It's a Journey

SUMMARY: A recently rescued Charneth slave may provide the Inquisition with another lead. 

The soldiers defense has quite a few new faces in it, all of them looking rather quite crap all things considered. The group of about ten, a spattering of races and genders, are all set in hospital beds, eating, drinking, be cared for and tended to. One of these people, a female Dawn Elf, is sat up in her bed talking with Kira and happily reaching for some offered bread. No doubt, this is the group of slaves that were rescued by a group of adventurers just a day ago.

Halana smiles warmly at Kira and moves to take the offered bread, "I've been a slave, for" she pauses her eto think a moment, "Oh, several years. Lost count to be entirely honest. I'd ran during one of the more recent rebellions, along with Eletha over there" and she thumbs at another female Dawn Elf down the way. We thought we'd make it to Alexandria, but they caught us. Along with the others, so, I was resereved to dying when they took me back to charn. I imagine the others were resiend to their fates as well, then, these adventureres came, and they, saved us all. So, I'm really quite happy now, more than ever."

Yelrona had heard just a few minutes ago about the Charneth slaves who'd been rescued, and had arrived at the Soldier's Defense to confirm that story and both learn and offer what assistance she could. Directions had led her to this room, and the conversation she walks in on confirms that she's arrived at the right place. <We are happy to welcome you> (sildanyari), she replies formally, before switching to Trade. "Is there anything you need that you lack right now?"

"Well, if there's anything any of you need..." Kira turns her smile from Halana to Yelrona and it widens. "...I think there are many willing to help you with it. Hello."

Halanaestra gives Kira a reassuring nod that she understands and the smile shows that she is truly thankful. Though, hearing her native languge coming from Yelrona, who is also a Sil brings another smile to her face. "I am happy to be here and not in a cave or dead" she replies to the other woman. "As to anything I need? The Paladin, Sorscha, I believe was her name, had promised to find my things. The slavers had taken my pendant, it's a symbol of the blessed lady Althea. I feel, alone with out it. If another one could be made? I would work for it, somehow try to pay for it. Outside that, my armor, sword, shield and horse were taken as well." <sildanyari>

Yelrona nods. "I'm sure we can find you replacements," she assures the woman, "if Sorscha proves unable to secure the originals... although I don't expect we'll have to, as she is quite resourceful." She takes a step into the room, waves a greeting to Kira, and extends a hand. "I'm Yelrona, of Tarien's House, and I see you've already met Kira."

If Hala takes her hand she'll be startled by a small mechanical joy buzzer in Rona's palm... perhaps to be expected from a Tarienite.

Razen has arrived.

As Yelrona makes her greetings Razen makes his way throuh the hospital. Now that he's wearing his armor any signs of his previous fight are hidden from sight. Aside from a conspicious bruise on the side of his face. That and the slight limp that he has developed. He moves through the hospital clearly looking for someone, and brightens upon seeing the group made up of Halanaestra, Kira, and Yelrona. The half-oruch quickens his step slightly and draws closer. "Hello again!" He's holding a box in one hand. "And you too Yelrona. I did not expect to see you here."

Kira isn't fluent in elvish, so just sits and smiles politely while Halana converses more with Yelrona. She does nod when Yelrona answers in common. That she understands. The latest arrival gets a smile and wave, with a wave to a large basket of bread. "Please, take some if you are hungry."

Halana looks to Yelrona again and returns to tradespeak for everyone elses benefit. "I, am sure she is. It's just that I really feel, off, with out it. I know the blessed lady is with me, but I really" and she just exhales and then, zap. Halana lets out a surprised gasp and curses in elvish. "I, umm, what in the world is that?" she asks before turning to Raz and Kira. "Hello again."

Yelrona chuckles, showing the device in her palm. "It's a tradition, of sorts," she says, shrugging. "A reminder that the gods are always with us, perhaps, even if they present themselves in forms we don't recognize and don't expect. A reminder to trust in what we know to be true, even when it can't be seen." She pockets the device and adds "Or perhaps just a silly prank. In any case, I'll see what I can do to help with your gear. I'm afraid I don't know very much about the circumstances of its loss, though, or of your rescue... would you mind talking about it?"

