Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 7968323" data-attributes="member: 6971069">The Sound of Need - 4/20/2020 There are many mysteries in the multiverse.  Why is the Blood War necessary?  Why are elves the most attractive and yet the least approachable beings at the same time?  Why does gnomish humor have to involve genealogy?  And I am sure there is a good answer to all of them. But no matter how many mysteries there are, there is one constant fact: Men will never understand how women work.  Not physically and not emotionally. “Well that confirms it,” Daneath said frowning.  It was late evening, and we had finished searching all the corpses, and had already lit a bonfire to burn them in a makeshift pyre, where I had performed last rites.  Once there, Drik and Drok started to interrogate the two hobgoblin women, locked in the pantry.“I cannot believe this,” Beepu grumbled.  “A child.  No, an infant is the one we have been hunting for.”“Well, I doubt the females are lying.  What’s that book say about it Myr?” Iesa asked me.I had already performed the ritual so I could understand the writings left behind, most likely by the booyagh.  Reading through it was painful.  The first problem was it was all written with a religious zeal about Maglubiyet that made a large chunk just worthless.  I didn’t need more adulation of the power.  I wanted to know more about this child.  But when it did refer to the child, it was like it was the physical manifestation of the powers themselves.   Lastly, the writer was completely over the top. “I’m working on it,” I said.  “This isn’t the most useful…wait.  This is interesting…’The One cannot be targeted by foul…incantations, for he is hidden by the grace of Maglubiyet’ ?”   I read aloud.  I looked at Beepu.  “What in Baator does that even mean?”Beepu frowned and started a ritual.  After a while he opened his eyes, now glowing with a silvery light, and he turned to look at the child.  I watched his face contort with confusion before he spoke.“He…he…he is not there,” Beepu stammered.“What do you mean?” Daneath asked confused.“I tried to see if he had any magic laid upon him, and it appears he is missing to my eyes right now.”“Missing?” Iesa looked at Beepu critically. “He’s right there.”“Yes…he is.  But not to magic.  I…do not think I could target him with a spell,” Beepu started to cast a shorter spell and then stopped. “No.  He is just…missing from the Weave.”“That might explain why the elves couldn’t find him,” Daneath said thinking.  “Not being able to follow his movements would blind them to attacks.”I kept flipping the pages skimming, until I reached a passage that caught my eye.“He’s…not from this tribe either.  ‘The most sacred one was brought to us.  In his time of need we shall feed and clothe him as our own.’” I chuckled a moment, before looking at the others.  “He’s adopted.”Drik turned towards me with a surprised look, and then started to talk to the females still locked away.“The one, not warborn?” Drik asked.“No.  Not of clan.  Brought to us by blade ear,” I could hear the muffled voice say in goblin.  But at the mention at the phrase ‘blade ear’ our pair looked at each other confused.“What was that?” I asked the goblin duo.Drok turned to look at me, “Not make sense.  Was brought here by…an elf.”“Huh?” Iesa exclaimed, sitting up in the chair where he was precariously reclining in a moment ago.  “An elf brought him here?  That makes no sense.”“Do they know anything about the elf?” I asked.  Shrugging Drik turned again to the door.“What do you know of blade ear?”“Only saw once.  Warlord wanted to kill him.  Booyagh said he must be talked to.  Brought child.  Talked with Booyagh.  Left.  Not seen again.” Came the reply from the door.“What did you see?” Drik continued.“Yellow coin haired.  Had snake picture on neck.  Looked down at all but booyagh.” The woman replied.“Funny name,” the other women spoke.   “Something...’Ros.’”I thought a second before my eyes widened in shock.  I got up from the table where I sat and stood next to the pantry door, using the goblin words I had just picked up.”“Fann ket…Paradros?”“Ta!” came the reply from the second voice.“No.” Iesa said shaking his head.  “Paradros?  That sun elf that was working for the—”“—Kershak.”  Daneath finished.“Ta!  Kershak, mil Paradros.” Came the answer.  We all looked at each other confused in silence.“Why?”  Iesa asked.  “Why would he…”“To punish one elf; Melandrach.” Daneath said quietly.“That must be it.  Melandrach helped my father and helped Umbra as well.  Paradros did say that the Kershak ‘did not grant mercy to the assistants of criminals.’” Beepu said quietly, recalling the elf’s conversation with us.“And he…decided to wipe out not just the king,” I said incredulously.  “But all his kin…his subjects?  That…that is just…wrong.”“What better way to harm a king, but to destroy their subjects?” Daneath said somberly.  “But still it is a high price.”We sat there silently again looking at each other, trying to guess what the other was thinking.  