Sevak feels relief at seeing Paq moving, and so turns his focus to the quicklings. Though they have trouble hurting him, he will have trouble hitting them... and he has nothing forged of cold iron. He will have to hit hard.
Sevak's first blow misses, the quickling sticking his tongue out at him in response.
Giggling and jabbering in some other tongue, they attack again, this time trying to edge around him to flank.
Again the blade hits but bounces off and Sevak feels more frustration then fear. He does have the idea he only needs to hurt them a bit to drive them off.
Behind him he can hear Hyo Soon muttering. In front of him an area starts to glow a bright blue. Out of it hops a large frog, obviously summoned by the female wizard.
With a lunge the frog hops forward and bites one of the quicklings. The gaping mouth latches onto the struggling fey, grappling with it. The fey curses and flails wildly at the shimmering creature.
"My thanks, Hyo Soon," Sevak calls, then turns his attention to the not-presently-grappled quickling.
Sevak swings faster this time and catches the giggling fey. It stops laughing quickly as the keen blade slices through the drab clothes and into the gray-ish skin. Red blood instantly starts to well up as the quickling staggers back. It looks wounded but not quite on death's door. With a snarl it leaves Sevak and Hyo Soon and attacks the fallen Paq.
The other writhes in front of Sevak, still grabbed by the frog.
"You will leave him be!" Sevak shouts, racing to follow it.
Sevak attacks the fey, his blade slashing the already wounded quickling. It crumples to the ground into a bloody heap. Instantly the other ones, seeing this, vanish in blurs of speed, leaving everyone else behind. Even Hyo Soon's frog is left snapping at empty air.
At her door the hag stands upright, flames in hand, glaring at Sevak.
"And now?" She asks, breathing hard.
Sevak lowers his sword, though he remains wary. "That depends on whether or not you threaten the people of this region," he says, watching her reaction.
The hag shrugs, "I threaten those who endanger me, like anyone else. I have helped some in towns or those int he city, when they ask for it. Sometimes they have not cared for the prices they have paid but such is the way of men in these times."
The hag eyes Sevak closely, "I could help you, you know. With the shadow that lingers behind you. It haunts your dreams, I'd bet.." she cackles a bit but say adds, "There are ways to purge the souls of such things."
Sevak glances at Paq to see how he is doing, then turns back to the hag.
"I would be rid of it, it is true, but I am wary now of fair promises mingled with dark magic. What would your price be, and how am I to know the cure would not be worse than the shadow?"
Paq is slowly getting to his feet, rubbing his chest as if he was hit there. He nods to Sevak though and seems well enough.
The hag glances at the ratfolk and cackles, "Not all doors are so easy to open, thief. Take care." she turns her bony, green-ish face back to Sevak, 'Shall we enter my home? I can explain there, if you like. The sun...it pains me."
She waves a skeletal hand toward the dark opening.
Sevak frowns. "You can likely understand my wariness about entering. Perhaps I might stand at the door, and you within?"
The hag grins, revealing a set of greenish, scraggly teeth. 'So the fly knows a web when he sees it? Good." She steps into the shade of the huge, gnarled tree and sighs, "This should suffice."
Hyo Soon starts to look worried that she is traveling with a man who has a 'dark shadow' that hags are respectful of.
Half-sitting, half standing she goes on, "I make no fair promise. The evil spirit that follows you has it's hooks deep within you, but I could restore some of your power." She squints, "Perhaps that which allows you to change shape?"
"I strive to not repeat my errors," Sevak replies.
The hag's words strike a thought in Sevak. What if it is the Dark One herself who blocks his connection with nature, in an attempt to make him dependent upon her?
He eyes the hag warily. "Such would be useful in days to come, but what would the price for such be?"
"Not as high as I'd usually charge, considering you just saved my life." the hag says, long nailed fingers tapping on the twisted tree root. "Where do you travel to? The ruined city? There are items there that could be very valuable to me..."
Sevak bows his head in thought. It would be very useful to be able to change forms once again... to at least have a little power back, to be able to...
Power. Was that really what this was about? Was he really considering this again? Had he learned nothing?
He took a half step back, shaking his head.
"No. No, I will not deal with you. Once already I dealt with a dark one, and it has brought me nothing but misery. I will not do so again."
The hag grimaces, 'So you believe me to be foul? Untrustworthy? Like so many you let your fear blind you. Very well, so be it. I thank you, whatever cold thanks are worth, nagaji. I hope others do not judge you by your appearance as you judged me." Without a further word she vanishes into the tree, out of sight.