Razen flashes a grin at Kira, but waves away her offer of bread. "I am glad to see that not all customs here are different! I come bearing gifts as well." He lifts the box a little by way of explanation but keeps ahold of it as Yelrona starts to question Halana. For a moment his lips press into a thin line, and he grasps the box he's holding with both hands. Then offers the woman a small smile as he sets his box on the edge of her bed. "Yelonra means well. You don't have to talk about it if you do not want to. Perhaps this will make you feel a bit better though." He pats the box once with a fond look for it. "Because if you can I am certain she can help"

Halana looks to them both, confused a moment at what Yel just said, and well, did. She exhales deeply, seems she didn't think it was all that funny. As to talking about it? She looks to Raz first and smiles warmly as she gives the box a surprised look. "Is this for me?" she asks him, as she reaches out to grab it and pulls it forward to open an look in. A meat pie and a dagger, wow. Well, first things first, the meat pie gets all Halana's attention as she dives in to munching on it like she's not ate in days, and she probably hasn't outside hospital food, malnourishment and all that. As she's got a mouthfull of meat pie, she looks back Raz with a big ol goofy grin, "Fhank youff" mmhmm, big ol doofy grin. To Rona on the other? She holds up a hand and nods a yes, "Inf a momef" is her reply, something akin to, /in a moment/.

Yelrona laughs and nods. "Please. Take your time."

For his part the half orc looks utterly pleased with himself; grinning widely as she devours the pie. "My sister Parba always used to say that when a warrior comes home injured you give them meat for the body and a weapon for the next time." Razen says the words as fondly as he'd patted the box earlier.

Once the young elf has finshed stuffing her face, and also taken several drinks, she reaches in the box to look at the dagger to. She sets it back down and looks to Raz first, "Your kindness is" and she stops a moment and pretty much breaks down in to tears. "It's, umm, thank you..." pause, sniffle, "all of you." She's just now having everything come crashing down no doubt, that she might be free again, that she's not alone, no longer a slave, that she might be able to make friends and live a life. It's a bit, much. "I umm, ok, so, story.." she adds, looking to Yelrona with puffy eyes and red cheeks.

"If you're ready," Rona adds hastily. "If not, it can wait until you are."

"Yea." Razen agrees with Yelrona, quickly finding someplace to sit down nearby so that he isn't towering over her. He doesn't seem to know what to do with himself, but he offers her a comforting smile. "There's no hurry. We can just sit here while you eat pie if you want."

"You want the long form or the short form?" she asks them both, thoug, mostly Rona.

"As full a story as you care to tell," Rona replies.

Razen remains silent, a steadying presence as he listens to Halanaestra speak.

Walery has arrived.

Halana exhales deeply, "I was taken, years ago when the Manse of my Lord was attacked. I lost my mother and father during, and ran, with some of the others." She pauses a moment, "I've been a slave since, and I was, reserved to that being my fate until I was given up as food, or any number of horrible outcomes." Another deep exhale, "Though, there have been, more numerous uprisings and rebellions as of late in Charn and I took an oppertunity, along with Elthea over there" and she thumbs at a now sleeping Female Dawn Elf. "We thought we'd make it to Alexandria, but, we were caught in the redridge, a few weeks ago. We were, just two more to add to the rest that they'd already taken" she adds, looking around at the others present and then back. "Then, before we knew it? This team, of women, burst in to the cave and laid waist to the slavers and, well, here we are now. All of us. Alive, safe, free.."

Yelrona nods approvingly. "Gods of Light be praised," she breaths out. "And you as well, all of you, for your bravery. Not everyone would have taken the chance at freedom you took, when it was available."

Walery has only just arrived at the inn, and takes a look around to see what's going on.

Walery has only just arrived at the hospital, and passes a missive off to one of the orderlies. He'll pause and look around, as it seems a bit busier than usual. "Some big battle?" he wonders aloud.

"In a manner of speaking," Rona says to Walery. "Halana and her friends have been fighting a battle all their lives... and it's not over yet, but at least they can rest from it now, and be safe." Then she thinks about that and, given her own recent experiences with Charn and its agents, adds as gently as possible "Or... well, perhaps I'm taking more for granted than I should. Is there anyone from Charn who took a singular interest in you, or your friends? Who might come after you? In general, they wouldn't," she hastens to add. "Slavery is a business, ultimately... a reprehensible business, but a business just the same... and expending resources in pursuit of escaped slaves just isn't worth it. But if you're of special interest to them, then we will establish special defenses." She shifts her shoulders in a way that makes clear that those defenses include having to come through her dead body.

The question that she was worrying about comes, and Halana exhales deeply. "I am, of particular interest to my former master. I don't know why, to be entirely honest, but I do expect I have a bounty on my head for recapture."

Walery ohs to Yelrona and peers at Halana curiously. "Well," he says, "Well done in escaping their clutches. We're glad to have you here and fighting agaist the forces of evil. They're quite nasty, as I'm sure you know all too well." As to the continual battle, he explains, "I meant did some specific event happen that has so many adventurers here?" To Halana, he says, "Don't worry too much. Stay with your Temple, they're almost always safe. The good ones are. Tarien's temple is .... a bit prone to surprises and jokes, and Kor's is full of fighting, though.

