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I'll certainly be sorry to say goodbye to Theodric, Shenuska, Rudrik, Calendula, and of course Nime. Although I have a feeling that the blue-skinned woman hasn't made her last appearance in stories/scenes yet. As with Zhi, she's just too much fun to write for. Even so, this story has reached it's conclusion and I'll miss RPing with you all.
Little did she know, but during Calendula's last moments as she stood as rear-guard for a group of fleeing refugees against a hoard of ravening undead, she was being watched. You know you can't interfere, Precious One. This is her chosen destiny. This is how she would like to be remembered - as one who would lay down her life for others. An oathkeeper. I understand, Mistress. I just wish I had told her. I always thought that there would be time. We always do. As the ravaging masses moved on, following the escaping living, Nime appeared and approached the gasping woman. She knelt down beside her, careful of the wounds that would quickly claim her and drew her head into her lap. "Rest, my love," Nime said softly with tears in her eyes as the scarred woman looked up at her in confusion. "Your oath is kept. You can be at peace now. Go forth and claim your reward." She leaned down to place one final kiss on the bloodied forehead.
Epilogue Fluff: Nime sat on the dock and watched as Darius make his final preparations to take his boat out. His was the last to leave this morning, but only because he'd had some tangles in one of his nets. She'd offered to help him with them, but he had shook his head and with a knowing smile, declined.
"Coming out with us, Lass?" he asked. She was used to be treated as a young girl in spite of having at least three decades on the sea-toughened, middle-aged man. "No. Thank you for the offer, though. I've been told that I'm to wait here to meet a friend," she replied. The man, familiar with the undine's ways, grinned. "I'm a friend. P'haps it's me that you're t' be waitin' for." "You are a friend, Darius," Nime answered with a laugh. "Unfortunately your wife wouldn't care for me joining your crew today." "I wouldn't tell her," Darius replied with a wink. Their banter was that of old friends and Nime knew that the man loved his wife and would never even think of actually doing anything untoward. "Good fishing, Darius." In another ten minutes, Nime watched Darius' boat move out past the rocky barriers that formed the natural protection of the small bay of Roderic's Cove. She continued to sit on the weathered wood as the eastern sky lightened heralding the arrival of the dawn. She wasn't sure who she was to meet, but the Maiden's voice on the wind last night was unusually clear. 'Wait on the pier for an old friend.' She could have meant Darius, but that didn't feel ... "Hello, Nime." Nime's skin tingled at the words. She wasn't surprised at all that the speaker had approached from behind her on the rickety dock without her noticing. It was a voice she knew. She had known it from her earliest memories as a child, standing on the cliff tops above Magnimar. But the voice, ever-present in her life, had always been carried heavy on the wind or light on the summer breeze. Even in whispers of the stuffy air moving through a tavern. It had never been so ... present. "May I sit?" It was then that she felt the boards beneath her shift with the weight of the speaker, even as delicate as the speaker was. She felt them lower themselves to sit on the end of the wooden dock next to Nime, but the undine couldn't bring herself to look. Tipping her head down towards the water, she could just barely make out the figure in the reflection in the dawn's light. To her surprise, it was slightly shorter than her. Unsure as to what to say and what to do with her hands, for the first time in a long time, Nime missed the presence of her glaive, or even her old spear. Just to have something to hold. Something to keep her hands from nervously wringing. "I'm sorry," she blurted out. "Sorry for what?" "I should have that glaive or ... or at least ... something." Nime laced her fingers together to stop their nervous motion. "Whatever for?" "Because I'm supposed to, aren't I? That priest in Magnimar said that a proper ..." Delicate fingers touched the soft skin under her chin and gently lifted it to turn and look at who sat next to her. Beauty incomparable was all Nime could think of. Fairer than she could ever imagine. And blurry. Reaching up, she wiped at the tears spilling from her eyes. "My Mistress," she managed through the sobs that had begun to shake her. The woman draw her into her arms, one hand stroking her hair. "Oh, my Precious One, why the tears?" "Because you're actually here and ... and that means ... means that it's my time of judgement. I have to leave," Nime sputtered out as she cried. The woman leaned back so Nime could look at her face to face. "Now you know better than that," she said with a smile. "It's not my place to come collect people for judgement. You all do that quite well on your own and the Gray Lady is more than capable of dealing with you then." Nime sniffed and wiped at the tears on her cheeks. "So I don't have to leave yet?" The woman shook her head. The undine slumped with obvious relief. "Thank you so much. I was supposed to have lunch with Calendula later today and I really wouldn't want to miss that." Finally accepting the idea that her doom isn't at hand, Nime looked around and then back at the incarnation of beauty sitting next to her. "So, uh, why are you here? Did I do something wrong?" Nime rolled her shoulders and looked away. "Well, I know I've done things wrong. I just didn't realize that it was bad enough that ..." Soft fingers touched her lips, stilling her words. "I'm not here because of any mistakes