"Thank you Corrin, but there is no need for that." Zeldana simply stated as she offered her friend a small smile. She seemed unphased with the spewing of vulgarity from whomever this really was. "You only insult and jab because I have used your own logic against you and you do not like it. You have been told and notified of the coin's true owner, so far as even given the address of who the gold coin belongs to. Yet you would not return it even if it means getting a gold coin in return?" She pointed out, her duel color eyes narrowed in a mixture of confusion and disapproval. "You say I am a c@@~, and this is because I thought if a way to keep you in that body, us get our friend back, and cause the least amount of suffering... for what?" She inquired. "Walk me through your thought process, what is so horrible, so terrible, that you are throwing a tantrum over this? The one who benefits the most out of this whole process is you! You get to keep living, when as you said if not fore sheer dumb luck, you would still be dead! You get to create a completely new life for yourself, a total blank slate, down to even choosing your own name. And the only thing requested is a finger... That might I remind you, can be healed"
Zeldana moved to lean again the door to the room. Cutting off any exit. "But it is not your body." Zeldana firmly stated. "It was never your body, and if we were speaking on just terms alone it would be like finding a gold coin on the road and then finding out who it really belonged to as they have been searching for it. They may have dropped it by accident, but it is still theirs. The fact of the matter is, Just and right are not the same thing. And you are not in Port Peril, you are in a body that does not belong to you and we are speaking on a way to allow you to keep it." She reminded him. "The price so to speak, is allowing you to remain alive. As killing you to get Jorn back, while just, is not what we consider right." Zeldana stated as she crossed her arm.
"You say everything has a price, well then you are in our debt and owe us for you are in a body that does not belong to you. You can either return it to the proper owner and never return, or pay us a finger and get a new chance at life. I do not like the idea of killing you, honestly I do not like the idea of killing over all, and thus have given a plan that would allow all those here to gain with the minimal amount of pain, death, or discomfort. You say I speak as if you are unworthy of that vessel? I do indeed, because up to this point you have done nothing in the slightest that proves you are. You sit here, alive again by pure luck, knowing well it is in a body not for you and think you can make demands?" She inquired with a slight tilt of her head. "That act alone shows you are not worth of that body! How are you not ashamed?"
"Then what we need, is just a piece of the body." Zeldana stated as if it was obvious. "The spell forms the new body from the piece of the old, and the original version does not vanish. So, though it will cause some pain but it is better than dying I would think, we cut off a finger from Jorn's currently occupied body wait an hour or so to get past the time a finger could be reattached use the finger for the spell. Since the spell would seek a soul on the other side of this plane, the only soul it could return is Jorn's true soul since this soul is on this plane. The new body will be formed, and Jorn would live again." Zeldana explained, her tone even like she was teaching a class. "As much as I believe his soul should not be in that body, it is not his fault. Should he suffer death for simply being in the wrong place? Be it luck, fate, or just ill chance, he had no say in the matter. Murdering an innocent man need not be done, we get Jorn back, and if this soul is willing to trust us, I even have a plan to turn this body into one of his own. So it does not look like Jorn."
"Uha... I might have a suggestion that could help..." Zeldana spoke up, her voice low at first. "Father Zantus, you said both souls are bound to the body correct?" She inquired to first ensure she had understood correctly.
Zeldana felt herself be release and let out a long sigh as stumbled a bit. However that didn't last long as she looked down at Bandit still snarling at her.
"What has gotten into you Bandit?" Zeldana asked "Have I done something wrong? Did I step on your tail?" Her tone was worried as she looked the raccoon over to ensure it wasn't injured.
"Yeda!" Zeldana called out as she saw the creature about to snap onto her friend. Reaching out to her Zeldana's eye is actually draw to her fingers. There, upon each one were threads casting off in every direction, shimmering in my colors and hues she never thought possible. Even stranger though, as it was hard to see them that is, until she closed her amethyst eye. The moment it was closed the threads felt more real, more connected to her and everything around her.