The silence was broken by Darastrix, entering the room from below.  His head swiveled to look at each of us, not understanding.“SSsself missss ssssomething?” he asked patiently.  And then the room was suddenly filled with the sounds of tears as the Prophesized One began to cry.The five males looked at the basket blankly and then turned to me with a helpless expression.I gave them a dirty look and made my way to the table frowning.  As an orphan in an orphanage, you had to help with the young ones and for those in the early teens, the common chores included changing of swaddling.   So, the first thing I did, was check the cloth for signs of wetness or other gifts in the cloth.  But it was clear that he was dry, which left the most likely problem was that he…was…“Sodding…,” I said and turned to Drik and Drok.  “Are one of the two women wet nurses?”“Wet…nurse?” Drok answered confused amid the wailing of the hungry infant.I blinked and stammered back. “Ask how they fed him!”“What? What is the issue?” Daneath asked looking at the child and I confused.I wasn’t paying attention to what the goblin women said as the infant’s wail increased in volume, but Drok finally piped up, “Goat milk from bladder.”“Where?!?” I yelled over the din.  Drok quickly asked, and Drik responded.  “By shack in...” and his voice trailed off, and a look of concern came across his face.“Oh sodding,” I exclaimed looking upwards.“Wait…did any survive the fireball?”  Iesa asked Beepu.“No.  They were all killed when the shack blew apart as I recall.” Beepu said.  “I remember stepping over the corpses as I was trying to web the doors.”“I don’t understand, can’t you just…feed him Myr?” Daneath asked.“With what?” I shouted, as the baby’s cries started to get even louder.“Well…you’re a woman.  Can’t you…just…um.” Daneath stuttered and lamely pointed at my chest.I think my eyes just about bugged out of their sockets and my mouth dropped open as I realized that Daneath had no idea how a woman’s body actually worked.  But as I turned, I realized that all the men had a look that I was about to save the day.“No.  I.  Can’t!” I yelled.  “A woman has to have a child for these,” and I clutched my chest with my hands framing my bosom, “to start providing milk.”“Mussst be Ssssoftssskin thing,” Darastrix observed.“It’s a five day walk to…anywhere.  What are we going to do?” Iesa asked dumbfoundedly.“Not just that,”  Daneath said with a grim look on his face.  “How often would he need something?”“Six or eight times a day,” I said, shouting over the crying.  “He’s too young for real food.  And if he doesn’t get it…”“We can tighten our belts.  Can’t he—” Iesa started.“No!  Without…something, he has three days at best.”“That noizzze will attract many huntersss.” Darastrix said, maddenly calm with the escalating fury of the One in the room.“What do we do?” Beepu said flustered.“Well if we don’t think of something, I’m going to have to—” I started.“—What?  You can’t just kill him!” Iesa said in horror.“What?  Let him starve painfully instead?  That’s better?” I said.  “I’m all for ideas though,” spreading my hands wide, waiting for a suggestion.“Sssself could---” Darastrix offered.“NO!” everyone yelled before he could finish.I was wracking my memory, for options.  But the Gatehouse did have wet nurses; they were compensated for their valuable work in food and even some jink.  They honestly seemed to enjoy it as I recalled.  We too used goat milk at times, but that too wasn’t an option now.  The cries of the Prophesized One were grating on my nerves.  I wanted it to stop.  I didn’t want to kill another baby.During the Faction War, I helped several people end their lives; to die with some dignity when no other options presented themselves.  Because of wounds, because of rot, because of pain. But…when presented with a babe that was so ill from disease, and so weakened that it just spat back all the wet nurse fed it…What choice was there?I teared up as I stood there; trying to find a better option.  I didn’t want to do this.  But if it had to be done, I was duty bound to do so by my power.  I could not forsake that charge.  I would not.  There had to be—“Hey, what about these?  Could he…I don’t know…gum them?” Iesa said.  In his hands were a couple of huge raspberries.  I looked at them for a second, trying to remember what they were.“Pathhorn’s fruit!”  Beepu said recognizing them. “They would sustain him most likely.  But Myr said he is too young for solid—”My head snapped to attention and I looked at the others.  “Quick.  Find me a drinking horn and some cloth!” I ordered to their confusion.Drik and Drok scrambled towards the sleeping rooms, while Iesa and Daneath glanced at each other, before they started to scour the room’s cabinets and drawers.  It wasn’t long before Iesa shouted. “Found one!” just as Drik and Drok came running in with scraps of linen.“Daneath.  I need you to cut the bottom of the horn, so there is a hole no bigger than a pinky finger in width.”