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Once the sounds of the derro guards recede, Iluna conjures forth a pale orb of luminescence. It floats in the palm of her hand.
"Iluna, would you check on the people we freed, see if any of them can help us with either fighting, or finding our way out?" Iluna moves among the surviving escapees, attempting to sooth away concerns. She also asks if any of them recognize the space they have fallen into. If so, she asks if they can direct them towards the surface. Preemptive dice rolls?:
Iluna directs her dancing lights into the hallway.
Plunged back into complete darkness, Iluna casts Dancing Lights once more.
"Oops." says Iluna seeing her spell fail. But then, she's not even really sure what spell she was casting. Instinct made her react. Perhaps she failed because she was unfamiliar with it.
Turning to Iluna, Andaris adds, "Sister, I think it necessary that Okik brings the shard along with us. We can exchange the research for the shard immediately to ensure the greatest trust among us, yes?" Iluna nods. She then presents the request to Okik in a suitable manner, along with the plan to produce a distraction in order to lure the guards away from the vault.
As Andaris steps forward, Iluna examines the shard for herself from a discreet distance. This is the first time she has seen a shard of Darkness, despite having been told about them by the Brothers. And still, despite all she has heard, being in the presence of such a thing makes her uneasy. Fear of this unseen, unknown thing which the Brothers would speak about in reverence, and the revulsion she feels about anything now connected to them make her yearn to look away, to hide her eyes and weep. Yet curiosity compels her to see for herself: to touch, to hold this item of power the Dark Brothers so venerated And they have three of them now, she worries.
"Yes, it is authentic, but you have mislead us. This shard is small, weaker than what we came to acquire. I do not see how it would fit into our master's plans. What you ask is too great for this trinket. Casimir cares not about your research, however, we could provide gold for you to resume your research in secret." Iluna is glad Andaris is so quick thinking. That this shard should not remain in the hands of the Derro she is certain, as it would surely find its way to the Brothers or else be used for some other, no doubt nefarious, purpose. As the others begin to discuss following Okik's plan, Iluna has doubts whether they can pull of this game that he is proposing. However, she has trouble finding voice for these concerns. Backing out now would doubtless precipitate combat, making escape problematic. But pressing on would almost certainly end in confrontation with a third, unknown party; the Triad, as they seem to be called.
"Yes, he is here," Iluna shifts to allow the Derro to glimpse the hooded figure of Gonan at the rear of the group, "and he can bypass the wards on the vault, for no magic is beyond him." She allows the Derro only the briefest of glimpses however, and immediately interrupts before he can continue. "If you would be so kind as to bring us the black shard, we will need to verify that it is in fact the artifact we seek. We hope you understand. It would not be the first time someone has tried to swindle us."
Recognition strikes Iluna's face as she hears Casimir's name, but she does her best to quickly hide it, and using the Derro's information she quickly fabricates a cover. "He regrets that he is unable to meet with you, Okik, as he was called away for a task of some importance. The Brothers are busy now that the game is upon us. He sends us in his stead, and hopes you understand." Iluna hopes the Derro will thus assume they are representatives of the Dark Brothers. Hopefully this will keep the Derro's tongue loose. Iluna doesn't know what dealings the Brothers would have with Derro, but if it involves the people of Cassomir, she intends to find out.
Iluna's displays only confusion and doubt, unsure of what even her companions' motives are. "...I suppose I can try, but what am I to say? "It seems to me these creatures have mistaken us for another group, and while we can pretend to be who we are not, I do not know who we are pretending to be. Or rather, I do not know who they expect us to be." She pauses for a thought, then adds, "I do not recall the Brothers ever having dealings with such creatures, but I suppose there is much of them that I do not know, and much time has passed. If asked, should I say we are with the Dark Brothers? I do not know what this will gain us, but there will be nothing for it if I do not try..."
Iluna pulls her cloak tighter as her companions follow the stunted little men. She suspects the black cloaks might be why the little men were "expecting" their group, and wonders if indeed they were expecting a company of Dark Brothers. Though she does not recognize the strange creatures she tries to remember if the Dark Brothers ever had dealings with little gnomish figures living under the city.
