Oak looks down at the willowy ele and seems slightly uncomfortable.
"We met in the town of Hearth. I was travelling with Badhbh and our destinations seemed to match. The great bear did not growl at the thought, so we joined and now we are here."
He settles, still like a rock...just his eyes glittering in the firelight.
"I admire that viewpoint," she responds to Badhbh diplomatically. "It was out of my concern for your well-being."
While she is secretly toying with Badhbh to see if he will become enthralled with her being a "shiny", she seems to act as if she is doing nothing but playing with her hair. The poor bird doesn't know the depths of undine draw she can unleash--none of them do. His one step closer seems to answer her internal questions.
She runs her fingers through her hair and then pulls it flatter, smoother, and tighter for a moment, allowing the strands to reflect light from the sun at such an angle that he would perceive it better, but her eyes seem to not be focused on him, but rather on Oak who is speaking to her.
"I have been to Hearth on the Northern Pilgrimage before. I have some family there. It is a shame we didn't meet. Is Oak your birth name?"
She is speaking in a kind voice to give the Oread some ease, but whether or not she can is up to him. She is perfectly amiable toward him though.
At Kapelo's words, he causes her to squint slightly and she doesn't answer him concerning Freya, but in a break of her high quality, she does give a slight roll of the eyes at titling her "princess". He obviously hit something there, even if she doesn't say so.
"I have no idea where either her home is or where she went, but we can head the direction she did and hopefully someone here knows her family. If we can't find anything, we can always try the bar."
You feel there is something missing after your mind has been paged through, but you are uncertain what you have lost.
The godling asks, Is Volcano your son?
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Sitting so as to be a little closer to the bard's height, the oread shakes his head.
"No it is not my birth-name. It was easier for Master Kapelo. My name is Ohkwarikó. It means Great Bear in the language of my people. In your language, I would be known as Gấu lớn."
Novalie cracks her knuckles. "Nempura is right. We need to find Freya, and see what Ky La was obsessed with. Come on, let's check her house first."
Oak bends down slightly and although little is seen outwardly, it warms the diplomat's heart. Such behavior is representative of a good soul--one that cares for the concerns of others. Her neck rests just a little bit easier.
"Would you despise me if I called you, Ohkwarikó? or would that be offensive? I cannot vouch for my ability to pronounce your name with the greatest skill," she inquires with a kind, warm sort of look, yet one designed to not be inviting (as that would be improper for a noble to seem).
Nempura will nod with Novalie and graciously gesture toward town for her to lead the way.
"I had wondered if you would know her home's location, but I did not wish to assume. Please, lead the way."
Ensuring the fire goes out completely, and the remnants of the logs (not the glass bits) are in the swamp so that they do not catch the shrine on fire, she will follow the group toward town.
During their first minutes together it is clear that Badhbh is fascinated by Nempura, fascinated but not enthralled. He spares her lots of furtive glances, even occasionally raises a hand as if to touch her hair, but never quite makes contact. His is an inquisitive hand, a scientists hand; fingers needing to investigate and define.
Once they are on the move it becomes obvious that Badhbh is neither stealthy nor sedate. Every few steps is a leap, occasionally propelled by the butt of his spear. He on two occasions during the trip performs full cartwheels and once a backflip. His demeanor shows that these are not display pieces, noone gets the impression he is trying to show off. Badhbh is just at home off the ground.
"How can you bare to live in only two dimensions Ohkwarikó? Only this way or that, none of the other? So restricted, so grounded."
Novalie pays little attention to the sylph and the oread. Instead, she takes a straight path from swamp to outskirts, and from there through the fruit and vegetables wagons of the general market, then to the stilthouses on the banks slightly to the north.
Freya, you hear Novalie's familiar, impatient knock. "You there, Frey? Ky La shattered into pieces, so I think it's safe to come out."
Freya was late to the door, she carefully returned the orb-thing back to her pack and took one last look over Illiya. Answering the door, Freya looked tired but embraced her friend. "You're alright, Novi! I was worried about you..." Her eyes drifted over the others there and she stepped back, breaking the hug. "Who are these people?" She says with a tinge of unease.
Freya is a tall, six foot even, ifrit with carroty orange hair. Her orange skin is slightly lighter in color than her hair and contrasts her blue eyes. She's lean and might be called light on her feet if she wasn't wearing armor. Hair is cut short and similar to the avatar.
