Nathaniel Stormlight

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Location: Alchemist chambers.

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Making his way back to the main room where Nesna and Lady Rovella were. A few steps away, Penelope was storming towards him. “Move, move.” she said, with that characteristic hint of venom she has, waving a hand in front, gesturing for Nathaniel to move. Just a heartbeat before she was walking right past him down the hall he just came from. His eyes followed her until she turned a corner.

The room where Nesna was remained warm, the hearth still burning strongly. That was when he noticed the two guards on patrol, both warming themselves from the frigid air outside. The man in everyday clothes simply stared at him. Nathaniel was unsure what to make of him, but even if he tried to speak to him, the chances of the man engaging in conversation were very slim.

“What's with her?” Nathaniel asked. A guard stepped forward, one he hadn't seen before. “There has been an incident at the jail. Unfortunately, I cannot say more,” the guard responded in a dutiful tone. Nathaniel was about to speak further when he heard Lady Rovella's voice booming. “We haven't got all night. Come, come.” Before Nathaniel could think about who she was instructing to follow, Lord Galahad appeared behind her. His face had taken on a more serious expression; the warm, humble demeanour he usually had was masked by professionalism.

After the guard explained the situation at the jail to Osiris, his eyes narrowed. Penelope sat back down next to the fire. “With the interviews needing preparation, I will be unable to come. I suggest you take another sage with you to help, Lord Galahad,” she said. Osiris nodded in agreement. “Who will you choose from the sages?” she asked, though it seemed she didn't really care about the answer. Osiris's eyes shimmered as he tilted his head, considering who to bring. “Nathaniel will accompany me.” Penelope nearly fell out of her seat as Lord Galahad nodded towards Nathaniel.

“No.” she said flatly. “Pick someone else.”
“I have made my decision, Penelope.” The very fact that Osiris used her first name made her eyes narrow slightly. “Lord Galahad, I fear you are letting your personal feelings cloud your judgement. This boy is merely a stranger to the community. He needs to be trained-

“Enough!” Osiris bellowed as thunder rang out around him, and he banged his cane into the stone floor. His eyes flared at Penelope. “That is why he will be accompanying me. If people see him with one of the main three assisting, it will give the people of Dawnhaven the impression that he is here to help us find a cure for the blight.” His gaze bore into hers, and while Penelope acknowledged there was some insight in his idea, she clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Make sure he stays in one piece, boy. Take one of the guards. Take that one.” Penelope said, pointing at Charlotte. Nathaniel was impressed by how Osiris handled the situation; it seemed the old man still had fire within him. “Now that the matter is settled, Nathaniel, Charlotte, are you both ready to head out?”

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Mentions: Zeph @The Muse, Nesna @enmuni Charlotte @SpicyMeatball

Daphne

Infimary

Mye head hurts... Alot.

Daphne turned her head and blinked. No, she had hit her head and was seeing things right? Kat? Daphne had really hit her head if she was seeing people right? With a blush she remembered her statement in the fight, other bits a gap or blur but this … Was she there or had she finally taken one too many hits to the head?

Several other memories came and went without order, each one seemed random and her head throbbed trying to lift her head before she fell back onto the rough pillow and sighed in defeat, at least for now. She would have to rest up and was in no condition to even stand up yet. Closing her eyes, she paused and tried hardest to stabilise things before she opened them again as the room was somewhat out of focus, or off angle, Daphne was not 100% sure.

The Healer was shocked to almost have been bypassed like she did not exist but was no fool, healers healers tended to be perceptive to some degree as a virtue of having to quickly triage and decide what to do, who to save and what order they needed to act to save those who ended up in their care. A shudder realising the magic employed was… not normal. However the look between the wounded squire and the priestess looked like she would make herself busy. “Call me, if she loses consciousness.” The healers said and went to another patient deciding that sometimes you avoided a fight then took head on.

The woman with the unknown and powerful magic… Nope. Not getting into that.

“Kat…” Daphne asked, hoping she was right and this was Kat and not her mind playing tricks. “You…real?” Daphne reached her hand up, muscles gave an ache and was sore from being thrown about like a child's toy but she lifted her hand to reach for Kats.”Im …last remember blast, throw me across, and nothing else. Lots of blur, words, but it's all out of order. Man talk much, jail failed, guard, get lunch… find you. Chaos… pain, black, then you..” She said without filter as her brain was plain trying to do its best to reboot but was still concussed.

“Cute priestess visit me, happy now.” Daphne said before she could catch herself or filter what she was saying or meaning.

Her stomach also lightly rumbled as she had been planning to get lunch before she left the jail. Now she had been however long it was and still no meal. “What…time it…. Eat? You eat breakfast, yes? I pay S…Sya for blanky.” Daphne asked, turning her rare violet eyes to Kats own.

“I…may have called you my girlfriend in an outburst… sorry.. I….” Daphne admitted and she curled into her blankets and tried to hide. She curled her head and long dark hair into the pillow, it was still in a braid but that braid was messy, a little muddy and hairs out of place.

“He talked… many words. I said . I make his skull a mug I think.. “ Daphne said from her spot, reaching, trying to distract self reaching for some water. Her voice was cracking and she needed a drink.

Daphne really hoped she had not blown things up entirely and screwed everything up. She really did feel comfortable with Kat, even if she had some crazy void black magic that had scared Daphne on a deep level, she had not run from it. Daphne knew this much anyway, even if the exact course of recent events was a mess. "What happen, at jail... guard with me. Guards, prince...princess?"

Daphne asked unsure of events going on the situation, what on earth hsd she missed?

_{Location: Hot springs
Interacting with: Sya ([@Prince Alexus]), Eris (@The Muse)}

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Valthyr would have loved for some of the harsh mountain winds from back home to just blow away the ubiquitous steam for a moment, but given how things actually were, Sya more or less slithered towards him out of the white. Being touched by someone who was blightborn, yet didn't behave at all like what most people said was... at least as unusual and not exactly anticipated as was the fact that he'd feel the touch no higher than about five feet up his body. Yet as unusual as it was, part of him openly embraced it and was even concerned that the brief startle would be noticeable and come across as unfriendly.

"Bad egg ? Erm..." The gears in his head rumbled into motion trying to figure out what that meant, first having to filter through the also non-standard pronounciation as well. When it clicked however, it did so pretty loudly. "You mean that wayward spawn ? If he makes any trouble, I will confront him. That's sort of still on my to-do list anyway. However, that's not why I have come here originally."

Another pair of footsteps approached, the sound indicating a rather lithe person. Valthyr briefly turned his head to see who was coming: No Ayel, no face-eating monster, no squirrel. So the druid deemed the chances of things going wrong so low that it was enough to greet the sage with a gentle smile. "You are not really interrupting anything. I am Valthyr and was about to tell Sya that her chair is ready."

He tried to keep his voice a bit lower than usual just in case any unwanted ears were still around to listen. "I've stowed it away in the Eye, if you'd like we can go there and check whether any details needs to be changed." he spoke more to Sya again. He couldn't help but glance at her tail as it slid over the hard surface with efficiency and his confidence in the many guesstimations he had had to make improved somewhat. He had only seen her rather briefly before, so all of that came from his memory.

"May I ask for your name ?" Valthyr voiced towards Eris. Another unknown face and he needed to change that in general in this place as quickly as possible. His elbow was still wrapped in a self-grown bandaid with the monster squirrel induced wound right beneath it and he'd be looking forward to fewer scars if possible.

Sya eye lit up hopefully seeing Eris, it was an aspect of her change that her emotions were often rather visible and she did not hide her feelings well. If she was happy, you knew, sad, people knew and if she liked you…well Sya was not one to hide her affection to someone. It was a strange side effect of the changes the cursed land had wracked across her form when it failed to kill her properly. A blessing…a curse… debated..

“Erisssss” Sya said with a happy tone to see her friend again, she had been kind to the small cyclopean woman and Sya had returned that kindness freely to her. She was one of the first friends she made in Dawn haven and since she had to flee the dying and now dead homeland she was born in. “Vou, I miss Vou.” Sya said in an accent growing thicker as her emotions got better of her. “Ov course, you welcome, you good egg like Va. Val…Valthyr, come.” Sya said with her Charisma that oddly just pulled people along and made them go with what the rather eccentric innkeeper did. The force of her strange personality.

“Vome, come, my tea set, need it. Both welcome.” Sya said cheerfully gliding over to where she had a tea set and insulated container made of a local softwood. Sya tugged gently on the far far larger man, barely reaching his shoulder or less. Sya however had a gentle form of determination that let her lead and people just…followed.

Reaching the end of her little slither, Sya responds to Val was just to hug him again for making her chair, the chair was very much something she had an hope… and that hope had not been dashed. “Oh, zank vou. My own chair, my own… vor me… I pay well. Zis is ze best egg, Erissss, she has a kind Yolk. Ze like sister here. She been friend egg since I met her. Good sage, and a good yolk.”

