Home again

[Ebiris]

Please tell me we're not actually rolling out a fight here.

I'm letting Syala go either way, it's just for fun.

[Anastasia]

Syala's skill here is still remarkable - she grabs you and wrestles you down, the two of you going.

The Red Knight watches the two of you as Jessica adds, "I like when they wrestle," she admits, "It's how they first met. Have you heard the story?"

"A few times," The Red Knight says, "A fine way to forge a relationship. The bonds of battle are as strong as steel."

[Ebiris]

"Got you!" Alicia grunts as a hand clamps around Syala's throat and the other punches her in the gut before she's flipped up into the air over Syala's back and thrown harshly to the ground, having to roll out of the way of a foot-stomp and kicking out to sweep the leg!

It's all very wholesome and ladylike.

[Anastasia]

As Syala lifts Alicia up with an uppercut and goes to slam her down, getting a wing buffet as a counter?

"My sister never had any interest in other women, but then Syala happened," Jessica says, "All it took was wrestling and magic."

"Magic," The Red Knight says with a tight smile, "When the body can change freely, gender becomes blurred. Were my best friend in my mortal life able to become a man, perhaps I would have been married instead of followed the path I did."

"Mm." A little noise from Jessica, "Roald and I...well..." Blushing, and as the Red Knight watches Alicia and Syala roll about, before the two part and pounce at each other anew?

"It's a natural curiosity most with the magic to do so indulge," The Red Knight chuckles to herself, "You become privy to all of what your worshipers think and do - not just the deeds you support them in. Prayers about if it's right to try that or simply granting a spell know what they'll do with it. It's not unlike being a mother to children."

At that Jessica groans as Alicia gets pinned down and elbowed, "My children are enough to deal with as it is!"

[Ebiris]

Alicia kicks out of that pin, kneeing Syala before getting her into a headlock as they work off energy, presumably over Syala's frustration at not getting any kills of her own during that hunt.

"Oh you'll hear prayers from people wanting patience for their unruly children too!" she calls over to Jessica.

[Anastasia]

Jessica hangs her head and facepalms, "I'm going to be a big, giant mother to everyone, aren't I?"

Clasping Jessica's shoulder, "The joys and the setbacks." The Red Knight agrees, "Parenthood is worthy training for our roles."

As Syala pushes out of that and side suplexes Alicia to the ground, she calls, "You get used to it, it's easier that way."

Laughing into her hands, Jessica looks up, "Then I suppose I am qualified for this," she finally says. "...I'm sorry," she says, and leans over to hug the Red Knight. "Your faithful fighting in this war must be all the more painful."

The Red Knight gently returns that hug, "They're rambunctious, but I'll clean them up before they come home for dinnertime," she remarks.

[Ebiris]

"Speaking of," Alicia grunts as she boxes Syala's ears and scrambles back up to her feet, "How's that venison looking?"

[Anastasia]

Syala shakes her head from that boxing as the Red Knight says, "Any time you are," she rises, "Enough of that, let's go eat."

[Ebiris]

"Good match," Alicia leans forward to give Syala a quick kiss, all made up after their exercise! Then she goes to rejoin Red Knight and Jessica, retrieving her sword to go eat the product of her and Jessica's hunt.

[Anastasia]

The meal is spectacular. The four of you feast and laugh over the meal, reliving the hunt and the good times. Stories of Jessica's stealth and Alicia's bowmanship are told again and again, each telling more spectacular than the last.
Is this not what you seek, my son? Your harem, your Sundered Suns, your friendship with the Sultans. Is this yet not the fruit of the tree of evil? What fruit grows from your trees, my son? What fruit grows from the tree of the opposite court? I pray that you look on and see the truth of this.
The lodge has a balcony to one side, where rocking chairs are placed with a beautiful view of the forest. Wrapped in blankets and drinking steaming hot wine, leavened with cinnamon and citrus, the four of you watch the stars rise.

"I grew up watching the stars," The Red Knight says, gaze fixed on the night sky. "The ever faraway friend of all, the navigator's aids sprinkled out like silver dust. A cold, faraway light that glitters with Selune as the crown jewel." As steam from your goblets rises up into the air, "There is a beauty to the night, one that deserves better than Shar."

Jessica takes the faintest sip of her drink before she adds, "You're right. More than anything else, you remind me of how I'm needed. The night needs me, the night needs someone better than Shar. Someone who will end this mockery and make the night a place for peace, not a place for undeath, for fear and for oblivion. Too many fear what lurks in the night, away from Lathander's hopes and dreams."

[Ebiris]

Shar does keep dominating conversation, doesn't she? Still, she can see how it's warranted not just from the problems she causes everyone but the specific overlap with Jessica's potential domain. "The night is beautiful, whether the twinkling of stars or the glow of the moon..." she looks up at the sky of Warrior's Rest while nursing her wine. "But too often the darkness does hide danger, yes. I'm glad we have you to offer a counterweight now, Jessica. Grow strong, and live up to that hope," she turns her head to look at her sister with those words.

[Anastasia]

"We all need you," Syala says, gaze on the stars. "You know why."

Jessica smiles as bright as the rising moon and says, "You'll have me." After a breath, "Thank you. All of you. For everything you did today. Was that the plan?"

"Imagine," The Red Knight says wryly, "The Lady of Strategy and Tactics has a plan. No, you are worthy to be called a friend. No quiet, shrinking amnesiac remains, but a dedicated protector and warrior." The Red Knight says, raising her goblet to the moon. "Selune, know that your crusade against the shadows of the night has another. Tempus, know that another warrior enters the field of battle. Shar, go fuck yourself." Concluding with that and a long drink from her wine, "To better futures."

[Ebiris]

"To better futures," Alicia raises her own goblet to that toast and has a deep draught after. "And I echo my sister's thanks," she says to Red Knight. "This has given her exactly what she needs to nurture her nascant divinity. I expect she'll grow into it even faster than Syala and I have."

[Anastasia]

"Cheers," Syala echos.

The Red Knight drinks deep, "I wanted to do this for the two of you, but Sharess and Mystra were possessive." Smiling over her wine, "We're alike in many ways, Alicia. Few deities are so naturally compatible as the two of us are."

[Ebiris]

"I was never particularly faithful in my youth, before I discovered my magic and then the temple of Mystra gave me so much support and encouragement. But in different circumstances I could well have ended up praying to you," Alicia gives Red Knight the compliment she's due.

"Though it does mean we end up drawing from a similar pool of potential worshippers," she smiles wryly, "I think I've managed to differentiate myself enough to stand out."