“Umm…who’s pinky?”“Wha…mine!” I said holding out a finger for Daneath to squint at.   “Drik, Drok, give me.” I said and took the linens from their hands.  They were simple muslin, but there was more than enough.   I quickly tore one into a square about two hand spans wide.  Then I used a bit of a white strand to clean the filth and soil from it.  I really was afraid to ask where exactly they found it.Daneath came over to me and presented the horn.  I grabbed it and looked through the large end through it the small hole that he had cut in the base.   I then stuffed about half of the cloth into the horn, and while holding it in my left hand I stretched and covered the bottom hole with my finger.“Iesa the fruit,” I said.   He handed me one of the large berries and I put it with my right hand on top of the cloth within the horn.  Then I pulled the remaining section of cloth over it, covering it completely.  I moved over the bawling infant with the horn, and then started to push down on the muslin, crushing and squeezing the berry, so the juices spurt free, and soaked the cloth.  I then lowered the horn down to the child, put the bottom of the horn in his mouth, and quickly removed my finger.The Prophesied One, opened his eyes to look at me.  And after a couple of moments of silence, I could hear the sucking sounds as he pulled the juices from the cloth in the horn, with the suction of his mouth.  He started to make a raspy cooing sound and with both hands clutched the sides of the horn, taking it from my grasp.“There you go…there you go…” I said calmly.  I bent over and awkwardly picked up the child and cradled him.  I then sat down and rocked slowly, as the terror of the High Moors finally got what he wanted.  The sucking continued, as I breathed a sigh of relief.The others looked at me, also visibly relieved.“Well…that may have taken care of that—”“Yes,” I said.  “But you are going to help change him.”“Um…I don’t know if—” Iesa started.“If you can stick your shiv where the sun doesn’t shine on your opponents, a little poop shouldn’t scare you.”  I said keeping eye contact with the tiny hobgoblin.  “Besides I will need to sleep.”“—Sure.  Fine,” Iesa said.  “But what I was going to say; what are we going to do with him now?  We aren’t going to keep him, right?”I looked up from the feeding and shook my head, “I don’t want him.  I’m not…qualified to be a mother.”“You have things under control Myr; he likes you!” Iesa teased.“Pike it!” I said angrily.“Assuming we do not want to raise him, it might be a bigger problem than feeding him,” Beepu said, his browns furrowed in thought.  “Iesa.  How many more berries from Pathhorn do we have?”“Six more; we never used them as I could always hunt game,” he replied.“Then, if the magic still works on him, we only have two real places we could take him to with a five-day march; Secomber or Whitepetal.”“How about Daggerford?” Daneath asked thinking about the nearby towns.Iesa shook his head, “That’s probably eight days from here; a bit too far.”“So…give him to humans or the elves,” Daneath said.  “Why would either want him?”“I doubt that anyone in Secomber would want one,” Iesa began.   “They did just terrorize and enslave a bunch of homesteads.  So, the townsfolk aren’t going to want to do any favors; especially if they find out who he is.”“We could stop, get a goat and go somewhere else like Waterdeep or maybe Neverwinter or even Baldur’s Gate,” Daneath suggested.“We could do that.  Farther the better.  Baldur’s might be the best chance; they do have quite the…mix at the docks.” Iesa said nodding.“I disagree,” I said still rocking the child.“Where then Myr?” Beepu looked at me with curiosity.“We take him to Whitepetal,” I said glancing at all of them.“I do not see the elves taking in one of their enemies; they do not want humans in their forest, let alone hobgoblins.  Why them?”“Because,” I said rocking.  “They need proof that the Prophesized One is defeated.  And they need to see him, and the strange effects on magic that he has.”“You do have a point there,” Beepu said rubbing his chin.  “They were the target of the Kershak’s plot.  They might have a better idea on what to do with him.  Certainly, better than an angry villager in Secomber.”“It’s going to be a long five days,” I muttered.“I said I’ll help,” Iesa said defensively.  He then elbowed Daneath, earning him a puzzled look, “And Daneath can help as well.”“Wha—Oh yes…sure,” Daneath looked at Iesa uncertainly.“Let’s be honest,” I said, still rocking the child as it sucked more of the berry juice from the horn.  “During the day, I am likely the only one that will be able to carry him and keep him quiet—”“I am certain I can carry a—” Daneath started.“—With a sword and shield at the ready?” I interrupted.“You…may have a point,” Daneath conceded.“Or a bow ready?” I said as I turned and looked at Iesa.  He grimaced and looked at his feet and said nothing.  Turning I looked at Drik and Drok who both waved their hands at the idea.