Juriya adds a bit more time outside the house to her usual routine of helping her parents with reagent orders and batches of common alchemical items. Sh also attempts to sway any villagers who speak ill of Ano, as well as occasionally dropping in on theology discussions with Ethan, mostly leaning on what she knows of the good gods through her research into Verity.
She also purchases/fashions a small wooden holy symbol of the god of investigators, going deeper into the fact that this line of work is more in-line than what her parents want out of her, but is still tangentially related enough to still be by their side for their business. She also attempts, in her fox form, to gather as much gossip and information as possible.
Donimah wastes no time capitalizing on her reputation as Sandpoint's newest wizard and one of its heroes. She wastes no time in investigating the Old Light more closely, as well as the Thassilonian ruin beneath the Glassworks. She knows winter is no time for digging, the earth frozen and too hard, so she holds off on setting up a full archaeological survey, but she accumulates copious amounts of notes, drawings and rubbings that she shares with Brodert, as well as sending some back to Riddleport to inform her fellow Cyphermages of her progress. She even goes so far as to attempt to start a small "book club" of her own with Mr. Quink and Sandpoint's other resident mages, like Ilsoari Gandethus, Veznutt Parooh and Vorvashali Voon (with a standing invitation that her own friends, especially Ano or Juriya, may join in whenever they like). It's nowhere near a true mages' guild, but it helps Donimah feel a little more at-home in Sandpoint.
She shares her all-too limited free time with the rest of Sandpoint's heroes, occasionally visiting the "theology group" from time to time, though more as a way to get to know Ethan better than out of genuine interest in faith, stopping in at The Hagfish for a meal every now and again, purchasing ink, charcoal sticks and any alchemicals her work needs exclusively from the Arimas and eager to share gossip with Juriya, and always ready to offer a sympathetic ear to Ano when she needs one. She also attempts to get to know Orik Vancaskerkin better, even going so far as to offer him employment as a hired guard as a way to convince him to stick around. She also tries to keep connections up with Sandpoint's other movers-and-shakers, such as Mayor Derevin, Sheriff Hemlock, Ameiko and Shalelu.
Alicia would sometimes join Dominah in her research, although her main contribution is to mostly accidentally proof that Thassilonian has loanwords from both Abyssal and celestial, but only Abyssal has loanwords from Thassilonian, celestial does not.
She also "spars" with Orik, who was party to her capture, but who tried to treat her reasonably and even incurred some wrath from Nualiah because he refused to mistreat her. Which still doesnt mean Alicia likes him.
Like the 2 perfectly functional adults with 18+ strength and 10 or less wisdom they are, they agree to beat each other up to clean the air, with Alicia healing both of them afterwards. Funnily enough, this probably works.
I think Alicia wins the fight by outlasting Orik, since her effective hp pool is massive due to her super charged lay on hands.
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The mayor actually manages to get a house for the group. One of the women killed in the goblin raid was a single mother whose son lives in Magnimar and has no intention of coming back. After some time and negotiation, the family accepted to donate the house to the city, so the mayor offers it to the group. The house is fairly big, has three large rooms, a common space, a kitchen and a wash room. The large rooms can be separated by extra walls if necessary. It needs some refurbishing, but it's warm.
Ethan and Juriya do manage to make an impact on some people. It seems that either faith or reason reaches most people.
Donimah is successful in creating her book club. However, it takes some time to establish a proper agenda each meeting and they only start to get some structure by the end of winter, when the meetings start to actually be productive. Brodert is almost not himself, arguing very passionately, often more than he needs. Her trips to the catacombs below are fruitful. She determines that the collapsed stairway down holds something sinister, and Brodert recommended that they keep the way closed. She also finds that the levitation room by its side is actually very fun once she got rid of the dead animal and maggots. It is a bit too distracting to study in it, but surely there's a purpose for a room with eternal levitation in it.
Donimah also finds that Orik is looking to start a new life in Sandpoint. After a while, she realizes that while the very convincing words that were said to Nualia were lost to her ears due to the madness in her head, they had a massive effect on Orik who was nearby and listening. He has vowed to stay in Sandpoint and make himself useful. The sheriff has refused to give him a job due to trust issues, but he's been making petty cash as a caravan guard or a strong arm on the docks.
He does accept sparring with Alicia.
He has a crush on Alicia.
Ethan gives a faint, but knowing smile when he realizes what is happening, but says nothing unless specifically asked about the situation.
Arrian's winter time was mostly his usual daily routine before Nualia, the goblins, and ruins of Thassilon interrupted his life.
