The macabre discovery chases all thoughts of balls and parties from Torra's mind, and the dwarf watches the display somberly.
"Shall we bury them? And perhaps there might be clues to their identities, I'm sure their family and friends wonder what happened to them."
Ameiko enters cautiously, her lips hardening. "It gets worse." She points at what looks like a centaur. "I don't think that was a centaur in life." Sure enough, closer examination of the creature reveals that it was probably a human, bisected and stitched to a horse's beheaded corpse.
Shalelu is silent, though her expression is dark.
Riftun shivers as he examines the bodies best he can muster. "Th-These bodies... it's hard to tell with all the preservatives but... from what I can tell some of these are unfortunately recent... Could they be the remains of those who ran afoul of the quickling I wonder? Quicklings are often known for collecting macabre expressions of... art." He shudders as he says the last word and utters a prayer of forgiveness to Shelyn for uttering such a profane collection could be considered art.
"F-Finding their possessions may be best if we can go to the nearest settlement they my be able to identify some of the lost from their belongings. B-But I feel a pyre would be best for the bodies... the preservatives will prevent the bodies from properly returning to the earth if we bury them." The bard mutters apologetically.
Shalelu nods gravely. "That seems likely, Riftun. Unfortunate souls..."
"We should honor them with some sort of funeral." Ameiko agrees, her voice firm. "They don't deserve to stand here for however long this preservation will last."
"We-we do not have the ti-time for this Ameiko Sama" Yuto tries to protest.
But if the noble woman insists, he will dutifully help drag the bodies out of the fortress and bring them to the courtyard for a funeral pyre or if she wants to bury them, then he helps bring the corpses to the graveyard.
"Th-These bodies... it's hard to tell with all the preservatives but... from what I can tell some of these are unfortunately recent... Could they be the remains of those who ran afoul of the quickling I wonder? Quicklings are often known for collecting macabre expressions of... art." He shudders as he says the last word and utters a prayer of forgiveness to Shelyn for uttering such a profane collection could be considered art.
Andochtuir kneels and takes in the states of the bodies. It's mostly from the blood patterns around the victims and the seweing edges that a horrible, if likely correct, conclusion reveals itself to him. "It gets worse," he growls, deep and low, revulsed by the macabre display. "Some of these people were alive as it performed these... desecrating perversions of nature. How it even managed to keep them alive being sown onto a dead creature is-" he stares at the pile and shakes his head. "No, I don't wish to know. No one should ever know. Ameiko is right, we should burn them. Both out of honor for them and so no one will ever learn of the craft employed here."
His gaze softens as he turns to the Kaijitsu Heiress. "Though Yuto has a point as well. We should leave this for now, the same as with the ball, if we could bring ourselves to do that now, until we're done securing the area. The dead are in no rush, and would probably want us to look after our own saftety first and foremost."
Teruko's eyes wander over the various creatures. She's seen professional taxidermy before; a number of nobles view hunting as a sport and like to remember their kills. Nevertheless she'd always found the practice disturbing.
The revelation that some of the creatures had been sewn together into perverted monstrosities makes her face go pale. The revelation that some of them had been alive at the time makes her rush from the room. "I'm sorry, I've not gone far, I just, I can't..." She covers her mouth and leans over to try and avoid retching.
Most evil creatures had some sort of understandable motivation. The desire to gain money, or power, or revenge...the possibilities were endless. This however had been done out of pure sadism, and she doesn't understand it at all.
It takes her a minute to get under control again. "I agree that we should burn the bodies as soon as we can do so safely. They deserve that much."
Shalelu's expression is hard, her lips pursing as Andochtuir reveals more of the foulness of the room. "Ameiko. Yuto is right - at the moment, we don't have time to burn them all, unless someone has a fair amount alchemist's fire. Funeral pyres take a lot of time to set up, and it's still not wholly safe here."
Ameiko looks like she's going to object, but when Teruko flees, she follows hastily. Laying a hand on her shoulder, she pulls her younger sister into a hug. "Alright," she says, voice slightly muffled, "but we come back here after we've explored the rest of the building."
