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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 3079871" data-attributes="member: 5203">The Forging AnewThis is the second of three pieces of fiction, this written by Tolly's player Sinewgrab.Don't worry, there will be actual game updates coming.  These fiction pieces just all happen to occur at this particular point in the story, so here they go.-----------------------            "Crystal, keep the crew together, and don't let them get themselves killed before I am back."            "Sir, I still don't understand what you are doing. Why can't I go with you?" The axani Inquisitor pulled the strap tighter on Tolly's left side. "Your associates don't seem to like me, and I am not comfortable at all alone with them, especially the Duchess. She is less than even-tempered, and now she is stressed because of the wizard."            "I don't think I entirely know what I am doing either, Crystal. I have been praying nightly for guidance as to what I should be doing next, and I find that I have an inexplicable urge to climb that mountain. When I checked over the maps of the area that we brought from Laeshir, I found that this mountain was once a holy site for Ardara. Somewhere near the top is an open temple for priests to expose themselves to the elements and our Mother. I am going there. Alone." Tolly stared evenly at Crystal, and then grimaced. "I cannot help you with Autumn. She is a woman of strong passions, and somewhat uncontrolled. I suspect in time that Kyle will provide her stability, and help her sister keep her out of trouble--if he can cease his idiotic experiments."            Tolly shrugged, and hopped slightly to settle his plate armor. His maul he strapped in place on his back, and he finished his preparations by pulling on his armored gauntlets. It was time to go. He could feel it.            He stopped briefly by Kyle and Autumn's tent, but decided against interrupting them. In the day and a half since Kyle's...transformation...the wizard had been impossible to live with. Tolly suspected that the pressure Kyle had exerted on him to leave was at least partially due to his memories being time-dependent. If he was correct, Kyle was almost to the point where he and Kyle had been less than friendly, due to their mutual admiration of Autumn, and the clash over psionicists. The Servants of Ardara had done him no favors there--but he had learned that were no hard rules to the world. Shades of faith, as the Exalted had told him, were what the world was made of. Like soil, there were rich loams, and hard clays. Both will sustain, but one better than the other.            He nodded to Arrie as he passed, glad that the group had decided to pause for a day to let Kyle restore himself. She smiled at him and returned to her watch. He ventured into the trees, comfortable in the cool mountain air. His thoughts went to Iria, and he smiled, continuing his steady pace. He hoped she was doing well in Miracle. It had been too long since he had seen her. Once this diplomatic mission to the Vampire Lord was over, he would ask Kyle to take him to Miracle. Tolly missed his ward terribly.            Some hours later, he was still walking. He had passed the treeline some time back, and was now following a barely visible path, made of worn steps, which in the fading afternoon light were nearly invisible. The Inquisitor Primus could see the temple above him, and it had become tasking to follow the path – he swore that it was practically straight up. Finally, he was at the door – and he could see the old Dwarven runes telling him to follow the path if he was a pilgrim. Unfortunately, they also contained the character that meant deep. He wasn't done walking. Into the darkness he went, it closing behind him as he strode into the bowels of the earth.            He lost track of time – he was no dwarf to know these things instinctively – but soon came to a room lit by incandescent fungi. There were no other exits, and this room felt absolutely right to him. Every breath brought him comfort, and each moment cleared his mind and eased his weariness. He stripped, and carefully laid out his armor and clothing on a stone shelf. Tolly walked to the center of the room, and knelt. He closed his eyes, and began to pray.            It may have been an hour, or it may have been a day later. Tolly opened his eyes. A form stood in front of him – one which was familiar, and yet not.            "Exalted?"            Good, Tolly. Your mind is still sharp. How are you this day?            "I am well, Exalted, though somewhat surprised. I thought you had moved on." Tolly shifted. His knees ached, but it was a familiar ache. Stone was never soft. "To what do I owe this honor?"            The ghostly form shimmered slightly. The Holy Mother has determined that you are correct in your suspicions. You are not on the best path to continue Her work in this world. Your absorption of the traits of the Earth does not best prepare you for what is to come. She will help you.            "I don't think I understand." Tolly stood. "Does the Mother wish for me to change where I am going?"            No, Tolly. She is going to change where you have been. Brace yourself.            The room collapsed on Tolly, burying him in the heart of the mountain.*          *            *            Tolly became conscious of his surroundings. He was fully clad in his armor, and everything seemed to be in working order, although he had a splitting headache. A healing orison did nothing to abate it. He felt dehydrated, and he could taste earth on his tongue. He stood, and then realized he could not see. His darkvision was gone, as was the stone-like feel he had become used to in his skin. Memories slowly emerged, of Jerome guiding his mind, splitting off learned knowledge like the slabs from slate, forging him anew in the heat of the Mother's love, with memories gleaned from other of her children. He felt acutely the loss of his knowledge of forging magical arms, but then gained a feel of the earth that he had missed before. He could feel the Mother through the stone. He would never be far from her so long as he could touch the earth.He prayed briefly, knowledge flowing into his mind. He muttered a prayer, and the room alit with divine light. He breathed in the remaining essence of Ardara's love and approval, and walked out. It was a long walk back to camp, and the sooner started, the sooner ended. He did not look forward to explaining his condition, much less the changes in his physical makeup. First Kyle, now him. Who would change next?</blockquote>

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