Meanwhile, she tries to inconspicuously cast detect magic on their two guides while they follow, checking for any magical items or implements they might be carrying.
Seeing that Iluna was squinting in the light of her own spell, Gonan quietly casts a shadowing spell to weaken the lights' effects on her. She seemed to be much more comfortable, although the waiting was getting to her. Gonan turns as she tugged on his loose sleeve, only to see a disappointed Iluna. Hearing her description of what she had been doing, Gonan checks for magic in the area, and sees her drawings glow faintly. Gonan now tugs at Iluna's sleeve, pointing her back towards the wall. Iluna claps her hands in excitement and asks Gonan how he made the drawing visible again. Presumably he tells her about the use of the 'Detect Magic' spell and the properties of the 'Arcane Mark' she just inscribed. She then tries detecting the magic of the mark herself, just as Daerion taught her, and is able to see the mark clearly. *** As the party enters the open cavern, Iluna can see the immense chimney yawning open before them. The enormous black space intimidates her at first, but then curiosity gets the better of her. Timidly she enters the open space, and slowly directs her floating lights over the seemingly bottomless pit. She does not move them down however. Some nascent fear of things lurking in the deep tells her this may be inadvisable. Iluna does not have the breadth of study necessary to know much about caves or their inhabitants, but some niggling sensation seems to be telling her the Dark brothers may not be here. It just doesn't fit. Something about how the stone was used to seal the cave entrance, and the depths to which we have plumbed without seeing any true sign of the Brothers, makes me think we might be chasing the wrong trail. If they are in town recruiting, they would need a place more readily accessible for them to operate from. Normally the camp would be set outside the city, while two or three brothers might stay at an inn. She remembers these things because she herself was brought on several of these ventures, though only later did she figure out why... She is just about to suggest this when Andaris hails her from ahead.
"Gonan or Iluna, do you have the ability to leave an invisible mark upon this doorway? I hope we do not become lost, but a waypoint may be wise." Her thoughts overruled by the stirring notion that she might actually be able to prove herself useful, she cheerfully pipes up. "Actually, I think I can leave a magic marking on the stone. It should remain invisible, so only someone looking for the mark using magic can find it." She winks at Gonan, acknowledging how he had just showed her this trick earlier. She strides over to the tunnel mouth and, tracing her finger just above the surface of the stone, draws a cartoon butterfly, flying into the tunnel they just emerged from. The image glows for a few seconds as she draws it, but then fades from sight. She then uses 'Detect Magic' to make it momentarily visible again, at least as far as she knows. It fades once more when she breaks her concentration to smile at Andaris, proud of her work.
Iluna was never one to be afraid of the dark. The night was always her favourite time of day, when the air was cooler, the sounds softer and subtler, and the lights of the heavens more magical. But that is the darkness of the open night. The dank, damp tunnel beneath them, with its walls and ceiling, and musky smell of deep earth, felt too cloying for her to feel comfortable here. In light of this, as the party entered the cave, she unconsciously began walking closer to Gonan, as if by his proximity alone he could provide the reassurance she did not know she needed. She also conjured up an orb of light to float on her palm, but she kept it dim, so that it did not blind her, and in doing so it seemed to flicker, as if the light itself were timid and unsure of its own strength. Waiting for Andaris to return seemed to her to be taking forever, and eventually her initial unease settled to boredom. She played with the little light, and then took to tracing little pictures on the cave wall with her index finger, which glowed for a moment before disappearing. One particular sketch depicted a turtle dancing on two legs, holding a cane and a top hat. This elicited a small giggle from her, and she tugged on Gonan's sleeve to show him, but then that picture, like the rest disappeared from view and she pouted a bit. * * *
Iluna flits around the inn, dropping inconspicuous hints and asking casual questions of rumours, happenings, or oddities. She turns up nothing useful though and instead returns to the common room drawn by the sounds of Andaris' voice. She thinks his tale overblown, having actually met more than one demon in her time with the brothers, but is happy the older monk can pride himself on a well orated story. She passes Mihail on his way out, meeting his blank expression eith a cheerful "good night," before making her way over to the table of adventurers to listen in.