Sya had broken off and immediately hugged Eris and kissed her cheek and in a childish mood booped her nose with a slender finger and an almost glow to her single eye. She worked very very carefully to not wrap her up in her tail and it flicked about but Sya had worked hard to not scare her off again. Maybe Sya over did it calling Eris a sister, but she considered the woman her closest friend and for lack of anyone else.. Eris was her sister now however unconventional, though this was Sya and Sya had a rather… interesting personality. Conventions did not work for Blightborn thus the lamia cast them aside if they did not fit her new self.

“vou came back, I can convince vou to join ve in bed with your handsome lover, Voking, joking!. But vou are pretty Erisss.” Or was Sya joking, because Sya… Sya rail crept out behind her and a flash of blue she tried to hide behind her body waved at Eris and showing an advanced control for someone who knew she had legs before used it to make a submissive im not going to hurt you gesture.

“ve go? Eye, chair, Me get clothes, go to Eye, me treat well. Ve get good drink. I make own shine. We drink. Honour this.” Sya asked as she hoped and hoped Eris would be accepting of the Lamia who had a childish side at times, and a few other personalities that clashed together and merged.

“Start brewery, bakery, new wing, even space for horse carts out of rain. I have my own library now, much space, own area to watch town from up high. “ Sya said with pride as she gathered up her small tea set and placed it oh so carefully into the flask design that nestled it all away into an enclosed lid space. “vy home taller than bad eggs, I look down on him.” Came a satisfied woman, Sya was satisfied she had one up on the odious man. “How are vou Eris, i hear handsome man ask vou to dance, you have do vi need to ban anyone vor hurting you? Any Interesting … talk about town? “

Sya was rather protective of her friend as she hooked an arm with Eris, moving along near silently, Val was just too tall for her comfortable reach, Sya was barely 5 foot. Even Eris was taller than her but manageable difference. Maybe Sya was a little …random but she meant well and hoarded her friends and guarded them as much as her gold.

@Fetzen
@The Muse

_{Location: Walking back towards town}

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Elara held onto the question for contemplation, almost similarly to how Orion had on the walk to the temple. However, unlike the man whose emotions felt invisible, there was something rippling beneath the surface of the snow haired woman. Céline hadn’t enough time to fully understand the emotions before Elara’s answer came as sharp as glass. It wasn’t the tone that the woman had employed, but the residual feelings associated with it. Céline had unintentionally touched a nerve and the subconscious, like a porcupine, flexed its quills in self-defense.

Initially she had assumed that her door to a conversation had closed and that the remainder of the walk would be left to their chorus of crunching snow. The quills, however, receded as Elara shared her mind, her words carefully chosen, telling a tale of spirit, resolve and determination. In an odd way Céline found her mind wandering back to her youth, back to that arid desert. Living in her caravan meant food and water were scarce, and homemade crafts had to be traded for meager scraps and copper pieces. They never stayed in one place for long, prayer was mandatory, and anything deemed ‘sinful’ was met with a twisted sense of discipline. It was a difficult and harsh way of life, but the elders would say, ‘Every hardship brings us closer to the goddess’.

Most would probably claim those people…her people to be mad for choosing to live the way they do, Céline certainly felt that way at one time. It already was a difficult life to live and the way she and others in the caravan had been treated only made her time there more arduous. That chapter in her life had long been closed, and while she could never forgive the monsters or their crimes, she could respect the way they lived, regardless of their moral ambiguity

A subtle warm feeling brought Céline out of her thoughts, her eyes scanning for the source. She found it between the two handmaidens. Elara had reached out to connect with her companion before pulling away. The moment had been brief, but Céline hoped that it maybe would put the other young woman more at ease. If nothing else she could continue to talk with Elara in the hopes that maybe Ramona would come out of her shell. The blightborn made eye contact with the snow haired handmaiden and gave an apologetic smile.

“There are probably a thousand other words I could have used to ask how you felt about Dawnhaven, and in my infinite wisdom, I chose ‘enjoy’.” It was ridiculous, enough to turn her smile into laughter. The realization had caught her off guard, not enough to send her into a raucous fit, but a hearty chortle.

“Where I come from, home was never the same place for long,” Céline mused to Elara as she regained her composure. “No more than a few days of fasting, of worship before we all continued the grueling trek through the desert.” The wind picked up briefly, the cold air lashing at her face as snow mimicked the sands she was so familiar with. If she had not become a blightborn, Céline wondered how she would have fared against these arctic gales. “It is a strange feeling to me, to be in a place so eerily similar, yet vastly different.”

She looked ahead, the buildings slowly cresting over the horizon. “It really does seem like on the surface that it’s just some barren, half-built town, but deep down there is something building itself up stronger.” Celine hadn’t noticed it before, not when she initially arrived in Dawnhaven and had barricaded herself in. It wasn’t until sometime after that she felt it, a soft hum that seemed to come from the very town itself; almost like a heart beat. “Theres a will to survive here, a defiance to not go quietly, almost like a tree has taken root on a great boulder and refuses to die.” She smiled, “and if I do my job right as a doctor, hopefully no one else will have to and something beautiful can grow here.”

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_{Interacting with: Elara @Qia and Ramona @enmuni}

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_{Location: Hot Springs > Eye of the Beholder}

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Looking up — far, far, far up — Eris met the man’s eyes as he introduced himself. In a way, he reminded her of Ivor. His imposing stature, his unruly hair, the outwardly friendly nature — in a much quieter sort of way. Unlike with Ivor, however, she couldn't get an immediate sense of which kingdom Valthyr belonged to based on his surface alone.

She offered a small, formal bow, lips parting to introduce herself, but Sya beat her to it. Smiling, Eris turned her focus to the innkeeper, trying to keep her gaze fixed on Sya’s face and not her bare chest or the reptilian tail she’d so suddenly gained.

As Sya led Valthyr away, Eris quietly followed behind the mismatched pair. Her blue eyes flicked between the two, curious about the nature of their relationship, but her attention inevitably pulled back to Sya’s tail as it slithered through the dampened dirt along the spring’s edge. The hair at the back of Eris’s neck stood up, sending a chill creeping down her spine. Nervously, she swallowed, trying to steel against her inner instinct to run back to the safe warmth of the temple.

Fingers curling tight around Tia’s hairpins, Eris looked up to meet Sya’s eye as the two came to a stop. She smiled, and felt herself soften as Sya — sweet, sweet Sya — showered her with more undue praise and called her sister.

“You’re too kind, Sya.”

Eris shifted her gaze back to Valthyr, the faint smile still in place.

“I’m Eris Hightower. The Lead Sage here. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Valthyr. Anyone who is a friend of Sya’s is a friend of mi—.”

Suddenly, Sya was hugging her. Eris stiffened, eyes growing wide, but the tension eased almost immediately. Hugging Sya felt no different than before. She was just as warm, just as inviting.

Slowly, Eris removed her hands from her pockets and returned the embrace. When Sya kissed her cheek and booped her nose, a quiet laugh escaped her, her smile briefly turning playful as let Sya step — slither? — out of the hug.

Her smile faltered, however, at Sya’s next comment.

“vou came back, I can convince vou to join ve in bed with your handsome lover, Voking, joking!. But vou are pretty Erisss.”

Her… lover?
The word hit her harder than it should have.

What sort of gossip was circulating about her?

Sya’s compliments weren’t unusual. She praised many people freely and generously. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard Sya call her pretty. That wasn’t out of the ordinary. But who was she referring to as Eris’s lover, exactly?

Had Ayel already spread word of his intentions to marry her? No… no, surely he couldn’t have been that confident in her acceptance… right? And Sya wouldn’t have called him handsome… would she? He didn’t seem her type. Her type seemed more…

Eris’s eyes found Valthyr briefly before shifting back to Sya, who had already moved on.

“Uhm…” Eris tried to force herself out of her panicked train of thought, acutely aware of how rumors could cling to people. Gossip held weight — especially for people like her. It always had. “Going to the eye sounds wonderful, Sya.” She forced another faint smile, despite the nerves building and buzzing within her chest.

“How are vou Eris, i hear handsome man ask vou to dance, you have do vi need to ban anyone vor hurting you? Any Interesting … talk about town? “

Her heart sank. The dance. The damned dance she let herself partake in.
Of course.

Now half the town likely thought she was sleeping with Nathaniel — worse, a fellow Sage, her subordinate — and casting all her responsibilities to the side. She should have just gone back to work — and everyone who had been at that tavern knew it too.

Eris slipped her hands back into her coat pockets, fingers finding the gemstone and Tia’s hairpins to grip and channel her nervous energy into once again. Her stomach twisted at the thought of the rumor getting back to her family in Aurelia.