Torra is thoroughly shaken by the very disturbing revelations, and only too glad to leave this room for the moment. "We did make this place safer by killing that fey," she mutters, but it feels like weak consolation right now.
"What an evil creature..."
Moving quickly, the party circles through the second floor, visiting what mostly appear to be bedrooms - for residents, servants, and perhaps guests. The heroes leave the "haunted" room until last. Unfortunately, it's oddly stuck. Yuto slams his shoulder against it, but it refuses to buckle.
"Yuto? What is it?" Andy asks, when the Samurai peers into the now broken down door, his fauchard at the ready.
Puzzled by the apparent lack of access to this last room Riftun furrows his brows and mutters the words to a cantrip. His eyes shimmer blue as he glances around the room looking for anything magical in nature.
Yuto follows with fear to what monsters might be lurking behind the shadows. When confronted with the door he steps back and looks alarmed "Th-there is a chi-child weeping inside! W-we need to do something! We have to save him!"
With renewed vigor Yuto steps back again, takes a little run and slams himself, his shield before him, against the door.
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"Wait, what?" Ameiko asks, her brow furrowing, but Yuto has already smashed the door down before she can react. Within is a storeroom, which may have once been well organized, but now the fallen crates and broken barrels that fill the room present a tangle of debris.
Inside, the weeping ceases, seeming to have no origin... until a small, bony creature with a wolf's skull whirls up out of the debris. Its empty eyes stare at the samurai, and it growls.
"Die, monsters!" It cries out in an unnervingly childlike voice.
The whispers that give attic whisperers their name disrupt the inspiration that bards can give to their allies, and are deeply disturbing. Meanwhile, their bites can make their victims short of breath while they can steal voices with a touch.
Shalelu, outside in the dining area, rushes towards the door, sword in hand. She stops just outside, blinking. "Undead." She says grimly. "Or a construct."
Yuto stumbles as the door concedes, he looks in horror at the strange creature found at the other side "W-what? It was a trick? An undead?!" her hands tremble and Yuto is frozen on place, only managing to raise his shield and ready an attack if the creature approaches.
But he is shacking so badly, that he utterly fails to swing his blade.
Andy frowns at the childlike skeleton with its bear, and he too initially does not know what to do. Could this being be innocent? However, Shalelu seems to know better than him, and he acts accordingly. Thus, he swings his fauchard at the approaching creature!
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Riftun immediately recognizes this being as a creature described in cautionary tales and religious textbooks on the handling, creation, and unmaking of undead as soon as he see's it through the doorway.
Tears begin streaming down the bard's cheeks as he whispers. "A song won't be too helpful here I think Ameiko..."
"Speculum imaginum." He continues as he waves his hands through the air and all about him four separate images of the red-headed young man appear out of the aether and, as he approaches the creature move in tandem with him.
Unflinching in his resolve, Riftun kneels beside the unfortunate soul and smiles a sad but kind smile as the whispers of the creature begin to fill his head.
"Oh come now dear child and listen to my tale
a lesson may be learned just take in every last detail.
Our story now begins in the poor old town of Beggarwood
within which an ancient dusty, drafty hut once barely stood.
Inside this ramshackle abode a sweet young mother did pace
the wailing of her unwell baby completely filled the space.
And yet the mum was peaceful, an old nurse rhyme she did recall.
"Dear child don't you cry. The Gray Lady makes cradles for us all."
Many moons and seasons passed and the son had grown so tall and strong.
From his mother a letter he received. There was something very wrong.
The boy, now a man, was weeping at the bedside of him mom.
Now unwell herself and yet her face was quite content and very calm.
"How can you always be so serene? Your fate you cannot long forestall!"
"Dear child don't you cry. The Gray Lady makes cradles for us all."
The quintet of bards sing to the small child with a soft smile as he awaits the others to bring the poor thing to its final rest.
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Teruko also recognizes the small creature. "An attic whisperer. Undead and cursed through no fault of his own. I doubt he intended to trick us, but just like most other undead they are evil." She bites her lip. "Sending him on to whatever afterlife awaits him is the best thing we can do for him."