The various winter festivals meant more time spent working at The Hagfish helping Jargie with the extra business from the influx of travelers. He spent some time at The Rusty Dragon with his friends, both old and new, and talked them into spending some of their time (and coin) at The Hagfish.
"It would be great if we could meet at The Hagfish some of the time. Jargie won't admit it but he misses not just my company but Juriya's and Ano's too. I'm sure he'll get along well with Donimah, Ethan, and Alicia once he gets to know them. Plus he wants more business."
Arrian confided in Jargie when the latter noticed how agitated and fidgety Arrian could be at times.
Arrian sighed, "It's not that I don't like working here or being in Sandpoint. It's just a feeling I had during the combat – far different than when I was training. It felt right for some reason. And I do miss it at times."
Jargie nodded, "It's in your blood son – your orc blood. Battle comes naturally to orcs and that's why fighting felt normal to you. There's nothing wrong with that if it's properly channeled. You're a young man and maybe being an innkeeper isn't your destiny. I know what it's like to get the itch to go explore, adventure, find out what's out there. As much as I like having you here I don't want you to feel trapped."
Arrian also asked Jargie what the deal was with Ven Vinder. "He's just taken such an attitude with me and Ethan in particular. It's like he thinks we're trying to cheat him or something. All we want to do is buy some new equipment. Yeesh!"
Jargie chuckles and says, "Well old Ven there is just worried you and Ethan might start courting his daughters. With you two being 'Heroes of Sandpoint' the girls see the two of you as possible catches."
Arrian's eyes go wide, "Oh! I didn't even think of that..."
Jargie chuckles more and ruffles Arrian's hair, "You still have so much to learn about life my boy."
Arrian squints and scratches at his chin wondering if he should take bets on how hard Alicia will hit Orik...
The winter months were tough for Ano, though she manages to pull through with her new friends, now roommates. She helps out Ameiko and Arrian with tavern stuff, she helps carry deliveries for the Arimas, she spars with Alicia and Orik, she helps Ethan with midwife stuff (though she had to stop assisting births when one made her faint from the graphic view causing her to vomit), and she joins Donimah's mage's guild even if she can't cast spells. She converses with Donimah whenever she can, learning the intricate ways of casting spells in order to have the knowledge when the time is right.
Ano is oblivious to Orik's crush on Alicia, and thus thinks the two are close friends. The catfolk does get curious when some of the others chuckle at Ano's words about the two being just friends.
In spite of others giving her dirty looks and nasty words, Ano pushes on to try and be as helpful to the town as ever.
Cherry usually hangs around with Juriya or Donimah, although during the warmer times he flies around with Ethan. Regardless, once the snow arrives, he's stuck in the house, refusing to even step foot outside unless he is carried and bundled up. Spring is a relief to him, as he allows himself to spread his wings and see what the town has been up to.
Saryo, Ano's aunt, had to leave to Magnimar before the snow arrived-a family emergency. She allowed Ano to come along, but with how her mother has been acting, she'd rather let Fosyo tag along and stay in town. Sadly, Fosyo stayed in the town-which makes it even more frustrating when Fosyo claims she cares about family, something Ano does not.
Something that should definitely get under Donimah's skin is that Fosyo has been blaming her for Ano's bloodrage-something along the lines of how the Shoanti "must have caught some eldritch disease from Riddleport".
Somehow, Juriya is privy to the crush, which doesn't befit the oblivious kitsune. Juriya is somewhat tempted by the levitaton room but she safely ignores the temptation.
Upon hearing the Fosyo rumors, however, her face sours. Of course...
Alicia wonders, after sparring a fair bit, why it is so easy for her to grapple Orik and get him into a mount.
Also, whenever she does that, there seems to be a lot more blood circulation into his face then normal, even before she sets up any type of choke.
She does however get slowly better and doing certain "Deft maneuvers".
She disregards the rumor mongering completely.
If/when Arrian catches wind of any of the 'rumors' Fosyo has spread, Arrian will note Fosyo is as bitter and foul as the water in Nora's tank. Which usually encourages someone to try the challenge resulting in much suffering by the challenger, laughter among the patrons, and Fosyo and her bitterness is soon forgotten.
Ethan was surprised to learn that Foyso had been spreading rumors about him. What did I do to her? he wonders when he hears the myriad of crazy aspersions cast his way. Most of them are so absurd that they simply roll off his back, but one of them lands hard.
He overhears a piece of conversation between a small group of women questioning his competency as a midwife. A clear implication is made that the miscarriage was due to his ineptitude, and that, perhaps, any woman would be better off delivering her child alone than allowing him anywhere near her while she was in labor.
