The Eyes of the Pursuer

Log Info

• Title: The Eyes of the Pursuer
• Emitter: Paenitia
• Characters: Paenitia, Jozi, Aimarra
• Place: A10: Temple of Althea
• Time: Sunday, March 14, 2021, 9:36 PM, Monday, March 15, 2021, 7:55 PM
• Summary: Aimarra is in bad shape after her battle with the Manticore. Jozi was badly injured as well, but recovered. A few days have passed with the Half-Elf in the Temple of the Althea, she has improved but not regained consciousness. Her injuries revealed another, older one, a bit mark on one arm that's large enough to have removed it. Sister Paenitia arrives, performing charitable works and helping in a lay healer fashion and drops in the room. Aimarra regains consciousness, but sees something that isn't there. She reacts to it, more than her associates in the room. Jozi and Paenitia do their best to calm and rouse her. Aimarra gains consciousness and explains that some followed her to Alexandria, nearly killed her then let her go, and she saw it moments perviously. Neither of her two friends can identify it or what this might mean. Sentinenl Kira arrives, and uses her mercies to clear the last of the manticore poison. Aimarra, exhausted from that effort, falls back into sleep while the others keep vigil.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A10: Temple of Althea *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The term 'marble temple' only holds up insofar as the temple's outer edifice is concerned. Twin statues of Althea, each of them bearing gently glowing blue staves, provide welcome either side of the entrance, a door which has never been closed in recent memory. A place of community and warmth, a sense of warmth and welcome quickly overtakes most visitors upon entry.

Serrielite and Angorite devotees guard the outside entrances, while blue star-robed Hearthguard wander just inside, performing and guiding various charitable tasks. One can even see a smaller, more discrete entrance if one looks, from whence comes and go the Mourners of Vardama, carrying their somber burdens.

Designed to be open and welcoming, the place is a bustle of family and community-centered activity. A great, central oven serves the double duties of fireplace and food preparation on a grand scale that makes the temple a favorite for gatherings. Althean worshippers and Hearthguards alike tirelessly bake and cook for the less fortunate, while younger Hearthguards sit on comfortably cushioned divans with worshippers and petitioners, dispensing advice and Althea's kind words. Wreaths of herbs hang from the ceilings, giving a pleasant scent, while a pool fed by a small artificial waterfall provides fresh water for bathing wounds or blessing of children and worshippers. A procession of doors and halls lead off to various rooms. While many lead to places such as rooms, offices, and libraries for the Hearthguard, there is also a well-known hospice, as well as the transient bunks, and even counseling rooms for when a family member nears their end. This last area is overseen by Hearthguard and Mourner alike, in respectful accordance with local customs.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Paenitia     3'0"     34 Lb      Halfling          Female    A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery.
Jozi         5'8"     148 Lb     Half-Orc          Female    A brunette half-orcess with a sunny disposition.
Aimarra      5'1"     128 Lb     Half-Elf          Female    Brown hair and eyes, breastplate, leathers, pointed ears.
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    Blonde woman in simple robes with an eye patch.
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The Temple of Althea.

One of the more generous ones, that always provides for the poor. Food, Shelter, healers and a space to be treated and trained.

A Lucht Siuil in red garb proudly walks the halls, fulfilling the tenets of her order and assisting the downtrodden and disadvantaged. An adherent of Tarien, she does not limit herself to his temple.

Also, the food is better at Althea, and it's a little easier to find the supplies. She walks through the hall, carrying bandages and checking into rooms.

The last few days have been burdensome for Jozi.

In the wake of a jaunt into the bogs for big game, the half-oruch has been close to hand, assisting in what meager ways she could with a particular patient: a Sildanyari woman who'd been horrificly mauled.
A Sildanyari who was her responsibility.
A Sildanyari who trusted her.

Clad now in farmsteader's clothes with a pendant of Althea dangling from her throat, Jozi steps out into the hall as she sees the... odd Lucht about laden with bandages.

"Howdy, sugar, those fer her?" she asks gently with a smile that is polite, if burdened, even before she looks back to the aftermath of her failures.

Aimarra's a mess of the highest order after that mauling. Deep claw marks saturated with filthy bog water, some of it in her lungs as well, and what look to be a couple of needles or stings of sort, one of which was swollen and festered, and it became clear in short order that the creature's poison coursed through her veins on top of all the blood she'd lost - a pulse that was too fast and thready at times gave it away. She hasn't surfaced in that time, but the bog water in those deep wounds has left her with a raging fever in that time, and she's been alternately asleep, muttering, or in a few places screaming in fear.

