Koya, Spivey and Zaiobe go quiet.
After a moment of awkward silence, Spivey speaks up. "Well, on the one hand, it at least lets us know of a possible reason for it."
"On the other hand..."
Zaiobe takes your hand in hers.
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"I'm here, I'm here." Spivey slowly flies over, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. "I was communing with my Lady. Something wrong?"
The lyrakien shrugs. "Eh, it was for a while. I didn't have contact with any mortals, but I could commune with my Mistress whenever I really felt the sting of loneliness... of course, I could only do so once a week, but that was okay for me. At least, it let me keep track of time." She dunks herself in the water and shakes her head about. Her grass-green hair flips about every which way, spraying water around. "Then the hobgoblins moved into Brinewall. They thought they could blunder into my shrine and do what they wanted with it, so I gave 'em a few good zaps. They learned."
Spivey pauses in her washing in thought. "Oh... about... ten years, I think?" She nods. "I think that's about right--time flows differently here than in Desna's realm." "I got summoned--or called, considering I haven't been returned to my Mistress yet--to this plane by another priestess of Desna." The azata rests on your leg and rinses the suds off of her. "We had a good few adventures going with the rest of her group." "Well, until the man-eating plant got her."
"Maybe we'll find one at some point." Spivey splashes some water in her hair and shakes her head. "Thanks." She smiles and holds out her hands. "Soap, please?"
After undressing and leaving her things behind, Spivey sits on your shoulder as you settle into the pool's hot water. She's wrapped in a fresh washcloth and giving you a little nervous look. ”Is it okay to get your wings wet? They’re so beautiful and delicate looking.” Spivey tentatively slides into the pool created by your arms and settles in against the crook of your elbow. "Yeah... they're sturdier than they look, but they still need care when I'm washing them." She slips the washcloth off of her and sets it on your forearm before she starts splashing herself with water.
Spivey remains on your shoulder as you leave the room and head downstairs to the baths. "Glad to hear it--I was feelin' lonely."
The lyrakien flits over to your shoulder and sits down. "Hey, mind if I tag along? I mean, I haven't had a chance to hang out with you like the others yet--" She's interrupted by a loud snoring coming from one of the beds--it looks like Koya's settled in for a nap.
Spivey nods and smiles in agreement. "I wonder if we'll get a chance to explore the wilds around here soon... and maybe have a chance to see what the night sky looks like up here."
Spivey sighs wistfully. "I look up, and I see the stars, and I feel a whole buncha things. I feel inspired to keep going and see the mortal world, I feel reassured that My Lady is watching me, and... well, I feel kinda awestruck. Just realizing how big this place really is."
Spivey flits over to the weasel and looks him over with a great deal of interest. "Ooh!" She tentatively pats the weasel on the head before looking up at you again. "I'm a bit surprised, to be honest; I was kinda expecting--" She snaps her fingers. "--oh, THAT'S what I meant to ask you! Your mom's a nice lady, and a priestess of Desna, and it doesn't look like you are. Mind if I ask why?"
"Really?" Spivey blinks a couple of times before looking down in thought. "...uhhhhh..." "...oh yeah!" She snaps her fingers and looks back up at you. She hops off of your shoulder and flits over to the door. "I wanted to ask you about that little animal you carry around with you everywhere." "Can't say I've seen it before--what is it?"
Spivey looks at you askance for a moment before realization hits her. "Ohhhhhhhh." "...yeah, that sort of thing can go one of two ways, in my experience." The lyrakien flits up to your shoulder and stands there. "After enough time, they'll either hate each other so much they never want to see each other again, or they all end up becoming couples. Either way, you're getting more familiar with them than you expected."
"Not much, just talking, though we may have found a guide....I should say, not much with us....everybody else...." Kasha says with a chuckle. Spivey blinks. "...everybody else is doing what? Lazing about?"
Spivey flies in through the window and sits on the other bed. "Thanks. You know how long I was looking for you guys? Pretty long time!" "And this city's sooo big... I mean, damn, I didn't think mortals could stand to build cities this big!" The lyrakien bounces up and down on the bed. "Soooo... what's been happening since you got here?"
Pulling back the curtains, you see an annoyed Spivey sitting on the windowsill. "There you guys are! Why'd you ditch me back at the caravan?"
"You were a great model." he happily responds to the Azata as she looks over the sketches. "Despite my best efforts, apparently." She giggles. "Thanks."
Spivey seems quite happy with your sketch of her. When she notices the other, less successful, sketch she looks a bit sheepish.
