KidCthulhu
First Post
I'm sure there'd be a place for Bob in the Handmaidens. It would just change the rating of this game from PG-13 (with violence and some adult content) to XXX (look, do you really want to be hanging around in this alley?)
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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Welcome to the Halmae (updated 2/27/07)
- Thread starter spyscribe
- Start date
Spatzimaus
First Post
spyscribe said:
Bow chicka BOW bow.
Thatch'll do fine at this job, as long as he can remember not to high-five every guy that comes out of the place. And if he takes the vows, can you imagine the pick-up lines he could use?
spyscribe
First Post
Part the One-Hundred Thirty-Seventh
In which: Anvil the Just faces judgment, and the party grows a little smaller.
Reyu arrives at the docks early, and waits for the others to arrive. Thatch is the first, sporting a brand-new holy symbol of The Attendants.
Thatch seems quite proud of his new status and Reyu notices him frequently giving little adjustments to his medallion to make sure it isn’t turned-around, or to wipe off a smudge.
Thatch’s holy symbol indicates that he is now an Attendant of the Field. (He had initially thought to become an Attendant of the Body, but upon discovering that they were expected to take a vow of celibacy, quickly changed his mind).
Thatch notices Reyu looking. “I’m not a Knight yet,” he informs her. “Dame Jenna says there’s a lot of training I have to do first, and I don’t really have time for it right now.”
Reyu cannot help but smile at his eagerness. Humans are always in such a hurry. “I am sure when the season is right you will be a credit to your order and to that honor,” she tells him. Thatch positively beams.
Lira arrives a few moments later, and spotting Thatch’s new adornment, quirks an eyebrow. “An Attendant?”
“Yup,” Thatch replies proudly.
Lira claps him on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. “Welcome to the sisterhood.”
Thatch rolls his eyes, but even Lira’s teasing can’t dampen his good mood much. “Thank you. And how are your brother Questors?”
Lira’s smile abruptly dies. “They’ve been better,” she mutters and goes to board the waiting ship.
Benedic, Annika, Kiara, and Eva arrive in short order; although, none of them are in particularly cheery moods. Benedic is sociable enough, but Thatch notices as they board that he carefully avoids eye-contact with Lira. What ever happened between those two? he wonders.
Meanwhile, Annika—whose family lives in Dar Karo—is busily coaching Kiara for any probing questions she might face during their upcoming visit.
“Okay, one more time, you’re my—”
“Sister! No! Familiar! No… What am I again?”
Annika buries her face in her hands. Visiting her family has become so much more stressful since she became a teenaged mother of a teenager.
Eva looks around at the group, unable to shake the sensation that Kemmer is about to pop out of a barrel at any moment. The sailors all seem to be Alirrian, so that should be safe enough. The party’s all here… Wait a second. “Where’s Anvil?” she asks.
“He sent word,” Reyu replies. “He has business to attend to at the Temple of Justice.”
“What kind of business?” Kiara wants to know.
Reyu shrugs. “Beyond his wishes that Kettenek’s Justice be upon us, he did not elaborate.”
###
Since learning that Tenacious wished to submit his name for Third Order, Anvil has spent nearly all of his time sequestered in the bowels of the Justicar archives, squeezing what should be months worth of study into a matter of days. Every conceivable topic of Law, every ruling and precedent and principle that might be of relevance to the Examination, he studies. “Property Rulings in Inter-City-State Matters.” “Criminal Proceedings Against Minor Nobility.” “Contract Law Between Private Citizens and The Royal House of Dar Pykos.” His mind is ablaze with Law and Justice.
He sleeps only a few hours each night, praying to Kettenek for the strength to continue working. Justicars, acolytes, monks of the Order of Law… all come and go from the archives in the course of their daily work. Anvil remains rooted at his table, immovable as stone itself.
As the rest of the party is in Dar Karo spending their well—and, Anvil’s studies have confirmed, legally—gotten gains, Anvil is called to appear before the examination board.
The panel consists of four Justicars, including Tenacious, all of whom are of Fifth Order or above. For hours, they fire a non-stop series of questions at him, barely giving him time to think before demanding an answer, barely giving him time to answer before firing the next question. It is a grilling the likes of which Anvil has never known.