“What about me?  I can do it I am certain!” Beepu said in a huff.I looked at him and arched an eyebrow.  “I said carry him, not summon a disc and hope he doesn’t slide off.”“That is…not quite fair.  I would let you ride it and coddle the child.” Beepu answered smartly.I thought a moment.  “Sure.  You can do that.”“See how easy that…what?  You will?” Beepu looked at me in surprise.“You offered.  You aren’t going back on it are you?” I asked pointedly.“Well…um…no…I just did not expect to…fine!  I can do it.”“Ssself ssstill could—” Darastrix started again.“NO!” we all shouted again.The Prophesized One, in his wisdom, decided to give off a contented burp, and his eyes were drooping, ready to sleep off the meal.  I slowly lowered the drowsy infant back into the basket.  He didn’t complain and he was soon lightly snoring.  I stood, stretched, and looked at the others.“I guess we can leave at first light,” I said. I then turned to Darastrix.“Can you lead us to where we met?”  I asked as I pulled out some cheese and hard bread from my pack to chew on.“Easssily.  Fassster than other goblinsss can.”“We watch walls,” Drik said confidently.“Watch for others,” Drok confirmed nodding.“Wake me for last watch,” I said, and I started heading off towards one of the converted quarters on this level.“What…well…what do we do if--?” Iesa said pointing at the basketAt the question, Beepu jumped on a chair and slapped the rogue. “Look, even I can change a nappy. I will show you how, you ignorant human.  It is a simple process of…”Beepu’s voice faded along with Iesa’s groans, as I moved down the hall and walked into one of the larger chambers, that likely housed the booyagh.For all their faults hobgoblins did have one redeemable quality; they were fastidious.  The room that the booyagh had been using was clean, however, it was covered in strange charms and trinket on every flat surface, and many nailed to the walls.  The room had the scent of incense and herbs, but I had to admit it was only strange and not foul.I sat down on a chair in the room and tore at the bread with my teeth and chewed.  I was dreading the next week.  At the gatehouse, kids had to take care of their own.  And while some of the girls enjoyed helping with babies, it wasn’t something I enjoyed.   Elisina enjoyed it quite a bit, so I would often trade chores with her when she was alive.  But I found myself saddled with childcare more and more after her death, until some of the younger girls were old enough to manage them.  Feeding a baby, and changing them wasn’t especially hard though.But I never saw myself as a mother.  I wasn’t even sure what that even meant really.  The matrons and caretakers in an orphanage weren’t ‘parents.’  We were often left to our own devices; we weren’t raised.  And in the Hive, it’s not like I ever saw caring parents.  Just ones trying to keep their own kin alive another day.  Most of the kids I saw eyes were as dead as their own parents.I bit into the hard cheese and wondered what the powers exactly had in mind.  That I was going to have to take care of my former enemy.  All while he was small enough not to know the circumstances that surrounded him.  That I was going to play his mother for the time being.   Sure, I would have some help, but I knew the reality of it as well; I was the most logical choice until we got to Whitepetal.  But I also knew that this would be the last decent night’s sleep I was going to get for a while.  Turning my head towards the door, I saw that Gossamer had followed me, and had sat on his haunches to groom.--You could just let the others take care of the child.  You didn’t have to adopt him.I looked at the tressym and sighed.I don’t know about that.  Considering that earlier I wanted to bash his head in.--You had no idea tha—No, and that’s the point.  I was so focused on wanting to kill him…all of them.--Its not like you didn’t have cause.I didn’t!  All I had was—--Hate.  Based on what happened that made sense.But It wasn’t hate.  It was desire.  I really wanted to kill him; I wanted to make him pay.  Now…I just want him to live.--You’re never that simple.I hung my head sadly.I just don’t understand why everything I feel is backwards.  Wanting to kill.  How am I better than the hobgolbins killing in the child’s name.  I believe in better.  I should be better.--Get some rest.  You’ve had enough shocks for a day.I had finished the cheese, and I pulled a flask from my pouch.  I uncorked it and swallowed the contents, tasting the warm bitter flavors as they slid down my throat.  The flask was half full, and I quickly drained the contents and dropped it on the floor.  I stripped off my things, and flopped on the mattress and waited for the euphoria of the whiskey to take me away.I felt a strong hand on my shoulder, shaking me gently followed by the sound of Daneath’s chiding voice.“You know that isn’t a healthy way to get some rest?”I groaned and refused to open my eyes.  “It’s the only way that works anymore.”