Holy s@~!! Did I just kill that guy? It was so easy!
Embreth scoffs down at the corpse. "You call yourselves assassins? You are a shame to the Grey Master! I will water the cobbles with your blood, curs!" The little halfimaar turns his feral eyes on the leader of their assailants. "You're next, tall dark and stupid!"
Seeing that the time for discussion was over, Galatea drew Beatstick from her sheath and moved to confront the assassin troubling Jaya. Gali then let out a whistle, ordering Cheshire to flank their foe. Holding her morningstar with both hands, Galatea then brutally smashed her weapon against her enemy's skull! She then whistled again...
At Galatea's command, Cheshire promptly began to viciously tear into their surrounded foe!
Embreth scoffs down at the corpse. "You call yourselves assassins? You are a shame to the Grey Master! I will water the cobbles with your blood, curs!" The little halfimaar turns his feral eyes on the leader of their assailants. "You're next, tall dark and stupid!"
While her opponent was still reeling from having his skull smashed and getting mauled by a tiger, Galatea heard Embreth proclaim that he would paint the streets with the blood of his foes.
All in the name of the Grey Master.
She was suddenly hundreds of miles away...
Back in Absalom, Galatea started visibly trembling.
Get it together, Gali.
"Jaya, it looks Embreth will be taking out the trash. How about you focus on the spares?" Galatea advised, desperately trying to get her mind elsewhere...
Seeing the armored enemy is just about immune to her powers, she turns to the assassin approaching her flank. "Why don't you show that one your appreciation?" she tells him while hitting him with a spell.
Then Kallie retreats from the armored fellow and stands near Cheshire.
Elandra drops her bow behind her as she steps away from her foes. She draws a long curved and elegant blade, and slices at one of her enemies twice, opening two massive gashes along his arm and leg!
Now that they were separated, Jaya changed tacks. A quick chant of power and quick delicate gestures sent little pea-sized bolts of force flicking out at Jaya's foes, impacting with substantial force.
Abasi whirls around and slashes the other one near him with his blade! His victim whirls around, and does a roll past Abasi and stands, thrusting his rapier and cutting Abasi’s left arm! Another takes advantage of the distraction, and lunges at Abasi and stabs him in the back before nimbly springing back away!
The other pair continue to attack Elandra. She is able to parry one Attack aside, but the other at her flank pierces her shoulder from behind, causing her to cry out in pain!
As the fight ensues, the docked ships begin to get rushed with civilians, causing their captains to begin raising their gangplanks and pushing off! Captain Kelzan eyes the situation and turns, walking calmly towards the end of the dock where his ship is docked. His men on board arm themselves with bows and stand at the rail, watching to make sure none of the chaos makes its way to their ship.
__________
Seeing Abasi might be in trouble, Embreth stays put for the moment. His dagger flashes twice more at the assassin.
After making his attacks, Embreth steps towards the pier. "That bastard's looking to leave without us. Ordered retreat to the ship folks!"
The heavily armored leader of these assassins works another spell, and suddenly he grows to the size of a giant! He draws his now massive sword, and its blade ignites in flames. Before he can move forward, a bold guard moves to intercept him, as duty commands. Before he can even reach the armored giant, the villain slices him in half with his blade, the flames cauterizing the two halves instantly as it passes through his body!
The mortally wounded guard screams in agony on the ground as realization of his fate sets in!
"That'll just corner us! Plus the 'good' captain will likely just sell us out! Let's kill those two and retreat!" argued Galatea, pointing out the two goons currently fighting Elandra.
That wasn't just a simple transmutation
We might be able to hide... But if he's able to go even a little faster, I'm not sure we get away by foot
"He won't sell us out if he knows what fire on a ship looks like! Besides, death cultists aren't big on paying bribes with anything but betrayal!"
Captain Kelzan calls out over his shoulder ”Those aboard my ship are under my protection until our deal is done. I dare you to find anyone who says I’m not a man of my word. However, the price has to be right, and I am beginning to think themat you lot aren’t going to be worth the trouble...”