You are sure that this is the ultimate source of the sleeping sickness, but you have no idea how to use that knowledge. This is an overwhelmingly powerful being. The closest analogy you can think of are the efreeti princes of old that rose against Volcano, or perhaps the ancient dragons of Igniscoeli. But those were elder beings, not newly born, so the comparison is quite limited.
"They are friends of mine, Miss Runaway Paladin, skilled warriors like yourself. Ky La revealed himself when he attacked us. I tried to tie him up, take him alive, and he shattered into cutting glass and did this." He holds up his right hand, which is conspicuously missing the index and middle fingers.
"Turned to glass? How...what? Never mind. Come in, I'd rather we talked indoors." The ifrit opened her doors for the others, allowing them entry to her home. She stooped a little to enter and Ohkwarikó would no doubt have some difficulty.
She snapped her fingers and causally ignited the oven, preparing water for tea. As much as she preferred liquor, it did not suit serious conversation. Sitting down in one of her chairs, Freya asked again. "So what happened? Is Ky La dead? Where's Iryani?"
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"I'm Badhbh..."
He does not smile or extend a hand as he ducks into the house, an inch or so shorter than Freya
"...godless slyph, just desperately looking to be useful for something other than blowing myself up and making golems."
His eyes are the eyes of a hunter as he stares unblinking.
For an Undine Swem, and in particular an amphibious one like her, she is accustomed to creatures such as fish come up to investigate her. While some ele's may be uncomfortable of the curious, almost-reaching-out hand of Badhbh's, but she isn't. She pays it no mind and as they begin moving, she moves her long hair back behind her shoulders. Her eyes tarry for a moment on the walking of the Sylph, but to not be rude, she doesn't linger long as he seemed to fail at walking in some regard or was just too light for his own good. Whatever the case, like him, she glances his way only occasionally to see what he's up to. When he does a full flip though, she will actually clap, whether or not it was for entertainment or not.
At Freya's home, when she opens the door, Nempura looks downward and away to see if they are being followed. Her concern now is shifted from making sure Freya is okay to seeing if there is anything they can discover of this unique egg that Ky La wished for them to destroy. She will not speak introductions for the others when Novalie was asked who they were. In any case, Kapelo speaks up for her. She remains quietly, looking around.
Upon being invited in, she will gracefully enter and bless the home in standard undine fashion, but then will move off to the side to allow the introductions of Oak and Badhbh to take place. She will remain silent until spoken to.
Freya flushes momentarily, but composes herself. There was many other things on her mind right now. "I-I suppose Kapelo keeps you quite busy then. I'm Freya Argento-Mau, Valiant of the Temple."
Novalie replies to Freya's question. "Iryani went looking for her mother. The condition of the shrine had her pretty worried. Understandably." The warpriest's posture is tense as she stands in the kitchen doorway, arms folded.
Badhbh's stern gaze suddenly breaks and he smiles warmly
"It's OK Freya Argento-Mau. You were just voicing the thoughts programmed into you by your broken culture"
He begins to idly circle the room looking over any object not tied down but not moving anything from it's proper place.
Nempura has to try hard to not smile at Badhbh's behavior, though his words make her partially sad that he is godless, it more than makes up for it to see Freya flustered. As Badbhb begin's perusing Freya's home, she is forced to cover her mouth for a moment before regaining her composure.
She asks the Paladin, "What of the egg? Is it safe?"
You distinctly hear in your mind, Then I'm your son!
Underneath all the emotions in her mind, something slowly raised to the surface. Despite all her worries, she'd never once thought of abandoning it. That thought blossomed into hope and in an almost giddy tone, she spoke. "Yes! if you'd have me."
Freya watches the sylph peruse her aunt's home like a thief preparing a heist. She thinks to say something, but Nempura's question strikes the paladin with pause. Her reply is withdrawn and quiet. "Yes, the egg... I still have it."
The ifrit gets up from the table and walks up the stairs, speaking to those that follow her. "I think it's been feeding on those around it, getting ready to hatch. There's no doubt that this egg-thing has caused the sleeping sickness."
With only a moment's hesitation, Freya opens the door to her sister's room.
The dark room is small, furnished with only a bed and dresser. An unconscious undine rests in the bed, with a chair pulled up to her side. Her ifrit sibling seats herself and opens up her rucksack, withdrawing the god-orb. Holding it in both hands, she stares into it's soft glow. "I know why Ky La wanted to destroy it now. It's a godling, but knows nothing of the world it's born into. It lashes out for its own survival without understanding what it does to everything around it. Without guidance, it could cause unimaginable damage and none of us here are strong enough to force it to listen."