The sight took her breath away but gave her a feeling she had missed dearly. Hope. Her heart seemed to skip a beat in her chest to reassure her. A leap of faith. Zeldana's outstretched fingers curled closed as she pulled. Hard.
"Fate be changed!"
She heard the shimmering threads snap and saw as they reformed into shimmering Harrow cards of light. Zeldana didn't need to draw them. She didn't need to even ask which ones they where. For she knew what was in her hands as well as she knew herself in this moment. With an elegant spin Zeldana flung them at the barghest.
Zeldana was startled when Bandit lept from her and started growling at her. "Bandit? What is wrong?" She asked worriedly. However with the creature still being a problem she couldn't worry about it right this moment.
Spellcraft:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
"Blink, a useful spell." Zeldana said before she bit her lower lip nervously. "We need to cut down that spell ability..." Taking out The Eclipse and The Lost and tossing them at the Barghest
Touch Attack with Touch of Idiocy:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Blink test:1d100 ⇒ 84HAHAHA! Not even blink can save you! Penalty to Int, Wis, and Cha:1d6 ⇒ 6
When the creature showed itself Zeldana seemed to freeze as her mind raced.
Planes:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
She knew what this was! And that it needed to be hampered fast! Her cards had been... troubled, but her magic was still her own! In that she would trust, drawing The Sickness from the deck she tossed it at the greater barghest, chanting as she did so.
Ranged touch attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11Wow, that is exactly what is needed... Damage:1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6Cold damage and it is fatigued. No save
Zeldana scrambled back from the door when she heard the growling from inside and gets the spell dismiss. "Something... something is in there." She told them. "I just do not know what."
"Alright, I believe I know how to open this. Everyone, please be ready." Zeldana requested, and took a moment to ensure each of them had their eyes on the door before she placed the pendant over the pattern and gently pushed.
Zeldana smiled slightly at Gunner as a form of thanks as she nodded her head.
"Give me a moment to look at the door." Zeldana answered Crusk before she moved forward to see if her assumption was correct, running her hand along the door she inspected it as well as the pendant in her hand.
Zeldana gave a small chuckle. "I shall be fine, but thank you." She told Loxley as she settled Bandit on her shoulder once more before climbing.
As the group kept moving Zeldana looked around somewhat absent-minded until she asked "Is it so common? Such darkness and evil?" It seemed almost more of a musing until she added "You are all more traveled than I since... Well since I came to Sandpoint."
However before anyone could answer Zeldana's eye locked upon the door. "I know this symbol..." She muttered as she took out the necklace they had found out of her pocket. "This, I think this is what we need."
"He would be adorable either way." Zeldana told Loxley with a small chuckle. Her friend always did have a way to put her at ease, and right now she was thankful for that.
Zeldana gave a small smile as she picked Bandit off of her shoulder and cradled him in her arms. "You are such a thoughtful little one, thank you." She said as she gave him a gentle hug. "Here, why don't you have something to snack on." Zeldana offered, reaching into her pouch to offer a small piece of bread to Bandit as thanks.
"Yes, perfectly so." Zeldana answered to Loxley, however she heard Crusk and looked over the side. "Tie the rope around you and we'll just pull you up!" She called down.
Zeldana nodded to answer Corrin. "Are you alright?" She asked him gently. "I am sorry I was not here sooner, we went to speak to Father Zantus, as Gunnar mentioned, we are to seek something that will help. Apparently something happen to Jorn. The one we know is not actually Jorn..." She explained.
"I am sure you will fit in." Zeldana tried to reassure Gunnar. "I am Zeldana Emraeal Luminita Dardlara Anca Nordlara Amaria... but everyone just calls me Zel." She said with a small shrug of her shoulders.
"Honestly I would just be happy for Jorn to be able to return." Zeldana said with a small shrug. "He should not be robbed of this life because of me..." She added as she cast her eyes downward.
