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Viviana pats Helmut on th head and nods "If Kaleb went to Magnimar, we’ll find signs of him at the stables or the docks. If he stayed closer to home, the Lost Coast Road patrols might have spotted him?" With a reluctant sigh, she says "He didn't go into the Pit, right? There's no sense in that?"
Viviana gathers the ledgers and documents, briefly skimming entries of shipments, dates, annnnndd the unmistakable signature of Kaleb Valdemar. She nods once, decisively, then turns to her companions. "Looks like what he said is true, we’ve got everything we need here." She shoulders the satchel heavy with ledgers and alchemical vials with an audible "Ooof." "It is time for Podiker to spend some time with the guard and then we confront Kaleb Valdemar. He’s the link to this Midnight Dawn."
Viviana’s hand flies to her mouth, eyes widening in disbelief. "Kaleb?" She steps forward and steels herself, voice low but fierce. She crouches beside the prone alchemist, eyes locked on Aliver. "Now you listen here. You said you didn’t know your employers were deros, but you did work through Kaleb Valdemar.Everything you told us, every shipment, every dream experiment, I want the ledger entries, dates, names. We’ll need proof when we confront him."
Unfortuantley Viv took a deep breath just as the cloud hit, breathing in too much of the toxic fumes. She coughs loudly, doubling over and barely able to focus on the current precitament. It takes everything she has just to move out of the smelly cloud.
Viviana smiles and perks up as Von "volunteers". "That's the spirit! All right. Von’s volunteered to fly across. So. Let's get her airborn." She closes her eyes for a moment, murmuring the invocation. A faint shimmer ripples around her sister, lifting her boots and letting her hover several feet above the ground. Turning to Helmut, she says "I also have something for protection against noises." She presses both hands against her ears and smiles, "See? Now you try."
"Anyone have flying magic?" Viv raises one hand tentatively, "I do... But who are we sending?" she turns and pointedly looks at her sister.
Viv is somewhat interested in the area, though the dusty, stale area causes her to keep sneezing loudly. She eventually needs to step out of the room. She approaches playfully, lightly bumping her sister with her shoulder. "Copper for your thoughts?"
Viviana inhales the sweet scent of jasmine as she holds the sprig to her chest. She turns her head, resting her cheek gently against Vyana’s, and wraps her free arm around the half‑elf’s waist. She glances down at their hands and says with a smile "Credit accepted, and well spent."
Viviana listens in silence, her eyes glancing down to the weathered bench beneath them as Vyana recounts the story. Her lips quirk at the part about the mandevilla (she remembers that day too). She’d pricked her finger trying to tie it up, and Vyana had laughed at her. Her mother had sighed in that way she did when she knew something her daughter didn’t yet. "I was so clueless." Viv smiles faintly and whispers, "Me too." But it’s the next part,the real part,that makes her heart ache again. When Vyana speaks of not surviving a second time, Viviana doesn’t rush to respond. She lets the truth settle between them, warm and heavy. She turns her hand, offering her palm up between them, resting just close enough if Vyana wants to take it. Then, the last comment catches her off guard. Viv snorts loudly. "Okay. Okay. First of all, if I was ever going to have a snog session with anyone else,which I’m [/i]not[/i], let’s be clear-" she gives Vyana a look, playful but firm, "it would not be with someone who looks like she borrowed her smile from a funeral and uses it to flirt." She leans a little closer. "Second, if anyone’s going to break a nose over me, I better get a flower after." Viv pauses. Then, softly and sincerely-"And third... I don’t want her, Vy. I want the girl who built a crooked garden bench with me, who thinks she can hide every emotion behind that smirk but doesn’t fool me even for a second. I want the girl who still let me into her garden after everything I did." She bumps her shoulder gently into Vyana’s. "You don’t have to rush. I’ll be right here. No matter how long it takes. I'm not going away again."
