Kraken Kibble Korrection
The temple of The Healer's doors are ever open. It's various rooms accept all in need of aid or care, whether than be lodging, food, medical, or even, with the care of the Vardamen, hospice. Yet there are a few more secluded, albeit for privacy and respect than denial. In fact, they are utilized for perhaps the most joyous occassions of all.
It is in one of these rooms that Kira awaits. The furnishings are minimal with only a few simple chairs at the perimeter; the builk of the modest room is occupied by a large cloth-draped dais. Typically, this would be occupied by the remains of the one sought to be returned. In this instance, there are not any.
Kaj continues to be the absent remains.
The Goblin wanders the temple, almost as if lost. On her shoulders and back she bears a large burden, a large quilted blanket that's wrapped around something, or several somethings. Several doorways and hallways are carefully negotiated, the short woman avoiding knocking torches and other items from the walls.
The door to the small antechamber bounces open, with Murder struggling to pull the wrapped bundle through the door. "Hnnnng... why do they have giant arched hallways and central chambers and such tiny doors for something important??", she grumbles, pulling everything inside and closing the door.
Kaj heeds some previous warning about NOT walking toward the light....
Kira was expecting the gobber, though maybe not her carried, or dragged, burden. She blinks and moves to aid her. "Would you like help with that? The Hearthguard should be here very soon. All the arrangements have been made..."
Murder drags the bundle into a far corner, out of danger of being tripped over. "Nah, I've got it. Cast a little spell to help me carry it. Oh, uh, do we need to do anything for this?" The Gobbo gestures to the dais.
"I'm not uhm versed in this sort of ceremony. I'll stay out from underfoot and uh... think good thoughts?"
Kira looks to the bundle, then the daies, then Murder and shakes her head. "I don't think anything is needed, though thinking good thoughts, and of him would always help." She moves to join Murder out of the way and shortly thereafter the door opens. A senior Hearthguard enters, bearing full robes and accoutrements of position and duties, along with a velvet pouch. He looks to the pair present. "You are here to guide and welcome the revenant in return?"
The Gobbo nods to Kira, "I can do that." She eyes those that enter the room, and cants her head in reply to his question. She glances to Kira, and then the Hearthguard. "We are."
Kira nods in agreement, and also deeply in deference, to the clergy. "Yes, we are. By Her Grace and your intercession, Hearthguard, we will welcome him in return."
The cleric nods. "Let us begin, then. There are many to tend to." He steps to the dais and begins to beseech Althea's aid to restore Kaj, born with blood of giants. Without remains, he is as specific as able.
Kira hopes that not all the others need tending in the same context, but she remains quiet. Clutching at her pendant, she utters her own prayers to The Healer, even if they are not directly tied to the proceedings.
As the Hearthguard continues, fingerfuls of sparkling dust are retrieved from the velvet pouch and sprinkled upon the dais. After a few moments, the shimmering of the particles lingering in the air seems to become more pronounced, more delineated, more... solid... as they resolve into Kaj's body.
Murder nods and watches as the clerics get down to business. The shimmering dust has her mesmerized, though there may be a touch of green in her eyes, something shiny to be had. She eyes the others and hears their prayers, and the Gobbo shuts her eyes.
"I am not usually one to pray, Angoron. But if you do hear my prayer today, please guide Kaj back to Alexandria." An eye opens and peers upwards, and she squints, before eyeing the dais.
She moves back to the bundle, and begins to root through it, as the body begins to fade into existence.
Astonishingly, the particles coalesce into the massive form that is Kaj, and as the skin becomes solid, other than his nakedness, the most obvious thing is the placid rising and falling of his chest, as he lies there on his back, as if in the deepest imaginable slumber.
Those of you that know him will also notice that his hair has gone completely white, though it is still long, draping down that sides and back of the dais.
Kira watches as the recently-familiar form materializes whole. Her smile brightens at the sight, since this is obviously a good sign. His lack of clothing isn't dwelled on, and the position of the priest gives Kaj some privacy from Kira's perspective. The Hearthguard continues a moment longer, ensuring that the ritual is complete. He then notes quietly, "The Healer's Hands have rebuilt his form and we have called to his soul. The remainder is upon him." None can be forced to return, and some do choose not to.
Murder pauses in the rooting through the things she's brought, to watch the final full appearance of the recently undeceased. She is fascinated by the reforming of the flesh and blood Kaj.
She eyes the Hearthguard, her eyes narrowing. "How often do they not return?" Her hands pull free a large swath of tartan.
Kaj remains prone, his breathing deep and rhythmical.
Suddenly, his eyes pop open and he starts to gag and gasp.
He sits up abruptly, placing his colossal hands on the stone to hold himself up, his white hair flaying around wildly as it grows into a wilde mane of 9 foot tendrils that whip out and about like frenzied albino vipers.
Kira reaches a hand for Murder's shoulder at the question, offering up a soft answer on the Hearthguard's behalf. "It doesn't happen often, but sometimes souls find peace and comfort that they don't wish to return. If that does happen, it's still cause to be happy for them..."
The cleric then nods, looking back to Kaj.. as he suddenly gasps and sits up.
Murder stiffens at the feeling of the hand on her shoulders, and her expression grows sad as time ticks on with no response from the Giantborn. She trembles only a moment as Kira explains the possibilities. Then Kaj coughs and sits up, and the tartan fabric is pulls free of the bundle. This, she draps over his lower body as best she can. "Well well, sleepyhead's awoken.", she says with a little growl. "What was the last thing you remember?"
Kaj rotates his body so that his feet are now on the stone floor. He leans forward, holding his head with both hands, he says, "This is--" he begins, but has to clear his (previously unused? Totally brand new) thtoat? "....worse than when we I lost the bet and rank that barrel of drum...."