Yelrona chuckles at Walery's comment, then shrugs. He isn't _wrong_, after all. She nods more seriously to Halana. "All right. I'll talk to the Hearthguards about increasing security, and to the Inquisition about lending a hand. What should we expect from your former..." the word 'master' sits in her mouth like a rotten prawn before she spits it out. "I mean, are they more prone to send soldiers? Magic? Demons? Artifice? Assassins? They're all dealable with," she says with palpable confidence, "but the more we know, the better prepared we'll be."

"To be entirely honest? I have no idea. All I know is that my master was, for some reason, enthralled with me. I'm a Cleric, I can't raise the dead and I'm not even stronger enough in my faith and devotion to the Blessed Lady yet to bring anyone back to life. So, in short? I have no idea why they want me, or what they'll do to get me back. I'm sorry."

Walery nods at what Yelrona says. "Though hopefully if we bite their hands enough, they'll stop reaching out," he says hopefully. "I guess it depends how mad they are." He hrms to Halana, and ohs about being a cleric. "That'd be a good temple to stay with; lots of paladins besides the priests. You should be as safe there as anywhere." As to why, he says, "Who can fathom their dark purposes? It could have been as simple as delight in having stolen you from Her. Or he could just be obsessive. Who can say?"

"You have _nothing_ to apologize for," Rona blurts out. "Nothing," she repeats fiercely. "All of the apologies are due _to_ you, from the monsters who forced you into service. You may have to settle for their death, though." She nods agreement with Walery's advice, then thinks about it some more. "May I know their names? If they are putting out a bounty among the Charneth agents in Alexandria, that may help me track them down."

GAME: Yelrona accepts a meet and will depart momentarily.

Yelrona has left.

GAME: Yelrona accepts a meet and will arrive momentarily.

Yelrona has arrived.

Svarshan has arrived.

"I was never permitted to address master by name. I do not know his name." Seems she's still having troubles breaking out of all of her /chains/. "Master" she still says it, "Master insisted that I was, like all the slaves here" and she motions to them all, "Beneath him. Beneath knowing his name and no one was permitted to speak his name around us if they were not a slave."

The door opens. The door shuts. Somewhere, and adventurer gains a million xp. This door however, isn't known to operate on its own. The movement comes with the dry shiff-shiff of scale. Eventually, a sith-makar may be seen making his way down the aisles. He ambles on fours, does this sith. The armor he wears could as well be barding. Smoke curls faintly from his muzzle, the faintest smell of coal and fire.

Walery ohs as Halana explains the conditions of her servitude. "Yeah, that's pretty harsh. But if you don't know his name, don't worry. The chance of someone stumbling across you as you move around the city is low, and at your temple, you've got good protection. I ... what?" he asks, turning to look at what's just wandered in.

Yelrona nods, then looks at her intently. "I want you to listen very carefully to what I am about to say. It's fine that you don't know his name. Anything you can tell me about him will help. But the most important thing you need to know about him is that he's NOT your master. He never was. He claimed that title by threat of violence, but not with any justice, and he can no longer make that threat." She speaks firmly, loud enough to be heard throughout the ward. "He is not your master. He --" she blinks at the Sith's arrival, opens her mouth, closes it again.

"Peace to your nest. Svarshan, have you met Walery and Halana?"

Svarshan pats the door a few times with his tail, to make sure its closed. Outside it's sunny and warm. A bright, brilliant day, and the closing of the door casts a shadow on the inside. "Peasse to you," he says comfortably to Yelrona. He ambles over that way, a slow, reptilian walk.

"One hass met walery, and sshared words," he says, and sits on his haunches. "But not Halana. Peasse to you. Thiss one iss Svarshan, sservice to the Empress."

Walery waves to Svarshan, and says, "It's been a while. Peace to your ... er ... nest? Or house, or wherever you live?"

Halana can't help but watch the Sith, she's seem them before. "Sweet water and light laughter to your Nest Svarshan" she replies rather plainly, bowing lightly. She puts a hand on her chest, "This one is Halana, Cleric of the Blessed Lady and former slave of Charn." To Wal and Rona, she turns back, and Rona gets the most of it, the nod. "I know, only what was my purpose as master gave it to me. Outside that? I know nothing else and while I understand, it will take time for me to move past the last several years of my life."

Yelrona nods. "It's a journey," she agrees, then looks around. "I should go talk to the Hearthguards and to the Inquisition about your protection... the sooner the better. Thank you for your help, and your bravery."