009.1 Shamal

[Corwin]

[00:56] <Shamal> roll 1d20+10 spot
[00:56] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+10 1,0spot --> 1,0[ 1d20=15 ]12,0{25}
[00:56] <Shamal> roll 1d20+10 listen
[00:56] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d20+10 1,0listen --> 1,0[ 1d20=14 ]12,0{24}
[00:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[00:56] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+5 --> 1,0[ 1d20=5 ]12,0{10}
[00:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[00:56] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Kotono rolled :1,0 1d20+5 --> 1,0[ 1d20=8 ]12,0{13}
[00:59] <Kotono> -------
[01:01] <Kotono> The cremation of Rin happens in a beautiful grove. A grove that Shamal stumbles on easily, perhaps a gesture of the gods. A fire comes, turning dust to dust and ashes to ashes. So the sun sets on this day, rest coming for Shamal. As she gathers berries for an easy breakfast, she hears a distinct CRACK about twenty feet behind her, the sound of a clumsy foot cracking a branch - or perhaps a predatory paw.
[01:01] * Lyselle is now known as Hotaru
[01:02] * Berlioz is now known as Hello-Kozue
[01:03] <Shamal> Shamal's head snaps around towards the sound, the young witch not in any mood for visitors. Memories of her old life fill her mind at the moment, recalling a time before a kindly hunter adopted her, when every decision boiled down to a single choice: Fight or Flight?
[01:04] <Kotono> In the forest you can see a hint of it - of a humanoid body, of a chain shirt. Hiding behind some branches, but not well enough. Not quite tall enough to be a human, either.
[01:09] <Shamal> "I am in no mood for games," Shamal calls in a voice so cold it would shock her if she heard it herself in happier times. Although she cleaned herself up before Rin's funerary service, she still looks far more feral then usual, standing tensely as her inner urges war between fleeing and casting a spell. "Leave, now."
[01:10] * Merc is now known as Merc-away
[01:11] <Kotono> "...I apologize." Quapeth's voice carries clearly, not advancing forward. "...But in this forest with things so disturbed, it is dangerous to go alone. I could not let you wander out alone with a clear mind."
[01:14] <Shamal> "Hmph," Shamal relaxes just the tiniest fraction, but still looks displeased. "Leave me to my grief. If you must linger, then find a respectable distance to do so from so that I am not disturbed."
[01:15] <Kotono> "Only if you promise not to attempt to flee from my watch," he returns evenly.
[01:19] <Shamal> "I will remain here until morning. I make no guarantees after that - these are ancient rites, elf, I will not have them interrupted or compromised," Shamal returns, gritting her teeth as she speaks with uncharacteristic harshness, her psyche still very raw with pain and grief over her companion's passing.
[01:21] <Kotono> "And I will not have you hurt." Quapeth says solidly, voice like a chunk of granite ripped from the earth by a raging troll. "Also, I would ask permission to go pay respects for your companion.
[01:24] <Shamal> "I will not stop you," Shamal relents just a little, stepping away from Rin's burial mound to maintain some distance between herself and Quapeth if he approaches. "Her name was Rin. Mielikki blessed me with her protection and companionship four years ago."
[01:24] <Shamal> roll 1d1000
[01:24] <Reiko-chan> 1,0Shamal rolled :1,0 1d1000 --> 1,0[ 1d1000=430 ]12,0{430}
[01:27] <Kotono> Quapeth comes and kneels next to the burial mound, head bowed in prayer. "Then she has returned from her calling to her other Master's side." You hear a few murmured words after that, catching Corelleon Larethian and watch over among others. "Let her rest well."
[01:29] <Shamal> "She has returned to the Happy Hunting Grounds," Shamal agrees, bowing her head and not volunteering any more of her inner turmoil.
[01:34] <Kotono> Finishing, the elf nods once and returns back to the bush. "I will also return with you at least part of the way to Balmuria. If you are willing to wait a day, I can go notify my commander of the reasons for my absence as well as that I request further time."
[01:36] <Shamal> "I will remain in the area for the next few days while I seek penance," Shamal accedes dully. Will the Forest Queen even consider her worthy to care for another of her children after this? All she can do is hope and pray...