Anvil fields each question as best he can. Some he can answer easily. Some not. On several occasions, as he hears his own answers, he realizes how ill thought-out they are. He inwardly reprimands himself each time he sees the Justicars on the Panel eye each other skeptically at his response. Gemstone the Just, the head of the Panel, launches into an exhaustive series of questions about Inheritance Law in the First Century Pre-Confederacy, a subject on which he is clearly insufficiently prepared.
At last, Gemstone the Just strikes her stone hammer against the counter before her, and the questioning ceases. “Anvil the Just,” she intones, “this Examination has come to an end. You will leave us while we determine the results.”
Anvil glances at their faces, but he is unable to read anything in their expressions. Even Tenacious’s face is inscrutable.
Anvil bows. “May Kettenek’s Justice be with you in your deliberations,” he says. And he exits.
He waits in the hall outside the Examination chamber. He did well. Mostly. He thinks. Whether or not he has done well enough… that, he cannot yet gauge. Perhaps he could have done more. Perhaps he should have spent more time on the road engaged in studies; after all, he knew this day would one day come. Perhaps he…
But enough of such thoughts. If it is Kettenek’s Will that he be granted his Third Orders now, it shall be done.
Finally, after nearly an hour of waiting, the door opens. An acolyte emerges. “Justicar,” he says to Anvil. “The Panel is ready to deliver your results.”
Anvil nods. And he enters the room to hear his fate.
###
Eva and Reyu have very successful shopping trips, both returning to the inn where the party has obtained rooms with new leather armor, and in Reyu’s case, a wooden shield as well. Thatch steps up to full-plate, himself. Eva finds that while the diversion has not alleviated her concerns for the future, the feel of good leather armor on her back does help her mood somewhat.
For her part, Lira had already made inquiries at some of the temples in Dar Pykos about buying some scrolls. She does a lot of window shopping in the central market, but finds that—aside from the odd savory pie—there really isn’t anything she needs to purchase.
That evening she runs into Annika.
“Hello!” Lira calls out. “Where’s Kiara?”
Annika bites her lip. “Actually, I think she’s flirting with one of my brothers.”
“That must be a little weird.”
“She’s in swallow form. I think we’re beyond weird.” Annika shakes herself briefly as though to rid herself of the thought. “So… finding anything?”
Lira shakes her head. “Here I am, money to burn, and nothing to spend it on. I don’t need weapons, or armor, and I can’t really carry more equipment than I am right now.”
Annika considers. “I was going to take some time when we got back to the city to craft a few magic items. I don’t have a lot of time, but if you can cover the cost of supplies, I can make you something.”
“What kind of something?”
“Want a hat of disguise?”
“Does that do what it sounds like it does?”
“Pretty much.”
“Definitely, yes.”
###
It’s the last the party plans to spend in Dar Karo. Lira is just coming down the steps to the common area to join the others for dinner when Benedic catches her by the arm. She starts just a bit; Benedic has been scrupulous about keeping his distance since their “conversation” in Chi’i’s valley.
He bends down so he can speak low into her ear. Close enough that his breath tickles the side of her face.
“We need to talk.”
She looks back up at him. “You’re going now, aren’t you?”
He nods. “It’s time. I’ve already arranged passage on the next ship heading back towards the Sovereignty.”
Lira takes a deep breath. She’s had weeks to get used to the idea that this was going to happen. She still doesn’t want to believe it.
“Let me… Let me walk you out.”
Benedic nods, and they walk in silence to the door of the inn. Before he can go, Lira catches his hand. “Take care of yourself, okay?”
So quickly Lira almost isn’t sure that it happens, Benedic leans down and kisses her on the cheek. “You too.”
She notices, as he squeezes her hand one last time before letting go, that he’s wearing the ring of her hair that she made for him.
She watches him walk away towards the docks, and just once, right before he’s out of sight, he turns and looks back. For a second, she thinks she sees him smile. The next moment, he’s lost in the shifting crowds.
In which: Anvil the Just faces judgment, and the party grows a little smaller.