Viviana winces as the Vyana's words hit her. She lets Vyana speak and vent. Because she’s not wrong to feel what she’s feeling. Only once the anger starts to fade and Vyana turns away, does Viv take a slow step forward. She speaks softly, a thread of pain woven into her voice. "You’re right, Vy. I wasn’t paying attention to Scarnetti. I was paying attention to Arika. But not like that. Not the way you’re thinking." Another step closer, cautious. She doesn’t sit yet. "Arika's... broken. I saw it in her eyes. I recognized the shape of it because I know what it feels like. She needed some kind words and to know there is a shoulder to lean on if she needs to talk. That's all." She finally lowers herself beside her, but leaves a careful distance between. "And you’re wrong about one thing. I don’t want someone better than you. I want you. All of you. The parts that make garden benches from scraps... the parts that want to deck someone across a table... even the parts that sometimes doubt themselves." She risks reaching out, fingertips brushing Vyana’s hair out of her eyes. "I know I hurt you. I know I left. I hated myself for it. But I’m not here for Arika, or some pretty face, or because I want to be anywhere else. I’m here because I looked up and you weren’t beside me anymore." She swallows a huge lump in throat. "And that felt wrong. Like I couldn’t breathe." Viv’s voice drops to barely more than a whisper. "Please don’t push me away just because I showed someone kindness. I’m still trying to find my way back to you."
The walk to Vyana's home is quiet as she tries to figure out what might be bothering her friend. As Viviana approaches the little garden behind the house, the scent of primrose and jasmine greets her first. She takes a deep breath and smiles, watching Vyana sit among the overgrowth and blossoms, her back to Viviana. The garden is wild, beautiful in its own unruly way, much like Vyana. She doesn’t look up at the sound of Viv’s approach, but there’s a subtle shift in her posture. She knows Viviana is there. Viv stops a few feet behind her, hesitating before speaking, her voice quiet, almost tentative. "You uhm, left fast. Was it something Scarnetti said? I wasn't paying much attention to him. I try not to pay attention to any Scarnetti if I can help it." She tries some soft levity, adding warmth to her voice "I can have Von go kick his butt if you want, I don't think it would take much pressure."
Viv watches Vyana go, the shift in her energy as obvious as the slam of the mug. Her expression softens, but she doesn’t get up right away. Confused, she traces a fingertip around the rim of her cup in slow circles, brow furrowed in thought. She asks Helmut and Von, "Is she okay? Did Scarnetti get under her skin? I wasn't paying attention to her conversation, really. Should I check on her? I should check on her." She says one statement after the other, not really waiting for input as she thinks through this logically. I have half a mind to brain that darn Scarnetti boy!
"When I was younger, I used to think stories were all about endings. You know, the dramatic moment, the applause, the curtain call. And to some extent, I still do. But lately, I’ve started to think that maybe… the important part is the part in the middle. The messy, complicated, I-don’t-know-how-it-turns-out part." "You’re still in the middle of your story, Arika. And maybe you didn’t get to write the first act. But that doesn’t mean you don’t get a say in the rest." Then, with a smirk that mirrors a thousand sibling squabbles with Von, Viv tilts her head and leans in close to Arika's ear and whispers like she’s sharing a grand conspiracy. "Also, if you ever want to prank one of your companions into thinking you’ve joined a cult of opera-loving undead, I know a few tricks involving face paint and fog."
Viv notive Vyana She gives Arika a soft, understanding look as she sets down her cup. Without saying anything at first, she reaches out and gently places her hand over Arika’s. Steady, warm, and without pressure. Regret’s a heavy thing to carry." she says quietly, her voice lowered just for the two of them. It's hard not to flash back to the incident at the tree with Vyana... She shakes it off and continues. "But sometimes... talking about the ending you wanted can help you write a new one. Or at least stop reading the old one on repeat." She lets her thumb brush lightly along the back of Arika's hand in a grounding, friendly gesture. If you ever want to talk about the parts you’d change, I’m a good listener. And I don’t judge rewrites."
Viviana turns her attention to Arika, studying the young woman’s face with a thoughtful softness. There’s a story there, she just knows it! Viv recognizes that look, because she’s seen that same look in her own mirror on difficult days. As the others eat and drink, Viviana leans a little closer to Arika, lowering her voice just enough to carve a private space between them, even in a room full of people. "You know..." she begins, swirling her drink slowly. "I used to spend afternoons sneaking into the Sandpoint Theater’s back rows. Watched Elega’s Fall seven times before anyone caught me. Every time, I hoped the priestess wouldn’t walk into the sea at the end. Always cried anyway." She gives a gentle smile, not pushing, just opening the door. "What about you? Do you ever wish a story could have turned out differently?"