As Sya hooked her arm through Eris’s, she fought the urge to stiffen. On the bright side, the shame spiraling through her thoughts dulled her awareness of Sya’s tail brushing lightly against her hip as they moved away from the springs with Valthyr in tow.

“Well, I… ” Her throat felt dry, her steps unsteady. Her mind was chaotic as it searched for what she should and shouldn’t say — all too aware of the stranger who followed behind. “I helped heal the Princess yesterday. Along with a blight-born Aurelian Priestess named Ranni… I believe she’s new to town, but she was a great help. I’m grateful the Princess is okay….”

As they continued toward the tavern, Eris offered safer details of her day. Meeting Charlotte, who helped her get away from a guard named Aliseth. How Aliseth punched the stone mason. And how the stonemason had, thankfully, shown some restraint after Eris tried to force the two men apart.

Purposely, she said nothing of the new blight discovery, or the intruder and the gemstone weighing heavy in her pocket. Neither did she dig deeper into what Sya had heard about the nature of her and Nathaniel’s relationship. She didn’t know Valthyr, nor trust him, regardless of Sya’s friendliness with him.

Inside the tavern, Sya guided them to a new addition that had been added to the Eye — a library. Eris gently untangled herself from Sya and wandered the shelves, eyes tracing the spines of each book.

“This is a lovely addition, Sya.” She said softly. “Much quieter than the bar. Perhaps I’ll visit more often.” She smiled, glancing at her friend briefly.

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_{Interactions: Sya @PrinceAlexus, Valthyr @Fetzen}

_{Location: Eye Of The Beholder
Interacting with: Sya @PrinceAlexus, Eris @The Muse}

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Valthyr felt some slight increase in temperatur along his ears as he found himself confronted with another person who could not even barely reach up to him. Agreed, that was pretty much standard, but still it felt embarassing for himself in some weird way that didn't make any sense really. He gave Eris a silent nod as the sage introduced herself, then followed along rather silently.

At least that was until Sya decided to hug the poor woman out of the blue. It appeared that this was her most favorite -- and quite disarming -- move ? The druid made an effort to suppress any chuckle, but a slight puff of air might have escaped from the corner of his mouth still. Hopefully nobody heard that!

Who could that handsome man be ? Probably not Ayel, right ? He fit the bill appearance-wise, but certainly not in any other aspect of the word. He was as 'handsome' as a sword in the hands of somebody who didn't know that the thicker and dull end was not supposed to be the thing to club your enemies to death with. The mentioning of the princess stuck in his mind though: Had she actually been injured further after her runaway from the disaster zone with the murder ? At least the statement implied that she was well and safe now.

In the library, Valthyr took in the smell of so much paper. There was something satisfying in it, almost intriguing even. What kind of wood had these books all been made of, if not out of parchment ? Truth was that the druid community didn't know that much about Aurelian flora, there only was the assumption that it had to be quite different from Lunarian for the vastly different climate. He was about to pick one of the thicker tomes from its shelf when he saw his own arm again in the process: Still injured, still clad in that makeshift, self-grown 'bandage' of leaves.

"Eris ? You said you are a healer, right ? I... have a slight issue here from..." Could he really just bluntly say it or should he try to wrap it in something easier to understand ? "A blight-born squirrel." Yes, that was better. The fact that he had been bitten not by some random creature but something blight-born probably was a very important bit to know, but at the same time the thought of being blamed to still walk around in town and meeting people with this infested him with unease.

Valthyr presented his injured arm towards the sage and slowly, very carefully peeled away some of the leaves that covered the damage. He didn't like the sight, grimaced even as he had to gently detach one material from the other. And, of course, there was another thing!

"I have finished work on your new chair, Sya. I hope you don't mind that I went into the storage area as I didn't want to leave it standing in the main hall."

Sya smile reached her eye, tail and was clearly happy about showing her new library and also her chair. She had something to be proud of to share with her friends and maybe a little childish but a woman only ever got given her first library once.

“See Eriisss, my home is yoursss. Vou my Egg box. This good. ” Sya said genuinely as she flopped into what looked like a little snug nest of pillows in a tall room with double height windows that looked out over the town. It was an absurd luxury and she loved it all the more for it. Her books were somewhat less scientific as she reached over for a copy of the “The Lusty Argonian maid, by Crassius Curio” that sat on a low table. Sya had a tail, she was born and that fear Eris had shown that time had cut her to her very heart, but Sya did forgive and she might have changed but still was her friend should Eris want her.

Sya might have been born to a borderlands village and still had issues, maths took time, writing was slow. The Lamia was far from stupid and her parents had made sure she was as educated as their stations allowed the now blight born in keeper to be. “Eris. Sister, I meant… home was…yours. To. You. Come. Welcome. Time. Any. My .. Headman. Father taught me, learn. Talk. traders.” Sya said in carefully pronounced Auralian, her tone was slow and deliberate but Sya was far more fluent in the general tongue and her own harsher native language. It had been a while since she spoke a more formal language like this.

Sya stopped with a visible effort she put into saying that those memories hurt but she also had to try and break the ice with her friend and hoped that helped.

Sya turned a single bright eye on The large man, it was a good job this room was double height and open. He was huge. Leaving it in her main storage, that was fine. The staff could easily move things up another time.. well move it. Maybe not easily. “Thanks, it's get something for vou.” said , rising as she said the words and slithered off with an exaggerated motion down a corridor at a surprising speed. Sya had least learned how to move even if it was strange. “Stay, both.” She said again as she vanished into her bedroom and office where one of her cash boxes was and looked about for her keys before she opened it with a click and found the one for the lock.

…

The Lamia returned cheerfully with a small leather purse of coins, 2 small bottles, 1 larger one and dropped the coins into his hands for payment. She had paid fairly and maybe a little generously for his services. “Payment, fair, gold. Sssstaff sort chair. We do later.” Sya said and her much smaller hand closed his fingers around the bag and dropped back to pick up a tray, 3 glasses and poured out 3 servings of a clear liquid with a strong smell of alcohol.

“I make this special, vy own. Shine. Proof. Burns. Real kind. Not like veak imports.” This was a small batch she made stronger and on a smaller scale. Scale.. he he. This was proof, at least half alcohol but she had got this higher, this was genuine shine of serene and made with great care and love of the craft. “To Eggs, good eggs. Vou are.” Sya offered the glasses and took one of her own, Sya swayed but remained balanced without thought, it was weird like that…

It might be a surprise to Eris, this stuff she made was .. potent. But this was a slice of her homeland and culture. Sya shared it willingly.

“Drink. Toast, Ves. You friends.” Sya said, swaying slightly as light reflected off the deep blue of her lower body and her dull iron ring she bore on upper arm as an imitation of her previous jewelry. She was becoming more old, new and both herself. Sya did not think too hard about that.

Sya just looked hopeful and used her confidence to convince everyone to go along with her, Sya would give her the .. eye, her large emotive eye to convince everyone to follow Sya's lead. The bottles Sya offered as gifts.

Just Sya doing Sya things.

@Fetzen@The Muse

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_{Location: Eye of the Beholder}

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A faint smile ghosted across Eris’s lips as she listened to Sya — ever warm and welcoming. Her eyes continued to scan the wall of unfamiliar books for a few minutes, lingering briefly on a title labelled “The Space Between: When Light Shared the Sky”

Hearing her name, she turned, blue eyes settling onto Valthyr. Instinctively, her posture straightened at the request for a healer. She reached for her magic, the delicate threads she incessantly pulled at until they frayed or snapped.

It was there, a slow drip returning back to her system with each passing moment. She could feel its warmth — only a small ember, begging not to be smothered. She needed to rest, to leave it alone. She was nearing the limit, and yet…

As Valthyr peeled away a strange leaf-woven bandage, something sharpened in her expression. Fatigue overwritten by focus.

You’re capable of more. Push yourself. A Hightower knows no ceilings.
Was it her brother's voice she recalled? Her fathers? Perhaps the voice had become her own.

As Sya slithered out of the room, Eris stepped closer to Valthyr. Gently, she took his arm in her hands, examining the wound. It no longer appeared to be bleeding, but the skin was still broken and alarmingly inflamed. No visible signs of decaying flesh that she might’ve expected from the blight. The giant before her didn’t appear to be in any feverish or serious state. Lucky for him.

“I can try,” She said quietly, meeting his gaze. “I… I should warn you, I’m not at full strength.”

An understatement.

Before she could say more, Sya returned. Eris stepped back from Valthyr, blinking as a small purse was pressed into his hand, then her attention shifted to the liquid being poured.

The smell hit her first. Sharp. Strong.
It turned her stomach slightly.

Out of courtesy, Eris accepted the glass anyway.

“You made this yourself, Sya?” she asked curiously, trying to keep her facial expression warm as she eyed the small glass of what might as well have been acid. “You’re too kind.”

