Despite the circumstances, Silvia can't help but smile at the reborn tree, beautifully adorned by children who seem no worse for the wear, all things considered. It is the first joyful thing she has seen since waking up in Roslar's tomb.
So it is even more jarring when she, too, spots the enormous bird and hears the name given to it by Garret. A witchcrow? That hardly sounds like the sort of thing that brings good tidings. Silvia fixes her gaze on the creature, trying to suss out its intentions.
The witchcrow does not detect as evil.
1) Witchcrows have a knack for languages and almost always know many of the languages spoken in the region around their homes. They don't possess telepathy or any other supernatural means of communication.
2) Many witchcrows are selfish and evil, their green and deceptive natures pushing them to murder travelers--though they detest engaging directly in combat themselves. Others act as spies or heralds for more powerful entities
3) Witchcrows have numerous mystical abilities: they can see magical auras and speak with other birds at will, and can turn invisible and spin up defensive illusions, and even inflict minor curses on those who anger them.
Constant—detect magic, speak with animals (birds only)
3/day—perceive cues, vanish, ventriloquism
1/day—ill omen, mirror image
"Oh that's the Flower Lady's bird! She's really nice, she was the one who explained to us that we're dead, and she'll take us to see Pharasma once she's done with a different group!" Laesi exclaims when she sees where you're all looking, waving at the bird. "The Flower Lady is the one who put all the flowers on the the Ribbon Tree. She can talk through the bird," the girl confides to you in a low voice, her mouth hidden behind her hand as though sharing a secret. Seeing the hubbub the bird spreads its wings and glides down, landing on girl's head. Laesi stifles a giggle as the enormous crow settles itself, staring at you all as it does so.
After a moment, its eyes widen and seem to fill with a dark green mist, turning them to solid orbs of verdant color. When it opens its beak, a mellifluous feminine voice drifts out.
“Ah, newcomers, greetings and--oh, your hearts! Why, you must be the curiosities I heard tell of. I am Mictena, administrator of this particular juncture of the Dead Roads, and I cordially welcome you to the Boneyard and you awaiting eternity. Please, do not fret about your unusual condition; I shall be with you shortly to correct this horrible error and help you on your way to the final rest you have earned!”
I don't like the sound of that!
"I, um, I don't think we're quite ready to meet Pharasma yet," Sanduro says nervously. "And Thoot and Umble said we could go back home. At least, I think they did. Because we definitely aren't dead."
Zsofia harumphs, and the druid gives her a dirty look, willing her to keep quiet.
"Greetings, Mictena, Lady of Flowers and Regenerator of Trees. As my esteemed colleague says, we are not quite ready to set down our worldly concerns given that we are still, at least somewhat, alive," begins Garret.
Continuing, he says, "And I thank you for comforting the children here. Still, I crave your wisdom--do you have any idea what massive magical effect sent my entire town hurtling into the Boneyard?"
Ketra, overwhelmed by the sight of all the kids of the town running around having fun, rushes over and catches a few of them in a big hug. She falls to her knees as she does so, a tumult of painful emotion running through her. "Everyone! You guys- you guys havin' fun out here?"
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Ketra stands back up upon hearing that the kids already have a clear enough understanding of what's going on in town. She sighs, tension leaving her at the thought of not having to explain it to them. The sudden proclamation from the Witchcrow draws her attention immediately afterward.
"Nice to meet you Mictena." Ketra's tone is guarded "Why do you say that our condition is an error? Do you know something more about what happened to us, what exactly our condition is? And, if you don't mind explaining, who exactly is this Flower Lady that did all this for the kids?"
"I, um, I don't think we're quite ready to meet Pharasma yet," Sanduro says nervously. "And Thoot and Umble said we could go back home. At least, I think they did. Because we definitely aren't dead."
The voice coming from the crow gives an irritated hiss. “Those two! Oh, I swear to—! Don’t you worry, dears. Once I’ve helped you, I’ll be having a long talk with those ladies to set them straight. Getting you upset like this was downright irresponsible! And yes, child, your state is well known to me, we'll get everything corrected shortly. You just need to be patient.”
"Greetings, Mictena, Lady of Flowers and Regenerator of Trees. As my esteemed colleague says, we are not quite ready to set down our worldly concerns given that we are still, at least somewhat, alive."
