Chrysa wakes. The nightmares receeding into reality, but one she's used to. Pulling herself up she'll stretch, popping so things, then looks down at the woman who held her, seeing she's awake, maybe had never slept.
A dead gaze, a broken one.
Chrysa isn't good at fixing people, at least she things, cause she's never tried though.
Laying back down, facing the other woman, she starts to talk. She tells her of her first horror, the age, the number. "Kan, my not-father (he corrected people enough saying he was not my father, the name stuck with me), had gotten hurt in a raid, so couldn't protect me. He knew it was only a matter of time anyway, in the places we were in." she doesn't spare any details, none of which have dulled into nothingness even after all these years. "He found me after, treated me, but I was dead inside like you, so he gave me options. End myself, either really or just staying the way I was then, cause living or dead, was the same there. Or I could end them, had to be me, not him or anyone else." details there too, letting them think she was still broken, spiked ale, then knives.
She rests her forehead against the other woman, her dark eyes filling Bella's "I Won't let you take option one, do you hear me
Isabella Lebeda. I will keep talking, cajoling, pushing, kissing and killing even until you live again inside. So tell me about... anything. Anything! Your favorite color, your first fist fight, something stupid your brother did growing up, anything... please."
Isabella isn't sure if she slept or not. She knows she startled herself awake several times in a panic and didn't want to close her eyes again. She didn't want to see any of it any more. So she just lay there awake thinking about her falsehoods of bravery and strong-willed.
She doesn't know what to say to Chrysa when she lay facing her. Even though the tiefling is right in front of her, Bella's eyes don't focus on the woman who is talking to her. She doesn't respond to her request to talk, but she doesn't turn away from her either. Laying silent for several minutes she eventually breaks her silence and says "Father always got me apple cobbler when I was upset as girl, it always made me feel better." She doesn't exactly smile, but the tips of her lips do twinge as she blinks several times and visualizes the delicious apple goodness from back home.
The thought is fleeting and the expression fades as she remembers where she is and more importantly why. "But he died. Like mother. Like Dunstan. I can't protect anyone. I couldn't stop them from taking you. From hurting you. Or hurting Orri. I can't even protect myself."
"I am a liability. A battered, broken, defiled and scarred liability."
Chyrsa keeps her eyes pooled on Bella's, listening without interruption until she stops talking, then takes on a deeper gravelly voice "Kan's lesson number thirty seven, (I think) 'you cannot win every fight, no one can, but if you don't really lose until you give up.'"
Then she whispers into the other woman,
"You killed him. Not me, not Orri, the chief, or Sophie... we were trying but could barely touch the bastard. If you hadn't he would have hurt Sophie, would have done the same to her. Maybe Svetlana up at the trading post, and more many more." she stops for a moment "How many others before us? Dozens, hundreds. None of which could stop him. Only you Bella, only you did it." she blinks for the first time, moves her face to rub her noses "Thank you."
Rolling over she looks up at the sky, "I remember cobbler, peach was my favorite though."
In the morning, Chief Sootscale basks in the glow of the rising sun, warming his scales. Even the five scales that remain worn around his neck. He felt good--triumphant, even. The Stag Lord and his evil bandits were slain, and with their passing, the Sootscale tribe had one less threat.
Once he's warmed up, Chief assembles his materials and brews four elixirs of healing, which he knew at least Isabella would need, probably Topper and Akiros as well. He then spends a great deal of time looking over the collected treasures from the bandits. He didn't consider himself greedy by kobold standards, but seeing a horde like that made his little heart want to guard it jealously.
Among the collected treasures, there's one that stands out. The Stag Lord's helm, the symbol of his power. It was a sturdy item, surprisingly durable and truly fearsome. Chief Sootscale takes the helm and puts it on his head. And in doing so felt regal. he declares to the sky in Draconic, using his true name for the first time in a very long time. He couldn't wait to enhance his reputation with his deeds and reclaim leadership of his tribe.
Isabella doesn't respond to Chrysa but looks down at her belly instead. She slowly traces a trembling finger along the scarred flesh tattoo that he's given her to help remind her of her failures for the rest of her life.
After a few minutes of that she rolls over and faces away from Chrysa, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "Maybe I should go home."
Chrysa snorts, still looking up into the sky "Because 'family' tipping around you, treating you like a broken freak because something bad happened to you is going to make you feel better?" toned as a question, but laced with personal bitterness.
