Novalie, as you walk into your home, you see your father sprawled face down, as if he is hurt, or ill. You check him quickly, and you are relieved that he is
"Illiya! What happened?" Freya checks her sister's comatose body for injuries and tries to shake her awake to no avail. With no recourse but to hope she wakes up, Freya carries the unconscious undine to her room and tucks her sister into bed.
The ifrit's injuries reopen from the effort and she takes time treat her injuries properly, leaving Illiya's room only when necessary. She starts a fire in her aunt's hearth, boiling water and carefully applying it to her injuries. It was an old ifrit cure and it worked well enough, Freya felt a little better as the heat soaked into her body. It also cleaned the grime off of her skin.
Changing out of her sullied clothes, Freya puts on her soldier's uniform. It was awkward to be walking around in military clothing, but it was more practical than anything else she had brought with her.
She checks illiya for a fever, but lacks the medical experience to determine much more than that. With that thought, Freya decides to leave, her time was better used finding a doctor than sitting here. In fact, she felt a little foolish for taking so long to think of getting help. Her aunt was probably out working at this time, she'd have wait till later to talk to her.
The ifrit walks out into town asking for a doctor.
"Kendell! Father! Iryani drops everything and jumps to her family. After quickly checking them, she is relieved, but only so slightly.
"HELP! Anyone, HELP!" She shouts and looks around towards the neighbours.
One after another she pulls them inside and lays them comfortably. Wait! Mother? "MOTHER?" Quickly she runs around inside and outside the house, searching for her mother.
Nempura was spurned the chance to be kind to Freya, but it didn't bother her. She nodded to Novalie and bid them all farewell kindly and properly. She then went toward the Inn. As she went, she pondered onto the kind of people she was going to be meeting up with again. As she walked, she quietly chanted a mending spell on her clothing, watching as the fabrics seemed to meld back together as if nothing had happened to them. By the time she arrived back "home", she was getting ready mentally to read something and relax until evening. Those plans changed.
When she walks into the doorway, her first thought is what is on her lips. "Resting your back? I can sympathize." When Bian doesn't respond, Nempura squints her eyes and rounds the body slowly. "Narcolepsy?" she asks herself as she bends down to lightly tap her shoulder. When the ele doesn't wake up, she will escalate until she is shaking her a bit.
"It's like she is in a coma. I wonder if this has to do with what we did to that big darkspawn? A connection?"
First, Nempura will go search out Bian's husband, and if he can not be found, an employee. If none of them are around, she will go into an investigatory mode and detect magic on the situation to see if it was a magical slumber.
Heading home after taking such a beating, her body aches as if she'd been training and sparring all day. She's weary and needs to rest and recover.
When she opens the door Novalie sees her father on the ground and rushes to him, calling out to her mother, "Mom! Father's fallen! Mom!"
She doesn't know much about medicine, but looks him over to see if she can determine anything about his condition. She feels relieved he's still alive. She calls out again to her mother, "Mom! Come quickly!"
Novalie, Your mother is puffy-eyed, apparently waking from a nap herself. She takes a look at your father, horrified, then you, sudden venom in her eyes, angrily saying, "What have you done? Is this something you brought home from that dirty northern city?"
Freya, the little details of the little town slowly come into focus, even after so many years. Doctors would be in the floating quarter, to ensure access for both Swem and commoner.
The docks, sturdy as a bridge, lead to the floating quarter. You feel the current of River below you feet now, subtly tugging on the floor. A patient, undine feeling.
At the first corner, you see the sign of village healers everywhere - a bright green painted aloe leaf. Inside the tented structure, the reception area is crowded and noisy. It takes you only a moment to see why - more els and eles bringing in loved ones. Asleep.
Iryani, you don't need to even make a conscious decision - your feet take you to the family shrine, half a mile or so away from the house. It is very old, and very traditional, following the elegant arches and bold red coloring of early pod dynasties.
Mother is there, of course. Bowing, praying in whispering Benthic to whatever aspect of River she favors. Likely the Whirling Mother, as so many in the village do.
She stands when she hears your approach. She nods. "I knew it would be you to survive when things got bad. Tell me, daughter, do you still refuse to take the gods and their rituals seriously?" There is a gleam in her eye.