"I know, my child, I know," Mictena's voice is gentle and soothing. "Change is always frightening, but you've nothing to be worried about. I promise I will make it soft and swift, like a mother’s kiss. You’ll feel only love.”
"And I thank you for comforting the children here. Still, I crave your wisdom--do you have any idea what massive magical effect sent my entire town hurtling into the Boneyard?"
"But of course, dear, that is what I'm here for," Mictena's appears to be going for humility, but is clearly charmed by the flattery. "As to the events prior to your arrival here--it's healthier not to dwell on a past you cannot change, and instead look forward to your afterlife and the well-earned rewards that await you there!"
"Nice to meet you Mictena." Ketra's tone is guarded "Why do you say that our condition is an error? Do you know something more about what happened to us, what exactly our condition is? And, if you don't mind explaining, who exactly is this Flower Lady that did all this for the kids?"
Mictena laughs softly and not unkindly. "I am the Flower Lady--not a formal title, mind you, merely a sweet moniker bestowed upon by the children. I do so love to garden, it helps keep me grounded in my work, if you'll pardon the turn of phrase." Her tone becomes more businesslike when the discussion turns to your 'condition'. "Your condition, yes. When you died your bodies somehow came here with your souls, instead of being left behind as is the usual case. So while you may feel yourselves to be alive, you are not, as that would be quite obviously impossible. Just relax, reminisce on happy memories here with your loved ones, and I will help you shed your...unfortunate state. Sit tight my loves, I'll be there in person soon enough.”
The green mist fades from the crow's eyes and it closes its beak, Mictena's presence seemingly withdrawn for now. "Harumph, she likes you. There's a hundred other incoming groups to process, but she wants to escort you personally," the crow quarks disdainfully. "I don't like you. Coming over here with your bodies and such, causing trouble and putting on airs. It's impolite!"
Laesi gasps in shocked delight. "You can talk too?!"
"Wait, there are a hundred other groups--like us?" says Garret to the Witchcrow. "You know, people with souls still in their bodies--basically the definition of being alive?" he continues.
To the others, he says, "It seems like the kids are more or less taken care of...Should we move on before this Mictena shows up and tries to make us dead?"
The crow caws in derisive laughter. "More like you? Oh no, thank the Lady of Fate! The others are much more polite, but the dead come from every corner of the multiverse so there are many groups who got here first--but you lot just had to jump the line, didn't you? Harumph!"
Ketra sidles up close to the rest of the team and speaks quietly so as not to be overheard by the kids, or the crow if possible. "Anyone else getting some bad vibes from our Flower Lady? Between the weird references to gardening and the way she talked about parting us from our bodies as an act of love... well, I'm suddenly not all that eager to meet her. Better Umble and Thoot. At least they were straightforward."
She reaches over to tousle the hair of one of the kids, suddenly not sure if letting this Flower Lady do her thing with them is the right choice.
Sanduro nods in agreement with Garret and Ketra. He takes a few steps away from the witchcrow and murmurs, "She says she loves to 'garden,' but I'll bet the part she likes best is the reaping. I'd like to know what Umble and Thoot have to say about her, but I'd really like to not be here when she arrives."
Silvia, stunned into silence by the sight of Mictena speaking through the witchcrow, eventually recovers with a quick shake of the head. Her first act is to glare at the witchcrow. "I'm sorry that being the only survivors of an attack that killed everyone we care about was inconvenient for you."
She turns and joins in on the whispered conversation. "I've seen enough career climbers in my life to know what's going on. We're a snag in her bureaucratic regime, and she means to kill us for it. As a bonus, she'll make Umble and Thoot take the fall, and she could give a damn what happens to the townspeople. The sooner we can get things here sorted, the sooner we can get back home, find out what really happened, and punish whoever's responsible." She punctuates the sentence by slamming a fist into her other palm.
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This isn't good. Glad we got here before the Flower Lady did. "If we want to protect these children, I think our only choice is to stay," Wallace adds in. "The natural order of things is for souls to pass on and receive Pharasma's judgement. If we're certain that the Flower Lady will do that, I don't think we have any right to stop her from helping the children. But if she arrives and we have reason to doubt, I think it is our duty to try and stop her. I agree with Silvia's assessment though. Either way, we are a problem that she plans on solving."
He pauses to think for a moment. "Could we convince the children to go back home to their families? It might make it harder for the Flower Lady and give us time to work through things with her. We're an issue already, so throwing more inconvenience at her at our own expense doesn't change her plans."