you've made," the woman said. "I'm here because I'd would like to ask something of you." "Anything, my Mistress," Nime declared, leaning back from the silencing fingers. "Just name it and I'll ..." The fingers descended again. The figure turned toward the sea and in the air over the water a figure appeared, glowing with heavenly light in the growing dawn. The figure bore the semblance of a splendorous knight with an aura of beauty and love. "The Spirit of Adoration," Nime whispered to herself. "They have been my herald since before I took on the mantle of love when my mother passed," the woman said with affection. "But I feel that love itself warrants a herald in and of itself." Nime's eyes brightened with understanding. "You would like me to help you find someone that can fill the role of your herald of love?" she gushed out, her excitement clear. "I know so many beings that would fill that place, Mistress. So many people just overflowing with love." Nime began touching her fingers as if counting off. "There was a woman in Korvosa that took in every child she found even if ..." The woman slowly shook her head. "Well there was this dwarf in Magnimar that sold everything he had to buy this falling down warehouse and turned it into a place that people could sleep even if they didn't have ..." The woman continued to shake her head. "Well, I'm sure I can find someone," Nime finished with a shrug of her shoulders. "There are so many people out there with love in their hearts." "There are," the woman said with a nod. "But I don't need you to help me find who I'm looking for. I've already found her." "Oh. Then what would you like from me?" The woman continued to look at her in silence with nothing but a soft smile on her face. Nime's eyes widened and she slowly shook her head. "Yes, Nime. I would like for you to be my Herald of Love here on Golarion." "But I ... I'm not ... I haven't ... I don't even have my glaive anymore." The woman laughed and with a wave of her hand the glowing, knightly figure faded away. "My Precious One," the woman said, reaching out to cup Nime's face in her hand. "You are everything that I would want as my representative of love. I understand that you're not perfect, but there is no one else more qualified in my view." She gave a look of mock sternness. "And I am the ultimate authority on the subject." The stern look vanished and a smile returned. "This is your decision, though. I won't ask you to do this if it's not what you desire as well." Nime looked out to the sea and closed her eyes. "But my friends. And ... and Calendula." "This isn't something that's going to happen overnight," the woman said softly, reaching out to take Nime's hand in hers. "There are still things for you to learn. And the gods work on a scale that's much grander than mortals consider. You'll still have plenty of time to enjoy your friends lives. And Calendula." "Would I live long enough, though? I live longer that the short-lived ones do, but ..." "If you take the responsibility of herald, then you will remain as you are, physically, for as long as you or I wish." Nime sat for a while considering. She sat long enough for the sun to peak over the eastern horizon and light up the docks and the surrounding area. Movement out of the corner of her eye caught the undine's attention. Looking up, she saw a butterfly, its wings so deep blue as to almost be purple. "Aren't you far from home," Nime said in wonder, holding up a hand slowly towards it. To her surprise, it hovered down and came to rest on her finger. "Yes, she's the one," the woman said with an affectionate smile. "She is?" Nime said, turning towards her companion. "And how do you know it's a she?" The woman laughed softly. "Yes, but she's everything I could ask for in regards to love." "She is? I don't ..." Nime began and then realized that her companion wasn't talking to her. She was talking to the butterfly. The undine turned back to the beautiful, tiny creature on her finger and realization sunk in. Her hand began to shake. "See? She sees more than you think she does. Now go. We'll discuss it later," the woman said with a wave of her hand and the butterfly rose into the morning sun to vanish. "That ... that was ..." Nime began, but couldn't bring herself to speak the words. "Yes, it was. We are close so you'll have to get accustomed to meeting people such as that." Nime nodded wordlessly in wonder. "Is there anything you'd like to ask me?" The undine sat in silence for a while before slowly shaking her head. "Are you sure? You haven't asked about Marcus." Nime considered it for a moment before replying. "No. I think I understand why he ... we ..." She shrugged. "Tell me what you understand," the woman said, reaching an arm around Nime's shoulders and pulling her close as they both looked out to the sea. "As ... as painful as it was, it taught me that love is precious no matter where and for how long. Even a love as relatively short as we had is something to be treasured, not mourned. Like the beauty of a butterfly. More so for the fact that its time here is so small." Nime turned. "Like Calendula or Rudrik. They won't be here long, but the love we have should be nurtured - not discarded just because the end can be seen. Because there's always a time limit." The woman nodded. "You will see Marcus again some day. In fact, as my herald, you could visit him. But don't take the mantle for that reason." Nime shook her head. "I will give you a few days to think about it and then I will return, here, for your answer." She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Nime's cheek. The tingle of the contact spread to the very tips of her fingers and toes. An instant later Nime was alone. The breeze off the water brushed through her hair. Not alone, though. Not really.