Chrysa's point is valid, but Isabella doesn't want to actually acknowledge it. "My aunt will just call me a failure if I went back now. Too old and used to wed for anything useful. I'd probably be assigned servant duties. I'm not sure if I'd make a good servant. I'd probably kill someone when they told me to clean their chamber pot."
"ha! They would deserve it too. If they aren't prepared to clean their own feces, they shouldn't done it." the small woman swings her legs up to pivot her body to sitting. She looks across the courtyard, silent for several minutes, as she thinks. Then looking back at Bella, she admits "Of every monster I've faced, my aunt scares me more than all of them combined." the dread in her voice a testament to how serious she is, then she gives a weary smile and stands "They've given us space, but are probably worried. Stay if you want, but if you even think about option one, I WILL find a chamber pot." she'll wait to see if Bella wants to stay behind or go in.
Bella shakes her head no and makes no effort to stand. "You go ahead. Maybe I'll come in later."
Chyrsa worries but knows she can't solve this with words or chamber pots. With one last look, she'll go in and check on the others.
Sophie is with Akiros so she stops there, listening to a bit of what they said. Kneeling down next to the half elf, she'll give a tired nod "I'm no cleaner in the past, you might know. But you made a choice to turn away from it. So we won't judge you for that past. Don't go back to it. Your free to go, as long as the others don't object... but I'd rather you stay on with us. Clear out this land of those like these and worse, and we'll stand with you against anyone who says otherwise. What do you say?" she'll ask the same of Topper.
Akiros looks from Sophiel to Chrysa, then to the rest of the group. His eyes seem to gain an inner light that had been missing. He turns the sword point down as he takes a knee, holding the hilt in front of him as he bows himself head. ”In the eyes Estig the Hunter, I swear to you serve you to the best of my ability, should you have me and the Stag God will it.”
Topper Red watches the scene nervously, but as eyes notice him he too takes a knee, taking part Akiros’ pledge.
Sophie looks awkwardly at Akiros, but she summons her best beneficent noble voice, "we take your pledge, with sincerity and gratitude. May Erastil bless and keep you both." She smiles at Akiros and Topper. "You have already both shown enormous courage, like Chrysa, as far as I'm concerned, you've paid whatever debt you owed. Anything you do for us - you are free to leave, should you want to. We hope to earn your loyalty, if you wish to stay." She smiles and hugs Akiros and Topper, in turn.
Sophie adds, "could you please tell us, Jex, in the crew, what did he do? We are trying to determine what the best course of action is for him."
Akiros turns his eyes towards the common area, clutching his ribs and chest as he rises slowly in pain. ”Jex was the Stag Lord’s snitch. Anytime someone did anything that Jex felt reporting to the Stag Lord might gain him some favor, he’d go rat it out to either him or me. But he’s a coward at heart. Falgrim is a brave and quiet man. Followed orders well but was always out for himself. Both have committed their fair share of crimes like the rest of us.”
Chrysa gives both the men a nod of respect, leaves Sophie to judge the other man, and then goes to talk to the fey.
She waits a bit in thought, as she considers what to say to them, but then gets down next to them "I did not like you when we met. Bad things were done to me as a child by some of your kind and I blamed all of you." she shakes her one horned head, "That's just as bad as if you hated all humans just because of what this bandit lord did. I am sorry." she'll bow in supplication "You saved our lives, there is no question of that, and I am in your debt. If there is anything I can do in return, please ask." she knows enough about fey that debts are precious.
”Aw! Don’t sweat it...Horny Lady!” Perlivash says, which draws a giggle from Tyg.
”Yeah! You’d have done the same for us, right?” Tyg adds between her snickers. But then a look of concern becomes evident on her face and she adds ”Right?”
Chrysa looks back up and sighs, hating to have to be honest here, but she does "Probably... no. But that was yesterday. Today and any day from here on, Yes. One hundred yeses, no matter where you are in trouble, even up an owlbear's bottom, I'll come rescue you."
Sophie rubs her temples, "crap, okay, I thought you'd have better news. There's no way we can trust him. Let's take him back to Kesten. He can go to jail, at least - no vigilante justice from Oleg this time."
She turns to Akiros and Topper, "I don't suppose there's a wagon or something we can use? I think the stuff we've found is more than we can carry on horses." She rubs her elbows, "I think we'd like to leave as quickly as possible."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Perlivash pales and hangs his head a moment as a realization hits his. But he brightens up at Chrysa’s last statement and says ”Shame we didn’t know her back when you had your earlier encounter up an ow-“
”WE AGREED TO NEVER TALK ABOUT THAT!” Tyg yells.
