♫ I’ll sing you a song,
A song of the sea! ♫
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It was a cool day between harvests when Onna found a note on her pillow:
Meet me in the fields outside Absalom,
Beside the barn where we have lain in the straw,
Where the scarecrow watched you kiss the sweat off of my brow,
At the sun's final hour.
柊
Called to the fields, Onna found Hiiragi there, sitting atop the bare earth, watching the sun as it began to touch the horizon. She turned, and smiled at her love; her face bare and plain.
"I have never been this free," she told her. "Usually... usually, when I'm not planting or praying, I'm... I'm studying. I'm hardly a scholar, and the written word does not always come easily to me, but I have always wanted to be able to be as good a vessel for Daikitsu's grace as I could ever be."
She reaches down and scoops up some fine dirt in her hand, and lets it sift through her fingers. "But... I am still as much as I have ever been Daikitsu's-- but now I feel that I am yours, too," she says. "And when I'm with you, I... I feel like I can explore who I am, on my own-- not through Her lens, but through my own, and yours too. I feel like I'm growing, as a person."
She fidgets a bit, and a silvery gleam begins to shine as more of the dirt falls to the ground.
"Onna, I have... I have never been with someone like you. I know that when you find good soil, you... you settle down on it. You plant your crops there and... I know it's maybe not the best analogy, but."
She clears her throat, and turns her eyes from the sunset to the bard.
She shakes the last of the dirt loose, and holds out a ring.
"Onna... will you plant your roots next to mine? I... I want to grow together. For as long as I'm alive, I want to be with you."
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Onna is struck by a wave of surprise. Why would this wonderful woman want me? Surely she knows that she can do better, deserves better. Suddenly, as if on the brink of death once again, her life flashes before her eyes. Much of her childhood and adolescence skips past like a stone across the water. More recent events fill her vision. The bard recalls a desperate battle against monstrous harpies. A conspiratorial night breaking into the office of a headmaster, a quiet confession of Itami's tortured soul, and of course, waking in the temple.
Each time, Hiiragi was there. Always showing support, never judging. She's the best person I know, and brings out the best of the rest of us as well. A comfort to a man who lost faith while simultaneously being a pillar for a young man finding his. She keeps a constant eye out for Tosh, keeping her safe. And serves as a spiritual equal to Kenta! How does she do it? Works all day, takes care of her community, upholds her faith. I don't know that I am worthy of so rich a prize. She remembers Shelyn's words. 'Something beautiful' she said. Well, this woman before me is certainly that. In both body and Soul. She's amazing. I can't ruin that. I don't want to be the one to bear the responsibility when her heart breaks. Tears begin to stream down her cheek. The setting sun's reflection is caught sparkling in two thin lines. "I...uh.."
Unable to find words, she takes a deep breath as her eyes look to the sky. She takes the priestess' hand. Somewhere, she finds the courage to bring her gaze inline with Hiiragi's. "You...you mean the world to me." She grips tighter. "You need to know that. But you need to understand that I ... I don't know how to be what you need. All my life, I have hidden beneath a facade. Never stayed in one place too long for fear of being found out. So I would leave. Never had real friends, never made deep connections. Everything I told someone was a lie and everything they told me was a tool to be used against them." Her voice cracks as she begins to sob. "And then here you come. Making your way into my life, turning everything upsidedown. I started making a connection with the others because you make too hard not to." She wipes tears away with her sleeve.
Unable to hold her eyes up any longer, she lowers her head. "You say for the first time you feel free to be yourself, to explore yourself. Hiiragi, that scares the hell out of me. I've spent my life hiding. I don't know if I have the courage to see who I really am if I shine a light on it. Sometimes I think I don't want to know. Since meeting you, I'm pretty sure whoever I am would pale in comparison. There is a brightness inside of you. A brilliant beacon of truth. Of honesty." A large sigh escapes her lips. Her head rises, "I don't have the strength to do that." There is an unmistakable finality to her words.