She's moved by the touching gesture as Riftun enters the room and kneels next to the small creature. She's also very, very afraid. "I don't think he'll come out now. He'll keep attacking Riftun until..." She doesn't finish that sentence. "We'll have to fight in there." Moving forward to peer through the doorway, she sends a wave of energy to bolster everyone's confidence. (Including, hopefully, Riftun's.)
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Andochtuir is the first to advance, and feels a sudden chill run down his spine as the whispers of dozens of voices fill his ears. Nevertheless, he lashes out, his fauchard crashing into the creature's ribcage and sending it scrabbling back with a sob.
Riftun calls upon his magic, summoning a few reflections of himself to obscure where he truly is, approaching before beginning to try to bring the child-undead to its death more peacefully. However, his approach sets his teeth on edge as the whispers slither into his mind.
Meanwhile, Teruko identifies the creature before blessing her fellows with the divine might that pours forth from her soul. Andochtuir and Riftun feel the spell working against the creature's unnatural whispers, but remain unsettled.
Yuto moves in, swinging his sword at the attic whisperer, who easily evades the blow. Within the samurai, the creeping distress from the undead's whispers grind at the edges of his composure, warring with the magically bestowed will.
The creature lashes out at Riftun, its wolf-head snapping forwards with uncanny speed. Fortunately for the bard, its jaws close around the arm of one of his illusions, shattering it into half-remembered tales.
With that, it lashes out with one hand, reaching for Yuto, who evades it with ease, before its other hand streaks out. Fortunately, his defensive style of fighting keeps him safe from whatever nastiness the creature would offer.
Ameiko nods briefly before darting forwards to join the battle, her rapier leaping forth from its sheath. "Alright. This'll be fine." She practically dances past the undead child, her eyes narrowing with anger.
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Torra is so stunned by the apparition that it takes a moment to gather her wits. The jarring dissonance between the child's voice and the skittering collection of bones and rags in front of them freezes her in place until she hears Teruko, and with her words a resolution is offered.
A cursed being - and the best thing they can do for it is destroy and set its soul free.
She begins to slowly gather her power, shaping pebbled and rocks into a compact form which she holds tightly into her hands before flinging it forward.
The stone heart blurs past Andochtuir and Riftun and Yuto. "I'm sorry, little one. You need to let go."
Torra unleashes a burst of elemental earth at the small creature, shattering its tatterdemalion form and scattering its pieces.
Nearby, the heroes notice a small skeleton in truth - this one of a human child, with no wolf's skull for its head. It is pinned to the floor beneath a stack of old firewood and a heavy iron brazier. On the floor are scribblings with charcoal - crudely drawn ninja throwing stars, bird-headed men, and lumbering giants wielding magic and axes.
Ameiko is the first to move, sheathing her blade and bending over to move the items out of the way. "Andochtuir, Yuto, please help me with this."
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Yuto is as surprised by Riftun's quadruplication as he is for the creepy undead, but if things cannot go bad with one Riftun how can they go with four! The undead is now outnumbered, and once the Tian feels Teruko's blessing warming his heart, the katana trembles no more, for Yuto's pulse is now comforted and steady "Stand down your toy creepy one! Your worthless tricks have no power in Brinewall now!"
The man jumps forward, blade at the ready as the dirt and stone blocks gather up and suddenly burst against the creature. With the skeleton shattered Yuto gives a few stabs over it making sure it does not move or produce creepy child whipping any long "T-that's it. Yo-you do not just play with the best ritmo dancers in Brinewall"
Yuto nods and quickly comes to assist Ameiko "A-are we su-sure these items are not cu-cu-cursed?"
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The fight is over in seconds, and no sooner does Torra's magic shatter the foe fully than that Yuto snaps out of it to hack the remains into even smaller bits! Andochtuir blows out some breath to help relax and cool his fury. Fortunately Riftun's spell and Yuto's reflexes had kept everyone safe. However... he felt inexplicably burdened by this victory, a sense of sadness he couldn't quite explain. That, and the sight of the three remaining Riftuns cradling the creature's remains was touching and the lyrics deeply sorrowful. Gaze fixed on that sight, he hears Teruko to the side, confirming his fears that this was, in fact, an innocent being of sorts.