Akiros says ”No. No wagon. But Topper and I will gladly stay and guard it for you until you return. It is yours by right, despite the ill-gotten nature of its being here.”
Perlivash and Tyg fly over and land on the table and agree to stay and keep it safe too, at least until you return.
Sophie nods at Perlivash and Tyg, and speaks to them in Sylvan,
"յսպիսով, ես պրակտիկորեն կերակուր եմ պատրաստել: Իմ հին փորձերից ոմանք այդքան էլ լավը չէին, բայց ես կարող եմ հիմա ավելի լավ լինել: Կարծում եմ, երկուսս էլ ձեզ պարտական եմ շատ խնջույք: Մարդկային աշխարհից ինչ որ ուզում ես, որ սովորաբար չես ստանում: Կարծում եմ, որ մենք մի փոքր ուղևորվում ենք այնտեղ:"
"So, I've been practicing making food. Some of my old experiments weren't that good, but I might be better, now. I owe you both a very fancy feast, I think. Anything you want from the human world that you don't normally get? I think we're headed there for a bit."
"Also, obviously, thank you both, you're the best!" She sidles up to the table and gives each of them a fist bump and a wink.
Sophie at some point tries to figure out Falgrim’s cypher.
Sophie, Chrysa, and Orri then work to decipher it, spending a little time doing so.
She asks Topper and Akiros, away from Falgrim, once they figure out what’s in the cypher, ”I don’t suppose you know where Falgrim kept his secret treasure, do you?”
They shake their heads. Akiros replies ”Had the others even known about it, they’d have demanded he turn it over and then likely killed him for trying to hide it.”
"We inform tell him we are taking him to the swordlords, no matter what, but if he hoped for any mercy from them we could 'return' what he stole, assume that is what is in his stash. That cipher was hard, so hard he'd probably assume we'd have no hope opening it."
Chrysa convinces Falgrim to lead them to the box under the pretense that he stands better chance at mercy if he returns the stolen item to Kesten. Fearing what Kesten’s “Justice” might pertain, and with little other options, he agrees.
He leads the group through the nearby Narlmarches, taking care to take note of very particular trees and rocks. It is clear that the only way to have found this without his help would have been by the will go the gods and a lot of luck. But, eventually, you are led to an inconspicuous clutch of rocks which he then proceeds to move aside. After a few minutes work, he lifts up a stone box etched with odd markings, and no clear means to open it.
Isabella walks up and picks up the box, shaking it to hear its contents. She then tries to rip the box apart with her hands, hoping to exact some manor of revenge on the box. Failing, she drops it to the ground and moves back to her horse silently.
When Isabella begins trying to open the box, Falgrim cries out ”Hey! What are you doing!?!? You said you would return that for me to get mercy!?!?”
Comprehension settles into his face, and he snarls ”You are liars! No better than any of us!” before he tries to make a run for it!
Isabella sighs. Of course he is running.
Turning to the fleeing man, she commands before throwing her blade at his feet.
Sophie gestures and a splash of grease appears in front of Falgrim, making his escape slippery.
She shouts after him, ”I’m not inclined to steal it, Falgrim, but we are curious about what’s inside. That’s all. Why wouldn’t we try to get mercy for you, anyway? Did you steal this from Kesten?”
Isabella’s blade indeed hits Falgrim in the legs, opening a nasty laceration in his right thigh and brings him to the ground. He then finds himself wallowing helplessly in a swath of magical grease.
”Falgrim, we’re not trying to rob you, and you held up your end.” She approaches and ties up his legs, then heals him. ”but we do want to know what’s inside, understand? It’s nothing to worry about.”
She shakes her head and grabs the now discarded box, using the cipher to open it after it’s examined for traps and magic.
He refuses to speak to any of you at this point. He seems intent to remain silent for the rest of the trek.
Using the instructions, Sophiel is able to work the intricate mechanisms that result in the stone box basically falling to pieces in your hands. All that remains is what was inside: a small leather pouch with a single golden button clasping the lid.
Sophie examines the pouch, ”Even if we didn’t find out what was inside, you might not have been able to get this back, right? What is this, something sentimental?” She shakes the pouch. ”You seem like you aren’t like the other bandits. You’re hardly a hero, but you aren’t a degenerate sociopath. What the hell is going on? Try to help us explain. I honestly don’t hold it against you, everyone’s been hard on their luck.” She throws her hands up in exasperation.
Falgrim remains stoically silent.