"Of course, Wallace, that sounds great!" says Garret, suddenly realizing that while this tree might be an enticing distraction for the children, they truly belonged with their parents...Then a darker thought forms in his mind..."Perhaps they are separating parent from child for a reason--and distracting them with flowery trees and arguments with ancestors," he thinks.
"Laesi, I think it is about time we went and found your parents, don't you think? The rest of the children should come too, to see their parents. The Lady Mayor and Father Black know where they are and will guide us to them," suggests Garret, keeping a watchful eye on the Witchcrow as he speaks with the girl.
"I'm sorry that being the only survivors of an attack that killed everyone we care about was inconvenient for you."
"Were you even listening? You didn't survive, you just think you did! Came through with your bodies and whatnot! It's very different!" The witchcrow waves its wings in a vague gesture.
"If we want to protect these children, I think our only choice is to stay."
"Protect them? They are bound for their afterlives, and Mictena will guide them there without any help from you! She has executed her sacred duty since your world was barely a clump of dust--I'll not listen to such slander!" With a flurry of flapping wings and indignant cawing the crow takes off, circling the Ribbon Tree to caw down a last few insults ("Ingrates! Fools! Troublemakers!") before winging away into the mists.
You don't think the witchcrow was lying to you--it appears genuinely incensed on Mictena's behalf, and earnestly believes that she is correct about you not being alive.
"Aww, I wanted to ask him if eyes taste like jelly," Laesi looks wistfully off in the direction the crow went, but nods eagerly at Garret's suggestion and takes his hand.
A bit taken aback by the Witchcrow's reaction, Garret is still unwilling to wait around to be killed, so he responds to Laesi by taking her hand and saying, "Right, let's get you children to your parents. Father Black, Lady Mayor, lead on."
"That was an unusual comment from Laesi about the crow's eyes...is she okay?" wonders Garret.
Ketra waves goodbye to the crow, one hand on her hip. "Well, sure was friendly." she offers dryly.
She turns to the rest of the kids "Yeah, that's right. I bet your parents want to see all of you! Plus, I bet there's some more games you could play before its time to move on?" She helps Garret usher the kids away from the tree.
After they've gotten some distance, she asks the rest of the group "Should we go find Umble and Thoot first? See if they can explain what Mictena is really up to? The adults are important too, of course, but... I feel so much in the dark here. Knowing a little more would be awful good."
Turning to Ketra, Garret says, "After the way they were chased off last time, I doubt those two will want to approach the...petitioners...until the townspeople have at least accepted their current state of being and become less hostile," adding, "But you are right, I would trust Umble and Thoot to handle the situation much better than this Mictena, so we should pull them in as soon as possible."
Sanduro nods in agreement. "I definitely want to hear what Thoot and Umble have to say. Their version of correcting a mistake was to send us home. Her version is making sure we, er, meet the qualifications to stay here. I know which one I like better. But I think we should take the children back to their parents first, unless we can find Thoot and Umble along the way?"
Silvia returns the witchcrow's insults with a rude hand gesture, then faces the others. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go."
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Wallace weathers the crow's words without outward emotion. Iomedae, forgive me if I've led these souls astray, I'm doing the best I can with the information I have available. I will accept judgement when my time has come.
He nods to the others and begins to lead the way back to the adults. "Speaking with Thoot and Umble would certainly give us a fuller picture."
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It takes a few minutes to wrangle all of the children even with the Mayor's and Octavius' help, and some are clearly reluctant. "They didn't want to listen to us," one boy, Marrel, pipes up. "They all just wanted to listen to dumb knight talk about how we're actually alive and he was gonna lead us back home. The Flower Lady said he was confused and she wanted to help him but he kept hiding whenever she tried to help him. I think he's just a liar!"
Leading a small parade of children you made your way back into the town center, it doesn't take long to find a crowd of townsfolk gathered, seemingly enraptured by the impassioned raving of a mustachio'd, semi-translucent warrior who is gesturing forcefully with a clenched fist. Despite his powerful oration his dress is shabby--scuffed armor, a ragged cloak, and wild unkempt hair give the impression of a man lost in the wilderness for weeks. Councilor Arabella Tharmethion--the well-regarded owner of the towns general store--stands next to him looking pleased but not certain why she's pleased. A moment's glance is enough to place a strong familial resemblance between the Councillor and the scruffy-looking knight orating from atop a crate.