Swallowing heavily, he walks forward, trying to place a hand on the bard's shoulder.
...But he picks the wrong one, and his touch goes straight through the image.
"Riftun. We can mourn it later. Its death is on Torra and me, not you. We can burn or bury it with the quickling victims perhaps. But, there's another body here, that of a child..." He motions towards the child's remains, and walks over to help Ameiko when beckoned.
Strengthened by his mutagen and helped by Yuto, he cleared out the rubble and brazier without any difficulty. He was strong enough now to lift entire trees, and even entire sections of concrete walls weren't much of an issue - so long as he could get a good grip. And when he couldn't, the Samurai was plenty strong on his own.
He kneels down, sees the imagery and makes a praying motion. "Rest well, Hlen . It seems you alone passed on the knowledge of what we'll have to face. Your ancestors can be proud."
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Riftun clutches the remains of the undead after the others have finished putting an end to its hellish existence. He simply remains on the floor quietly holding the body for a few seconds as the others go about their tasks until Andochtuir attempts to place a hand on his shoulder and ends up shattering a second illusion. The bard sadly shakes his head dispelling the illusion to allow only his true form to remain. "Don't apologize Andy... This was the most merciful thing that could be done and, honestly, thank you for helping this child find peace."
With that, the bard slowly rises to his feet, places the remains of the ground, and dusts himself off. As he mutters a prayer to Desna to watch over the soul of this child on their journey, trying not to think too hard about how this child could have been him if things had only gone a little differently back home in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.
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"No." Ameiko says briefly in response to Yuto's question. "But..." She chants a soft song. "They're not magical, so we're safe."
The heroes are easily able to move the obstructions and gather the bones of the child. It only takes them a short jaunt out to the graveyard, and Torra is able to exercise her quick-burial abilities, allowing the poor child to finally rest.
"Shae, could you go get some of the caravaners to bring some deadwood? Prepare a pyre for the rest of them?" Ameiko asks, turning her gaze back to the castle.
Shalelu nods briefly, and runs off back towards the grove.
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Yuto is relieved by Ameiko's words, and helps to search the items and pick up anyone worth of it. The Tian also appraises the charcoal drawings "Ni-ninjas? Tengus and magis perhaps? Thi-this seems like an attack of the East over Brinewall... They must be the reason the castle fell... pe-perhaps this child witnessed all and ma-made these drawings while he was hiding in here..."
The man looks down with a renewed sad look "I-it was merciful i-indeed, if I ever turn into such a thing... pl-please do not let me cause havoc... y-you know" he says remembering the fate of his own father.
Then he helps relocate the remains to the graveyard and let's Ameiko conduct the funeral, helping to build the pyre.
While looking for drift wood and other appropriate materials through the ruined town, he casually comments to whomever is also helping nearby "Th-this assailants... wh-why do you think they did it? To come so far away to support the actions of a fa-false ruler and ki-kill all these innocent people a-and destroy the lives of s-so many others?"
"I'd expect at least some of them were oni. Other than that, I couldn't say." Ameiko muses aloud with regards to Yuto's first question.
His second makes her laugh briefly - bitterly. "I'd have to imagine that we're a threat to them so long as the lineage exists - we'll be able to come back and rally support."
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"Well, it won't end with either of you if I have anything to say about it." Andochtuir answers decisively.
...Then he realises the other way that could be taken and he quickly looks away, embarassed. "Ah, sorry. At times I fail to remember the human expressions and implications. I mean it not in that manner, of course. Still, we owe fighting back to those who fell on the hands of this imposter emperor - assuming we can trust the seal. And I for one intend to deliver.
He cracks his knuckles through the plated gauntlets of his armor and glances outside over the palace grounds.
Torra is quiet for a long time, clearly shaken by what has just transpired. The dwarf follows the others in silence, doing what is asked of her but otherwise remaining withdrawn.
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Yuto nods understanding and keeps working silently until they bring back the wood to the graveyard where he helps piling it up to form a pyre "Well, if they ca-care so much, it must mean they are scared" the idea amuses the Tian producing a smile on his face "Tha-that necessarily means the-there is something you have that has real power to dethrone the false emperor. We just need to figure out how to pull it."
