things for you to play with at home? Would you like that sweetie?" She tries to keep her tone even and calm to fight down every instinct that's screaming at her to take her sword and lay a righteous path of destruction upon those doing such evil deeds....but....she just couldn't do it. Not right now, and not like this. Taking a deep breath she wraps her arms around Celine and holds her for a moment before letting go. Letting the sweet embrace of her daughter quell the need for her sword. Taking another breath she just lets it out slowly as she tries her best to be the wife and mother she was supposed to be.
As soon as Arista comes out with Fae, Tesia knows that whatever they talked about was not a good thing. More....disturbing than the look on her face though is the quiet calm tone that she uses to speak to Celine, as if trying to hold back every single feeling she was having at the moment. She just shakes her head as she approaches Ard, "Sir, there were some things that my wife and I needed to talk to you about now, if you have the time of course? It's about....the tower of order and some things that we found there."
Celine just cocks her head to the side for a moment as her eyebrows seem to knit together while studying her mothers face. Her tone was soft....but it wasn't right. It sounded....rough, like she was forcing the words through. When mommy hugged Celine it felt more like she was clinging to her.
Not sure how to react to mommy's strange behavior her lower lip quivers slightly as she places a small hand on each of her mommy's cheeks before staring into her eyes. Feeling her face....it was still mommy....but why did she look like that? Was she sad? Was she upset at Celine? Her lip sticks out a little further as she says in a soft shaky voice, "Mommy? Mommy....no crying?"
Giving her daughter a shaky smile she shakes her head, "No baby, I'm not crying. It's okay, let's just go for now okay? We'll see everyone later for dinner." Glancing over at Alethiro she tries not to look like she feels. Like she's drowning and she can't breath. Standing up she holds out a hand to Celine and the other to Alethiro, "We better get on over to the Baron's place so we can see what else we can find." While keeping her tone calm and even, the look she gives Alethiro is one that seems like she really wants to talk to him...just not while surrounded by everyone.
As they get ready to go she looks at Cyna, "So, we'll meet you guys back at the square in a couple of hours then? Is that alright?"
"Sounds good, see you then." Cyna answers.
Nodding she gives her a smile, "Thanks Cyna."
"Come on, Gwen," Sienna says, wrapping her arm around Cyna's. "Time to look for flowers."
"Okay," Gwen says. "Coming, Aunt Fae?"
"Everything alright, love?" Alethiro asks as they head to the Baron's estate.
Looking down at Celine before looking back up at him she asks, "Could we maybe talk later after someone goes to sleep? There's just...stuff and I don't want to talk about it in front of little ears. Is that okay honey? I'm sorry...I don't mean to be so....distracted, I'm just trying to....I don't know." She says before sighing and looking down at the ground as they walk through the town together.
Ard nods at Tesia. "I'm all ears."
Alethiro looks at his wife for a moment, sighs and then nods. "Yes, that's fine."
Fae nods excitedly. "Oh yes! I mean, I'd love to." She answers.
Gwen smiles at her aunt's enthusiasm.
"If we're all done here, then we'll just head on out," Sienna says with a glance at Tesia and Rhadaya.
Ylrhea gets up and waits for Sadhana.
Ard nods at Tesia. "I'm all ears."
Tesia explains about what they had seen at the tower of order and what the strange writing said, "Does any of that mean anything to you?"
"If we're all done here, then we'll just head on out," Sienna says with a glance at Tesia and Rhadaya.
Looking back at Sienna she nods, "Yeah, you guys go ahead by all means. We're just asking Ard about those constellations and stuff that we saw at the tower of order after Sadhana completely restored it. We'll come find you when we're done here, shouldn't be too hard to spot all the flowers." She says with a large smile.
Ylrhea gets up and waits for Sadhana.
Smiling Sadhana gets up, taking Ylrhea's hand as they leave.
Shaking her head she says, "Look honey, I'm not trying to be difficult or a pain or anything. It's just...some habits are really hard to break. We've been made aware of some things that are going on, but there are other things that are just as important that need to be seen to as well. The girls deserve a wonderful wedding day free from stress and worry, and I trust the others to deal with these things that have come up because I have a family that I love, that means more to me than anything and I would never do anything that might risk me or our baby. I love you, and I love these girls and I will never do anything that would risk you losing either of us. Our family is my greatest treasure and I love you more than anything Alethiro....so, the others can deal with the threats outside of Valwicks walls, and I'll make sure everyone at home stays safe and that we're building a community that strong and full of people that are willing to do their part to keep it safe. I'm not alone and I don't have to put the weight of the entire world on my shoulders, and I know that. We all share in that responsibility, and right now....my responsibility is to my family, to you, to Celine....and to the little one growing inside of me. Never doubt for one second of one day that this family is everything to me. I'm sorry if I've seemed distant and aloof....I don't mean to be. It's just so hard with everything going on, and Konstyntyna was right, it's just one thing after another, after another, after another....but I can't keep taking risks and I know that...but it's not gonna keep me from worrying about those that do and even though I love you and our girls more than life itself....I love them too and I just want everyone to come home safely." She pauses to wipe her eyes as they approach the door of the Baron's estate, "I love you...and I'm sorry if I hurt you sometimes. I don't mean to...I just have a lot on my mind and sometimes it's hard for me to separate things in my head, but I'm trying okay? I will always put our family first. There is nothing more important that what I have at home with you, and from now on....if something is bothering me, I'll talk to you about it and stop trying to shut you out...even if it isn't on purpose. I have to learn how to communicate better and I know that. I just didn't want you to think that I was going to go off and do something stupid....again." She says wiping her eyes again as she gives him a chance to think about what she said and respond. She'd rather clear the air now than think about it the whole time she's trying to deal with town business. While standing at the door she puts her arms around him, "The main point is...you and the girls are the most important thing in my life and I'm so sorry if I don't always show it or make you feel like you're the most important thing to me. All I can do is tell you that I love you, I'm sorry, and I'll try to do better. Okay love?" She asks while holding onto him as if he's her lifeline to sanity. Unable to keep her emotions completely in check, a few more tears fall as she realizes that she might have been taking her family for granite as well.
Ylrhea pays for their meals and smiles as they head over to the Common House.
Sienna wanders with Cyna and Gwen toward the Green Circle's enclave. "So what colors should we look for?"
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"Something to go with the dresses we picked out right?" Cyna answers with a question.
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