Nempura, you find Binh easily enough, at the front desk beyond the foyer. He is shaking his head and yawning when you find him, but he becomes alert when he sees the look on your face.
When his wife first comes into view, he merely seems puzzled, like a lost dog taken one street too many. But as it becomes apparent that Bian will not be wakened, his expression collapses, and he cannot speak.
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Disturbing thoughts go through Nempura's mind as she contemplates the possibilities of a connection. Could there be more ties in this small village? A large town? Were they being infected with the Dark? Such thoughts fall by the wayside as she finds Bihn. The two of them move to the body and upon his silence, she will place a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Bihn, let us move her to the bed. The floor is no place for her. Come..." she gives him a graceful, motivating pat and bends down to scoop up the feet. Yes, the noble who looked like she just waged in battle was going to help carry his wife to the backroom or up the stairs--wherever their room was. "...help me take her to your room. You stay by her side. I will look into what can be done, okay?"
Nempura will consider going to the doctor, but given her assumptions, she decides to go to the Swem, to the Maelstrom Mother, as she probably has the most experience with the Dark.
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As Freya felt the pull of River's influence, she racks her brain for the proper prayer. Clapping her hands together, she whispered to the Goddess. "Oh great and powerful River, please protect Illiya from the grasp of the dark."
Though Freya was an adherent of Volcano, River was still a god and one worthy of respect. This was River's domain and these were her people. The paladin lamented her lack of knowledge of River's worship and knew Illiya would probably have known more. Tears shone in Freya's blue eyes as she pushes on.
The healers were packed with a throng of people, seems obvious now that several people had fallen under a similar spell. The was no way she'd be getting through to the healer, especially with the hateful glare some of the undine were giving her. These people were afraid and looking for someone to blame. Freya hesitated, but welled her courage and pushed into the crowd. The Rendere teaches that such fears only deepen the Dark's hold on people's hearts. She must embody the Vivace's teachings to dissuade such doubts. "I'm here to help! I may not be skilled in medicine, but I can fetch water or carry the injured!"
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At first caught off guard by her mother's reaction she's about to retort, then she realizes its entirely reasonable and responds in a calm and compassionate tone, "I don't think it is mother, we've been on the road walking for a long time and neither of us became sick. What did happen today was darkspawn assaulting us at a seamstress' shop. We met a curious Inquisitor who has been here awhile looking into strange happenings that have been going on before we showed up. I hope it isn't true but I suspect this may be worse than a common sickness."
She scoops up her father as gently as possible and realizes he always seemed so large to her and how much she's grown. Her eyes get a little wet at the thought of the lost time.
Asking her mother, "Are there still doctors in the floating quarter? I will get him there as quickly as possible and have him treated. I will get to the bottom of this."
When her mother confirms where the doctors are, she will hurry off to have him treated. She will pray to both Volcano and River as she goes, "Please hear me god of my birth and god of my people, help me save my father."
Freya, you help with some heavy lifting--moving the injured, carrying supplies--for nearly two candles, and things begin to settle down. There is nothing more to be done for the sleepers for now.
Inquisitor Ky La seems to walk into your peripheral vision from nowhere. His brow is troubled. He nods to you, glasses reflecting the disinfecting flames. "Valiant. Would you not say your talents are wasted here? I intend snuff out whatever foul spirits are causing this - would you join me?" He waits a moment for a response.
Nempura, Binh puts on a brave face and thanks you over and over for your help as you help move his wife their bedroom. He drags a stool over to the bed and sits, close to his wife's side. His thanks you again as you leave, voice full of gratitude, but his red-rimmed eyes do not leave his wife's face for even a moment.
Nempura applies to the Maelstrom Mother, hoping that she listens. As she sees the state of all, she keeps an eye out for her "companions" or the inquisitor as well.
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Freya wiped sweat from her brow. She was exhausted, the fighting, injury and manual labor had left her little time to rest. But despite her own fatigue, the paladin knew that this man was most likely to know the solution to this new problem. So, without a word, Freya nodded and followed the man out of the hospital.
Taking a moment of privacy, the ifrit dons her armor and collects her thoughts. The doctors didn't seem to have any idea what was going on, I don't think I have much choice but helping the inquisitor. I don't like the man, he seems much too cut off from his fellow ele ...Maybe that's just what it means to be an inquisitor. The paladins fight without as they fight within. I wonder if my mom is the same.
