| Heartwood Logs |
2000-06-02
| Heartwood |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Clues & Contradictions
- The little lamp starts to flutter, Benedict's very first
indication that the time has passed but a bit too quickly. Almost out
of oil, and the stack of scrolls and parchments about the young Brother
are almost reminiscent of the elder Master's desk way up in the top of
Lord Random's Tower. And for a long time then his companions have been
missing.
With the dregs of the lamplight to guide him, Benedict steps out into the dusk. Far away towards the sea the sun has already set. And in the dim light of the courtyard there is no sign at all of Brisa, Roxanna, Anuje, Trystan, or the irrepressible strangeling Romana. But there in the center of the ruined hilltop there is a hole. And a rope has been tied to a broken block of stone... leading down into the hole...
Benedict frowns, holding the lamp up a little higher. "What have they done now...?" he asks softly. Mindful of Brisa's warning from before, he walks cautiously to the hole and kneels beside it, peering down. "Brisa! Anyone? Hello?!"
Brisa is stalking down the corridor, searching for lizards and making sure none sneak up on her companions or herself... as she passes the southern entrance to the central room she pauses, listening... then turns and heads into the central area. She looks up the well shaft, "Benny? Is that you?"
Benedict lets out a breath. Thank the- well... who does he thank, now? He shakes himself and calls down, "It's me, Brisa! I lost track of time in Lord Random's library. I'm afraid I'm no closer to finding the well, if this isn't it...!"
Brisa laughs, albeit a touch grimly, "I am thinking this is it, Benny. Come down if you wish."
Roxanna grins behind Brisa. "I think we've at least got a handle on things, yes."
Benedict looks warily at the rope, then nods to himself. "All right. Need another light down there? I've a lamp with me...?"
Brisa smiles, "Da, more light would be fine; bring it down please." Her arms folded behind her back, Romana quietly strolls behind. Her pace is a bit heavier than normal, uncharacteristically quiet.
Benedict pulls up part of the rope, making the lamp fast to it with the most secure knot he can tie. "Lamp's coming down first, Brisa," he calls down, lowering it into the hole. The sudden loss of light aboveground almost panics him for a moment; then he gets control of himself. You faced down wolves in a circle of stones; you can deal with the dark, Benedict, he rebukes himself.
Brisa looks back up at the lowering lamp... then smiles, and sends a spark up to hover over Benedict's head. "Spacebo, Benny, I have it!" Brisa retrieves the lamp and hands it to Romana, then looks back up for Benedict, to be sure he has no trouble coming down. While waiting for Benedict to descend, Brisa turns to Romana, "So... tell me more please about these dragons, Romishka? What weaknesses or strengths do they have?" Benedict takes in a bit of a breath, takes a firm hold of the rope, and starts to let himself down into the well, hand over hand, slowly. This isn't horrible for him, only just recently a novice used to the work novices do, but it's not something he often does. His progress is somewhat slow, but he keeps it steady until he reaches the bottom. Brisa steadies the rope for Benedict, guiding him down the last few feet. "There... should warn you we have seen giant carnivorous lizard dragon, Benny..." She updates him tersely.
At Brisa's question the younger girl brightens. She opens her mouth, and then closes it tight again. White teeth bite at her lower lip as she considers. Then she nods, "Fast, yes? Many legs, run very fast, with sharp teeth and talons. Normally, hunt in puddles, yes? Not alones..."
Brisa gives Romana a startled glance, "In um... what? In water? Er... did you mean packs?"
Romana shakes her head, "And hunting beast, not dragon. Certainly not dragon. All by self not very smart. Like being in puddles... many... packs, that better word?"
Brisa frowns, sitting down on a bit of rubble, "Am thinking we need to plan ahead, da? If we meet several of them at once we will be dragon dinners. So... hm. Rubble should work to our benefit, I am hoping, so they cannot run directly at us so fast... what else can we use? Romishka, how do they react to fire, please?" She nods thoughtfully, "Good... so alone they aren't as smart... hm." She examines her gashed and bloody front ruefully, then looks up apologetically, "Um... Roxy? Could I ask favor of you please?"
Roxanna smiles at Brisa. "I was wondering when you'd notice that. Let's get you fixed up."
Brisa sighs and smiles, "Sorry. Would like that please, yes... in combat it's easy to forget injuries."
Curling her hands into fists, Romana places them firmly on her hips, one foot stamping on the cold stone floor. "Not dragons! Beasts!" She snorts aristocratically and then considers more. "Fire? Like other lizard beasts, yes? Hunting beasts cute, loyal, cunning like foxies, but not smart like folks. Still just beast."
Roxanna clears a section of the floor and tells Brisa to lie down. "Can't cure you while you're running around."
Brisa lies down, giving Romana an amused glance without moving from where Roxanna's checking her, "Beasts then. Still... what stops them? What hurts them? From where I'm sitting they're not cute or loyal or anything similar at all... they're a target that can hurt me if I'm not careful and prepared. And I want to know the easiest way to kill them... so none of us gets hurt, if I can." She glances at her bloody front and adds thoughtfully, "Well... no more of us..."
Romana shrugs quietly, "Don't like cold. Makes them slow.
Brisa says, "Hm. Cold... wonder how they handle winter here?" She looks around hopefully, "Don't suppose anyone knows any cold magics?" Romana just looks down to the worn stone floor. Brisa tilts her head so she can see Romana. She says gently, "Romishka... what's wrong?"
Benedict blinks at Brisa's comment about a dragon. By the time she's finished though his expression is not fearful about the others, but grim. "It sounds like some kind of curse."
Romana looks back, looking a little guilty, like a child who is reluctant to share a sweet pastry. "Romanas have... have... friend named Icicle."
Roxanna pulls some supplies out of her pouch. "This'll sting just a bit." She cleans the wound with a fresh piece of cloth and a rather astringent liquid, then bows her head. She chants briefly, her musician's voice transforming the spell/prayer into a melody, and a white glow pulls the edges of the gash together, healing the injury quickly.
Brisa slowly closes one hand into a tight fist -- but doesn't say anything as Roxanna works on her. She sighs in soft relief when Roxanna's done. "Spacebo, Roxy... very much."
Roxanna sits back, a little drained, but she recovers quickly. "All part of the service."
Brisa glances at Roxanna... then leans forward and gives her a gentle hug -- one that's easy to pull out of if she wants. "It is deeply appreciated, Roxy... please don't forget that. Don't want you to feel like your sister in the tower."
Roxanna blinks at that. "Oh? How so?"
Brisa gives Roxanna a quiet glance... then sighs, "I do not know what is wrong with her, Roxy, but she feels... broken, but inside, I think? I am not sure..."
Roxanna scowls. "Methinks I need to talk to her."
Brisa nods quietly, "Da, Roxy. But... if you do not mind, I would be glad if you waited until we were done here?"
Roxanna nods. "Of course. I suspect this isn't a recent development, nothing that can't wait a few days."
Benedict says softly, "You mean... Lord Random's sister, Brisa?"
Brisa nods to Benedict, "The dama Kay, da." She nods to Benedict's comment about a curse, then sighs and looks back to Romana, "Rommicats... your friend is a hunting beast, da? But a little one? Well... does it talk to these? Because if it doesn't, and if they manage to kill us... they will eat you too, kisa. I am sorry to say this... but they are to me beasts which help the chaos riders. Not pets." She looks back at Romana and Benedict, "So... do either of you have any knowledge or training or anything... that might help us defeat these beasts?"
Romana blinks, looking back to Brisa. "Icicle... is Icicle. Not a hunting beastly. A Friend. And... and Brisas loves Khari, yes? But to one beneath Khari's hoofs, big horse not pet, no? Something to be killed? Roamans... Romansa..." The tall girl wraps her arms about herself. "Romanas knows. Romanas not have to likes." Benedict remains quiet, racking his brain for anything else, anything at all, that might have come his way regarding the Dayallan fortress, the two women... and what would be making them appear here night after night.
Brisa sighs again and beckons to Romana, "Kisa, come here a moment, please?" Nodding, Romana slowly walks up to Brisa, who will, if Romana lets her, gently pull Romana down to sit on her lap and give her a quiet, reassuring hug. Her voice is soft, "Romishka... I am very sorry to ask this of you. I do not know who Icicle is, or why you mention your Friend... and I would not ask but that I know there are 3 or 4 very large and dangerous beasts here that threaten my friends and myself." She falls silent a moment, thinking, then adds, "If you want I will not ask for this information, Rommi... I don't want to hurt you by doing this."
The slender easterner hesitates for but a heartbeat, and it is unsure if she's unwilling or perhaps surprised by the gentle action. But then a heartbeat later Brisa has a lapful of Romana, comfortably fitting and looping her arms around the Dayallan's neck to warmly return the hug. She doesn't lean back to answer, resting her head upon Brisa's shoulder as she talks. Her eyes are sharp and clear as she tries to explain. "Icicle is a Friend..."