[01:37] <Kotono> "Very well." With that Quapeth returns to the shadows, leaving Shamal to her grief, worry and pain.

[Corwin]

[19:41] <Kotono> -------------
[19:44] <Kotono> The trip out of the forests and into the fairer plains of the United Baronies is one of peace. The last day of travel is past isolated farmsteads with quite a motley crew. Shamal and Laika are joined by four wolves and a ranger elf. The latter's eyes are always moving, taking in the area. But it's a cloudy, warm day when you reach the gates at last. It should be pushing March by any quick count of the days that have passed, the warmth from the
[19:44] <Kotono>  passed, the warmth from the sea banishing any illusions of winter. (More)
[19:46] <Kotono> Rain threatens but it does not come to pass. However, as you approach the gates, you see several leaving the town. A caravan of Malmuthian merchants - but you notice a tall young man in the group of them. Donald rides along with them, a faintly distracted look on his face.
[19:48] * Shamal isn't headed into the city itself, only going past the gates as she makes her way to her own cottage outside the city walls, but she does stop to greet Donald as she passes. "Hello, Donald," she calls over.
[19:49] <Kotono> A few in the caravan - merchants and bodyguards, all around several packhorses loaded down with heavy bags - look, but Donald blinks and smiles. Your group gets a bit of attention indeed, horses brought up and steered a bit off the road and away. "Shamal?" He asks, a deeper frown. He turns to one of the men and says something unheard, then kicks his horse over towards you. "And friends."
[19:49] <Kotono> Quapeth nods distantly after a quick looking over of the young man, eyes going towards the city and what's inside the gate.
[19:50] <Kotono> Donald's smile and frown battle on his face, clearly conflicted. But at last he just nods tersely, "It's nice to see you before I left."
[19:51] <Shamal> "I both gained and lost on my journey," Shamal replies with faint melancholy, ushering the wolves to keep away from the caravan. "Leaving? Did you find who you were looking for in Balmuria?" she asks, curious at his obvious inner conflict.
[19:53] <Kotono> "No!" He nearly snarls a moment, "He found me once. I'm still not sure what it is...but bah, I'm getting ahead of myself. I don't have much time, and I'm riding with this cavaran for now, but I'm on my awy to gather assisstance and information."
[19:53] <Shamal> "I shouldn't keep you, in that case," the blonde demurs. "But... is he still in Balmuria? What happened?"
[19:55] <Kotono> "I believe so. That vampire or whatever it is lurks. I fought another, stronger ghoul, but it got away before the city guard caught up. It came right into my inn room after me. Not only can't I stay, I'm not strong enough to deal with it's minions." His eyes go downcast, looking away. "I'll come back in time, but for now I simply don't have what I need."
[19:56] <Shamal> "I'm sorry to hear that," Shamal looks down. "We'll keep an eye out for it - look us up when you return and we might be able to help."
[19:58] <Kotono> "Yeah," Donald nods as he looks to the caravan, the one that's starting to move away and down the road. "I don't know what'll happen when I'm gone, but keep this city safe. You and your friends. Good day, elf," he adds afterwards, a polite inclination of his head before he whips his horse into movement, a gallop to catch up.
[19:59] * Shamal waves to Donald, before turning to Quapeth. "We had a bit of an undead problem in the city recently," she explains, starting to head around the walls towards her home. "I had thought it dealt with..."
[20:02] <Kotono> "What an interesting place." Quapeth says, quite calm. "I had hoped undead were nothing but campfire tales." The elf only reluctantly follows, keeping his eyes on the wall and catching glimpses. "The air here is different, even," he goes on, voice meandering. "I can smell something like salt and brine in the wind."
[20:06] * Ebiris_ (WinNT@user-54433d2f.lns5-c7.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[20:06] <Kotono> "What an interesting place." Quapeth says, quite calm. "I had hoped undead were nothing but campfire tales." The elf only reluctantly follows, keeping his eyes on the wall and catching glimpses. "The air here is different, even," he goes on, voice meandering. "I can smell something like salt and brine in the wind."
