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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carnifex" data-source="post: 760045" data-attributes="member: 227">One advantage of a town such as Kandathra was that, as a nexus for several mines, it was where merchants seeking to purchase ores and the rarer exports of Merlihr, the gems and jewels hewn from the rock, tended to come; thus it was that Wolf was able to find such a merchant, a fellow from the westmost human province of Naseria, the lands of House Thrazan. After some negotiation the mercenary was able to barter the gems into coinage, and returned with his gains to share them amongst the band.* * *For Ebri, the sight of the mountains along their road had been more welcome than she was willing to admit. How she longed to be back there, where the air was clean and cold and clear. Where everything was clear-- Her brethren did not choose to live in mountains simply because they were inaccessible and remote, though that was a convenient consequence of the decision. The location was a symbolic reflection of their place among the rest of mortalkind: those at the top, who aspired to climb above the rest, to reach the true pinnacle of being. She smiled without pretense, listening to Wyshira and Melisande with interest as they bandied theories about her order. Legendary assassins... She chuckled. Legendary they might be, but it meant --or should mean-- little. We do not do it for fame... "You know..." she mused, when their words had fallen off, "... I have heard it said that if you think you see a Nephian, go to sleep soundly, for that's when you're safest..." Ebri laughed. "The meaning, of course, is that the Nephians, if they even exist, are so skilled that you would never recognize one....""That sounds exactly like something a Nephian would tell you," Mel chirped. Her mind felt buoyant. Maybe it was the wine. "The more they're visible the less they're seen," she added, tipping her glass toward Ebri with grin. Wolf sat at the rugged wooden table, beer mug clutched with both hands as he listened with interest to the exchanges between Ebri, Wyshira and Melisande. Around them the tavern was humming with the usual low talk of such a place, full of men tired from a day's work out in the sun and merchants tired from a day of haggled exchanges. Also as usual, the armed band was attracting its fair share of glances, the blue women especially, though there was no hostility in the air. They could feel safe enough here. After Ebri had regaled them with what she had heard of Nephians, Wolf gave a wry smile. "Speculating on shadowy assassins is all well and good, but where we're going there'll be much more practical dangers. The Sarokeans are full of all sorts of things that can catch the unwary by surprise. There're some orc factions and goblin tribes, along with bandits and renegades from various places, since the mountains provide a refuge for that type of scum. Dreadspawn tribes too, and I've heard there are some enclaves of undead from the Dread March still hidden in the range's furthest reachers. Not to mention the various wild animals and Manipulated monsters like chimerae. What that Unyielding One said in the temple of Grumand, about troubles underground, that worries me too. Worse things might be coming up into the area. So be on the watch for real dangers as much as Nephians about to jump out on us from the shadows; and only the gods know what we'll find at this tower when we get there. I've heard nasty tales of what gets loose when a wizard dies and little experiments go awry."By the time Wolf began to describe the various hazards that the party could expect to run into in the Sarokeans, Wyshira had slurped down the entire glass of wine that Mel had poured for her. Although the last sip had tasted better than the first, it still produced a small, inadvertant shudder as it slid down her throat and collected in a warm pool in her stomach. She felt oddly flushed and all aglow, and found herself smiling whenver she caught someone's eye at the table. The unfamiliar spirits seemed to have loosened her tongue, too. Instead of sitting back to listen to the ebb and flow of the conversation as she usually did, she joined in freely. "Dreadspawn! Oh I hope we don't run into any of those. I remember my father used to tell dreadful stories about hordes of them lurking in desolate places." Wyshira also remembered that her mother's normally serene countenance had darkened like mounting storm-clouds when she'd caught the wandering mercenary telling her wide-eyed daughters such stories. The adventurer's tale was cut suddenly short, and Wyshira never found out more about Dreadspawn. She did know a thing or two about ordinary undead though. "We ought to get some flasks of holy water before we head out. I'll go look for a temple after supper. Ebri, do you want to come with me?" Listening attentively, Ebri sipped at her watered wine--it was safer than pure water, though the water here was certainly better than in the city-- and suppressed a smile at Wolf's distinctions. And what does that make you? she wondered. She raised an eyebrow as the devotee of the Storm Lady invited her along. Holy water. The concept was almost offensive, yet there was no denying that the stuff was useful and did have some merit in combat. Why it did, exactly, was a matter of debate among her community, but practical observation of its effectiveness could not be dismissed