The fact that anyone in town felt this way, or even entertained the notion, was like a dagger in his heart. Nevertheless, he carried on the rest of the day as best he could. People had troubles, and needed help. It was his job to help them, not to unburden his hurt feelings onto others. He does his best to put on a brave face and soldier on.
Seeing through Ethan's brave face Arrian pulls him aside one evening at The Hagfish.
"You didn't do anything to Fosyo. She's evil, mean, bitter, and so full of hate I'm surprised she hasn't turned into a barghest. Or that she was the source of the troubles Sandpoint experienced. She wants to isolate Ano so Ano comes crawling back to her mother for more torture. You're a really good guy and anyone who believes anything Fosyo says is a fool, as hateful as Fosyo, or both!"
Juriya shows up with a bit out of it, having insomnia over a bit of investigation she pulled with her father, while drinking a bit of alcohol at the Hagfish. "Nnn... talked to Dad about investigating since he did that a while ago. Gave some genuine tips, but talked my ears off. Didn't get a wink of sleep for two days thanks to insomnia the night before. I see why he's the way he is now.
As for Fosyo... she'd probably turn into a daemon. There's a daemonic harbinger, basically the equivalent to the empyreal lords, that uh... acts exactly like her? Literally the daemonic harbinger of controlling parents. And if you don't think that deserves a spot in Abaddon, think of how far she's going to get people on her side. Insidious." she grumbles while taking a swig of alcohol.
"Genuinely, don't believe a word she says, Ethan. She'd rip you from Erastil and Arrian from Cayden in a minute, if it meant driving you away from Ano."
Ethan nods, but the sadness doesn't leave his eyes. "When she implied that the Karkin girl was my illegitimate daughter, despite the fact that she was already born a full month before I arrived in town, that didn't bother me. It was patently absurd. The same with the claim that I had urinated in the soup at the Rusty Dragon. I mean, does anyone think Ameiko wouldn't have skinned me alive had that been true? But that last one. It's already hard enough in many communities for women to trust a man to help her through her pregnancy, labor, and delivery. I was grateful that the young mothers of Sandpoint trusted my training and experience. Now, they are starting to doubt me, and I can't help but feel those same seeds of doubt growing in my soul. I keep going over the miscarriage in my mind. I know that miscarriages early in pregnancy are not uncommon, but part of me wonders if I simply lack the practical knowledge or natural instincts that would have allowed me to save the child."
In response to Juriya, he says, "In that, at least, she will not succeed. Ano, the both of you, Alicia, and Donimah have all proven yourselves true friends to me, and pillars of the community here in Sandpoint. As long as you will have me, I will not abandon any of you."
Juri laughs. "EHEHEHEHE, she would skin you alive for that, unless you pissed in YOUR soup after it was served -- she'd just boot you for that.
And as for practical knowledge or natural instincts... take it from someone who's cripplingly lacking in them: you have them in spades.
I look at you, and Arrian, and I realize how much of a canyon there is between us in any kind of natural wisdom. Literal animals have more finely tuned instincts than me. I see you guys and... there's no analysis, you don't have to constantly confirm with past evidence you just... do it right on instinct."
"Maybe someone should pee in Fosyo's soup...would serve her right..."
"I cannot imagine what it was like for Ano growing up," Ethan says. "This woman managed to cut me in a mere few months. What kind of damage has she done to her daughter?"
Ethan sighs, and takes a deep drink from his mug.
Sorry I dumped this crush thing without asking you if you're ok with it.
"If there's one good thing that comes out of Fosyo, it's that she easily makes you appreciate your own parents." Juri says with a sigh.
** spoiler omitted **
As Ethan shares his concerns with the rumors going around, Donimah glowers and thumps the table with a bony fist.
"That woman says NOTHING of value!" she declares. "I don't know which of her little attempts to slander me was more ridiculous, the notion I have some sort of mystical clap or that I gave it to Ano! The only consolation we can take is she's too much of a coward to lay a hand on any of us, because the last time she did it exposed what she was to everyone."
She sighs a bit as she regains composure.
"Thank you, Ethan. It's...refreshing to have folk I can trust besides my own father. In Riddleport a "friend" is just someone who hasn't betrayed you for a few extra silvers yet. Sandpoint's not like that, apart from certain individuals. I feel like it's...made me a better person, in some small way. Maybe not as impressively as it has for Orik, but still."
So Ano, do you want me to out rumormonger this Funny Fosyo? I have some ideas.
Alicia asks Ano as she moves her stuff into the provided lodging.