"He does not remember anything." Zeldana admitted. "He did not remember we started courting, and does not even know who I am. Even if you set aside the fact we had only been courting for a week and thus could be easily lost, I have lived in Sandpoint for so long that he would know me." She went on. "But wait, is there a way to get the proper soul into the body after this has been done?"
Zeldana looked at Father Zantus with surprise. She figured he would not be in the best condition, but this was not anything she could have expected. She slowly moved to the man's side and reached out to place her hand on his. "Are you going to be okay?" She asked worriedly.
Zeldana hesitantly reaches out to take Bandit and gently pets the racoon. She listens to what her friend has to say before she explains. "These cards have been in my family for generations. They where given to me along with my Kanpia, both had been my grandmother's. She too was a harrower... and I, I have heard her voice from these cards before." She sniffles and pets Bandit more. "Portents, it means Fate. You are not wrong that magic is formed from the aether, but asks of that hold sway. My magic pulls upon the strings of Fate themselves. I read them, and if so needed, let it be changed. I use to be able to throw the cards but I am not the best at anything when it comes to physically fighting... And I am not good at... what people call feminine weapons... nor do I really want to use them" She sighed.
However when Neari came out to get them and Golzar came out waving, Zeldana waved back to Golzar, it was obvious she had been crying. She then looked to Sazzat "Would it be okay with you, and with Bandit, if I hold him while we go in there?"
Zeldana gently and slowly shook her head at him. "Sazzat, I draw my magic from proteins itself... I... I cannot use my cards..." she explained as she hung her head in shame. She felt her eyes began to fill with water. Her harrow cards... No, her grandmother's harrow cards... They had never failed her before but yesterday, they were nothing but... Cards. "I mean..." the moment she spoke the tears spilled over her and down her cheeks. "Sazzat I do not have any magic anymore.." She had finally said it. The fear she been holding in since everything with her cards began. "I am defenseless, and useless to you all!"
'He has not figured it out yet? Or... No maybe he does not fully understand?' Zeldana thought to herself as she listened to what Sazzat had to say. "Regrowing limbs is outside of my power currently..." Zeldana answered as she kept looking at the ground.
She let silence hang in the air before she slightly turned her head to look at Sazzat, her amethyst eyes shimmering through the white side of her hair. Bandit could likely smell it first, but the way her words sounded made it easy for Sazzat to pick up on it as well. "Sazzat, I am the only witch in Sandpoint. The demon wants me..." Fear. That was what Bandit could smell, and what Sazzat could hear. The rest of Zeldana's head rose up to look at him with both her amethyst and golden eye. "And I'm defenseless right now..."
"To be distressed could be extreme anxiety." Zeldana explained. "With everything going on how could you not be." She stated. "And yes, my cards are... well something is wrong with them so my magic is..." Zeldana paused, 'Should I mention I cannot use my cards at all right now?' she wondered. "limited."
"But... I wish I could help... and... I will if you need me to in any way I am still able to." Zeldana said as she looked down disappointedly.
Zeldana raised an eyebrow before she looked to Sazzat. "I believe she is rather surprised we did not wish to enter... tell me, why did you come?" She questioned. "I followed as I had nothing really to do and you seemed... destressed."
Zeldana munched on the provided breakfast rolls as she realized she left without getting herself something to eat that morning while they walked. However when Sazzat chose to wait outside Zeldana wondered if she should as well. She had mostly followed them because she had no where else to go currently. "Would you like company?" Zeldana asked Sazzat.
Zeldana seemed to deflate at Sazzat's question. "I do not believe I will be of much use to anyone at the moment... Something is wrong with my cards." She sheepishly admitted to him.
As the people began to flock to them, Zeldana did her best to fade into the background. Letting Neari and Sazzat speak while she remained silent.
