"Aye. It will be done."
Search Posts
"Sorry I punched you."
"Sorry. the dwarf mutters.
As Benaiah presses forward, his towering form creates a sense of slight panic in the ranks of the stonecrafters. Artisans they are, but their well sculpted arms now hold weapons meant to craft in threatening, violent positions anathema to their purpose. Then come the eloquent words spoken first by Malgrim, then Gwen. The dust covered laborers' eyes turn to Balastar et Mindurian. Some even go so far as to nod their head in agreement before uttering. "Sounds great little lady. Some barrel aged stout sounds perfect right now." and "Take your head out of your ass Balastar. Seem like a good lot to me." The entire time Balastar et Mindurian turns shade after shade of red before purple splotches can be seen above his meticulous beard. "" he roars. Then he looks down, and barely utters his next command in an ineligible tone. "The time for talking has ended. Please. Leave now." he turns to walk back behind the counter, fists still balled up. "So about that barrel. We still getting it?" comes a unknown voice from behind as Balastar et Mindurian changes course and charges the cluster of laborers yelling for them to get back to work.
"That was your doing. You say that the Mindurian Family, the greatest family in Magnimar has no honor!?" he spits to the side, his arms still shaking violently with anger. "Hobgoblin, chimera bugger, or whatever I care not. But speak ill of the Mindurian Family again and you will find yourself with a larger problem than some Sarentire fountain. Now turn on your heals and if I see you lot in here again, you won't come out alive. Make you enemies?" he laughs to himself, "You already are. And will forever be. Lads if they tarry help them out the door." A score of stone workers clothed in leather work aprons and holding various stone carving implements form up behind Balastar and glare at the Companions.
'Your clan has no honor." "What?!? The ... you ... dog f$$* hobgoblin ... my clan has no honor?!!" Seeing emotion for the first time since entering the Quarriers' Guild that day, Balastar et Mindurian vaults over the counter and swings at Malgrim.
The dwarf lands a solid blow to the hobgoblin's chin, grinning like a madman. The Companions see a flurry of motion behind them as groups of workers disengage and start to run over.
"Golem Battles?" Benaiah can overhear a passing worker question. "Ain't no official Golem Battles until spring. Now you wanna see some fighting, Gladiatorial Battles is where its at. Some fools insist that is a fake, but us wise ones know that these monthly events put on by the city watch are the real thing. Should check it out at Serpent's Run. Only a week away." The worker continues lugging the stone on a makeshift wheeled crane.
"What do you mean by needing to kill them 'spiritually'? They're f*&!ing plants." "Ah boy, don't even know what you did. Pretty girl with big t$#@ comes along and you loose your mind. Can't seem to blame you, that one is quite a looker. "So you are in this far greater that you imagined. Not everything you encounter will you be able to way a sword at, or fling a magic missile. This Dead Calm you entered, it is unnatural. The sailors feel it, but you who are connected to the gods like you are should feel the difference. "Your problem will lie in your allegiances. When you have to choose between your goddess, your friends, and yourself, who will you choose? The fact that you are thinking about it now is worth the price you paid. "Farewell companions, we are not destined to meet again, but the lady of graves is a fickle mistress so who knows?" he ends with a cackle.
"Sit down girl. Fool." Idmon motions for Benaiah to grab her. "You can do nothing right now to help your friends. There are more important concerns in front of you. "You boys really put your dick in the fireant hill on this one. Your Mistress, as is her want, has made many a dangerous friend. Often times playing both sides. "Dangerous game to play with zealots. It is not my secret to share, but the Lady of Graves has shown me that perceived enemies will become allies to defeat friends who shall try and kill you for what you do. "Don't go back to your boat. Head instead to Magnimar. Things will become clearer if you do. "But if you insist at playing the hero," he looks at Arimar, "A parting gift." Idmon walks over to a section of the cavern and manipulates a hidden catch. A section of the wall springs outward with a snap. He draws forth a nondescript brown leather bag tied with a small rope and clasp of a swirl. "When you reach the ship, head straight south. It is the fastest way. This will kill the mats physically, but you still need to kill them spiritually. "Until we are all dead." he hands over the bag and motions for them to leave. Arimar:
"You I will contact soon. Beware your Mistress. She cares nothing for you, only for the profit and the game she plays." Looking in the bag, they fond a Wand of Widen Defoliant with 50 charges.