Reyu arrives at the docks early, and waits for the others to arrive. Thatch is the first, sporting a brand-new holy symbol of The Attendants.
Thatch seems quite proud of his new status and Reyu notices him frequently giving little adjustments to his medallion to make sure it isn’t turned-around, or to wipe off a smudge.
Thatch’s holy symbol indicates that he is now an Attendant of the Field. (He had initially thought to become an Attendant of the Body, but upon discovering that they were expected to take a vow of celibacy, quickly changed his mind).
Thatch notices Reyu looking. “I’m not a Knight yet,” he informs her. “Dame Jenna says there’s a lot of training I have to do first, and I don’t really have time for it right now.”
Reyu cannot help but smile at his eagerness. Humans are always in such a hurry. “I am sure when the season is right you will be a credit to your order and to that honor,” she tells him. Thatch positively beams.
Lira arrives a few moments later, and spotting Thatch’s new adornment, quirks an eyebrow. “An Attendant?”
“Yup,” Thatch replies proudly.
Lira claps him on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. “Welcome to the sisterhood.”
Thatch rolls his eyes, but even Lira’s teasing can’t dampen his good mood much. “Thank you. And how are your brother Questors?”
Lira’s smile abruptly dies. “They’ve been better,” she mutters and goes to board the waiting ship.
Benedic, Annika, Kiara, and Eva arrive in short order; although, none of them are in particularly cheery moods. Benedic is sociable enough, but Thatch notices as they board that he carefully avoids eye-contact with Lira. What ever happened between those two? he wonders.
Meanwhile, Annika—whose family lives in Dar Karo—is busily coaching Kiara for any probing questions she might face during their upcoming visit.
“Okay, one more time, you’re my—”
“Sister! No! Familiar! No… What am I again?”
Annika buries her face in her hands. Visiting her family has become so much more stressful since she became a teenaged mother of a teenager.
Eva looks around at the group, unable to shake the sensation that Kemmer is about to pop out of a barrel at any moment. The sailors all seem to be Alirrian, so that should be safe enough. The party’s all here… Wait a second. “Where’s Anvil?” she asks.
“He sent word,” Reyu replies. “He has business to attend to at the Temple of Justice.”
“What kind of business?” Kiara wants to know.
Reyu shrugs. “Beyond his wishes that Kettenek’s Justice be upon us, he did not elaborate.”
###
Since learning that Tenacious wished to submit his name for Third Order, Anvil has spent nearly all of his time sequestered in the bowels of the Justicar archives, squeezing what should be months worth of study into a matter of days. Every conceivable topic of Law, every ruling and precedent and principle that might be of relevance to the Examination, he studies. “Property Rulings in Inter-City-State Matters.” “Criminal Proceedings Against Minor Nobility.” “Contract Law Between Private Citizens and The Royal House of Dar Pykos.” His mind is ablaze with Law and Justice.
He sleeps only a few hours each night, praying to Kettenek for the strength to continue working. Justicars, acolytes, monks of the Order of Law… all come and go from the archives in the course of their daily work. Anvil remains rooted at his table, immovable as stone itself.
As the rest of the party is in Dar Karo spending their well—and, Anvil’s studies have confirmed, legally—gotten gains, Anvil is called to appear before the examination board.
The panel consists of four Justicars, including Tenacious, all of whom are of Fifth Order or above. For hours, they fire a non-stop series of questions at him, barely giving him time to think before demanding an answer, barely giving him time to answer before firing the next question. It is a grilling the likes of which Anvil has never known.
Anvil fields each question as best he can. Some he can answer easily. Some not. On several occasions, as he hears his own answers, he realizes how ill thought-out they are. He inwardly reprimands himself each time he sees the Justicars on the Panel eye each other skeptically at his response. Gemstone the Just, the head of the Panel, launches into an exhaustive series of questions about Inheritance Law in the First Century Pre-Confederacy, a subject on which he is clearly insufficiently prepared.
At last, Gemstone the Just strikes her stone hammer against the counter before her, and the questioning ceases. “Anvil the Just,” she intones, “this Examination has come to an end. You will leave us while we determine the results.”
