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Post by Nocturne on Mar 29, 2018 23:56:36 GMT
Leyl nodded. "As Nora said, we are unfortunately yet ignorant of your plight. More information would be very welcome."
Wishmaker's sister? Was that the woman that appeared in the dream? If so, Leyl had just discovered his first clue to finding her.
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Post by Pandora on Mar 30, 2018 1:14:40 GMT
Zerain nods, motioning to everyone to sit down. "This may be a while, so please."
"Long ago, when I was only a few years older than Amina and Amani, I was a bold but brash warrior-in-training as I strove to follow in my father's footsteps. Sarabaya was much smaller back then, but I cherished my home all the same and wanted to protect it with my life, just like him," the elder recalls nostalgically, "One day, a brother and sister of exotic origin stepped foot in our town. At first, I thought nothing of them but travelers during their stay. The woman performed wondrous dances for food, and the man only sought to learn of our history and people. However, if they had simply left town without a word, I doubt I would be here talking today."
Zerain lowers her voice to a grave tone, "Before they departed, the two came to me in private, even though I had never spoken to them until that moment. The woman told me that Sarabaya was fated to fall to a surprise invasion the next morning, but that I alone had the chance to alter it. Of course I couldn't believe her that easily, but I could see it in her eyes that she was not lying. It was then that her brother approached me. He claimed he could grant me anything I desired, but that I would have to give up something in exchange. As Emir has guessed, in the end I asked for the power to defend my home on my own. I didn't want to lose everything and everyone I knew and loved in the process, so I was foolish and willing enough to take the burden all on myself. At the time, I thought that whatever risk I took would all be worth it, but the price I ultimately paid was to link the land's life to my own. Despite all my good intentions, all I did was delay Sarabaya's demise, and now even more people will suffer." The woman's regrets are written all over her face.
However, she looks up at the trio with a hopeful expression. "But the wishmaker's sister gave me one last piece of advice. She told me to wait for the ones who would bear a delicate blue flower. So I have, and so you've come."
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Mar 30, 2018 2:54:13 GMT
This was a problematic story, to be sure. Worse, a crucial detail seemed to be missing. "I don't suppose this... Wishmaker's sister told you what the flower-bearers were supposed to do, did she? Despite our fated arrival, we unfortunately lack the power of prescience ourselves," Nora jokes dryly. "Are we to stop these invaders? Is your power to be passed to someone else? Who is this Wishmaker, or her sister? May we speak to them? Who are the invaders? Are they simple bandits, or something more? Any direction you could provide would surely help us with... whatever we're meant to do."
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Post by Nocturne on Apr 1, 2018 20:24:34 GMT
Leyl didn't really have much to add, but he did have one burning question of his own. "This sister of the wishmaker, what did she look like?"
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Post by Pandora on Apr 2, 2018 5:37:12 GMT
Zerain appears crestfallen as she hangs her head with pained eyes. "I... I do not know the answers to most of your questions. I can at least assure you that the invasions ceased long ago, for the tribes who once coveted our oasis have not dared attempt so again after such brutal defeats. As for the wishmaker and his sister, I tried to locate them for many years by paying merchants to bring back information, in the faint hope that it would be possible to undo the spell should I meet him again. However, the closest lead I found is that they headed to the western coast through the mountains several decades ago, soon after they left here. It is hard to believe they would still be in the area, so I gave up on the idea of pursuing them blindly in favor of trusting the wishmaker's sister and waiting here. Besides, I was already growing too old to travel such a long distance," the elderly woman laughs wearily.
At Leyl's request, Zerain tilts her head in thought. "The sister? I suppose I can tell you about her. Her long hair shone like the night sky, so vivid and stunning was the pitch, yet her skin was as pale and delicate as moonlight upon white sand. But her most striking feature were her blood-red crimson eyes, unwavering and determined. I remember my father being unnerved by those eyes, as were many of the townspeople, but she enchanted them all with her grace by the end."
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Apr 2, 2018 22:55:41 GMT
"Of course you don't know," Nora says to herself with an sigh. She rubs her eyes with a hand and pinches the bridge of her nose. The party came to Sarabaya looking for answers, but instead of receiving answers, the trio has the fate of the oasis town's citizens thrust into their hands. Wonderful. Though... as Nora thinks about it, she supposes the situation isn't much different than her previous save-the-world quest. The burden is unwanted, but in the end this situation could turn out to everyone's benefit.
Nora takes a deep breath and looks upon the elder again. "Well if you're going to heap this responsibility onto our shoulders without even knowing what we're supposed to do, then will you at least do what you can to help us figure it out? You're a woman of influence. Your name might help us in our investigation," she says, emphasizing the word almost sarcastically.
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Post by madandy on Apr 3, 2018 1:24:29 GMT
Emir nods slowly - though he didn't share Nora's irritation, he certainly felt similar reservations. "Did this lady not say to do anything when we came? Simply telling you to wait seems like both a small ask and a small help. Regardless, if that is what she told you, then we will, presumably, find a way to do so."
