Game Date: 1-19 Darkmonth, 995 KC; Play Date: 2/8/2002
Aftermath 3: Laylah
1 Darkmonth (Winter Solstice; New Year's Day): Laylah sleep for a very long time--until dusk that evening--with no dreams at all. She soon noticed that her hair, now tangled from sleeping with it loose, had two new silvery streaks, one over each temple. After getting up and stretching out a bit, she noticed a new, pristine swan feather lying on her pillow. Resolving to ask a diviner about it later, she braided into her hair, below her old, worn one. She changed out of her torn robe (in which the blood stain had set and stiffened) and into novice garb, and went in search of food.
Laylah passed Norris on her way to the dining room. He was taking food to Mistress Theolodia, who he said was awake but still very tired. In the mess hall, she saw Afla and Qutaibah sitting together in a corner, Pelmark, and a half-dozen novices and servants. She joined Pelmark, who was dressed very casually, wearing a very simple black robe with no insignia. He claimed that he was "exhausted, but fuzzily happy"; today was the new moon, so normally an ebb day for his lunar cycle, but mitigated today by being the winter solstice, Doshonor's high holy day.
Pelmark had seen Darra a short while ago. She had been curious about whether Ormenlind was still on the island. The other clerics would be divining his whereabouts this evening. Darra had seemed willing to wait for more news, which relieved Laylah. Pelmark promised to inform her about the divinations' results. He would be stargazing tonight; Laylah would be welcome to join him, if she had trouble sleeping.
Afla came over to tell them that she had seen and talked with Ruqayyah. She said that Laylah would want to talk with Ruqayyah later, but without explaining why. The Duz noticed the new feather and white streaks, and asked about them. Laylah explained that her mother's hair had been white, so she expected her own to change to that eventually. She unbraided the feather, and explained how she had found it. Pelmark attempted to scan it magically. He sensed something unusual about it; he was uncertain whether it was magical, but it was certainly no ordinary feather. Laylah had guessed as much (a sign she had done a good job?).
Laylah spent some time wandering the grounds, quietly exulting in her success and survival. She checked in on Theolodia, who was still tired but not too sedentary. The elderly priestess was preparing for meeting Sunhild and others to do divinations about what to do next about the Asanos, Ormenlind, etc. Laylah offered to help, so Theolodia promised to send Norris for her then.
A messenger found Laylah, and asked her to attend on Their Imperial Majesties tomorrow afternoon. She agreed, was given directions, and was told that a page would be sent for her.
Norris fetched Laylah later that evening. They and Theolodia went to the Paragon Sunhild's observatory. At the base of the stairs to the tower, a they were met by a large muscular novice who carried Theolodia up to the top. Sunhild and two other priestesses awaited them there. The Paragon was not veiled this time, revealing pale skin and blond hair in addition to her striking blue eyes. She was quite beautiful, and her features reminded Laylah of Dalemen she had met (suggesting mixed Daelic and Krithian descent). Sunhild wore understated clerical vestments, including her eye pendant and a robe with no rank circles. The two Constellations attending her were classic Krithian beauties wearing the usual robes denoting their rank. The group of women sat and discussed how best to divide their questions among them. Sunhild and Theolodia's sacred vessels were still drained from the ritual the night before, so would be limited in their contributions this night. As the priestesses began their spells, Laylah meditated to pass the time.
Sunhild, as the Paragon of her order, asked what to do next with the Asanos. She reported that the cleaning had almost certainly worked as hoped, and that the next step was to inform the public of the relic's return. The rest of her insights required further reflection.
Theolodia attempted to divine Ormenlind's whereabouts. The reply was unclear, but he had left the immediate area. She felt that he was more likely to be struggling with himself than with others for some time.
One Constellation tried to determine whether the missing pieces of the Asanos were relevant anymore. Those pieces were beyond hope of recovery for now. (Laylah suspects that the Asanos's current condition is a metaphor for the empire: The Krith that was, is broken. The parts that remain are still shining.) The other priestess asked whether they should expect a counterstroke from the Demon Gods, or similar repercussions. Her only conclusion was that the Celestian gods chose not to divulge anything they knew of this at this time.