Anvil glances at their faces, but he is unable to read anything in their expressions. Even Tenacious’s face is inscrutable.
Anvil bows. “May Kettenek’s Justice be with you in your deliberations,” he says. And he exits.
He waits in the hall outside the Examination chamber. He did well. Mostly. He thinks. Whether or not he has done well enough… that, he cannot yet gauge. Perhaps he could have done more. Perhaps he should have spent more time on the road engaged in studies; after all, he knew this day would one day come. Perhaps he…
But enough of such thoughts. If it is Kettenek’s Will that he be granted his Third Orders now, it shall be done.
Finally, after nearly an hour of waiting, the door opens. An acolyte emerges. “Justicar,” he says to Anvil. “The Panel is ready to deliver your results.”
Anvil nods. And he enters the room to hear his fate.
###
Eva and Reyu have very successful shopping trips, both returning to the inn where the party has obtained rooms with new leather armor, and in Reyu’s case, a wooden shield as well. Thatch steps up to full-plate, himself. Eva finds that while the diversion has not alleviated her concerns for the future, the feel of good leather armor on her back does help her mood somewhat.
For her part, Lira had already made inquiries at some of the temples in Dar Pykos about buying some scrolls. She does a lot of window shopping in the central market, but finds that—aside from the odd savory pie—there really isn’t anything she needs to purchase.
That evening she runs into Annika.
“Hello!” Lira calls out. “Where’s Kiara?”
Annika bites her lip. “Actually, I think she’s flirting with one of my brothers.”
“That must be a little weird.”
“She’s in swallow form. I think we’re beyond weird.” Annika shakes herself briefly as though to rid herself of the thought. “So… finding anything?”
Lira shakes her head. “Here I am, money to burn, and nothing to spend it on. I don’t need weapons, or armor, and I can’t really carry more equipment than I am right now.”
Annika considers. “I was going to take some time when we got back to the city to craft a few magic items. I don’t have a lot of time, but if you can cover the cost of supplies, I can make you something.”
“What kind of something?”
“Want a hat of disguise?”
“Does that do what it sounds like it does?”
“Pretty much.”
“Definitely, yes.”
###
It’s the last the party plans to spend in Dar Karo. Lira is just coming down the steps to the common area to join the others for dinner when Benedic catches her by the arm. She starts just a bit; Benedic has been scrupulous about keeping his distance since their “conversation” in Chi’i’s valley.
He bends down so he can speak low into her ear. Close enough that his breath tickles the side of her face.
“We need to talk.”
She looks back up at him. “You’re going now, aren’t you?”
He nods. “It’s time. I’ve already arranged passage on the next ship heading back towards the Sovereignty.”
Lira takes a deep breath. She’s had weeks to get used to the idea that this was going to happen. She still doesn’t want to believe it.
“Let me… Let me walk you out.”
Benedic nods, and they walk in silence to the door of the inn. Before he can go, Lira catches his hand. “Take care of yourself, okay?”
So quickly Lira almost isn’t sure that it happens, Benedic leans down and kisses her on the cheek. “You too.”
She notices, as he squeezes her hand one last time before letting go, that he’s wearing the ring of her hair that she made for him.
She watches him walk away towards the docks, and just once, right before he’s out of sight, he turns and looks back. For a second, she thinks she sees him smile. The next moment, he’s lost in the shifting crowds.
Sagiro
Rodent of Uncertain Parentage
Yesterday was a sad day for me: I finally caught up with this most excellent story, and now have to wait for each new installment like everyone else. Spyscribe, it was most kind of you to remember my birthday. I’m old enough, I daresay, to know a good Story Hour when I see it.
Please excuse the excess of effusiveness, but holy crap, spyscribe and Fajitas, this thing is freakin’ awesome! The story itself is compelling, beautifully written, and wonderfully character-driven. The individual characters are great fun to read. And the campaign, in both plot and setting, is utterly exquisite. Fajitas, you are master of the craft, which is hardly surprising given your profession.
This Story Hour also makes me weep for the types of adventures I could run before my party could teleport, wind walk and plane shift.
So. Er. When’s the next update then?