"I have no doubt that you will return here one day to try and kill me. " he responds to Arimar. "All who live must face her judgement." "As for you stone thrower, bondage is a heavy word. Arimar will find my goddess's burden light. He might not even know it is upon his shoulders." "As to why you came, providence is a word used too frequently, too lightly. But this is quite a collection of powerful individuals, each with their own part to play. Let us begin." Idmon stands up and walks over to a small table along one wall of the cavern. On the sideboard rests a spiral shaped braided bread. "This is the kolash." Idmon rips out a chunk from the center of the bread that the companions can tell is topped with baked cheese. He takes a bite as a rain of crumbs fall to the cavern floor, and holds the bread out to Mistress Lanvi. She graciously takes the bread and delicately takes a small bite, before passing it on. As the Companions each eat and pass, Idmon places a lit candle in the hollowed out center before walking to his small, makeshift book case where the kneels down. Removing a double-edged dagger from his side, he begins to flip the pages of The Bones Land in a Spiral. They can see this ceremonial dagger has a dull-grey blade with a depiction of Pharasma's face and hair along the pommel. He begins to chant while mixing some red colored clay and water in a bowl forming a crude paste. He moves to from one Companion to the other, swirling the clay on their chest in a spiral patter. Coming to Arimar, he instead tries to draw a swirl on the man's forehead rather than his chest. Dropping the bowl to the floor, he picks up the rose and begins to pluck on petal after another and flick them into the fire, chanting the entire time. The Companions can smell the cloying floral stench of rose as if they were in the midst of Abrogail's famous Rose Gardens it is so powerful. Once the rose has been consumed, he reaches into a pouch and pulls out a handful of knuckle bones with unique colored spirals on them. He shakes them by his ear and tosses them onto the cavern floor. Opening his eyes, he looks at the knuckles and lets out an tormented cry of pain. "[bigger]NOOOOOOOOO! IT CANNOT BE! NOT THIS YEAR, NOT YET!" Weeping heavily, Idmon takes a moment to gather himself. "So be it. This is what my lady says. "The enemy of my enemy is the friend of my friend,
At these words, Misress Lanvi's face goes ashen.
Idmon the oracle squints towards Arimar. "Slave. For what? I have nothing, want nothing, and need nothing. I would never subject someone to that depravity. "But you are known to my goddess. She knows of you and about you. By serving me, you would be serving her. That chaffs, does it not? That angers, does it not? There is no love lost between you and her. Yet look at what you have done with your life. Look at what you have accomplished. No truer statement shall I utter, she wants your services back. "Terms if you wish, it begins today, after I have performed the ritual. Once I am done, you are free to go ... whereever. I shall contact you at times that are prudent, and let you know the direction my goddess wishes you take. You are to, in good faith, honor her wishes. "After a year and a day, you are to return here. Hopefully ready to come back to the fold. Think on it if you wish." There is a sadness in his eyes as he unfolds the terms for his service. "Hellknight whelp. This is a rose. No more. No less. Food I care little for. Money I do not have. Riches I do not want. But this." he turns the rose over in his hands, "This I cannot get and is much revered by my goddess. It shall empower me to do her bidding in this life." Turning to Malgrim, "Such selflessness in such an otherwise selfish race, or so they say. Stone thrower, you are a good and decent man. My goddess wishes you good fortune until you meet, but she has desires for another." "And Keoki, you are as foolish as you are grotesque. This is not Coincidence at all." he ends with an odd cackle.
"Ah excellent. Perfect. Perfect. But I want a bit more. This one." he points a swollen knuckled finger at Arimar. "A year and a day of service from this one."
"You all will hear every list word, or none at all. The Price."
"Oh my, she is a pretty one. Haven't seen a woman much less one so pretty in years. Don't mind if I do." Idmon reaches his hand down his pants and pulls out his manhood. A few quick strokes and he ejaculates in a small puddle. He sits down and exhales loudly. "Best sex I've ever had." he loudly declares. "Now about the price."
Idmon gives Benaiah a condescending look. "Don't you listen dumbass? The Lady of Graves chooses to speak through me from time to time. This is called prophecy. You good sir are asking me questions. I am an oracle, a vessel for which my goddess speaks through me. I am not omniscient. "I knew you were a Hellknight whelp from your bearing and accent. You strode into this room as if it was your bedchamber and I was one of your man-boy servants here to feed you grapes and wash your balls. "And as for the missing fourth, I could hear you shouting from the next room over. No, I am not a god, just have my eyes open. "And see how the hobloglin trails his hands along the cavern walls, disturbing my holy swirls? You can feel him try to draw forth energy from the rocks. "But you my aasimar friend. You are a tough nut to crack. You claim to be something you are not to hide what you where but want to become. You wrap yourself in petulant fits of indignation to cover your true feelings. You will walk a storied path. "But as I said, I am no god, nor flabby breasted mother for you to rest your sobbing head upon as you spill your inner most thoughts. "So if you pay the price, I will perform the ritual, and the goddess will speak through me. What she will say, how she will say it, what questions will be answered, that is not up to me. "Who has the price?"