With the possibility of combat upon her, Freya takes care to whet her blade before rejoining the zealous undine. mentally steeling herself, she says "Let's go."
Nempura, you take the elegantly arched ladder down the dock end and into the water. From there, you enter a world you are intimately familiar with: the realm of the Swem. You feel your gills start to work. As always, it is pleasantly quiet under the current; there is no wind here, only the close embrace of the water.
All around, living seaweed forests are expertly grown and knotted into nets, ladders, bridges, and huts. You see charms of silk, bone, and silver woven by the entrances of certain homes and shops - decorations for the Pilgrimage celebrations. Small schools of fish wander the open spaces between pods, avoiding undine children.
Past net-weavers and crystal-polishers, you go toward the relatively shallow riverbed. You are surprised - the last time you and your father came through this town and called upon the Maelstrom Mother, she had a simple--if very well crafted--hut of woven reeds, branches, and kelp. But now, you see an arch of coral traveling up and down the entryway in bursts of bright purples, blues, and greens; large coral pieces like this are notoriously expensive to craft.
Inside, your naturally polite manner convinces the female guard to wave you through. You look around for the Maelstrom Mother, a middle-aged ele as you recall, but find only her daughter. Your sharp eyes catch the light blue mantle of a Maelstrom Mother around her shoulders.
In Tendril, the girl, perhaps of a few years younger than you, signs, Greetings, em. What may I do for you?
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Because of her foreknowledge of where she was heading, she would have moved up to her room and changed into her noble outfit. After such, Nempura will move across town to the docks and descend into the waters of River.
"It's always soothing to return home...," she thinks as the cool waters now hit her long, free-flowing, waist-length purple hair. The new coral archway does not go unnoticed and piques her interest in such a place. After being let past the guards and brought before the Maelstrom Mother's general room, Nempura will greet her with a deep bow and proper lavish greeting as one would see in Icefall. Clearly the Maelstrom Mother's daughter was now in charge, and her tastes a bit more lavish. As Nempura bows, her hair does not move in the mostly still water of the room; something that takes years of practice and etiquette to do. It was all in the speed of the bow and the motions of the body that kept it still.
"My name is Nempura Marinus Babblebrook, Daughter of Hobb Babblebrook, an old friend of your mother's. Perhaps you recall me coming here to call upon you. It has now been a few years ago," she signs. While her father met with the Chord and Maelstrom mother, she would have spent some time connecting in a minor way with the younger daughter.
"Not long ago, your people came under assault by the Darkspawn. Madam Hồ Hải Yen, a seamstress, was assaulted and tortured mentally by it. When we happened upon her, she had grown accustomed to such torment she didn't realize the Darkness upon her. As me and a group of worthy helpers came to her aid, we were attacked by Darkspawn worms." Nempura continues to relate the tale in full until the point where she gets to those fallen asleep. "...which brings me to tell you that I believe there was a connection between the events of us defeating the large worm and--from what I noticed on the way over here--the desperation of your people in dealing with this. I appeal to you, do you know of a way to counteract this curse on the minds of your people?"
Iryani, you can tell your mother is not quite herself. Whether she is simply grief-stricken or possessed by something else entirely, you cannot say. She is crushing oysters with a wooden mallet, making both a mess and a stink.
Nempura, the young ele--you remember her name now, Tien Tuyet--shows her shock for a moment; she had not heard of anything going wrong in the village yet. You wonder if none of the Swem have been affected...?
Tien Tuyet is attractive, but her beauty is marred by a slight haughtiness that shows in the curl of her lip. She wears simply cut fabrics of utmost quality, in pale off-whites to accentuate her own milky-blue complexion. Her dull silver hair floats in a artlessly careless cloud about her.
The young Mother Maelstrom recovers from the surprise well. With a focused expression, she signs, "Tell me more of this curse, cousin! What afflicts the shores?"
Freya looks her sister-in-arms in the eye, wavering a bit when she sees the undine's father. "We're going to find the root of the problem, Novi. Are you with us?" The paladin says as she helps Novalie carry her father into the clinic.
