Paths of Legend: The Journey

[crazy_monkey1956]

Gentiri nods vigorously, "Yes, it was you in the vision. The vision of the half-dead woman. I saw you."

He looks around in a paranoid fashion, then continues, "I went to find Norali and I did find her, but she was already dead. She killed herself with the dagger. That horrible, horrible dagger. I took the evil thing, I was going to destroy it...but...but...it started talking to me, whispering in my mind. It showed me visions. The giant man. The half-dead woman. The dragon winged serpent. I saw them all. I made it back to the city, but the dagger wouldn't stop whispering. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think. I saw the giant man in a tavern and went a little mad. I gave him the dagger. I thought the nightmares would end, but they didn't. He wasn't supposed to get the dagger. Seeing him was only a sign, I think, a sign that the visions were real. I think I was supposed to give the dagger to you. The half-dead woman."

Miraki returns at that moment, accompanied by a guard with a key ring, "The constable says he's more than willing to release Gentiri into the custody of his family, which is me, of course. I have to take him straight home, though."

OOC: Remind me of that in a "DM's eyes only" sblock when the time comes, please.

 

[ethandrew]

Estelle listens intently as the paranoid halfling spills out what he's been holding in. It made more than half-sense to her, but it also opened up questions she needed answered, questions she had hoped he would have but dared not as now.

She stood aside as the jailer opened the door, and spoke to Miraki, "If it is okay with you, I'd like to go too. I think I can help him a little, and he can help me with what Jolly tasked of me."

She wondered how many other people knew of her as the half-dead woman from the visions. The giant she had no clue of, but she could figure out the dragon winged serpent easily enough and that alone caused her to shudder.

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

The walk back to the Tal home is eerily quiet, with most of the city attending the opening ceremony of the tournaments.

Gentiri glances into every corner and alley, paranoia obviously gripping his mind.

Miraki invites Estelle into his home, which, built to halfling scale, is a bit cramped and uncomfortable for her, especially with more than a dozen Tals running around the place.

A halfling woman, Miraki's wife, Vidani, brings Gentiri a blanket and some soup and takes him into a back room.

Miraki holds Estelle back for a moment, "I have to warn you about something. In his current state, Gentiri is likely to spill the family secret, so I'm going to tell you now. You have to swear, and I mean swear like you've never sworn anything before, not to tell a soul. Can you do that?"

 

[ethandrew]

Estelle slouches down and nods her head in understanding. "Trust me, your family has a secret of mine that I'd rather not get out, so I think I'd have extra reason not to betray your trust. But don't worry, I won't tell a soul," she states in an effort to soothe his nerves, knowing full well the revelation of her secret could spell her persecution and ultimate death.

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

Miraki thinks about how to say what he has to say for a moment. Finally he just decideds to blurt it out, "Jolly is the Wanderer. He's on a first name basis with the first Ten deities...hell, he is one of the first ten deities. He's also more than a thousand years old because he was one of the rakshasa before Lady Dawn redeemed him. So, there you go. That's the big secret."

 

[ethandrew]

"Wow."

Estelle stares blankly out, trying to put pieces together of a puzzle she hardly knows. She states absentmindedly, "It's no wonder he knows so much."

She looks back down at Miraki, "I guess I have found the right family then to do what I must. Before I speak with your brother you should know something. Do you know this dagger of which he speaks of? Well, it's tied into the Serpent Queen Azilyk, it's the Dagger of Souls, the dagger your brother had. It can, in the right hands, or wrong hands, unleash her full power upon this world. But, in the hands of a specific someone, it can imprison her for all of eternity." She looks toward the back room where Gentiri was taken before looking back to Miraki.

"I am that someone."

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

Miraki shakes his head, "I don't want to hear anymore. I'm sorry. I do what I can to support Jolly, but I also do what I can to keep this family safe. And not knowing what Jolly is up to, all the little secrets and plots he has going, keeps my family safe. So, go talk to Gentiri and don't say anything more to me about it."

 

[ethandrew]

"Oh," Estelle states flatly, with an obvious tone of disappointment. She makes to the backroom and stops before she really gets going, "Please don't tell anyone what I just said? Just forget I ever mentioned it." She sighs and shakes her head slightly at the ground before taking her first cramped steps toward Gentiri.

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

Gentiri is curled up on the floor in his blanket, gingerly sipping at his soup. He looks up as Estelle comes in the room, "Miraki hates the family's legacy. He doesn't understand it. He yearns for a normal life. No such thing, really."

 

[ethandrew]

Estelle looks behind her after Gentiri finishes. "Oh your brother?" she says, "I just hope I haven't brought anything bad onto your family."

She walks closer and sits down next to him, her legs out in front of her as she rests back on her hands, "But I know what he means, I'd like the same, just some simple life, having fun, watching the tournament right now, but that's not how it is. I can't rest until I do what must be done. You know what I'm talking about, right?"

She sighs heavily and looks at the small room around her. The ornate rapiers lean awkwardly against the ground and slowly Estelle reaches down and grabs the handle for both at the same time, curious.