Brisa nods, listening and quietly stroking back Romana's errant bangs, "So... not a beast. And you mentioned Icicle... why...?"
Romana continues, "Friends come from elsewhere. From sphere fire... water... air... for each element a friend can find. Icicle, a Friend of icicles, yes... like... like Whirlwind."
Benedict murmurs softly, "Elementals."
Brisa draws a slow breath, "Ahh... cold, da, Romishka?"
Letting her own fingers slowly sift through Brisa's hair, Romana nods. "That Icicle... like Whirlwind... fly hunting beasts up in trees in forest." Benedict blinks. It had been Romana's friend who had thrown the beasts into the trees? Great Hastur! Her friends are not creatures I want angry with me, then!
Brisa frowns, thinking... then says slowly, "So... you said Friends get grumpy when they leave. If you ask Icicle to help, will it want to attack us after?"
"Oh... grumpy and have something to grump for, then satisfied, yes? Part of promises."
Brisa looks a bit puzzled at Romana's explanation, "Um... so if you ask your Friend to help us with the hunting beasts, what do you have to promise it so it's not grumpy at us?"
"Or grumpy at you as well, for that matter," Benedict chimes in. Brisa nods gravely at Benedict's comment.
Romana shakes her head, her log hair drifting with the quick movement, teasing both her and Brisa. "No... most masters, they find small Friends, yes? Say I more powerful, do what I say. Live in box, and when I say eat, eat. Romanas... Romanas find Friend, talk. Make promises. Convince nice. Have nice sparkly pretty home... and when leave, Romana have something for them to be angry on. Then they leave happy and say Romana nice to be Friends with."
Benedict frowns slightly. It's the part about 'have something for them to be angry on' that worries him. Brisa listens... then smiles slowly. "How... odd. I'm surprised more people don't do it that way. That's how I trained Khari -- through friendship, not through greater force. So... do we have to have the dragons here for your Friend Icicle to be angry on? Or will Icicle follow you around while we look for them? Or... or can Icicle just find them on its own?"
Roxanna says, "Makes sense. If you can force something, aren't you too powerful to need it in the first place?"
Benedict nods quietly to Roxanna. "Something certain people just haven't realized yet, and when they do it's too late... for them and for a lot of innocents around them."
Brisa gives Roxanna a curious smile, "I... never thought of it that way, actually... but that makes very good sense, Roxy..."
Roxanna says, "Vindictive people are unfortunately common among the powerful. Just look at Trundle."
Romana shakes her head, "No, must have beasts to see, so Icicle doesn't bored get. More easily bored than Romanas..." Then she shrugs, returning her head to Brisa's shoulder. "Not understand. For most, holding Friends not about cunning. About power, yes?"
Brisa hmms, still absently stroking Romana's hair... "So... somehow we must get all the beasts together at once, since this is a bit of a one-shot affair, da?"
Benedict says softly, "Brisa... Icicle's help may not be the kind of help we need. If he gets bored easily and there's little chance of us running into all of the beasts at once..."
Romana's eyes slowly close as she lets out a small breath. But as she does she reflexively nibbles on her lower lip, a sure sign she is still thinking sharp. Her own light touch mirrors Brisa's, slowly exploring. "Best yes... but remembers, Icicle not be a Snowflake... but not Blizzards either."
Brisa nods to both Benedict and Romana, "Well, if we can somehow get them all in one place we can set that place up as a trap for them too. The question is... how to do so." She frowns, thinking... then nods, "We know one place they will go, definitely... and it's already a narrow hallway. If we could somehow channel them all into the hallway that Tashka and Allena are in, then close it off with rubble and call Icicle... and I could peg them repeatedly with arrows... then that would be the least painful way, I think, for all of us, da?"
Roxanna says, "We don't really know how many of the critters there are. If you think we should try it, we'll just have to do it with whatever we find."
Brisa nods at Roxanna's comment, "Da, exactly. And the least exposure we all have to their teeth and claws... the better."
Her eyes slowly opening again, Romana nods. "Sharp teethed beasts."
Brisa nods a little grimly, still thinking... then nods again, more sharply, "All right then! Does anyone else have suggestions on how to do this? We need to see if we can somehow rig rubble to close off that hallway, da?"
Benedict frowns slightly. "I'm neither tactician nor hunter, Brisa. I'm afraid I couldn't say whether that's a good idea or not."
Roxanna says, "Shouldn't be too hard; we barely got in in the first place. What's beyond that door, d'you think?"
Brisa smiles at Benedict, "You are brave and you have a strong back and a willing heart, Benny. What more can we ask for?" She nods to Roxanna, "Da, might be good to check that first... if you all don't mind going back there. We must be cautious though, in case of more beasts. Maybe also Anuje can pick the manacles? Might help stop the repeating."
Frowning quietly, Romana whispers softly, her fingers slipping from Brisa's hair to lightly trace the curve of her neck. "Chains and manacles... all depends. On how mad who put them there was."
Benedict says, softly and dryly, "A way to pull this off comes to mind." Brisa gives Benedict a puzzled look. "I'm sorry, Brisa, you has asked 'what more can we ask for.'"
Brisa says, "Oh!" She laughs, "Da, there is that, Benny. Still... we make do with what we have." She smiles, rising easily and gently setting Romana on her feet, "So... shall we go look again at the hallway for a potential trap, and to check out the door?"
Romana regains her stance gracefully, her lithe movements matching Brisa's. She nods, a bright Romana once again. "So, go look, yes?"
Benedict nods, "That sounds like the best way to go for now."
Brisa nods and pragmatically armors up first... if they're moving through the hallways and it's now night, best to be prepared. She makes sure Benedict's lantern is lit and there's a spark flying in front of them before they start moving cautiously back down towards the hallway. Benedict makes sure also that there's enough oil in the lantern to last a while. Brisa pauses, thinking... then hands her hooded cloak to Romana, "Da. And here, to help hide you from beasts that talk to other beasts, da?"
Romana blinks, and then with a dramatic swirl she loops the cloak over her shoulders. The spin completed, she smiles to Brisa. "Pancakes!"
Brisa grins bemusedly, "Why do you say that, Romishka? Clothing reminds you of food?"
Benedict grins softly at the expression. "Or something she likes..."
Romana stops, looking back quizzically. "Romana being polite. Brisa is nice, Romanas supposed to say pancakes, yes?"
Brisa thinks a bit... then grins wryly, "I think we are having translation problems here, da? Um... do you mean thank you?"
Romana pauses, "Thank you? Not pancakes?"
Brisa describes a pancake, then gives Romana an inquiring glance. "Is that what you meant?" Benedict blinks, and stifles another grin, looking around cautiously into the darkness. It could very well be a mistake that could be easily made.
Reaching up to slip her fingers into her own long hair, Romana scritches and then looks back to Brisa. "No... the food, yes? When dinner?" Nodding she rolls the words in her mouth. "Thank you... thankyou...thankyou." She nods once then, solid, happy with her concatenation. "Thankyou!"
Brisa grins and nods politely, replying with, "You're welcome!" She chuckles, then heads for the unclogged doorway, "So... careful now, everyone, da?"
Roxanna says, "Just a bit, yes."
Benedict nods, "Da -- I mean yes." He mentally shakes his head amusedly; he's been around Brisa for what the Temple would probably call 'too long'!
Brisa grins cheerfully at Benedict, "Da! You keep an eye out behind us, right, Benny?" Benedict nods, looking with his eyes and listening with his ears behind the party. Brisa heads cautiously for the hallway in question, pausing to listen, then peer around sight-blocked areas... and she makes sure the group stays close, so Benedict's never too far from her, in case he spots a beast behind them.
- This time it is a much quieter scramble through the rubble,
past the staked bones, through the broken stones, the tangled roots
and fallen logs. Footsteps are left in the disturbingly pale ivory
dust. Romana follows quietly, mumbling something about a missing dinner,
until the crossing is reached. The two carcasses hang awkwardly in their
manacles, and the great hunting beast's blood has stained the floor
tiles black. Just beyond, set at the end of the corridor, is a worn,
driftwood-gray door.
Brisa first makes sure everyone is safely in the little hallway. Then she nudges some rubble around in the outer hallway so that a beast coming this way would make some noise. "Hm... Benny, can I ask you to keep watch here also? I have set up things so that we can probably hear beasts, but best not to have any accidents, da? And I will try the door?"
Benedict looks at the manacled corpses, wincing. Brisa's story could not have described the sight. At her words he blinks and nods. "Of course, Brisa. Anything I should be listening for?"