Elandra looks at your group, flabbergasted. ”Where you going to run to? It’s an island! Get on the damned boat!” she yells out.
"I'm sure we can work out exact payment once we're on board."
If not, there is always the mutiny and stabbing option.
Kallie throws a pinch of mica in the air as she casts a spell. The area around the suddenly enlarged armored man and the minion next to him is filled with glittery particles, many of which fall directly into their eyes.
She sticks with the group, knowing instinctively not to stray too far from her herd.
Embreth, Elandra, and Jaya want to take their chances with Captain Kelzan. Kallie looks fine either way. Can't tell what Abasi is thinking. An internal sigh. Looks like I'm outvoted.
Not wanting to leave empty handed, Galatea dropped her weapon and picked up the corpse of the goon she just neutralized. She was not worried about leaving anything behind; Beatstick was attached to her wrist via a two foot weapon cord, so the morningstar did not even hit the ground. Meanwhile, before drawing her weapon, she had quickly stuffed the gold piece from earlier in her pocket. Once her grip was secured, Galatea then started retreating toward the boat.
"As a down payment, I'll give you 100 gold pieces, Captain," offered Galatea, emphasising that the group definitely had more available, "and we can split whatever is on this goon's corpse. We can discuss further details once we get out of this city."
Galatea had more than 100 gold pieces, but she wanted a buffer. Despite his recent claims of honor and honesty, Captain Kelzan had also proven to be rather greedy. Offering all her available funds upfront would likely corner Galatea.
Meanwhile, Gali whistled for Cheshire to follow her.
The captain pauses and looks over the man and his gear with a quick scan. "The rapier looks nice. The coin and the Rapier will be a good start. It will at least buy you protection while we board, and negotiations can continue on the good ol' open sea. If we can't come to terms, we drop you at a port of my choosing. Deal?" he asks.
Meanwhile Elandra cuts down both of the assassins attacking her. She sees what the leader does to the guardsman and pales. "Go! Now!" she calls out as she picks up her bow. She knocks an arrow and yells to the man "You will not harm anyone else. Do you hear me? I am Elandra Andosana, Scout Captain of the Black Arrows, and you will pay for what you have done here today!"
___________
After hearing Captain Kelzan express interest in the fallen foe's rapier, Galatea instead opted to just grab the weapon. On second thought, carrying the goon's corpse would likely just slow her down, and given the circumstances, that was the last thing she wanted. Truth be told, Galatea was also somewhat surprised by the terms of the deal. They were... very agreeable.
"Deal," Gali confirmed, a small but genuine smile appearing on her face. "A mighty fine one at that."
Sadly, that happiness was very short lived. It appeared that Elandra intended to sacrifice herself for the sake of the others. For the first time during their ill-fated trip to Absalom, Galatea truly found herself at a loss for words...
When Kallie weaves her spell, she is suddenly wracked with pain, and the spell has no affect!
As their assailants reeled, Jaya followed Kallie's lead and blasted the other pair of assassins with her own blinding cloud.
"Come on everyone! We've got to go! That means you too Elandra, no need to stay behind!"
Beginning her retreat, Jaya gestured and a splatter of grease appeared in front of the monolithic warrior and his henchman. "That should slow them down!"
Abasi and Embreth follows their companions lead and fall back towards the boat! As he moves, a few more assassins make their way through the crowd towards the group! The one nearest his leader, though, makes a lunging attack at Kallie, but in his efforts to avoid the greasy paved stones, he fails to strike.
"Renegades!" Captain Kelzan calls out with a smirk as he takes the blade as collateral and turns to continue to board his vessel calmly. On the deck of the ship and the rigging, sailors all raise heavy crossbows and aim them at the villains on the docks, ready to fire should any advance towards the ship!
The leader of the assassins, now growing quite frustrated, moves with heavy footfalls towards the group! He catches up to Elandra as she begins to fall back with the others, and grasps her by her hair and arm!