He pauses for a moment and tilts his head, starting to muse out loud. "Then again, if that is what she prophesized and she is correct, then surely whatever we do, we will end up doing so whatever we choose. Unless of course she foresaw our ability to help but not our success or will to for some reason, but then..." He trails off and shakes his head, smiling a little wryly. "Precognition does make things complicated, does it not?"
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Post by Nocturne on Apr 3, 2018 8:36:33 GMT
"Nora, be reasonable, this might aid us too," Leyl said, not quite chidingly, but more in exasperation. There was nothing bad about helping people, especially if it meant they were in your debt afterwards. Just how did Nora think she was going to get the world under her control? By being irritable and mean?
Having had his thoughts confirmed, Leyl was a little excited if he was honest. This was his first clue to finding the woman of his dreams, literally and figuratively, so that shouldn't come as a surprise. He disdained the moniker of 'Wishmaker's Sister' however. Surely, she was her own person, grand in her own special way and more than just a footnote in another person's story.
Leyl dialed back his thoughts. He didn't want to become truly obsessive, even though he may have somewhat fallen for the woman's appearance and her manner.
Seeing Zerain distraught, Leyl shook his head with a small smile. "Worry not, Zerain, we are willing to help. If we don't know what we have to do, we will simply have to find out. Or perhaps, as Emir is theorizing, this event shall come upon us either way. We may have to stay here in Sarabaya for a while."
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Post by Pandora on Apr 5, 2018 5:29:16 GMT
The twins frown and scowl a little at Nora's disrespectful tone, but Zerain remains level-headed. "Yes, yes, of course. I am in your debt, after all. For as long as you stay in Sarabaya, you are my personal guests, and I will see that you are treated as such. I am afraid we do not have much space here, but I can arrange for a few comfortable beds at the inn, free of charge." She turns next to Emir, again with a troubled expression. "She told me so little. It was all I could do to simply have faith you would come. Still, her words gave me the courage to face the future." She touches a spot on her forehead lightly with a melacholy smile.
Suddenly, time almost seems to freeze as a murmur resonates throughout the room, like an echo. Two voices can be made out from it.
Wait, I don't understand! What do you mean? Come back! He won't listen. I'm sorry. He's a little cold like that. But I still have so many questions. Can you- I can't. I made him a promise not to interfere. Everything after this is up to you. But what am I supposed to do? Tell me something, anything! I already told you what's important. They'll come tomorrow morning. And now, you have what you need to change your home's fate. That doesn't help! I don't know what this does, and-and it's beating! You trust yourself, don't you? That's why you wished the way you did. ... Yeah. Then just believe in yourself and the wish you made. Your wish isn't wrong. I know you'll definitely protect the ones you care for.
Wh-what was that for? ... A blessing for the future. They'll need it.
Once the phantom conversation dies away, everything goes back to normal. In fact, neither Zerain nor the girls appear to have noticed anything out of the ordinary.
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Apr 7, 2018 6:04:01 GMT
"You're not in our debt until we do something meaningful," Nora assures Zerain in a resigned fashion, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. This burden was partly Nora's now, whether she liked it or not. She didn't. Regardless it won't do any good to take it out on the old lady. This mess isn't her fault. Well, it is a little bit, if she didn't do much more than sit here for the decades after being granted her power.
Then Zerain touches her forehead, and the trio of travelers receive a message from the past. Nora glances about in surprise, noticing only Leyl and Emir seem to have reacted to it. It seems the message was for her and them, specifically.
"...Apparently your friend did leave some clues for us," she says to Zerain aloud. Nora leans on the table, suddenly interested in the old lady. "She touched you on the forehead before she left didn't she? When you touched it just now, we heard... I suppose it was your last conversation together wasn't it?" Nora is quiet for a moment, brow furrowed in thought. "You said 'it's beating', what was that? Was it some sort of trinket? Do you still have it?"
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Post by madandy on Apr 8, 2018 14:23:04 GMT
Emir shakes his head, a little disturbed at the few flies in the room suddenly freezing while the conversation played.
He hums for a moment at Nora's question. "I'm not sure about a trinket but... yes, what is or was beating. Because, while I could be misreading things, it sounds like whatever it is had... a heartbeat."
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Post by Nocturne on Apr 9, 2018 20:44:53 GMT
Leyl was more curious to Nora's inquisitiveness and Emir's bewilderment. He didn't have much to add to the conversation currently however, and so he stayed silent for now. If he was honest, receiving a vision once more was a positive thing more than anything else. It meant they were likely progressing towards saving the world.
