Her thoughts were not very devout as of late. Until she was married and unattended, her faith called her to service. These people did not know of her goddess and it was unlikely that they would accept the Twin-Souled. She envied her aunt, Priya, now beyond the years of marriage and service. Her aunt was free, even though Elena knew it wasn't a kind freedom. Her father still gave Priya "that look", the one of disgrace and shame.
But this was not Deshur, other vishkanya did not follow them here. Why not throw the oppressive shackles of an antiquated faith away? But...didn't her faith lead her to Drago? With a grunt, she lies on the bed, thinking of the dhampir's embrace and tender kisses. If he were here, it would be easier and she would be happy. I am earning my happiness...
"Please come back safe to me, Drago..." she whispers, holding back the tears.
"My name is Esmerelda and this is Valwick. It is a safe place, if you mean us no harm," the dhampir says, gauging the young fetchling. "Come, I will get you and your friend some food. Perhaps you can tell me your story."
Rajni gets up slowly with Shamara next to her. Following Esmerelda somewhat hesitantly she keeps looking around nervously, expecting at any moment for her father to jump out and drag her back "home".
As the dwarf approaches she flinches slightly, pulling herself inward as if expecting to be hit. The movement is completely reactionary and she seems to be having a hard time controlling the shaking.
Not knowing what to think....but remembering the stupid Orc and his big mouth brings a grimace to her face as she picks at the food on her plate. Is this the place that big oaf was referring to? What happened...there was that monstrous beast...then a light...but, I don't see the rest of them.... She seems to be lost in thought as Esmerelda asks her question. Shaking her head as if trying to rid herself of some distant memory, she looks up at Esmerelda while not quite meeting her eyes and speaks quietly, "I...I'm known as Rajni."
Moving the hood away from her face, a head of bright violet hair can be seen. From what Esmerelda can see of her face, she looks to be very young with pupilless glowing blue eyes that seem to dart around the room nervously.
"You are safe, Rajni. No one will hurt you here and, if they do, they will answer to me," Esmerelda says firmly. "How did you end up here? Clearly, it wasn't by ship."
She shakes her head...."Nope...a loud mouth Orc most likely. If he would have just listened to me in the first place than none of this would have happened. There was a battle...a bunch of dark orcs and that oaf just kept running his mouth, talking about things he knew nothing about.....then, the Linnorm appeared...awoken by our arguing....and hungry. It knocked me back and snatched up the two females he was travelin with.....next thing I know...there was this really bright light and...then..." She shrugs and points at Esmerelda, "Then there was you and I and Shamara were lying on a beach."
She looks down for a moment, her hands tremble as she reaches down to stroke Shamara's head, "I suppose father will be very displeased....he....he doesn't like it when his things are taken away from him...."
Rajni looks up at Esmerelda, her eyes have a weary look to them and her voice trembles slightly as she talks about the man who took her in.
"He...he's not my real father....but it's been so long I barely remember my own parents...they died when I was about seven. The Ranger's guild found me wondering in the forest, and took me in...until...." She has to stop for a moment, her mouth has gone dry and she takes a drink before continuing.
"His name is Lord Farron of Lidande.....he was a councilman when he...bought me from the Rangers Guild....fifteen years ago."
She looks down at her plate of food, not understanding why she should actually feel hungry until she looks down at her hand and notices that her ring is gone. Looking at her hand she shakes her head. Damn it...just what I need....oh well...it must have come off when I was being tossed about in the ocean.
While caught up in her thoughts, the tear that falls down her cheek goes unnoticed by Rajni as she is filled with some kind of feeling that she's never experienced before....hope? Is this what it feels like? Who am I to deserve such help?
After a few minutes she gently pulls her hand back. Getting up from her meal, Shamara puts her front paws up on Rajni's lap and nuzzles her side. Rajni absentmindedly rubs the top of the cats head as she regards Esmerelda for a moment.
Shaking her head she takes a breath before speaking, her voice is thick with emotion as she addresses Esmerelda. "I....I don't know what to say.....he's not normal...he's something else....something bad. He tries to hide is true nature....but, it still comes out sometimes. Usually when I've done something he doesn't like....he most definitely won't like this. I could be putting your entire town in danger by being here....he'll stop at nothing to take me back. I....I just...you don't know me....I couldn't ask that of you...of the people who live here. Skaar might have been a boorish oaf....but....he was always throwing himself in the line of danger to protect 'the girls'...I don't even know what happened to them....but maybe that Goddess he was talking with had something to do with that, and with me ending up here...."