Behind him Hyo Soon takes a step away and says, 'What is all this about a dark one? Who is that?"
It is for more than appearance that I judge you, Sevak thinks as the hag leaves, thinking of the feel of evil magic, of the way she seemed to respect the Dark One's touch.
He sighs at Hyo Soon's question. "It seems I must burden you with my sorrows. Come, I will tell you along the way," he says as he turns from the tree.
Sevak pauses as he is about to start walking. "Are you well, Paq?" he asks, realizing that his friend might not be up to traveling just yet.
"What sorrows?" Hyo Soon says, not moving to follow them. "Tell me what this is all about or I'm leaving."
Paq meanwhile rubs his thin chest and stands up, "Using magic to lock doors is cheating, you know..."
Sevak sighs. "I would prefer to not have this conversation on this doorstep, but very well."
He pauses, trying to figure out how to best explain his past, then looks up at Hyo Soon. "I was once the servant of a powerful naga in Nagajor, a druid and warrior of nature used to defend others of her servants and for whatever other purposes she saw fit. However, as in any court of a ruling noble, a lower servant such as myself primarily received commands through higher servants."
"He from whom I received orders betrayed me. He told me my former mistress had chosen me to partake in an ancient ritual, when she had done no such thing. I went to an ancient shrine of the naga, and there... I faced... trials."
Sevak hangs his head in shame, unable to look Hyo Soon, or anyone for that matter. "Trials... that showed me my former faith in the naga was founded only on tradition. That I knew nothing of their true intentions. And so when I reached the end of the ritual, and drank what I soon found was poison... I thought I had been betrayed. And in truth I had been, but not how I thought."
Sevak's voice is barely above a whisper now. [smaller]"I thought I was dying. I felt the fire of venom in my veins. And so... when a Dark One, a spirit naga, appeared, and offered to save my life... I accepted her touch."
He shudders and falls silent for a long moment, before forcing himself to continue. "I was exiled, cast out for defiling the shrine, on pain of death. In truth I would have exiled myself, for I now saw just how vile all of the naga were, the injustice of my entire nation." He hesitates, not quite sure if he should add this part, but something tells him he should. "My former mistress blinded me when she cast me out. For months I survived mostly thanks to Paq, trying my best to learn to live in darkness... but the darkness that troubled me most was not my physical blindness. In time he found some who would help me, other ratfolk who sent me to a place sacred to one called Immonhiel, where I was healed of my blindness... but not of the stain on my soul."
"Paq and I then had to flee Nagajor. Once free of pursuit, I tried to do good, hoping..." he paused, swallowed to fight the tightness in his throat, then continued, "Hoping that I might perhaps do something where I... I could look back and say, that thing is better because I was here, there is someone who could say that their life is better because of me, seeking... seeking redemption, I suppose."
He shakes his head and murmurs, "I do not know if that is the case. It is a hard thing not to know if the world would have been better without you."
Hyo Soon takes in this story silently, her large eyes fixed on Sevak. As he nears the end of his tale she draws herself up and turns to Paq, "And what do you say to all of this?"
The still slightly wheezing ratfolk looks at her and says, 'It was an exciting time."
The female wizard purses her lips and says, carefully, "I will follow you for now, but if you do anything...evil, I'll protect myself."
Sevak nods solemnly. "Do not hesitate to do what you must. My error the first time was to prefer life to virtue. I would not so err again."
Sevak looks Paq over for a bit, wondering if he needs some healing.
The ratfolk waves Sevak's concern away, "I'm fine. Just a blow tot he ribs, nothing darker. Frankly, I'm surprised it didn't turn me into a newt or anything." He coughs and stands up fully, "So, no firebolts this time?" he remarks to Sevak as they begin the rest of the journey down river. "Magic under control?>"
"You have magic?" Hyo Soon says, 'Is it...dark magic?"
Sevak shakes his head. "It is not. At the least, I have found nothing about it to suggest it is."
He hesitates a moment, then adds, "I did, however, only find that I have it yesterday. As I said, I was once a druid, but my folly severed my connection with nature. As for what this is...?"
He shrugs slightly. "My best guess is that it is as those sorcerers who find power within themselves, but the truth is I know not."
"Well, not just sorcerers. Wizard gain power from themselves, but through study." Hyo Soon says, obviously falling into a subject she knows well, 'It is academic learning that opens magical talent. Sorcerers just have that innately. Perhaps you always had that inner well and have only recently discovered it?" The wizard says, as they walk along the scattered trees, leaving the hag behind them.