-Sagiro
Please excuse the excess of effusiveness, but holy crap, spyscribe and Fajitas, this thing is freakin’ awesome! The story itself is compelling, beautifully written, and wonderfully character-driven. The individual characters are great fun to read. And the campaign, in both plot and setting, is utterly exquisite. Fajitas, you are master of the craft, which is hardly surprising given your profession.
This Story Hour also makes me weep for the types of adventures I could run before my party could teleport, wind walk and plane shift.
So. Er. When’s the next update then?
-Sagiro
spyscribe
First Post
Piratecat, Sagiro, thank you both for your kind words. I actually had to phone Fajitas when I saw Sagiro's post this morning to make sure he had seen it.
It means a lot to know that you both read and enjoy. Not just because you both write such good story hours yourselves, but because you're great people to boot. Hopefully, someone will stick a pin in my ear before my head becomes permanently swollen.
And I know I've said this before, but to everyone who reads, comments, asks questions, or even just bumps. THANK YOU. I don't always respond effusively in-thread to every post, but be assured it is always a little thrill to open my inbox and find a message that someone has posted here.
Now, to hold up my end of our little social contract, and to answer Sagiro's question, the next update is just moments away.
So everyone sing together now...
"I see Alirria rising
I see trouble on the way..."
It means a lot to know that you both read and enjoy. Not just because you both write such good story hours yourselves, but because you're great people to boot. Hopefully, someone will stick a pin in my ear before my head becomes permanently swollen.
And I know I've said this before, but to everyone who reads, comments, asks questions, or even just bumps. THANK YOU. I don't always respond effusively in-thread to every post, but be assured it is always a little thrill to open my inbox and find a message that someone has posted here.
Now, to hold up my end of our little social contract, and to answer Sagiro's question, the next update is just moments away.
So everyone sing together now...
"I see Alirria rising
I see trouble on the way..."
spyscribe
First Post
Part the One-Hundred Thirty-Eighth
In which: Alirria rises.
The last days of February are always filled with anticipation in the Halmae. The cold days of winter are coming to a close as Kettenek’s power wanes. The days are growing longer and warmer as spring approaches, bringing with them the season of Alirria. The season of life. The season of love.
As the party’s ship pulls into Dar Pykos Harbor on the last full day of winter, the air carries a current of excitement.
Anvil is at the docks to meet them. They cannot help but notice that he is looking quite sharp in his new Third Order Justicar robes.
Reyu is the first to congratulate him. “It is good to see your contributions recognized.”
“It’s good to see you actually change clothes,” Kiara adds.
Although Anvil generously invites the rest of the party to join him at the Temple of Justice to observe the rituals marking the end of Kettenek’s season, most have made other plans.
“Well, thanks and all,” says Thatch, “but I’m going to be at the Temple of the Handmaidens, working.”
“Yeah, I’ll just bet you are,” Eva says, with a smirk.
“Huh? No, no. Really. I’m gonna be working. Like actually working,” Thatch protests.
“Yeah. Uh-huh,” Eva replies. Lira barely stifles her giggles. Thatch shoots them both a dirty look before arching ignoring them as he goes to check on Bob.
“Reyu?” Anvil asks.
The elf shakes her head. “Some of my sisters are holding their celebration outside the city. I will be joining them.”
“Ooo! Ooo!” Kiara bounces in her eagerness. “Can I come with you? I loved New Year’s with the elves.”
Annika frowns. “I thought you wanted to come to the Mages’ Academy with me.”
“That was before I knew there were elves.”
Annika is torn. It would be nice to have the night to herself, or maybe… not to herself, but… she looks over at Reyu. “Would she be bothering you?”
“I’m right here!” Kiara protests.
Reyu answers, ignoring the interruption. “Not at all.” She then answers Annika’s unspoken question, “She will be quite safe with us.”
“I guess you can go then.”
“Yippee!”
Reyu and Kiara have soon gone on their way, and Annika hurries off to get back to the Academy. Seeing that no one seems eager to take him up on his invitation, Anvil departs as well.
This leaves Eva and Lira standing together on the dock. The look at each other. “How are we the only ones without plans?”