"How are you two? Have they been treating you well?" Zaiobe nods with a small half-smile on her face. Spivey bobs up and down in the air. "Yep yep yep! I was kinda surprised the old lady also revered my Lady--but anyway, what are we gonna do now?" The lyrakien flits over to your shoulder. "...didn't you say something about drawing me at some point?"
Spivey flies over to the statuette and starts uncorking her vials of holy water, dumping them onto the unholy, cursed idol.
"Your presence in the mortal realm is vile, unwholesome, unwelcome!" The lyrakien starts praying.
"Your guardian lies dead and damned, far from the sight of the Song of the Spheres!" The idol begins smouldering from the holy water poured onto it. Several cracks appear throughout it.
"Now, your filth and corruption shall be cleansed from this place, never to blight our lands again!" The idol looks like it's on the verge of falling apart. Spivey pointedly flies up and looks at the party.
Spivey grins and holds up three vials of holy water. "I KNEW there was a reason I brought these along." "To tell the truth, I was saving them for the dead freak-of-nature back there." She whispers in Kavell's ear.
Kavell's Knowledge Roll:
You recognize the statuette as a miniature carving of Pazuzu, King of the Wind Demons. Spivey glares at the stone idol. "And that one there..."
"...I don't recognize what god that's of, but just looking at it makes my skin crawl." The lyrakien bobs in the air next to Kavell. "Think we can break it?"
"Well... that was a bit underwhelming." Spivey scratches her head as she stares at the dead decapus. She flits off to the south. "Hey! There's more loot in here!"
Perhaps in the only bit of good fortune it's received in this fight, Friday's spear misses the back of its head, though just barely. The weakened decapus starts floating closer to the ground, trying to fit through a hole in the cavern wall. Spivey's spiritual starknife stabs at the decapus once again...
This time, it's just a glancing blow. "You ever get the feeling we might have over-prepared for this?" Spivey quips as she picks up some rocks at her feet and channels more of Desna's divine power. The rocks start glowing a whitish-blue.
Spivey winces and casts another Celestial prayer to the heavens. A strange, translucent blue starknife that's bigger than she is materializes before her, and leaps toward the decapus' face!
This time, Spivey's magic goes through unhindered. The starknife tries to impale the abyss-spawned beast...
...and sticks into one of its tentacles, briefly pinning it to the ceiling before withdrawing.
Spivey just rolls her eyes and points at the beast. "COME HERE." Her voice suddenly BOOMS throughout the cavern!
The holy magic of Elysium washes over the beast, but it's too busy fiddling with its wand to budge. Spivey sighs and flits over to the western side of the cavern.
"It sure seems that way." Spivey bobs next to Friday. "You guys ready?"
Spivey flits over to Haru's shoulder and sits upon it. "Alright then--count me in. I don't know if I'll be able to do much, but I'll try to keep you all healed." She then flits over to the statue of Desna and produces three small vials before filling them up with water from the statue's bowl. "Some more firepower, if you will."
"Yes." Spivey giggles. "Do you want me to come along?"
Spivey ponders the question for a bit. "Ooh... that DOES sound interesting, I'll admit." "Tell ya what--if you guys take out the fiendish decapus in the castle's basement, I'll be more than happy to come along."
Spivey shrugs. "Honestly... I don't know. I mean, I've been keeping this place tidy since she passed on, but I'm starting to think she'd appreciate me moving on and exploring the world more. I mean, a priestess of Desna should be hitting the road, not staying in one place."
"Alrighty then." Spivey claps her hands together. "I'd also recommend taking some holy water with you--it's not just good for harming undead, but fiendish creatures as well." She flits over to her statue of Desna and taps her foot on its copper bowl.
"Wow. That nasty, eh?" Spivey hovers in the air with one hand on her chin. "Well... what sort of magic weapons do you have with you? Or do you at least have some way of enchanting your weapons before you run into it?"
Spivey is silent for a bit. "What sort of fiend are we talking about here?" Her voice lacks any of her usual enthusiasm--instead, there's a cold fury in it.
Spivey pauses in midair. "...well... your best bet would be to use magic to strengthen yourselves before confronting one. Just throwing magic at one is likely to not work." "Why do you ask?"
Spivey swoops down and plucks the tiny prayer box out of Friday's hands, gently holding it aloft. "I thought I wouldn't see you again..." She reverently whispers as she takes a small leather lanyard and loops it through the back of the box. She slips the lanyard over her forehead and rises back to eye level. "Thank you, folks." She starts bobbing in the air. "I don't know how I can repay you for this."
Spivey bobs in the air excitedly. "Oooh! Really? Whereisitwhereisitwhereisit?"
