Preparing for Winter
Log Info
- Title: Preparing for Winter
- Emitter: Seldan
- Characters: Seldan, Faranmidahn, Acedia, Cryosanthia, Halani
- Place: A10: Temple District
- Time: Sunday, May 10, 2020, 1:23 PM
- Summary: Seldan is waiting in the Temple District, when Faranmidahn arrives. The time has come and the heroes are early, and preparing. Faran apologizes again to Seldan for her behaviour a few days ago. The paladan accepts it, then requests the lucht keep an eye out for Eclavdran's Consort, who is or will be a prisoner in the Tower. Faran has a present for Salina for when Seldan kills her. Acedia and Cryosanthia arrive at the same time, Halani soon after. The sith withdraws some significant magic items from her handy haversack, much to Faran's surprise, and promises she'll tell the interesting story of getting them later. Halani is happy to have been cured of the plague, and ready for whatever comes.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshipers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagstones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.
At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon and Stars at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.
Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Faranmidahn 3'3" 35 Lb Halfling Female Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider Acedia 3'4" 39 Lb Goblin Female An ebon-skinned Goblin in leather armor. Cryosanthia 6'9" 267 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Halani 5'4" 120 Lb Human/Xian Female Shortish, dusky skinned woman with almond shaped eyes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The day of departure has dawned cool, gray, and misty, with the promise of rain hanging over the seaside city. The word went out, swiftly, some days ago, but it is some hours yet to the hour of gathering. Fresh from the bath, Seldan is sitting by the restored fountain, making no pretense of the fact that he is preparing for a journey. Fully armed, fully armored, and making no attempt to hide that he is so, he waits with eyes closed and breathing steady and even, as one meditating. A leather pack sits by his feet, looking old and beaten; atop i, his weapon belt, a rapier and a longsword in their sheaths that do not appear to be crafted from steel, a longbow of horn, steel, and heavy wood, unstrung; and a quiver of arrows, the red leather of the quiver topped with white fur.
It wouldn't seem right for them to head into this sort of engagement on a beautiful day. Faran, similarly fully kitted out, with the addition of a comparitively long blade, with rose pomel and quillion tips tempered to a purplish black. She rides Torrent, taking a tour of the city they intend to save, or risk leaving in ruins, in turn, ridden by her white fluffy familiar via her shoulder while her volumous hair provides the arachnid shelter. As they come to the district, she finds Seldan seated at the fountain and steers her mount toward the man. She knows what needs to be said.... less so how to say it.....
Up close, a whiff of some scented oil lingers around Seldan, but it is only a whiff. It is a few moments before he opens his eyes and looks up, sensing somehow that he is being watched. When he spots, first Torrent and then her rider, his entire bearing immediately fades into polite neutrality. "Faranmidahn." The greeting, with its Myrrish lilt, is similarly polite and just a little bit reserved. "Her Light shine upon our path. Do you ride with us, then?"
Her name, again, formal and in that tone tells her their previous encounters had, indeed put more fissure than strain in their relationship. An ill wind before a desperate engagement and the little woman squares herself and nods, "I would, Sir Seldan." her voice struggling to maintain a certain formality, though clearly her heart is still within the vice, "I was unduly wroth with you, Sir. My circumstances are plain, if not unique, and afford me no respite of excuse. Were it within us, I would not have our.... comradeship stained so as we face this evil."
Another deep breath, and Seldan nods, some of that polite neutrality fading into simple politeness, although he has yet to smile. "I forgive your words, Faranmidahn. They were spoken in pain and anguish, and they were not entirely wrong. If you would know why it is that I did not move last week, know this: The Endless Winter does not confine her torment to those she holds captive." He speaks steadily, his gaze on hers, but seems to then leave it at that, bringing forth a small smile. "You have the right of it. We can ill afford to be at odds, when our comradeship and friendship is the greatest weapon we have to bring to bear upon her."
The Lucht smiles weakly, some hope, tiny and delicate, burning away some of the forbidding gloom so forceibly ruling over her of late. She is still a long weary way from the happy and innocent Knight she was when they ventured beneath the waves with Sir Silsoupi, but, still, she is broken and not destroyed, now she sees with so much more forewarning than ever before that this could be the end. She has failed so often of late, but with the acceptance of this man, most she knows like her sire... she resolves to at least acquit herself well.