[20:08] <Shamal> "That's the Bay of Sparkling Stars," Shamal explains with a smile, walking past simple thatched cottages towards her own more outlandish dwelling - surrounded by an untamed hedgerow, Shamal's house looks grown if nothing else, seeming to be made out of a continuous piece of wood, and its form favouring more organic curves than the usual blocky dwellings about.
[20:08] <Shamal> "I can show you around the city, if you like? But first I should at least make dinner for us all."
[20:09] <Kotono> "And settle in the wolves?" he asks, a slight smile playing on his face. "This place feels more like home than I had expected,e ven if the city looks different." He pauses, looking north to where the bay is, even if unseeable from here. "Yes, the swamps on the coast never smell this fresh.":
[20:13] <Shamal> "It's home," Shamal smiles, ushering Laika and the wolves into her garden which sports a few trees and vegetable patches as she goes towards the door. "Tell me, have you ever encountered Sea Elves, by any chance?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "...Sea Elves? I had thought such were fairy tales?" Quapeth blinks at this as the wolves sniff about, one lightly trying to chew on a bit of growing plant before thinking better of it.
[20:16] <Shamal> "I'll have some meat for you to eat if you just wait a minute," Shamal tells the wolves, knowing they can understand her well enough by now. "So did most people, but I met one in the harbour recently. I had thought maybe they might have more open contact with the Elven Kingdom, however."
[20:17] <Kotono> "If they do, I don't know about it. But I'm never anywhere but the border." Quapeth shrugs lightly, seeming to barely move when he does, such a fluid motion done. What were they like?"
[20:23] <Shamal> "I'll have some meat for you to eat if you just wait a minute," Shamal tells the wolves, knowing they can understand her well enough by now. "So did most people, but I met one in the harbour recently. I had thought maybe they might have more open contact with the Elven Kingdom, however."
[20:23] <Kotono> "If they do, I don't know about it. But I'm never anywhere but the border." Quapeth shrugs lightly, seeming to barely move when he does, such a fluid motion done. What were they like?"
[20:25] <Shamal> "Looked similar to a normal elf," Shamal begins as she steps into her home, the place looking a bit dusty from her absence, "But with blue skin and greenish hair. She spoke the language of Water, so luckily we were able to communicate. I never learned the standard Elven tongue," she admits.
[20:27] <Kotono> "Tch." A few words in elven after, light. "Seira speaks excellent human...or Common, as it is called." He looks comfortable, as do the wolves, sniffing about and a one sniffing at Laika's back end.
[20:30] * Shamal represses a sigh. Dogs will be dogs... "I'll have you know I can speak eight languages. Elven just isn't one of them," she replies with a grin. "Anyway, I really need to go shopping, but I can get something together to fill us up and flavour it however you like," she offers, gesturing for Quapeth to make himself comfortable in her sitting room, dominated by an empty stone fireplace and rather ornate wooden furniture thereabouts.
[20:34] * Shamal proceeds to whip up a stew made primarily of potato and dry jerky, though she casts prestidigitation to make it taste like prime beef, returning to serve the meal to all her guests. "I'll get better meat after shopping," she tells the wolves, "And we can still go hunting sometimes, but you can't ever go without me."
[20:37] <Kotono> The wolves get right to eating, quite hungry once the food is offered. "I thank you," Quapeth nods once, as the wolves seem to accept.
[20:40] * Shamal smiles as she starts in on the meal herself. "You can stay here tonight before heading back if you want - it's the least I can do to thank you for accompanying me this far."
[20:41] <Kotono> As he lightly eats the jerky, Quapeth considers, "I have a little time, and I would like to see this city now."
[20:42] <Shamal> "I can show you around after dinner - although I should probably report back in at the garrison at some point as well," the blonde nods thoughtfully.
[20:51] <Kotono> "As you wish - go deal with your business first," Quapeth smiles and nods once. "I can wait a littl ewhile."
[20:52] <Shamal> Finishing off her meal, Shamal collects the plates and uses her still running prestidigitation spell to clean them all as she puts them away. "Okay, make yourself at home, then - I should be back in an hour or so," she promises, before instructing the various doggies to be good for Quapeth while mommy's away.