"Honestly, I don't know how to do it. Not on my own." She gently dusts the last of the soil off of the ring. "But there is no one else I would rather do it for." A new eruption of tears begins to flow in earnest, but there is a smile in Onna's eyes. "I want to lay down roots with you, to grow with you, and... other plant things. I don't know...sprout? We really have to work on your analogies sweetie." With a gleeful laugh, she leans in for a kiss before embracing Hiiragi. "Oh darling, you do not know what you have just gotten yourself into." She holds on, hugging with all her heart. "But why, why must you always make me ugly cry?" She holds out her trembling hand so Hiiragi can place the ring on her finger.
Moments later, she sits next to her love, resting her head on the shield maiden's shoulder. With the sun gone and the moon rising, the lovers sit quietly as the field is washed in twilight dusk. "So, what do we do now?" The bard sits up suddenly. "Oh, I almost forgot." Onna rummages in her pack a moment. She pulls out an ornate box about the size of a dinner plate. "Nothing as nice as what you got me." Embossed on the top of the wooden container, the words 'Eadie's Confections' are clearly visible. "I seem to remember a conversation in the midst of a terrible storm. I thought it would be nice if we were both be right." Slowly lifting the lid, Hiiragi sees the candy nestled inside. Tiny, golden-brown, three-masted boats float on a dark sea. "I figured a cabal of caramel caravels would allow each of us to quite literally eat our words." She pulls one of the ornate, artesian delicacies and holds it to Hiiragi's lips. "Of course then you had to go and propose. I mean, how can little candy boats compete with that? So not fair."
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To say Hiiragi is in suspense is to undersell it; she listens to Onna with her breath held, and lets a quiet gasp escape when Onna takes her hand, and a squeal of joy when she's finally able to slide the ring onto her soft hand with her own rougher ones.
She smiles through her own tears, and giggles. "You're so beautiful, Onna. I have to make you ugly cry-- it's the only way to bring you down to my level," she giggles.
At the little candy boats, Hiiragi gasps. "Oh, Daikitsu, I had forgotten all about that!" She giggles, and looks over the tiny boats, and as Onna lifts one to her lips, she closes her eyes and lets herself be fed.
"They're wonderful," she mumbles through a mouthful of sticky sweetness, licking at her teeth as the caramel sucked itself to them. "You're wonderful."
She puts her dirty hands together and whispers a quick prayer to Daikitsu to clean them, and soon they're nearly sparkling. "Have you tried one yet?" But she doesn't wait, and soon she's steering a boat of her own through the pearly gates of Onna's mouth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once the ships have all sailed, Hiiragi smiles as she holds Onna close, the last of the day's light starting to dim. "I hope you don't mind-- these rings come in a set," she explained, producing a twin copy. "If anything happens to either one of us, it will crack, and we'll know to come running."
She rolls the extra ring between her fingers, then tilts it out toward Onna. "I-- you don't have to, no pressure, but if you want to put it on me... I don't want to just put it on myself first if you wanted to do it," she explains.
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With a grin upon her lips, "Oh! So you get the romantic sunset, with the golden light and the glow of the afternoon warmth, and I get the leftovers? Wow! I finally see your true colors. Again, totally not fair! You had your farm speech and your little 'hidden ring in the dirt' thing, which was a nice touch by the way, and now I just get to put a ring on you as some kind of afterthought? I should really make you wait." Onna stands up and turns her back to Hiiragi in a playful huff, arms crossed. She seems to mull things over, "But, we are already here, and you clearly invested a great deal of thought into this. Thought mind you, not work. I mean, it was just a handful of soil. Still, well played."