Zeldana simply shrugged and told Sazzat. "It's nothing to worry about." Though her words were hollow sounding compared to her normal tone. "Things will be."
However she looked to Neari and gave a nod. "I am sorry for how we met."
"Oh, Sazzat... Good morning." Zeldana said as she half faked a smile. "It has been a... morning." She answered with but a simple nod. "What is it you need?
Zeldana woke slowly from the dream. She had not expected to dream of the threads of Fate once again... And most certainly not in such a way as it had been. Pulling herself out of bed she dressed while deep in thought. Change was life... But this... All of this... Taking her deck and putting it within its holder, she headed out. She greeted her parents with a small smile, but then headed out without breakfast.
She walked the streets of Sandpoint, not really going anywhere. Just wanting some feeling of normality? No that wasn't it, she didn't even know what she wanted... Except for everything to not of happened. Corrin, Loxley, their worlds were forever changed and Sazzat likely needed to kill her. For a moment Zeldana wondered if she should let him. If it saved them it was a small price right?
Zeldana finally found herself on the shore, looking out the ocean she breathed in the air. She could walk right into the sea, not fight it. Be carried out away from everything. Let fate take control... But others still needed her. So she turned away and headed for the Rusty Dragon. She'd never enter the establishment again, but she could wait outside for the others.
Zeldana did not protest at the meal. She was honestly too tired from everything to have any form of fun however. Though she was polite to all, it was obvious she was drained. She looked only once to where Jorn sat... a simple last look as some form of confirmation that this was not Jorn any longer... Well not her Jorn... When donations for rooms and meals to the Rusty Dragon, Zeldana turns them away and suggests they support one of the others as she would have no use of such. She did not say it, but she would have no further dealing with the Rusty Dragon after this night.
When she got a moment of pause through all the commotion, Zeldana took out her cards and started to go through them. So much still needed to be done for her friends but she could not help the worry that built within her. If she could not count upon her cards would she be of use to them? She looked to her friends as they spoke with the nobles and told their stories, contentment washed over her face and she gave a half smile. So long as they were safe. So long as they were happy. She would be content with her Fate.
Zeldana seemed to shake her head at Ameiko as if to say 'No, I do not believe we will' however she did not say anything.
"I would like to point out that the majority of those places are not under Cheliaxian control any longer and Varisia was never actually conquered." Zeldana said in a matter of fact tone, the type she uses whenever she brings up some form of knowledge she has. "But I think you'll do a good job Loxley." She said with a smile to her friend.
Zeldana jumped a bit when Corrin placed a hand on her shoulder. She simply shook her head an said "I will be fine... Fate just had other plans I guess..."
"Our focus should be on this possession and on getting you a proper mask until we can find a way to remove this from you. Your will should be your own, Corrin." Zeldana reassured him.
"Oh you could be correct, I had not thought of that, Loxley. I was thinking on actions that had happened and did not consider actions that had been withheld." Zeldana said with a nod. "It is possible she views me as a rival while I honestly paid no mind."
"As far as I am aware Jorn was not seeing anyone when we began courting. And Jorn is the first person I have ever tried courting..." Zeldana answered. "And no, I never met her before that moment we found her imprisoned.... I know I am not very good at reading people, and I can say things that I do not mean as an insult but can come off as one but... I do not believe I ever met her before, and I tend to remember people." Zeldana rubbed the back of her head before she brought her cards out. "I am sorry, but I do not see a connection..."
Zeldana looked at Ameiko, her golden and purple eyes cold as she firmly stated "I did not grant you the right to speak for me. Never do it again. I have had more than enough of your disrespectful snaps and quips." Pushing herself up off the floor she looked to the Duchess.
"All of us met her." Zeldana answered. "We rescued her along with another, and brought them back here for safety." Zeldana explained. "She was nothing like what they have described now. She was friendly and aided us... But there had been no hostility between us. I do not understand why this possessed Evriani has become so focused upon me..."