Freya brushes her sister's hair, looking at her sleeping face. "It's done something to me too. I might sleep soon, like the others, but I will do what I can to teach this child the right path."
Badhbh is much more respectful in this room once he sees the sleeping undine. This is a private place, full of personal things, not a greeting room. He folds to crouch next to Freya and the orb.
She said a "fragment of sky"...
"May I?"
His head slightly bowed. He holds out his hands, cupped, as if to hold water
Freya carefully hands over the orb, watching the sylph as she does so. "Be careful." Whether she means to handle the orb with care, or to guard his own life is uncertain.
As Freya rises and beckons them to follow, she will move along right behind Novalie. She will allow Freya to open the door and inside, she tightens her lips in pain and sympathy for the Paladin.
With Freya's insights revealing what Ky La was after, she still doesn't know his position. To her, he still seems like a villain. Kapelo she cannot gauge either way so she is patient to see if his words match what he does to build trust and faith in him.
With a caring stride, she will move over to Freya's sister as Badbhb handles the orb. While Freya strokes her hair, Nempura will take her hand and close her eyes for a moment to pray to the whirl mother for her. The thoughts of her friend's father, the Chord, perishing all too fresh in her mind.
After the prayer, she will let go her hand so as to not offend Freya and will look to Badhbh to see the reaction he bears with this Godling in his hand.
Badhbh takes the orb into his cupped hands but does not close them over the top.
He faintly feels uneasy at the open display of faith shown by Nempura but it is a distant feeling, a memory or something happening to someone else; his mind is far too focused for distraction.
It feels warm, yellow, and friendly. It is like having a bonfire on a cold winter's night, but gentler. It is very, very light. It does not move; it only glows.
"What do you mean it has done something to you? Can you explain?"
Freya gave Nempura a flat look. "If I knew what happened, I'd have told you. Something's just missing somehow. It happened when I was examining it earlier."
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Oak waits patiently as the others take in this 'godling'. While mildly interested, he is still on his own vision quest, and from his 'spirit' ears he can hear the grumbling of his spirit guide.
We are still on our quest...this is simply a slight detour is all. These people could help us, I feel", he thinks as the spirit bear grumbles it's unease.
The flat look boils her blood a little bit but she maintains her patience. She will, however, move away from her sister and over toward the doorway.
"I hate that feeling," she tries to relate. "Regarding Ky La," she starts. "We at some point, I believe, will have to deal with him again. I do not want him to get his hands on this godling. His actions are too untrustworthy at this moment. For those of you who are new here, Ky La retrieved this godling from the swamp but disguised it in an illusion of evil and darkness. He then asked Freya to destroy it in a ritual, but before she could swing her blade, he stealthily snuck some brackish water onto the altar. I saw through the illusion and his stealthy actions and removed the water, which seemed to reveal the truth of what Freya here was about to destroy. I cannot say why he snuck the brackish water onto the altar. No doubt for some nefarious purpose. Although I've kept my neutrality with regard to him up until this time--to give him the benefit of the doubt and to be placed into capture--he has evaded us as you experienced. I know you protected your employer, but we likely can use your help as well. Although I cannot promise you pay at this time. Would you consider this for the sake of saving a creature such as this from a man of potentially evil intentions?"
She looks to both Oak and Badbhb for an answer.
"I should have brought more money with me, but I was determined to make this path on my own."
Freya struggled to listen to Nempura's rambling speech. "I think what's she's trying to say is; this orb could be the key to defeating the Dark. Can we ask for your help against Ky La?" The ifrit watched Badhbh in particular, as he still stared into the orb's glow.
"We can't stay here either way. We should probably leave the village."
"It is wonderful. Thank you."
Eyes not leaving the orb until it is no longer in his hands, Badhbh returns the it to Freya.
"I am still employed by Mr Kapelo and he has paid me well, I don't want to be dishonest. But I want to do what I can to help. I think your path and Kapelo's may be inline for a while. Ohkwarikó and myself have our own business as well."
Badhbh stands
"One thing I am confused about though. If that thing out there wasn't Ky La, not the real actual flesh and blood Ky La I mean. Then how do we know there is a Ky La, an el that looks like that I mean; why would you make a... whatever that was... that looks like yourself. Epsecially if you are going to kill a man's family. I would make it quite different to me..."
He trails off, aware that his words are not well formed. He was good with machines, cogs and tools and things, animals even. But not gods, not magic, not this. He didn't know about this. And that drove him wild.