Alirria Rising marks not only the first day of spring, but also the start of a new year. As such, it is one of the most festive days of the calendar. And by long standing tradition, it is considered bad luck not to have a date.
The two young, attractive, single women stand a moment longer.
“I’m going to go visit some friends of mine,” Lira offers. “Do you want me to ask for you if anyone—?”
Eva doesn’t let her finish the thought. “No.”
“Okay.”
The silence lingers.
“So… Meet you at the main square?”
“Four-thirty?”
“See you then.”
They both hurry off. Lira goes to find her friends. Eva goes to find a card game.
###
Today, the wind blows in Eva’s favor. The Lady’s Luck is with her, and she is easily cleaning out her last remaining opponent, a good looking, chatty fellow named Lyndon. Too chatty to be a good card player, but—she notes—chatty enough to make a decent companion for an evening.
Eva looks at her hand and raises. Lyndon looks at his hand and at his dwindling pile of gold. “I’d like to call,” he says, “but I don’t think I have enough gold left. You take barter?”
“What have you got?” Eva asks, eyeing him up and down. He is, indeed, a good looking fellow.
He spreads his hands wide and smiles a self-deprecating smile. “Not much,” he admits.
Eva takes another good look at him. She’s in a winning mood, and the cards are in her favor. Maybe she’ll roll the dice.
“You got a date for Alirria Rising?” she asks.
“Er, no,” he says, clearly taken aback.
“Okay. Put in the rest of your gold. If I win, you’re my date.”
Lyndon smiles. “Well, that hardly seems fair. A date with you is hardly a hardship. If I’m putting something into the pot, shouldn’t it cost me something?”
“Oh, it will,” Eva says. “You’ll be paying.”
Lyndon laughs. “All right. You’ve got a deal.” He pushes his remaining coins to the center of the table and shows his cards.
Lyndon’s hand is pretty good. But it’s not nearly as good as Eva’s Full Gods.
Eva sweeps up the pot with a smile. “You can pick me up at four.”
###
After most of the last week spent in a funk, Eva finds herself looking forward to the night out. The trip to Dar Karo helped clear her head after her late-night visitor. And while it’s true that not having a date for Alirria Rising isn’t quite as bad as not having a date for Alirria Ascendant, nobody likes to start the New Year alone. And Lyndon is rather good looking.
But, Eva realizes, it is more than just the prospect of a date that has brightened her spirits. Much to her surprise, she finds that it is also the coming of the season of Alirria. Her encounter with the goddess is fresh in her mind, and she can still feel the warm, enveloping touch. Eva draws comfort from remembering the sensations.
Tonight will be a good night.
As promised, Lyndon picks Eva up at four in the morning. The Alirria Rising ceremonies are to begin late at night, culminating at dawn. Afterwards, there will be a great celebration, which lasts until people collapse and return to their homes, usually in pairs, to continue their celebration in a more private setting.
Eva and Lyndon meet up with Lira and her friend, a personable man named Artimus who, as it turns out, is a fellow sorcerer. Is it something about sorcerers, Eva wonders briefly, that makes them so… likeable?
Artimus works in Dar Pykos as an exterminator which seems an odd profession until he points out that there is nothing like the combination of light and magic missile for killing rats. “If I can see ‘em, I can kill ‘em,” he boasts with justifiable professional pride.
The four arrive at the packed city square where a large stage has been erected. A crowd has gathered before it, and near the front are dozens of couples dressed in green robes. They are those who hope to conceive new life in this season, seeking blessings of fertility from the Alirrian priestesses.
The priestesses lead the assembled in prayers and songs, as the crowd grows larger and larger. Finally, as the sky grows lighter, the Benedictress, the head of the Alirrian Church in Dar Pykos, comes to the fore, and begins her Invocation for the New Year.
She speaks words of hope. Words of joy, of love, of glad tidings and new beginnings. Words rich with the promise of renewal, of restoration. She speaks words of life.
While she speaks, the first rays of the spring sun break the horizon, illuminating the Benedictress. Eva, Lyndon, Lira, and Artimus each take a long sip from the cups of fresh, cool water passed through the crowd just as the Benedictress raises her hands in final blessing. As one, the voices of the crowd rise up around them in celebration.