As Sya made her toast, Eris hesitated only a fraction before lifting the glass.

“To… good company.” She added before taking the smallest possible sip.

Instant regret.

Her face tightened — just slightly, but enough — a faint wince she couldn’t fully hide as the liquid burned its way down her throat. It was… aggressively potent. How in the world was Sya making this?

Eris lowered the glass almost immediately, setting it aside with quiet finality. That was more than enough. There were important things to do and she couldn’t afford to be drinking herself blind.

Her attention returned to Valthyr, hoping to evade any request Sya might have for her to drink more. “Let me see,” she said, stepping closer and reaching for his arm once more.

She paused just before touching him. A deep breath. A moment to center herself, to feel every ounce of what was left of her magic. Then, carefully, she placed her fingers near the wound and reached inward.

Normally, it came easily. A current. An overflowing well. A responsive, familiar flow of magic waiting just beneath her skin.

Now… only something faint and muffled remained. Distant. Like trying to stoke a fire in the middle of a rainstorm, she tried to coax it.

Eris’s brows knit slightly as a sharp burst of pain spread deep in the veins of her arms. She tried again, slower this time. More deliberate. Pulling not with force, but with patience.

A thread answered. Thin. Flickering. But there.

Relief flickered across her face as warmth spread slowly from her core. Soft light gathered at her fingertips, weaker than she would have liked, but steady. It sank carefully into the wound, guided with precision.

She worked slowly. Methodically. Every motion measured. Every ounce of energy accounted for.

A pounding headache began to form along her temples, but she weaved what little magic she had into Valthyr. Slowly, the wound began to close.

Her breathing grew shallow. Then heavier. The light flickered once. Twice.

Eris swallowed, forcing focus, pushing just a little further. Just enough to ensure the worst of it was handled. Then she pulled back. The light vanished. Her hand lingered on his arm for a moment longer as she examined where a red scar remained — something that would not have happened were she at her full strength.

Feeling dizzy, Eris found herself a seat among the many pillows littered across the room. She exhaled slowly, her shoulders dipping just slightly as the effort caught up to her.

“That should…” she began, voice softer now, a touch strained, “be good, for now.” She paused, closing her eyes to steady herself. “Please let me know if you have any other complications.”

She reopened her eyes, looking up at Valthyr. Every bone in her hands felt worn. Brittle.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.” She meant it. “Another healer could try to remove the scar, if you like. Or I can, once I’ve recovered.”

---

_{Interactions: Sya @PrinceAlexus, Valthyr @Fetzen}

_{Interacting with: Eris Hightower @The Muse, Sya @PrinceAlexus
Location: The Eye Of The Beholder (in another room)}

Valthyr picked up the warning not very loud, but clear. Still what came next made him almost feel apologetic for ever having asked in the first place. What Eris had labeled as 'not being at full strength' looked more like her being in dire need of a healer's assistance herself. Just as the woman slumped back down a pile of pillows, the druid's inner gears already started turning to think about the situation. Wasn't there anything he could do about that ?

Halfway absent-mindedly, he peeled off the remainder of the self-made bandage. The leaves had become dry -- and possibly rather bloody on the inside --, but it had probably served its purpose well. A scar was still highly preferable to sticking around with a wound for months on end that would hurt whenever under strain and end up as an even bigger scar. A quick opening of the nearest window not to let in too much of the cold and the leaves had left the building.

Speaking of the building... Valthyr could only wonder how many more rather interesting backrooms there were.

"I owe you a favor, Eris." he said with a smile while doing his best not to provide the slightest hint at the other complications he indeed had. He didn't want to risk her feeling responsible for trying to fix them as well simply because he doubted a healer was the right person for this in the first place. Much rather a butcher to cut someone's tongue off...

"Do not worry. It will work out for now, the scar can wait. You on the other hand look as if we should lock you away here for a while just so nobody else can come and bother you for a while." Was the healers being even more exhausted than anybody else a good sign for a new place like this ? Not really, but Dawnhaven had already presented itself from one of the worst possible sides to him. "There is a brew or two from my people that might help you get up onto your feet again."

His eyes looked up towards Sya. "Maybe you could help me with one once you have tried out your new chair ? Would have to look for a few ingredients."

“I made it. Vy self. It's not as ssstrong as my vather made, I need to refine the processs…” Sya said with pride and a little sadness. “I vope it does not lack kick. Family secret, to share vith good eggs…”

Seeing Eris fall to the pillows made Sya drop her silly aide entirely and the Lamia inn keeper was very much concerned for her friend, her sister of a kind and a good egg she wanted to protect in her box. Sure Dys had her weird quirks but she was very protective of those she chose to open her heart too. “Erisss… sister. You ssstay here, you rest. This iz my home, I have room, vou have bed and good meal. Good eggs safe here tonight.” Sya said kindly and leaned down to drop a blanket she hurriedly found over Eris legs and feet to keep her warm. Sya wording was a little odd and just.. plain Sya. But she meant well.

She suggested the shine of serene believing it would help with a 100% genuine belief. “Il be vack sister Eris, with good food.” Sya in her chaotic impulsive self kissed her friend on the cheek and turned to face the much larger man, trying and failing to be even taller on her tail she barely reached his shoulder.

…

“Valthir right. Vou rest. We heal you.” She said deciding a course and slithering to the stairs. “Vollow me.” Sya said and pulled him gently with a far far smaller hand and turned a second, her bright blue tail waving a little with her emotions.

“You have been friends when others feared me. You stay, you are always welcome under my herth..” Sya said slowly, carefully in formal Auralian as her common tongue was not working for her words. The language was rusty, but accurate.

…

Sya lead Valthir down to the back of the eye of the holder, through the staff only doors and into the area near the basement stairs and the kitchens plus bakery with the smell of fresh bread wafted from the building before taking a door to a large carriage house area with some empty stables. “I love it.” Sya said excitedly and slithered over at speed curling into the new chair with her eye almost brighter and the excited gesture of her tail flashing in the artificial light. Instead of forcing her form into the shapes and having to shift as it was too harsh, too up right and the wrong shape for her serpentine form, this was far better, far more comfortable and suited her shape instead of conflicting against it.

“Its . A little rough here, more round here, but very close.. its.. made vor me…this .. me “ Sya slithered off the chair almost like she flowed instead of an awkward motion with other such furniture and hugged him. The innkeeper had no such luxury to hide her emotions, they displayed openly, a weird aspect of her blight nature and changes had brought her emotions, good, bad and anything else to the surface.

Sya refused to let go for a while and the Lamia was trying to hide her happy tears and fact she was currently overwhelmed and trying to process the big emotions.

“Come, I show vou stores, vome in basement, others here… “ Sya said and gestures to the inns expansive hidden basements below, stacks of flour and barrels among a wide range of provisions from various sources. Aya was already busy calling Becky over to help her make a fresh pie for Eris and a hot desert. Sya ADHD was entirely unmedicated and she seemed to flit between things like she ran in a different time stream.

Somehow…Sya was … “sane” enough to make the entire thing work for her as she talked to a rather patient Becky, the rather short yet more curvey Lunarian baker who contrasted heavily with her boss but shared a lack of height. Becky was keeping Sya on track mostly and did not seem to mind the inn keeper eccentricity.

@Fetzen@The Muse

Nathaniel & Charlotte

---

Location: Alchemist chambers- Town.

---

Collab with: Charlotte @SpicyMeatball

---

Like a good recruit, Charlotte had stayed out of the way thus far--apart from Zeph’s little nudge. She’d learned that most would expect her to speak only when spoken to while she was in uniform, especially the nobility. Her eyes trailed each of the other occupants in the room, letting Zeph give a report of their findings to the older lady she’d crossed paths with before.

Her posture had finally relaxed when a guard bursting through the door caused her to stiffen once more, her hand tightening on the straps of her shield.

Another murder. Another blightborn attack. And judging by the fact that Penelope had just singled her out, another trek through the cold.

She groaned quietly before nodding to the group without a word, following behind as they left the warmth behind them.

As Nathaniel stepped out of the warmth of the Alchemy Chambers, a tinge of worry settled over him. He was going to investigate another murder. His deep, calming breath formed mist, and he gazed out. The pathway he and Nesna had taken from the beholder was fresh with snow, as if it had never been touched by man. Osiris came out, and his body shook for a moment as the cold air made contact with his person.

” Brr. The cold definitely isn't helpful for me and my old bones. I trust that you young ones are properly warm.” Osiris asked both Nathaniel and Charlotte, the latter on the heels of the second sage. Nathaniel turned to face them, snow already clinging to their hair and cloaks. “We've only just left the building and already you're fussing over us.” “But of course. It is my job to provide insight and support for the next generation of sages, scholars and soldiers. This.” He pointed his cane to the frozen, snowy tundra. “This is an adventure for the young. So I will teach, and you, young Stormlight, will learn.” At that point, both men smiled, then looked at Charlotte. ” Are you ready, Miss Hawthorne?” Nathaniel asked.