My planar area of expertize is more demons rather then daemons, but to get turned into a demon... there are very involved rituals for that, typically 4 stages, which require massive sacrifices. Nualia, since she has an Abyssal fleshgraft from Lamashtu, was at stage 2. Stage 3 is a half demon, stage 4 is a demon. I am guessing that eradicating Sandpoint and freeing Malfeshnekor could have gotten her to stage 3, maybe. More certain if she also destroyed Magnimar, that would probably suffice.
There is also the Angothane thing, named after one of Nocticulas Balor Generals. If you help Nocticula kill a rival demonlord, and later die because people who get into "demonlord vs demonlord"-fights tend to live very violent lives and die a lot, she grabs your soul, says "nope not of your business" to Pharasma, gets your soul straight to the Abyss and turns you into a demon of your choosing, with your memories from your mortal life intact. Its like, 2-3 times per millenia that this happens. She pauses
I am unsure how much of that is propaganda, you never know with the Lady in Shadows.
She nods at Dominah
That Riddleport place sounds like the place I was born in, in the Abyss. Massively rich city, rivalling Dis, Axis or the city of Brass in economic terms, and its inhabited by millions of demons, so its betrayal center.
Kelinahat views everyone in the Abyss who is mortal, and not there by his own volition, and not chaotic and evil, as a hostage to be rescued or exchanged for or ransomed, I, and several other children, were exchanged as babies in return for an agent of Nocticula whom Kelinahats counter intelligence managed to capture
Totally fine, I intend to have a good laugh about it
When Ano hears about the rumor her mother is spreading around Ethan and Donimah, she immediately talks to them.
“Ethan, Donimah, I…I’m sorry about what my mother has said about you both. I really wish there was something I can do to get her to stay quiet, but not even my aunt can stop her. Though my aunt being in Magnimar is probably why my mother has gotten so bold as of late.”
Donimah blinks in shock at what Alicia's just said.
"You...were born...in the Outer Rifts?!"
She shakes her head.
"You're a paladin, you don't tell lies, so I have to believe that in spite of my incredulity...No, that makes Riddleport seem tame by comparison, it's just a haven of mundane pirates, crooks and the occasional Cyphermage, like me."
To Ano she gives a smile and a nod.
"You don't have to apologize for her, Ano. I've had more credible insults thrown at me by my academic peers. I've got your back no matter what she says."
"You are not responsible for her words, Ano, and her words do not reflect on your character," Ethan says. "You are my friend. She will not change that with gossip and slander. She did, however, expose a weakness in my character, an insecurity. I suppose I should, in some sense, be grateful to her. Now, I can look inward, and see why part of me believed what she said. I will be be meditating on this for some time, I imagine."
Juriya just stares slackjawed. "Here I thought I'd be the weirdest one here. Holy s!%+, the f#+@in' ABYSS? How the f*%+ does a city even SURVIVE down there?"
"That insecurity just means you care about the work you do," Donimah says to Ethan nonchalantly. "I'd feel the same if Fosyo insulted my academic integrity or my skill as a spellcaster. Insult my origins all you like, call me a dock-slag and a horser, I don't care. But if you wanted to make me REALLY mad, call me a hack scholar or a conjurer of cheap tricks. I doubt Fosyo'll ever hit on that, though, given her paranoid fear of magic as a whole. Your work's more...approachable, something layfolk are more familiar with, which is why she figured she could use it as an angle of attack. No less important, but easier for her to wrap her head around. And you care about what you do because it's important, so even if the accusations weren't made in good faith, of COURSE they'd get to you. You're a decent human being. No one wants to half-ass delivering a baby!"
Alicia looks at Juriya
Well, I was there for... 2 months after my birth or so? I dont remember things, but I naturally researched it as much as I could.
How a city survives there, well, the last 3 demonlord who tried to invade it, I think Kovalarue, Gorg, Migorg, got killed by Nocticula, who owns this place, in retaliation. Migorg, demonlord of perversion, doing things with children and defrocked priests Alicia makes an expression as if she bit on a rancid piece of meat when saying the name migorg
Supposedly was killed by Nocticula throwing a Halfling Paladin into his private parts until it died, the demonlord, not the paladin. Creative way of making use of smite evil when you are a demon for sure. It maybe propaganda, but Kelinahats clergy current opinion is that she did indeed do that.
Like, there is an Opera in Abyssal about it, "The smiting of the stupid",
the dangerous thing about that opera is that its pretty... funny. And the Arias are really well written. Some of the stage instructions like, "Exit stage left, pursued by explosive fiendish platypus".