Seldan simply watches Faran for a few moments, then adds, "I would not see you unprepared for what it is we may face, Faranmidahn. I know not what we will find, save only that it will be unpleasant. There may be some for whom the greatest mercy will be to send them swiftly and painlessly to the Dread Lady's Halls. It is my hope that all may be saved, but ...." He trails off, thinking suddenly of something. "There is a thing that I would ask of you, do I find myself unable to set prisoners free myself. I will ask this of you and Acedia both, that you may work together. It is Mourner Verna's belief that the Endless Winter may hold Eclavdran's consort Maraiel hostage. Do you find her and set her free, Eclavdran may be less willing to serve her." The suggestion is mild, evenly delivered.
"I never thought I would find sympathy for a demon.", a little, scratchy voice behind Seldan says. Acedia walks up to the man, dressed in blur robes with the symbol of Eluna dangling around her neck. She throws herself lightly at Seldan, hugging him before she moves to Faranmidahn. "How're you holding up, Faranmidahn?", she wonders of the Lucht.
Cryosanthia approaches, taking long strides across the district's flagstones. She's left the Temple of Daeus and now heads towards the group. She looks much like she has recently, layered wizarding robes, tall posture, constrained and confident movements. The only new thing of note is a small haversack snug against her shoulders, made out of white-scaled leathre. She dips her head as she nears the group. "Sir Seldan, Faran, Acedia."
Faranmidahn frowns some in thought. Hrm.... "I..." she sighs, "Then if you think it would loosen her grip on him, then.... very well." some misgivings in her voice, "I imagine her joy at release will not spark gratitude." She twists in her seat a bit and withdraws a black velvet bundle about the size of a human's heart, "I made this for Sally. For when you kill her." TO the goblin's hail, she affords a weak smile, "Hello, I am.... enduring, and you?"
The sight, and then the hug, from Acedia brings another smile to Seldan's face, this one much more genuine. "Nor I, Acedia. Nor I. I have something for you." Atop the small, beaten leather sack, not dissimilar in size from Cryosanthia's, rests his weapon belt and several other weapons besides. From this pile, he fishes a beautifully-worked rapier, sized for a gobber, in a slim leather sheath, and offers it to Acedia. The metal is darker than steel would be.
When he straightens, he blinks at Faranmidahn, the smile fading, and slowly takes it with his free hand, considering it. "The gods grant that I will have the chance to," he answers, tucking it away in his bag.
The Gobbo smiles at Faran's reply, but turns before she can speak, to look to Seldan and the gift he offers. Her eyes widen, and she scrutinizes the sheathed blade for a moment. "Not Malik's, too small." She grins then, and accepts the blade, stepping forward to hug Seldan a second time. "Thank you!", she says, face pressed against an armor plate. Turning away, she rubs at her face, and slowly draws the blade free. "So this is what cold iron looks like. It is beautiful, in a dark way." Turning, the Gobbo looks up at Seldan. "I'll repay you as quickly as I can. I hope that when the time comes, I will not flag nor fail."
Acedia turns and moves back to Faran's side, her arms opening to embrace the Lucht if so allowed. "I am well, Faran. I hope that no matter the outcome of today's fight, you find solace." Her ears twitch slightly, and she looks to Cryosanthia as she walks up, and offers a wave and a smile to the icy-scaled Sith.
Halani approaches the gathering group not from the direction of the Dreamer's Temple, where she had been recuperating, but from the direction of the road leading up the mountain. She's been cleaned up as well, and the side of her head which had been shaved bare has begun to regrow in a short fuzz. She doesn't quite miss a step, but certain gawks a little bit at the giant spider for the few seconds it takes to gather herself... then she finishes the approach, angling a little bit towards Seldan while keeping at least a little bit of distance between herself and the halfling's mount. "I am here to join your mission, Silverguard, if you'll have me," she offers, her islander accent present but subdued.