Nime brings her hands together again to strike the creature with another thunderburst.
Nime swoops in to Rudrik's side to give him a touch of healing.
Unsure as to how she can affect such a massive creature, Nime resorts to her standby of loud noises - clapping her hands together to center a thunderburst on the beastie.
Nime stares at the new creature in shock for just a moment before its beam strikes her. Her shock turns to sadness when she realizes what's going to happen. She turns her final gaze to Calendula to look upon her friend before vanishing. After a couple of heartbeats pass without the inevitable, an image of Zutha's passing flashes before her eyes and she realizes that the Runelord of Gluttony has given her a final gift.
With a look of sadness, Nime invokes a prayer to Shelyn and then reaches out and touches the raging woman.
"Clearly you have a lot of anger stored up inside of you," the undine says in a compassionate voice. "Now why don't you tell me about it."
The gaseous oracle jets through the air via the tornado level winds surrounding her to the other side of the Runelord and returns to her physical form, hovering in the air behind her.
Not a problem. Nime'll just give her a hit of euphoric-tranquility and everything will be copacetic. :)
Nime shifts to gaseous form and rises higher up to get a better view - and away from the magical grasping hand.
Active buffs on Nime going through the portal: air barrier
Nime will take all the resist energies she can get. :) Nime will cast the following: protection from evil on everyone - 1st x 4[/ooc]
winds of vengeance on herself - 9th
Once she's convinced that everyone has been healed up to her satisfaction and 'good-nights' have been said, Nime steps away from the others and takes an awkward seat on the ground to spend some time communing with her goddess. A new confidence is present in her face when she finishes her private devotions. She then takes in turn to spend some time with each of her companions as they rest. She gives them as little or as much attention as they'd like, but she saves Calendula for last; slipping under her blanket and pressing her warm body against the paladin's cold back. After a gentle kiss on the back of the woman's neck, she gives a comfortable sigh and rests her head down to waiting the coming morning.
Oracle 20 HP +5
Dex +1 Will +1 New Spells:
New Castings:
Final Revelation Skills: 7+2
Yeah, I'm good with skipping it. So everybody level up to 20 and get ready for the final fight! Does that mean that we get to pre-buff? :) :) :)
I'd say fast forward. However, if there are others that would enjoy the challenge of the other encounters then I wouldn't have any issues playing them out.
"Now that's just rude," the undine says, her countenance darkening. She speaks a quiet prayer to Shelyn and is subsequently surrounded by howling wind.
Nime narrows her eyes at the hulking demons. "Go home," she commands them firmly.
Nime's eyes light up at the sight of the diamond. "Of course," she replies to Theo's request, but her eyes never leave the stone. "Can I hold it just once, though? It's so pretty."
Nime moves in a little closer and sends lightning arcing from her hands towards the metal and wood monstrosity.
With no one showing any real signs of injury and the enemies in close proximity to her friends, Nime falls back on a simple blessing.
Nime centers another clap of thunder upon the construct and the gathered giants.
Nime spends a few moments - and some charges from the wands in her bag - to ensure that everyone is up to full health before giving Shenuska a nod that she's ready.
Nime calls out to the giants. "Cease your hostilities!"
"Oh, my precious boy," Nime fusses over the injured half-orc. "Here, this will make it feel better." She lifts his visor and leans in to give him a kiss with burnt lips.