Brisa glances at the black-blood-stained floor impassively... then down at her front (similarly stained) with some disgust, "This will need cleaning." She smiles at Benedict, "Monsters," then goes to examine the manacles in curiosity, "I wonder if Anuje can pick these..." Romana was correct -- it all depended on just how angry was the one who trapped these two ladies. And he was very, very angry it seems. For the rings of metal are darksteel, the black prince of metals. Chained to the wall, the links vanish into the very stone. The manacles themselves are perfect cylinders. Nothing, nothing at all to pick. Brisa sighs, "Guess not..." She studies the stone, wondering if it could be hacked away… and sees the stone is the finest of Ancient craftsmanship. Brisa shakes her head, turning towards the door, muttering quietly under her breath in exasperation. She studies the door instead.
Benedict lets out a soft breath, as he turns from the direction of the door, looking into the surrounding darkness. "Monsters," he murmurs. It seems like everywhere the little group goes though they run into new and more "interesting" ways to define "monster."
Turning, Brisa faces the weatherworn door. It seems heavy, old, its surface scarred and battered, as if a veritable shadow army once tried to breach this lonely portal. There is no latch or fittings on this side of the paneled face. Brisa taptaps thoughtfully on the door with the pommel of her sword, wondering where the door leads to. tap... tap .. tap... and then the massive door begins to fall. Just precariously balanced, it twists, tumbles, threatens to smash down upon Brisa herself, but the Dayallan steps back so quickly, almost running down Roxanna and Romana in her haste... SMASH!. Beyond is a dark, midnight black room. And yet, yet there in its far end there is a slightly lighter slash. Romana jumps, and then starts as a slight breeze brushes her playful bangs. Brisa looks very startled, but flips her sword hastily around and brings up her shield before she sends her spark floating into the darkness. Benedict looks back sharply at the crash, giving a start. He frowns at the sight. Well... the beasts know we're here. Brisa mutters under her breath... it sounds something like, "Why couldn't it have been the wall in this condition...?!"
Roxanna says, "Considering how long it lasted... are we at the outer surface here?" She peers into the room, looking for gaps to the outside. "The breeze has to be coming from somewhere."
Brisa nods, "Da, Roxy... question is what else might be here also." She stares carefully into the room, letting the spark drift all around it so everything can be seen. The spark floats in slowly. And as it does Romana's eyes grow wide. For it is obvious the floor has been carved upon. Triangles within triangles within triangles. A triple circle of runes; runes of plant, of mastery, of beast. And yet that careful work has been disturbed, as if some child had held a destructive tantrum there years past. And last, at the end, it looks like there was once a window, a narrow slot reaching out to the side of the broken hill. And tumbling from it are roots and rubble. But within it, even this late at night, the window and its trailings are a brilliant play of dandelions and daisies in full bloom. Brisa pads in cautiously, making sure there's nothing dangerous here... then studies the floor puzzledly. What was this place? She remembers herself, and checks the window, to see where they look out on... and to see if anyone can get in to them.
Romana follows upon Brisa's heels, kneeling at the carvings in the floor. They are deep channels, deliberately cut into the once solid floor. They do not fit the pattern of the tiles. And where Brisa stands she can see out into the night. It's a narrow slot, barely wide enough for a thin person to once have slipped through. But now it is choked with wood and roots and delicate wildflowers. Here and there the passage to the hillside is clear, and every now and then Brisa can swear she sees a star. About the room are scattered broken bits of metal. Perhaps a brazier, perhaps ancient candle fittings. In one corner is a battered bucket with gray rope still attached. What might have been furniture pushed into a corner is now a pile of petrified scrap wood.
Benedict remains at the intersection, glancing behind at the open doorway nervously as he holds up the lantern, his ears alert for any sound of monsters. Brisa nods quietly... now they have a way to potentially get out, she hopes... but the monsters can't. She looks back and calls, "Everything is still fine, Benny!" then glances at Romana, "What's that on the floor? Was a Friend called in here to destroy things?" Benedict nods and waves in response to Brisa's call.
Romana looks up from where she sits, her fingers still trailing the carven channels. "Oh... this... this is how Friends are made. But... but... not little Friends. Oh, tcha, not little ones. Nor Corla..." She stops and corrects herself. "Not Eastern."
Brisa looks puzzled... then frowns, "You are saying that this was made by Davidson the Black, to call uh... his Eastern friend here?"
Roxanna watches and listens. "The carving doesn't match the floor tiles. I think this was done by the invaders."
Brisa nods to Roxanna, "I am thinking this also, Roxy. I am hoping Romishka can tell us if this is an opening that can be used again, though... I would be very unhappy at unexpected visitors at that level of power!"
Roxanna says, "Could be the power source for the curse..."
Romana shakes her head, "No, not Eastern... not sorceries..." She turns, looking to Roxanna, "Or maybes just made after room built?" Brisa gives Romana another puzzled glance... then bends to more closely examine the carvings. Do they look at all familiar to her, ripped through the tiles? An act of desperation by a last defender here, perhaps? This type of magic is beyond Brisa. If anything, its something suited to a Priestess. But a Dayallan priestess would have used runes of water, horse and time. Romana simply sits down, legs akimbo, as if shocked. She just whispers two words. "Big Friends."
Brisa nods thoughtfully, "Must've been. So you're saying it's not something Davidson the Black would have used then? Hm... plant, mastery, beast... maybe a Covener?" Brisa continues to study the runes curiously, with the calm confidence of someone who doesn't really know what she's studying...
Roxanna says, "I was thinking the same thing. Not sorcerers -- nature magic."
Brisa nods, then adds curiously, "I wonder what Coveners call?"
Benedict, meanwhile, is pacing but a little, looking down each of the hallways at the intersection, maintaining the alert watch -- knowledge that there are more of those hunting beasts here, in the darkness, helps to keep him alert. Romana looks about, frowning. "Only one thing missing..."
Brisa says, "Well. Unless- er... what's that, Romishka?" She thinks a bit, waiting for Romana to reply... then ahs! "I know, we will ask Benny for help... maybe he will recognize this! Moment..." She paces out to grin at Benedict, "Benny, can you look in the room and see what is there, and if you know anything about it?"
Benedict glances back into the room, blinking. He nods and walks into the room, stopping short as he sees the carvings. He frowns slightly, kneeling to take a closer look at them, then looks up at Brisa. "This is what you wanted to ask me about?"
Brisa nods, "Da. See how they are over the tiles? It must have been very important to destroy the room so... and also to have made such deep carvings, don't you think?" She leaves Benny's lantern out by the hall crossways, so that they can see by shadow changes if anything comes... and she stands by the doorway into the room, keeping an alert watch that way, between the crossways and her friends within the room.
Romana looks up, across to Brisa. "In channels, something special should be, yes? Like powdered rubies, if fire-friend look for..."
Roxanna nods. "But with plant, beast and mastery... what?"
Brisa frowns, thinking... "Blood? Dirt?"
Benedict frowns, reaching out to touch the carvings... but he doesn't touch them. "These... they're very important indeed, actually, Brisa. And with what Romana is saying... they're some kind of summoning runes."
Brisa brightens, "So we guessed right? So... what would they call? And... can they still? As I said to Romishka, uninvited guests are not pleasant." She grins wryly.
Benedict looks down, frowning and shaking his head. "But... but this is still all wrong. No, it's a summoning circle, but... look, see all the triangles? There are two sets. This was supposed to be focussing the summoning on two people, not one. I'm... not sure what that means."
Brisa says, "Hm... so if Tashka and Allena were the only two left here... could this have been... say... an attempt to... to escape -- that failed?" She adds puzzledly, "And... how did they carve these -- into rock?! Or... can you call Friends to... to do something like um... like to strengthen you or something?"
Benedict looks up, fretting. "In a summoning circle? No... they wouldn't use this kind of circle to escape, not directly."
Roxanna says, "Or two summonings to bind them here even after their deaths? Plant, beast, mastery..."
Brisa says, "But I'm thinking the binding them here wasn't something they wanted to do... if they wanted to stay the manacles wouldn't be necessary, right?" She mumbles puzzledly, "Mastery... of what?"
Benedict nods quietly at Brisa's question. "That's possible. Likely, in fact, that they summoned... some kind of spirits to strengthen the people in the triangles. That would match the two people. They may have tried to summon spirits to strengthen them, focussing the spirits on themselves... and maybe something went horribly wrong. A curse."
Roxanna shakes her head. "Brisa... these were set up by someone to force Tashka and Allena to be returned for torture. Night after night, since the end of the Second Age. These are not Dayallan runes."
Brisa says, "So... so these runes aren't Covener runes then. They're more likely something peculiar that Davidson the Black did. If they're not Dayallan, and they're not Covener, and they're not Eastern... then he's the only sorcerer I know of. Which would mean... that he bound the two of them here." She sighs softly and adds with quiet venom, "I hope he is still alive, somehow..."