Nempura will sign to Tien, "All we know so far is that those affected are in a coma-like state. They cannot be woken up, even with vigorous shaking. I personally do not know how this curse is affecting them, but I have a feeling there is a connection between our events and the worm's death. It was not random..." she will then explain a couple of random theories based on her knowledge of how elens interact with the Planes of existence. Perhaps ways that could have caused this connection to have been established, but she would make it clear that it is all theory at this point. "We really don't know. That is why I came appealing to you, that perhaps you may have heard of such an experience in your fight with the Darkspawn here and knew of a way to magically, or naturally, restore the minds of your people. If you truly have not heard of this event, perhaps you may wish to check our own and see if we are affected as well? Would by chance your mother or the Chord know? Are they still in good health?"
Novalie smiles wanly at her friends offer, "Thank you for the help, I hope your family is well, but considering you are here, that does not seem likely. Was it more than one? Thankfully, it was just my father. My mother is safe for now, although she probably believes I brought this aliment upon us from the city."
As they put her father down she responds, "Of course I am with you!"
As she stands back up, she looks around at all of the unconscious people and their crying families, "Is there anything the doctors can do?"
She fumes and every so often, her fists become covered in frost as her anger rises, "I hope it's something I can punch or at least stab. Something needs to be hurt for this. And I aim to do the hurting."
Novalie, Inquisitor Ky La smiles approvingly at the manifestations of your anger. "We'll find something, I'm sure. There must be a source for such malign activity, wouldn't you say?"
Nempura, Tien gives tightly controlled movements as she signs, "My mother is dead. My father is still the ebbing Chord for the time being, until I am married."
"As for my father, he is judging the ice-carven Giant statues..." She trails off, her fingers, fluttering uncertainly. "Did you say this is all happening abovewater, in the floating and dry quarters? Where my father is right now?"
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"I knew it would be you to survive when things got bad. Tell me, daughter, do you still refuse to take the gods and their rituals seriously?" There is a gleam in her eye.
There was relief in Iryani's face, when she found her mother. And she was well, at least physically. Mother was not a strong person, she needed her faith to have something to hold onto in difficult times. While Iryani found this superstition meaningless, she knew better than to confront her now.
"I never did, mother. I know the gods are everywhere and in everything. Sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. It's now ours to understand their ways. And it was just never for me to be their tool. I met someone who might be able to help us. The whole town has been affected and I'll fix this. Promise!" With that she left her mother at the shrine. This was probably the best place for her right now.Iryani went back home to get her stuff and then went straight to find the Inquisitor.
Being generally suspicious of inquisitor, "I don't know if its malign, that would attribute a motive and thought. But I hope there is something nefarious, that would mean a higher chance of finding out how to fix it."
Truly saddened by the news of the mother's death, she recalls her own mothers. She knew all too well the position that Tien was now in.
"I am sorry for the loss of your mother." she replies sorrowfully in her expressions. When asked about her father, Nempura nods to affirm her assumptions. Granted she didn't know if any had fallen asleep under the water, which was why she was partly there, but it seems not. As she darts out, Nempura will follow with haste. She too shared a concern for the ebbing Chord's health.
Nempura, Tien Tuyet leaps out of the water like a seal, springing to the shore. Her silverish hair hangs damply from her. She runs, her legs tricked by the sandy beach as she passes half-finished statues of the Lonely Frost Giant, the god of death and endings. All the statues are missing faces, giving them a surprised look. Tien's reflection is distorted as she runs through them. The beach is deserted.
After a few minutes, Tien finds her father. Judging from the chaos around the healing huts and the emptiness of all the other streets, the Chord was left here in the sand amid the ice while all the other carried loved ones or simply ran.
Tien looks at her father, and around at the empty shore, faceless statues staring. "Someone will pay for this." Her voice is higher than you would have expected, emphasizing her relative youth again. A glorious, angry soprano bursts from the Maelstrom Mother, and two of the carvings are sung to life. Their thick limbs obey the imperious marching opera, and pick up Tien's father, the ebbing, ebbing Chord. She walks in front of them, making for the healers upon the docks.
The inquisitor examines Novalie through eyes like glinting spyglasses. "And you prefer straightforward problems. Find an enemy and defeat it. An admirable quality in soldiers of the Warrior, indeed."
