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Akina offers Ahalak the rare gift of a kind smile. "Thank you, I would welcome a song, if you are willing before our journey is at its end."
I will be leaving the county tomorrow morning and will not be back to a regular posting schedule until Oct. 25th. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Akina is fascinated that such a small whistle can play so many various notes. Approaching Ahalak she will ask if she can see it, and how it is made.
Posting for all my games, I was admitted into the ER last week and have been until today. I will likely not be posting for at least a couple more days until I'm feeling up to it.
As little as she wears already, there is not much Akina can do with the overbearing heat. She is cautions to stay hydrated, and remains quiet through most of the journey. The loverbirds only add to wish that she had joined the party scouting ahead.
Would Trinia not go by Blackjack?
Akina will listen and answer, "My birth name is Akina, given by my mother as I was taken from her womb. I carry it with honor, as it was the only gift she was able to give me. I have been granted the name Pharas by the church of the Pale Lady. I earned that title when I became what you would call a boneslayer. A destroyer of undeath, and any who would perverse the natural spiral of life and death."
Akina bows with deep respect to each of the boneslayers. "You have my thanks for taking time from your most noble pursuit to guide us. If I can ever be of service, you need only ask and I will repay my debt to you."
Akina is very interested in the boneslayers, silently observing their weapons, armor, and any other gear they may be carrying.
While it may not be the Shoanti way, Akina claps happily for both the contenders. "Well done! Both of you!" Her enthusiasm and sincerity clearly ringing in her words.
Hearing the commotion, Akina will gather up her meager belongings and join the crowd, eager to see her companions still in combat.
Akina is up just before sunrise, having a small breakfast before proceeding out of the tent provided and finding a small clearing out of the way. She lays out a small number of bones in a spiral on the ground laying rolled parchment on both ends of the spiral. She reaches up and unwraps the scarf that hides her face, letting it drag the ground behind her as she walks through the spiral, quietly chanting a hymn to Pharasma. Her hymn stops momentarily as she sees Ashe, surprised to see anyone up nearly as early as she was. Seeing him go about his own business, she quietly returns to her own ritual.
"Each of us has a personal reason to be here." "I myself am inclined to see this ghost laid to rest." "There is nothing wrong with a personal agenda. The inability to recognize what influences your decisions is the only thing I see as dangerous." "As to you Ashe, were the Shoanti not withholding this information, and were they not riding to war against Korvosa, can you honestly say you would wish to join their tribe? If the answer is no, then you clearly seek personal gain."
"Death is the natural end of life. It will always be mourned, and should be avoided until your appointed time. Outsiders will not be able to stop the Shoanti any more than we could stop those before our time from killing the Shoanti in ages past. You seek to join them for personal gain. Which is the antithesis of what the story of his rebirth portrayed." Akina shares her thoughts flatly, little emotion in her voice and is quick to end the subject once finished.
Rolling her eyes at his predictable response, "Before you dive into the maw of a creature peacock, it would be wise to consider that Shurak was Sklar-Quah born. In a rebirth, he would return to the state he was in at his birth, one who was not exiled. It could well be, that were we to be reborn, we would return to how the Sklar-Quah saw us at birth, which would still be 'tshamek'." Turning to address Thousand Bones, "Unless you believe it is a worthwhile pursuit, I believe that Scarwall sounds to be the most useful source of information. If Mandraivus of Lastwall and Serethtiel were able to slay the creature when it was whole and at the height of it's power. He would likely be able to slay a single piece."
Akina will add her own voice to the mix. "Would the Sklar-Quah allow us to trade something for the information. A service or mission they can not accomplish on their own. If it is in our power, we would gladly aid them. Whatever the cost, we need this information."
Akina searches her memory to see if she recalls any expeditions by the church to excise a spirit from Scarwall, but Lastwall is far away and she recalls nothing. Still she itched at the chance to both purge the wayward spirit back to the lady's spiral, and grow closer to their current mission. She bows low as they are dismissed and makes her way to Ash Dancer to spend the time sharing tales in the purging of undead and laying the dead to rest. She wishes to learn all she can concerning their personal techniques and rituals.
Still it doesn't look great. All of her campaigns went silent on June 6th.
Sorry for the delay again. My stepfather passed away last week and I have been a mix of too busy and just not emotionally up to gaming recently. Akina doesn't have much to contribute atm. Let the boys fight out their little game.