Spring is here.
The next few hours are a delightful time. There is dancing, feasting, and drinking. The two couples soon lose each other in the crowd, and it is nearly noon before Eva finds herself exhausted and ready to call it a night. Lyndon offers to walk her home, and Eva agrees.
There is a brief, awkward moment as they stand outside the door to Mrs. Blackburn’s boarding house. But, although Eva finds Lyndon companionable enough, she has decided that the night will end here.
“Well,” she tells him. “Good night, and thank you. I had a good time.”
He nods, receiving the message. “So did I,” he says with a smile. He steps in to kiss her gently on the cheek.
And then he whispers four little words in her ear. Words that make Eva’s blood run cold.
“Kemmer sends his best.”
She can only stand and stare at him in horror as he flashes her a quick, crooked grin, turns around, and disappears into the crowd.
In which: Alirria rises.
The last days of February are always filled with anticipation in the Halmae. The cold days of winter are coming to a close as Kettenek’s power wanes. The days are growing longer and warmer as spring approaches, bringing with them the season of Alirria. The season of life. The season of love.
As the party’s ship pulls into Dar Pykos Harbor on the last full day of winter, the air carries a current of excitement.
Anvil is at the docks to meet them. They cannot help but notice that he is looking quite sharp in his new Third Order Justicar robes.
Reyu is the first to congratulate him. “It is good to see your contributions recognized.”
“It’s good to see you actually change clothes,” Kiara adds.
Although Anvil generously invites the rest of the party to join him at the Temple of Justice to observe the rituals marking the end of Kettenek’s season, most have made other plans.
“Well, thanks and all,” says Thatch, “but I’m going to be at the Temple of the Handmaidens, working.”
“Yeah, I’ll just bet you are,” Eva says, with a smirk.
“Huh? No, no. Really. I’m gonna be working. Like actually working,” Thatch protests.
“Yeah. Uh-huh,” Eva replies. Lira barely stifles her giggles. Thatch shoots them both a dirty look before arching ignoring them as he goes to check on Bob.
“Reyu?” Anvil asks.
The elf shakes her head. “Some of my sisters are holding their celebration outside the city. I will be joining them.”
“Ooo! Ooo!” Kiara bounces in her eagerness. “Can I come with you? I loved New Year’s with the elves.”
Annika frowns. “I thought you wanted to come to the Mages’ Academy with me.”
“That was before I knew there were elves.”
Annika is torn. It would be nice to have the night to herself, or maybe… not to herself, but… she looks over at Reyu. “Would she be bothering you?”
“I’m right here!” Kiara protests.
Reyu answers, ignoring the interruption. “Not at all.” She then answers Annika’s unspoken question, “She will be quite safe with us.”
“I guess you can go then.”
“Yippee!”
Reyu and Kiara have soon gone on their way, and Annika hurries off to get back to the Academy. Seeing that no one seems eager to take him up on his invitation, Anvil departs as well.
This leaves Eva and Lira standing together on the dock. The look at each other. “How are we the only ones without plans?”
Alirria Rising marks not only the first day of spring, but also the start of a new year. As such, it is one of the most festive days of the calendar. And by long standing tradition, it is considered bad luck not to have a date.
The two young, attractive, single women stand a moment longer.
“I’m going to go visit some friends of mine,” Lira offers. “Do you want me to ask for you if anyone—?”
Eva doesn’t let her finish the thought. “No.”
“Okay.”
The silence lingers.
“So… Meet you at the main square?”
“Four-thirty?”
“See you then.”
They both hurry off. Lira goes to find her friends. Eva goes to find a card game.
###
Today, the wind blows in Eva’s favor. The Lady’s Luck is with her, and she is easily cleaning out her last remaining opponent, a good looking, chatty fellow named Lyndon. Too chatty to be a good card player, but—she notes—chatty enough to make a decent companion for an evening.
Eva looks at her hand and raises. Lyndon looks at his hand and at his dwindling pile of gold. “I’d like to call,” he says, “but I don’t think I have enough gold left. You take barter?”
“What have you got?” Eva asks, eyeing him up and down. He is, indeed, a good looking fellow.