Chrysa looks curiously at the pouch "Liars? Why?" she looks at the tied, greased, bound bandit. "Returning the stolen property is good for both you and us. Not once did we say we wouldn't look inside. Your assumption was we couldn't, and then could use that as leverage." she is not trying to sway him in any way, just explaining.
Sophie passes it to Orri. ”Can you make sense of it? It’s beyond my power.”
Orri also fails to figure out the magic of the pouch, but is visibly taken aback by the aura when he studies it.
"Maybe there is more information inside?" Chyrsa opens the button, and lifts back the lid...
Inside she sees a number of small blank sheets of paper similar to cards.
"There are cards inside?" Chrysa says, showing the others...
but then decides not pull any of the cards out, suddenly too worried about what magic might be on these things. Closing the flap, and putting the pouch away.
The group returns to the fort to prepare for the journey back to Oleg’s. Falgrim remains silent and dismissive of the group of Brevish Nobles.
The night goes by peacefully, and the group prepares for their journey north.
Chrysa will take her bedroll outside the keep but inside the walls as she did before. Looking around for Bella, she'll look a uncomfortable asking, but then asks if she'd be willing to bunk next to her. Both for herself and for Bella.
In the morning she'll try to figure out that interesting deck of cards. And fail. A few days of studying a book doesn't give her enough knowledge to figure something like this out.
"Okay, Sophie. Saw we let the fae see if they know anything?"
Once they are finished their hike, Bella once again stays outside keep refused to enter the building. Chrysa finds her propped up against a wall, legs cross and head leaning back on the wall. She throwing stones at a barrel a good distance away, trying to see if she can land them inside of the water-filled object.
She nods to Chrysa's request, using as few syllables as possible. "Okay." is all that she offers. She remains quiet through the remainder of the night and doesn't find sleep until after Chrysa is snoring loudly next to her. She eventually lays her head down and stares up until she eventually passes out.
The morning she watches the ladies try to figure out the cards and offers to contribute something cheerful and starts the conversation with "I want to burn it down.", looking at the fort.
Chrysa looks up at the other woman, and then up at the fort. "Might be a good idea, to make sure no other bastard sets up camp here. And would be much easier then dragging those dead bodies out to be burned or eaten by the zombies." and for plenty of other reasons. Still greed is a powerful force in Chrysa's life she she suggests "Later? There's a bunch of stuff in there we can sell and Orri is in there at the moment."
The thought of endangering her brother is enough to postpone her dreams of arson. She nods and looks at the cards for a moment before giving up a minute later and handing them back.
Sophie nods, ”Sure. They’re as good people to ask as anyone. Their response might be silly and cryptic, though, even if they do know.”
The group takes the small pouch of cards to Perlivash and Tyg for them to look over. They are quite confused by the cards, but when the group explains their findings thus far, they grow excited.
"Magic cards? WOW!" Perlivash exclaims. While he is in awe, though, Tyg's own curiosity gets the best of her, and she pulls one of the cards from the sleeve.
The card appears blank at first, but then the surface begins to gain color and a warrior in heavy armor appears on the surface. The figure is adorned in gleaming chain shirt and fine cloak, with a beautifully designed curved sword in his hands, held before him in salute. Then, the card begins to glow and shimmer, an energy building on its surface that then flows out and to the ground before you all! It grows and grows into the shape of a man, before the light fades and the man that had been depicted on the card now stands before you!
They look around at all of you before their eyes fall to a bewildered Tyg, at which point he kneels and says "Lady Titter-Tut! I am at your service, My Lady! I swear to protect you with my dying breath."
Tyg and Perlivash continue to gawk at the man, as does Akiros, Topper, and the prisoners.
Perlivash eventually stammers "Wow..." before looking excitedly at the deck of cards himself.
Chrysa's eyes go wide, her swords come out as the knight does, ready to stop the summoned monster before anyone is hurt. But it bows instead???? "Holy..." she starts to smile at the wonder of it all, but her eyes catch Perlivash's before they turn with wild excitement toward the deck. "No!"
Dropping her swords she dives for the cards
Chrysa is able to get the cards before Perlivash can get to the cards themselves.
She hits the ground arms stretched out, knocking the bag a bit, causing one of the cards to slide out partially. The little dragon goes for it, but Chrysa is faster and grabs it.
The image of another armored warrior appears on the surface of the card, and the energy grows and again spills out into the real world, growing in size to the form of a humanoid...
An elven archer covered in steel and scorn lowers herself to her knees in front of Chrysa, telling her in elven she will protect her til the end of days, and which one of these filthy humans does she want dispatched first.
Chrysa is in awe, "You have to try this"