She pauses. "So, you met Skaar...he disappeared from here a while back. He left a woman with child here, but the goddess Sarenrae took her to him."
She nods to herself, wondering about much.
Pausing for a moment she wipes her face with her wet sleeve, "I think...I hope he's happy now....not that I knew him that well or anything...but I didn't know about his woman. He didn't talk about her that much. He was too busy trying to impose his own views on me and that dark skinned woman and Undine he traveled with." She looks back up at Esmerelda, "I'm sorry....I don't mean to sound like....I don't know I'm ungrateful or anything or like I'm putting him down...it's just...he really got on my damned nerves."
Rajni nods her head as Shamara walks beside her. She looks around, amazed at everything going on. The children laughing and playing in the streets. Couples sitting outside on their porches sipping drinks and laughing. This was nothing like where she came from where screams of terror and violence were usually the order of the day. Would he really come here to look for me? Am I endangering everyone around me by coming here? I don't understand all these....feelings.
At Esmerelda's mention of the Paladins Rajni turns her head to look at her, "So...you seem...different from everyone else, actually from most I've ever met. You said you came here not long ago.....where did you come from?"
She falls silent, shaken by the fact that she shared so much with a stranger. "I am a dhampir...a half-vampire...thanks to my mother. So, I share your sentiments about sunlight."
She walks to the paladins' barracks and sees Godrick and Barclay sitting outside. "Evening, Barclay. Good evening, Godrick."
The old paladin offers a kind smile. "Your weariness speaks for itself. Esmerelda, is there room at the Common House for her? If there is, then have her get set up there. I shall send word to Asha and Priya, the young woman needs some clothes."
Rajni stares open mouthed at the ancient looking Paladin and the slightly younger one standing next to him.
She shuts her mouth and gives them both a slight bow, "Thank you...I am....I'm humbled by your kindness." Is a new beginning really possible...?
Looking at Esmerelda she nods, "Yes ma'am." Rajni follows her to the Common House, Shamara right behind her.
She leads her to the empty room at the end of the hall. The dhampir gestures at the clean bed and comfortable amenities. "There is a bathroom upstairs. The tailors will be expecting us. We shouldn't keep them waiting too long."
The dhampir smiles at the cat. "Whichever is the most comfortable to you. I am sure Asha and Priya would not mind you having your friend by your side."
The vanara recoiled from the large rock creatures out of instinct. They were many times his size, after all, with fists capable of crushing him in a single blow. Yet he could not abandon his allies.
But what can I do against them?
Their exteriors looked impenetrable. He didn't have some relic of a weapon like Sadhana did. Harakhty realized he would have to fight them through his friends.
Invoking the tamer side of his lord, Harakhty's left hand shimmered with a faint ivory glow as he touched the magus. "Be brave - and lucky, Sadhana."
Rajni signals for Shamara to 'come', as they walk outside Rajni looks at the ground. "Free?" It was a foreign concept to her and she didn't know how quite to react to it. Looking at Esmerelda again, her eyebrows knitted together she said, "I know I have reached that age...and to you perhaps I am an adult...it's just...I've never really been treated like one. Father said that as long as I am unwed I have to remain under guardianship....his word is all I've ever had...I wasn't allowed to have friends or go out on my own unless on an "approved" mission. Rules were strictly adhered to...or...or...well, it just wasn't good. It's...it's different here...I can feel it...but, I don't know how to deal with it yet."
Rajni shudders thinking of her father and tries to shake the feelings of dread that she's having.
The dhampir opens the door and holds it for Rajni.
"So you here to avenge that know-it-all vanara, that insufferable nagaji or that pious Valanian?" Jahlrem asks. "They were all trash, they were all unworthy to look upon my master."
Sienna wastes no time, bombarding the closest elemental with augmented Magic Missiles.
Round 1: Harakhty, Jahlrem, Sienna, Arista, Sādhanā, Elementals, Cyna, Ylrhea, Drago
The older of the vishkanya smiles. "Anything you desire we will provide to you. Clothing-wise, of course."
"Thanks Harakhty, " the magus says quietly, her eyes never leaving their enemies.