Tears now streaking from her moonlike eyes, Galatea quickly hustled toward Captain Kelzan's vessel. Cheshire easily kept pace with her partner. The duo managed to hurry up the gangplank and board the ship.
I'll never forget your kindness, Elandra Andosana. Thank you...
Kallie tries to hold the armored figure.
The armored figure seems unaffected by the spell, and maintains its grasp on Elandra! She struggles,to free herself, but is unable to wrest herself free! ”Just...just go! Tell your...parents...warn them...”
Abasi continues on to the base of the gangplank before turning back to make sure everyone makes it.
"Kallie! We've got to go - now!"
Jaya keeps moving, hurling a cloud of blinding dust into the midst of the assassins to cover Embreth and Kallie.
The spell fails to work for Jaya either, and pain roils through her body as well! The leader’s hand starts to glow a sickeningly green energy, but before he can do anything, his grip slips and Elandra falls free!
Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Elandra runs down the docks towards an entirely other dock, then jumps from the mores raft there across to the dock with the others! The group manages to take the chance to dart up the gangplank as the Renegades fire on the assassins.
Captain Kelzan looks to a halfling beside him and says ”Buy us some time.”
He nods and starts working a summoning, but then doubles over in pain and cries out!
Fortunately, the hail of crossbow fire keeps the assassins at bay long enough for the ship to lift anchor and move out! Before long, the ship is moving out to sea! The assassin Leader glares after you a moment, but as guards move in, they each vanish one by one into illusionary disguises...
__________
Kallie turns and gallops back to the ship as soon as she sees Elandra working herself free from the large armored figure.
As her hooves finally reach the wooden deck, she turns around and fires off a blast of flame at the armored guy in one last parting shot.
She hangs her head at the railing, shaking it dejectedly. "Not a single spell worked. Papa's going to be so upset with me."
"Elandra!" Galatea exclaimed in relief. She went to greet the Black Arrow, stopping a respectful distance away, "Oh thank the Divines! I... Thank you. You saved us back there... I... Words truly can't express my gratitude."
After speaking with her savior, Gali presented Captain Kalzan with his 100 gold pieces as promised.
"Thank you for helping us. I apologize about my earlier behavior. As agreed, we can continue with our negotiations once we get out to open sea. Right now, I think... we all need a little time to breath."
Once everything was settled, Galatea sought out Kallie. Her poor relative was... hurting. Gali wanted to help. After confirming that they were alone, she worked up the nerve to speak with the adorable centauress.
"Hello, Kallie. Uh..." Galatea said before totally freezing up.
...Speak, you fool!
"Kallie, I know that you've been through so much today. Would you... want to talk? I've found talking to be rather... therapeutic."
Kallie had been leaning her head and arms against the rail, watching the horizon. Her tail flicks, but she doesn't take her eyes away from the dwindling island of Kortos.
"What's to talk about? Do you want to tell me that it's not too late to try being a hunter or a ranger like all the other centaurs?"
...Mom, why didn't you take her? She was...
Galatea felt something in her heart stirring.
"Kallie, my magic cut out on me too," Galatea explained carefully. "I... understand how you're feeling. At least a little. We'll... figure this out."
Galatea smiled gently.
"I think it's admirable that you're studying wizardry."
Kallie scoffs. She turns her head enough that she can see Galatea out of the corner of her eye. "People say stuff like that when they know they can't actually praise their performance."
She looks back out over the water. "I've heard it all before. 'Oh, Kallie, you're the smartest centaur I've ever seen!' 'Well, aren't you just the cleverest little centaur?'" She straightens and turns around to face the young Kailani. "When being the smartest centaur still means I'm barely passable among two-legger wizards, then what am I doing here?"
Where 8 months ago Jaya would never have butted in, at this point she was a little more sure of herself and how she fit in with the other Scions.
"At least we've got magic though. Can you imagine if swords all blunted or something? 'Cause the best part about book-magic is that when something like this happens, we can get away and learn from it."