"Itis not the cloaks that will give you away so much as their masks." Iluna engages the topic without much thought. It is, after all, only second nature to her. "Each of the brothers wears and iron mask. It is primarily a ceremonial piece, but acolytes are instructed to wear them at all times when in public. Acquiring an authentic replica may be somewhat more difficult, though the masks themselves are not identical. Most Razmirans wear such masks. The brothers keep this tradition to validate their practices..." Iluna pauses, finally realizing Andaris' seriousness. "You aren't seriously considering infiltrating their ranks, are you?"
"I was also able to get a bit of a potion that the brotherhood was hawking down in Old Cassomir. Iluna, do you know what it might be? They called it the tears of Razmir." Gonan holds out the bottle of potion for all to see. Iluna looks at the bottle trying to remember what she can of the Tears of Razmir. "Well, like many things false prophets and criers of mortal heralds carry, it is not truly the medicine the Brothers claim it to be. From what I can recall it causes temporary euphoria, but in the end, those who drink the tears become dependent on the feelings of ecstasy they get from the potion. In a sense, it hooks those who partake into constantly needing more, at which point the brothers are able to charge more for each dose. The brothers can use this addiction to exact greater and greater fees from their buyers. Eventually, some cannot repay their debts in gold, and so the brothers find more... creative ways for them to pay." Iluna is silent momentarily as she revisits old memories. "I don't know how the Tears are made or what reagents they use, as I only ever saw such transactions from a distance. But I know that some of the brothers were bound by the Tears' curse, and that they served only that they might be kept supplied. Daerion would never permit a true brother to partake though, nor did those who were bound by the Tears' curse permitted to rise in the ranks. He said it was 'devotion for the weak,' and that 'the strong should not need the Tears to fuel their faith."
""Iluna, do you think that staying here is a good idea or does this display last for a long time? We want to hopefully follow them back to their base but we might miss out on our chance to cross at low tide. That seems more important than follow them. Well at least we found them." "They are recruiting," Iluna says, listening to Daerion's voice. His voice is powerful but not loud. Commanding. His charismatic personality made him a natural leader, and his cunnign gave him the ambition to see that happen. "The Dark Brothers travel to spread their ideologies. The more followers they gain, the more power and freedom they have to operate openly. Crowds gather all the time when there is something to be seen and heard, Daerion knows this. He will likely have some sort of demonstration in mind, something to give the people a reason to believe in their power..." Iluna tries to think of what their true intention might be. They already have 3 of the shards... Who knows what Daerion might try, and with this crowd in such a large city. I have a bad feeling about this... "The lighthouse!" she says, "I know the lighthouse was a sign of the city, but if all we were meant to do was find the Brothers, any other sign would have sufficed. They must be planning something to do with the lighthouse."
Iluna notices the Dark Brother as he passes, headed in the direction of Old Cassomir. She tries to follow his path as long as she can, watching for any deviation is his path, but not approaching.
When she is sure he is out of earshot she lets the others know what she saw.
As the party journeys towards Cassomir, Iluna recalls what she can of the Dark Brothers' last visit to the city. She was still young, but those memories she has of the city were impressionable, and unsavoury. First, she recounts the trade the brothers had with the more unscrupulous merchants who gathered at the Dog's Teeth, a collection of jagged rock towers jutting up from the sea just offshore from the peninsula where Castle Greyguard stands. At low tide the sandy sea floor is exposed, allowing black market dealers from nearby to gather and trade their wares away from prying eyes. She remembers accompanying several of the brothers as they bartered with these dealers. Second, she remembers the warren of tunnels, collapsed docks, and sinking foundations known locally as 'the Locker.' While barely above the safety or comfort of the sewer, great portions of this network of flooded passages and buried storerooms have long been unmapped, and as such provide a refuge for those who do not wish their presence to be made known. The Dark Brothers were one such group on their last stop. Iluna remembers their being an old myth about undiscovered passages in the warrens the lead to a Darklands city further below. Such tales were told by old women to frighten children into behaving, or Svirfneblin would come and carry them off in the night, down into the darkness, lost forever. Iluna hated those stories. Iluna shares these things with her companions as they travel.