"Yes." The odd Lucht Siuil approaches Jozi. The brightness of her garb stands out in the Temple, but it's her hat and odd face-mask that catch the eye. The visage of a smiling man, with a wide mustache that attaches to wide brim of the hat and fills the gap between her dark curls. While she's not armoured, there's an aspect to her step that suggests she usually is.

This time her encumberance is solely devoted to care. "Your friend, she struggles to fight off the lasting night. You are good to stay with her. I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Haranna, Knight of the Pillar and Paladin of Tarien. How can I help?"

Jozi has questions, but her mind has been focused on answering the needs of her fallen companion. She turns back on voicing of the answer, her smile vanishes entirely on note of the dire state Aimarra's in, but she nods to the rest, and she returns a bow on the introduction.

"Hello, Paenitia..." she's briefly given pause by some concept or other in that sentence, but she continues, "I'm Jozi, a servant of Althea, it's nice ta meetcha, sugar, circumstances aside." Olive fingers gently grasp the Lucht's burdens, and she turns a solemn expression into the room, "I shouldn'ta let it happen." A sigh, then, "I'm have to change some of her bandages, if ya wouldn't mind helping me keep things from movin while I'm about that, it'd be a big help."

That said, she steps back inside the room to check on her.

Aimarra's been quiet for close to a day now, and is showing signs of gradual improvement, the poison gradually clearing itself from her system. It's not gone yet, but not all is lost. When Jozi looks back into the room, though, her eyes are wide open for the first time in days, and she stares at the ceiling, unseeing of anything save what her mind's eye shows her.

"Of course!" Paenitia hands over the bandages and follows Jozi into the room. She turns towards the wall, resting her hat on table in the room, puts on a mask, a cap, and a cowl to tie back her hair. Only a narrow band of her face is visible, showing her eyes. There is a small step-stool in one corner, which she retrieves, moves to the bedside, and uses to get a better perspective on Aimarra's injuries.

Her voice is quite, hiding some awe. "Your friend, she is a fighter. It has been a long time since I have seen wounds as these. How many days? She has the look of the blind."

She puts on some gloves, "I am ready. Instruct me."

Jozi moves with more urgency when she notices Aimarra's eyes are open and she leans in to get a closer look as she shifts the bandages to one arm, "Aimarra...?" she asks gently. She sets the bandages on the table and lightly touches the back of her bare hand to her brow, "Yer safe now, sugar. Can ya hear me....?" trying to be encouraging.

She looks to Paenitia a moment, then nods to the stricken elf, "She is, a right steady hand, too." She moves her hand in front of Aim's eyes, trying to see if they track, or focus, "Took on a Manticore 'bout three day ago." Hmm, "Could ya put a compress together, please?"

"I make!" Paenitia declares, getting the bandages and wrapping some gauze around an absorbant centre. She is careful to keep it from surfaces and away from the front of her red coat. It is not the one she adventures and fights in, but she has been working around the temple. It may have picked up some dust.

"A fantastic beast. I have read about them! I have not seen one. Truly it looks a dangerous foe. Here is the compress." The little Lucht holds it out to the half-orc.

The eyes do indeed track, although there is nothing obvious of recognition in them. When Jozi moves, though, the eyes close again, this time drifting shut into a more natural sleep.

March 15, 2021, 7:55 PM

Aimarra's forehead is hot to touch, her eyes glazed, but they track, and there is recognition there, although it would be a good guess for any trained healer that she may not be coherent. "He ... it's watching me. Why. WHY? What does it want?" She lunges half up out of the bed, as if to reach for Jozi, but falls weakly back to lie down again, eyes wild and terrified. "It's watching me. It's the same one. I can still see the blood on its jaws!"

The healers will have found it, and Jozi will have seen it. On her left forearm, there is a nasty, raised bite mark from something with massive jaws, extending nearly from elbow to wrist, a bite that could have taken her arm off if it half-tried.

Jozi moves reflexively to try and keep Aimarra from moving so violently, "Whoa there!" she cries, taking the fevered woman's shoulders in her hands, "Shhh... easy, sugar," she tries in a tone she usually uses to settle a child, or a skittish colt, "easy, now.... not so quick.... Shhhh...!"

There's a quick look to Paenitia, then down into Aimarra's face, "We can figger it out, sugar, just... rest still, now. Yer still tore up pretty good. We're in the Temple of Althea, Aim, we're taking care of ya."