Once the pyre is ready with whatever the caravaners have brought and what the group has found at town, Yuto helps to light it and offers a quiet prayer "Desna bring back this spirit to the Eternal Dream. Shizuru, Empress of Heaven, bring repose to those that died unfairly."
Ameiko laughs, a pleasing sound of genuine amusement. "Oh? And how do you intend to do that, Andochtuir?" At his correction, she grins. "I figured as much, and I appreciate your dedication" She says sincerely.
"I agree, Yuto. They're afraid... or just cruel, though the two are often one and the same." The bard sighs, her expression falling. "It'll be a long journey, so I suspect we'll figure out a lot along the way. I don't know much about Minkai, so we'll have to learn as we go."
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Gathering the firewood along with the others Riftun cocks his head to the side allowing his braid to dangle as he purses his lips in confusion as to why Andochtuir had apologized for wanting to protect Ameiko and Teruko. It isn't until Ameiko replies with her trademark sarcasm that the double meaning starts to truly sink in.
The bard fumbles his load of lumber as a small embarrassed gasp escapes his lungs. "S-S-Sorry! I'm sorry! I'm such a klutz! D-Don't mind me. I'm not here." The bard stammers gathering up his wood off the floor before tossing it into the pile for the pyre.
"It'll be a long journey, so I suspect we'll figure out a lot along the way. I don't know much about Minkai, so we'll have to learn as we go."
"N-Not to interrupt but I suspect, if we head to Kalsgard, where your family stopped on the way to Varisia, we could possibly pick up some more information there. Th-There is a large Tien population in there area after all i-if I recall from my brief time there on my way out of the country." Riftun deflects attempting to move the conversation forward to hide his embarrassment.
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"Makes sense to me, Riftun." Ameiko nods with a small smile. "We'll have to look into it there... though carefully. If the oni were willing to come this far, well... they probably didn't leave such a source untapped."
Within a few moments, Shalelu returns with some of the caravaners, and the process of making a pyre and bringing out the dead begins. Andochtuir and Yuto are tapped to help carry some of the heavier bodies, and it takes several hours to finally put the corpses to flame. Koya offers prayers on the behalf of the departed, while Spivey watches silently from her old position atop the gates of the cemetery.
After the help, Yuto observes the flames burning any sins left by those that were once alive. The young man ponders Ameiko and Riftun words while the fire does its job "A tr-trip to the East. Is-isn't that exciting?" a smile starts to draw on his face "Wh-whatever happened in Kalsgard, we will do our best to uncover it like we have done in he-here. I-it is the gate to the Crown of the World, isn't it? If w-we can find anything in Avistan, it must be there."
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"I wonder how far the reach of this false emperor goes, and if Kalsgard would feature any spies of his," Andochtuir muses, as he watches the bodies turn to ash. He'd considered undoing the stiching together of the victims to be put to rest as as much of themselves as possible, but there were just too many, and it'd be gruesome, time-consuming work.
"If this Kalsgard is truly a gateway to the land beyond, we should mind our steps there closely. If *I* were an evil regent, I would have contacts in such a strategic location."
He glances at Riftun to his side. "Are you all right? You seem a bit out of it. Is something bothering you?"
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"Well, north first, Yuto." Koya says. "If we're headed to Kalsgard."
"Fortunately," Sandru says, "I've been working with Livia to help increase the efficiency of our caravan. We should make fairly good time to Kalsgard." He chuckles dryly. "I was planning to head northwards anyways, thanks to Koya."
The caravan master turns to the rest of his employees. "What about all of you? Are you all willing to travel north to Kalsgard, and possibly beyond? If not, we can try to get you ship back to the south, or you can join up with a caravan when we meet the next one."
The caravaners mutter amongst themselves - at the moment, it seems that most of them are willing to go.
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As the bodies burn in the pyre Riftun presses his hands together in prayer and closes his eyes. The spirits of these poor tortured individuals were finally freed and yet Riftun couldn't help but wish he could have done more.
He glances at Riftun to his side. "Are you all right? You seem a bit out of it. Is something bothering you?"