"In my dream I saw a tower, the top of which blazed as if with fire. I think I have seen a place like this before near the city of Cassomir. I also saw nightguants in my vision, but I'm not sure if the two are related." She pauses, thinking, then adds "Cassomir is to the west of here, yet you said in your dream you saw the nightguants flying north. Perhaps they are unrelated then. Though if they came from the north, then they may have come from deep in the forest, and if our misgivings are correct, then there may be more from whence they came."
Iluna awakens, bleary-eyed and groggy. Having slept in her clothes she smooths out the crinkles in her dress and runs her hand through the straw-like mop of her hair. Another dream, this one the same as those before, but different. She recalls the nightguants and their marked appearance in her dream at the end. The same three images again, but the boy the age of a young child, and the masked man... he stood atop some sort of tower?
"Friends, as much as we would all like to sleep now we must stay awake till morning breaks. We need to make sure that these people are safe then we can worry about our selves. Sleep once the morning comes and then ride back to the Baron." Iluna yawns in protest. "But we are so tired..." she says as she stretches, "we don't all have to stay awake do we?"
Iluna takes a few tentative steps up the road recalling the floating lights to herself. Her spine tingles in anticipation readying her to defend herself.
Iluna directs her floating lights forward towards the source of the noises.
Iluna conjures a group of floating orbs of light. They float in slow revolutions around her.
Iluna waits as the sky gradually turns from blue to black. As it does, she experiences a strange new emotion: a mix of peace, born of her familiarity with the stars, and a creeping sense of dread that lurks in the shadows of her mind, growing in strength as the darkness deepens. She looks around at the villagers' vacant houses. "The houses are dark," she says stating the obvious, as a way of introducing her forthcoming thought. "They look empty, and the town is dark with their absence. Whatever creature has beset upon this village, it clearly dwells in darkness, for it only attacks at night. Therefore, shouldn't we light torches? If the houses do not look dark, they may be discouraged from coming near."
Dice:
Iluna follows the others outside, wishing she could do more to placate the frightened townsfolk, but understanding that likely nothing more can be done for them than to ensure their safety by removing the immediate threat. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Realization dawns on Iluna, but she continues playing her harp. Have I seen these things that haunt the dreams of mortals, these shadows of the mind? Surely I have seen the image of a nightmare with wings as black as death, but only in a dream. I do not think this knowledge will help now... But if this creature - or creatures - can hold a physical shape, then perhaps the nightmare can be slain...
Seeing the people's responses to this he looks to Iluna. "could you play a happy song or something, they don't seem to be understanding what I said." "Oh, um, I could try something..." Iluna takes the harp from her cord and begins to strum a soothing tune, hoping to ease the peasants' distress.
Iluna takes whatever opportunity is most suitable to mention that she already has a pony
Iluna's struggle with Casimir's mind comes to an abrupt end as he loses consciousness and gives in to sleep. With tremendous sigh, she falls to her knees, at the same time the now transfigured body of Casimir slumps over in the dirt.
Thoughts:
luna flinches, imperceptibly, as Andaris strikes the beast feeling his resting mind go dark - like a spark in the night snuffed out. She makes no movements nor noises as Andaris, first binds the beast, and then slings it over his shoulder. It occurs to her that Andaris must be impressivly strong to do so, but the thought barely registers. Her own mind too feels blank, as if it were tied to Casimir's. She had forgotten what it felt like to forcibly invade the mind of another and to take control of their thoughts and consciousness. But to have done so with an aggressive mind... it was both alarming and exhilarating, and thoroughly, emotionally exhausting.
Why did he have to attack? she thinks, not only of Casimir, but of Andaris, and then of herself. There could have been a peaceful solution, if only we had more time, or had tried harder to come to an understanding. Casimir would not have attacked if he had not felt threatened. Andaris would not have had to attack if he hand't felt the need to protect me, and all of it could have been avoided if instead of approaching Casimir, I had simply turned the other way. At the back of her mind it occurs to her to marvel that Gonan did not use force, when she knew he was well capable of it. He could have opened with a salvo of incendiary spells, yet he chose restraint. She tries to remember to thank him for that later, but expects she will forget. The emotions of loss and regret that are foremost in her mind are doing their best to blot out all else.