The palescale sith nods again at Acedia, then does the same for Halani as she approaches. Her attention is drawn by the weapons, the new one Seldan seems to be wearing and the other given to Acedia, the old ones that Faran carries, her father's weapon and her formal armour. She adjusts the straps on her pack and slips it off. "I should get ready too."
She reaches into the haversack and draws out a glittering mail shirt, such a bright silver it has a white tint. It's folded, and resting on it is a matching small buckler shield. In contrast there is also her icicle dagger, something that looks like the one she wields when she casts her spell, but it is clearly of the same flat grey metal as the other weapons. All gleam as if enchanted.
Faranmidahn nods to Seldan, her lips a grim line across her face as he accepts her contribution, "Thank you. How will we know her, and do we have any idea what to expect?" Her attention is drawn to the goblin as she offers her well wishes and a hug. She tap-taps Torren't shell and the large black arachnid bellies down for her to unstrap and dismount to accept, her little white familiar peaking out from the reasonably sized female from under her Mistress's hair, "Thank you, Acedia... I hope we all do." The island woman's wary approach catches her eye and she affords her a wave before at last catching up to Cryosanthia's arrival, "Cryo! Hell-.... did you get all of that.....?" she trails off with a mystified blink.
"As do I, Faranmidahn. It is my hope that we may all find solace as well as justice." When Halani approaches, Seldan looks up, and smiles. "Be welcome, Halani. I am glad that you are well, and rested." His eyes roam the gathered, and he inclines his head politely to Cryosanthia as he finally spots her. "It is time," he says, his eyes on her new weapons and armor. "You make fine choices, Cryosanthia. I must meet Malik, that he travel with us, but then we journey." He stands then, gathering and donning his weapon belt, slinging the bow over his back, the quiver behind the mace, and shoving the flat gray longsword into the haversack, Reunion still at his hip.
Reunion has been curiously silent for some days now, but finally it pipes up, the irascible old man's voice. "So we're finally going to get this show on the road."
A second voice speaks, in the same accent but deeper and more mellifluous. "Kanian, I believe that that is the most eager for adventure that I have ever heard you be."
Seldan leans down to pick up the pack, chuckling quietly, but a younger, deeper female voice speaks first. "I had not thought him to have ever experienced departing for adventure."
"Oh, he has, and he will tell you all about it in exhaustive detail."
Acedia squeaks and hugs Faran firmly. "I'll watch your back as best I can and you do for me." She eyes the smaller spider and then the larger, and grins. "Maybe some Fae might be scared of spiders?" Another squeeze and she lets the Lucht go. "I have to go and get ready. Be well." She waves to the others and grins, before turning and running up to the Temple of Eluna.
"It's an interesting story Faran, I'll tell you about it later." Cryo answers, concentrating. Her clothes vanish, well, most of them, she still has gloves, forearm sleeves and boots on. The mail shirt is easy enough to wriggle into and hangs low, it even has a slot for her tail. Another moment of concentration and something resembling her old swashbuckling gear appears overtop, a short cape, a short skirt, sleeves and tight leggings. She straps the buckler on, then attaches the dagger to the belt on her hip. Reaching into the haversack she takes out her ooze wacking club, which balances the other weapon and is the least interesting thing in her ensemble. The haversack is reslung behind her shoulders and tightened down. "Ready now. We'll meet you there."
Halani nods respectfully to Seldan when he mentions her recovery, then she puts a fist in her other hand and bows her chin over it first to Faranmidahn's wave, and then to the others as well. Some she recognizes, some are new... but it's plain to see the shared purpose in all of them. Or seems so to her, anyways. As the others prepare, she pulls a pair of of gloves from her sash. 'Gloves' though in truth they are interlocking leather straps reinforced with the same cold forged iron which makes up the weapons the others are preparing. She slips them over her arms and forearms, tightening a few buckles... then she flexes her fingers open and closed.
The islander eyes Seldan a bit askance when something starts talking from the vicinity of the hip. "Uh..." For a moment she considers telling the paladin his weapon might be talking to him. Then just shakes her head. Likely to be far more weirdness before the day is done.
The small group waits for others to assemble.