Good day everyone. I will be vacationing starting a few days ago and will be gone until Monday May 23rd.
Akina frowns deeply, "As you say honored elder, I will submit to your knowledge on the matter." Akina will fall back into line, but she continues to remain quiet on the matter, hoping it will be settled internally.
Akina will pull Ashe back a step whispering harshly, "Why are you doing this? It is an internal dispute. His protests are irrelevant. If Thousand-Bones or One-life demands we take the challenge then so be it. We do not need anything from from this Krojun. Let your pride suffer the insult and move on to the task we are here for!"
Akina nods at Ashe's reply. "By Pharasma I think he's finally learning. He was able to tell a whole tale without showing even one of his peacock feathers." She simply says instead, "Thank you, your knowledge and insight are appreciated."
"Do we know that? Ashe, did you not tell us that she killed the King before gaining the Fangs. While it is not my duty to interfere in local politics, most would consider that an evil act."
Akina stares at the drink hesitantly, but finally commits herself, peeling her facial wrap off and drinking the hot berry drink down. She clinches her fist trying to keep from showing any reaction to the burning liquid pouring down her throat.
As Ashe leaves the tent to go talk with the dragon, Akina will turn her attention to Ash Dancer. "Thank you for welcoming us. I have heard tale of your tribe and your role in these lands. That you prepare your dead for their journey to the Pale Lady's court. I have also heard tale of you, that you lead the "boneslayers." Vanquishes of those that would defile the natural spiral of life. I am something of a boneslayer myself in service of the Cathedral of Pharasma. I would love to hear story and song of the techniques you employ on your holy mission."
Akina watches the men with her normal skepticism.
She will follow suit as she eats the bread, water, and salt and remain silent as Ashe tells his tale.
"An evil that violates the natural spiral of life and death." Akina chimes in, adding to Garridan's words.
Akina regards the new man just as she did the first, she opens her arms out wide in a non-threatening manner and makes a point to draw attention to her own tattoo that shows the holy symbol of Pharasma. "We only walk your lands for a holy purpose. Please speak with us, that we may limit our intrusion as much as the gods will allow."
Akina bows slightly deeper than necessary at their hosts. "You have my thanks, may the Lady's blessing be upon you for the good works you do."
Akina opens her arms out wide in a non-threatening manner and makes a point to draw attention to her own tattoo that shows the holy symbol of Pharasma. "We only walk your lands for a holy purpose. Please speak with us, that we may limit our intrusion as much as the gods will allow."
Akina will join the conversation, telling the rest how she was given at birth into the service of the temple. She speaks kindly of the good Bishop who has acted as a father figure to her for most of her life. She speaks fondly of her studies in the temple and training to be a cleric, but it was not Pharasma's plan, as the Lady of Bones never granted her the divine magic needed to serve as a proper cleric. Akina was instead given to an undead elimination team. She speaks of their teams leader, a monk named Neyd, with admiration. Speaking mostly of what an incredible leader he was, and the incredibly daunting odds his leadership lead them through. Their ranger Risem, who sadly lost the love of his life to a foul necromancer and joined the church to eliminate the taint from his wife. Akina only speaks of respect and pity at what a heavy burden undeath places on the living. When she talks of the Wizard Yerdran, it is like a father figure. A wise old man, who they could all trust with their burdens, but rarely spoke of his own. They knew he carried a hard life behind his eyes, but never gave it words, never even speaking what brought him into the church's service. Akina glances more than once towards Edmond while talking of the old man, his demeanor reminding her of her old friend. Akina is quick to move past her own purpose, to disable traps laid in tombs to protect the dead that have been defiled despite their protections. Though the whole conversation, her words are light and filled with the joy of happier times. As she tells her tales, you get the impression she is well traveled and has a good working knowledge of the cultures and religions of many faiths and lands. Her hatred for the undead is visceral.
Akina pushes her steed with a silent nudge taking up a position next to Garridan, her head always on a swivel for danger.
Akina smiles happily to hear their proposed allies purpose. "A worth cause indeed." Turning to Ashe, "When we meet them, it may do well for me to lead our band, since our purposes are so closely aligned. They would likely be more accepting of me than other outsiders."
With a deep bow that gives the old fellow quite an eyeful, Akina thanks the man. "You're aid is greatly appreciated friend. Good tiding to you and may the lady guide your path." Returning to the path, Akina keeps her eyes open for anything else that may mark their path.