"Iluna, I would minimize your involvement with these cultists, I assume worship of Razmir is not favoured in this province. You are certain you have renounced your own ties to this god and his followers?" Andaris has a sharp edge to his voice, as if actually angry at Iluna for even temporarily (and without choice) belonging to an evil cult. Tears begin to run down Iluna's face, and she chokes out one quiet sob, then another. She struggles for a while, trying to form words. Why? Why me? What do they still want with me? Would it have been better if I had never left?... Her heart speaks that she already knows the answer to the last: no. "I haven't-" she sniffles, "I don't- I don't know that I ever did believe in the practices of the cult, that there could be an earthly power that could rival the heavens. I know there were others- *sniff* -others in the camp that didn't, that there were others who simply followed because they needed to follow something." She looks up pleadingly at Andaris, trying to make him understand without having the words to say exactly what the Brothers were to her. "When I ran away, I thought they were going to come after me. I thought I'd be running for the rest of my life, or until they finally caught me. And part of me wanted to go back, because they were my family, but I knew that I couldn't. When I ran into the forest, I was looking for a place to hide. I thought, 'maybe I would never be able to leave that place' for fear of them finding me. But instead, I was found by someone else. And he showed me that I didn't have to be afraid. That someone, or something more powerful than a power-hungry dissident cultist was guiding me, and that I could be in control of my own destiny." She shakes her head, "you don't understand. Can you say of a man that he is evil because he strikes his child? Or that a wolf is evil because it must eat meat? Some of them may go beyond their original intent, but I do not believe that all the brothers are evil. Neither do I believe that their goal itself is inherently evil. They seek what they believe will give them salvation. They seek the security they believe they can gain from power. What the Shards are to the brothers is more than just a collection of artifacts: they are hope. Without hope, all we have is despair, and in despair we fall to ruin. I cannot condemn a man who forsakes all else to cling to hope," she looks sorrofully at the limp form of the cat slung over Andaris' shoulder, "even if he is misguided."
"What are you doing?!" Iluna gasps in horror. Iluna does not understand why her allies are taking hostile actions against a man who has done them no harm. Seeing her allies jump to hostile engagement, Iluna wishes fervently for this madness to end. Seeing as she cannot hope to control her allies, she instead focuses her power on the mind of Casimir, reaching out, trying to touch his familiar thoughts.
Assuming Casimir takes hostile action on his turn: Seeing Casimir retaliate, Iluna grasps at his mind and wills it to fall passively detached from his body. . Casimir takes -4 on his save if he failed vs Lullaby.
”Hello, Iluna. I’m alone, and haven’t told Daerion about you yet.” "Thank you, Casimir. It means a lot to me."
"What do you mean?" she asks, knowing his hidden meaning, but not catching its intent. "Has the 'call of shadows' truly been felt here?" Casimir says that the attack on the tournament was a distraction to lure the wizard out - they stole a Shard of Darkness from Baron Wylder’s court wizard’s study. Casimir gives a wink, saying that this one makes their third. When asked about the Dark Brothers’ future plans, Casimir says that they are heading to the city of Cassomir. He’s not sure why, but it’s Daerion’s plan. Iluna takes this all in, the understanding settling upon her. But the clarity brings a troubling, nagging feeling, as if something is misplaced. Three shards? Daerion had but one when last I departed. Casimir speaks true, that unless it was by some happenstance that they crossed paths with the second, they have not been in pursuit of Dzarra or mysef for some time now. Perhaps I misjudged Daerion: his lust for power has outweighed his need for to assert control. I sense it will bring doom upon him, but I will have no further part of it. I wonder just how many Shards there are, and if anyone has ever stopped to ponder how many there might be... ”Now, will you come back with us? At least tell me why you don’t want me telling Daerion about finding you.” "No, Casimir, I cannot go back." Iluna's voice is tinged with regret, yet firm. "My path is my own. Would that I could call you family still, but in truth I have never had one. Just as I wandered into the lives of the brothers, so too have I now wandered into a new life and calling, and perhaps a new family." "If I were to go back, it would be to subject myself to Daerion's authority once more. Perhaps you did not know, and if so, I pray a blessing on your innocence, but know that Daerion used me and controlled me. Just as much as he showed me how to use my gifts, he made me misuse them for reasons I can no longer justify. More than that I cannot say, but when I left, I fled in fear that he would pursue me. If you are still my friend, let my presence remain a mystery. Even now I do not think that I could face him, whether for fear or shame." Iluna awaits Casimir's assent. Just before he is about to leave she asks "Casimir... what of the Shards do the Brothers know? Have any deciphered what their true purpose might be?" "I don't know why, but I have a feeling of premonition, that some desolate end awaits the one who gathers all the shards..." She looks down at her feet, then back up at the hooded man. "Casimir... be careful."