"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Oh, Eternal Rose that stings," Nime says with a scrunched face. Her normally blue skin is now covered with ugly purple blotches. She brings her hands together, summoning a deafening thunderclap, centering it on the horn, but arranged to strike as many of the enemies as possible while avoiding her friends.
As the swirling assault of realities finally fades, Nime shakes her head and opens her mouth to say something. Her face twists, though, and she turns her head as she vomits forcefully. When the intestinal rebellion is finished she wipes her mouth and gives a shaky smile. "Let's not do that again any time soon, shall we?" She summons some clean water to wash her face before asking, "Is everyone ok?" The undine isn't satisfied until she's spent a minute or so with each of her companions, looking them over carefully.
Knowing that Shenuska should have no difficulty in dismissing the specter of Alaznist, Nime focuses on Sorshen. "Oh, Eternal Rose, I beseech you to free the woman that will become our ally in this endeavor," she prays as she approaches the swirling sphere of blood. Reaching it, she waits for the right moment and touches an outstretched hand.
Nime squeezes the hand back and smiles. "I did nothing special," she says. "I just asked them to do something that was in their own interests as well. They just needed to see what was needed." She leans in close and presses a kiss to Shenuska cheek. "Thank you for your kind words, though."
"Thank you so much," Nime says. She knows that Shenuska will have a much better chance of removing the magical 'infection', but she feels the urge to assist with so many points that have to be addressed.
That thought never having occured to her, Nime's eyes widen in surprise and then understanding. "Oh, yes. That too. That would be very bad."
"My name is Nime," the undine declares in a voice that lacks its normal brightness. "These are my friends, Calendula, Theodric, Shunuska, and Rudrik." She rises up into the air on wings of her own - the breeze ruffling through her hair. "We have come to right a wrong that has been inflicted upon the steady motion of time itself." She drifts to hover down near the face of the keystone, her hand moving to indicate the flaws. "A splinter of the Runelord Alaznist has poisoned this moment by damaging the magic of the keystone and it needs to be repaired before its infection can pollute any more of the stream of eternity."
Nime looks back at Shenuska with 'need' clear on her face, but she shakes her head. "It's not necessary to wait on me. Thank you, though," she says. "Let's proceed." She gives Calendula's shoulder a squeeze and readies herself for the next test.
The quick kiss not being enough for the emotional undine, Nime pulls the woman into her arms for an emotion-filled hug. "Thank you," she whispers. When she finally releases Calendula, Nime sniffs and smiles at the paladin. One hand reaches up and wipes at her eyes. "Sorry I'm such a mess. That was just ... I've never done anything like that before." She composes herself for a moment before turning to the others and, again, embracing each in turn. "Are we ready for the next?" she asks once she's finished reinforcing her emotional connections to each of her companions.
Nime turns away and falls to her knees, "Please forgive me, My Mistress," she says quietly. "You are the incorruptible, but I am a simple mortal and subject to the influences of the world. Forgive me for using your power for something so distant from your teachings." She continues to kneel quietly in prayer, letting the tears fall from her eyes.
Nime draws a breath and calms herself. "Oh Mistress of Love, forgive me for what I ask. It does not follow your ways, but this creature does not and will never have a comprehension of love and we must end it." She raises her hand and points at the amorphous gateway.
"I know you would never intentionally harm us, Theo," Nime calls out. "Trust in your heart."
"The Abyss?" Nime echoes with a frown. "She plays a very dangerous game." Against whatever evil the portal may put forth, Nime offers protection to her companions.
Oracle 19 HP +5
Feat:
Revelation: Lightning Breath Spells:
Skills: 7+2
"We certainly have free will," Nime replies with a smile as she continues to watch the sparks move between her fingertips. "But there is a 'proper' timeline. That's the one that's already happened. Tampering with it would be the threat to our free will. Free will comes with it the reward of consequences to our choices. For good or for bad. By changing decisions after they've been made eliminates the whole point of making the choice in the first place." She steps over to lift Rudrik's helmet just enough to press a kiss to his lips. She follows up with a similar kiss to Theodric and finishes with a gentle kiss on Calendula's temple. "I chose to do that. Undoing that is an affront to my self-agency." She nods at Shenuska, ready to continue.
"I feel even more energized than before we started," Nime says in surprise. She looks down at her hands and watches as tiny sparks crawl across her skin. "That tickles," she says with a giggle.
"Oh, that didn't work at all the way it should have," Nime says, flinching at the pain of the acid. A prayer of healing follows.
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