The half-oruch slowly relaxes her grip, trusting her words to have reached the elf, and she reaches for the compress, "This is Sister Paenitia."

"Hola." The little Lucht says, standing one her toes so she can more easily see Aimarra's face. Her small, gloved hands rest on the woman, helping to restrain her. "You would not know me without the Smiling Man, but we have met."

A glances towards Jozi, her eyes worried. There's nothing in the room, she still checks, then gazes back at Aimarra. "This man that you see, where he stands?"

Aimarra offers no resistance now, as hands push her back to the bed, instead groaning as pain overtakes fear. "Not a man," she breathes. "It's _him_. He's hunting me. He didn't kill me. I don't know why," she breathes. "He wants something from me. I can feel him if I look." The words are still wild, frightened, even as she hisses with pain, and she stares wide-eyed at something only she can see.

Jozi purses her lips and looks to her partner in time to meet her gaze, a slow exhalation through her nose, and she looks down into Aimarra's eyes again, expression solemn and gears are turning behind her own. She affords the woman a warm smile, "I believe ya, sugar, an I promise we'll get it figgered out..."

That said, she carefully settles the compress on that troubled brow and closes her eyes, whispering, "Great Mother, please help soothe your troubled child." <yrch-speak>

That hand then softly cradles Aimarra's cheek, passing Althea's blessing to her.

At first, Aimarra's body shudders as the compress is set on her forehead, but the touch on her cheek does more. She blinks several times, as if to clear her eyes, and finally, the brown eyes light with recognition. "Jozi? What ... where are we?" As if she hadn't heard the explanation earlier. Her eyes flick over to Paenitia as well, some hesitant recognition and acceptance there. "Last thing I remember ... that thing got me good." A hiss of pain accompanies that.

The Red Knight watches as Jozi makes her prayer, remaining standing beside the bed. "In the Temple to Althea. You rest, it has been some time. The wounds, they heal, but not if you move so much. Lie still."

She tilts her head, "Do you still see the Pursuer? The one that hunts you?"

Jozi smiles a little more as it seems the immediate mania's abated, though she'll have to see if the poison's still at play. She nods, "Yeah, he did." her expression falls, though, "I'm sorry ya got hurt so bad... I shoulda held it, better."

Paenitia's remark draws her attention again and she nods, then gives the chamber a surrepitous glance before looking to see what Aimarra's answer is.

The hand that Aimarra raises is a little shaky still, but nowhere near as bad as it was during the fight itself. That much, at least, appears to be righting itself. The compress coupled with the magic seems to have dealt with the worst of the fever, although she shivers as well. "Not your fault, I couldn't hit anything, I was shaking so bad. I couldn't control the bow. Those spikes were poisoned."

She looks over at Paenitia, fear still written in the back of her eyes, although this time, at least, they are coherent. "It's _him_." She looks down, lifting her left arm to look at it and the scar on it. "The thing that chased me halfway to Alexandria, he could have killed me. He had me cold. He didn't and I don't understand why. He bit me just enough to make sure I knew it."

"The one that chase, that you fight and lays you low, these are not the same, yes? Two different male things?" Paenitia says despondently, lightly touching Aimarra's other arm.

The dark Lucht sighs, "It is tragedy to love one bad for you. It is worse, when there is no love, yet you are held that tight. The male, he leaves his mark to show he own you. It is the act of the cruel. So you remember, so you can not escape."

That definately sounds like an agenda.

Jozi eases back a bit to give Aimarra some room and brings a hand up to the small pendant at her throat, "Great Mother, I would see what venoms yet trouble your child." <yrch-speak>

She turns her attention to Paenitia and something touches her eyes, and she shakes her head, "A claim is only that. There's always an escape. Always."

There might be something, there...

GAME: Jozi casts Detect Poison. Caster Level: 2 DC: 12

The spell shows nothing, so whatever is left is bare remnants, if that. Aimarra shivers again, no longer seeming inclined to move in any way. "Did we get it?"

She shakes her head. "But, why me? What does it want?"

"Why anyone catch the eye? You are too strong, you are too weak. The way you walk. You say the correct words in the right place. A curse from your mother. A deal of your father's." Paenitia says, her voice lacking its usual cheerful tones.

"The reasons, they could be many. They could be any. What it want? You must ask if he does not tell." She glances at Jozi, at Aimarra again, "We are here. We will help. I am not sure we can join this battle. Do you see the man beast still here?"