“While an adventure is certainly not what I would call this--” she gestured vaguely at the outdoors and snow, “I am in your service and will protect you with my life, should the need arise. Charlotte looked between the two with a nod, before shifting beneath her armor.

“Properly warm is a bit of a stretch, but I’ll survive for the time being. Let’s get going, we’ll warm up more by walking.”

With that said Nathaniel just looked at Osiris. The elder nodded. ”The young lady is correct.” Nathaniel agreed, adjusting his cloak. Looking in the direction. He patted his person.

Parchment, check.
Quill, check.
Small pot of carryable ink, check. A sigh of relief escaped his lips leaving a warm fog in front of his face. “I have everything needed.” ”Sample tubes?” Nathaniel gave a little nod. Turning on his heel, he led the way.

Walking through the snowfall that was getting heavier as time passed. Osiris walked with Charlotte. With Nathaniel in front. ”I wouldn't worry about him. He is more than capable of defending himself. So long as he doesn't burn through his magic.” ”I'm not using my magic here. It has serious side effects involving killing someone or myself in the process.” Nathaniel said then continued. ”Him however, he'll likely have next to nothing in reserves.” Osiris simply agreed. Even in the snow you could see the magical fatigue on the elders face.

“Its a good thing that you’ve got me around then, isn’t it?” The recruit quipped, a smirk barely visible on her face.

”It has been some time since I had a decent amount of magic.” his attention turned to the guard. ”Tell me, how long have you been a guard for?” he asked with genuine curiosity.

“Not quite a year now.” Charlotte replied, turning her gaze to the older man, “Though obviously not all of my time was spent here. Most of my training and mentorship was done in the capital, when the sun was still around. I was transferred here a few weeks ago.”.

Her eyes flicked across the terrain, scanning for movement among the trees and between the buildings. Now that her travelling companions had openly announced their lack of defences, she couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.

Osiris watched her, the wisdom of different generations of guards that he has seen in his long life. He can see that she follows in the same footsteps of her peers. She certainly had the stance and the form correct. As her hand rested on the hilt of her sword ready to draw. ”I can see that your mentor has trained you well.” Osiris remarked with a warm smile, in contrast to the cold weather that surrounded the group. ”Your mentor must be really proud of you and all you have accomplished? he asked.

Charlotte faltered for a moment at the question, her eyes flicking to Osiris, “My mentor is the reason I was transferred to this-- To Dawnhaven.” her voice chilled, “I prefer not to speak of it.”

Charlotte’s gaze returned ahead, set on changing the subject. “With the little I understand of magic, you both must be Aurelian, yes? Lunarians would be more powerful than ever under the constant, unending moonlight.”

”Yes.” Nathaniel said as he turned his head to answer her question. ”Both myself and Lord Galahad are both from Aurelia. You are from the capital aren't you my Lord.” Osiris nodded to his young sage's question. ”There's been a lot of commotion in the noble decorum. he took a small breath.

”Aurelia is indeed weakened in terms of magical strength. Noble houses are slowly losing their authority due to the lack of magical power that they used to wield. That's mostly due to us not being able to restore our magic reservoirs from the sun, nothing more. There is a lot of pressure on our shoulders.” he referred to the other sages and everyone else who resided in Dawnhaven.

“You’re not at all worried that Lunaris won’t take advantage of Aurelia’s weakness, knowing that we’ve been at our weakest over these last few years?” The recruit knew that it had been harder to get proper healing for the troops injured by the monstrosities of the blight. She didn’t want to think of what would happen if there was an uprising out here, as remote as they were. They were further from home than the northerners, and expecting timely reinforcements was a pipe dream at best.

“I am grateful for the peace between nations, but I’m not oblivious to the fact that Aurelia would do the same if given the chance. Lunaris has to know that.”

Osiris looked towards Charlotte, then towards Nathaniel. The young sage's face showed no expression. ”Honestly, I am worried. And likewise, I am grateful for the peace that we have right now.” Nathaniel thought back to his time at the Aurelian court. There weren't many details, but he knew enough. Both nations were close to all-out war. If it weren't for the blight, war would have broken out. But

The hush of the rest of the citizens of Dawnhaven came as the trio walked down the snow-capped footpath. A guard caught sight of Lord Osiris. “Lord Galahad.” From the look Osiris gave him, he likely knew the guard. Then the guard's gaze shifted to Nathaniel. “I know you. You are the one who was dancing with the lead sage in the tavern.” Nathaniel groaned for a heartbeat. ”We are here to investigate the murder. Not for tavern gossip.” ”Nathaniel here is my ward. He is here to gather samples and investigate. I am simply here as an observer.”

The guard seemed to ignore Nathaniel's little quip but acknowledged Osiris’ statement. His attention went to Charlotte. “You aren't needed here, recruit. I can escort the sages. You can head back to the barracks.”

For a moment, Charlotte considered ignoring the guard’s request. From what she could see, something big had transpired here and curiosity was pushing at every edge of her mind. But then she remembered her previous encounter, what her defiant act of the previous day had gotten her, and the thought faded from her mind. She pushed away the images of Aliseth’s face, the sound of his words still barely audible in her ears.

“Yes sir.” Her words were firm, but as her eyes wandered across the scene, a small piece of that curiosity escaped, “Sir, what happened here? Another attack?” Immediate feelings of regret bubbled to the surface but Charlotte didn’t let it show, still standing at rest with her hand resting idly on the pommel of her blade. “If there’s anything I can do to assist, please, tell me. I want to help. Her last few words came out tinged with a bit more desperation than she’d intended, and she kicked herself mentally for it.

The guard nodded, “Yes there has been. But that's all I'm going to say.” His gaze shifted back and forth amongst the trio “No, I'm not letting some greenhorn rookie get in the way.” ”Green horned Rookie?” Nathaniel said, looking at Charlotte then back to the guard. ”She looks more capable at the job than you.” The guard seemed a bit annoyed by that little jab from the younger sage. “I don't care. She isn't coming. End of the discussion.”

[colguard's90274] “She is coming with me. It is my decision. If you don't like that, that's your opinion. Now, quit being an imbecile and lead us to the body. If you are wanting to interfere with my and Nathaniel's work I'll be more than happy to report this to the lead Sage or his Highness.”[/colour] Nathaniel had never heard the elder speak that freely with anyone, but from the look of fear in the guards eye. He knew he wasn't going to go against the second sage.

The recruit’s eyes darted back and forth between the guard and Lord Galahad, a glimmer of entertainment in them as she tried her best to keep composure.

“Yes sir.” From then on, the guard seemed to stand straighter than before. His attention went to Charlotte for a flicker. “I apologize, please accept my sincere apologies.” ”Apologise later, take us to the body.” Nathaniel simply said and the guard nodded “Y-Yes sir. Follow me please.” As they followed the guard to the body. Nathaniel whispered to Charlotte. ”Lord Galahad wouldn't have stepped in to anyone, he acts when he sees the potential in others. He must think you have something special about yourself, even if you can't see it.”

“If only my training officer shared the same sentiment… She muttered, biting back a grin as she followed the sages forward. Once she had confidence that her words wouldn’t be overheard, Charlotte quickened her pace and whispered,“I owe you both a drink for keeping my day entertaining.”

She went to step back into position but caught herself for another heartbeat, uttering one last line, “He isn’t wrong though, I am a rookie through and through.

Charlotte shot them a friendly smirk before falling back a few steps, returning to her usual look of professionalism.

As the four of them entered the prison, a shudder ran through the recruit’s spine as she felt the little magic she had stripped away. The familiar sensation of a magical warding rune, she suspected. Smart. It was then that she took in the gruesome scene before her in all of its misery. The corpse of a man that looked like it had been shredded by a thousand blades while also having decayed far more than expected in the matter of hours it had been since death.

“What in the hells… She whispered, taking position by the door in just the right way to get a good view of everything. “I may be just a recruit but that doesn’t look normal.

She paused, letting the sages get closer, “Right…?

Nathaniel shook his head, more to sight of the mutilated body half buried in snow than to what Charlotte said. ”No.” he paused, ”It isn't.” he remembered the body that he had to carry. How it was beheaded.

”There is no shame on you if you choose to look away.” Osiris said standing next to her.

Charlotte nodded rapidly and turned away, a shudder running down her spine. It wasn’t the gore alone that sent her head into a spin and made her stomach do back-flips, but the combination of the scene before her and the smell. The only thing that prevented her from retching into a corner was that she hadn’t had much to eat since breakfast.