The young man looks up at his new-found friend with tired exhaustion in his bright blue eyes made evident by the heavy bags under them and smiles weakly, "I-I'm fine, thank you Andochtuir... I just didn't sleep very well last night with everything that happened... And then today with that undead child earlier..."
Riftun swallows hard and looks away trying to control his emotions. "I was just reminded that that could have been me... I too was locked away in a room for a long period of time as a child... Still, it was better than when I was locked in the dungeon."
The bard shakes his head to dismiss the bad thoughts and frowns, "And then there's Zaiobe... I-I'll be talking with her soon and I just don't know what to say. She's frustrated with me a-and every time I reach out to her it just seems to push her further away... If she wont be happy staying here then I want her to do what's best for her, of courss, but I do worry that this could be her only shot, the only time people will give her a chance to change her ways a-and I'm worried that I'll fail her if I can't reach her this time."
Riftun begins anxiously toying with his braid as he watches the flames dance before him absently. "I can just see that she has so much potential to do good. To be a force for rightousness in the world and she's right on that cusp. Right on the edge a-and she's teetering a-and I don't know that I'm good enough or strong enough to pull her back."
"After all, I've already failed once before." he adds darkly.
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"Sometimes people would just not change" Yuto looks touched when Riftun talks about Zaiobe and being locked as a child, but does not dig on the reasons of his captivity "Do not feel too downcast if Zaiobe goes into the dark path. It is not your responsibility Riftun. It is hers."
The boy seems worried when Andochtuir talks about spies "Th-that would be troubling... w-we need be cautious" it is clear this was not an idea that has occurred to him, daydreaming only on the heroic tale of helping out the Kaijitsus recover their throne.
When Sandru calls the caravans attention, the young man is quickly to come support his foster brother "This is the right thing to do..." the Tian man starts to build up a discourse on loyalties and the rightfulness of their quest when it comes to his head the nature of the Varisian people he has lived among during all his life. He negates with his head "It will be an in-incredible trip through exotic lands, discovering strange cul-cultures, traveling below the stars and guided by our trusted friends... the more we are the merrier"
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Spivey joins Yuto, Riftun, and Andochtuir, landing lightly nearby. She listens silently for a time, considering the matter. "You cannot command the hearts of others, Riftun." She says, finally. "Only inspire them. It will ultimately come down to her choice... but the more she feels welcome here, the more likely she will be willing to stay."
Yuto's commentary prompts a few thoughtful nods throughout the crew, though none of the doubters seem particularly inspired.
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Riftun closes his eyes and lets the words of his goddess' servant reach his ears. After a moment to digest what she has said does the bard slowly nod. "You're right Spivey... a-at the end of the day it's her decision to make... not mine... I just wish I knew how to make her feel more welcome..." He ponders for a moment stroking his chin thoughfuly before his brilliant blue eyes open wide and he snaps his fingers.
"I've got it! Nothing made me feel more at home than a delicious plateful of Ameiko's famous curry! M-Maybe, if you would be so kind to prepare it for us, that could help? Of course getting to meet you as well would be a great idea to help her feel more welcome
" He nods enthusiastically.
"Oh! And did anyone happen to see if the Phantom or the cleric left any pretty feathers behind after our battle? I believe I recall she likes to collect pretty feathers."
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Andy listened thoughtfully to Riftun's fears and doubts, only nodding occassionally, not judging until the bard was finished.
Then, the corner of his mouth curls up slightly. "Oh, the irony. To be confronted by the same impatience of youth the others liked to tease us with..."
He chuckles at some sort of distant memory before it fades and he grows sober. "My apologies, I mean no offense. Yuto and Spivey are correct, I feel, my friend. None of us are ever fully responsible for succeeding or failing to change someone else. Change has to come from within. However, please also consider that you seem to be asking for a rather drastic shift in her personality and way of doing things. She has been herself for... how long? Coming out of a rather traumatic breakup with a former lover as well, I believe? While you have know her for... a number of days, at most?"