He spreads his hands wide and smiles a self-deprecating smile. “Not much,” he admits.
Eva takes another good look at him. She’s in a winning mood, and the cards are in her favor. Maybe she’ll roll the dice.
“You got a date for Alirria Rising?” she asks.
“Er, no,” he says, clearly taken aback.
“Okay. Put in the rest of your gold. If I win, you’re my date.”
Lyndon smiles. “Well, that hardly seems fair. A date with you is hardly a hardship. If I’m putting something into the pot, shouldn’t it cost me something?”
“Oh, it will,” Eva says. “You’ll be paying.”
Lyndon laughs. “All right. You’ve got a deal.” He pushes his remaining coins to the center of the table and shows his cards.
Lyndon’s hand is pretty good. But it’s not nearly as good as Eva’s Full Gods.
Eva sweeps up the pot with a smile. “You can pick me up at four.”
###
After most of the last week spent in a funk, Eva finds herself looking forward to the night out. The trip to Dar Karo helped clear her head after her late-night visitor. And while it’s true that not having a date for Alirria Rising isn’t quite as bad as not having a date for Alirria Ascendant, nobody likes to start the New Year alone. And Lyndon is rather good looking.
But, Eva realizes, it is more than just the prospect of a date that has brightened her spirits. Much to her surprise, she finds that it is also the coming of the season of Alirria. Her encounter with the goddess is fresh in her mind, and she can still feel the warm, enveloping touch. Eva draws comfort from remembering the sensations.
Tonight will be a good night.
As promised, Lyndon picks Eva up at four in the morning. The Alirria Rising ceremonies are to begin late at night, culminating at dawn. Afterwards, there will be a great celebration, which lasts until people collapse and return to their homes, usually in pairs, to continue their celebration in a more private setting.
Eva and Lyndon meet up with Lira and her friend, a personable man named Artimus who, as it turns out, is a fellow sorcerer. Is it something about sorcerers, Eva wonders briefly, that makes them so… likeable?
Artimus works in Dar Pykos as an exterminator which seems an odd profession until he points out that there is nothing like the combination of light and magic missile for killing rats. “If I can see ‘em, I can kill ‘em,” he boasts with justifiable professional pride.
The four arrive at the packed city square where a large stage has been erected. A crowd has gathered before it, and near the front are dozens of couples dressed in green robes. They are those who hope to conceive new life in this season, seeking blessings of fertility from the Alirrian priestesses.
The priestesses lead the assembled in prayers and songs, as the crowd grows larger and larger. Finally, as the sky grows lighter, the Benedictress, the head of the Alirrian Church in Dar Pykos, comes to the fore, and begins her Invocation for the New Year.
She speaks words of hope. Words of joy, of love, of glad tidings and new beginnings. Words rich with the promise of renewal, of restoration. She speaks words of life.
While she speaks, the first rays of the spring sun break the horizon, illuminating the Benedictress. Eva, Lyndon, Lira, and Artimus each take a long sip from the cups of fresh, cool water passed through the crowd just as the Benedictress raises her hands in final blessing. As one, the voices of the crowd rise up around them in celebration.
Spring is here.
The next few hours are a delightful time. There is dancing, feasting, and drinking. The two couples soon lose each other in the crowd, and it is nearly noon before Eva finds herself exhausted and ready to call it a night. Lyndon offers to walk her home, and Eva agrees.
There is a brief, awkward moment as they stand outside the door to Mrs. Blackburn’s boarding house. But, although Eva finds Lyndon companionable enough, she has decided that the night will end here.
“Well,” she tells him. “Good night, and thank you. I had a good time.”
He nods, receiving the message. “So did I,” he says with a smile. He steps in to kiss her gently on the cheek.
And then he whispers four little words in her ear. Words that make Eva’s blood run cold.
“Kemmer sends his best.”
She can only stand and stare at him in horror as he flashes her a quick, crooked grin, turns around, and disappears into the crowd.
Len
Prodigal Member
Yeah well, I don't always say how much I like your updates.spyscribe said:
My favourite bit recently:
spyscribe said:
(Did anyone else think of "Chinatown"?)
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