Iryani, you track down the inquisitor easily enough - no one else in the village wears such harsh colors or such jagged patterns. "Ah, and here is our huntress, wearing the mud of the swamp on her boots as very convincing camouflage."
"Now, to business-" He stops, small smile barely curling his lips, looking toward the shores.
"Ah, I wonder if the noble lady finds herself in distress. Come, we shall gauge the situation." He waves you toward the shores and docks.
Novalie raises an eyebrow at the inquisitor's comment, "I do prefer straight-forward problems. I don't like to fit a straight-forward or predetermined explanation on something that doesn't merit it though."
Keeping speed, Nempura rushes onward to land and vaults upward out of River herself. It is eerie to see the beaches deserted. To find emptiness in the streets where previously many people were rushing around.
As they find the Chord, unconscious, she truly wonders what in the world is going on? How could it affect their Chord?
"I'm sorry. Sorry he was left here like this..."
When she cries out in impressive ways that sings the beings to life, Nempura moves back respectfully. A similar cry would have come from her should it have been her own father.
Now in tow, Nempura proceeded toward the docks in hopes of finding an answer for Bihn's wife, as well as to give emotional support to the Maelstrom Mother. If Tien appeared to need consoling, she would console. If she appeared to need someone to be just as furious, Nempura would be there along with her being so. That was her role as an ambassador, but more than that. While not demonstrated as openly, that rage was there within her the moment she saw the torment of Madam Yen. Whatever would cause such evil done to an innocent, needed to die. If needed, that shared expression would be on her face in an effort to support her fellow noble in her time of need.
Iryani nods at Novalie. The most simple form of a greeting. She also ignored everything the inquisitor said, but observed him thoroughly. He may be mean, but he's probably helpful.
"We need to hurry. Fix this. Somehow..." There was a hint of doubt and desperation in her tone.
Inquisitor Ky La nods to Iryani, and the the two warriors. "Indubitably, a 'simple' solution would be preferable. Only time and new light will tell." Striding more quickly now--swish, hop skip of the robes--the inquisitor crosses narrow streets and zigzags toward the shores.
As you round a final corner, you see an odd sight on the beach. You think the statues must be crumbling. You squint, check again--no, two ice statues are moving, carrying an older el in their arms. You see Nempura next a young ele, imperious and angry.
Freya watched and listened as the inquisitor and Novalie bantered. Her opinion of the inquisitor continued to drop, though she made no reflection on her countenance. He seems to think others are simpleminded, though he tolerates those of the Church. Never really liked Prendere types. Ugh, I need a drink.
The moving statues of ice surprised the ifrit. I'd thought golems were almost exclusively from Light, though I had heard of some primitive ones from the Oread lands. Valen would probably know more than me. Either way, whoever's animating them has a respectable grasp of magic.
Uncertain of the proceedings, the young paladin kept her hand near her weapons. She didn't want to imply any threat, but was on her guard. Freya exchanged glances with Novalie as they proceeded.
As the party rounds the bend, Nempura can be seen in her noble outfit. The very one that Madam Yen had given her. It is the first time they have seen her hair down, and it swishes behind her waist with its long purple strands. She keeps pace with the Maelstrom Mother Tien with a shared expression of vexation on her face.
Upon seeing them, she will bow her head their direction and wave them over.
"Your grace," she voices in her actual soft melodic tones, "these ahead are the able warriors who helped in dispatching the Dark, and the Inquisitor whom I mentioned having shown up from its defeat afterward."
She gestures towards them so that Tien can identify the ones from her previously told story. Whether she is willing to stop at this moment is up to her. Either way, Nempura will stop to greet and receive them, as well as provide a proper introduction should Tien want to stop.
Tien Tuyet arches a noble, silver eyebrow and sing-asks, "Do any of you have the means to wake the sleepers up? Then move aside." Her guardians of ice march on.
Inquisitor Ky La's hand flutters around in a gesture of dismissal. He mutters, "Leave the venerable Mother to her, eh...natural emotions. She deserves the right to express them."
"And don't worry, lovely Miss Babblebrook. You go with your kind. We will somehow 'soldier' on without any watersingers amongst us. Good day to you, noble lady."