He places his strong hand on the bard's slender shoulder. "You can't be too hard on yourself for failing to achieve spectacular results in such a small amount of time. If anything, that she came along at all and seems to trust you to a degree seems like very good progress set against that. Don't give up, and you may yet succeed. Don't ask me how I used to keep blowing up my alembics when I started, or how dumb I must have looked trying to wield a sword in a reverse grip just because I thought that was cool and would impress the pretty redhead girl at the flower shop..."
He shrugs and smiles. "Or ask some other time, as they're quite amusing stories, looking back. And... if you ever feel you need to talk about less pleasant pasts, you know where to find me," He adds, completely serious, as he notices Yuto trying to work the crowd and failing. "For now, mayhap we should go and help him our valiant samurai."
Striding forward, the alchmist rests to stand shoulder to shoulder next to his brother in arms. "Which of you feels like this task is too much, or harbors doubts on whether we should go? And if so, why?" He asks the crowd.
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"Oh, I collected a couple of black feathers from the crow cleric to document my journal. But take them, here, you can give them to Zaoibee" Yuto offers to Riftun, always willing to be of help.
The young man waits and listens quietly trying to understand the fears spoken as a reply to Andochtuir's prompt.
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Riftun can't help but giggle at Andochtuir's story. Imagining the half-elf mishandling his sword to impress a girl was somehow very amusing. "Well Andochtuir I-I would love to jear your stories sometime. Perhaps I coukd even catalog somw of the more exciting ones I'm certain you have for future retellings? I just love hearing the stories of others after all, I-I hope to hear tales from all around the world someday."
The bard gasps aloud as Yuto hands him some of the feathers he had just been asking after and throws his arms wide into a big hug for the samuria. "Yuto! These are perfect! Thank you soooo much!" he exclaims before he can stop himself.
When rational thought catches up to the young man once again he quickly breaks off the hug looking embarrassed. "Haha, sorry Yuto. I-I think I got overly excited again but I think these will do great... maybe I can make a necklace out of them a-and if I can find some of the Phantom's loose feathers. I-I thibk she'd like that."
Riftun smiles tiredly but resolves to look for more feathers before they return. He wasn't expecting Zaiobe to do a one-eighty on her wicked ways but perhaps a thoughtful gift might help her see that she's wanted here at least.
Spivey smiles approvingly at Riftun, before falling silent to watch the conversation continue with an air of curiosity.
The fire continues burning for a good long while, and the party ultimately goes about their respective preparations before the caravaners will make their decision and the caravan will move out on the morrow.
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The evening progresses, and Andochtuir finds himself back at the card table with the off-duty guards and Sandru. The weighty decision of what to do clashed a bit with the relief of having Ameiko returned, but he enjoyed their company and tried to make the most of it. Idly, he wondered if Riftun was making progress on Zaiobe, or if he would leave matters for a later date. Would the harpy decide to follow them out?
After playing a few games, the half-elf leaves to check on Ameiko. While he'd rapidly begun to enjoy her cheerful and sometimes teasing (?) company, part of him was also wondering about whether she was truly as well as she seemed. Were there any lingering effects from her coma? And what had actually caused it, in the end? Had the false emperor placed a curse on the seal or castle or such, and that curse or spell targeted her as the true heir? If so, why had it dissipated? Had the seal dispelled it from her when it was opened? Or were they missing something? He supposed the physician in him couldn't help but worry. Perhaps he could offer to brew her a drought or such - though he'd have to know if something, and what, was still ailing her first.
Finally, he seeks out Losk. There was cause for celebration, definitely, and perhaps this was a good time to try out a few of his alcoholic drinks. That, and things were getting late. So if he took things less well, no one would see him in an intoxicated state. Or so he hoped. And perhaps being a little tipsy wouldn't be such a bad thing for the last and most gruelling task he had yet to do...
It was deep at night when he returned to the castle by himself, his way lit only by the lantern he'd chosen to carry. In the other hand was the guard captain's magical longsword slowing a more soft white, and his mutagen was active. He'd hoped that'd be enough to deal with or dissuade whatever predator or monster hoped him easy prey.
Eventually, he decended the known pathway down into the basement. The decapitated body of the fire-spewing demon lay there, in what he assumed were the beginning stages of decomposition. "Not the most pleasant smell. Sometimes I long for a human nose..."