Viviana strolls into the Rusty Dragon with the others, fully engaged in a conversation with her sister about the critical importance of maintaining artistic style while she stands in front of enemies, defending her companions. "No, no, no. You don’t understand, Von." she insists, her voice carrying just the right amount of drama to ensure half the tavern hears her. "You can’t just stand in front of the enemy. You have to pose, frame the moment, make sure the light catches you just right! Battle is as much about presence as it is about skill." At Kaleb's enthusiastic greeting, she flashes him a bright smile with a dramatic wave of her hand. "Heroes? Oh, please. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time. The Devil did most of the work itself-flying right into our arrows and blades." Viviana leans forward, resting her elbows on the table as she tears a piece of bread from a fresh loaf. "You’ve got us at a disadvantage, though. You already know our story, but what about yours? What brings such a fine collection of adventurers together? And why invite us for dinner?"
Viviana listens to the townsfolk argue over what to do about the Devil. Sighing and rubbing her temples, she says "Why is it never simple?" Patting Helmy on the head, she adds "I think we should talk to her. Find out where she's been and what she knows of the pit. It could be helpful?
Viviana yips from pain, but quickly clamps he mouth shut and stifles her protest. Deciding everyone isn't badly enough injured that it requires her healing yet, she tries to help end the encounter quickly.
Viviana's fog finally begins to clear and she rubs her temples a few more times before popping back up to her feet. "Yeah, sure. I'm up for it." she says enthusiastiaclly, not even hearing what it was she's volunteering to be up for. By the time the dero starts asking for their flesh, she's more or less recovered from her stupor and puts her hands on her hips, defiant. "I dont think this is going to end the way you want it to. Probably best if you surrender like my heavily armored, and unimaginably strong sister asks."
Once the battle stops, Viviana lets the others deal with the prisoner.
Viviana blinks as the stupify hits, her mind clouding. She opens her mouth to say something, but draws a blank as she stumbles back a step and shakes her head. She isn't sure what's going on, but she knows she needs to keep attacking so she focuses on trying to get her spell off.
Viviana keeps focused on the hostiles, but tries to figure out how to respond to Vyana. "Uhhh, that's not an easy one. They're like, the God of darkness between the stars. Lessons later."
Viviana follows in Vyana's footsteps and sends her magical, metallic fragments forwards to the hostile creatures. She studies them for a moment and then says "Uhm, the statue is supposed to be Azathoth, I think!"
Since Von helped Helmy with that last wound, Viv focuses on firing another ineffective barrage of metal fragments.
"...I know what it takes and I didn't bring it today! We need acid or sound! I guess keep hammering it!"
"Hold on, let me think for a second ..." She racks her brain on trolls and how to stop their regeneration.
Viviana mentally runs through her spells and is surprised to recall she doesn't have a fire spell. "I didn't prepare any fire today, sorry." Instead, she attempts to demoralize them with the powerful "Hey you big rock meanies, you better watch out for my sister!!!" before unleashing a volley of metal fly towards one of them.
Cleric 7 Skills: Diplomacy to Master
Viviana raises an eyebrow at Helmut's over-the-top theatrics, rolling her eyes. "Oh, for Shelyn's sake, Helmy. You’ve got a future on the stage if you ever get tired of chewing on monsters." She lets out a long, exaggerated sigh, holding up the scrolls "Here, you big baby. But if you start calling them precious and talking to them, I’m taking them back." She wags a finger at him playfully. As she hands them over, she leans in and adds in a whisper, "Just make sure you actually use them if we need them, alright? No hoarding them like they’re souvenirs." She gives him a gentle bop on the top of his head before standing tall again. Her gaze shifts to Von, and she nods "Lead the way, Manager of Mayhem. We’ll be right behind you." --- Viv's gaze hardens as she looks at the gore on the ledge. "Uhm. I don’t like the look of this one bit."