Feeling Osiris watching him from behind. ”On it.” Nathaniel said. Both of his hands rummage through his satchel. Removing a small empty vial then followed by a syringe. ”First, the blood. as Nathaniel knelt next to the body. Carefully he loaded the vial to the end of the syringe. Once the vial was secured in place he flicked the needle. Placing a hand on the corpse to brace, he felt how stiff the corpse was. Rigor-mortis was slowly setting in, mixed with the cold. Then Nathaniel pierced the flesh with the syringe.

It took Nathaniel only a few minutes. Even with the cold weather affecting him. He proved more than capable, four vials of blood were sealed and safely stored in his coat pocket. Giving his syringe a quick clean. Carefully storing them back into his satchel. As he was about to get back up. Tissue samples. Going back into his satchel. He pulled out a sheathed knife. With care he drew the knife from its sheath, and started to cut small bits of flesh, some from around the fatal wound and some away from it. The noise of a guard vomiting came from the side. “Why are you cutting flesh off?” A guard asked, going a little pale from the sight.

”It's samples. This was a Blightborn after all.” he paused, sealing the flesh in some slightly bigger jars. ”Since the Blightborn body goes under a sort of transformation. Perhaps we could find some lead for the cure. Or put us in the right direction.”

Cleaning the knife he put it back into the satchel. ”We have what we need. You can handle the body and put it to rest.” Nathaniel said to the other guards. ”Excellent work Nathaniel, perhaps you could be helpful in the coming times. We should get these back to the Alchemist Chambers, Charlotte will you be accompanying us back?”

“For certain, I won’t be spending another minute in this place. she said, pacing quickly to the door as nausea began creeping into her head.

The sound of the other guard losing his lunch did nothing to help the feeling.

The recruit practically ripped open the door, holding it in place to allow her compatriots to leave first. The wall of icy cold air that entered--which normally would have had Charlotte wincing--was ever appreciated after having experienced the stagnant decay of the jail.

“Despite that… scene, I’m grateful for the opportunity to have come with you. The both of you. It’s certainly better than cleaning out stables or standing in a watchtower with no fire to keep warm.” She paused, looking between the two of them, “I hope that sample helps cure this blight. I’ve only seen a fraction of what it can do, but I’ve heard the stories from out there.”

Charlotte nudged Nathaniel with a smirk, “No pressure, but we’re all counting on you.”

---

Sya had worked for many hours in the eye, been several times to the market and borrowed numerous tools to craft her items. Protective amulets that contained everything up to her own blood, each one was hand made and she had 3 of them. One matching pair of egg shaped amulets, each one crafted to form perfectly with its partner. The metal was not expensive, limited but she had shaped each one by hand, sacrificing time and sleep channeling her emotions into each item. These made her giggle as she crafted them with great relish and interest in the plan working. If this did not work she might have to lock them in a tower with no mage books, one bed and clear instructions. It beat marrying that over dressed peacock!

The second was made in a more traditional style carved from a hardwood dark as night and a small bright white soft stone, carved with a precise single rune on a leather cord that was made out of some acquired from Ivar. The form was not the entire thing, it was something more about the process.

It was a determined Sya who slithered out the eye with the amulets hanging from her wrist to the gathering people seeking out 3 in particular. Orion. Eris and Nathaniel. She wore her new white Eastern Aurelian style dress she acquired from the tailor, Sya was a little nervous though as she approached her first person she wanted to protect. Sya personal fear of the blight lands ran deep.

The town square was packed with people, carts, horses, everything for a full expedition had been made ready from sages to guards in full armour layered with leathers and more to shield them from harsh weather. The tall female guard seemed to be taking an interest in the priestess, Daphne, her guest, whom she had sent each of them off with a good breakfast before they departed including some of her more premium items.

The Head of the group where she saw Lord Coswain and several others of importance… yes, Sya made her way to that group to find Orion to pass on her amulet of protection. “Onion… Orion, Vi need to give vou zomething” Sya called out, her Borderland aspect growing stronger as she made herself heard over the noise.

He heard her before he saw her, her accent cutting clean through the noise of the square with the same cheerful disregard for discretion it always had. Orion turned from the group he’d been speaking to, and something in his expression changed. It wasn’t quite a smile but a softening, there and then managed.

"Lady Sya." He stepped away from the group by a few paces, his gaze falling to the amulet she extended toward him. Handmade. He could tell at once. So, he accepted it with deliberate gentleness, turning it once between his fingers before closing his palm around it.

"I owe you a letter." The directness of it was as close to an apology as Orion generally permitted himself. "I hadn't forgotten. There simply wasn't a moment I could give it the attention it deserved." With everything from Aleksi to the interviews and now the expedition into the blight lands. "When I return then," he added, and left it unfinished, unwilling to make a promise he refused to dress up as certainty.

His thumb moved once over the surface of the amulet. "Thank you for this. I'll keep it close." A pause, and then, with something almost wry at the corner of his mouth: "You made for others, I imagine?" It would be just like her to do that.

Sya handed it over carefully and gave a slight surprise at being addressed as Lady Sya, but it had a nice feeling about it. Especially as some would have an utter fit when they found she had been named a lady, treated with respect and kindness… She dropped the small amulet into his hand, surprisingly for its size as she used a dense hardwood and a local soft but clean stone with very little flaws.

“Vi can forgive you, long as Vou stop vy to say hello when you can. Voy are good egg, Vou, Kira, sister Eris, all good egg.” Sya said, she could not blame him too much being the Prince's deputy for all intents must bring a nightmare. Running the Inn kept Sya busy, and that was not a whole town. “Vou will return.” Sya said more firmly with her accent becoming more pronounced into the borderlander. “Vi can translate vor mountain clan. Close to vy own. I van helps.”

"I'll make a point of it," Orion said, and meant it. The offer of translation, however, drew his attention more sharply. "That may prove more valuable than you know. I'll remember that for future negotiations." His eyes met her own for a moment, direct and genuinely attentive. "Thank you, Sya."

Sya shifted, her tail growing more protective and waving a little nervously, her body language and her mood were directly linked and hard to hide. “It protect. Must be made, never vy other. it for clan, but. I have no clan now. So I give it Vou. Protect vou from dark ember land after vour soul.” Sya said and wrapped her hand to curl his hand around and make a point of it. “Alvays wear it.”

“I vade 2 others. I not sleep, to vake. I hope they help vith other things…” Sya said with a tone of mischief and a glitter to her single large eye. Sya wanted Eris to find someone worth the sage, and not a rotten yolk whose shell was over-decorated.

Sya did something bold, Sya and very much in line with the snake woman's somewhat strange nature. She leaned up a little unsteadily on her tail and used him for balance before she closed one large eye and kissed him on the lips before backing off with an entirely Sya look of satisfaction. “Zat. Is vor luck.” Sya said, turning with a Sya-like motion utterly silently and smooth as running water, giving his leg a gentle tap with her tail as she turned away.

By the time Orion’s mind had finished figuring out what had just occurred, she was already retreating.

"For luck," he said quietly to her back. The words emerged flat but not unkind, and he stood there a moment before turning back toward the group. His expression had already settled. Whatever had just happened, the square hadn't noticed anyway or, more charitably, had possessed the good sense to pretend otherwise.

Sya was feeling rather happy with herself, a smug snek she could say with a more rhythmic wiggle of her tail as she left. A little more sway and people would probably swear there was a little glow to her eye as she looked at him, smiled and was lost in the crowd with a glittering of blue scales and a pretty white and blue Aurelian eastern dress, so that bit different among all the heavy expedition clothes. Sya was not a person who hid her emotions, desires, or really felt much shame about expressing how she felt directly.

Her new changes had made that hopeless as her tail was practically an 12 foot or so emotional billboard for how the in keeper felt.

That and Sya felt…useful. Proud… She could help with the mountain people and do something useful while everyone was away. The mountain clans, Ivor’s people and others always felt a little more like they could relate a little more.

She made her way a little further down the column to find the sages, her tail tucked a little tighter to avoid knocking people over. “Erissss” Sya called out and moved smoothly forward searching for her friend and Nathainal. Sya had mischief to accomplish.

“Yes?! I’m here, one seco—”

The lead Sage sucked in a sharp breath as her shoulder clipped the sharp edge of a cargo cart, causing her to stumble sideways from the pure force of it. She’d spun around too quickly, instantly alert at the sound of her name — buzzing with frantic energy.

Rubbing her stinging shoulder and holding back a grimace, Eris scanned the crowd for who had called for her. Luckily, it didn’t take long to spot Sya slithering through, blue scales shimmering against torch light. A warm smile found its way to her lips, the deep bruise forming on her shoulder nearly forgotten.

“Sya. I’m glad to see you before we leave.”

Hearing the sound of a thud from the cart, Nathaniel let out a small sigh. He knew what the cause of it was, Eris. Nathaniel had already made a log of some of the supplies, a log that he was currently double checking. He assumed that Eris was also doing the same thing. Was this the third or fourth time she had checked this cart alone? He couldn't remember.