Shaking her head in mock defeat, "Oh who am I kidding?" Suddenly her clothes change in appearance to something of the latest fashion. The effect is simply stunning. A gown of silver and crimson featuring a tight and plunging heart-shaped bodice atop a flowing length which flares out at her hips before falling in graceful layers down to the ground, pooling around her. Gloves catch the moonlight, as does a delicate lace choker upon her neck. "An outfit like this is more befitting of the moment." She looks down and judges her work, nodding to herself. "And while I would be the envy of opera houses all around the Inner Sea, it is not the appropriate attire for the evening." The gown melts away, replaced by a tough blue linen dress, thick leather gloves, and heavy workboots. "This is the outfit more befitting of you. Clothes meant for hard and honest work to provide for the loved ones around them. Because just as a marriage is not about the wedding gown, the clothes of a harvester is not about the job she performs, but who she performs it for. The clothes are a badge of honor earned by working for something greater than herself."
She kneels before the shieldmaiden. "Here, under these eternal stars that forever circle the world, would you please accept this ring? It symbolizes my everlasting devotion to you. As one can seek out the constellations, my dream is that in some future time, stargazers will find a group of stars that speak to the timelessness of our love." She slides the ring on Hiiragi's finger before celebrating with a passionate kiss. Lost to them both is the shooting star racing across the sky at just that moment.
Hours later, in the slow brightening of the dawn, Onna rolls on to her side under a thick blanket in the loft of the barn. With a piece of hay, she gently tickles her fiancee's nose until she wakes. "You know, the more I think about it, with the power of a GODDESS behind you, there was probably a whole lot more you could have done. I mean, you could have had crops spell out 'Marry Me' in the field. Now, if you had you been a druid, you could have hidden it in a rose that bloomed when you asked. Oh, that would have been AMAZING! Or had a songbird fly up as you poured your heart out to me."
She slides the piece of hay between her teeth. "You know, this may just make Itami plotz himself. And by the way, YOU get to explain how all of this works to Kenta. I'm certain he will have all kinds of questions about how we will start a family." Then a thought occurs to her. "Wait, do they already know? If you told them first, well...honestly I don't know. It means something, I just don't know what it is yet." She looks around the barn, "I don't suppose there's breakfast nearby? I only thought to bring dessert."
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As Hiiragi is teased awake, she can only giggle and grin. "I... I had actually prepared a little something more," she admits, "something maybe more what you're used to-- but you made a blue sundress look so good that I was hesitant to switch into a gown. But I can keep the rest of that idea a secret, and keep you guessing until I find a time and place for it!"
She pulls Onna close and kisses her just below the jawline.
"I haven't told anyone yet. I didn't want anyone to think badly of you if you said 'no.'" She trails her kisses up, into Onna's blonde hair, and inhales. "Mm."
"There is breakfast... if you don't mind a farmer's breakfast. It might add a little to your waistline, and your arteries will be stiffer, but in our line of work that's just one line of defense against the blades of pirates and cultists and bandits, isn't it?"
She rolls back into the hay and sighs.
"I might even skip prayers this morning. She can wait."
A Vudrani Summer has descended on the southern shore of Kortos Island, the sparkling jewel of the Inner Sea.
Life in Absalom is as relaxed and carefree as a metropolis the size of the City at the Centre of the World ever gets. Pleasure craft and bathers share the clear waters of the bay with fisherfolk and Gillmen Wave Riders, the grim marine watchmen of Absalom's front door.
Holiday-makers scour the many stalls lining the twisted alleys of the Foreign Quarter and the Coins for bargains, or day trip to the quaint smuggler's haven of Diobel, a short boat trip across the harbour to the west.
Young and not-so-young lovers stroll the Docks arm-in-arm to watch the sunset, before retiring for a late meal in one of the many candlelit restaurants in the Petals and Ivy District.
The holiday spirit even seems to have affected the sombre Sapphire Sage, Deputy Head of the Scarab Sages and designated-Duty VC during the Kuthona holidays. Scuttlebutt around the Grand Lodge has it Amenopheus has absconded for the sun and sand of his homeland – leaving a pair of untested Sages in charge.
Still it is little surprise when an Initiate interrupts you before you set out for your evening meal, summoning you immediately to:
“The Kingdom of Osiriani’s Magical Attachés office, on the ground floor of Skyreach.”