"Being a mage doesn't make you infallible, it just gives you a chance to get it right later.
"And I'm going to give you a pass because this has been a pretty awful day, but you are well past passable."
”You are saving lives!” Elandra’s voice says from behind you both. She bites off the end of a self-made bandage over one of the cuts on her body before standing and moving over to you. ”Centaur or not, Kallie, you helped save my life!” she says as she takes her by the shoulders. ”You stood and fought a superior foe when you could have fled to safety! You provided enough of a distraction that he lost his grip on me! Had that not happened...who knows what would have happened. I owe you my life. All of you.”
Galatea visibly winced but nonetheless tried to continue reaching out to her relative.
"Kallie, you're so much smarter than me. I've tried reading those spellbooks, and for me, it's... all in one ear and out the other. When I say that I find your studies admirable, I mean it. Truly."
When other people entered the conversation, Galatea paused for a moment before adding her two copper pieces.
"I... understand what you mean, Kallie. How you feel. At least a little. Mom tries so hard to protect us, but my countrymen frequently judge me for only being half an elf. It's... tiring."
Kallie makes a heroic attempt at not being comforted, but finds herself feeling better despite herself.
When Galatea talks about being a half-elf, Kallie snorts. "Ha. Try being only half a centaur. And by that, I mean being half-sized, not a two-legger. Or, you know. A horse."
"Our situations aren't one-to-one. I understand that, Kallie," Gali acknowledged. "I just wanted you to know that I have some similar experience with what you're saying."
There was a long pause.
"Kallie, could we speak in private? There's something I want to tell you," said Galatea. She turned towards anyone else present. "Again, in private."
Elandra nods, and moves off a bit to talk with the captain. As the sun sets on the horizon, the sky’s hue takes on an ominous glow that causes the entire crew of the Crimson Aboleth to stop and gawk in awe, fear, and confusion. The same reddish energy periodically streaks across the sky like lightning, with massive flashes occasionally erupting in bursts...
Kallie nods. She also slips off the ring of invisibility from her finger and passes it back to Galatea.
She pauses, though, to watch the sky in wonder.
Galatea gently retrieved her ring from Kallie and carefully slipped the priceless artifact back onto her slender finger. Gali also joined her relative to watch the sky for however long she wanted. Once the centauress was finished, Galatea whistled for Cheshire to follow and lead them below deck, eventually finding a room that she was very certain was private. She parked Cheshire outside the door and closed it behind her and Kallie...
She spoke in Elven. Just quietly enough for only Kallie to hear.
"Kallie, I want to... apologize in advance. I also want to affirm that I always will try to be there for you. If there's anything you ever need from me, I'll... try everything reasonable in my power to make that a reality."
By this point, there were some obvious tears in Galatea's moonlike eyes.
"I've been trying to tell you this for years. All those times Mom took Honey, Shiloh, and me to visit Ryli and the Thunderhooves. All those adventures we've had together. However, I've always... choked. I offer no excuses, and I offer every apology possible. I..."
With a sigh, Galatea pulled her hair back into a makeshift ponytail.
"Kallie, dear, please study my face and imagine me with..." a whimper "...blue eyes."
Kallie studies Galatea's face as she asked, confusion and uncertainty all over her expressions. She shakes her head, trying to throw off a running imagination and dismissing certain flights of fancy.
Feeling her hearts racing suddenly, Kallie shakes her head. "I don't... What are you saying? What are you apologizing for?"
"I... wasn't there for you when I should have been. When we were younger, I... tried, but I always... choked. However, today made me realize that I... need to set up. I need to be better. For all that, I'm sincerely sorry."
A pause. More tears.
I'm confusing her. Tell her something useful, you fool...
"Kallie, dear, Galatea is... was... my... middle name. My first name is... was..."
Words suddenly failed Galatea. Unable to think of what to say next, she looked away from Kallie in shame and pointed outside. Off in the distance, it was obvious what Gali was pointing out.