Once the clerics finished their rites and reports, Laylah remained on the tower to enjoy the sense of height and freedom it offered. She sang, danced, and jumped about until she grew too cold to enjoy it longer. She then left to find a hot drink, say goodnight to Pelmark, check her wound, and go to bed.
2 Darkmonth: Laylah woke late the next morning, and was told that Darra and Ruqayyah had gone to the palace, separately. She decided to clean her damaged robe as best she could while she waited for them to return.
Aftermath 4: Group
2 Darkmonth (continued): Darra found Laylah in the drying room, and noticed the new stripes and feather. They went to Laylah's room to talk. Darra related the talk she had with the Emperor regarding Ormenlind, and her decision to not hunt him unless Laylah wished her to. Laylah had prepared a "nicely reasoned argument" in case Darra hadn't agreed with her about pursuing Ormenlind, and shared it in case she needed to persuade others: What if a Paragon of Doshonor told you that the Were-Hunters wouldn't hurt you, and the Paragon of Uralor hit you with a stick until you believed it?
Darra told her that if the Krithian Emperor asked her to help, she would very publically act as a priest of Kuldor. If he asked, she must follow her calling. Laylah conceded that if he asked, at least Darra was the right person to do it. Darra respected what Ormenlind was, and what he could be, but she was not comfortable leaving without knowing what happened to him.
Early that afternoon, Laylah followed the page to the palace. She was led to a sitting room near the royal living quarters. The Emperor and Empress thanked her for her help with the Asanos--bringing it home, helping with the ritual, and her acts toward "the Lost Prince." She accepted their thanks, but claimed that Rashira was the one to thank for anything pertaining to Ormenlind--She turned him aside. She was glad to help; it was not the Emperor's job to become a martyr.
Brand asked about her immediate plans. She had none yet. She would stay in Krynan for a little while, at least until Darra was sure it was time to move on. She hoped to make contact with the circus to which she once belonged.
The Emperor had spoken with Darra and the Paragon about Ormenlind. He would alert his guards to the possibility of his continued presence. He was concerned about the danger that posed, but would not act directly against him unless necessary. Laylah suggested that if the Emperor were to offer forgiveness to him, perhaps he would be less intimidated by and more willing to accept it than the gods' forgiveness. That way, if the offer was made, and Ormenlind rejected it violently, then the Emperor's actions would reflect a bad choice by the dead pricne, not by Brand. He accepted the scolding without bitterness, and promised to consult with the Paragons about whether this could be done, and how. (During this exchange, Laylah could sense that the Emperor's emotional state was conflicted. The Empress watched this all quietly, and her neutral expression could not be read.)
They agreed to discuss these issues further when they received more news. Brand asked if there was anything Laylah needed right now. She replied, "Nothing big." He would give that some thought as well. As they said their goodbyes, Laylah wished the Empress, "May you have as painless and speedy a delivery as possible." This earned her Carimine's grateful, if somewhat surprised, thanks.
After the audience, Laylah took some time to calm herself, reassuring herself that she had done the right thing. After recovering a bit, she went into the city to seek an apothecary, so she could get some balm for her scar.
Laylah met Ruqayyah on her way back to the temple. She noticed the change in her friend's ears, and Ruqayyah noticed her own changes. Ruqayyah expressed her relief that she had undergone only one small change; reverting to a completely normal human would have been too much at once. Laylah reported that she had "just told off the Emperor of Krith." Ruqayyah went to find the Duz; Laylah went to seek out Darra.
Laylah filled in Darra about her audience. The Emperor wanted them both to stay until more news about Ormenlind could be had. Darra asked Laylah about looking for her mother. Laylah finally has the means, and the freedom from other quests, to do so.
Ruqayyah found Afla and Qutaibah. (Her teacher noticed her ears, but said nothing--perhaps Afla had already reported that to him?) Ruqayyah told them that she would stay here in order to help Prince Sidor. They confirmed that Murshid would leave as soon as possible, but thet they would stay longer, if Ruqayyah wished. She did. When this task is done, she plans to return to their tribe. She suspected that her change in attitude stunned Qutaibah, but that he was carefully not commenting on it.