Viviana eyes the stone sculpture of the Sandpoint Devil with both disdain and fascination. Her fingers hover over it for a moment before she picks it up and turns it over in her hands. "Creepy little thing." she mutters, quickly setting it back down with a grimace. "Bbuuuuuutttt it’ll fetch a decent price back in Sandpoint!" She glances over at the scrolls on the desk and picks up one of the scrolls of heal while hher lips curl into a small grin. "Now this is more my style!" She quickly organizes the useful scrolls, tucking them carefully into her bag. "Dream message, heals, and remove disease. I'd say these are blessings from Shelyn herself!" Turning to her group, she raises an eyebrow. "Well. We’ve come this far, but I can see the weight on everyone’s shoulders. We can push forward and finish this, or ... we can head back, rest, and prepare." She pauses, trying to weigh the options "If we go back, it gives this leader Munt more time to prepare his defenses." "I say we press on, but speak up if you want to go back."
"Freeze right there, don't dare take another step, meanie!" Viv shouts, trying her best to sound angry and commanding (neither of which she's particularly good at).
Viv tries to keep her head down as bladed weapons are tossed about. She sends her own sharp metallic objects toward a machete-wielder, thankful her sister is so good at keeping the attention off her.
Watching as her sister continues to do what she does best, Viv decides another volley of sharp, metallic objects is what these cultists need. She adjust her aim and sends another burst towards the next foe attacking Von.
Afterwards she calls out, "It's not too late to surrender, you know!"
Viviana's takes several fragments of metal and turns them into deadly projectiles, flying towards the cultists.
Viviana takes a deep breath, trying too not let her weariness show. "We can't let these monsters reach Sandpoint. We know too much now... to hesitate would be to invite more bloodshed. Hemlock will understand our choice." Viviana says, confidently. "This ends here, tonight. For those they’ve taken and for everyone they’ve set their sights on. Let’s go finish this and make sure Sandpoint sleeps soundly again." She takes her glaive in hand and falls in behind her sister, putting an arm around Vyana's shoulder with a longing look, wishing they could be sitting under a tree reading, picking vegetables in her garden, or just about anything else right now.
Viviana rubs her eyes, still bleary from the broken sleep and the unsettling noises from the night before. Catching up with Helmy, she seems troubled he is unusually subdued. With a gentle nudge, she offers him a reassuring smile. "Hey, don’t beat yourself up. I don’t think Sandpoint’s exactly known for its sense of, well... forgiveness. But that’s why we’re here, right?" With a deep breath, she looks at everyone. "What do you say? We go out in pairs today, try to really connect with people. And maybe, just maybe, we can change a few hearts? She pulls Helmy in to her side and sets out to seek forgiveness ...
... and ends up finding exactly none whatsoever. Regrouping at midday, she agrees with Von and suggests they pick up where they left off.
Viviana sighs deeply, realizing that no amount of subtle gestures or gentle coaxing was going to get the goblin to leave. With a resigned smile, she stops massaging Vyana's shoulders and stands up straight, stretching her arms out before her. "Alright, Helmy. Looks like we’ll have to finish this later. Thank you." She pats Vyana’s arm, giving her a look that says she tried, and then turns to the goblin. "Lead the way, Ser Helmut. To the cathedral we go!"
Viviana’s hands pause mid-massage as she notices Helmut still standing there, staring up at them with his innocent, unblinking eyes. She furrows her brow slightly and, with a patient smile, waves her hand in a go on gesture. "Helmy dear, you should probably get going and catch Von." she says sweetly, giving him a gentle nod toward the direction of the cathedral. "We’ll catch up in a few, I promise." When the goblin continues to shuffle his feet and cough awkwardly, Viviana narrows her eyes slightly at Helmut, her lips pressing together in a line as she tries a more subtle approach. Without breaking her massage rhythm, she points with her chin toward the direction of the cathedral, giving him a small but firm nod. When that doesn’t work, she silently mouths, GO while widening her eyes, adding a tiny, exaggerated wave with her fingers, hoping he’ll finally get the message.
Viviana gently places her hand on Vyana's arm and looks to Helmy and Von, "We'll meet you there in a few minutes." Once they move on, she says "You didn’t have to carry me all the way, you know." She steps behind Vyana and places her hands on the magus's neck and shoulder, letting her fingers expertly working out the tension from the undue burden she placed upon her friend. "But thank you."