Benedict shakes his head to Roxanna, standing. "No, I can't agree. That's not what these circles are meant to be used for."
Brisa looks around, frowning, "I think... I think I'd like to get ready to kill some beasts, myself... if you all will excuse me, I'm going to go see if I can move rubble around so we can trap monsters here, and maybe stop the repeating..." She glances at Benny as she turns for the hallway, "Maybe they never had a chance to finish the summoning... or whatever they wanted wasn't strong enough to get here?"
Benedict looks to Brisa and moves to keep pace with her. "That's possible. But something caused them to be cursed. It could have been the summoning gone awry, or it could have been... whatever they were trying to strengthen themselves against. Until we know with more certainty what happened..."
Brisa nods to Benedict a little grimly, "Well... we can always... ask..." She gives the partial corpses a glance, then doesn't look at them any more, as she studies how best to use the rubble as a trap.
Benedict stops at the doorway, looking into the room again, at the circle, frowning. He rubs his hands, albeit a little nervously. "There might be another way..."
Brisa says, "Da? Howso, Benny?"
Benedict glances to Brisa and smiles a bit. "If I can get into the 'mind' of a simple key, I think I can get into the 'mind' of a bunch of stones." He nods to the circles. "Those stones, for example..."
Brisa's eyes widen! She looks at the stones, then worriedly at Benedict, "Benny... are you sure this is wise? Was a curse done here?! I'd like the information... but not at cost of you!"
Benedict shakes his head. "We know something was done here. And we don't know if we'll be able to talk to the prisoners -- it might be the nature of the curse that they cannot interact with us. I'm more than willing to wait and see if we can actually talk to them, honest... but if we can't, well... this is an option."
Roxanna says, "You were very weak the last time you did it. Are you sure you want to risk that here?"
Benedict looks to Roxanna and nods. "For all the... questionable things that we've seen from Imperials on this trip, and for everything that... can be said about Imperials... it's still the duty of an Eye to find the Truth... and do something with that knowledge." He nods to the circle. "Frankly, figuring out what happened here might not only save those two out there... but might save ourselves as well."
Brisa shakes her head at Benedict's words... then smiles and says very softly, "I think maybe you are more a seeker and an Eye for what is truth... than many I have seen who are Eyes for many years, Benny. This is very brave of you."
Benedict says, "By the way... does anyone wish to speculate on if, now that we've essentially broken in, if the hunting beasts will now be able to get out to the town?"
Brisa nods, "All right... we will wait to see if we can talk with the women here first, da, Benny? and if not then you can try being the stones? And I think unless the lizards can climb vertical walls they cannot get out... especially since if they are cannibalistic there is a lot of fresh meat here for them."
Benedict looks to Brisa; his eyes are a bit wide in the dim light. "Brave? Brisa, believe me... I'm scared. Roxanna's right, it wasn't easy being that key. Being a magic circle... that may cause all sorts of other... things to happen." He doesn't specify what could happen. Not to sound like a martyr, he tells himself, but if you become tainted by chaos, if this is something that Davidson the Black did and it takes hold of you the others'll know what to do. "On the other hand... we don't have to really guess what those very, very real hunting beast lizards'll do to us if they decide we're their next meal." He grins. "So my fear of getting trounced by being some stones is being outvoted by my fear of becoming one of those things' midnight supper."
Brisa studies Benedict for a moment... then smiles and gives him a one-armed hug, "Good for you, Benny... is still brave of you."
Benedict says wryly, "Thank you, Brisa. Still... you're right, and we should keep ourselves safe tonight, if those beasts sniff us out.
Roxanna says, "Most definitely. Maybe they'll just eat their dead fellow, but I wouldn't count on it."
Brisa nods, heaving pointy branches into place, "Would be nice, but da, not to be counted on." She glances at Benedict over her shoulder with a quiet smile, "Benny... I will tell you a secret. Every time I go into combat I am scared a little. Bravery means you don't let that stop you. Not to be a little scared? That is just foolishness."
Romana nods, and then claps her hands together. "You can be circles? That... oh, can you teach Romanas how?"
Brisa gives Romana a startled glance, then grins ruefully, "Um... who are you talking to, Romishka? And... what do you mean?"
Romana looks to Brisa, "Benedicts can be the circle?'
Brisa says, "Oh! That, I see what you mean now, Romishka." She glances at Benedict, then nods quietly, "Not sure you'd want to, Rommicats."
Benedict blinks to Brisa, then smiles quietly. "Thanks, Brisa. I'll remember that." He looks to Romana, smiling weakly. "I would if I could, Romanas. I'll tell you all I know about it, but it's not really myself that becomes the circle. It's by Hastur that I can do that... well, sometimes. If he lets me." He adds wryly, more to himself, "And I've started to wonder how much longer he will let me...?"
Brisa says gently to Benedict, "Benny... in my church also there is a great argument about the proper way to worship. Doesn't mean either is wrong... just different." She continues to haul rubble around until she's pleased with the results. "There. What do you all think?"
- Finally, settled in against the stone in the little room,
Brisa's star finally fades, the sturdy Dayallan worn from keeping up
the magical light. Benedict's lamp had burned itself out long ago,
its oil exhausted. Sleep had come for a bit to all depending on their
watches. Even Romana curled up, still wrapped in Brisa's cloak. Finally
though small spots of soft light slip in through the rubbled window. And
out in the hall, out in the hall there drifts what seems to be a dream,
like morning mist coalescing. Until...
"Tashka... Tashka, are you awake? I think... I think the door finally fell."
Brisa wakes with a start, her hand falling immediately on her sword, looking around! -and winces immediately afterwards... she'd forgotten swearing to herself that she'd never sleep in her armor again... at least until the next time, she thinks ruefully to herself. Benedict's eyes flutter open at the sound of the voice, and he wakes with a (groggy) start. "The two prisoners! They're speaking!"
Romana lifts her head with a quiet oof, since she had claimed Brisa as last night's pillow. She blinks once, then twice, rubbing her cheek. Brisa rises with a groan, then blinks apologetically at Romana, "Oops. Sorry, Romishka," and nods to Benedict, "Da... wonder if lizard body is gone too." She stretches carefully, wincing again, then pads quietly to the doorway and looks out, "Good morning, tovarisch Allena, Verchovai Tashka." Benedict nods and stands himself, grimacing slightly. Brisa looks to see if the lizard body is gone also.
Anuje yawns and stretches. She blinks quickly. "They're alive again?"
Roxanna nods, rather grimly. "For now. Let's see if Brisa can keep them that way."
Brisa smiles ruefully over her shoulder at Roxanna, and nods, "We will all do our best, I am sure."
- Outside in the corridor, chained to the wall, two women. One
wears tunics of green, torn and ragged, long lush hair framing a tender
face. Red streaks cut through the sable locks, and she is chained
hands and feet to the wall. Across from her, with rough cut black hair,
a much sturdier woman, slender but as if carved from stone. She wears
black and silver and her head hangs low. But at Brisa's words her head
turns, sable eyes blinking, quiet. She just shakes her head. "Oh Lady,
I am dreaming again..."
Romana stops, hood up, at the very back of the little group. Brisa walks out quietly and shakes her head, "Nyeh, Verchovai. Would you both like a drink of water? I would like to ask you some questions, for your help to stop this from happening again, please?"
The shackled Dayallan shakes her head. "Oh goddess... water... water... no." She manages a small smile, blinking, trying to focus. "If you are real, please, Allena first."
Brisa just nods quietly and turns to carefully offer water from her canteen to Allena. She glances over her shoulder, "Someone give Verchovai Tashka a drink also, please?" She studies the green-tunicked woman's head... is that blood streaking scarlet through her hair, or just odd coloration? Anuje nods and quickly moves to help the other woman. Brisa says, "Spacebo, kisa." Benedict shivers slightly as he stands there, seeing Anuje going to Tashka. He looks around, keeping alert for any sound of hunting beasts. Somehow, the enormity of the occasion -- two women from the Second Age! right here before him! -- is lost to the danger of the moment.
Roxanna steps up and offers her canteen to the other woman. "We are real enough. Though we are still not sure what will happen when we interrupt the cycle."
Across the hall the other woman looks up. She blinks and tries to sip the water. One little one, then a second, and then she chokes a bit and slows up. "Danka... oh... Mother, who... who are you?" Her hair is indeed streaked in crimson, an odd coloring, but not blood. Tashka looks up, her look very fatalistic. "You should be worrying more about your souls, lest his anger falls upon you too."
Brisa says, "I am Brisa of Highgaard, and my companions are Anuje, Roxanna of Trundle, and Benedict Matthewson. And over there is Romana, who is... shy." Benedict inclines his head quietly to the two women as he is introduced. The Second Age... when even Hastur was young... Brisa glances over at Tashka, "Verchovai, it is another Age now. His chaos riders still attack Bordertown... and there are new gods in the Heartwood." She sighs softly and continues carefully giving water.