Ruqayyah found the other two women, and informed them of her intention to help the prince learn control his shapeshifting, and to help him and his family accept thus gift. She believes that she has been granted Jin-Hustan's help in this effort, after putting Sidor on Doshonor's altar and petitioning Him. The reversion of her ears to their original shape was His gift. Her friends were very pleased at this news, and told her so. Ruqayyah then mentioned that Governor Hajaj's son had become a Duz at 19, so it was time for her to become an adult, too. However, she hoped to keep Qutaibah guessing about this for a while yet.
She thought that the imperial family intended for her to stay in the palace. She felt that if Darra were to help with Sidor, they would want her to stay there as well. She mentioned that Sidor's tutor, Zudak, was a bronze dwarf, and that she could learn his language (as well as some etiquette) during the prince's lessons. (Darra only knows the iron dwarves' tongue.)
Ruqyyah mentioned that Sidor is even more obsessed with cats than she was. She had no idea yet how long she would stay here helping him. This would take some time. She planned to go home after helping the prince--unless called somewhere else instead. She thought that Afla and Qutaibah would only be here for a few months. Laylah voiced her approval of the two Duz's romance--and of romance in general.
While her friends worked with Sidor, Laylah was happy to stay at the temple and learn more about the gods. She wanted to see whether she could learn any of the clerics' ritual magic. After "sorting everything out" here, Darra and Laylah tentative planned to head north to look for the circus, then to look for Laylah's mother. They would be glad for Ruqayyah to come along, if possible.
Ruqayyah thought that the Cat Tribe might want to expand their contacts. If they could gather their own information more directly, then they could improve their relations with all their neighbors, and better retain their sovereignty. Curtailing the Horse Tribe's activities was secondary, but those actions were a major sticking point in Kelduzi-Krithian relations. Laylah asked whether the Horse and Krith could find a common enemy to ally against. Ruqayyah wasn't sure; it wouldn't be Rashira's/Jin-Mubik's business, in any case. Darra observed that Drumagira was the closest equivalent to the Horse god within Krith, and that Bloodletter cults tended not to get along with each other any better than with any other group.
The three women went into town so that Laylah could buy more new clothes. She also bought a spice-raisin cake (and a small candle) in order to celebrate Ruqayyah's birthday, and Darra bought a small packet of catnip. They gave their gifts to her back at the temple. Laylah told her to make a wish, without telling it to anyone, before blowing out the candle. When she tasted the catnip, she said, "You're really tempting me to do something stupid again that soon?!" She shifted to caracal form to play with a piece of the herb. She made a mental note to not give any to Sidor. She was curious whether she could get seeds, to take back to her oasis--she was curious how caracals would react to it. Laylah told her that it was common up north, where it grew as a weed. It had some medicinal uses, such as a easing cramps when brewed as a tea. She doubted it was addictive for most humans, but was less sure about cats, who (as Ruqayyah had sensed for herself) reacted strongly to it.
3 Darkmonth: Laylah asked Mistress Theolodia to do a divination on her new swan feather. She was told that the goddess is well pleased with her. If the feather has any special properties, they were not divulged to the priestess. (Laylah took it as a hint for what she should do next.)
Darra told the Emperor and Empress that she was a were, and must change at the full moon. They asked her to help Ruqayyah with Sidor. He had first changed at the full moon a few months ago, and has done so every month since. (Darra wondered if his mother's pregnancy had triggered its onset, but didn't pry into that for now.) When Sidor changed, he would become a very hungry, frightened wild beast. Up to this point, his family had been keeping him in a part of the menagerie space during this time. His two new "teachers" hoped to find a better solution to watching and protecting him during the full moon.
Plans for the next few months:
Laylah:
Ruqayyah:
Darra:
Other upcoming events:
12 Darkmonth (Full Moon): Theolodia and Pelmark were promoted to the rank of Constellation. (Laylah teased Pelmark by congratulating him on earned in a bigger target.) Norris was promoted to the rank of Master, and formally entered the Order of the Golden Eye. (Laylah was even happier about this than about the older priests' rewards.)
That night, Darra and Sidor would be forced to change to were form. [Results TBD.]
19 Darkmonth: Empress Carimine gave birth to a daughter, Laisa. Her delivery was relatively easy, as Laylah had hoped.
[Dates & results TBD]:
[Next Session: To Be Determined...]
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This page last revised 3/26/2002. | Copyright 2002 Timothy E. Emrick. | time@sluggy.net