Alicia refocuses
Besmara, godess of piracy, tried to sack it once, that was a bloody affair and a draw as far as most people are concerned. While Besmaras flagship the "Sea Wraith" sank Shamira's flag ship the "Siren", Shamira being a nascent demonlord under Nocticula, the demons seriously chewed up the sea wraiths supporting flotilla, and the sea wraith was rather lonely, but quite rich, when she limped home to the Maelstrom. Besmaras fleets still raid the Abyss, but they also trade, and the Sea Wraith herself hasnt shown up there for a while now.
Like, if you are a deity, trying to sack Alyushinyrra is a high risk high reward thing you can do. If you are just a demonlord, Malebranche, daemonic harbinger whatever, trying to do that probably gets you killed. Thats how anything survives in the Abyss, being really good at violence. And as to why it is rich? Its the capital of lust. More then a million Succubi, and the authorities make sure it is reachable by horny and rich mortals. Some of whom survive that "pleasure trip", and spread the news further.
She states matter of factly
she then looks at Dominah
Some Paladins can and do lie, Paladins of Kelinahat and Chaldira Zuzaristan are even quite good at it. I am even obligated to lie when to comes to misleading evil.
Ano is gobsmacked by Alicia’s past. She genuinely had no idea how to respond to that.
Cherry however muttered, ”I think it’s best to keep that to ourselves. Especially with Fosyo in town.”
Donimah is equally gobsmacked.
"I uh... agreement with Cherry. Especially with Laivatiniel's freakin' lackey," Juriya says as she refers to Fosyo. She's about as gobsmacked as the rest of them.
As Ethan shares his concerns with the rumors going around, Donimah glowers and thumps the table with a bony fist.
"That woman says NOTHING of value!" she declares. "I don't know which of her little attempts to slander me was more ridiculous, the notion I have some sort of mystical clap or that I gave it to Ano! The only consolation we can take is she's too much of a coward to lay a hand on any of us, because the last time she did it exposed what she was to everyone."
Arrian falls out of his chair laughing at this take!
Alicia's stories have him turning some interesting shades as we all learn what a half-orc looks like when blushing...
He then sighs as he suspects Alicia will be quite popular at any inn the group visits.
"Oh I'm going to hear about it if any glasses, chairs, or tables get broken at The Hagfish..."
OK, so on a macro sense, can we use Fosyo to feed false information to this lava-whatsorever-iel that makes it look like invading Alyushinyrra is a good idea? Because thats a long term solution to the problem.
Alicia says with an earnest expression, as if seriously considering how this could be done.
Alicia did not mean this seriously, more because she doubts that a random Fosyo is plausible someone whom a daemonic harbinger would listen to for military advice, and because "Daemonic harbinger of bad parenting" doesnt seem like a aggressive military power.
"The only reason I link the two of them is because they are both big on being controlling parents," Juriya says. "It's the same deal as if I went crazy and you turned immediately to Haagenti as the explanation. It's my parents' advice," she says as she takes another sip. "To keep a better eye on the evil that agrees with you and can make its way into your soul, then the kind that rampages and kills the people around you. Otherwise, you'll become the latter. They say that because, in truth, we're not... the best people out there, morally. We certainly aren't evil, but we are in no way squeaky clean, in case that fiasco with tricking Fosyo tells you anything."
[ooc] Congrats the family of all Neutral Alchemists are not paladins
Arrian checks behind one of Juriya's ears, "Nope not squeaky clean at all ha ha!"
"As for my actual ears, what do you expect from someone who lives a double life as a fox that hangs around Sandpoint, ehehehe"
"The typical hygiene of an average fox?" Donimah asks rhetorically, smirking.
Juriya just chuckles. "I don't always clean my ears like that, so they get dirty. Don't exactly have the best hygiene either in humanoid forms."
Ano leans in to Donimah and says with a slight smirk, "So, Donimah, got any spells that can catch a stinky fox so we can give her a bath?"
”I would caution you about retaliation,” Ethan says gently. ”I admit that I do not know her as well as you, but I get the feeling that any escalation from you, or any of us, will be presented as justification for her behavior instead of a response to it. Let her continue to make a fool of herself. If people ask about something she has said, simply indicate that she is unwell, and apologize for her deluded ranting.”
"Hey! I make sure to clean myself a little," Juri half-heartedly claps back.
”I would caution you about retaliation,” Ethan says gently. ”I admit that I do not know her as well as you, but I get the feeling that any escalation from you, or any of us, will be presented as justification for her behavior instead of a response to it. Let her continue to make a fool of herself. If people ask about something she has said, simply indicate that she is unwell, and apologize for her deluded ranting.”
"That's what most of Sandpoint does now. Her being unwell isn't a secret; she broadcasts it all the time."
He nods at what Ano asks Donimah with a grin.