"The Manticore? Yeah.. yeah, you tore it up good before it got ya. Managed ta put it down after that." Jozi replies with a shrug, "Client got his goodies while Sjach an I gotcha stable in the wagon."

The other question she hasn't an answer for... it would trouble her more if she'd been digging into it for a while, but as it's fresh, it's just troubling. Still, she answers with what she does have, "On the upside, poison's more or less gone, should be zippin about like normal, soon, I reckon."

She lets Paenitia speak her turn, weighing the phrasing, the timbre, against the smile, "It can be dealt with, whatever it is."

Hmmm. "If yer feelin up to it, we can change yer bandages, sugar. Less ya wanna eat first, or I can see if one of the Hearthguards can come give ya a lookover."

"I ..." Aimarra doesn't answer immediately, clearly still trying to process everything. "N-no. I don't see him. But I did. In my dreams. He wanted something." Another shiver. "Um ... do what you need to. They can if they want to, but I don't have a lot of money ... thank you." She doesn't move more than she absolutely has to. "I ... um, both of you. It's in my dreams. I don't understand, but ... thank you."

"If you find me in your dreams, I fight for you." Paenitia says cheerfully, winking. "It would not be the first time I hear I am in them."

She hops off her small step and bounds over to the bandages, head turns towards Jozi for direction. "Do not worry the coin. I offer charity and you are in great need. There is hope, my friend, ways to face and shake one you do not wish. Any help you need, ask, we will give."

Jozi gives her friend a warm smile, "Don't you pay that no nevermind, sugar. I'll take care of it." though she flicks a glance to Paenitia as she makes her offer. Ok, her dream remark was kinda funny, but she's still concerned. A nod, then back to their patient, "Lemme go see if I can rassle up a Hearthguard." The half-oruch starts to rise, but pauses, turning back to gently curl her hands around one of Aimarra's should it be allowed, smiling, "Damn fine seein ya past the worst, sugar, an that's no lie." before she starts to rise anew.

Maybe The Healer's Grace smiles on all? It certainly should, in Her temple, and for the ill and/or injured. There's a light, polite rap at the door before Kira peeks her head in. Leading with the good eye, of course, and a smile.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion. I just wanted to check how all were doing. Better, I hope?" While she isn't a Hearthguard, that doesn't mean she can't be of assistance.

Aimarra's eyes go wide at that. "Why ... you don't have to do that." She squeezes the hand that takes hers carefully, still thoroughly confused. "Um, thanks." Whether that is for Paenitia's comment, which brings a wan smile to her lips, or Jozi's earnestness? Or both? It is hard to say.

When Kira sticks her nose in, her eyes go towards the door, and she starts to sit up a little, only to be forcibly reminded not to move as agony shoots through her.

"Sentinel," Paenitia dips her head in a small bow as Kira enters, especially as she's looking up. The dark lucht makes room, stepping back so she can enter. She gestures towards the bed, stating the obvious, "She awakes."

To Aimarra, "It is no burden to stand with one's allies."

Jozi's smile flickers some and she nods. There's an 'of course I do' in her eyes that doesn't past her lips. She draws up short as the Sentinel pokes her head in and she smiles with some relief and bows.

"Hello, Sentinel." she replies, edging aside to not present as an obstacle, "I was about ta see if someone could come look ta my friend, here. Got tore up by a Manticore, but my blessins only work so well." her hands coming together as a supplicant's might.

Kira's smile dims at Aimarra's discomfort, though doesn't vanish. "I know siting still isn't very fun, but I think you should try to move less. A little at a time, maybe?" She dips in an abreviated curtsey to all. "Hello. My name is Kira. I'm happy to help however I might... if you don't mind?" That last is to Aimarra, of course. The others certainly are not ignored, but the patient does gain her preference. Aimarra shakes her head slowly, moving carefully as she does so. She most certainly did - multiple sets of long clawmarks have nearly vivisected her, and a couple of marks say that the spines might have gotten her as well. The compres on her forehead suggest a fever being controlled.

Lucht Siuil are skilled at being underfoot and out of the way. Paenitia is embodying the latter, making room for Jozi and Kira, holding bandages in case they need some, and glancing at Aimarra. She has vowed to stay and defend her, but there is a shortage of foes. She also feels naked without her hat and mask, which she keeps glancing at, although the cloth substitutions obscure her sufficiently there's nothing to see except her expressive eyes.