Should you heed the summons, on arrival you find the door to the Sapphire Sage’s pokey office locked and the interior dark. On second glance, a number of hooded lanterns have been set up in the antechamber spilling out into the opposite hallway, throwing spooky shadows over a long table of grilled chicken skewers, Kitsune Udon noodle soup, Minkaen skinless chicken thighs and egg rice, as well as a pot of steaming green tea.
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Hiiragi and Onna, of course, are celebrating some time away from work and the beautiful weather when they are called to the Osirian office. Hiiragi heaves a little sigh, but her complaints are short.
"I suppose it will be a good chance to tell the others," she chuckles. She'd been so swept up in their romance that she'd had to leave a note for Ikari on her door that didn't really explain her absence, but did its best to excuse it.
As she looks about the antechamber, her mouth waters. A lot.
"Oh Daikitsu, if this is not for us, this will be the second-cruelest day I have lived through," whispers the shrine maiden, eyes going wide. "Please let there be Daikitsushi for dessert."
She stands, nearly vibrating as she exercises her self-restraint, near the table, glancing at Onna.
"Nobody's told us we can eat yet. Can we eat this? Is it for us?"
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Kenta wanders into the room looking at a small letter and mumbling, "12a, 12b, 12c... wait this is closed up and locked. Dangit, did I get the time wrong again!"
He raises his furred head and finally notices Hiiragi and Onna standing in the room across the hall, "OH! Hey there. How are you all?"
He moves to join them in the antechamber, pulling off a few weapons that don't let him sit easily and leaning them against the back of a chair. He also looks around for a note or server or someone to indicate a change in plans that includes a meal for the group.
"I mean, this isn't the first time we've had food before a mission, but it's a bit weird with no one around. You two think it is for us?" His nostrils flair, "Smells good though."
You notice that while his appearance is as proper as usual, his eyes seem a bit sunken from fatigue and strain.
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Walking hand in hand down the halls brought unexpected joy to Onna. Look at me. I'm practically skipping like a schoolgirl. I have got to get it together. Still, an undeniable grin is locked in place.
As the bard stands next to Hiiragi, she unconsciously hugs the shieldmaiden's left arm. The bard surveys the spread laid out. "Given that whoever ordered the meal knows WE would see it straight away in such lighting, I would suspect that it may indeed be intended for us. I mean, there is nothing saying it's NOT for us. Still, it would be impolite to begin without the others."
Onna then takes a closer look at the paladin. "Goodness Kenta, what have you been doing? You look like you have not slept in days! Are you feeling alright? Hiiragi, can you check him out hun? Do you need to sit down?" She starts to guide him towards a chair to sit him down. "What can I get for you?"
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Hiiragi blinks.
"If he's not bleeding, there's not much I can do about it without preparing a spell first," she admits. "I never really got into the physician... thing."
She sits in the chair next to Kenta, keeping an eye on him...
...while absentmindedly grabbing a chicken skewer and hompfing on it.
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"Ah, good friends and good food! What better reward is there?"
Ikari enters, guided by the smells of the food laid out.
"Daikitsu's bounty! If you don't mind, Sensei, I'll say 'grace'"." The lean warrior, in human form, smiles warmly.
"O Lady of Foxes, we humbly stand before you. From morning to night, we will apply ourselves. We shall neither slacken in our duties, nor be neglectful. For the labours that brought us this feast, we are thankful."
"Now where are Toshi and Grandpa?" Ikari asks as he starts on a chicken skewer.
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Kenta reflexively checks under the table for Toshiko, she's been found there before.
Turning to Onna and Hiiragi he waves them off, "Just a lot of late nights. I've been working really hard to learn this magic stuff at my lodge." He pours himself a nice cup of tea and tears into a chicken skewer.
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With Ikari's blessing, Hiiragi begins to tear into the food. She slurps noodles like a starving farmer and shovels rice into her mouth with abandon.
"Learning magic?" she asks around a mouthful of chicken. "Why, Kenta, I'd have helped you if you asked!" she says, then thinks a moment.
She's been rather hard to get ahold of for the past few days, actually.