out of hand. For her part, she held to the theories of the water being charged with the transformed magical energies of the user, some inherent life force that counteracted the undead thing, in line with most explanations of how magic that relied on superstitious and fantastical beliefs worked as it was clearly observed to do. For while Ishrak, Immar, or any other of the gods most depended on slavishly were obviously fantasies, or at most grossly elevated spiritual entities, human belief in such fantasies was clearly a powerful thing indeed, in every case that she had seen. Perhaps that is an answer to the riddle... she felt the glow of a glimpse of possible understanding, perhaps we create the shared illusion of reality by our continued belief... "I will come, certainly." she answered Wyshira gravely, thinking and maybe I shall gather three red feathers and 6 peach pits for a protective talisman, too "Thank you for asking. I was considering going myself, in fact, but it would be safer to go together." Settling back in his chair, savouring the slightly nutty flavour of his second sweet jar of mead of the evening, Sebastion felt the weight of the coin pouch at his belt with a sense of irony. If he'd had this before they left the city he'd probably have bought the armour he wanted with it, and missed out on the colt. The young horse had taken well to training, though he still didn't like the scent of Sebastion's blanket across his back as they travelled. He was too young to ride, just yet, but preparing him to recognise a rider's scent was a start. After that, he decided, he'd move him on to coming to a call, and kicking on command. If he mastered those quickly enough, there were other tricks to think of, but that would most likely do for now. Returning his mind to the conversation, he listened to Ebri and Wolf talking of assassins and the like, but kept his mouth shut. Assassins - skilled, Nephian or otherwise - were cowards. He knew this in his heart, but knew as well that if he tried to explain it Ebri would just twist the words around until they meant something else. It didn't change the meaning, just the words, as though they weren't what they said at all, but just an illusion of meaning. Still, there was much to be cautious of in the coming days, even if Wolf's prognosis proved to be pessimistic, and he declined the offer of a refill as he slowed down, and prepared to make the jar last the rest of the evening.* * *Ebri turned out of the darkened alley back into the dust of the street. The day was startlingly clear, the air thinner, making the everyday sights seem sharper.The mountains...... she thought with a smile. She allowed her outward self to look pleased as well... it was just as well... The cleric of Ishrak would be more at ease with a pleasant and jolly companion. She sought the sea blue figure through the straggling crowds of the market, knowing that the marauding bully she'd left trussed in the alley would not be stirring any time soon. There... The woman stood fascinated, gazing off at a far off vista of a waterfall, cascading down through a mountain pass. "Wyshira--" she called, well before she got to her, making more than enough noise not to startle. "Have you located the temple yet?" Wyshira turned, her eyes searching the crowd for the owner of the voice she'd recognized. Her gaze settled on Ebri at last and she smiled a greeting. "Yes," she replied, pointing along the road to an intersection with another winding, cobblestoned street. "There's supposed to be a Temple to Naskha down that way." "Excellent" Ebri beamed, giving her best impression of enthusiasm. "Shall we walk, then, or would you care to feast your eyes some more? It is a sight, indeed. Definitely worth noting on my Register of Exceptional Destinations." Wyshira arched an eyebrow. "Register of Exceptional Destinations.... I'll bet you've collected quite a few entries for it in your travels." The water priestess sighed somewhat regretfully and began to walk along the dusty street. "How long have you been on the road anyway, Ebri?" "Oh, any number of years.." Ebri said airily. "It has been so long now, I try not to count the time, only experience each day to the fullest. I record the destinations for those who may come after me, and as a service to the public, who do not wander for their livelihood. And how long have you served the Lady of the Storm?""Why, all my life, of course. My mother trained me and my sister from the time we were old enough to polish the silver ewers and sweep under the altar!" Wyshira seemed almost surprised by the question. "Did you not feel the call of Immar from the first?" A hereditary priestess, then... Ebri felt her veneer wear a little thinner. Hereditary religious types she felt were particularly like passive sheep. Not even the guts to choose for oneself the path of spiritual comfort... "Perhaps..." she shrugged. "Perhaps Immar called me only when I was ready to go... " In truth, she had no idea what the call of a god would be like to the superstitious mind. "After all, it would be unsafe in some instances for a child to travel." She welcomed, though, the chance to interview this woman more closely. It would provide excellent insight, and she could use that in her continued charade. "Well, there is water in my veins, as my mother used to tell me! What else could I be but a Water Priestess?" Wyshira laughed. "But truthfully, I never expected to be the one to leave home and take up the road. I always thought that my sister was better suited to a life of adventure." She was silent for a moment, and Ebri could hear the swish of her robes as they walked along. "I've missed the mountains. And the cold, clear streams. I am happy that we are going that way now." "Indeed. I too love the mountains. And I confess, the city was not to my liking. But you must agree... so much foul and turgid water in that place. I'm sure it cried out to you. And to be moving as well. Though I have not known you or your companions long, I feel that I trust you-- " That was, of course, the proper and expected thing to say. "--but I would welcome anything you could tell me about them I may not have guessed as yet.  