Paq plays scout, obviously bored with any debate about magic.The ratfolk combs through the trees and brush, sometimes heading to the river's edge. Once they find an old abandoned camp, probably used by the soldiers from the fort on patrols. Otherwise, there is no sign of civilization.
Sevak shrugs slightly. "Perhaps? How would I know this? The study of magic is not common amongst nagaji. That is left to the naga."
He shakes his head slightly. "Perhaps if I had known more I would not have accidentally set fire to an abandoned stable when I discovered this power," he says, ruefully.
Hyo Soon's face actually breaks into a smile and she says, 'Oh yes. Once, in a class, I accidentally summoned an eagle! It blew papers everywhere and smashed out a windows."
Then, realizing she has said too much, closes her mouth and stays rather quiet. It is obvious she does not trust Sevak as much.
Just as evening starts to set in, the air cooling and sun setting, Paq calls them down to the river bank. There, from the thin muddy shore the ratfolk points over the water.
Farther down the river, there is a dark smudge, punctuated by a few crumbling shapes rearing into the sky. At this distance it is hard to see anything else but Sevak notes it is present on both sides of the river.
"Our ruined city?" Paq says, "I doubt there is more then one."
Sevak sighs. He can understand her fear, but the truth is that he needs help. How is he to learn to be good and wise if no one good or wise will teach him? He pushes the thought aside. He will simply have to earn her trust.
He is silent the rest of the day as they travel, focused inward. Paq's call shakes him from his reverie.
"Most likely," Sevak agrees. "We had best have a cold camp this night, or at the least hide our fire well. We will not wish to light a beacon for any bandits looking this way."
Hyo Soon speaks up, "I can at least stay in something more comfortable then tents on the hard ground."
She concentrates on a few of the trees, mutters some words. Instantly webbing materializes on the trees, making what looks like a cross between a tent and a hammock, complete with little door. Smiling to herself the wizard wishes them both a good night and quickly clambers inside.
Paq eyes her then says, in a low voice, "I don't think she likes you Sevak. Can't imagine why. Must be the scales. Or well, the inevitable shadow of doom that follows you?" The ratfolk grins and sets to work making a crude fishing pole to try his luck in the muddy river. Sevak knows from experience Paq doesn't mind eating stuff raw (although he does prefer it cooked).
Sevak wishes Hyo Soon a polite good night in return.
He shakes his head slightly at Paq's levity. "After today's revelations, I am hardly surprised." He pauses. "Had I even told you as much before, my friend?"
The ratfolk shurgs, his dark form a mere shadow in the growing darkness, "I guessed much of it. I do not worry about such things. Unlike our wizard, I know the world is full of gray, not black and white. You seem a good companion, if you don't I'll stab you in you sleep and take your things."
He throws his line into the water with a splash. he points his barely visible tail to the now invisible city. 'So, what is your plan?"
"Much depends on the circumstances when we arrive," Sevak replies, staring out into the darkness. "If there are few bandit guards about, we may well be able to sneak in and retrieve Hyo Soon's artifact, after which I hope she will be willing to assist us in dealing with the Red Mouth. While I would prefer a diplomatic solution, having arcane firepower as backup seems a wise idea."
He falls silent for a long moment, then finally adds, "I wish we knew more of this Red Mouth. I know not if he or she can be reasoned with, much less how best to approach them. But from all appearances we must assume that any approach will be met with hostility... but I have no desire to strike first."
'I could scout ahead? Send me out ahead of you and I can report back what I find. I'm much better at sneaking around then you, and certainly better then our latest addition. Or, even better, have me poke around the bandits while you break into the ancient vault? Unless you feel you'd need me if you ran into a locked door?" The ratfolk sounds amused.
Sevak hesitates, then nods. "I suspect Hyo Soon may have magic for locked doors," he says. "Just be careful, Paq. It may well be that this Red Mouth has magic to detect intruders or spies somehow. But I would be very grateful if you would scout."
'Do you want me to go now?' the ratfolk asks idly, as if they had not marched all day, including a fight against the annoying fey (and his own mis-guided attempt to rob a hag lair).
"I think you had best rest first, Paq," Sevak says, concerned for his friend.
Sevak can't see in the dark but he guesses Paq shrugs. Soon the little ratfolk has gathered two or three fish out of the river and begins eating. He offers Sevak a raw trout. "Not cooked, but beggars can't be choosers."
Sevak cannot help but chuckle a bit as he takes the fish. "I think I know that too well, my friend. Rest well."