Slowly her breathing resumes to normal, ”Malgrim, the only other information that I can share is that Idmon asks for a gift for services provided. Should you wish to converse with him, you might want to bring something.” "I would prefer if it my Handmaiden and I stayed with the shallop while you search the caverns for the Sage Idmon. Once you find his whereabouts you can return for us. "
Idmon looks at Malgrim. "Interested in prophesy you say. Odd for one so grounded as you. The earth shifts over thousands and thousands of years. Small cracks widen, tall mountains wither, rivers slowly etch away their banks. But every now and again, every once in a while, Something big happens. The earth is moved in a profound way. "What will it take for you to move in this way Malgrim?" Idmon looks at the companions soberly. "The Lady of Graves has seen fit to allow me to see bits and pieces of the future. You call this prophecy. It is a a terrible gift. Once you hear it you can never unhear it. Once you know it you will forever let it cloud your choices to either make it happen or avoid it all together. Is this what you want? To be burdened with the what ifs and what could bes? "If I cannot dissuade you from this course of action, then you must meet the price."
"Oh look here Keoki. The brave one ... no that is not right." he pauses to scratch his head dislodging a few errant lice. "No not brave like 'I will jump in front of that arrow to save a friend brave.' More like 'abuse some street harlot brave.' All words and bluster. You need to speak in a more respectful tone, boy, or I will shove my boarding gaffe up your ass sideways." Idmon stands and moves over to Arimar. Standing uncomfortably close to the Aasimar, quick as a serpent Idmon's hand shoots forth and grips Arimar tightly around the wrist. Idmon's thumb is resting over the makeup that hides his tattoo. He starts to slowly rub his thumb back and forth, smearing, but not wiping the make-up away. "Think I am smart do you? Going to sit down and listen to my advice like good school boys and girls?" he glances at Benaiah when he says 'girls'. "You want prophecy or my educated guess mister big shot leader? Feel free to share in Keoki's feast while you mull it over. I hear his meat is mouth watering."
Turning to look at the large Chelaxian, "Questions? Too many questions. I never answer questions as the answers deserve, no require more questions. Then we are talking and that is never fun for anyone. "Wait, I am getting something. From beyond. Your daddy. He is ... saying something. Come here quick. Closer. Bend down here so I can tell you." As the enlarged man tries to unceremoniously squat down next to the oracle, Idmon flicks out and strikes Benaiah in the under-protected region under the codpiece. Smiling as he slaps the man's sensitive parts, he begins to guffaw loudly. "Haha hohoho. He says you are weak and worthless. Haha! That is what all good Hellknight dads say. What a bunch of asshats." he tells to Keoki.
"I am Idmom, man who throws stones. If you learn from the past then there is no need to seek the future for the future is really just the past yet to happen as all things are that have been and are going to be." the bearded oracle spews toward the hobgoblin. "If you are hungry you should eat the meat. Though food is life, one must die so others can live. Who died so you may live Keoki?"
The scraggly man turns to the companions, ”Here. They are here Keoki. As I said they would be. Yet they are not ALL here. There is a missing companion. Problems with no solutions, and enigmas with riddles for answers. Yet the way is true and outcome is etched in stone swirls. Cannot be changed the future by looking into the past.” He smiles. ”Hungry? Keoki is.” and with that the man doubles over in laughter.
The Colonel walks up and begins in a teary voice. "That was the dumbest brave thing I have seen. You truly think with that sack swinging between your legs. Crazy stupid, but brave. I would fight any battle in the nine hells with you men at my back!"
The Colonel nods at Benaiah, "The more you roam around Golarion, the more oddness you find. I know that you boys have been a god send as far as I am concerned and I am glad to have you aboard. Win or lose, at least we won't go down without a fight. "Nelenquessir, next time anyone approaches us unseen by your thrice cursed eyes, I am cutting you up for fish bait! "What in the nine hells are you all standing around for? Back to work!" The crew suddenly springs into motion scurrying about the ship.
Seeing the hobgoblin's impressive display, the Colonel whistles. "I have no idea what you just did or how you do it, but you are welcome on any ship I step onto. Position yourself wherever feels comfortable. holy s&*#" he mutters as he moves off to check on the weapon retrieval.
The Colonel turns towards Arimar, "Whatever help you want to provide would be much appreciated. So about the defense of the boat. How do you all want to work it?"
The Colonel looks over at Malgrim, Arimar, and Caerador, then back at the hulking mass that is Benaiah, then back to the user of the strange magic. He appears a bit crestfallen. "Erm .. well have fun with those lumbering idiots." Turning to the remaining companions, "So, know which end of a pike to use? Or you all have a different plan?"
The Colonel approaches the group, "So what's your plan?" |