Tashka tries drawing herself up and fails, to just hang there. "Without Her light, we kind of... lost track."
Roxanna shakes her head, hearing the Imperial Gods referred to as new...but she continues to minister to Tashka. "Whose anger, milady?"
Brisa says, "Er... let's not name any names here, please, Roxanna? Or at least... not His." She waits until Allena's finished drinking, then sighs again and leans against the wall so the two women can see each other still.
Roxanna nods. "Ah...that one." She stares at the chains. "Does anyone have any idea at all how to get them loose?"
Brisa looks tiredly at Roxanna, "Only way I know is to take fortress down around them. I am hoping more they can answer what happened in that room-" she points at the room with the carvings in it, "-and how to stop this... horror."
Anuje chews her lip. "Make their wrists smaller?" Brisa blinks at Anuje slowly... then turns and starts examining one of Allena's wrists. How snug are these manacles, after all these years? The green clad woman watches as her wrist is examined. Her eyes close, because she knows the manacles are tight.
The bound Dayallan manages an ironic smile. "Every now and then I do, just to annoy him. It's not like I won't wake up again the next day." Brisa covers a small smile at that.
Across the hall, Allena shakes her head, "Oh, Tashka... you never had to..."
Brisa sighs... well, slipping the manacles was but a thought. "So... do you know how to stop this? Or what happened in that room?" Benedict pays attention to the answer at Brisa's question.
At Brisa's words, Allena's head droops, so very quiet. "What else could we do. At the head of their army rode all four of Them."
Brisa struggles to figure out how to help Tashka understand how long it's been. "Ah... so... I think you've been down here... um... a fullhand times a hand times a hand?" To Allena she adds, "Um... what did you do, please? We really don't know."
Benedict blinks to Allena and shivers. "Oh, Hastur," he whispers. Anuje moves to listen at the hall.
Tashka looks to Benedict, taking a long breath. "What do you think?"
Benedict takes in a breath, remembering something Romana said. 'Favor of Friends... call Gods, live long. Disfavor of Gods... live longer.' "I think... that somehow we need to get you out of here, once and for all." He looks uncomfortable. "Erm... we need to find the way to end the curse if we can't remove the manacles. What happened in... in there...?"
Brisa studies her boot tips quietly, thinking. Anuje swallows. "A more permanent death would end it, wouldn't it?"
Tashka looks silently across to her death-long friend. Allena's head remains fallen as she quietly whispers, "They had four, we needed two... they were sweeping over the fortress..." The Covener's words fall off. And when Tashka spoke, it was very simple. "...and something went wrong."
Benedict closes his eyes. It's as he'd worried that it might be. They tried a summoning, summoning spirits to strengthen them... and the summoning failed. He opens his eyes quietly. "Do you know what happened? Do you know what went wrong?"
Brisa looks up, "You were trying to call both the goddesses, da? But somehow they do not answer? Or the Mother and the Horned God?" Benedict glances to Brisa. Summoning deities? The concept is... well, perhaps it isn't all that foreign to him after all. According to the Temple he is Hastur's Eyes.
"Oh, no... they came..." Allena chokes, quiet, her eyes closed tight. And when she speaks it's a soft whimper, "...but they... not as avatars... they... got... something wasn't right... and they were bound to this plane, this sphere." Allena whispers one last word, "...mortal..."
Brisa looks glum, "Must have been something Davidson the Black did to stop it or mess it up...? But still..." she starts, straightening, "What?! Who?! Who came?!"
Allena is silent, crying softly. It is Tashka who speaks, pragmatic. "Her Lady and Lord."
Roxanna says, "And... they've been here ever since? I wonder..."
Anuje blinks. "Who caused the curse if they were stuck here?"
Tashka just looks to Anuje. "I could only kill so many of Them"
Brisa sighs, leaning back against the wall again, half in relief and half in pity... then she sighs again, straightening, and pulls a hankie out for Allena. She isn't quite sure what to do, and her quiet murmurings of, "there, there..." are a little at-a-loss sounding... but she'll wipe away the tears, and try to gently comfort Allena... as much as she can...
Benedict is no theologian; that's best left to the old wizened and bearded thinkers in the Temples. But this he can understand. And as much as he can understand it, it simply strikes far more fear into him than a mere hunting beast. "They came down from the Heavens," he murmurs, "-summoned here... and they became Mortal... in a fortress full of the chaos riders, being led by the Four..." He closes his eyes, thoroughly unsure as to whose name to invoke, what power to pray to, and so relies on his faith. Lord Hastur, Knower of All... did you know this? Do the learned historians in the Temples know of this? And, most important, oh Hastur... what can we, we few, we handful of mortals, do to make things aright? if we even can...?
Brisa nods over one shoulder at Tashka, "That is why the male Coveners are all strange, da? Dangerous, now... but I have never met a female Covener before, so I do not know what they are like now."
Brisa straightens slowly, in sudden realization, "They... mortal?! Oh Lady... a mortal woman in their hands?!" She blinks slowly, her stomach churning at that thought... then hopes against hope that the Mother got killed quickly, or the Horned Man didn't have to watch... but somehow doubts that's what happened...
Anuje frowns at Brisa's words. "Is there something other than talk that we can do?"
Brisa mutters quietly to Anuje, "Not until they can answer our questions, kisa, no..."
Benedict opens his eyes. "Do you know what exactly went wrong?" he asks softly.
Brisa says, "Or how to stop this?"
Allena just shakes her head. "No. Everything was right. The time... the priest and priestess... we had starlit water from Her well to seal the runes... we don't know..."
Benedict blinks, and looks to Brisa. "Brisa... the well..."
Romana whispers, "The missing piece..."
Roxanna looks up at Brisa and Benedict. "The poisoned well..."
Brisa says wryly, "It's dry, Benny. This whole place is the poisoned well."
Anuje shakes her head. "Not necessarily, Brisa. What if the water was poisoned?"
Brisa says, "What's the missing piece, Romishka?" She glances curiously at Tashka, "The stone over the well... what does it do? What are the sword-shaped indentations for? How do we stop this?"
Benedict says, "But it wasn't dry in the Second Age. What if... what if the water from Her well, the water used in the ceremony to summon Her and the Horned Man... what if that water was poisoned?" Anuje nods to Benedict.
As one the two women looked up. "...poisoned water?"
Brisa shrugs helplessly, "You are asking me?! Believe me, I wish I knew! I would almost give my right sworder's arm to get Verchovai Tashka to Dawnview, so we could learn again all the things we have forgotten!"
It is Tashka who answers Brisa. Her words are grim. "I don't know. He cursed us for us thwarting Him. As long as he walks, we are trapped here. If there's another way, it is beyond me."
Roxanna says, "And where are they now? Even mortal, they are deities... how did you thwart Him? What happened?" She pauses. "Ancient legend, now. It speaks of a poisoned well."
Brisa looks up suddenly at Tashka, "How...? How did you thwart him?" She adds slowly, "Is that exactly what He said? As long as He walks, you are trapped here?"
"But what could have poisoned the well..." Allena's words fall off, confused, perplexed.
Tashka manages a second dry and ironic smile. "What can I say. They knew Allena's Lord and Lady were bound to the earth. They needed time to run. There were Four. Someone had to stay behind to guarantee sure that they did not pursue."
Brisa looks confused again, "Who ran? Who was pursuing? The Coveners ran? You stayed? Is that it?"
Tashka just looks at Brisa. "They ran. To the Heartwood. Someone had to stay to make sure the Four could not pursue."
Roxanna says, "The Lady and the Horned One ran, Brisa. The Four pursued... or would have, if these two hadn't delayed them. I think I know who the Lady is now..."
Anuje says, "Uhm... would killing someone innocent and throwing them in the well poison it?"
Roxanna says, "For this purpose? Assuredly."
Tashka turns, her head snapping. "That... that would taint any well with death."
Anuje says, "What about a unicorn?"
Brisa shakes her head, "If the Lady and the Horned One had made it, the Coveners wouldn't be feared now. At least one of them didn't make it. And... Heartwood? Do you mean the Forest of Roth, or the Dirkwood?"
"Oh my Goddess..." Tashka's eyes just close.
Roxanna says, "The unicorn seems to have been killed after the well was dry. But one of the skeletons down there is water-damaged."
Tashka just looks to Brisa and shrugs, "The Heartwood, of course."
Brisa sighs and sits... this is going to take a while, she can tell. She hopes she doesn't have to witness the women being torn apart again... tiredly she says, "Did they run to the East, or to the North, please?"
Tashka just shakes her head, looking to Brisa, "To the Heartwood."
