038.2.1 Andrea

[Corwin]

[20:02] <Kotono> You return to Olan's house. The door is shut, a dreary silence seeming to cling to the now emptier home...
[20:03] <Andria> "Instructor Olan, are you still in?" Andrea calls out as she knocks on the door.
[20:05] <Kotono> The door is answered shortly, an old woman with her hair in a bun. Her face is composed, but her eyes betray tears. "Olan is indisposed at the moment," she says gently, "A tragedy has befallen this household."
[20:07] <Andria> Andrea winces. "I am...aware of that. I was the bearer of the news, unfortunately," she says quietly as she introduces herself, not recognizing the woman. "I'm Andrea, one of his other students."
[20:13] <Kotono> "Guvina," She gently escorts Andrea in at that, "A friend of Olan. He's mentioned you before."
[20:18] <Andria> "They were going to hold a funeral tomorrow for another of his students, Branna. I wanted to know if he wished to stop by there before we left to Valandia," Andrea explains as she enters.
[20:23] <Kotono> "I'll get him," Escorted to the living room Andrea has a brief period to sit. IT's not long for Olan to return, hisf ace lined, aged, exhausted. He sits by Andrea, "Branna?" he asks in a single word.
[20:25] <Andria> Andrea nods, saddened by the sight of Olan in such a condition and knowing ultimately it was her fault. "His funeral is tomorrow. I wasn't sure if you'd be able to go, or if you wanted to go to Valandia first."
[20:29] <Kotono> There's some moment of hesitation, but only a moment, "We'll stay. He was a student and deserves a warrior's funeral. He had potential in the blade, and in his soul if he embraced his natural courage and tempered it with the fires of compassion and vitality."
[20:29] <Andria> Andrea nods quietly.
[20:33] <Kotono> "I've buried friends, allies, and people I barely knew." Olan continues, "Given eulogies praising the Dawnbringer and speaking of the new life they now enjoy in His realm." He doesn't answer any more right away, looking off, "It's not for their sake, you know. It's for those that are left behind."
[20:36] <Andria> "I hope you'll give a few words for both Branna and Noel then," Andrea replies.
[20:37] <Andria> "...and that no words are needed for Brent after our trip," she adds quietly.
[20:37] <Kotono> "I shall," Olan promises. Thereafter, Andrea heads home. For surely sleep can wash away even this cursed day? As Andrea approaches, she can smell dinner - mmmm, meat. Smells like someone's made beef.
[20:39] <Andria> "Uncle Cador?" Andrea asks with surprise as she enters, sniffing the food as she approaches.
[20:41] <Kotono> Uncle Cador is at the dinner table. Steaks are there, as well as greens and potatoes. But he doesn't eat alone. With him is Sarina, the two in deep conversation. It pauses as Andrea enters, calling out her presence.
[20:42] <Andria> Andrea's eyes widen. "Sarina!" she squeals as she rapidly goes to the older woman and embraces her in a hug. "When did you arrive in Balmuria?"
[20:50] <Kotono> "Andrea!" She returns it, smiling. She wears dusty, dirty travelers clothes, a breastplate and greaves, and a heavy holy symbol of Alicia. "I heard you were out of town, kid. Anyway, I got in today, it's getting close to the Day of Ascension."
[20:52] <Andria> "What! Is it really?" Andrea exclaims in shock as she starts doing some mental calculations between that and visiting Valandia. "Oh no, so much has happened I haven't even kept track..."
[20:54] <Kotono> "It's August 5th, so it's two days away," Patting Andrea's back, "I got in a few days early for a change."
[20:55] <Andria> Andrea grimaces a bit, split between her duties to Alicia and those to Olan. "Do you remember Brent Farres? Instructor Olan's son?" Andrea asks with a sigh.
[20:56] <Kotono> "Yeah," Sarina says, "Cador was just talking about him."
[20:57] <Kotono> At this Uncle Cador shakes his head and frowns, but doesn't interject.
[21:03] <Andria> "Brent...died, recently," she says after a few moments gathering her thoughts.
[21:05] <Kotono> That gets Sarina to frown, holding Andrea tighter. "I'm sorry, kid."'
[21:08] <Andria> "We ended up in Avernus trying to rescue some friends of mine. Brent died because of me...I was going to go to Valandia with Olan," Andrea keeps going, speaking quietly. "I'm...not sure what to do."
[21:10] <Kotono> That draws a low whistle, "Hell!" She pauses only a moment, "Andrea, you fought the good fight against the same thing Saint Alicia did in her mortal life. Go and pray to her, and do what must be done. Do you go to Valandia to put him to rest?"
[21:13] <Andria> "If he cannot be brought back, yes. We know it's unlikely...but still, it's something we must try. For instructor Olan's sake more than anything. He's been hit really hard by this, not to mention another of his students also died there."
[21:14] <Kotono> Sarina nods to that, "Death is a hardship," she agrees, "Did he follow Alicia as well?"
[21:17] <Andria> "Lathander," Andrea replies. She figures that's enough to explain Valandia.
[21:20] <Kotono> "Right." Sarina says, "It's in his hands now." She stands up, "Thanks for dinner, Cador. Andrea, how about we go take a walk?"
[21:23] <Andria> Andrea nods, though she gives a mournful look at the food before motioning to Sarina to lead the way.
[21:24] <Kotono> Once out in the late day light, Sarina leads the way, "You've grown up this year," she says, half smiling, "Even more than last."
[21:26] <Andria> Andrea sighs. "I don't know. A lot's happened, and I've certainly gotten stronger...but grown up?"
[21:27] <Andria> Andrea sighs again and shakes her head.
[21:47] <Kotono> "It wasn't your fault." Sarina shakes her head, "You're thinking that right now, that you're blaming yourself for this."
[21:48] <Andria> "If I hadn't asked him along, he'd still be alive," Andrea insists. "How could it not be my fault?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "He chose to put his life on the line to help you. He accepted that risk himself," She walks down the streets, past blocks of houses. It's nice here, fairly clean by city standards. Passing a few men riding horses and past a tree lined street, "Brave and good men take that risk every day. It's a risk you've taken many a time as well. It's simply the dangersof the life we live, for the sake
[21:55] <Kotono> of others."
[21:59] <Andria> "I still feel that it's my fault that he chose to go. Olan warned us what awaited us in hell, and we weren't prepared to follow his warnings. Not until Brent died. So I...I think I'm still going to feel responsible for a long, long time," Andrea states.