"...I mean, maybe."
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Itami clears his throat as he passes the threshold of the room, dragging Toshiko along. A long stick fixed to her back dangles a bottle of liquor just out of arms reach. "She's heavier than she looks, but this way she gets to hear the briefing before we're under way. And not just the bits we remember. Don't tell her it's just water!"
"What's this I hear about magic, Kenta? You decide to join the rest of us and learn something useful?" he jabs, piling a plate high with egg rice and a pair of chicken thighs. Taking a seat, he sighs with relief and digs in, thighs first.
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Kenta's eyes widen as Itami wants to talk shop.
The old man wants to talk magic with me? But he can do some amazing things and I'm just a beginner!
With a big grin and pieces of chicken falling from his mouth he begins chattering, "Oh yes, super useful. I'm able to protect you all better now. I can force enemies to attack me or be sick to their stomach! I also finally figured out how to use scrolls, so I brought a couple with me."
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Toshiko opens her eyes blearily. Her head is pounding, or is that the man dancing on the table over her head. Probably both. Looking down at her shirt front is is stained with last night's liquor. With a groan she sits up, holds her head in her hands until the world stops spinning then cautiously stands.
Which tavern is this? she asks aloud.
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As the noise from the impromptu Kitsune party rises above a dull mewl, you may notice the darkness from beneath the Sapphire Sage’s office door being ‘snuffed out’ like a candle on Shadow Absalom.
The sudden appearance of muted light from the under-door crack intensifies as the portal swings open, liberating a short, homely woman, who charges over the threshold at the banquet table and begins filling her face.
“What took you so long? Quenly, the Big Meanie wouldn’t let me start ‘til you got here!”
She wears the uniform of a Grand Lodge guard, though the patches over her breast represent the Scarab Sages and the Church of Abadar. The low-glow of the lantern-light reveals a depressed left cheekbone where at one time she must have suffered a tremendous blunt force injury.
“Eadie Navhelan.” She gestures at herself, smearing egg yolk + rice over her tunic. “Scarab Seeker.”
A tall elven man glides after her, like smoke roiling over the carpeted floor. Careful to stay out of flying food-spittle range, he smiles serenely and motions all ten fingers in a short, complex sequence.
Eadie’s flickering shadow coalesces into a sphere, within which appear a thousand tiny points of light, as if they were a vast distance away. As quickly as it appears, the sphere recedes. In its place is a tiny dragon, black as midnight, with a long tail ending in a barbed stinger. The creature flaps its wings and settles on the elf's shoulder.
I am Quenly, the Jacinth Sage and Scarab Seeker. I have made this creature of elf-magic to speak for me. Since the gods of my people chose me as their vessel, I have heard no sound but their voices. And they have taught me many secrets.
I can see words upon your lips, if you face me when you speak, but it is easier by far to communicate by thought via my dragon. You need only be nearby. It will convey your thoughts to me, and mine to you.
We would like to thank you all for coming here despite the lack of explanation. Circumstances have forced us to be discreet in this assignment. There are many who would put the information we are about to share with you to more unsavory ends. Seeker Agent Navhelan will explain further …
Taken a little off guard, Eadie swallows audibly, and then *COUGHS* for a full minute before continuing.
“You may have heard rumors Amenopheus has done a bunk for the holidays, yeah? Uh uh. Not true!”
“On the Ten’s orders, he’s been looking into the sale of a pair of tomes from Tian Xia to a dodgy historian here in Absalom. Of these books, the Infernal Incantation was the more highly sought after, as it is said to contain the secrets of binding the legions of Hell.”
Eadie suffers another *COUGHING FIT* before taking a *SLURP* of green tea. As she replaces the cup on the table, her expression turns cold.
“The historian — one Yargos Gill — has spent the past several weeks studying the book from within his Absalom villa. To make matters more complicated, Yargos decided to try performing one of the rituals held within the Infernal Incantation late last night. From the breathless ramblings of his assistant who arrived at our door a few hours ago, it would appear that something went horribly wrong with the ritual Yargos enacted.”
