Annalise rides in the wagon itself, near the rear.
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"No doubt the fire will keep them at bay" offers Annalise in response.
"Then there is something you must understand. Consider it a warning if you will, but I intend nothing more than a statement of fact:" "To become a firekeeper is to cease being human. You must give yourself wholly over to the fire, and you shall receive nothing in return. Your life, your past, your future, your country, your Gods, all will be meaningless in the face of this duty. Without the bonfires the world will die..."
Satisfied that this is the most privacy she will get in the near future, Annalise turns to address Joan: "Why is that you seek to become a firekeeper?" she asks without hesitation. There was no point in pleasantries anymore - best cut to the heart of the matter. When she answers Annalise scrutinizes her with her unseeing eyes, searching for any hint, even the slightest, of falsehood or hesitation.
"My fire is always available, my lord" adds Annalise, also from within the wagon.
Annalise ignores the knight. She was well-versed in the unsavory qualities of the knighthood of her own land so the Carim knight also being an unpleasant fellow by appearance is not something that bothers her. Instead she nods along as Joan speaks "I see..." she says finally. "That is all I need to know for now, but rest assured that we will speak more on this later."
Annalise nods slowly. "Indeed, is it true that you wish to share the same fate, Joan of Carim?"
She shakes her head in response "Nay, this hall is filled with other ears aside from your own..." she mumbles, trailing off. Annalize scrutinizes Joan once she is seated. She searches for some hint of a particular quality within the woman.
Annalise eats a light breakfast, just enough to keep herself going. "My lord" she says quietly "Before we begin our return journey, perhaps we should speak more with the knight of Carim and his companion? Did it not seem that there would be more pilgrims when the Prince ordered us to come here? Also, the maiden, Joan was her name I believe, is likely the one on the path to become a keeper of fire like myself. I'd like to speak with her if it would not trouble you."
If she can, Annalise will attempt to excuse herself from the meal for the evening and instead tend to the wounded and dead from the village. Her Astoran upbringing already had her straying away from praise, not to mention that as a firekeeper it was partly her duty to see to the dead and dying.
Annalise bows silently as introduction.
Annalise will approach slowly and continue to check wounds with her delicate, sightless touch. "What was all this?" she asks to no one in particular.
I will boost my smarts to d6
With the Catarina Knight among the living Annalise breathes a sigh of relief and turns towards the other, black knight. She weaves through the fight towards the fallen figure. She hesitates as she draws near; after all, she knew nothing of this persons intentions. Still, by the sounds of things they could use another blade in this fight.
In the room Annalise ducks away and covers her face as she feels the blue energy makes its way through the room. Ducking behind her companions, she scurries to the side of the Catarina knight and prepares her Pyromancy.
Annalise hides in the midst of the others in the group. Clutching her mind she racks her mind, hoping to maybe think of something that may help in this situation.
Annalise feels the mob pressing in around her and she withdraws to the protective presence of her companions. She pushes the lingering flame in her hand outward, willing it to pass into the spirit of Kearan and invigorate him.
Annalise hears the sound of a fight breaking out but is still unsure of the degree danger so she opts to conjure a flame in her open hand to aid her companions in the dark of the cave.
Annalise runs a hand against the cavern wall as they move underground. Her pertenatural senses are in no way effected by this new environment and she breathes in sharply at the touch. "This place is old" she stammers "far older than the town and these lands even..."
"What is happening to these lands?" mutters Annalise. She unconsciously wrings her hands.
Annalise frowns deeply. "Count, do you perhaps think it odd how many strange things we have encountered on our journey here?"
"Not any I have met, though it has happened in the past" answers Annalise. Later, on their journey, Annalise makes notes of the descriptions of their surroundings from her companions. She only asks "What are you sighing about?", addressing the onion knight.
"Only when they are close, and the bonfire is lit, can I sense them" notes Annalise with a nod. "Only the cruelest villain would steal such a thing" she notes "Each bonfire is a divine gift, a singular force that comforts the soul and keeps evil at bay. Robbing the world of one is a terrible crime I think."
"Perhaps we should make camp and make the last leg of the journey when we have more daylight?"
”I know of it well, its a border town. Though it is some ways away from where we are going."
"There is a bonfire nearby!" calls Annalise to her companions as they search.
"I'm- I'm alright. Have we found anything?"
"Perhaps, sir knight, you could help us in this? To make up for my hands, at least, as my condition makes me poorly suited to be searching a river."
Annalise sits on the edge of the wagon, blindly looking out over the conversation. "Well..." she asks "could a rope be tied off so that one of our party may climb the gap?"
Annalise gives a quick prayer over the body of the fallen woman.
Annalise stays away from the cave for now, unable to stand the smell. Nervously she calls for the group to inform her what's happening.
Annalise will conjure a blast of pyromancy and place it between the remaining fangboars in the hopes of the fire driving them away.
I believe we are waiting on the fang boars.
"That I do not know. The miracles given to us by the Lord of Sunlight are many, but they may yet be wary of this gift. I think we should be more concerned with the witch. Never in my travels have I heard of someone slain in such a way, let alone a fire keeper. What madness must have possessed her to do something so reckless?"
"I'm sorry, I cannot. That would be a violation of my vows."
Annalise nods along, but she can think of nothing else to say. "It is alright" she reassures the other fire keeper "when you are ready we should inform the villagers that you have returned."
"What else do you remember of her?"
Annalise cannot properly see the Counts reactions, though she can hear the trepidation in his voice. "Certain fires are not so easily snuffed out" she says.
Annalise smiles and calls the others back in. "The fire keeper is returned to life" she explains "I am Annalise of Astora, also a fire keeper. The townspeople said you had been slain by a witch."
"I'm sorry Count, as always I am your loyal retainer but my vows as a fire keeper forbid me from answering. If you and the others could, please, leave me for a moment." When Annalise is alone: She attempts to press the lingering flame into the breast of the deceased fire keeper.
”Please take me there" she says calmly, craddling the strange fire in her hands.
Annalise ignores the question, instead she asks "What was done with the body of the fire keeper?"
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