Brisa throws her hands up in frustration, "What are we talking about here, please?!"
Anuje blinks. "Remember Romana thinks that the Heartwood is just a forest, Brisa?"
Brisa says, "Unicorn bones, poisoned wells, forests that had different names ages ago... please, can we stick to the point here? Whichever point it is?! I would really like to figure out how to stop this killing cycle. Do we think the stuff with the well can do this, or no?" She finally sighs and puts her face in her hands, "Sorry." Anuje frowns and fingers her necklace. Taking a step forward, Romana simply lays a hand on Brisa's shoulder, squeezing softly.
Benedict remains quiet, fretting. He can't get that out of his mind -- Brisa's mentor sending her out this way to look for a poisoned well. He'd thought initially that it may have been an actual well, but later thought it was an allegory, that the poisoned well was something else. But what if there really was a well? What if... he looks over to Anuje, and nods slowly. If there is Truth in this, Hastur, he prays silently and morosely, then here is the source of this misery. The Coveners, the Four who Ride, the Mother and the Horned Man of pagan faith... it's all coming together now, here... but there are some more immediate things, as Brisa notes directly. He glances off into the darkness of the passages and frowns. His mind is perhaps playing tricks on him, he hopes. "Maybe, Brisa. Maybe..." He glances around, rubbing his hands. Choices... the circle, the manacles... or the bones? "Can we remove the stones the manacles are fastened to, taken them into that room? I'm not a tactician, but it seems we'd be able to defend them," -- and ourselves! -- "better in there."
Brisa sighs and sits back, forcing a smile at Romana... then nods, "Go on. I'm out of ideas here, really, on how to fix this. We might as well gather as much information as we can." She glances at Benedict and smiles tiredly, "Best Second Age craftsmanship, Benny... I don't think those stones are going anywhere soon."
Roxanna says, "Nor are the chains. It's here or nowhere. Brisa... I am very much afraid that we may not be able to stop the killing. Not just yet. We need some others."
Brisa nods glumly at Roxanna, "I know. I just... am not looking forward to nightfall."
Tashka just looks to Brisa and smiles quietly. "Why, for the first time, I am."
Brisa adds wearily, "I wonder what would happen if they stayed alive for more than one day..."
Roxanna says, "I don't know. We can find out, though."
Brisa studies the chains carefully for length... if given a weapon, does Tashka have enough give to possibly defend herself at all? The chains are short, as if whoever did it knew that they were dealing with a wily Dayallan Verchovai. Benedict says, "The curse is that as long as he walks, they can't leave. That doesn't mean they have to remain here shackled." He looks a little frantic. "Perhaps if we use a lever, or heat a link of the chains so it becomes malleable...?"
Roxanna says, "You killed the critter once before. You can do it again, this time before..." She just looks at Benedict. "A lever? To bend darksteel?"
Brisa nods quietly to Roxanna, "I'll... just have to." She rises a little stiffly, adding, "Keep asking them questions... the more we learn about what happened the more we might figure out how to stop this. I'm going to turn the deadfall around, if I can." She starts dragging in more dead branches and rubble to try to make the hallway more defensible.
Benedict sighs, looking to Roxanna and rubbing his eyes. "Sorry. I guess I'm not thinking clearly."
"Varich... " Tashka look down to Brisa. "For the first time I had a drink of water. And when His beasts come tonight we will not be alone. How could this not be a good day."
Brisa smiles quietly at the Verchovai, then straightens at a sudden thought, "Verchovai... do you have any magics in you still?"
Tashka smiles quietly, "No. I lost those well before they finally shut me up."
Brisa turns to glance over her shoulder at Romana, "Romishka, could you clear the underbrush away a little from the window slit? Let a little of Her light in? That might be... nice?"
Roxanna says, "And... a fire, I think. Just a small one, but..."
Benedict moves to help Brisa create a defensible position from the location, his ears alert for the sounds of the hunting beasts. He manages to say wryly, "I'm not sure, but if we all get mauled by one of those beasts, I can say with reasonable certainty who won't be having a very enjoyable day." Brisa nods at Tashka's words, unsurprised if disappointed... and grins quietly at Benedict as she works with him.
Allena quietly speaks. "Oh. They'll come at night. I think they are nocturnal."
Brisa straightens to look at Allena again, thinking... then says slowly, "Do you know any way to call all of them here at once?"
Anuje turns back to the redhead. "How many come?" She blinks and smirks at Brisa.
Allena cocks her head. "The scent of enough blood?"
Romana quietly smiles and goes to the window. And then she stops. "Romanas not sure Romanas can... or should, Brisa."
Brisa gives Romana a puzzled glance? then excuses herself and heads over into the room so she can speak to Romana without the two prisoners hearing, "Romiskha? What is wrong?"
Benedict wipes his brow as he drags brambles and branches. "It's times like this," he comments, his humor deciding to exercise itself for what it may think to be the last time, "-that I wish I was a Knight of Rames, with a mucking great sword -- er?" He blinks over to Romana at her statement. Seeing Brisa going over to her, however, he remains, setting the brambles to the best position he can think of. "Too much blood," he notes to Allena, "-and there won't be enough left among us for the beasts to spill themselves..." Anuje moves over to help Benedict, keeping an eye for things that could be made to injure a beast trying to enter, more than just slow it.
Romana points out the window. And there, like a trail rising out of the window are daisies and dandelions, bright and yellow and white and in full bloom. "It's stormy season, Brisa."
Brisa gives Romana a blank look, "Storms are bad? I don't understand, mishka?" She gently parts the flowers, looking out cautiously... is it an overcast day?
The storm season sky is wisped with clouds, and Romana shakes her head. "Brisa, stormy seasons. Snow, rains, cold, harvest done, grass dead, no farming, storms and lighting and more snow."
Brisa struggles with what Romana is trying to say, "So... because things are... aren't growing much in this season, you don't want to accidentally kill anything here?"
Romana reaches up just touches Brisa's cheek. "No... think... stormy season... should be dead."
Brisa's eyes widen in realization, "Ooh!" She studies the flowers in perplexity, "But then why..." She gives Romana an amused glance, "You see the Mother better than I do... and I was raised here!"
Romana just shrugs her shoulders, quiet. Her sapphire eyes sparkle. "Just looked, yes?"
Brisa stares confusedly at the flowers... then murmurs a little self-consciously (these are plants, after all, not horses!), "Excuse me... could we please have some of Her light in here?" as she tries to gently press the flowers back a little without hurting them. Romana returns her hand upon Brisa's shoulder as she watches. Brisa pushes the flowers aside; they bend, just like flowers. But they don't listen.
Brisa frowns confusedly, thinking... then turns and paces back into the hallway, "Tovarisch Allena... it is the beginning of storm season. Why are the flowers still blooming in the window box, do you know?"
Allena tries to look down into the room, her head shaking. "I don't know. It's not supposed to be... plants are the Horned One's magics..."
Brisa says urgently, "Did they make it to the forest, tovarisch? Do you know if they made it?"
Tashka shrugs and Allena lets out a slow breath, "We know only here."
Brisa nods, thinking... "Then... I am guessing Himself made it, but She did not... and that would explain how things are today for the Coveners." Allena just drops her head, with a short shocked gasp.
Anuje glances at Allena. "Are you alright?"
Tashka blinks, quiet. "Oh Goddess... I'm sorry, Alle... if... if I could have taken down one or two more..."
Brisa blinks... then says guiltily, "I'm sorry, Allena... I... that was stupid of me to say. I..." she looks miserable, "I'm probably wrong?" She doesn't sound like she believes it, although she tries.
There is a quiet, quiet whisper from the room, from the Easterner. "Romanas... Romanas sorry."
Brisa turns to look at Romana, and says gently, "It wasn't your fault, Romishka... it wasn't anyone here's fault."
Romana nods quietly, "Not yours either..."
Anuje says, "Brisa?"
Brisa sighs softly... then says quietly, "Da, kisa?"
Anuje says, "As long as who walks? Will this go on?"
Brisa says, "Him. The red scarved one, I think."
Tashka nods, "Aye, him. The last one. Since they were easiest to replace."
Brisa looks at the manacles a little longingly, adding, "I wish I knew a spell to swap him in here... and them out!" Romana walks up, behind Brisa, quiet. Brisa blinks at Tashka, "What? The last what?"
Brisa's words actually spark a bright laugh from Tashka. "Varich, how do you think I ended up here in the first place."
Brisa says, "But... that would mean it was the same um... same rider for the last..." She thinks about that, then shivers... and looks up at Tashka again, unsmiling, "I do not know. How. You killed the one before this one?"