"...will lead you through the mists back to your homes, which are no doubt under occupation by whatever foe has pulled this foul trick! Because make no mistake, by brothers and sisters: I have seen the afterlife, and this is not it! We will return home and take back what is ours, and let no one stand before us!"
You find yourself nodding along as you listen to this speech, he makes some good points! Someone--some unknown enemy--did this to you and yours, and it's about time for some payback! You find yourself on the edge of your metaphorical seat, hanging on this strange knight's every word.
Octavius and Mayor Grive are nodding along, her expression thoughtful and his outraged--but the children all look bored or annoyed. "He's been yelling dumb stuff for hours!" one of them complains.
The scruffy knight--whomever he is--isn't a petitioner like the gathered crowd, nor is he an Alter Ego. He is, instead, and unfettered phantom not unlike Zsofia.
"Children, please go be with your parents. We will try to get to the bottom of what is going on here, but it would be best if we can question this translucent knight without so much heated rhetoric," requests Garret.
More quietly aside to the others, he asks, "Anyone have any ideas how to best approach this? Do you think we can question him without so much of an audience--I think he may be posturing for them.
Ketra blinks twice as the group arrives at the scene, then takes a couple of steps forward. She crosses her arms, expression thoughtful but distant "Back to our homes? This isn't the afterlife?" Her words grow quiet "Maybe that crow did this to us. Payback would be good hmmm?" She starts cracking her knuckles.
The usual recall knowledge questions in this order
- DR
- Special defenses
- Special Attacks
- Special Abilities
"He's no ordinary petitioner or even an alter ego like Father Black. He's a phantom, like Zsofia, but not tied to another person or place." Sanduro says, surprised.
In response to Garret, the druid adds, "I think I know who should speak with him first." He turns to his own extraplanar companion. "Can you get his attention? Try to get him to come off that crate and talk to us."
Zsofia looks at the warrior with disdain. "Sure, boyo. I'm sorta dead, he's sorta dead - we should get along great." Despite her words, she jerks her head in a nod of agreement, and if the group agrees, she elbows her way through the townsfolk to stand right in front of the raving bravo.
Garret will clear his throat in an authoritative manner and bow slightly, indicating Zsofia with a smile.
Zsofia stares at the other phantom until he notices her, then smiles. "Oy, Spectral Sam! How about you give these folks a rest and come have a chat with me and my..." she pauses, thinks for a second, then sighs and continues, "my friends. We're interested in what you have to say about all this."
The knights stumbles in his speech when Zsofia's heckling starts, his bushy eyebrows coming together in fierce glare. "My brothers and sisters, think on what we must do, and prepare yourselves! It is certain that our enemy will send spies and provocateurs among us to sow doubt and dissent," he gives a significant look to Zsofia and the crowd of petitioners rumbles with discontent. Hopping down from his crate the knight looks several of the nearest petitioners in the eye earnestly. "Do not falter now, if we all work together no foe can stand before us! We will be victorious! I swear it to you, or my name is not Garmid Tharmethion!"
His speech having brought his closer to Zsofia, her turns to the phantom and growls low enough that only she can hear, "Piss off, pirate. I've no quarrel with you, and I got here first."
The name Garmid Tharmethion is familiar to you--he was one of the Red Shrikes, the band of champions led by Ervin Roslar. Come to think of it, you remember seeing this Garmid's likeness on some of the murals back in the tomb, too.
Garret racks his brain to recall any information on this Garmid Tharmethion just given his name...but comes up empty. He watches the rabble rouser move over to converse with Zsofia and hopes for the best.
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"Pirate? Do I look like a pirate to you?" Zsofia is indignant; never having seen a pirate, she is unaware that she does, in fact look like one. "I was a bandit queen, Fancy Pants, and was (probably) feared by townsfolk and travelers throughout northern Varisia and the Palatinates, so don't insult me. I'm not here to spoil your con, but you better come talk to my friends before they bring whatever passes for the local militia around here down on you and your inadequate mustache!"
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An undead, then? Wallace keeps a hand on his sword, but with the man speaking to Zsofia, he keeps it sheathed. "What's the plan then?" he whispers to Sanduro. "Got some Ghost silencing magic or something? Can you have two of them follow you?"