“From what we were told, the ritual revealed to Yargos that the Infernal Incantation was NOT a guide on imprisoning fiendish forces, but instead the book itself was a prison for the armies of Hell. Within the confines of those ancient pages reside hundreds — perhaps even thousands — of devils eager to escape their long imprisonment.”
Quenly again takes up the briefing like the pair have been rehearsing it behind closed doors. If Master Gill has made an error causing some sort of disturbance within the tome, then we need to ensure it is fixed as quickly and as discreetly as possible. It would not do the populace any good to realize that a full-on infernal invasion could appear in the middle of the city.
We need you to go to Yargos’s estate, where his aide has already informed him of your impending arrival. Once you meet with the historian, learn what you can about the book and how to reverse the meddling he has caused.
Above all else, ensure that the legions of Hell are contained.
Now, I believe Seeker Navhelan has some questions for you ... Eadie?
The muscular woman nods curtly. “If oranges are called oranges. Why aren’t lemons called yellows?”
“If a cow laughs, does milk come out her nose?”
“Can atheists get insurance for an Act of Iomedae?”
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Hiiragi feels ice in the pit of her stomach.
"Devils, you say?"
Her fingers twitch with... something. Fear? Rage? One way or another, previous events come to mind.
"We will do it," snaps Hiiragi, a fire in her eyes as she looks between the elf, the dragon, and the human-- not entirely sure who to actually speak to. Her interest in the food seems to have evaporated.
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Kenta quickly finishes chewing and slurps back his tea, scalding his tongue in the process. The young fox pops out of his seat, "Why are we here eating when the allies of Cheliax threaten the city! Let's move."
He grabs his pack and big ole sword before moving towards the door. Glancing back, "Uh... thanks for the meal and all but we really need to go stop evil."
His paw is on the door handle when he turns, "Where exactly was this place again?"
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Onna looks as if the winds have been taken out of her sails. Another planar entity? SO soon? They must think we are experts.
The bard shakes her head with a quiet response, "It may as well be us. We may be the most... experienced in these matters."
To the mission briefers, "If this is of such import, why send a junior team to resolve the issue? There is a seeker level agent right here after all. Mind you, I am simply asking."
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"Sounds like an enchantment! Incredible! How does your magic work? Arcane? Divine? Another matter entirely?" Itami asks, a little proud when Kenta mentions a rather useful effect. "Let's see the scrolls then, I have some we can look at too!"
But before they can begin in earnest, some manner of beast (that turns out to be named Eadie) assails them, followed by a briefing.
"I agree with Kenta, sounds like we haven't a moment to lose," he states. With a sigh, he rises. Grabbing a pair of bowls, he shovels rice and more chicken thighs into one until he has a pile heaped high, then covers it with the second bowl and ties it shut.
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"If this is of such import, why send a junior team to resolve the issue? There is a seeker level agent right here after all. Mind you, I am simply asking."
A reasonable question.
The shadowy dragon on Quenly’s shoulder flaps its wings angrily for a moment, though the elf remains steadfastly composed.
As the weather has improved and the holiday season has ramped up, you may have noticed the dearth of Venture-Captains around the Grand Lodge.
Should a Technic League dirty bomb go off, the Overflow Archives require emergency-plumbing or the Aspis Syndicate from Parallel Universe #666 invade the Lodge with an army of 20 foot tall Nigel Aldains, Eadie and I ARE IT!
☀
Eadie puts down a chicken skewer to chime in, “You know how I implied Amenopheus was spying on Yargos Gill’s place for a week? That was a fortnight ago.”
“When the weather turned nice he teleported out to Sothis in smoked goggles and an Arcadian Island shirt!”
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“Let's move.”
“Hey! Before you do, your faction heads have mailed in their take on the mission.”
Between bites, Eadie pulls postcards from an extra-dimensional pouch attached to her sword-belt.
"Where exactly was this place again?"
“You’ll find directions to Yargos Gill’s villa calligraphisized on the back of the envelopes.”