Behind Brisa Romana's breath catches. Tashka shrugs her shoulders, her chains rustling. "And the one before and the one before. Little one, there were Four. Someone had to stay and makes all Four didn't follow. So I called their names. It's not that they hear, it's not that they are angered... call their names and they come. They have to. And eventually I had to lose..."
Anuje says, "There's one left? If we kill it you're both free?"
Brisa blinks at Tashka... then abruptly sits down, as what she's saying registers. It's like getting hit suddenly in the gut, that breathless feeling... "You... you killed THREE of the Four?! Yourself?!"
Tashka nods, looking down at Brisa. "He was very angry at me."
Brisa feels faintly queasy... she's thinking of taking on something/one that Tashka couldn't handle... and Tashka handled three of the Four...?! The words spin around in her mind over and over... is she MAD, trying to do this -- trying to do something Tashka couldn't do?! Behind Brisa there is a rustle of cloth as Romana returns an earlier favor. Settling in behind, her arms reach out and wrap around Brisa, a warm hug and someone to lean on.
Anuje looks a little confused. "Are you more skilled than Brisa?"
Brisa blanches at Anuje's question -- that certainly drives home her own uncertainties, although she wouldn't say it aloud, and she struggles suddenly to not succumb to an urge to throw up from sheer anxiety -- she mumbles, "'Scuse me," and hastily stumbles into the little room, where she leans out the window, heedless of the plant life, and takes deep, long breaths of fresh air... she's not going to be sick, she's going to see Her light and think of good things... nice, calm, sunlit things, not... not monsters in human form that have had hundreds of years to get bigger and nastier and more vicious!
Romana looks up and then quickly scrambles after Brisa, a clatter of herself. "Brisa?"
It takes a moment before Brisa's got herself back under control... her voice is a little muffled and shaky as she says without coming all the way back into the room, "Da, mishka...?"
Romana takes a hesitant few steps forward, holding open her arms. "This time though... not alone stand?"
Brisa sighs, turning in front of the window, and nods tiredly, receiving Romana's hug in tight return, "No... not alone... but I will have to pick the time and place very, very careful, mishka... and be sure there are no innocent bystanders." She sighs wearily, then adds a little wistfully, "I wonder if I could talk captain Garrick into... into a full practice with everyone outside the town... or something like that..."
The taller Romana draws Brisa close, resting her head next to Brisa's, cheek to soft cheek. One hand slowly strokes her hair, comfortable. "Brisa is Brisa is Brisa. Go after Him, Romana be next to you, yes?" Nodding, the movement gentle and close, "Mayhaps if stakes knew, ya?"
Brisa smiles quietly over Romana's head, just holding her and trying to relax a little... "Don't know, Romishka... I'd have to explain things to him so he knew why I was asking. It would be madness to agree otherwise... and I won't surprise him with something like... like that." She's silent for a bit... then says gently, "So, mishka... let's rejoin the others, da? I think... I think there is a great deal of planning to do."
Romana's hug tightens, and the soft touch of her fingers through Brisa's hair is relaxing. "...mishka trust Brisas, ya? If Romanas do... then Brisas certainly can." Romana actually gifts Brisa a nuzzle as the Dayallan steps away, only to follow, to sit down next to her in the hall. Brisa is faintly startled at the nuzzle, but smiles quietly at Romana as she heads for the hallway.
Tashka looks to Anuje and nods. "Probably. I am Verchovai. However, remember, I must admit, I wasn't in the best of condition by the time Red Scarf answered my summons."
Anuje blinks and follows Brisa's movement out of the room with her eyes and frowns. "That was a dumb thing to say, wasn't it, Tashka?"
The elder Dayallan glances into the room. Slowly she shakes her head. "Perhaps. But there are worse things. She's a Dayallan though. She'll do what's right."
Anuje says, "How did you beat the three?"
Tashka looks to Anuje and nods. "Why do you think we are here. Exactly like your Brisa said. I chose the place, the time, the manner, and brought them here." Anuje nods quietly.
Brisa sighs, walking quietly back into the hallway, and sits down again, pulling out her little sketched map of the fortress, "So... Verchovai, can you help me fill in what's missing on this little map? And then maybe we can talk about the spell that went wrong, if dama Allena is willing to do so... and see if we can figure out if trying that again would help better or no?"
Anuje glances up as Brisa re-enters. "Brisa... I'm sorry for what I said."
Brisa smiles at Anuje ruefully, "It was something I needed to hear, kisa. Don't be sorry."
Tashka looks down, and she blinks. "Surely you and your companion have been in a Temple before, haven't you?"
Brisa gives Tashka a puzzled glance, "What? Um... well, actually, no..." She's not sure whether to look sheepish or not as she adds, "I'm a wild Dayallan... and there's only one temple left. Dawnview." She takes a deep breath, adding, "And... I'm sorry, but... well... there are only three companions around now." She finishes quietly, "I... wish I had better news for you, Verchovai..." then says wistfully, "My mentor had a companion... I've seen them... pardon me, has a companion." Anuje bites her lip, realizing what the unicorn remains at the bottom of the well must really mean.
Tashka closes her eyes, "The Port... Darkdown... and Caer Maiyin lost the First Age..." And then she blinks, "I meant your lady friend, little one. Only three of the black warriors... " Her eyes close again for a long, long time. Then she swallows. "Better to live looking, Brisa of Highgaard, than to live longer than your partner."
Brisa nods silently... then looks confused a moment later, "Um... which lady friend, please?"
Tashka softly chuckles, "The one sitting next to you."
Brisa gives Tashka a startled glance, then looks at Romana for a long, quiet moment... then shakes her head, "I would not ask her to go into a temple with me, Verchovai... the wild Dayallans are considered trouble-makers enough without my bringing the temple Dayallans' ire down on a friend as well." She adds a little puzzledly, "Um... do- did Dayallans bring friends into the temples, before?"
Tashka manages a small smile. "Count our brightest sisters, Brisa. All are wild Dayallans. Like me. No, we don't have fine pyres when we die, but She watches over us. And yes, sometimes. Midwinters and Midsummers mostly. She demands much from us, but she doesn't deny us the chance to be happy. I had mine." At Tashka's attention, Romana smiles, sapphire eyes sparkling. She nods to Brisa, but for now remains silent.
Brisa just gives Tashka an utterly blank look of total incomprehension, "What?!" Anuje blinks and lifts a brow, glancing between Tashka and Brisa and Romana. Brisa adds a little wistfully, "I... wish we had more time... just to talk. There's so much you talk about so matter-of-factly... and I have no idea what you mean!"
Tashka nods quietly, "To talk for more than a day at a time."
Brisa says, "We have um... maybe a hand's hand of wild Dayallans? And um..." she looks almost guilty, as if she's not sure if she's committing unwitting sacrilege or not, "-umm... well, what do you mean about Midwinters and Midsummers, please? I mean... well, doesn't um... doesn't that mean you lose the chance of ever attracting one of the black unicorns if you do that?" She pauses, a little blind-sided at that thought, then adds softly, "Did you really...?" She pauses, thinking, then opens her mouth to ask what it's like... then suddenly blushes hotly -- what a subject to bring up at a time like this! -- and shuts her mouth hastily.
Anuje says, "Uhm... Romana? Can the beasts swim?" Brisa throws Anuje a grateful glance for changing the subject!
Romana blinks, quiet. "Like a... rock."
Looking down, Tashka's glance passes between Brisa and Romana. She considers for a long, long set of heartbeats. "First, remember not every Dayallan seeks a companion. Few actually do. That is a personal choice. Selfish they are, but loyal and dedicated. Aye, a Verchovai may not have a man... but the black stallions cannot have a mare either. No one between us. And what do you mean, did I really what?"
Brisa mumbles, "...er... nothing..." She hastily refers to her little map, "So! Um... so, does this outer corridor go all around um... around the whole er fortress?"
Anuje hmms. "And they need to breath, right?" Brisa blinks confusedly at the others... then realizes with relief what they're talking about, and quite willingly turns her attention to them... rather than to embarrassing questions that show up how little she knows as a Dayallan!
Tashka manages a small, small smile, an honest one. "Beneath your nose, Varich. And yes... the outer court surrounds the chapel hall." Brisa throws a confused glance at Tashka again -- what's beneath her nose? -- then just nods and sketches it in, listening to the others talking.
Romana looks back to Anuje. "Unless they their breath holds. Unless Dohlminshin. Dohlminshin so stupid, holds breath and forgets and dies."
Brisa says, "What's dohl... dohlminshin? Is that the really big ones?"
Anuje walks over and stands in the door, comparing the height of the window with the height of the heads of the prisoners. Romana shrugs, "Stupid creatures, not hunting beasts..." Reaching up, Anuje confirms that the bottom of the window is higher than the prisoner's heads. She frowns and sighs, returning to the room with the others.