He raises a hand of caution towards Ketra. "What? Can't you see we're trying peace first?" he asks quietly, a mixture of confused and annoyed.
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Looking between the phantom, the crowd, and Ketra, Silvia puts two and two together. Silvia steps up to Ketra with a smile, gently places both hands on her shoulders, and without warning, gives her a violent shake. "Snap out of it!" Silvia orders.
Ketra, whose eyes had been tracking the knight despite her best intentions to turn her attention back to the adults, yelps when Silvia's shake brings her back. "Wha!?" She looks around for a moment, examining the knight in a new light. "Thanks Silvia, that fellow's kinda... hypnotizing, for some reason."
Realizing that she might not be the only one effected, she lets Zsofia handle distracting Garmid. She takes a quick circuit through the group of townspeople, waving a hand in front of each of their faces and calling out each of their names to try to snap them out of it.
An undead, then? Wallace keeps a hand on his sword, but with the man speaking to Zsofia, he keeps it sheathed. "What's the plan then?" he whispers to Sanduro. "Got some Ghost silencing magic or something? Can you have two of them follow you?"
Sanduro leans forward to hear the big knight's whisper. "Plan? Ghost-silencing magic? No, nothing like that. I just thought," he shrugs, embarrassed. "Well, like Zsofia said, I just thought, he's a semi-corporeal spirit who has lingered on far past his time to stand before the Lady of Graves, she's a semi-corporeal spirit who has lingered on too long herself, maybe they would get along. She doesn't get to talk to other phantoms very often - or ever, at least since I've known her. I know, kind of stupid, right?"
"What's wrong with Ketra? Oh, never mind, Silvia's got it - she must have just zoned out. Anyway, do you think Zsofia and Garmid are getting along? Should I go over there or just let them talk?" Sanduro grins for a moment, despite the setting. "I sound like my aunt Katarzyna talking about my little cousins when they're playing with new friends from another clan."
At Zsofia's outburst, Garret moves over to the two and tries to play the role of peacemaker (per his trait), saying, "Come now, let's discuss this reasonably. Garmid Tharmethion, you must know that we are in the Boneyard and the people of my town, Roslar's Coffer, are dead and need to be prepared to move on, not riled up into a fight against an unknown enemy. I am going to go speak to my parents, and you are going to converse civilly with Zsofia here, aren't you?"
Moving off, Garret looks for his mother and father, getting their attention and having a sad but (hopefully) private conversation.
Reading people is a useful skill for a bandit queen, and when Garmid's eyes flash with anger and alarm Zsofia knows she has correctly guessed his game, if not his reasons.
After literally shaking off the lingering effects of Garmid's entrancing speech, Ketra moves into the crowd stirring the petitioners back to themselves. Their rapt anger melts into puzzlement and a vague desire to go home...but aren't they already home? The crowd's energy begins to soften in confusion.
Garmid turns as though to stop Ketra but pulls up short when Garret steps in. The knight's jaw goes slack in amazement and when the halfling turns away his hand snaps out. Rapidly solidifying in a manner very reminiscent to Zsofia, the previously ghostly knight spins Garret around and places a hand on the halfling's chest, feeling his heartbeat.
"You...you're alive," he whispers, then looks up in astonished wonder at the rest of the party standing nearby. "Why are phantoms and the living traveling together?"
Recoiling a bit at the phantom's forwardness, Garret says, "Watch the hands, mister," and takes a step back. More quietly, he responds, "I don't rightly know why we are still alive, Garmid. Those far from the explosion--like the townsfolk--were killed outright. A few nearby left behind Alter Egos, like Captain Sunstone and Father Black. We, who were mere feet from the cataclysm, woke up in the Roslar's tomb with our souls still housed in our bodies and very much alive. We exited our sarcophagi and made our way to the surface, but we are still quite confused."
"What do you say we let these poor lost souls continue on to their eternal rest and try to figure this mystery out together...And speaking of such things, why have you not moved on to your eternal reward? What keeps you here in the Boneyard?" Garret continues, as much to distract Garmid from continuing his rabble-rousing as in hopes of getting an answer.
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When the phantom starts getting handsy, Wallace cuts his conversation with Sanduro short and steps up to Garret's side. "If you can temper your curiosity, I agree that working together would be more beneficial than against each other. We all have questions, no?"