Eadie smiles proudly. “I’m a professional scribe you know.”
Allow me to remind you that faction politics must not get in the way of accomplishing your main mission.
Quenly’s ‘mind-tone’ remains calmly firm.
Your faction leaders may have their own useful perspective, but the entire city will not be impressed if you abandon the primary mission to curry favor with them.
If there is nothing else, good luck Pathfinders.
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The colour orange is named after the fruit, not vice versa.
Cow's lactation and respiratory systems are separate so no milk will come out of her nose.
The gods demonstrably exist so that insurance is indeed available.
Toshi shakes her head and leave the room.
Ugh my head.
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The bard nods towards Eadie's pouch. "I love your bag. Where'd you get it? I'm more of a clutch girl myself, but I am always on the lookout for a new piece."
Onna takes the dispatch and reads through it. Hmm...I wonder who 'Vixie' is. Sounds like she may be a bit soft in the head. She flips the paper over as if expecting more. That's it? She makes eye contact with Hiiragi and offers a small shrug as if to say 'How hard could that be?' She slides the missive into her pack.
"Just to be clear, are we fixing the tome, retrieving the tome, or destroying it?"
Up until this point, the bard has been her affable and playful self. However, her voice takes on a cold edge, matched by a steel gaze. "Also, what more do we know of this historian? Can he be trusted? The last Venture Captian in charge of this kind of research became corrupted by it. His efforts had...consequences. The trauma he caused has left a mark on this team. If your guy seems the least bit off, we're likely to err on the side of extreme prejudice and end him. We are not going to suffer the same experience a second time." It is clear she wants no one to mistake her intention. If she believes Yargos Gill is a threat at all, she will make certain the man dies before he can harm anyone. Period. No one else is going to die if I have any say about it.
And if I ever find you Thurl, I'm going to send tattooed dwarven hide straight to Boneyard. Have no doubt.
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… is indeed available.”
Eadie puts down her hippogriff quill and nods her thanks to Toshi.
“I love your bag. Where'd you get it?”
“Pretty isn’t it? And infinitely customizable.”
Eadie removes the pouch from her belt and hands it to Onna for examination.
“Ever wonder what Drandle Dreng’s day job is? He’s a sales assistant at the Black Mask Costume Shop in the Ascendant Court, just off the God’s Market. That’s where I got this.”
“He was kind enough to use his Senior’s and Employee’s discount on my purchase, so I got a great deal.”
The warrior strokes her chin. “But … don’t tell them I sent you. I’ve had to trash the place and slaughter a few of their employees since then.”
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"Just to be clear, are we fixing the tome, retrieving the tome, or destroying it?"
“Yes.” Eadie nods enthusiastically, before Quenly holds up a hand.
What Seeker Navhelan means is we are sending you to make that judgement, Agent Brummagem.
I do not need to tell you preventing a diabolic incursion in the city will save countless lives. It worries me when agents talk about extreme solutions before they have analysed the problem.
We are trusting you to separate your emotions from the as-yet unknown facts of this case, in order to prosecute a sanctioned Pathfinder mission.
The shadowy elf gestures to the group as a whole. If any of you don’t think yourself capable of doing that, now is the time to let us know …
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Whilst the odd couple delivers the briefing Ikari continues to eat heartily. Eventually he wipes his chops and speaks.
"This Gill character sounds like a fool. But if he has some sort of manor in Absalom then he must be well established. What do we know about him? Might he have been trying to deliberately conjure devils?"
Ikari takes up his spear and pack.
Difficult to say without further investigation.
The Jacinth Sage pauses like he’s considering Ikari’s musings in a new light. Your point about Gill’s means is an interesting one.
I dismissed it as irrelevant when another agent raised it earlier.
Eadie pokes her tongue out at Quenly behind his back.
Still for an eccentric has-been to rise from the Puddles to an Eastgate villa in such a short space of time does imply connections … and our limited observations have uncovered no signs of the usual suspects – Aspis, Shadow Lodge, Technic League or the like.