“I’ve known others that never find the end of that bottle.  I don’t recommend it.” He said, the concern clear in his voice.I pulled myself up, my head pounding.  “Well, it served its purpose.  But I might have over done it.”“Well, come back to the hall when you are ready.  Beepu and Iesa sorted out stuff from the bodies.  Your share is on the table.  I’m getting some shuteye.   Oh one thing, keep the torches lit.”“Huh? why?” I asked as I swung my legs down and sat up on the bed.“Seems that the One doesn’t like to sleep in the dark,”I looked at Daneath puzzled, “He should be able to see though,”“Beepu thinks he likes the colors.”“Sounds familiar,” I said smiling.  Moved towards Gossamer who lay there curled on the mattress, feigning sleep.Well Goss, go poke around outside and see what’s up.--Sure.  Beats smelling your drunken sweat.Hah cute…wait…you can smell that?--Unfortunately, I can.[HR][/HR]I collected my things and entered the upper hall only to see a comical sight.  There in a chair, lay Beepu fast asleep.  On his chest lay the Prophesized One, slumbering quietly.  Nearby on the wall a single torch in a wall sconce, its flame low.I chuckled and flexed and placed a light on the torch.  I gave it the same warmth color of a flame and sat down at the table.  I shook my head smiling and propped my feet on the table.  I thought a moment on what to do.  I decided to perhaps clear my head with an impossible task.I reached into the pouch where I kept the Apocrypha.  I placed it on the table, and casually pulled on a metal tab, and pulled out one of the many unreadable sheets.Or that’s what I expected.The sheet was the same silvery metal, but the strange celestial runes now glowed with an orange light in places, while others remained as dark as before.  I leaned forward, with my mouth opening wider as I looked at the letters I saw at the top of the page.“Rituals of Binding”I blinked.  Why were the letters glowing?  I leaned forward and squinted at the letters.  Then thinking a moment, I flexed and shut off the light I had cast on the torch.  And then before my eyes, I saw the glow fade and the illegible writing appear once again.  A simple flex on the torch and the letters resumed glowing with an orange light.I brought the Apocrypha closer to my eyes and looked at the letters more carefully.  I then realized what had been eluding me.  The script was always strange in that every letter was perfectly spaced apart in a grid forty-two letters wide.  But now I saw why; it wasn’t a single letter, but instead there were multiple letters in a single space, layered on top of each other.  And somehow, my light made a single letter in each stack illuminate, spelling words.The title was clear, but while the next block was readable, it wasn’t really understandable.  I read it over and over, and realized I was indeed reading a magical language of some type, using the Celestial alphabet, but spelling out words of arcanum, after a quick understandable phrase.   I couldn’t help myself but to read it aloud.“Knowledge in the first,” I said to myself.  “Mitate an texi ciro animun metanan?”As the last syllable passed my lips, I realized my mistake.  It wasn’t just words…it was an incantation.I could feel my world spin around my head and my gut felt it was turned inside out.  The whirling of lights, colors, and even smells assaulted my senses.  I felt the fabric of the weave reverberate and finally rip asunder, swallowing my mind first into darkness and then into a glittering expanse.I hung there motionless, scarcely breathing as my eyes looked about.  It was like looking upwards at the stars that surrounded Selune here in Toril.  Or perhaps looking upwards in Sigil at Antipeak, to the lanterns and lights far away overhead.   I looked down at myself and saw nothing but my own bare skin.  Across the surface, flickered letters and swirling lines forming abstract patterns, like an intricate tattoo.  But there was something else as well.  From my body I saw two strands of white and three of black coming from the distant darkness, and then weave together into a braid that protruded from me just above my navel.  I realized I had seen this once before; when I was dead, and my soul was waiting on the fugue.  But now the strands and the braid were thicker, and I could feel the energy pulse with more power.I twisted about, looking around me.  But nowhere did I see a surface to stand or sit.  There was nothing but the strands that I could see.  But as I calmed, I realized that I felt something else there in the darkness; a presence watching me.  I then heard in my head in the language of Celestials.“Finally, you have arrived.  Took your sweet time did you not?”Session Notes:I have two children, and feeding infants is indeed a chore.  And what is described is pretty much what medieval Europeans did in the absence of wet nurses.  And there was a serious question about killing the child, which the table was uncomfortable.  But the berries did work, so it ended there.</blockquote>

Verification