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Sanduro steps up to stand next to Zsofia and, with almost no hesitation, sticks a hand out to Garmid. "Hello, Garmid. My name is Sanduro Dzotsi. Zsofia and I travel together because we are bound together while she has business to complete in the living world. How have you become unmoored from the cycle of souls? How can we ..."
Zsofia gives the druid a sharp, ectoplasmic elbow to the ribs.
"...hel. What was that about?"
With the rest of the party continuing to tackle Garmid, Ketra searches through the crowd for her sisters and father, suddenly seized by a terrible desire to see them again. She steps carefully around people she knows, offering reassuring words to try to assuage their confusion, but holds off on addressing the whole crowd. There would be time for clearing up the situation with all the townsfolk later. For now... Ketra had time to be selfish.
If she doesn't spot them immediately, she looks around for Verun to see if the whippoorwill has keener eyes.
Zsofia ignores Sanduro's outraged yelp. "Gently, boys, Garmid is running a long con and we don't want to get in the way. Yes, what is keeping you here in the Boneyard, Garmid? We don't have to give you up, but we can't come to an understanding unless we know what your game is. Hells, is Garmid even your real name?"
Garmid seizes Sanduro's hand, turning it this way and that as though looking for signs of trickery. At the mention of his bond with Zsofia the scruffy knight's head snaps up, expression intense. "You and the phantom are bound, then? She goes where you go? Is that something that happened here in the Boneyard or in the living worlds?"
"Gently, boys, Garmid is running a long con and we don't want to get in the way...
"Oh no, forget about that! Off to the afterlife with the lot of them, ha ha!" Garmid brushes imaginary dust from his hands. "The halfling and the knight are quite right, let's leave these people be and work together, eh? I don't know anything about an explosion, but it seems the answers back back where you came from!" The phantom knight extends a hand to Wallace to shake. "I am indeed Garmid Tharmethion, hero of the Shining Crusade and compa--ancestor to your esteemed councilor Arbella. It's good to know my line has survived the centuries, ha ha!"
Garmid's posture and tone are gregarious but his eyes keep drifting back to Sanduro every few seconds, looking a bit like a starving man who just saw a roast chicken.
He seems quite earnest in his desire to work with you. In fact, there's a desperate edge to his eagerness. You suspect he may have an ulterior motive.
Drifting off to the side, Garret murmurs quietly to Sanduro, "Watch yourself, this 'Garmid' seems to want something from you--desperately."
"It happens, don't worry about it," Silvia tells Ketra. She gives Ketra's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before watching her go off into the crowd. When she loses sight of the woman, Silvia's attention gets pulled back to the phantom Garmid.
Don't like that one bit, she thinks to herself, before stepping up protectively next to Sanduro. "What are you after?"
Sanduro looks from Garret to Silvia. "What do you mean? I don't understand." He looks at Garmid quizzically. "Were you bound to Arabella? What happened?"
Zsofia doesn't know what changed Garret's and Silvia's attitudes toward Garmid, but she knows enough about the other phantom to accept their suspicion. She steps between Sanduro and Garmid, as much out of jealousy over the interest the druid is showing in the new phantom as out of protectiveness, and holds up a hand.
"Ah ah ah! No questions from you until you give us some real answers, bub."
You search through the crowd, nodding and smiling at neighbors and familiar faces, seeking out our family. You find them on the edge of the crowd, Maren with his arm around Ailsa's shoulder, hugging her close. He looks worried but his face breaks out into a smile when he sees you. He nudges Ailsa and points you out, and your sister leaves his side to embrace you. Her touch feels strangely light and a bit cool.
"Ketra! Where have you been off to? And my, aren't you looking vibrant today! You must tell me how you do it," Ailsa's cheer is clearly strained, and you realize you don't see Darcy.
"Come here, my darlings," Maren's arms encircle you both. "I'm glad you're here, Ketra, today has been so strange. Certainly not like the usual Festivals of Remembrance!" It's not clear to you whether they are aware that they have passed.
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Wallace takes Garmid's hand. "The Shining Crusade, you say?" he echoes in wonder. What luck! I've so many questions, but it would surely be best to start with his own story! But the way he looks at Sanduro...
"Is there something the matter?" he asks Garmid, gesturing to Sanduro. "I say we address it then hear what you've to say of the Crusade! What a marvelous opportunity this is!"
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