I confess to be a bit mystified by Kale Amegrion..." Ebri grinned. "Kale is...." Wyshira paused, thinking. "Well, he......." She stopped, at a loss. "Kale doesn't let anyone get too close to him. He's very resourceful. An easy companion on the road. He's what I would call a reluctant hero." "I would hope that all of us would be reluctant to be heroes. In my experience, being a hero frequently involves death..." Ebri joked. "But he does seem eager for profit, and to do his job well... All of you are excellent at your chosen professions, I have observed. That is rare, I find." "Everyone does everything for profit of one kind or another. Kale is just more honest about it than most." Wyshira grinned back at Ebri. "Yes, Wolf and Kale are good at what they do. I can't say that I've had much of a chance to observe Burl at his chosen profession. I don't think he ever intended to be a mercenary. He'd be happier working away in a lab somewhere, I'm sure!" "That surprises me," Ebri admitted. "For you seem to be quite solicitous of his needs. I should have thought you were companions of a great while." "No, not long. We've barely know each other for a few weeks. But it's my role, to be solicitous," Wyshira said, as if that were explanation enough. "But I was wondering the same thing about you and your companions. How long have the three of you been together?" You play a role as well...? Ebri nodded as if sympathetic. She supposed she could not fault the woman entirely. Healing and succor were at least positive additions to their shared reality. "Some weeks, now. We met in the aftermath of a battle, strangely, as if the gods had brought us together in a clearing in the woods, all converging on the same point. We were trapped in a cave, and savaged by dreadspawn beasts. Perhaps the direness of the situation forced a common bond between us..." That was the word that would be most effective...bond. "We bonded, yes. You would have appreciated our means of escape. We swam through a pool and out through a natural water conduit.""They are quite excellent companions..." She did not add the phrase but unsophisticated. "I am used to travelling alone, but I find their company quite welcome. Certainly Sebastion's blades and Melisande's spells are useful in a hostile encounter. Though we try as a rule to avoid them." "Melisande told me about the Shadow Demon that visited her, and the amulet that it left her. She said that you have the charm now. Would you let me see it?" Wyshira's eyes were bright with curiosity. "Certainly..." Ebri paused, looking significantly around them. "But perhaps it would be better to examine such things in a more protective, perhaps even ritually sanctified location." Ebri nodded at the looming facade of the temple up ahead, and hitched up her robes as they quickened their pace. "She felt that it was watching her. Who knows but that it may still watch us? Yet I could not let her throw it away without knowing its true nature. Perhaps that is the fault of my order: curiosity." "I am curious about such things too," Wyshira admitted. "I wonder how they work, and if I could learn to use them. But even more curious to me in this case is: Why? Why would a Shadow Demon want to watch Melisande? She thinks that the Nephians or the Great Prophet have some kind of interest in her. And yet, she seems to have no idea why." They came under the arches of the ritual building, and passed through a small and weakly planted garden. Spying a shaded alcove with a bench, Ebri pulled the other priestess towards it, then paused thoughtfully, searching for the amulet in her wrap, as if hesitant to say something critical. "Melisande is a powerful worker of magic, of course... but I fear her grasp on reality is not quite so sound in other realms. I am uncertain myself what may be real and what is a figment of her imagination. But in this case, it matters little... whether the danger is real in fact or not, it is still a danger to her so long as she believes it exists. That the Nephians would interest themselves in her -- assuming they are anything more than fables and rumors at all-- I find extremely hard to credit. Yet who knows? Her blue color is unusual, but I do not see why it should make her valuable to them. She seems in more danger of tripping and breaking something more tangible than Nephians..." The amulet came shining into the light, dangling like a pretty toy. Which is what it is... merely a symbol, a toy for others' eyes... it has no meaning to those who serve the Purpose... "Here. I would treat it cautiously, but perhaps you may discern something we have not. And then we should seek the holy water we came for..."</blockquote>

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