A sunset.
Kallie tracks her finger to where she's pointing.
Tears start running down her eyes as an impossible notion hits her and she can't seem to shake it.
"You're my... but, no. No, I can't--" she shakes her head vigorously. I'm reading into things. It's not... well, not that it's not possible, but it's just that... no one ever said...
Kallie swallows hard, trembling. Finally, she finds her voice again. "Will you say it? Otherwise, I don't think I can believe it."
"Kallie, dear, my name is... was once Setsuna Galatea Kailani. Nowadays, it's just Galatea Kailani. I once fought a war against Karzoug the Claimer. During that campaign, I died a most horrible death at the hands of a wicked lich named Azaven. Shortly after Karzoug's demise, Mom brought me back in secret. I kept a low profile. No one outside my immediate family knew. After what happened to me, I just needed... time to recover. For maybe a year, I was fine, but... I really wasn't. Azaven... He... broke my soul. It was still burning. I got horribly sick. Mom used every trick, every power, every spell she had, but nothing was working... I was destined for oblivion."
A pause.
"And then she found Ryli's notes. The original notes. Mom combined their contents with most of her wealth from Xin-Shalast, her blood, and a Miracle. From I understand, Shelyn herself mixed her divine magic with that of the Wheel to give me a second chance. The price was most of my original power. That's why I've always... appeared to be about Shy's age."
Another pause.
"Kallie, I am your mother."
Kallie closes her eyes and thick rivers of tears stream down her cheeks.
"You and Eugeni..." she whispers. "The Wheel... Me and Mama Ryli..."
Her eyes open and meet Galatea's, thought they're blurry and full of tears. "I always wondered how you saw me. If you would have wanted anything to do with me."
She still doesn't look convinced.
By this point, Galatea was also crying just as hard. Despite her tears, she was surprisingly articulate. It was like Gali had been rehearsing this very moment for years...
"When Ryli first told me about you, I was... surprised. Nervous. I wasn't sure if I would be a good mother. There was so little time between the news and my death..." Galatea began carefully. "About a week after my first return, I located the Thunderhooves. I visited in total secret; I imagine Ryli has told you much about my legendary stealth. I intended to ask for you back."
Gali took a deep breath.
"And then I saw you playing with Olympus and the other foals. You were so happy. I... couldn't take you away from that, Kallie. Besides, like I said earlier, I was... a mess. Unfit to raise a child. Meanwhile, Ryli has successfully raised several generations of children. She raised Zoli and Mom. I felt that Ryli knew what she was doing."
Galatea stared at the setting sun.
"Kallie... I know that... this is a lot to digest. Truly. I just felt that... after today... it was finally time to tell you. I realized that I might never get this chance again. I... am also aware that I've made several mistakes. You have every right to... be angry with me."
To hate me.
The Oracle turned back to her... daughter. Her daughter. Kallie Silversun was her daughter.
"Regardless, Kallie Silversun, please know that I've always been proud of you and that I have always loved you. When I first learned about your existence. When I first saw you in person. All these years. Again, I've always been proud of you, and I love you with all my heart."
Galatea slowly extended her hand toward Kallie. The one with the famous ring on it. The priceless treasure was right at home...
"I... want to make things right, Kallie. Whatever it will take. Truly. If that's alright with you..."
The most difficult part had been starting. However, once Galatea had began, she had been unable to stop. Gali had wanted so badly to affirm her identity and ease Kallie's confusion and reassure her daughter that... she had just kept talking and talking...
...Perhaps I should dial things back a little.
She gave the young wizard a gentle smile.
"Kallie, if you... need some time to process what I've told you, then by all means, take as much as you need. I'll wait."
Beneath the strong face she was projecting, Galatea silently feared being rejected and being hated. She could ultimately accept Kallie wanting nothing to do with her; Gali had been preparing twenty-five years for such a possibility. It was just...
It would probably hurt more than her first death.
Nonetheless, Galatea kept her hand outstretched.