He knelt by the body and donned a cleaning towel as a makeshift mask. This thing would have killed them, perhaps all of them, if not for Torra. Its fire made it dangerous, but its flight made it untouchable. "Tempering with the body is a dangerous business. But faced with demonic hordes and giants in our path, I may not have a choice. I'm sure you understand, and that you would consent to help me on this topic, to repay us for all the hurt. Now, let's see about how your body is constructed..."
Thus began the long and arduous autopsy of the demonic corpse.
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After some time spent gathering feathers alone in the creepy keep, Riftun finds some nice white ones about the resting place of the Phantom. The young bard then heads back to the caravan with the others and does his best to put together something resembling a necklace with his limited crafting experience.
After some time of struggling and failing , however, he resigns and decides it would be best if someone more talented than him could put together something nicer for the fiery harpy.
After asking around he eventually finds someone willing to help him out with his little project and, together, they create a pretty though simple necklace with alternating black and white feathers on twine between various beads in a pattern of red (representing the fiery powers of the harpy as well as her fierce nature), black (to represent her dark feathers and mysterious personality), and blue (to represent Desna and all the future journeys the harpy would doubtless experience in her life to come). The piece is finished with some dangling turquoise to make it prettier and add a pop of color.
Riftun thanks the craftsperson profusely and offers more than fair compensation for their time as well as the twine, beads, and turquoise.
With the piece finally to his satisfaction, Riftun smiles softly to himself and hugs the piece close to his chest before looking up to the copse of trees he had gone to to visit the harpy yesterday through tired eyes.
A wave of anxiety crept up in him, certainly not aided by the fact that his lack of sleep the previous night and long hours today had allowed his general fatigue to creep into the territory of both physical and mental exhaustion. Zaiobe had been rather cross with him to say the least last time they spoke and the young bard was worried what harsh reception would be in store for him and if she would decide to stay or take flight.
He takes a deep breath and allows Yuto, Andochtuir, and Spivey's words to fill his head and calm his heart. There was only so much he could do and it wouldn't be his fault if Zaiobe decided it was best for her to leave. At least now she would know that she was wanted here when and if she made that decision.
His resolve set, Riftun makes his way towards the wooded area, necklace in hand.
"I understand that you're upset about yesterday… a-and you have every right to be. If you want to come yell at me or give me a good punch or slap I totally understand. You must have felt really hurt that I kept the relic from you… It must have felt like I didn't trust you and how could you feel welcome in a place where no one trusts you?" Riftun sighs guiltily, his lips twisting as his tired eyes stare at his feet.
"I'm afraid that I can't give you that now… but I can give you this." The red-headed man holds the necklace out in front of him with a hopeful smile.
"I-I know it's not much but I made this for you, with some help cause I'm just hopeless with crafts. But I remembered you liked pretty feathers so I gathered you some a-and added a few embellishments. The beads represent your fiery personality and fire, your powerful wings, a-and the travels they'll take you on."
"You don't have to stay here but I'd love it personally if you'd travel with me for a time and if not… Hopefully the necklace can remind you that you are always welcome with me if you want wherever you go. A-And as proof that I do trust you you're welcome to do whatever you'd like to me here I won't resist or call for help if you decide that you need to kick my butt for treating you like that yesterday."
The young man gulps fully expecting a harsh ass-kicking to follow.
He realized he was taking a risk, she was a harpy after all, one in service to Pazuzu no less, and that was pissed off at him. On top of everything he had only met her recently but sometimes you have to take that leap. Redemption was a difficult thing because it requires someone to give a chance to someone who, by definition, might not deserve it.
But that's also what made it such a powerful thing.
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The others are spinning away into their own concerns, talking, organizing, going off on their errands. After helping out with the pyre and watching it burn for a while, Torra finds herself exhausted and wishing for quiet, away from people.
As usual, she seeks out Lone-Pillar, practicing her weather-reading and tracking skills in companionable silence, speaking as little as possible.
Yuto is pretty tired for the day. He does attend his duties in the caravan, even taking a watch if needed, but ultimately looks for a quiet corner and there he fills his journal with the details of the day, and with guesses of what the group is to find in Kalsgard.