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Freya was baffled at the proceedings. "Mother? Is she the Maelstrom Mother? She's so young!" the paladin blurted out. I think she's about Illiya's age, maybe a bit older. Freya'd been expecting some wizened crone, though the ifrit doubted she'd ever have met her before now.
Freya recollected her composure after Tien excused herself. While she did not like the inquisitor's attitude, she agreed with him on one thing; Nempura was better out of their way. "Seems the young Mother could use your help, isn't that your duty?"
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Tact was certainly not Freya's strong suit, as, from the perspective of Tien, it was like losing her mother and father. To call into question her youth, was like a slap in the face. The mockery and childish posturing irritated Nempura, sure, but that couldn't be seen on her face. She slows a bit, allowing the Maelstrom mother to continue on toward the healers on her own.
"Thank you for your concern. You pay me a great compliments..."
Almost as if she were stupid, which may or may not shame them, she takes the position to not take offense and look at the situation in the best possible light. It is not to specifically shame them, but to rather choose a better path than to take offense. In her sight, they were concerned about her duty and saw her as a noble ele. Both kind things if you ignored the intent behind it.
"...but my duty is to serve those who have fallen asleep. Bian, my hostess, the ebbing Chord, the people of this village, and perhaps people you yourself care about, being from here. Now...what can we do to aid them? Have you any ideas?"
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Iryani has never been more happy to not have pursued the track of Waternsinger than in this moment. She didn't comment any aspect of the situation, just oberved and smiled secretly. Politics was just not for her.
A moment later she remember her family. "Enough talking! Let's do something!"
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Novalie watches the exchange, internally winces a bit, and knowing she has never been tactful, keeps her mouth shut for fear of making it worse. She definitely cannot make it better.
She'll exchange glances and a raised brow with Iryani and when Iryani raised her suggestion, she'll chime in, "Yes please, can we focus on finding the cause of the illness. I've just began rapprochement with my father after not seeing him for many years. I don't want to lose him the moment we've begun."
Freya shook her head. Her voice is flat as she speaks. "No. The Mother needs your help. I may not know the first thing about her, but I do know that she's angry. Young, emotional and probably under more stress than you've ever been. She's supposed to lead these people, not destroy them. What she does right now will impact the people's trust in her for years to come. So again, she needs your help, Princess." I can't even imagine what Illiya'd be like under such pressure. I'd never abandon her in her time of need like this.
The paladin looks to the inquisitor. "Well, inquisitor? What's the plan?"
"The 'plan' is that Miss Babblebrook--or Lady Babblebrook, haha?--has made her choice. She may of course attend with us." He walks away from the shore, beckoning with fluttering fingers.
"Come. We must look outside of town, in dark places."
Curious eyes look at Freya and her flat tones. "Why does she hold such a strong prejudice?" In a way she kind of understands. Many before her have taken advantage of the poor. Their community's newsletters make no shy moves concerning the rich, exploiting their every move in the worst possible light, even if trying to help people. Still, she personally has done nothing to deserve such disdain. Forgiving the clearly emotional Paladin, it is evident by Nempura's face that she is injured at the onset by her inflected word, but she tenses up and almost appears more noble--particularly in her outfit--as if she won't be harmed by words.
She makes no sign of victory when the Inquisitor takes her side, and even averts her eyes from Freya to not rub things in.
"It is as you say, let us go."
With that, she will arrange her dress in such a way to allow a more combat-focused activity and will pull out of her pack her belt and will strap on her starknives from the side of her pack, to her more ready-to-use hip. She will brush her long purple hair back in place with her fingers as she walks and will begin to braid it almost subconsciously for future action.
Looking to the other two girls (not Freya, who clearly wanted nothing to do with her), she asks with deep concern in her voice, "Are your friends and family alright?"
"The swamps, then?" Freya said, checking her boots, hoping they'd hold up to the muck. What's the Inquisitor thinking? Hiring a guide from the local hunters makes sense, but a noble? Are we going to defeat the Dark with tea ceremony? The paladin's steely composure broke for a moment as she chuckled to herself.
The injury from earlier that day ached and it quickly dried the ifrit's mood. There was something she'd been meaning to say, so Freya took a moment to approach the two non-church personnel. "If we're to fight together again, there's something I need to talk to the two of you about."
Ky La watches quietly, observing what Freya has to say to the others.