It will be interesting to see what you discover.
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"Brother Kenta, I admire your compassion. But the weapons I wield are just that - weapons. It is not with love that I wield the spear and sword. The enemies of Daikitsu will fall like leaves in the autumn."
Ikari smiles, but there is a sadness in his eyes.
We cannot show weakness in the face of those who would strike us down. Righteous is the hand that wields the sword of the Goddess!
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Itami rests a hand on Onna's shoulder. "Perhaps it would be best if we are on our way, discussing polarized methods and philosophies at a more appropriate time." he suggests, giving a gentle squeeze.
"Thank you for your hospitality, but I think we'll be on our way now. Infernal Legion and what not," he concludes with a small chuckle.
He leans into Onna and whispers in her ear. "Forgiveness is often easier than permission, especially when you're the only side available to speak." Don't I know it...
He quickly picks up the pace, hopefully before Hiiragi jealously gracefully dives between them.
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Onna places a hand on the elder's shoulder. Feeling properly admonished, "Yes. Of course you are right. That was foolish and unprofessional. Such an emotional outburst is a mistake some of our more devout fanatics would make when they are swept up in their passionate service. Apologies."
She places an arm around the man's waist as they continue walking. Her voice is still low and nearly conspiratorial, "While I have you here, I was hoping you would honor a request of mine. It seems I have recently found myself betrothed to a farmer's daughter. I would like to ask, whenever the time comes, that you be the one to walk me down the aisle and give me away." She pauses a moment. "You needn't answer right away. I only ask that you consider it."
Following the exquisitely written directions on the back of your respective faction missives takes you on a winding trip through the Ascendant Court, twice around the Starstone Cathedral and into Eastgate.
The streets are mostly calm, as the city transitions from the bustle of the business day to the stirring hum of Absalom nightlife.
Eventually you come across Yargos Gill’s villa. It turns out to be a modest, stand-alone edifice that would normally meld into the background of the quarter’s other upper-middle class residences -- were it not for the crowd of locals amassed at its front entrance.
Most of them gaze upwards, murmuring to their neighbor, as above on the building's second floor, lights *flicker* as if burning orange and red embers dance within.
"Pelagos said there were screams in there afore. He sounded … kinda excited. That true?"
"Course there'd be screams! It’s a fire! At least it's sticking to just the one building for now."
"Aye, but the screams were right afore the fire started ..."
Beyond the mingling crowd, the front door to the villa stands ajar.
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Seeing the gathered crowd, Onna starts to push her way through. She calls out, her voice a terrified warble, "Uncle Yaryar?!?!?! She looks terrified. "Was he at home? Has anyone seen him? Someone call for the fire brigade!" Without waiting to see what the neighbors do, Onna sprints for the building, just like a good niece should.
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As soon as Hiiragi figures out what Onna's up to, she tugs her Sleeves of Many Garments; her outfit changes into a thick veil.
Beneath the veil, her features change until she looks like she could be Onna's sister-- or maybe just Onna. Another tug, and she's in a similar outfit-- although with differently-colored accents.
"UNCLE YARYAR!" she cries, following her "sister" in (and clearly hoping to coast on her bluffing coattails).
...And getting ready to say the magic words to make water gush forth from her hands.
The crowd parts for the attractive ‘nieces’ and their foxy escort, with a few private comments clearly audible to the party.
“OMG Abadar! Those poor girls …”
“More girls!! Gorum’s Arse in a Rusty Bucket! How does a mutt like Gill attract so many hotties?”
“Steady, dude! Check out the third one. Unless he’s into fur as well, maybe they really do just work there?”
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Itami's confident step falters for a moment as he processes Onna's request and the purpose for it. I- ME?! Thankfully, she gives him an out and they separate. Here I was thinking they would all out grow me, toss me to the gutter like spent bathwater.
With the crowd parting, he sticks to following the group towards the estate. "Pile in while we've seized the moment," he urges, pointing at the open door. Can't give the rubes a moment to doubt their preconceptions!
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