Iluna explains the situation to Gonan as best she can and asks whether he will agree to accompany her and Andaris when they meet with Casimir later that evening.
Andaris: Iluna smiles, but shakes her head, "No, I don't think that will be necessary. I want to meet with Casimir alone, so that none of the other brothers know my whereabouts. Casimir is not a member of the inner circle, and he is a friend. I do not suspect treachery from him. But his heart is with the brothers, and he will think that bringing me back into the fold is best both for them and for me. If he tries to bring me back by force, I may not be able to resist him alone. He does not understand why I had to leave, and I do not intend to reveal why. But he serves the brothers as a courier and scout of sorts, so he may know what plans they have for visiting the city. That is what I want to know, and also where the other brothers are, and how many are with him."
She pauses. "Perhaps we should also bring Gonan. His knowledge of the arcane is impressive for one so young."
Iluna appears next to Andaris, her face betraying the fact that she has overheard every word exchanged between the three men. "Thank you," she says. "I suppose the others don't trust me if they saw me help one of the cultists escape. And Kai'dan isn't wrong, he's only acting on the evidence he has. But it's for that reason I can't turn anyone in just yet. I need to know what the Dark Brothers are up to." "So what will you do? Will you turn me in? Or will you help me uncover the truth behind this mystery?"
Iluna looks aghast as Kai'dan comes up to her bellowing accusations. She instantly turns invisible.
"I like not these men with whom you have been dealing, Iluna. That was a charm enchantment, yes? Your skill does you a great service, I would not relish starting a brawl in these crowds. Do you observe any others like him still remaining around the arena? It is in the interests of all here that this embarrassment to the knights is soundly ended." Iluna shakes her head, indicating she has not seen anyone else she recognizes. With Casimir gone her face becomes a frown of concern. As the crowds turn to leave, Iluna replies in an equally hushed voice, "My heart is troubled by their presence, but not all men of ill repute are truly evil at heart. And whether I own it or not, the brothers are, or were, my family. Casimir was always kind to me. I see no reason why I should refuse him kindness in return." Iluna pauses thoughtfully. "That said, I am curious to know what they are up to. It is no random coincidence that the Brothers would show up just to disrupt a simple tournament. They are playing at a larger game, the goal of which I can only guess for now. I need to speak with Casimir tonight. I need to know what they are up to. But I wouldn't dream of going alone. We should consult the others, but pray, help me bring this news to them carefully. As much as I have no love for the Dark Brothers, I would not want to see any of them wrongly accused or harmed." Iluna looks searchingly at Andaris, waiting for his reply.
GM+Andaris:
A lump rises in Iluna's throat. I can't go back. If Daerion is looking for me, then he'll be looking for Dzarra as well. Channeling her anxiety, Iluna begins concentrating forcefully on her words. "I'm sorry, Casimir, but I can't go back. Daerion needs to believe I am lost to him. Do not tell him I am here, but if you are truly concerned, meet me behind the stables tonight." Hearing Kai'dan approaching Iluna quickly urges Casimir, "Go! I will stall the squire." She then turns to meet Kai'dan and cover Casimir's escape. Iluna steps out of the crowd. "Kai'dan!" she exclaims, "I'm alright. I think I saw someone over there- she points across the field -cast a spell..." Mihail's cry cuts her off as she sees the knight charge into the path of one of the opposing knights, who seems keen on assaulting Baron Wylder. "They must be trying to sabotage the tournament!" GM:
She sees him cast a spell and suddenly the grass in the arena erupts, shooting up tendrils to grasp at the legs of horse and man alike. She cautiously edges her way towards the man who continues casting, causing further disarray. Once she is behind him she reaches a hand up to the taller man's shoulder, and in a timid voice she says, "Casimir?"