[Corwin]

[18:48] <Kotono> For a time Sarina wanders with Andrea, no immediate reply to that.  You pass by children squeezing out the last hours of enjoyment from the day in play, past a patrol of guards and past a horse drawn carriage. "Brent accepted the call." It's what she says at last, "Kid, you can't tear yourself up inside over it forever. Grieve and let it make you stronger. Do you remember your stories of
[18:48] <Kotono> how Alicia found a husband in Kelara and settled down to raise a family? The murder of her husband and child is what drove her take up her destiny."
[18:56] <Andria> Andrea makes a face at that. "I...don't think the two situations can quite compare, Sarina," she argues. "But thanks for the sentiment though."
[18:58] <Kotono> Sarina shakes her heads, "The point is to not let it tear you up in there," she reaches out to pat Andrea's back, "Let it drive you to be better, not to be miserable."
[19:00] <Andria> "It's hard not to feel bad after seeing how badly it's hit Instructor Olan though...he looks so...old now. It's wrong!" Andrea exclaims. "I want to see him jumping around full of energy, happy to see someone grow and learn!"
[19:02] <Kotono> "Then dedicate yourself to protecting and making those ou care about safer, kid," Sarina points out, "Alicia grew strong enough to protect Kelara, then the Baronies, then all the known world, and now the cosmos itself as a goddess."
[19:05] <Andria> Andrea sighs. "I certainly plan to keep trying, but it hurts to see what happens when I fail."
[19:06] <Kotono> "All you can do is try." Sarina thinks a few moments, "Have you been studying tactics at all? I know you don't have the best head for them."
[19:08] <Andria> Andrea winces. "That's...a pretty harsh thing to say!" she complains, even though more quietly she adds "even though it's true..."
[19:18] <Kotono> "Sorry, kid," Sarina pats her back again, "Andrea, how about I teach you a trick then? Something that can help you get out of the way of reprisal attacks as you move, so you can manuver around the battlefield better?"
[19:21] <Andria> "I'm always happy to learn...as long as it's not too complicated!"
[19:27] <Kotono> "It's a trick to get out of danger," Sarina says, leading you to a familiar, holy house. Here the Shrine of Alicia sits, Sarina bowing her head to it before leading Andrea around the back. Behind it is a well kept practice yard. "Go get a wooded weapon from over there and I'll show you. It's all about bluffing and feinting."
[19:28] <Andria> Andrea repeats the bow as she follows behind Sarina, and does as requested. "Okay, now what?"
[19:37] <Kotono> "Watch this!" Sarina makes a deadly series of feints and counters, showing off with a wooden greatsword! A good half hour of this as twilight descends, "Now try it yourself - practice it, make your enemy bite on it."
[19:40] <Andria> Andrea nods and tries to imitate what Sarina did, the movements clunky and awkward, but sort of/mostly following the same lines that Sarina did. "Like that?"
[19:41] <Kotono> OOC: Make an int check real quick?
[19:43] <Andria> roll d20-1 haha int
[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20-1 haha int and gets 7." [d20=8]
[19:44] <Kotono> Andrea makes a game effort, but it's so haaaard! She tries and works with it, but understanding the finer points just seems to escape her! "No, like this," Another long half hour of demonstrations, night fallen by the time it's done. There's a few torches out here, providing ruddy light. "Try it again, focus and do it carefully."
[19:44] <Andria> Andrea keeps at it. If nothing else, the distraction is welcome.
[19:50] <Kotono> OOC: Make another int check.
[19:51] <Andria> roll d20-1
[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Andria rolls d20-1 and gets 10." [d20=11]
[19:53] <Kotono> Andrea still doesn't get it, but she feels like she's grasping the fundamentals. At the end Sarina smiles, "Okay, you have the basics of it. If you keep practicing, you can learn the rest on your own. It's called Timely Misdirection."
[19:54] <Andria> "Well, if it's that timely, I'll surely have it down by the next time I end up in a fight," Andrea says, flicking off a bit of sweat off her brow.
[20:04] <Kotono> "You should," Sarina promises, "So...you're not going to be here for the day of Ascension?" Putting her weapon up and starting to go, Sarina waits for Andrea.
[20:08] <Andria> "I'll ask Olan for another day, we're already staying one day for Branna's and Noel's funeral, I'm sure he'll delay another... I hope. But if not...I think I would be missing it, yes. I'm sure Alicia would be understanding given the circumstances."
[20:11] <Kotono> "Let me know," Sarina says, taking Andrea's hand before nodding, "Let's get back and get some rest. I've been on the road for over a week without a real bed."