When the party stops by the graveyard, the tiny glowing azata is perched on the edge of her statue, staring at her reflection in the bowl of water in its hands. She looks up at the party's approach and flits down to see them. "Hi again! You guys looked like you were in a hurry last time you passed by--didn't even stop in to say hello."
Spivey bobs up and down in the air once more, giggling. "Great--glad to hear it. By the way, if you ever need a safe spot to rest while exploring in there, just swing by again. I'll make sure this place is kept safe." "Oh, would any of you care for some holy water before you go?" The lyrakien flies up to the copper bowl and taps it a few times. "That's the beauty of this bowl--I've enchanted it so that it converts rainwater into holy water."
"I don't mean to impose, but if I could ask a favor of you in return? After we've accomplished what we've traveled here to do, and retrieved your master's scriptures, if it's alright... could I possibly... draw you? Or the shrine?" Spivey pauses for a bit and scratches her head. "Uh, well... huh. Nobody's ever asked me that kind of question before. Usually they tell me to fetch some weird item or whatever. Sure. Sounds like fun." "So you've been in Castle Brinewall yourself? Can you tell us anything about it? " "Well, it's pretty old. And beat up. And stuffed with weirdo crow people that like to eat anything that isn't them. In fact, they're the ones who conquered the hobgoblins I ended up tangling with before being forced to run away." Spivey bobs over to Haru's head and starts flying around her. "But they're not the only ones who live there--they follow some strange red-skinned... thing that also lives here." Spivey shivers, the green glow around her body flickering in the rain. "I have no idea what he really is, but there's no way he's really human. Just looking at him was enough to make my skin crawl."
"Great." Spivey claps her hands. "See, the last time I got chased out of the castle, I left something very important to me in there. Before I was called to this plane, my Lady bestowed upon me a phylactery of faithfulness--essentially, a small box containing her holiest of scriptures. It's something you wear on your head that always lets you know if you're in danger of straying from Her path." The lyrakien bobs up and down in the air. "If you're going up to that castle, could you please see if you could find it for me?"
Spivey looks around the rain-soaked graveyard. "Can't say I'm in a hurry to get back. There's still so much of this world left for me to see!" Her eyes light up and she hops off the edge of the copper bowl, hovering before the party. "Hey, mind if I ask you a favour while you're here?"
Spivey flits down and sits on the edge of the copper bowl in the statue's hands. "There's not much to tell, really... I was called to the mortal plane by my mistress some ten years ago. Things were all fine and dandy until we took a trip to the Mierani Forest--we ran afoul of some sort of man-eating plant. We slew the thing after a pitched battle... or rather, I slew it after it ate her." "I'm not much of a storyteller, I'm afraid. I'm a messenger & priestess first."
Spivey shakes her head. "Nope. And it was a long time ago anyway."
Spivey bites her lip. "She, uh... kinda got eaten by a hungry plant."
Spivey titters when Haru identifies who she is. "Oh, we're not much--only the divine musicians and messengers of Desna herself. We hail from the holy realm of Elysium--Our Lady's sacred realm of freedom and compassion. Sometimes we're approached by Her clergy or faithful for aid--such was the case with my old mistress." Her cheerful features turn downcast for a moment. "Shame what happened to her." "See, I've kinda been stuck here ever since she died. So, when I found this castle, I thought 'you know what? That place looks like it once had a chapel of Desna in its halls--I should fix that." Spivey shrugs. "Well, I ended up attracting the wrong sort of attention, and I took to living in this cemetery. These days, I keep it free of undead and anyone dumb enough to try disturbing the graves."
Gergo is able to climb to the top of the statue without much trouble. Spivey looks at him strangely. "Uh... sir, not that that's not impressive or anything, but you're kinda climbing all over the statue of my goddess." She scratches her head in confusion.
The green glow coming from the grass flies up into the air and alights on top of the Desnan shrine. "...I could perhaps be of help!" Standing atop the shrine is a very tiny, green haired woman with bright green butterfly wings. Her emerald green breastplate is polished to a mirror shine, and her ears sweep away from her head before tapering to sharp, elf-like points. A pair of miniature starknives are at her side, and though you have to squint to see it, there's a tiny holy symbol of Desna around her neck. "Heh heh heh--sorry about that whole 'Prove-your-worth' rigamarole. It's kinda what mortals expect of my kind nowadays. Anyway--I'm Spivey! Now, what's this about your friend?" DC 17 Knowledge (Planes): Spivey is a lyrakien azata--a type of celestial being that hails from the plane of Elysium. They're commonly found as divine musicians and messengers. |