He put away his checklist before turning round the cart to see what part she hurt herself this time. She had already bumped or tripped over things as she would rush through checking carts and supplies. When he arrived at the tower early, Penelope was waging war with Eris refusing to let her out of the tower. It was only when Penelope saw Nathaniel coming in she pointed at him saying she's your problem now boy. Whatever that meant.

”Do I have to shadow you so I,” his playful tone halted as he turned and saw Eris stood with Sya. ”Oh hello Sya, what brings you here. Come to see us leave?

Sya smiled when she saw the two she exactly went to look for… but Sya hoped to create the chance for Eris to get a good man, who would make her a happy clan and have healthy younglings to carry on her name and clan forward. No sister would form a clan with such a rotten Yolk as the Peacock. Weak clan. No sister deserves that.

Sya was careful in her exuberance to not wrap her tail round Eris, knowing she seemed less open about that kind of thing and returned her greeting with a hug before pulling back, and giving Nathaniel a little curtsey on her tail dipping a little and broke the decorum entirely by giving him a peck on the cheek.

“Ssssister Eris, Nathaniel.” Sya said thankfully as she greeted them with a happy flick of her tail, her worry overpowered by fact she found them. “Vy had to see vou, Vou will be safe. Vou will protect her. Vou will both home safe.” Sya said as a statement more than a question as if any other outcome was unthinkable. “vy had to give gift before you before vou enter Ember Mirk.”

She gently placed a little shakily an amulet in each hand made of metal on a leather cord, a matching pair with an intricate rune of protection carved into the metal with great care that mirrored each other in two halves of a wider runic pattern. “I vade this…” Sya began before pausing and finding her words again. Eris’s brows rose in surprise as she turned the oval shaped amulet over in her fingers, examining the craftsmanship. “Zey protect, you vy clan now, much work. Lose sleep. Vust always gifted and made with sacrifice.” She said and hoped they understood how much Sya had into her creation, care, emotions and more.

“Zey are special. Vy Fader taught me.” Sya said in a way that implied mischief but also a lot of care and efforts had been involved. Special as in the chosen runes yes, Sya was glad she took a great interest in the items her father had made for her mother and sat by them as he explained each part and why it was important. He had passed on their clan tradition to his daughter.

“These are wonderful, Sya. I’m impressed that you made them yourself!” Eris beamed, noting the jagged right edge of her oval, as if it were incomplete. Her gaze flicked to the amulet Nathaniel had been given. On the left side of his, a jagged edge to match.

Eris’s smile faltered only slightly before she forced it back onto her lips.

“Pair. If vou touch, Ember have harder time with Vou, it vants vou, vust never let it lure you. Sleep safe, it protects dream from Embers fire.” They did that without holding hands, or better yet cuddled together but Sya did not think it would hurt to tell a little lie. Well Sya deeply believed they did anyway, she genuinely and surely believed the old runes still would protect her friends that she considered her weird clan of a sort, no matter where they came from and how no blood was shared.

Eris could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Sya had never been one for subtlety, had she?

Nonetheless, it was from her friend, crafted with love and care — a warm reminder of this strange place she had called home over the last few months. And if it were truly a protection charm, then Eris would gladly take it.

Nathaniel gazed in awe at the fine craftsmanship of the charm. A small smile etched on his face ”This is incredible Sya. Thank you.” curious, he caught a glance at the charm that Eris had; it was the exact opposite shape of his as if they were two pieces of the same. It was then he caught Eris’ gaze on his own charm, their eyes meeting for only a heartbeat.

“Thank you, Sya.” Eris said as she put the amulet on, tucking it safely behind the warmth of her heavy coat. “That means a great deal.” She paused, meeting her eyes with Sya’s large one. “I’m sure we’ll be safe.” She wasn’t sure at all. The heavy knot of anxiety in her chest said otherwise. “And before you know it, we’ll be having tea and I’ll tell you all about what I saw out there.”

”I agree.” Nathaniel said putting the amulet on. ”We'll keep each other safe.” he paused for a moment. ”Eris we'll have to see what our charms looked like together.” looking at the situation. Nathaniel smiled. Courteously, Eris returned it.

”I'm going to let you two talk in private. I'll double check some more of the supplies. Take your time Eris. he said to his fellow sage then turned to Sya. ”Thank you once again Sya.” and with a turn, Nathaniel went to a different cargo cart to check its contents.

Sya was nervous about her gifts and how they would be received, each was much effort, her own family's crafts and passed down honour. Strangers, but those Sya saw as Family. Her eye brightened up and her tail made a happy wave and was more active with a swish motion in the air. She was happy with the situation. “Zanks” even Sya said with a blush at Nathaniel on her pale skin at the compliment from the sage.

She saw Eris was trying to reassure her but Sya knew the blight in a way the other two did not, she had lived, died, been changed by it, twice and also could try to break her. Sya would only truly feel happy when Eris was home having tea with her and making her blush trying to get her to admit what happened besides the sage research.”Yes, Tea for Vure, I even tell vou who I kissed earlier over tea. Good abs too..” Sya said with a look of utter mischief. Eris would have to come home for that gossip.

Eris raised a curious brow, an amused smile lifting the corner of her lips. She realized then that she’d actually miss Sya — all her antics included.

The Lamia innkeeper smiled at their interaction, oh she was far from stupid or just some monster they called Sya.. She definitely noted that they were not a couple but also not impossible for it to be so if they chose to. They seemed a good fit. She could not hide that smile that was subtly derailing a certain peacock's plans. Sya did not fight so loudly or brash as an angry lion. She was more quiet, more careful and more precise.

She took Nathaniel's hand in her own smaller one, arm bare with an iron ring on her bicep. The blightborn in her dress did not feel the cold like them, in their heavy coats. Well felt it but it did not harm her. “I trusssst you with my sister.” Sya said softly and she meant it.

Nathaniel paused, feeling Sya’s small hand in his own he looked into her singular eye as what seemed like a plea. He smiled ”I'll do what it takes, to keep her safe. And we'll be back before you know it.” This seemed to ease Sya's worry as she let go.

Eris tore her gaze from Nathaniel and returned to Sya, pretending to ignore the flash of heat burning at her cheeks again.

Letting him leave Sya turned fully to face Eris, moving fluidly and spun on the spot with an ease. Sya was unsure how it worked but it all just…did naturally. “Erisss…” Sya said and paused, unsure what to say.

“Ze… Ember… its..more. it tried to lure me, make me lose everything when my home fell, become beast. Nathaniel help anchor, vou help him. Together like boat tied to shore. Voices, try, ignore. Do not follow, stay camp at night. Please.” Sya said wrapping her friend and named sister in a hug, Sya rarely was this serious with Eris, a little weird. But Sya had to tell her secret now. The blight had turned Sya, tried to lure her into it's claws, the blight was to Sya anyway more than just dead trees and ruins.

Returning the hug, Eris wrapped her arms tight around Sya. She closed her eyes, trying her best not to be overtaken by the emotion welling up in her chest. This wasn’t goodbye, she tried to tell herself. She’d returned. They’d all return. They had to.

“Plus he looks very fit, handsome. wrapped in strong man's arms…my Gendry i lost was farrier, very strong, it vas shielded in sleep. First kisssss I had to tip toe as he held me…” and of course, Sya had to get distracted and well, be Sya. But treated her like her sister with no secrets. Maybe drop Eris a hint too.. Sya was subtle…Sya thought so. But Sya was.. Sya

Eris stepped out of the hug, forcing a faint smile despite her emotion knotting into dread. For a breath, she only nodded and took in the sight of her friend. Sya had been through so much. Not only with the blight, but in her life before it. Somehow, she knew how to remain positive and effortlessly playful. Eris wished she knew how to do the same.

The fate of the world rested heavy upon Eris’s shoulders.

She knew what Sya was alluding to, but the idea of entertaining it… dread turned her stomach.

“I’ll be sure to stay with the others. Thank you, Sya.” She briefly bowed her head in gratitude. “We’ll see each other soon.” She glanced toward the cargo cart that Nathaniel had disappeared into. “I should get back to it….”

Gaze returning to Sya, her smile turned bittersweet. “Be safe.”

@Echotech71@The Muse@Qia

Flash Back
Persephone did not sleep well that was a fact but in the last few weeks she got used to her partner's presence and warmth that always made her feel safe, secure and able to let go. He had departed as they had their quiet but passionate goodbye however unlike the youngsters had found a private spot to do it. Daphne had left too and her motives well, a certain Priestess was high on the dark-haired squire's reasons. Persephone just smirked at the fact they were totally not together, sure. A trek into the wilderness and they would give up trying to hide it… It had a habit of stripping away things and making you see the truth.