When she awakes in the morning, Iluna finds Gonan and drags him to the lists where they stand among the crowd eagerly watching the days jousts. She cheers when Mihail valiantly braves the blows of Earl Mercucius, and again when he appears for his match against Baron Issling.
As Iluna listens to Kaid'an's story, a bubble of laughter grows in her chest. It bursts just before he finishes and she can't help but let out a little giggle. Kaid'an's so funny when he's honest. I wonder if that's why Mihail picked him to be his squire? "Your friends are lucky to have someone like you watching out for them," Iluna says sincerely, "even if they don't recognize it at the time." "Thank you for the water, and for talking with me. I really appreciate it. We should probably go check on the others," she says with a wink.
Iluna looks up as Kai'dan approaches. Unaware that someone had followed her from the tent she tenses momentarily, but visibly relaxes when she sees it is a familiar face. "Thank you," she says, taking the cup of water, "I'm alright, though I may have got a little carried away back there. Did something happen? Did I... do anything?"
"how are you taking this contest? Enjoying your cider?" Contest? Realization dawns upon Iluna. I guess that explains why everyone is hoarding their mugs... "This is a contest? A game? To see who can drink the most?" Iluna looks into her empty mug, the warmth of the cider already making her head fuzzy. It looks like this will be one contest I won't win. But I should give it my best effort. I've never been in a drinking contest before... With new gusto Iluna signals the servers to bring her a fresh mug. A frothy tankard of ale is given to her and she begins to pound it back. "Mmm! This isn't so bad!" she exclaims, casting a charming smile and a carefree gesture at the server who begins smiling affectionately in a way that just moments prior he hadn't' been. She watches the piles of tankards grow around the elbows of Gonan, Andaris, and Mihail. She listens to the happy sound of reveling voices. Without so much as thinking, small orbs of light, varying in colour, float up out of nothing into the air around her, twinkling slowly. I want to remember the way this looks. The way this feels. The people here are... happy. A short, stocky server passes her a stout, and she finishes the cup in a flash, not even bothering to mask its potent taste with magic. Indeed the taste only registers with her a minute later, and she makes a mental note not to have that one again. Though now the rest of the people at the table are smiling at her... "Well I am glad I can remember that. Oh, dear wizard, good try I guess. Be careful of this one Iluna. This coward uses magic to cheat at a drinking game. I will confront him tomorrow about it." Iluna notices Gonan doing something with his hands, and assumes he is casting a spell, though the fuzziness in her head makes it impossible for her to concentrate and she can't tell what spell he used. Though a moment later a clatter of cups and a startled shout suggests to her that he might be moving something. She shrugs and doesn't comment. Secretly she is actually somewhat impressed. "Actually, I have a question for you Iluna. Have you ever been drunk before? Being raised by a cult could either mean lots of drinks or very little." Iluna thinks for a moment, emphasizing the physical motions by tapping her chin with her finger. "Well, we would have wines on special occasions... Ciders during festivities... Ha, ha! Why are you looking at me funny?" She smiles enthusiastically at Kai'dan and moves to give him a hug. Another server brings her a tankard of mead, and she sucks on the foamy top. "Mmm, I do believe that was mostly brother Casimir's fault. The mead anyways. He had a thing for it." she says between swigs, as if the cup and her arm are on an automatic cycle, and not under her control. "he had a thing for honey. And Brevoy. Not sure why..." She finishes the mug and sets it down, feeling quite a bit warmer than when she walked in from outside. She feels the mirth of the festivities flowing through her like molasses. She savors the feeling. "Mmm. That tasted just like the mead brother Casimir would bring up from Brevoy-" She stops herself, shaking her head, a trickle of cold sweat running down her neck. There's something- stuck- something- I feel... wrong... "I feel... thick-headed," she says to Gonan and Kai'dan. "I need some air." With that she gets up, excusing herself, and leaves the tent.