The night is quiet and dark, and the gently running river lulls Sevak to sleep. Not that he needs it. It had been a long day and his muscles are sore from the long march and the brief fight with the fey.
However, his dreams are muddled and dark.
Out of them, he sees a pair of glowing red eyes and a voice intones, 'So, at least you have the wit not to barter with hags."
Sevak had thought to meditate before sleep, but his fatigue wipes away any such designs.
He is unsurprised to find the Dark One visit his dreams, but hardly pleased.
"Would I had learned such wisdom earlier," Sevak replies to her."I might have saved myself much anguish."
The naga chuckles, apparently in a good mood, 'Am I so bad a master? Do you want me to take a more active hand in your development?"
The eyes flash then, "Your anguish is just your old skin being shed. Once you embrace these new powers, you will have all your old abilities and more. Already your new shape is strong and inspires fear. It is not my fault you refuse to use it."
Before he quite thinks through the implications of his words, Sevak states, "I would have no master."
There is a pause then, almost on confusion, "But such is the way of the world. Slaves have owners, servants have masters, soldiers have generals. Power, and the use of it over others, is what separates us from the beasts of the field. You may deny it, as do some, but ti is foolish. Look at my brothers and sisters. They rule Nagajor, as is their right. Of course they shy from true power, as I have achieved, but at least they strive. They desire, they seek."
A long hiss, "So it is with all things. Take this bandits you venture towards, do you not seek to impose your mastery upon them?"
Her argument matches his old life... but what of now? Is he the master of Paq, or Paq Sevak's master? Nothing binds the ratfolk to him but whatever friendship they have.
"Is persuasion mastery?" Sevak questions, keeping these thoughts to himself. "I have no desire to rule over them, only to turn them from their course. It is true that I would use force to do so if I must, but that is to preserve the lives and livlihoods of others, not for myself. I wish to linger no longer than I must to see this done."
The spirit naga chuckles again, "What difference between persuasion, trickery or force? Clever words can be just as cutting as any blade. I gained you, who may yet be a useful servant, in such a fashion. I held no knife to your throat or sword to your heart. Will you not fool these bandits if you have a chance?"
'As for leaving, that merely makes you a poor steward. You could stay, bind them to you, and enforce your will. If you wish for them to kill less or till the soil, I could help you. I find it an odd goal, but a worthy one. This could indeed be a good place to train you, in exercising your power over others." The naga seems musing over the idea.
"Why would you find it a worthy goal?" Sevak asks. He has no true idea as to the Dark One's motives or thoughts--if she would speak to them, the understanding might aid him someday.
'You would take this land and make it your own. Impose your will upon it, make these bandits your servants. It is a worthy goal, although I do not know why you would do this just to prevent bloodshed. But as master, it would be your right. The ends matter little, it is the means." The naga says then adds, "Your other form would aid you a great deal in this task. What better shape to rule men, then as their rightful gods?"
The naga starts to fade, and then the red eyes vanish.
Sevak awakes with a start and his eyes flutter open.
A bright dawn is sweeping over this flat land, turning the river into a road of gold and the few trees into black outlines. Paq is not here, but Hyo Soon appears to still be asleep in her little magical cocoon.
Sevak takes a few moments to think over the night's conversation. Power... was that really the Dark One's entire motivation? Power for its own sake, with no thought of how it was to be used? That seemed... pointless. Almost literally so.
...is power, itself, evil?
...no, it was the unbounded pursuit of it that is evil, Sevak feels. The goodly gods have power also, do they not? But he does not think they got to be what they are by pursuing power itself. Once again, he wishes he knew more of other religions.
Turning outwards, he notes the beauty of dawn. With a bit of a smile on his face, he bows towards it and murmurs, "I thank Immonhiel for the gift of sight."
The he settles down to meditate. Perhaps Hyo Soon does so, for her magic? He pushes the thought aside for now, instead focusing on the natural world around him... and on the magic within himself.
There is certainly enough nature around as he focuses. Birds are singing their morning chorus all around him, dozens of types hiding among the trees. Frogs are hopping along the muddy banks, and Sevak can hear fish jumping out in the river. An old turtle pokes his head up, spots the nagaji and slowly retreats. A gentle breeze blows across, just barely rippling the slow-moving water.
Sevak reaches inward and tries to grapple with this nebulous, churning magic inside of him. He tries to see if he can alter it, or tame it (his mind shies away from the term 'master it'). The ex-duird just starts to truly get in the right frame of mind when the bubble of his meditation is popped by Paq wandering back into camp, holding up a nest full of bright blue robin eyes.
"Breakfast?"