"Finally! I was starting to think I’d never touch the ground again!" she teases with a wink. Viviana quickly flips through the missives. She raises an eyebrow at Voon's offer, muttering "5% off? That’s hardly the grand welcome we deserve after saving the town from monsters, but I suppose it's better than nothing." When she sees Father Zantus’s message she says "I think we should head to the cathedral first. Father Zantus doesn’t ask for our time unless it’s important."
Viviana lets out a playful squeal as she’s hefted over Vyana's shoulder, her arms flailing about. "Hey! I am not a sack of potatoes!" she protests. "I demand to be carried with dignity and grace!" She glances over at Von with a wink and a whisper. "I suppose this is what true friendship looks like, carrying the dead weight of your exhausted healer!"
Viviana is unable to contain herself and snickers briefly at her friends response. She quickly wipes away the smirk and resumes her exhaustion ploy as she lets herself be cradled against Vyana. "You forgot the part about no one to tell you when your hair’s out of place. Or remind you to smile for the audience, even if it’s just a couple of cranky goblins and a snoring ogre." Viviana dramatically drapes the back of her hand across her forehead, her voice rising in a mock-fainting tone. "Oh, woe is me! To think that I, Viviana, the most beloved healer and storyteller in all of Varisia, would be forced to sleep on this wretched, hard ground like a common adventurer!" She nestles closer to Vyana's warmth, keeping her eyes closed. "Please, oh wise Manager of Mayhem, spare this poor, weary soul from a night on the cold ground and feed her a hot meal and let her rest in a bed without spiders or snakes."
Viviana falls to a knee, breathing in heavy gasps and spurts from dashing around the room and casting spells. She wipes a bead of sweat from her brow and glances up at her companions with tired eyes. "Guys...Guys... I’m spent." she mutters at whisper-level. "I’ve used up most of my abilities, and honestly, I’m ready to just lie here until morning." She collapses to the floor, laying back and spreading out her arms and legs in an overly-exaggerated fashion. "What do you say we call it a night and head back to Sandpoint? I don’t think I’ve got much more left in me."
Viviana is relieved Von finally manages to avoid a hit, but it appears that Helmy is starting to accumulate injuries as well. With a sigh, she shoots some metal fragments at the creature and shifts position to fall in behind him instead, planning to patch him up next.
Unfortunately said sister is all out of Shelyn's blessing for today and has to turn to other methods of keeping her on her feet. She casts a spell which forges a bond between her essence and her Von's. Afterwards, she moves past Vyana and falls in to stand directly behind her sister, should she need to get more aggressive with healing. Once in position, she says "Sister dear. You could try to not get hit up here, you know." Share Life: You forge a temporary link between the target’s life essence and your own. The target takes half damage from all effects that deal Hit Point damage, and you take the remainder of the damage. When you take damage through this link, you don’t apply any resistances, weaknesses, or other abilities you have to that damage; you simply take that amount of damage. The spell ends if the target is ever more than 30 feet away from you. If either you or the target is reduced to 0 Hit Points, any damage from this spell is resolved and then the spell ends.
"Well, at least it's not spiders." Viviana murmurs. "Stay strong, sister!" she shouts for encouragement, reinforcing her with divine energies.
"Hold up, Von. That's ... that's not normal. Viv? Helmy? The statues ... Are you seeing this?" "I see it too, Vy. Something's off." Once the fight begins, she fires off some metal shards before backing up slightly so that the
Viviana flips through the notebooks and with each page she turns, her sigh grows heavier. "This is... so much hatred for one person to carry. It's no wonder her heart turned so dark. I can’t imagine living with that much venom inside. It’s heartbreaking." Looking up at her friends she adds, "Let’s hope we don’t ever let our own hearts turn this way."
As much as she wants to just finish the gargoyle off, Von looks too injured for Viviana to feel comfortable doing so. She reaches out with some of Shelyn's blessing and helps ensure that she has the strength to push on.
Not only did her attempt at peace fail, the cursed woman blew burning smoke all over her!!! Her lungs on fire and added coughs of pain cause Viviana to grinds her teeth and retaliate as she moves away, sending pieces of metal flying back.
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