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Post by Pandora on Apr 12, 2018 1:32:40 GMT
Although bewildered by Nora's sudden declaration of knowing of her past conversation, Zerain shakes her head. "It is not merely a trinket. Amina, bring it here." The girl seems to know exactly what Zerain is talking about and heads into the back room for a moment before carrying out a long, wrapped bundle in her two arms and carefully handing it to her grandmother, who takes a deep breath before unraveling it. Underneath the cloth lies a well-crafted steel-point spear of breathtaking simplicity. It almost looks brand new, save for a peculiar pattern of bloodstains upon the wooden pole. "This is Sha'ard. Originally, my grandfather gifted it to me when I first joined the militia. The wishmaker transformed it as part of the deal to grant me my power." As the elderly woman says that, she takes the spear in her hands, her entire body briefly glowing a soft gold at the moment of contact, then holds it out to the group for someone to take it. "The beating should explain itself." Her granddaughters look rather nervous about letting them touch it, but Zerain is unperturbed. Perception DC 10 The bloodstains on Sha'ard look like writing, but it's pretty hard to read. If 15+ Making out the script, it says: "By Life Shall Life Survive"
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Apr 12, 2018 2:04:08 GMT
This was the source of the old lady's power? Or was this simply a part of it? Nora can't help but focus intently on the obviously-magical weapon. It's not every day anyone can see something like this, and Nora ends up lifting the spear out of Zerain's hands telekinetically, drawing it through the air into her hands. "Let's see if this holds any more messages from the past, shall we?"She peers at the stains on the haft. "It says something here, but... I can't make it out. What does this say?" She asks aloud to Zerain, offering a look to Leyl and Emir.
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Post by madandy on Apr 12, 2018 22:57:47 GMT
Emir looks closely, also seeing the pattern, but equally unsuccessful in deciphering it.
"Hmm... I'm not sure. I can certainly see there is something, but I confess I am unable to make it out." He thinks for a moment about ways to make it clearer. After a moment, he has a potential idea and runs his fingers along it, hoping, unlikely as it is, that there might be similarly patterned indentations.
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Post by Nocturne on Apr 13, 2018 4:11:51 GMT
Leyl peered at the spear Nora was propping up via telekinesis. Idly Leyl wondered if the twins would be able to tell how Nora caused Leyl to dodge them now. Inspecting the spear, he could make out that the bloodstains on it were actually writing. The blood stains made him curious. What was their purpose? Looking at them closely, and from different angles, Leyl began to gather an idea. He had a good bit of knowledge about the occult and his experience was telling him that these blood letters were actually empowering the spear, perhaps as part of some ritual.
Coincidentally, Leyl's analysis had the side effect of allowing him to recognize what the letters said. "By Life Shall Life Survive, is what the writing says." Did this mean that Zerain's very life was linked to that spear? And the lives of her people, through the extension of herself? Very mysterious.
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Post by Pandora on Apr 13, 2018 23:28:07 GMT
When Nora uses her telekinesis in front of them, Zerain and the twins gasp in awe, the girls in particularly staring with wide eyes and mouths. Looks like the family isn't used to seeing supernatural powers as well, other than the elder's possession of Sha'ard.
Nothing special happens as Nora levitates Sha'ard into her hands, unlike with Zerain. In addition, there aren't any other messages upon Sha'ard, ethereal or grooved, but like the woman said they would, Nora and Emir can feel the low and steady thump of a heartbeat from the weapon, which is a surprisingly warm and comfortable sensation.
After Leyl reveals what the bloodstains spell out, Zerain pales a little. "Yes... Those were the wishmaker's last words to me. It makes so much sense," she grimaces as she recounts a memory, "He gashed his own finger to paint upon Sha'ard for the transformation. It still shocks me how much blood he spilled doing so."
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Post by SuperVaderMan on Apr 14, 2018 3:11:15 GMT
Nora can't help but smile to herself at the family's reaction to her powers. She tries to hide it most of the time, since she's not sure what peoples' reactions will be, but it's fun to show it off every now and then.
As for the spear, "hmm... well the message all-but handed this to us to look at. That should mean we're supposed to discover something about it, right?" She turns the spear in her hands again, fingers tracing along the faint words. Maybe something would happen if the wielder spoke them aloud? "By Life Shall Life Survive."
If that fails to yield any results, Nora doesn't have much further to go on. She has the idea of adding her own blood to the message, but she wasn't keen to try that out. Instead she turns to Zorain again. "Was that all there was to it, or was there more? Do you remember exactly what this Wishmaker did, beyond bleeding on your spear and saying some magic words?"
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Post by Nocturne on Apr 17, 2018 2:43:37 GMT
Leyl hadn't thought of anything in particular to ask from this point. As much as he liked making informed choices and actions, he was beginning to think that perhaps the trio would just have to remain in the dark for once. As long as they knew a surprise was coming, perhaps they could still prepare for it in some way.
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Post by Pandora on Apr 21, 2018 20:29:33 GMT
Unfortunately for Nora, speaking the phrase aloud triggers nothing special or magical, although she feels a significantly erratic heartbeat. Zerain's uneasy reaction to the words visibly reflects the change, and she continues to look that way as she answers the woman holding her spear. "After I brought Sha'ard to him, he wrote on it just like I told you, then struck it into the earth. Then... it sunk in and reemerged encased in sand. He told me to take it, so I did, but it felt like I pricked myself on a thousand needles, and I saw my blood drip down it and get... absorbed, along with all the sand. It was only then that I felt Sha'ard beating, and I could tell instantly it was my heartbeat."
Zerain clenches her right hand and opens it palm-up, staring at it with remorse. "I didn't understand why at first, but then the wishmaker told me that Sarabaya's soul is carried within the spear, and the spear is carried by my life. If only I realized what those words actually meant, maybe I could have asked him to take it back."
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