One of the thicker strands of hair reachs out for Murder, wrapping itself around her wrist and palm, seeking comfort.
Kira steps forward, though remains behind Murder. It seems clear that she may be closer to Kaj and Kira isn't about to interfere with a reunion. "Welcome back," she offers earnestly and with a broad beaming smile. "It is good to see you again." Just because she doesn't know Kaj that well doesn't mean she's not delighted that he's returned.
Murder lets the cloth, a kilt, fall where it may. She climbs up to stand on his thigh, and hugs at his neck. "You idiot.", she says softly, "Welcome back to the land of the living. I... hope we didn't pull you out of paradise."
Kaj seems bemused by Murder climbing up him, (well, not the climbing part, just the part about doing the climbing at all). He leans his head on her tiny head, his palm on her back, covering most of it as he takes the welcome in.
"Back? Paradise? Didn't we just drink too much aboard that sloop?" he asks, apparently completely unaware that he was dead.
"Hmm, no, we're a little past that.", the Gobbo says with a scratchy voice. "We're in Althea's temple in Alexandria. You're ... recently undeceased." Murder huffs and prods at his cheek with a claw-tipped finger. "We've had them resurrect you."
It all comes flooding back to the giantboarn! His eyes roll back and he passes out, rolling forward towards the stone floor, Murder along for the ride.
The Gobbo squeaks and grunts, her feet digging into his leg as she presses herself into his chest, only just holding him from faceplanting onto the floor. "Hnnng a little help here..."
With the other's help, Kaj is maneuvered back onto the dais, and settled back into a laying position. "Heh, that was close. Hmm. Perhaps we should let him rest? But not alone."
Kira is quick to dart forward to help when Kaj starts to topple. She isn't the strongest, but she doesn't need to carry him, just stop any falling and/or possibly Murder-squooshing. "He will be weak after his ordeal." She realizes she should have probably mentioned that earlier. "It is a very draining trip."
Murder nod to Kira, "I understand. I am glad you're here, almost had Goblin flatcakes here." She snorts and peers at the unconscious Giantborn. "Hopefully they will let him rest? I don't think I can carry him down the stairs."
The colossus seems at rest again, though his hairstrands move about slowly, like so many cat-tails languidly awaiting something to pounce on.
The Hearthguard, his work complete, collects his items. "He will have time here to rest," he notes. "Another Hearthguard shall be in later to see that he is recovering." With that, he excuses himself and departs.
"I'm happy to help," Kira assures Murder after the cleric departs. "I'm sorry that I couldn't do more, earlier." She glances to Kaj. "Maybe he would not need to be here, now."
The Hearthguard, his work complete, collects his items. "He will have time here to rest," he notes. "Another Hearthguard shall be in later to see that he is recovering." With that, he excuses himself and departs.
"I'm happy to help," Kira assures Murder after the cleric departs. "I'm sorry that I couldn't do more, earlier." She glances to Kaj. "Maybe he would not need to be here, now."
The Gobbo squints at the hair, poking at it with a finger. She nods to the Hearthguard, "Thank you for bringing him back.", she says softly as he goes.
Murder shrugs to Kira. "Such is life, yes? You can only do so much, and you have to make decisions. Sometimes there are... surprises. But we can often surprise ourselves in what we can do."
A will barage begins against one of the windows, like some mad lucht hammering with a hammer in each hand.
willd=wild
"You are very right," Kira nods to Murder. "You will be staying with him? Do you n-" she stops short at the sudden racket and blinks. She turns to the window and starts to approach, but pauses. "Do you know if he would have any other visitors?"
At the window are an innumerable amount of ravens, all taking turns flying at the window and pecking at it madly before dropping off to let another raven charge at it. It seems as if it might crack and shatter any moment.
"I'll stay.", she says quietly, "To keep an eye on him, and to see him back to his usual hangouts. "I don't know..." She squints at the window and shrugs her shoulders. "Maybe uuuuh a few birds and other animals maaay be looking for him. He is a witch after all. Maybe open the window?"
Kira peers at the window. "Oh my..." She doesn't want the birds to hurt themselves, nor does she want the window broken, though she's not entirely sure what is happening. This is the house of The Healer, and harm should be prevented. So she unlatches and opens the window. "I think they may be lost, or confused...?"
An explosion of ravens, pigeons, even a hawk or two come in, all but drowning out the frantic knocking on the door and the acolyte's voices, asking for the Hearthguard...though that too is almost drowned out by barking and other animal noises coming from the other side of the doorway.
The Goblin takes cover under one of the chairs, and shuffles herself and it towards one of the corners. "Nope, they're coming here. For him. To see him. They probably miss him."
"Oh!" Kira looks from the swarming to the door. "I should let them in...?" She still isn't sure, not knowing what to expect. Still, she goes to the door and opens it... then promptly moves out of the way.
Murder is making herself a little fort with the blanket, the chair she absconded with, and a few other things that were in the blanket. A suitable Gobbo hollow which she vanishes into. "I don't know about the..." Whatever she's said is overwhelmed by the cacophony of animal noises and activity.
When the door is open, dogs, cats, urchins, rats and even an otter pile in, swarming the prone Kaj along with the birds.
Everyone he's done a kindness to has apparently been involved by Shard of his whereabouts, and they're all here to look in on their friend and protector. It's as if some Mass Charm Vermin ritual has been cast on all the lowest of the low in the capital city.
They swarm the prone and apparently comatose Kaj, taking turns to touch him in some way, some staying to provide him warmth (not that he needs it) and comfort (which he probably can't get enough of).