"I don't know to be sure, Badhbh." she voices in a short answer. Her seamless voice a bit more shaky than normal. Her eyes trail over Freya for a moment before returning to the Sylph.
She speaks briefly as if trying to hurry rather than ramble on.
"We vanquish a large Darkworm and this Ky La shows up. At the same time, many in the village fall asleep. In the swamp, by Ky La's orders, we kill a Dreameater. Directly at that time, the Ebbing Chord and a child die. Likenesses of family members were in the Dreameater, as well as my hostess at the inn. These are still asleep while others have woken up. Ky La disguised the godling this morning in evil." She pauses, "I don't feel confused, I feel betrayed. Pissed off. Filthy. Like I was made to do something evil and didn't know any better by something that is either evil or is trying to paint a good man as evil."
Looking to Kapelo, she wonders what his take is on all of this.
"Have anything to say?"
She still doesn't know his story or what Ky La did other than kill his family because he didn't want to do what Ky La wanted, but nowhere has Kapelo mentioned what that thing was.
Kapelo smiles in appreciation of your fury. "And now you know why I wanted to stab the porco. Anyway, we should focus on the good things - we're alive, we're awake, and I think killing those darkspawn was good, and now saving this little egg is good too."
He strokes his chin. "The way Ky La was talking, it was like he was in control of the sleeping sickness, and he was using it to control the rest of us, too. Sounds just like him."
Oak looks to Nempura, then to Badhbh as he answers.
"We are bound to Master Kapelo, as Badhbh has said, however, this seems to be a righteous quest and as such, I think we should speak with him about resolving our partnership...that is unless he too feels this way and allows us to help you! Let us ask him."
The Oread stands and walks over to their employer. He waits until el has finished speaking before he speaks.
"It sounds like this quest might be beneficial to all. Do you intend to join, and if not, will you release Badhbh and me from your service to accompany Ms. Babblebrook?"
A shrill whistle comes from the kitchen, promoting Freya to push past the others down the stairs. "Sorry, let me just get that." The ifrit takes the kettle from the stove and pours several cups of tea. Naturally resistant to heat, the paladin starts drinking hers right away.
"Whether or not it was the real Ky La, I don't think I can stay here. Not without putting Auntie or Illiya at risk." She sips again from her cup. "Kapelo, you weren't planning to stay in town were you? Could I join the three of you on your journey?"
Realizing he's been more focused on his anger than the conversation, Kapelo shakes his head. "Right, yes, we should leave before anything gets worse-"
As he says this, Nempura falls the ground. Asleep.
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Seeing the undine starting to collapse, Freya leaps to catch her as she falls, roughly dropping her cup of tea in the process. "What happened?! Did any of you see anything?" The ifrit looks to each of the others, confusion plain on her face.
There is a note sticking out of Nempura's mouth. Parchment.
Grateful, Nempura would nod to Oak for his response.
One moment she ponders how to bring up the topic of Freya running away when it all goes black. She falls, and falls not like a swoon, but like one who is going to bash their head into the floorboards. She was full of life and alert one moment, and then suddenly unconscious. Fortunately Freya is there to catch her limp body.
The paladin gently sets down Nempura's body, then carefully pulls a piece of paper from her mouth. She motions to the others, "Let's get her upstairs, the guest room should be open." Steppng back from the unconscious body, Freya unfurls the parchment and reads it aloud.
It is written in a clear, blocky text, like a textbook for children.
dear paladin,
it seems something has gone wrong with the old boy, yes? is he dead? the whole town is now asleep. bring the godling to hearth before the first day of warrites, or they will never wake up. if you displease me, i may put another one of you to sleep.
Volcano's Love,
Ky La
Badhbh leaps nimbly back as Nempura falls. He flicks looks around the room, clearly unnerved.
"This is not good, not good at all"
When Freya reads the note he leaps to the window
"Everyone in the vilage? Droch áird chúgat lá gaoithe! 'Another one of us,' it seems we are tied together in this then..."
While the others tend to Nempura he returns to where he first stood
"...but why Nempura, if Ky La has this power, why not put Kapelo to sleep... Have any non undine folk been affected? What about the brackish water? Does she still hold it?"
It is clear that Badhbh is rattled, out of his depth. His mind is leaping from thought to thought without following any to their conclusion.
"I have protection against priests." He spits the word. "Besides, the, eh, old Ky La died maybe before he could communicate with this new Ky La. Maybe he doesn't even know I'm here. Could be he is threatening Nempura and the swamp girl."