"That and more, your death has been a long time coming you treacherous son of a b&+$+. In the name of Aroden and Zahvroma itself, I'm going to cut off your head."
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A scowl on her face, Arista looks at Jahlrem as her eyes narrow. "YOU are the one who is unworthy....unworthy of life. Sarenrae has called for your destruction herself, so it shall be done. My name is Arista Milocathe, you killed one of her most beloved servants, prepare to die!"
Spreading out her arms to encompass her friends around her, she calls out to her Goddess.
As she feels Arista's blessing fill her she begins a new chant, learned from her new spellbook. A feeling of raw power floods her body as strength flows into her muscles. With a simple command she calls upon the power embedded in her cloak, augmenting her speed.
"Зефир"
Spying the nightgowns on a table she looks over at Priya, "Do...do you think I could have one of these?"
The elementals move up, forming a wall aside from a narrow aisle. They swing at the magus and the warpriestess. The remaining earth elemental pounds away at the floor.
;
Round 1: Harakhty, Jahlrem, Sienna, Arista, Sādhanā, Elementals, Cyna, Ylrhea, Drago
Ylrhea looks at the large stone figures and realizes there isn't much she can do. She steps forward and prepares to dive between the elemental's legs and move to the other side.
Ylrhea's attempt isn't enough to get past the elemental, who sends a crushing fist her way.
;
Round 1: Harakhty, Jahlrem, Sienna, Arista, Sādhanā, Elementals, Cyna, Ylrhea, Drago
Rajni gives her a small tentative smile, "Thank you...yes that all sounds fine."
The tailors wave good night to the ranger and Esmerelda as they close up their shop for the night.
Settling into the bed, she wraps an arm around Shamara as they both drift off to sleep.
Cyna shoots forward trying to put down the elemental pounding on the floor. Leaving herself open to attack as she does so.
The pounding quickly brought the thoughts of the chamber above back to Harakhty; in his head, he'd expected the dwarven settlement to be a place of industry and production.
As he'd wandered the city with Arista and Cyna earlier though, it seemed the place had seen better days. The general store seemed out-of-use, and the tailor appeared to have little to no business as well. Is everything in this land in disrepair? Harakhty had only known of dwarves from second-hand conversations, and he'd expected them to be blunt and unwelcoming - similar to himself. Yet they'd been warmer here. Perhaps in the face of adversity.
As the elementals took their positions in front of him, he wondered how the masters of the earth and let their domain slip from their grasp. Yes, it was true Jahlrem had his was of commanding them, but didn't the dwarves?
Before they'd reconvened in the mayor's office, Harakhty had taken a short spell to offer prayers for guidance and protection to Nethys. To do so, he'd looked for the town's temple - but he'd had to make to with one of Torag's shrines. How odd he must have looked there, out of the trees, under the earth, and praying to a mismatched god for the structure. Then he strapped on his buckler and prepared to move from the wall.
In truth, Harakhty had been mismatched all his life. This was his opportunity to change that. Arista made her place in the world with kindness and charity; while that wasn't his cup of tea, the sly simian had his own ways.
As his thoughts returned to the battle before him. He conjured the same boon to his right hand and tapped Arista's shoulder with it. "I would keep both of you safe," he stated in a stentorian voice to be heard over the elementals.
Drago concentrated on the Elemental Sienna bombarded with a spell of his own. In a rising tone, he said, "Jikmada!"
The elemental take as swing at Cyna as she dashes by, but fails to connect.
Jahlrem laughs, the temple echoing with his raspy cackle.
Sienna takes a step back to the entryway of the temple and fires more missiles at the wounded elemental. "We need to fall back and get some space."
Round 2: Harakhty, Jahlrem, Sienna, Arista, Sādhanā, Elementals, Cyna, Ylrhea, Drago
Arista touches her sword and says a silent prayer to Sarenrae as the sword glows for a moment.
Arista lifts her sword and brings it down on the large elemental.
Being thrown off by their attacks, her own just misses. She moves a step to her right so that she can move back if need be.
Spitting blood from the brutal blow, Sādhanā growls with anger as she moves in a blur of action, bringing her blade to bear on the massive elemental.
Evan as she moves her mind tries desperately to rgrasp anything that would give them an edge against the forces of nature standing against them.
Flooded with adrenaline, she can think of nothing more than to attack again, sword striking with greater accuracy and focus.
"Drago, Harakhty, fall back!"