Brisa nods thoughtfully at Romana's words, remembering Allena's previous comment about blood. She goes to examine the dead lizard... is it too heavy to drag? Then again... it spread plenty of blood around when she cut its head off. She wonders a bit bemusedly why the others didn't come last night. She comes back and sits down again, thinking... then looks up at the others, "So... this ceremony that went wrong. Can you tell me how you did it? Do you know if repeating it would bring them back again -- but right this time?"
The lizard's blood is black, not the red Brisa is familiar with. And when Brisa comes back, Tashka looks to Allena for the answers to her questions. Allena slowly lifts her head. "No. I don't think so. Needs more than a priest or priestess... needs the Treeherder and a MacMurphy. Our Highest priest and priestess."
Brisa sighs, and doesn't even mention how unlikely that would be... just murmurs softly, "I'm sorry, Allena."
Allena nods quietly. "It's not your fault."
Brisa talks quietly with Tashka, sketching as carefully as she can the layout of the temple as the Verchovai remembers it, and asking questions as she goes. "What's this room for? How do you get equines in and out of the temple -- or do you? There's only the one floor, right? Was there a food storage area? A records area? An armory?"
Tashka looks frequently bemused at Brisa's questions, but answers them as well as she can, "Those... they are just little anterooms and holding rooms... for meeting and learning sometimes, aye, up between the high priestess and her second's. Tcha, what in Krysta's cold embrace would a horse be doing in the temple? They are up in the stables. No, not here, built into the fortress walls above! And aye, only one floor... also above in the walls above were the granaries, storage and stable areas. Ah... food in the kitchen, of course... and the books with the priestess for learning and lore. The initiates and their elders were in a common bunkroom nearby. Armory? We all kept our own swords, of course. Ever see a Starlord without?"
Brisa mutters something under her breath about needing to see one first, then embarrassedly changes the subject slightly, "What room do you think would be big enough for a lair for 4 to 5 lizards? Just the initiates' room? Or others as well? Also, how did the warriors get in and out of the temple? Surely they didn't climb a rope up the central shaft, one at a time?"
Tashka sighs, "Most of them could be big enough. And the square corridor that wraps around the chapel used to be open to the sky above. And along one face there used to be stairs."
Brisa hmms. "While that sounds lovely, Verchovai, wouldn't it be um... a bit difficult to defend?"
Tashka smiles quietly, "Yes. It's what happens when religious design takes precedence over pragmatics, little one." Her smile gets rueful, "Not even Dayallans are perfect."
Brisa blinks at Tashka, then struggles to choke back a startled laugh. When she's got control of herself again, she gravely asks, "What's the indentations in the stone in the middle of the well shaft for?" At that Tashka only smiles again, and says that's information only for Verchovais and Priestesses. Brisa sighs softly again, then just sketches until she has it all down. She regards the little map with a touch of pride for a moment... then remembers where she is and the responsibility she's facing tonight. Her face falls slightly; she carefully tucks the map away, then sits, putting her chin into her hands, still thinking. "So... we can try killing all the lizards. We can try killing the rider, if we can think of a good set-up to pull him into. Do we have any other ideas so far?"
Romana mirrors Brisa's stance, biting her lower lip. "No... unless, someone else be mad if this found out?"
Brisa drums her fingers on one knee, thinking... "I could dash down to Bordertown, try talking to captain Garrick..." She sighs, looking at Romana, "Don't know who... no one likes us any more, now the new gods are here." She straightens thoughtfully, "Then again... maybe captain Garrick would have some good ideas. Surely he'd be interested in getting rid of the chaos riders, right? I'd have to be back before Her setting though..." She frowns, thinking, "I could do that, if I rode Khari up here..."
Meeting Brisa's gaze, Romana quietly shrugs. "Supposed to be dead, yes? But yes, get rid of Them, Bordertown all be much better... but leave and come back... we wouldn't have you here, where needed."
Brisa looks (once again) puzzledly at Romana, "Who's supposed to be dead?"
Romana looks to Brisa and swallows. It is Tashka who answers, very dryly. "I think she means me and Allena."
Brisa thinks about her previous statement, eyeing the little bit of light that can be seen through the window, "Um... actually I'm not sure I could make it back in time, good point..." She looks a little blankly at Romana, "Um... you're surely not suggesting that killing them now would stop this?!" She blinks, puzzling over Romana's words, "Or... do you mean maybe calling on another deity or something? One that would be upset at what the rider's done, I mean?"
Romana shrugs her shoulders, very quiet. "Romanas don't know. Maybe." Romana hugs herself, quiet. But then she nods, "Yes. That's exactly what Romanas might be thinking. Who would not be happy with this?"
Brisa frowns, studying the chains... then says hesitantly, "Um... Attera? But... I'm not sure what she could do...?"
Biting her lip, Romana considers. "Who else?"
Brisa tries to remember fireside chats -- well, monologues mostly, she admits ruefully to herself -- with Poppy... "Well... the Mother, Risha, um... Krysta, maybe? Herself, of course..."
Romana listens quietly, nodding with each name. Her head tilts, quiet. "Who would be angriest?"
Brisa sighs, resting her chin on her hands again, "Angriest... I'd guess the Mother, after what was done to her and the Horned God. But I have no idea how one contacts the Mother... or um..." she looks a little apologetic, "-if it would even be wise..."
Romana nods, "But they know. Would have done already."
Brisa says, "True..." She sighs, wondering aloud, "Can the others really not know, though...?"
Romana says, "Your gods, not mine... Romanas not know, Brisa. Perhaps thinking too hard?"
Brisa finally says, "I think... I think Herself would be angriest, if we excerpt the Mother from that list. Attera would be upset, but she fights death... and in a way I don't think this qualifies for her. Risha's like the Mother... and Krysta is death, if I understand these things correctly..."
Brisa grins quietly at Romana, "Thinking too hard, eh? Guess I'm doomed... I can't stop wondering, sometimes!" She sighs, forcing herself back onto subject, "Okay... so... how does one say to a deity, 'pardon us but we'd like a little help here without being blasted into smithereens?'"
Tashka looks down and speaks quietly, "You talk to their followers, little one."
Romana looks back, "And if death, and there's not dead?"
Brisa murmurs dryly, "Try that one again, please, Romishka?"
Romana looks back to Brisa, her head tilting. "If Krysta death, and there is not-death happening?
Brisa nods to Romana, then gives Tashka a wry glance, "Verchovai... the new gods do their best to replace the old ones. To admit to following the old ways is death in some places of the Empire. Finding their followers isn't that easy any more." She sighs softly to Romana, "Well... I suppose if killing all the lizards doesn't do it, we'll have to try again tomorrow... and I might as well try seeing if there's anyone in the town that will admit to being a follower of Krysta." She smiles ruefully, "At least Garrick's willing to talk to a sword bitch."
Tashka shakes her head. "Some things never change..."
Romana reaches over and playfully pushes Brisa's shoulder. "Romanas speak to Brisas too."
Brisa grumbles frustratedly, "I wish I could think of more things to do in preparation though!" She looks a little surprisedly at Romana, then chuckles, "Yes, but you don't follow the Imperial gods either, mishka."
Romana laughs, very quiet. "Romanas follow Romanas. Always interesting that way, yes?" But then she looks back, serious. "Then maybe Brisa rests should. Hard morning for Brisas."
Brisa frowns thoughtfully, then says to Tashka, "You said you only know here. Do you mean the temple here, or this hallway here?"
"Already told you, this is one of our temples." Tashka slowly closes her eyes for a moment.
Brisa blinks at that, then says softly, "Verchovai... where are the Starwatch Reaches, do you know? Or... or Darkdown, or Dall Gwynn? Were those forgotten by your time also? Is it the Port of Lys on the mural in the central room -- the one on an island in a narrow bay? Where are those temples, please? And what does the Wolf's Gate lead to?"
Tashka listens, quiet. "Darkdown, Starwatch, and the Port of Lys were all lost in the First Age, little one. And the Dall Gwynn is but a song. And I'd guess... wolves."
Brisa's alert excitement fades at Tashka's words. Softly, disappointedly she whispers, "So... the murals... they're just... memories? Not really markers or directions? Oh... I'd so hoped..."
Romana reaches over and places her hand upon Brisa's. "If not memories... then too easy to find... and when found, not worth as much as if the path is harder."
Brisa sighs wearily, the lack of sleep and food coupled with hard physical exercise and adrenaline finally catching up to her. She nods to Romana and says dispiritedly, "Da... I suppose so... I guess I should rest... wake me in plenty of time, please..." She silently drifts into the little room and stares out the flower-choked window for a long, unhappy moment... then quietly takes her armor off and curls up in a corner to sleep for as long as she can. Romana waits, one heartbeat, then two. Then she quietly pads after Brisa and wraps herself close and warm around her tired and worn... friend.