Akina will give a gentle wave to each person they pass. She will also cordially greet anyone who passes within earshot. When the pass the old man, she gives him a warm smile before greeting him. "Afternoon, good sir."
Akina pauses, as though she is trying to find her words. "The spell is powerful, but the gods designed us with a natural order. A body needs rest. That spell, all magic, has a cost. I would prefer us not to become reliant on such a thing in the long term. Like with Ashe, it may wash the fatigue, but your mind needs rest."
"By doing something you're quiet quite unfamiliar with...ask." Akina remarks with a quick smirk in the direction of Ashe and Edmund. She quickly moves on not letting her joke linger. "For times like this, when we will be on the road for many days, my last group did something a little different. We would have one person stay up for the whole of the night to watch over everyone. Then that person would tie into the saddle and sleep for the day. It keeps everyone able to get a full night sleep uninterrupted. It also keeps everyone well rested during their watch, not fighting off sleep."
"Its a start." Akina says returning her attention to the road and path around them.
Akina lets out a frustrated growl, "Then when multiple members stated that needed to sleep. That you were starting to act irrational due to your lack of sleep. That is the moment I realized we weren't trusted. That is not you not being forthcoming enough. You driving yourself mad is not self sacrifice for Korvosa. That was you trying to carry the world alone. This is too big for you. If you can't allow us to carry this burden with you. You will be destroyed by it." "Not one of us knows what has happened, and will happen as well as you. I doubt any of us could question that. You must lead. That is your burden to carry. Your unwillingness to ever even admit you have made a mistake is what is driving us mad." What, does apologizing cause a paladin to fall? You're a glory hound. Dress it how you like, but your actions have proven that." Akina's hands tighten on the reigns of her horse, knuckles white as she clenches her jaw and pushes her horse a few steps ahead.
We camped for a bit while some of the party were in the city. Now we are on the road again heading away from the city to the Cinderlands.
Akina keeps her head on a swivel as they ride. She is silent and contemplative before speaking. "I am not angry. I am annoyed for certain, but you will know my anger when you see it." [b]I will protect your life and the lives of any would stand against the abomination we face." She pauses once more and thinks. "What has brought my annoyance is you. Your flagrant self-centeredness. You can make your arguments for how you have listened to others suggestions, but you don't. You follow your path, even when we all could see your weariness was affecting you. You only follow the path you choose even if it takes us all with you." Master Gwenn is correct, I choose to join you. You are the leader of this group. We all choose to join you and accept the risks that brings. Having said that, you as a leader have the burden you must carry of putting the needs, concerns, and mission of the group above your own." She lets her words hang for a moment, before continuing. For the first time, Akina will let her eyes fall to Ashe meeting his gaze with a fierce determination. "What you have done to insult me, is to waste the gifts of your goddess on your own paranoia. That the gods would grant you their divinely powered magic and have you squander it on keeping yourself awake. Such gifts were given to keep a paladin able to fight to defend innocents in the wake of devilish hordes. Instead, you use it to push yourself to the breaking point of your mind so much so that the rest of us were forced to trick you into rest. Worst yet, you would still be doing so if not for finding her." Akina remarks with a gesture towards Trinia. "She is what finally put you in the bed, you so desperately required. To see you misuse the gift of your goddess is what has insulted me." "What has annoyed me is, weather spoken or not, in letting you lead, we've agreed to trust you. How are we to do that, when you do not trust us?"
Akina draws herself up onto her horse falling into place in the marching order. "If you need to speak, do so." Akina states flatly in reply to Ashe's request, though she makes no move to do so in private. Her desire and focus to continue overriding any want for privacy.
Seeing the others come through the gate, Akina informs the others and begins gathering their gear and horses. "Get what you needed?" she asks somewhat curtly.
"We should be fine here." Akina remarks reaching the shaded area. "I doubt Ashe will be quick so we may as well make ourselves comfortable."
Akina keeps quiet at Garridan's remark, though the hint of a smile that spreads across her face is noticeable to the keen eye. She bites her tongue even harder at Ashe's reply that he is trying not to brag. Quickly changing the subject, she simply says, "I shall not enter this particular city. I'll make my way around the walls and meet you at whatever gate you wish to exit. Our intention is to keep a low profile, and I can not do so and keep my oaths to my church."
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