Virtual Box of Dice Shaming:
Iluna's thoughts: Outside Iluna moves away from the refreshment tent and sits down on a stool. She buries her face in her hands and lets out a frustrated groan. What was that? Why is this happening to me? The memory that came to Iluna last was the taste of brother Casimir's own private stock of mead. Iluna had watched Casimir share a mug with Owin once. It had been very late at night when this happened. None of the other brothers were awake. Owin and Casimir had been on watch together, and Iluna hadn't been able to sleep. Hearing voices, she had peeked out from her tent to watch as Casimir uncovered a cart laden with barrels. Neither of them had seen her. She had watched as Casimir poured the cup and handed it to Owin, and then as Owin drank she remembered tasting the mead, as if her own tongue had been in Owin's mouth. She had been very young, and she did not know how to control her powers. She had never told anyone about the experience, not even Dærion. Which is why she had never told anyone that she actually liked the taste of mead. Something about the experience had felt violating to her. She had never been able to look Owin in the eye again after that, and kept an unspoken distance from the cart where she knew Casimir kept his specially imported barrels.
Iluna holds tightly to Gonan's hand, and ducking to avoid swinging elbows and staggering bodies, follows him to a table where they find Mihail already seated, with a slowly growing collection of mugs in front of him. As the crowd hustles and bustles about her, she feels her vision narrow and her consciousness retreat somewhere deeper within herself. She takes a seat next to Gonan, two seats from Mihail, the latter of which salutes the former with a sloppy gesture of manly greeting. She only half notices that he said "Gordan" instead of Gonan. *Slam* The banging of a mug on the table before her snaps her focus back into place, her startled gaze fixating on the grinning, round face of the portly server in front of her. "Where'd that fellow find a prize like you, lassy? You think you can hold yer cups a'right little lady?" He guffaws, holding his gut.
"Um," Iluna timidly raises her hand, "I don't suppose you would have a cider I could try?" The round faced man peers at her through squinting eyes for a moment, then grins wildly and his eyes take on a knowing, mischievous twinkle. He straightens up. "HANK!" he bellows to someone over in the next row of benches, who removes himself from a couple revelers, "you still running that god-awful apple-piss from Barthow's?" The other man shouts back something that is almost indiscernible over the noise, and the portly one says, "bring me one o' them mugs this way! Little girly says she wants a cider!" The portly server passes the mug down the table to the next fellow, giving her a parting wink. Iluna, too confused to have really followed the transaction sees that Gonan has downed two mugs, and is already onto his third, when a mug of cider is hastily set down in front of her, spilling some of its contents over the brim. The foamy red-brown liquid clings to the side of the cup like sap to a tree. She doesn't get a chance to see who the server was, but assumes it was the one the fat man called "Hank." She sniffs the liquid. It smells like apples that have sat too long in the sun, which she surmises is probably exactly what the brew consists of. She takes a sip. It is not as revolting as the fat man indicated, but only just. It tastes rotten, and weak at that. She swirls her finger in it, conjuring up the memory of ciders shared with Farlan, wishing she had thought of using magic to alter the taste sooner. She takes another sip. The flood of memory associated with the new taste is more satisfying than any beverage could be, and she drains the cup to the dregs.
Anna beetles her brow, focused on her writing again. "It seems like you don't yet have full conscious control over your magic... or perhaps you are filled with such power that it slips out in stressful situations..." Iluna considers what Anna says with some concern. Though they are only recently acquainted, Anna has with only passing observation come to the same conclusion she herself has faced for several years. Anna is right. I have never been able to properly control my gift. Power like this is... exhilarating, but also dangerous. It is confusing. On one hand, I've never managed to turn myself invisible before, and the discovery is exciting, but on the other, I may have used that power for selfish reasons... Iluna looks over at Gonan, who has turned his attention to the witch, and is momentarily grateful his attention is elsewhere. She bids Anna a curt farewell and excuses herself, following Gonan. ... Later that evening as the two of them pass by the refreshment tent, the sounds of excited banter and shuffling of furniture snare Iluna' attention. "What is going on over in the pavilion?" she asks Gonan, tugging on his sleeve. "Shall we go and take a look?"
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