Dark eyes with long lashes, surrounded by mahogany skin, that peer intently. She is watchful of the room, should the thing that Aimarra glimpsed in her fever-dream appear for the rest of them. She introduces herself to the Sentienl, "I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Haranna, tell me how I may assist."

"I'm Jozi, it's nice ta meetcha, Sentinel Kira." the half oruch replies warmly, she, herself gives neither rank, nor title, though there is a small blue rose dangling from her neck. "I think we mighta gotten her fever down some, an there's only traces of the Manticore's venom, now, but if there's any more cleansing needs doin on that score, I can't do it. Hearthguard wanted ta wait till she was awake afore they did more." She glances to Aimarra, to Paenitia, but, likewise, tries to keep close to hand to make the former feel better without getting in Kira's way.

Kira approaches Aimarra's bed, though glances to those stepping back. "I think you've both done excellent work taking care of her so far," she offers genuinely. At Paenitia's introduction, she dips again. "It's a pleasure to meet you. You can continue to help keep your patient comfortable and in good spirits. That's very important."

As she turns back to Aimarra and Jozi, her smile widens further. "No need for either of you to run away. I don't bite." She doesn't seem to think they're in her way, and somewhat more she's the intruder, even if she tries to be a helpful one.

"Besides," now she's focused on Aimarra again, "I think there's been enough biting or clawing and such already." Kira reaches down to rest her hand lightly upon Aimarra's arm, preferably a spot not bandaged, bleeding, or otherwise uncomfortable. "The Healer has graced me," she intones softly, " Now may Her Grace be upon you..." With that Grace, she seeks to aid the patient's wounds, weariness, and any ills, venom, or disease the attack may have left behind.

The magic takes hold quickly, and Aimarra breathes a sigh of relief as many things ease. "I still must find out what _he_ wants." A look at Jozi, then at Paenitia. The words are sleepily slurred, though - with so much healed so quickly, it's an adjustment, and one that means the body wants some sleep.

"Sleep well my friend," Paenitia says quietly, watching Aimarra lie back. She looks to Kira, "A thing hunts in her dreams. Do you have protections for that?"

She moves over to the shelf, picks up her hat, her mask. Her fingers absently rub at its features as she looks at the bed. "I can make the promises, but not be where she needs me."

Jozi watches Kira employ her gifts from Mother, more advanced by far than her own and gently closes her hand about her pendant, giving a silent prayer of gratitude for Her mercy. That done, as she reopens her eyes, she smiles to Aimarra, "We'll keep watch, sugar." she says softly, gently touching her arm, "Get some rest, in the Mother's home."

Kira is pleased that Aimarra's pain is eased enough that she can rest. People still need their rest, aid or no aid. Paenitia's comment startles her some, though, and draws her attention. She doesn't comment on the dreams immediately (perhaps not to risk reminding Aimarra as she dozes off). "You are here, with her. I think that's the best thing you've done, and where she needs you."

The dark lucht takes the stepstool and moves around to the other side of the bed. Stepping up, she touches one of Aimarra's arm. "This one, has wounds from a Man Beast. She say it pursue, it could kill, but it does not. I have not seen such before, but the tale, sound like the Banshee curse or the Black Dog."

Paenitia gazes at Kira, "Can you recognize the source of wounds?"

"Fear's not a thing I've seen in Aimarra." Jozi muses thoughtfully, fingering her pendant, "But whatever it is, it's done spooked her good." There's a brief point to the elf's half wrapped hand, "That wasn't from the Manticore."

Kira blinks. "A ...Man Beast?" She's not sure what to make of that title. "I can take a look..." she offers, admitting, "but I work more to mend wounds than find what caused them... unless knowing that would help heal them. I haven't heard of things that haunt dreams." Jozi hmmm's softly, her hand finally coming down from her necklace and she elaborates, "She wasn't sure, we just got conjecture ta go on."

"Not a Man, but male, and bites like an animal." Paenitia clarifies, holding onto her mask. "She is greatly troubled. I am not sure what to do."

Another glance at the sleeping form. "Perhaps, vigil, and we wake her if the sleep becomes troubled. Or if she wakes, to not be afraid, friends are near. Yes?"

The dark Lucht glances between the two.

Jozi smiles some and nods, "Yeah... yeah I think that's some right proper thinking, sugar." she says softly, rubbing at her eyes, "Lemme run down ta the kitchens an grab us some chow." The half oruch turns toward the door and, trusting them to have it under control, steps out to handle things she's been giving less priority over the last couple days.

Aim'll be fine with those two watching out for her for a little while.

Right...?