It did for Persephone.

But that was why she wrapped a robe about and treaded softly downstairs to try and distract herself seeing the still glow of the fire pit in the lower room, constantly fending off the cold. The chill bit hard and about a week prior they had some strange menu choices. Breakfast was rather confusing when you ate desert for breakfast, stuffed crust breakfast croissants and more besides.

“Again? Lady Presssephone.” Sya said, slithering out the darkness from a side door at an ungodly hour of the morning. Her tail was silent and her eye looked out the darkness into the fire light that glittered off deep blue scales and a robe from a Auralian trader who had popped by part of a passing caravan.

“first time i seen you.. but not you me.” Persephone said, not shaken or surprised by fact, Sya she already noticed could be either as sneaky or chaotic as she liked. The fact Sya who ran this place, could move through it with absolute stealth and evade her patrons and customers. “Cannot sleep.” She said and sat at the bar as Sya moved behind and poured two glasses of a strong smelling liquid. “Might help.” Sya said, pushing one to the woman across, her hair reflecting the glow of coals and hot embers in the fire.

“Thank you.” Persephone nodded and took the drink, the two quiet and Lady Coswain could not hide a grimace at the strength of the burn. The alcohol was strong on levels that no one else in town had.

…

Sya was recalling the last 2 weeks, the first week had been… weird. Sya was greatly missing her friends and even Becky had stopped her and challenged her boss. The menu for first week Sya tried to distract herself by making.. things, anything. New combinations of foods that still weirdly worked and people ate it and kept coming back.

The day the convoy left Sya fears had run rampant, The Lamia had almost shut down that evening and curled up in the book nook, her sanctuary and slept off the emotional overload. Multiple of her valued friends were going out on the expedition, people who held great value for the inn keeper.

The later week Sya had been distracted by a large caravan of traders that stopped by, so much to buy, goods to buy, sell, stocks to check and more. Now Sya was.. feeling… empty and so did the town. Though maybe Sya could go talk to Kira, she did not fear the blightborn who had shared a relaxing soak which saved her from the bad yolk peacock, that went a long way to making her a good egg and yolk.

The caravan did sell a very nice robe as well as a few other things though.

…

Persephone just nodded along to Sya, they chatted about nothing mostly, no real importance but it helped fill the gaps.

Her own week had been kinda weird. Persephone felt a little rudderless of the main group she was on her own now. Her husband, their squire was away, the temple's priestess was gone with them. She found herself at the Temple some times just enjoying the quiet and the peace of the place, able to find a little peace and focus. After the Vision and other things, her mind had felt like birds fluttering about it, it felt busy all the time. This place helped calm it all down and she also kept the place tidy, pushed snow away from the door and placed winter flowers in a small vase by the altar.

It was a miracle they still grew, pale blue and stunted but still flowers.

New clothes had been sorted from the local traders and crafts people for the winter, the business of preparing for a long winter, home or not, household management was her part of life, she ran the estate back home. Well when she was home anyway.

With the Royals keeping her distance, the prior incident.. well? Safer to stay quiet and under the radar. She could gain more information and learn more by listening about the goings and comings of dawn haven.

The rest, well. Persephone just kept up the days. Purpose would be found but she did some favours for Sya, it kept her able to at least fill her time and keep mind off other thoughts.

…

“We meet again…” Persephone said as the inn keeper was upstairs, in her private apartment, she had been invited however. It was rather more grand than anything she expected with tall book shelves in a side room, multiple doors and large collection of pillows visible into an octagonal room that seemed to rise high out of sight. Sya was sprawled over some cushions working on a set of thick books.

“Welcome, Cannot ssssleep again.” Sya said and Persephone tried to hide her reaction to the hiss but her Lunarian side and faith was seeing even with her also pragmatic side of Sya being a valuable ally. “Vy maths, adding up…you vind being a once over.” Sya said and passed over a book after a few minutes with a hot cup of a fragrant tea that smelled rather like lemon and flowers.

“You run a tight household.” Persephone remarked as she saw the numbers and neat columns much like ones she ran and began to scan the list. “And tastes id not expect.” The team was very nice, far less decorum to tea but still good tea.

“Thanksss” Sya said, it was not a friendship, they were too different but a level of respect definitely. Sya knew she could learn from Persephone and Persephone got something. A fair trade. “I ssssuprise many people.” The Lamia said with a low rumbling hiss and slightly additional danger to her voice. She was more than a blight born.

Persephone nodded along, from hunts and words it seemed Sya was planning or otherwise spoke of such people she was concerned for as Princes Aide, the lead Sage, and the fact Sya controlled the town's hot meals, ales and warm beds… The Blightborn had way more potential sway than Persephone first assumed. If Sya wanted or.. could focus on something for longer than a short time, she might have put Persephone out of a job.


…
10 am to Sun Temple
Sya was heading out and had found one of her older cloaks for a little more weather protection given the cold and light snow, while it affected her less, it did mess with her hair she had neatly put into braid that morning before the breakfast run. It would be a shame to ruin the work and have to redo it all.

She pushed the door closed with a nudge of her tail waving as she left the Eye in her staff safe hands and looked out on a lightly snow dusted Dawn haven. Or .. “Gloom Haven” had been done in graffiti on one wall. Accurately she giggled slightly at the remark and following picture of a moon that hung over the words in a very rough art style. The fact Sya was able to tell roughly the variations of gloom, she was not sure how widely known. It was before noon. That was what she could tell.

The path was not deep and the ground was already hard, it was so cold so long it was hard to convert into a slush, though it could get icy. Sya was growing more nervous as she made her way down a side street to a building with great burning torches visible and wood working of higher quality than the homes around them.

Sya paused before the street, and wrapped her arms and tail about herself, shaking and mentally took the effort to breathe slowly before unraveling again. No. Sya had to do this for her friends and not run away.

Even with old fears, the feeling of dread and her past memories of the faithful being anything but a hostile enemy she slithered her way to the door slowly and pushed the portal to the Warm Temple open. It was very different but similar in other ways to the far more bare and practical Temple that was built in her home town, a mix of Lunaris and Auralian traditions.

The brazers and heat were a surprise, shedding her hood but the brighter light did annoy her rather sensitive eye, too many Candles and fires for her extraordinary acute night vision to be entirely comfortable for someone who could see in almost total darkness.

Sya paused visiblely unsure and took slow steady breathing, forcing calm and looking about to complete her task, because she wanted her friends to come home safe.

…
10am. To moon Temple.
Persephone had decided to give her horse some exercise, stopping by the stable and getting her horse tacked up, after an apple to make up for forcing him to head out into the cold. Several minutes later that was not a problem as she took a wider route and let her horse free galloping down a track used for guard training that was empty and jumping one of the fences. Had it been less dangerous times and or her partner might have headed out but she aired on caution and rode inside the walls. The smaller course was still fun and she rode though the well worn route, jumps, straights, turns and so on before she turned more at a canter to the Temple on the outer ring of town. Her sword was in reach and she had thrown a few items from Lord Coswain's cart into her saddle bags.

You never could be too careful after the last week or so.

The Lunarian Temple was much as she left it a few days ago, the flowers a little sad, the bowl a little dusty and the place had signs of use. Not uncared for, no. Just… Katherine was away so it was more a transient place now than a home.

Persephone tried to rectify that a little as she began her chores, sorting the humble Temple into some kind of order. Singing softly as she works an old song she picked up furthermore from the Capital region.

"Alduin's wings, they did darken the sky,
His roar fury's fire, and his scales sharpened scythes.
Men ran and they cowered, and they fought and they died.
They burned and they bled as they issued their cries.

“We need saviors to free us from Alduin's rage,
Heroes on the field of this new war to wage.
And if Alduin wins, man is gone from this world,
Lost in the shadow of the black wings unfurled.

But then came the Tongues on that terrible day.
Steadfast as winter, they entered the fray.
And all heard the music of Alduin's doom,
The sweet song of Skyrim, sky-shattering Thu'um.

And so the Tongues freed us from Alduin's rage,
Gave the gift of the Voice, ushered in a new Age!
And if Alduin's eternal, then eternity's done,
For his story is over and the dragons are gone.”

Dragons, it seemed the world did not need Dragons to end, they had plenty enough darkness to do that. But Persephone did do her best to tidy the Temple up, keep busy and keep her mind off one place she did not want to go. Adonis, Daphne had headed out and into the darkness on the Prince's great gamble, their best guards, sages, and more had gone. Dawn has best in multiple regards all on one fleeting hope.

Her family grew ever more at risk, while the Prince seemed happy to wait, where were they even making a baby? If it came down to a prince and princess or her own children or grandchildren, Persephone would plunge the dagger in herself if need be.

Those thoughts had her sighing sitting by the clean clear cold pool, by the moon goddess, she just wanted her family to be safe.